14 million votes already cast
With more than one in three votes likely to be cast before Election Day this year, Republicans are stepping up their efforts to chip away at what has been a Democratic advantage in early voting in key battlegrounds like Ohio and North Carolina.
‘Fiscal cliff’ could lower MIT funding
The potential “fiscal cliff” at the end of 2012 would slash the U.S. federal budget across the board, hitting the nearly $475 million MIT receives from the government each year for research. The Institute could see up to 10 percent cuts in its federal research funding, according to Vice President for Research and Associate Provost Claude R. Canizares.
MIT closed on Monday for hurricane
MIT was closed yesterday due to considerations for Hurricane Sandy. There were no classes, and all non-essential personnel were off work for the three shifts of the day. While most of MIT Medical was closed, Urgent Care remained open.
Paintballs may deflect an incoming asteroid
In the event that a giant asteroid is headed toward Earth, you’d better hope that it’s blindingly white. A pale asteroid would reflect sunlight — and over time, this bouncing of photons off its surface could create enough of a force to push the asteroid off its course.
International observers denounce the Ukrainian election
KIEV, Ukraine — International observers delivered scathing criticism Monday of Ukraine’s parliamentary election, saying the vote was heavily tilted in favor of President Viktor F. Yanukovych’s Party of Regions through the abuse of government resources, the dominance of media coverage and the jailing of two prominent opposition leaders.
Court hears challenge to 2008 law letting US eavesdrop
WASHINGTON — A challenge to a federal law that authorized intercepting international communications involving Americans appeared to face an uphill climb at the Supreme Court on Monday, but not one quite as steep as many had anticipated.
Shorts (left)
ISTANBUL — At a reception Monday evening at the president’s mansion to celebrate Turkey’s founding 89 years ago, something previously unheard of occurred: The country’s top military commander stood alongside the wives of the president and prime minister, even while the women wore Islamic headscarves.
Attacks continue during failed holiday truce in Syria
BEIRUT — The declared four-day holiday truce between the warring factions in Syria ended on Monday much as it had begun — with airstrikes, artillery barrages and other firefights around the country that made a mockery of the cease-fire.
Hurricane Sandy strikes East Coast
The largest Atlantic hurricane in over 25 years made landfall on the New Jersey coast on Monday evening. High winds from Sandy have downed power lines and trees over a vast expanse of the U.S., from Florida all the way to Maine. Blizzard warnings are in effect over parts of the Appalachians, where a cold Arctic air mass clashed with the moisture-laden air rotated counter-clockwise from the Atlantic Ocean. Peak tide levels and coastal flooding may overtop that observed in New York during Hurricane Irene last year.
Low voter turnout in Sicily suggests anger at politicians
ROME — Sicilians shunned regional elections to renew the island’s Parliament on Sunday in record numbers, in an unequivocal signal of growing disaffection with Italy’s political class, even as the center-left wrested control from center-right parties that had governed the region since 2000.
Shorts (right)
Stock markets in the United States will be closed again Tuesday for a second day without trading as Hurricane Sandy roared closer to the New York area.
Judge in Trayvon Martin case denies request for silence
MIAMI — The judge in the Trayvon Martin murder case on Monday denied a prosecution request to bar lawyers for George Zimmerman from using a website about legal issues, as well as social and traditional news media, to comment about the case.
Deaf accessibility at MIT
Last month, I attended MIT’s presidential inauguration hoping to join the celebration and learn more about President Reif. But most of the time, I found myself left out and merely spectating. I was bombarded by incomprehensible information and I was not able to celebrate as much as I wanted. I am one of MIT’s very few functionally deaf students. Ironically, in an inaugural celebration that touted the Institute’s “diversity,” the facilities for deaf accessibility were mostly hit-and-miss.
CORRECTIONS
An article published October 26, 2012 reviewing Junot Díaz’s latest book “This is How You Lose Her,” incorrectly referred to Díaz as a Professor of Literature. He is a Professor of Writing in the Writing and Humanistic Studies program.
Mens et Manus … et Voluntas
Students coming to MIT are in for a mind-boggling exposure to volunteerism and hands on learning. Alumni have an obligation to volunteer, and thankfully, at MIT, many do so with zeal. However, volunteerism hardly stops there. It permeates every academic department, laboratory, research center, studio, and administrative program at the Institute. Furthermore, it fosters student idealism.
ETHAN E. PETERSON ’13: Talented athlete, engineer
Ethan E. Peterson ’13 is a Course 22 (Nuclear Science and Engineering) and Course 8 (Physics) senior on MIT Men’s Varsity Football. He has started on the MIT offensive line for the last three seasons and became co-captain last season. For his stellar play, he has received much recognition, including being selected for first team All-New England Football Conference. In fact, Ethan recently won the National Scholar-Athlete Award given by the National Football Foundation. This award selects 15 honorees out of the national pool of 147 semifinalists, who are selected from all divisions of college football for their academic prowess and their achievements on the field. Ethan is the sixth person in MIT Football history to receive this distinguished award.
Football dominates Salve Regina MIT overtakes No. 1 team with 29 seconds remaining
Two weeks ago, the MIT football team pulled off possibly the biggest upset in school history, beating previously undefeated (and nationally ranked No. 24 in Division III) Salve Regina University, 20-19. The Engineers, down 14-6 with 9:55 left to play in the fourth quarter, staged an unbelievable comeback, scoring two touchdowns in two possessions. The game winning drive started with just 1:08 to play. It was the last home game of the season, also known as Senior Day, making the victory that much more memorable for the Engineers.
Women’s Tennis dominates season
MIT Women’s Tennis completed a perfect season of play in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference today as the Engineers claimed the 2012 NEWMAC Championship with a 5-0 victory over defending champion Wellesley College. In a rematch of last season’s championship match, MIT reversed that decision to win its fourth conference crown and first since 2002. The victory also gave the Engineers the NEWMAC automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Events oct. 30 – nov. 05
Events oct. 30 – nov. 05 Tuesday (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) Climate and Conflict: Heat and Violence talk — N51, MIT Museum (7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) The 2012 Election and the Twilight of the Elites book discussion — Simmons Hall Multipurpose Room Wednesday (12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.) Service Member, Veteran, and Family Wellness: What Is It, and Why Should We Care? — E40-496 Thursday (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) Digitizing the Culture of Print: The Digital Public Library of America and Other Urgent projects — E14-633 (7:00 p.m.) A Late Quartet film screening — 26-100 Friday (3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) Energy Lecture Series: “A Day in the Life of the Grid” by FERC Chairman Wellinghoff — E25-111 (7:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m.) LSC shows Moonrise Kingdom — 26-100 Saturday (8:00 p.m.) Persian Style Halloween Party — 50 (9:00 p.m. – 11:55 p.m.) Romanian dance party — W20-491 Sunday (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.) Shankar Tucker: Live in Concert, fusion Indian music — W16 Monday (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.) Disruptive Innovation: The Internet of Things & Long-range RFID + Sensors Send your campus events to events@tech.mit.edu.
