Power returns to the Institute
This article will be updated as The Tech learns more. Check The Tech’s storify for more information: http://storify.com/thetech/mit-during-the-cambridge-blackout
332 to participate in externship program
Now in its 16th year, MIT’s Externship Program will connect 332 undergraduate and graduate students to alumni-sponsored externships this January during Independent Activities Period (IAP). Run by the MIT Alumni Association, the program began offering short winter internships (“externships”) in 1997 for 20 to 25 students in its formative years. This year’s 332 is a new record, over last year’s 294 participants, according to numbers provided by Katie C. Maloney, Director of Parent Association and Student/Alumni Relations.
Massie ’93 in U.S. House of Reps.
On Nov. 6, Thomas Massie ’93 was elected as U.S. Representative for Kentucky’s Fourth District. Massie graduated from MIT in 1993 with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and also received a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the Institute in 1996. Massie, a Republican, won the seat after a seven-way primary and has already been sworn in due to his predecessor’s early retirement.
MIT filing a new Kendall Square zoning petition
MIT announced last Tuesday that it would file a new zoning petition for its area of Kendall Square “as soon as possible.” The changes will be presented in advance to the Cambridge Planning Board on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 4, and the formal filing is expected to soon follow.
How prepared are MIT and Cambridge for rising sea levels?
MIT’s campus as you know it may not exist in 100 years — and if it does, it would likely have a renewed focus on ocean engineering. That’s because, according to a New York Times analysis of major U.S. cities, much of southern Cambridge would be underwater if ocean levels rise five feet, which is “probable” within 100–300 years. If levels rose 20 feet, over half of Cambridge and a third of Boston would be submerged.
Illinois sets election to replace Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
CHICAGO — A special primary election to replace Jesse L. Jackson Jr. in Congress will be held in February, Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois announced Monday, as numerous potential candidates were already floating their names in public, calling leaders in search of financial and political backing, and sizing up the competition.
Shorts (right)
Grover Norquist on Monday found a new way of dismissing the handful of Republican lawmakers — including the House majority leader — who are now publicly wavering about his pledge they signed not ever to raise taxes.
Shorts (left)
BARCELONA, Spain — Artur Mas, the president of Catalonia, was hoping to lead Spain’s economically most powerful region toward secession from the rest of the country.
Chilly weather sticking around for the week
Below normal temperatures will be common across our area in the coming days. No significant southerly surface winds are expected this week, keeping cool polar air in place. A low pressure just to our southeast will slowly strengthen tonight just offshore. As it does, we could get some spotty precipitation today and into the overnight hours. Given the cold temperatures some snow could fall tonight, before the low departs towards Canada on Wednesday. Following the low a high pressure will slowly build off the Carolina coast and bring clear weather back to New England. The high’s southerly flow looks somewhat weak at this point, hence it will keep cool air over the northeastern U.S. through late week. Wind speeds should also remain fairly calm as the high moves closer. So despite cool temperatures, wind chill readings will not be significant even during nighttime hours.
Egypt’s president agrees to limit scope of decree
CAIRO — President Mohamed Morsi agreed Monday to scale back a sweeping decree he had issued last week that raised his edicts above any judicial review, according to a report by a television network allied with his party. The agreement, reached with top judicial authorities, would leave most of Morsi’s actions subject to review by the courts but preserve a crucial power: protecting the constitutional council from being dissolved by the courts before it finishes its work.
Politics in play over safety net in deficit talks
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s re-election and Democratic gains in Congress were supposed to make it easier for the party to strike a deal with Republicans to resolve the year-end fiscal crisis by providing new leverage. But they could also make it harder as empowered Democrats, including some elected on liberal platforms, resist significant changes in entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.
CORRECTIONS
An article about USAID published on Nov. 13. failed to cite the MIT News Office as the main source for the article. All quotations are statements from sources to the MIT News Office.
Men’s basketball tops Curry 41-27
Trailing at the half by six, MIT outscored Curry College 41-27 in the second half to erase the deficit and come away with a 71-63 win in non-conference men’s basketball action in Rockwell Cage on Nov. 24. Senior Mitchell Kates scored 13 of his 22 points in the second half to help the top-ranked Engineers hold off the upset attempt by the Colonels. Sophomore Antonio Jones led Curry with 13 points.
A conference cynic’s conversion
While the belief was totally unsubstantiated, I had long believed that conferences were a secret academic conspiracy. Yeah, you really need to go to Hawaii to meet with other scientists and share your work — this is something that just couldn’t be done via internet or phone. What a thinly veiled scheme to take a vacation and hang out with academic buddies! On my least cynical days, I thought it was merely a holdover from the pre-internet era when communication and dissemination of ideas would have been more difficult.
