CMS and Writing join forces
Comparative Media Studies (CMS) and Writing (21W), formerly two separate majors, are now under the CMS/W program. The two majors will remain essentially the same from an academic point of view — their undergraduate and graduate programs will still remain separate — but the new program aims to encourage students in both majors to take classes in the other.
Somerville SafeRide shuttle pilot program implemented
MIT’s shuttle programs are undergoing several changes in the upcoming semester.
Japan nuclear plant leak worries worsen
TOKYO — A crisis over contaminated water at Japan’s stricken nuclear plant worsened Saturday when the plant’s operator said it detected high radiation levels near storage tanks, a finding that raised the possibility of additional leaks.
E52 renovations to finish in 2016
Renovations begin this week for E52, the original Sloan Building. The structure, built in 1938, is undergoing interior and exterior upgrades expected to be completed in early 2016.
China debates effect on law of Bo Xiliai’s trial
BEIJING — The melodramatic trial of Bo Xilai, the former elite Communist Party official, has been trumpeted by the state media here as a sure sign that Chinese citizens enjoy the benefits of a robust legal system.
Attack leads to peek inside Viagra spam enterprise
MOSCOW — For years, Igor A. Artimovich had been living in a three-room apartment he shared with his wife in St. Petersburg, sitting for long hours in front of his Lenovo laptop in his pajamas, drinking sugary coffee.
Shorts (right)
WASHINGTON — The spreading expectation that President Barack Obama will name Lawrence H. Summers to lead the Federal Reserve Board appears to be working against the central bank’s efforts to stimulate the economy.
Sunshine expected for the start of classes
This weekend’s stretch of humid, stormy weather will give way to a more settled pattern just in time for the start of the fall semester on Wednesday.
Chill hangs over Obama’s journey to summit in Russia
WASHINGTON — Just days before Vladimir Putin reassumed the presidency of Russia last year, President Barack Obama dispatched his national security adviser to Moscow. Obama had made considerable progress with Dmitry A. Medvedev, the caretaker president, and wanted to preserve the momentum.
Shorts (left)
CBS and Time Warner Cable ended their protracted contract dispute Monday evening with the announcement of an agreement that restored CBS and its related channels, like Showtime, to millions of cable subscribers largely in three major cities, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas.
Syrians thrown off balance by hesitation in Washington
BEIRUT — Two days after President Barack Obama shocked Syrians by delaying expected American missile strikes, the country remains off balance, with the military still bracing, the rebels still hoping to capitalize on the confusion, civilians increasingly fleeing across the borders and everyone uncertain whether the attack has been called off for good.
McCain urges lawmakers to back Obama’s plan for Syria
WASHINGTON — The White House’s aggressive push for congressional approval of an attack on Syria appeared to have won the tentative support of one of President Barack Obama’s most hawkish Republican critics, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who said Monday that he supported a “limited” strike if the president did more to arm the Syrian opposition.
Debate revives Merkel’s rival as credible challenger
BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Social Democratic challenger, Peer Steinbrück, returned to the campaign trail on Monday, with neither triumphant after their sole television debate, a mostly decorous 90-minute exchange that restored Steinbrück as a credible candidate but yielded a rhetorical draw.
Brazil angered over report that NSA spied on president
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s government summoned the U.S. ambassador Monday to respond to new revelations of U.S. surveillance of President Dilma Rousseff and her top aides, complicating relations between the countries ahead of Rousseff’s state visit to Washington next month.
CORRECTIONS
A graphic in last Friday’s issue provided incorrect dates for some Steak and Lobster dinners. The WILG and Phi Kappa Sigma dinners are on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
MIT women’s soccer falls to Brandeis, 1-0
At the first game of the 2013 season, the MIT women’s soccer team fell to Brandeis University on the road on Friday evening with a score of 1-0. The Engineers, who were recently ranked #15 in the nation in the NSCAA Division III preseason rankings, have faced the Judges in their season-opening game for 10 of the past 11 years.
Patriots release Aaron Hernandez from team
The NFL pre-season is usually a time to test new players and to hash out a roster for the regular season. This year’s NFL pre-season produced two notable changes to the New England Patriots’ roster, the release of Tim Tebow and Aaron Hernandez (along with the associated controversy).
Events Sept. 02 – Sept. 08
Events Sept. 02 – Sept. 08 Tuesday (11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) Wonder Woman Photo Shoot — Lobby 10 (1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) Trash2Treasure sale, free Reuse items — Kresge Oval Wednesday (11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.) MIT police laptop tagging and registration — 32 (Stata Student St.) Thursday (12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.) Tour de SHASS, free lunch — 10-105 (Bush Room) (8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.) The Musical Theatre Guild presents AVENUE Q — W16-035 (Kresge Little Theatre) Friday (9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.) Sidney Pacific Orientation Dance Party. Featuring DJ BIG from WPOT Hot 97 Boston radio station — NW-86 Saturday (7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.) MITMASA welcoming dinner, with Malaysian food — W20 (PDR 1 and 2) Sunday (11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) Student Loan Art Program Exhibition public brunch/reception — E15 Monday (12:00p.m. – 1:00 p.m.) Electricity Student Research Group interdisciplinary research lunch series on sustainable electricity — E19-319 (4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.) The Economic Effects of Combat Exposure, with speaker Michael Yankovich — E51-151 Send your campus events to events@tech.mit.edu.
