EECS implements new maternity leave policy
The Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department (Course 6) has agreed to fund a third month of paid maternity leave for its female graduate students, beyond the two-month maximum through the Office of the Dean for Graduate Education (ODGE). The new policy will become effective in Spring 2014, according to department head Anantha Chandrakasan.
Dahleh is ESD acting director
Munther A. Dahleh has been named the acting director of the Engineering Systems Division (ESD). He began his new position on Dec. 1, stepping down from his previous position as Associate Department Head of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), which David J. Perreault has been appointed.
MIT Medical responds to gastroenteritis outbreak on campus
MIT Medical and Urgent Care saw an increase in people with acute gastroenteritis this week. MIT Medical saw 16 patients during the day on Wednesday with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to a statement to the MIT News Office from Associate Medical Director Howard M. Heller.
Nelson Mandela, 95, passes away Thursday night
Nelson Mandela, who led the emancipation of South Africa from white minority rule and served as his country’s first black president, becoming an international emblem of dignity and forbearance, died Thursday night. He was 95.
Shorts (left)
Harvard College is facing a new round of disapproval, and even ridicule, from some educators following news that the most common grade awarded is an A, more than a decade after professors pledged to combat grade inflation.
Before IPO, Twitter adds first woman to its board
SAN FRANCISCO — Twitter announced Thursday that it had added the former publishing executive Marjorie M. Scardino to its board of directors — the first woman to serve in a such a role at the social networking company.
Shorts (right)
Saudi Aramco, a company that last year produced an average of 9.5 million barrels of crude oil a day, on Wednesday opened a research center in Cambridge, the first of three new US research facilities the global energy giant will set up by the end of next year.
Florida State QB will not be charged with sexual battery
A Florida prosecutor Thursday announced that Florida State University star quarterback Jameis Winston will not face charges of sexual battery.
Frontal passages produce precipitation
A range of precipitation types is expected to fall at the Institute over the next few days as two cold fronts pass through the area. The first of these cold fronts will pass through during the day today, meaning that this morning’s unseasonably warm air is not long for our area. People enjoying temperatures in the mid 50s°F this at the start of their day may not be pleased to discover temperatures falling through the 40s°F in the afternoon and evening. Meanwhile, rain showers will intensify and become steady overnight, possibly changing over to snow before ending tomorrow morning.
US charges dozens of Russian diplomats with Medicaid fraud
NEW YORK — Federal law enforcement authorities have charged nearly 50 past or present Russian diplomats and their spouses in a $1.5 million Medicaid fraud scheme, an unusual twist in what has become a familiar criminal story line in New York.
House passes bill that raises the bar for lawsuits over patents
WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a bill protecting technology companies and their customers from nuisance patent-infringement lawsuits by shell companies that exist merely to gather dormant patents and threaten lawsuits against suspected violators.
Two companies aim to treat allergies with pills or drops
For much of her adult life, Shirley Hickey received two injections a week in an effort to tame severe allergies that caused frequent sore throats and sinus infections. Now she uses a less painful method.
CORRECTIONS
The Naturalist’s Notebook in Tuesday’s issue indicated that Charles Darwin promptly died from Chagas’ Disease, while his death is only speculated to have been caused by this disease.
15 minutes of top-notch pop
Karen Marie Ørsted, also known simply as Mø, might not be the most familiar name in the music industry yet, but the 25-year old Dane is far from operating in the corners of obscure and alternative scenes. Just within one year, she has released several singles, contributed her vocals to Avicii’s song “Dear Boy” and delivered her debut EP Bikini Daze. Like many of her contemporary Scandinavian singer-songwriters, she seems to be faithfully following their long-lasting tradition by doing what Scandinavia is famous for — making fantastic pop music.
‘A wonderful holiday tradition’
Boyko Dossev, a native of Bulgaria, is a corps de ballet member of the Boston Ballet and has been dancing with the company since 2006. He took time out of their busy Nutcracker schedule to chat with The Tech about the show and the life of a ballet dancer.
Under-hyped excellence in Cambridge
Great restaurants can sometimes become too popular for their own good. As positive publicity for a restaurant grows, tables become harder to reserve and expectations can become so lofty that your meal could never reach them.
Arts Events DEC. 06 – DEC. 12
CORRECTION TO THIS ARTICLE: A previous version of this calendar misstated the time for the Chamber Music Society recital on Monday, Dec. 9. It is at 5 p.m., not 5:30 p.m.
Men’s basketball tops UMass
MIT took a seven-point halftime lead and held off UMass Boston in the second half to beat the Beacons, 69-63, in men’s basketball action on Tuesday. Matthew M. Redfield ’15 recorded his second straight double-double with 27 points and 15 rebounds to help MIT (5-2) to the victory. Carl Joseph led UMass Boston (3-3) with 13 points.
Athlete wins academic honor
Senior defensive end Joel T. Santisteban ’14 of the MIT football team earned national recognition for both his on field and academic performance today when he was named to the 2013 Capitol One Academic All-America Division III Football Team. A second team selection, he is one of 48 Division III players from across the nation named to the honor by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). It is the 38th time an MIT football player has been selected as an Academic All-American. This is the first career honor for Santisteban.
