Three MIT research teams receive Department of Energy awards
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP) awarded five million dollars to an integrated research project led by Professor Charles W. Forsberg ScD ’74 of the department of nuclear science and engineering. Forsberg, NSE Professor Lin-wen Hu, and collaborators from University of California at Berkeley and University of Wisconsin at Madison received extended funding for their commercial high-temperature salt-cooled reactor, according to the MIT News Office.
Doctors confirm Braintree facility patient does not have Ebola virus
Fears about the deadly Ebola virus spread to Massachusetts this Columbus Day weekend, prompting holiday press conferences and reverse 911 calls to reassure a jittery public after two Ebola-related scares.
CORRECTIONS
An article in the Friday, Oct. 10 issue about Maseeh Hall and DormCon incorrectly stated that Maseeh’s residents would pay a total of $10,000 per year to DormCon in taxes if the dorm were a member of the body. In fact, it would pay $5 per resident per semester, or about $5,000 per year. This is not one third of Maseeh’s budget.
With growing edX role, some students skeptical
Some MIT classes, using edX, have moved toward a blended model of education, integrating in-person and online learning. According to both students and instructors, this effort has made students’ college experience more flexible, but not without other flaws.
Pentagon says global warming presents immediate security threat
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon released a report Monday asserting decisively that climate change poses an immediate threat to national security, with increased risks from terrorism, infectious disease, global poverty and food shortages. It also predicted rising demand for military disaster response as extreme weather creates more global humanitarian crises.
British Parliament recognizes Palestinian state
LONDON — Against a backdrop of growing impatience across Europe with Israeli policy, Britain’s Parliament overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution Monday night to give diplomatic recognition to a Palestinian state. The vote was a symbolic but potent indication of how public opinion has shifted since the breakdown of American-sponsored peace negotiations and the conflict in Gaza this summer.
Republican-majority Senate is starting to look likelier
The polls have shown Republicans faring quite well over the last couple of weeks, and they now appear to lead in the polls in enough contests to win 52 seats, with Iowa, Colorado and the six Democratic-held states won by John McCain in the 2008 presidential election and Mitt Romney in 2012.
Shorts (right)
Prime Minister Viktor Orban continued his steady consolidation of power in Hungary in local and municipal elections on Sunday with his governing Fidesz party winning control of all county assemblies and all but one of the largest cities, including the capital, Budapest.
Shorts (left)
Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader whose unexplained absence from public view for more than a month raised intense speculation that he was ill or deposed, apparently has been seen.
Warm air precedes late-week storm
The storm system that spawned severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes over the Mississippi River Valley yesterday will arrive in New England later this week, bringing the potential for heavy rainfall to the Institute on Thursday and Thursday night. Until then, the Boston area will be wedged between an offshore high pressure system and the approaching cold front. This setup will result in considerable pre-frontal warming, with temperatures expected to exceed 70°F (21°C) on each remaining day this week, whereas normal highs for this time of year are around 62°F (17°C).
Egypt cracks down on new student protests
CAIRO — Egyptian security forces are tightening their crackdown on student activism by arresting scores of students at the start of the school term in an effort to crush a renewed wave of protests against the military-backed government that took power last year.
Vatican signals more tolerance toward gays and divorce
VATICAN CITY — In a marked shift in tone likely to be discussed in parishes around the world, an assembly of Catholic bishops convened by Pope Francis at the Vatican released a preliminary document Monday calling for the church to welcome and accept gay people, unmarried couples and those who have divorced, as well as the children of these less traditional families.
Continuing the conversation
When I first heard about the All Doors Open event, I was a little uncertain. I knew from my work in Student Support Services (S3) that our community was struggling to come to terms with a string of bad news, most recently the on-campus death of Phoebe Wang. We were given fifteen unstructured minutes, time to use however we chose. What would we make of it? My colleagues and I heard that some found the thought and experience of this undefined time awkward, long and intolerable. Others saw it as exactly what they needed.
Definitely not plain sailing
Southern Air, the last album from pop-punkers Yellowcard, featured the prominent lyric “I’ve been here a while/ staring at the screen wondering what I’ll write.” It’s a sentiment I can empathise with. The ninth studio album from the Jacksonville quartet, made famous by their unique guitar-meets-violin rock sound, is the product of many factors, and to address any one without context of the others seems unjust. Music does not exist in a vacuum (technically because there’s no air to propagate sound waves, but allow me the metaphor), and this album has a great deal going on behind the scenes.
Men’s soccer team loses to Wheaton
Wheaton College’s Travis Blair netted the game’s lone goal at 10:32 off a penalty kick to provide the No. 17 Lyons a 1-0 victory against MIT on Saturday afternoon at Roberts Field in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play. With the victory, Wheaton improves to 11-2-1 overall and 4-0-0 in conference play, while MIT falls to 4-4-4 and 1-3-0.
One goal separated MIT from Wheaton College Goals by Krishnamachar ’15, Moroi ’16 propel MIT field hockey team to 3-2 victory
MIT Ambika M. Krishnamachar ’15 netted the go-ahead goal midway through the second half, which proved to be the difference as the Engineers defeated Wheaton College, 3-2, in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Tuesday afternoon at Mirrione Stadium. With the win, MIT improves to 7-3-2 overall and 3-0-1 in conference play, while Wheaton falls to 7-5-1 and 1-2-0.
MIT overcomes Wellesley in tie-break set to earn victory
The MIT women’s volleyball team outlasted Wellesley College for a 25-17, 26-24, 15-25, 26-28, 15-4 victory in a NEWMAC match on Tuesday night. In the Engineers’ first regular-season win over the Blue since 2009, Jennifer L. Astrachan ’15 led all players with 27 kills on a .338 hitting performance in addition to recording three aces for the Cardinal and Gray (18-2, 5-1 NEWMAC).
Women’s soccer earns win
Nicole M. Miko ’18 registered her first goal of the season at 98:58 in overtime following a feed from Morgan K. Moroi ’16 as the Engineers rallied to defeat Clark University, 2-1, on Saturday, October 11 in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play. With the victory, MIT improves to 8-3-2 overall and 4-0-1 in conference play, while Clark falls to 1-11-0 and 0-4-0.
Events Oct. 14 – Oct. 20
Events Oct. 14 – Oct. 20 Tuesday (11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) Streetwise (Safety Fair), sponsored by MIT Parking and Transportation, Institute Events, and MIT Police — W20 (7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.) Pizza in the Hut, sponsored by MIT Hillel — Hillel Sukkah (Kresge) Wednesday (6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) The Environmental Poisoning of Iraq: Why Academics Must Speak Out, with speakers Muhsin Al-Sabbak and Mozhgan Savabieasfahani — 32-141 Thursday (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) MIT Medical’s walk-in flu clinic — W20 2nd floor (6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.) Big Cats, Panama, and Armadillos: A Story of Climate and Life (4th Annual John Carlson Lecture), free admission — New England Aquarium IMAX Theater Friday (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.) Jupiter String Quartet All Beethoven Concert, $5 admission in advance via Eventbrite for MIT community members — W16 (Kresge auditorium) Saturday (4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.) Children’s Diwali Party, sponsored by Westgate and GSC — 50-140 (Walker Memorial, Morss Hall) (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.) Durga Puja Celebrations 2014, sponsored by MIT Bangladeshi Students’ Association and Office of Multicultural Programs — W20-307 Sunday (9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) Swapfest: hi-tech, computer, electronics, and ham radio flea market, $6 buyers admission, $4 with MIT/Harvard student ID — N4, Albany St. garage and lots Monday (5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.) How to Evaluate, Accept, or Decline a Job Offer, sponsored by MIT GECD — 4-149 Send your campus events to events@tech.mit.edu.
