Major storm may miss Boston
The Mid-Atlantic region is preparing for a major winter storm that is poised to wallop the Washington and Baltimore areas with up to 2 feet of snow this weekend. However, while this same storm was originally forecast to have a similar impact in New England, recent model runs are suggesting that the storm will take a more southern track, bringing it out to sea and sparing the Boston area from the brunt of the snowfall.
CORRECTIONS
A Campus Life piece last week in the Portraits of Resilience series misstated the class year of the subject, Karen Hao. She is a member of the class of 2015.
Eric Lander criticized for CRISPR article
Professor Eric Lander has come under fire for an article in Cell that some see as skewing the history of CRISPR to favor the Harvard- and MIT-affiliated Broad Institute, which is currently involved in a high-stakes patent fight with Berkeley over the gene-editing technology.
UA leaders to review gov’t diversity after vote to endorse BSU recommendations fails
The Undergraduate Association Executive Board will be conducting a survey to evaluate the UA’s diversity across multiple lines of identity including race and gender. The survey is motivated in part by a vote by the outgoing UA Council to not endorse a set of recommendations made by the Black Students’ Union (BSU).
Puzzlers contend for top spot at Huntception
Team Setec Astronomy won this year’s Mystery Hunt at 6:53 p.m. Sunday when they found the coin in The Alchemist statue.
Course 15 splits into three new majors
MIT’s Sloan School of Management is turning Course 15 into three separate majors, motivated in part by “confusion regarding the meaning of ‘management science,’” James B. Orlin SE ’88 said in a faculty meeting.
New House pipe burst cost Institute $6 million
The damage caused by the flood in New House last summer cost the Institute about $6 million: $4 million in repairs, plus about $2 million to cover room, board, and moving expenses for the approximately 140 displaced New House residents.
Three from MIT awarded Schwarzman Fellowships
Two MIT students and an alumna claimed three of the just 111 Schwarzman Fellowships awarded in the program’s inaugural class. The new scholarship’s selection process is extremely competitive: 3,000 student applied.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Last week in this space, a recent graduate shared a painful story. We commend the writer for coming forward with such a deeply personal account. Shining a spotlight on sexual assault, mental health, and medical leave will help our community come together to continue to improve our support for students.
Remembering David Bowie
David Bowie, a legendary music and fashion icon, passed away on Jan. 10 after an 18-month battle with liver cancer. Following his death, numerous artists and public figures paid their respects to the singer via social media by thanking him for being a source of inspiration throughout their lives. Last week, the entrance to the Infinite Corridor was embellished with a banner that paid homage to Bowie through his verse from “Space Oddity,” while Lobby 7 greeted the MIT community with imagery of his eccentric outfits. Surely, every Bowie fan can cite a multitude of reasons why this icon should be remembered and appreciated, but I can understand why someone who did not follow his career might ask a simple question — why should we care about David Bowie?
Manning-Brady XVII: The next chapter of an epic rivalry
The New England Patriots have seen off the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Denver Broncos have overcome the Pittsburgh Steelers, setting up the second AFC Championship match between the Patriots and the Broncos in three seasons. With a trip to Super Bowl 50 on the line it is hard to imagine any subplots overshadowing the ultimate prize, but the Manning-Brady rivalry is not just any rivalry. When the final chapters of their hall-of-fame careers have been played out, they will be remembered as two of the greatest ever to have played their positions.
SPORTS SHORT
Men’s basketball dominated Springfield 73-57. Bradley Jomard ’19 scored 22 points. Justin Pedley ’16 recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
MIT squash wins all four matches at Pioneer Valley Invitational
MIT squash won all four of its matches at the Pioneer Valley Invitational held at Mount Holyoke College and Smith College over the weekend.
Why I’m leaving engineering
I chose to study mechanical engineering because I wanted to empower people and create things. And what better way to do that than to create things that empower people? So I launched myself into the world of assistive device design where I felt that I could best achieve my goals. I worked with clients who inspired me to design products that helped them lead more independent lives.
John Belcher
Editor’s Note: Portraits of Resilience is a photography and narrative series by Prof. Daniel Jackson. Each installment consists of a portrait and a story, told in the subject’s own words, of how they found resilience and meaning in their life.
