Sunny Skies to Start the Year of the Dragon
With celebrations for the Lunar New Year upcoming, the clouds are parting giving way to a weekend full of sunny skies and warmer weather. Let the good luck breeze through with wind speeds approximately 10 mph for the festivities! The Year of the Dragon is known to bring good fortune, which might explain this nice weather after a dreary January! 2024 corresponds with the Wood Dragon element, which is known for new beginnings, so use the warm days and sunlight to set yourself up for success this semester!
Flagship Pioneering CEO, Moderna co-founder, Noubar Afeyan PhD ’87 to deliver Class of 2024 Commencement address
Noubar Afeyan PhD ’87, an American-Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist best known for co-founding the biotechnology company Moderna, will speak at the 2024 OneMIT Commencement Ceremony May 30.
Reflecting and Looking Forward: President Sally Kornbluth
In her first year as MIT President, Sally Kornbluth has implemented initiatives and faced challenges. Her listening tour culminated in a number of findings, ranging from the ethics of artificial intelligence to concerns over living expenses on campus. Kornbluth led the Institute through the Supreme Court ruling overturning affirmative action and its response to the crisis in the Middle East. Kornbluth sat down with The Tech to reflect on her tenure so far as President.
Dreary Days leading up to Next Semester
Less than two weeks until classes start up again. Back to a life dictated by psets, labs, lectures … the constant pressure of the lack of time. Personally, I am dreading it, and it seems Mother Nature feels my pain. Today through Sunday, there is no sun. Just clouds and precipitation. A dreary sign of what is to come next. One good note is that relative to the past weekend’s temperature, the world is getting warmer. Temperatures are hitting highs in the 40s and the lows are not below freezing! A symbol that the end of Winter, of IAP, of empty time, is upon us, leading us to the Spring semester.
Karl Reid ’84, SM ’85 named Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
In a statement to the MIT community, President Sally Kornbluth announced that Karl Reid ’84, SM ’85 will become the new vice president for equity and inclusion (VPEI) beginning March 3rd. Reid currently serves as Senior Vice Provost and Chief Inclusion Officer at Northeastern University. Professor Daniel Hastings SM ’78, PhD ’80 served as the interim Institute community and equity officer following the departure of John Dozier in June of 2023.
MIT’s UN Climate Change Conference delegation reflects on proposed resolutions
The Institute sent its own delegation to discuss the conference’s resolutions, having done so since the early 2000s.
Standing Together Against Hate panels announced
In a recent email, the Institute revealed several upcoming events this year “to build understanding and foster respectful dialogue.”
MIT-GSU discusses plans for graduate students post-contract ratification
The GSU intends on using the momentum gained from the contract’s success to further prioritize graduate students.
MIT-GSU 2023 election results
The MIT Graduate Student Union (MIT-GSU) held an election in the fall of 2023 to decide the union’s new officers. This election was the first GSU election and was open to all graduate students. 400 out of 7,344 graduate students voted.
MIT’s mascot Tim the Beaver celebrates 110th anniversary
Jan. 17 marked the 110th anniversary of MIT adopting Tim the Beaver as the Institute’s mascot.
In Memoriam: Emma Pearl Wilmer-Shiles ’18 G, Lochie Ferrier ‘19
In a statement to the MIT Community, President Sally Kornbluth announced the deaths of Emma Pearl Willmer-Shiles ’18 G and Lochie Ferrier ’19 in a plane crash off the coast of California. A San Francisco native, Willmer-Shiles studied mechanical engineering as an undergraduate. At the time of her passing, Willmer-Shiles was a second-year graduate student in Architecture. Ferrier was an alumnus of the AeroAstro Department and was working as an aeronautical engineer at the time of his passing.
In Memoriam: Lynn Yamada Davis ’78
Lynn Yamada Davis ’78, known for her viral “Cooking with Lynja” videos, passed away at 67 on Jan. 1 from complications of esophageal cancer. Yamada graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Course 1 and was a former Chairperson of The Tech.
MIT Medical changes name to MIT Health
In an email to the MIT community on Jan. 18, Dr. Cecilia Stuopis, Chief Health Officer of MIT Health, announced that MIT Medical adopted the new name of MIT Health. Stuopis stated that the name change would be visible across campus; a new logo, website, and medical forms will be amongst the most notable changes.
661 Admitted Early to Class of 2028
In an announcement by Chris Peterson SM ’13, MIT admitted 661 students to the class of 2028 out of 12,563 students who applied early, equivalent to 5.26%. This marks a slight uptick from the previous year: the class of 2027 had an early action acceptance rate of 4.72%.
Kornbluth addresses MIT community in the new year
On Jan. 3, MIT President Sally Kornbluth began the new year by addressing the current challenges on campus and her vision for progress in a campus-wide statement.
MIT Multicultural Conference 2023
MIT hosted its annual Multicultural Conference (MC^2) at the MIT Endicott House from Nov. 17 to 18. Dr. Alma Jam from the MIT Office of Intercultural Engagement, facilitated the program.
In Memoriam: Lauren Brock ’27
In a statement to the MIT Community, President Sally Kornbluth announced the death of Lauren Brock ’27. A New Hampshire native and Macgregor resident, Brock deferred enrollment for two years after joining a start-up full time.
Another winter storm to wash through
Expect a brief pause from the torrential rain that has flooded rivers in the Northeast as the skies open up to bring you some sunshine into Friday!
MIT Medical reinstates masking mandate for clinical staff
In an email to the MIT community, Dr. Cecilia Stuopis, Chief Health Officer of MIT Medical, stated that MIT Medical would implement a masking requirement for all clinical staff in Cambridge and Lexington care centers starting Jan. 8. Other local healthcare systems, including Mass General Brigham, have enacted a similar policy.