Barnhart PhD ’88 announces formation of the Future of the Arts at MIT Committee
In an email to the MIT community on June 3, Provost Cynthia Barnhart PhD ’88 announced the formation of the Future of the Arts at MIT Committee to “advise the Institute on new ways to envision the place of the arts in our community.” Course 8 (Physics) Professor Peter Fisher PhD ’88 will chair the committee. Members of the committee include several MIT faculty and individuals from outside of the Institute, including Paola Antonelli, curator of design at the Museum of Modern Art and Paul Ha, director of the List Visual Arts Center.
Mostly clear skies to send off the graduates
A high pressure ridge will replace a mid-level trough to bring us lots of sunshine Friday and into the weekend. Some stray showers may slightly soak the ground on Thursday morning, so watch where you’re stepping as you enter for commencement! After that, lots of sunshine and relatively mild temperatures will carry us into the weekend while we celebrate the rest of the graduates.
MIT holds OneMIT commencement ceremony
The Institute held its OneMIT commencement ceremony today on May 30. Noubar Afeyan PhD ’87 gave the commencement address and MIT President Sally Kornbluth delivered the charge to the graduates. Chair of the MIT Corporation Mark P. Gorenberg ’76 presided over the ceremony. The proceedings were disrupted by protests led by a pro-Palestinian contingency and pro-Israeli supporters.
Rifts amongst faculty laid bare in closed-door meetings amidst interim student suspensions and heightened campus tensions
Publisher’s Note: The two faculty meetings described in this article on May 15 and May 17 were held in executive session as closed-door discussions. The information presented is a synthesis of several interviews held with attendees of the meeting and other individuals familiar with the situation. These accounts were corroborated by additional documentation obtained by The Tech.
MIT Office of Minority Education to be potentially renamed and undergo organizational changes
A meeting between the MIT Office of Minority Education (OME) and OME-affiliated students took place on May 9. Diep Luu, Associate Dean of the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Director of the Undergraduate Advising Center (UAC), and Interim Director of the OME presented future directions for the OME. A Q&A session followed.
Physics Professor Or Hen speaks out on campus protests and student conduct
Editor-in-chief’s note: This piece touches upon the ongoing war in Palestine, including associated acts of rape and killing.
MIT Commencement Ceremonies features OneMIT Ceremony for Class of 2024
Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2024 will take place on a three-day span from Wednesday, May 29, through Friday, May 31. Similar to proceedings at the 2023 commencement, all graduates are invited to attend a 90-minute OneMIT ceremony on Killian Court at 3 p.m. on Thursday May 30.
Mostly clear skies to send off the graduates
A high pressure ridge will replace a mid-level trough to bring us lots of sunshine Friday and into the weekend.
Institute remember military service members on Memorial Day
In an email sent to the MIT community on May 24, Interim Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education and Course 16 Professor Daniel Hastings SM ’78 PhD ’80, called for the community to “salute the Amercians who have given their lives in defense of our nation.”
Two MIT alumni charged in $25 million cryptocurrency heist
Anton Peraire-Bueno SB ’24 and James Peraire-Bueno SM ’21 SB ’19 were taken into federal custody on May 14. They were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and are accused of stealing about $25 million in cryptocurrency from the commonly used Ethereum blockchain.
Eleven MIT undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni win Fulbright fellowships for 2024-2025
Eleven MIT undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni won Fulbright fellowships for the 2024-2025 cycle. According to a press release from MIT News, MIT has been a “Fulbright Top-Producing Institution for five years in row.”
May 15 open faculty meeting celebrates faculty and holds amendment votes
The May 15 monthly faculty meeting included the presentation of the James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award, the results of votes on the J- grade modifier and a proposed amendment to the Faculty Newsletter (FNL) policies, and the elections for Faculty Chair and other committees.
In Memoriam: David Lanning PhD ’63
David Lanning PhD ’63, Professor Emeritus of Nuclear Science and Engineering, passed away on Apr. 26 at the age of 96.
In Memoriam: Jerome Connor ’53 SM ‘54 ScD ‘59
Jerome Connor ’53 SM ’54 ScD ’59, Professor Emeritus of Civil & Environmental Engineering, passed away on Mar. 31. Connor was an alumnus of the civil engineering department and taught as a tenured professor at the Institute for nearly six decades.
Institute administration attend the GSU’s TransMIT grievance community meeting
On May 15, the Graduate Student Union (GSU) held a “grievance community meeting” for its transgender individuals in response to the Institute’s current policies on legal sex versus gender within its databases. The MIT administration requested the meeting to fully grasp the current policy’s impact on the community.
Theater Arts major to be renamed 21T
Beginning in the fall of 2024, MIT’s “Theater Arts” major will be renamed Course 21T, distinguishing itself from the traditional music major titled 21M. Prior to this change, Course 21T was designated Course 21M-2: the Music major will still be titled Course 21M-1.
Live Updates: Student encampment, May 8–11
This is a developing story. Updates are issued live as new developments in the situation occur. Headlines are subject to change.
Rainy Weekend Ahead
A rainy weekend is ahead with a 70% chance of rain Friday night, 60% chance of showers on Saturday, and 40% chance of precipitation on Saturday. Winds from the Northeast direction will be roughly 10 mph, blowing away the nice weather we had in the past week. Temperatures range from high 50s to high 40s.
Pro-Palestinian student encampment clashes with administration, police force and counterprotestors
As the pro-Palestinian Scientists Against Genocide Encampment pressed on with its third week holding Kresge Oval, its continued presence has escalated into numerous clashes between the encampment and MIT officials, law enforcement at the municipal and state level, and pro-Israeli counterprotestors.
Referendum 2 proponents speak at Undergraduate Association Council meeting
Referendum #2 speakers call for an ad hoc committee “to handle the interpretation and implementation of the referendum.”