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.”
MIT eliminates diversity statements in faculty hiring
On May 5, the President Sally Kornbluth announced that the Institute will no longer include diversity statements as part of the application process for faculty appointments. The move to eliminate such statements for hiring is purportedly the first amongst elite universities.
UA food survey results released for the 2023-24 year
The UA Food Security Committee releases its report on food security on campus on April 23.
Class of 2026 holds Ring Delivery ceremony
The MIT Class of 2026 held their Brass Rat Ring Delivery ceremony on the evening of May 5 at the Prudential Center in Boston. The ceremony symbollicaly marks reaching the halfway point of one's time at the Institute. This year marked the 97th Brass Rat, a tradition begun in 1929 by C. Brigham Allen '29.
April 17 faculty meeting highlights Institute successes and room for improvement
The faculty members that proposed topics to be discussed at this meeting were Provost Cynthia Barnhart PhD '88 and Professors Nancy Kanwisher, Duane Boning, and Tal Cohen.
Vice Chancellor Ian Waitz announced as next Vice President of Research
In an email to the MIT community on April 24, President Sally Kornbluth announced that Ian Waitz, Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, will begin his tenure as MIT’s Vice President of Research (VPR) after Professor Maria Zuber steps down effective May 1.
“Earthshot” petition urges MIT administration to decarbonize by 2035
The Earthshot petition received 279 votes to urge the Institute to decarbonize by 2035.
Live Updates: Student encampment, May 6–7
Publisher's Note: Live reporting for this feed has concluded as of Tuesday, May 7 at 9:36 p.m, with its last update coming in at 7:58 p.m. Further coverage will be reported through separate articles.
Dorm Row plunges into darkness following manhole explosion
At approximately 1 a.m. May 6, a manhole explosion near W85 (Westgate Apartments) and Tang Hall caused power outages to numerous buildings along the Amherst Alley, also known as Dorm Row. The Cambridge Fire Department were present at the scene and at the time of this writing, are investigating what happened. No injuries were reported, but power has yet to be restored to the affected buildings.
Sunny weather to settle into the weekend
Expect some drier and warmer days to settle into the Boston region Thursday and Friday as a drier air mass arrives riding some surface winds moving south out of Canada!
Pro-Palestinian student encampment established on Kresge Oval
On the evening of Sunday, April 21, a student encampment dubbed the “Scientists Against Genocide Encampment” led by the Coalition for Palestine (C4P) was established on Kresge Oval, the latest in a number of protests that have occurred on the Institute’s campus since the beginning of the Israel Palestine conflict.
Coalition for Palestine organizes student walkout following Columbia University arrests
This walkout was precipitated by the 108 Columbia University students that were arrested on April 18 for their involvement in an encampment protesting the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Graduate Student Union passes referendum on ceasefire in Palestine
The MIT GSU adopts a referendum supporting a ceasefire in Palestine.
Dialogues Across Differences: Murad Idris hosts panel on anti-Palestinian racism
On April 18, Murad Idris, associate professor of political science at the University of Michigan, held the fourth panel of MIT’s Dialogues Across Differences: Building Community of MIT speaker series at the Schwartzman College of Computing. Idris’ research focuses on political theory, political theology, and political thought and intellectual history as an Arab and Muslim-American studies scholar.
Hazardous material alarm goes off in Building 13 on two consecutive days
On April 17 and 18, the MIT community was alerted to a hazardous materials alarm triggered in Building 13. Emergency services responded to both incidents. On April 17, the building closed for nearly two and half hours, while the April 18 closure was for less than 20 minutes.