Riding the temperature roller coaster
We enjoyed an unusually warm day yesterday, with temperatures topping out at 64°F (18°C) — that’s 18°F (10°C) warmer than the average high temperature for yesterday’s date! Today’s high temperature will be a whopping 29°F (20°C) colder than yesterday’s thanks to the passage of a cold front late yesterday afternoon. These cold temperatures won’t last long, though, due to an area of low pressure forming off of the North Carolina coast tonight. As this system tracks northward, winds in Boston will become southerly, making for a mild day tomorrow with a high temperature of 56°F (13°C). Of course, there is a trade-off — rain showers are likely early tomorrow morning, although chances of precipitation will taper off as the morning progresses. On Thursday, temperatures will take a swing in the other direction thanks to the passage of a cold front Wednesday night; expect seasonally cool temperatures in the low 40s°F (6°C). Expect a colder high temperature in the mid 30s°F (2°C) on Friday as this cold airmass behind the front settles in.
Institute Double Take
As the harsh winter begins to settle in, I wanted to take one last chance to capture a Boston sunset before the weather became too cold. Luckily, this past Sunday the temperature rose to a balmy 50 degrees, and there happened to be a beautiful sunset with a nice mix of clouds. I set up under the BU Bridge, facing southwest into the sunset. I decided to try out a technique I’d just read about, taking a series of about 300 pictures after the sun set, every 5 seconds from 5:00-5:25 p.m. (official sunset time: 4:13 p.m.). The aperture and ISO were set to maximize exposure time, helping one photo to blur into the next.
New director of MIT Libraries
Chris Bourg has been appointed as the next Director of the MIT Libraries, following a nationwide search that began after the Libraries’ previous director of 17 years, Ann Wolpert, passed away in October 2013.
Saferide route changes to go into effect in Dec.
A number of major changes to the Saferide routes are set to go into effect at the start of next month. The changes include updates to the Boston routes and a restructuring of the Cambridge routes, which will affect members of fraternities and sororities and graduate students living around MIT.
CORRECTIONS
In an infographic in the Friday, October 31, 2014 issue, the infographic incorrectly indicated the number of students in 6.01 that received fifth week flags. The correct number is 10 rather than 26.
LCA members housed in graduate dorms for term
Following the suspension of MIT’s Lambda Chi Alpha (LCA) fraternity last month, MIT is temporarily housing LCA members in graduate residences. In an email to The Tech, director of communications for the Division of Student Life Matthew D. Bauer said that “Because finding new housing mid-semester is academically burdensome, MIT is housing LCA members in the Sidney-Pacific and Tang residences until the end of the fall semester.”
Dean of MIT’s School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences stepping down
Deborah K. Fitzgerald, Dean of MIT’s School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS) announced last Thursday that she would be stepping down and returning to her faculty position as a professor of the history of technology in MIT’s Program in Science, Technology, and Society on July 1, 2015. An MIT faculty member since 1988, Fitzgerald has also served as an associate dean and acting dean of SHASS from 2005 to 2006 before becoming dean in 2007.
Lil B delivers freestyle lecture at MIT
Last Friday, recognized rapper Lil B visited MIT to give a lecture that touched on identification, feminism, race, and even included an impromptu freestyle rap. Known for his social media presence that helped propel his fame, Lil B announced the lecture through a tweet two and half weeks in advance. The lecture was sponsored by the MIT Black Students’ Union and held in room 32-123 of the Stata Center.
Externship numbers increase
A record 1208 students sent in over 3000 applications to the MIT Alumni Association’s Externship Program this year, according to Katie C. Maloney, Director of Parent Association and Student/Alumni Relations. Over a third of the applicants plan to spend this January’s Independent Activities Period (IAP) working with alumni sponsors worldwide.
Warm up on the way
The pesky trough which kept weather in the area cold and rainy this week will gradually transition to the east tonight. A ridge will begin to influence the eastern US tomorrow, allowing highs to reach the lower 40s°F (5°C). On Sunday, the ridge amplifies allowing much warmer air to overspread the region. Southerly winds will notch highs into the lower 50s°F (10°C) and bring overcast skies to the area. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. We finally make it into the lower 60s °F (10°C) on Monday, but the trade-off is rainy weather.
CORRECTIONS
In the Friday, Nov. 14 issue of The Tech, a photo caption states the MIT water polo team won the Collegiate Water Polo Association Northern Division Championships when in fact they did not.
Board’s chair on future of Institute
Leadership of MIT’s Corporation changed hands this fall, with Robert B. Millard ’73 elected as the Corporation’s new chairman.
Olympic Committee visits MIT regarding Boston bid
On Nov. 18, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) visited Boston and MIT’s campus to evaluate Boston’s bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games, according to the MIT News Office.
Obama, Democrats snub Prof. Gruber over remarks on health care law
MIT economics professor Jonathan H. Gruber ’87, often referred to as a key Obamacare “architect,” has come under fire recently for videos from 2012 and 2013 in which he calls American voters “stupid” and attributes the passage of the Affordable Care Act in part to “basic exploitation of the lack of economic understanding of the American voter,” according to press reports from this past weekend.
CORRECTIONS
An article about the Newbury Street Shutdown march in the Friday, Nov. 14 issue of The Tech incorrectly left the date of the event unspecified. It occurred Oct. 25.
Guichard-Ashbrook remembered
Work and marriage brought Danielle Guichard-Ashbrook to India, Japan, and Hong Kong, where she studied, taught, and assisted refugees. That was ample preparation to direct MIT’s International Students Office, but her emotional resume was just as pronounced. To sense the struggle of adapting to a distant new home, she needed only to look inside her heart.
Parents Weekend policy reignites dorm security talk
Dormitory security procedures during Parents Weekend have rekindled undergraduate resentment toward new security policies implemented at the beginning of the semester.