East Campus website offers glimpse into residential life
Undergraduate students from the east side of campus have set up a website called “This is the East Side” that offers a glimpse into residential life at MIT. The project was prompted by a general “distrust that so many students have for the administration” and a community dinner with Chancellor Cynthia Barnhart PhD ’88 at East Campus, according to Jessica M. Parker ’15, the president of East Campus. Parker said that she and others involved in the project hope that it will narrow the “gap in perspective” between students and the administration.
CORRECTIONS
A Tech profile of undocumented students at MIT last Friday used a misleading word to describe the implementation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The policy was ordered by the Obama administration, not “passed.”
49-person assembly limit lifted for Cambridge, Brookline fraternities
Newly increased temporary assembly limits for MIT fraternity houses in Cambridge and Brookline were announced in an email to the Interfraternity Council executive board last Thursday.
Ebola case raises problems for NYC
New York City’s first confirmed case of Ebola has raised complicated logistical issues of how to trace the possible contacts of an infected patient in a city of more than 8 million people with a sprawling mass transit system and a large population of workers who commute every day from surrounding suburbs and states.
IN SHORT
Johnson Ice Rink is now open for the winter! The most recent skating schedule can always be found at http://web.mit.edu/athletics/www/skateschedule.pdf. Enjoy the first evening session of the season tonight from 7–11 p.m. Skate rentals are available during times the rink is open for $5 for MIT students and $7 for others. You must bring your own equipment to participate in recreational hockey.
Sarkis named dean of School of Architecture and Planning
Hashim Sarkis, practicing architect and current Aga Khan Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism in Muslim Societies at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design (GSD), was named the tenth dean of MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P). His appointment begins in January, formally succeeding Professor Adele Naude Santos.
Portions of SidPac to close for repairs
Sidney-Pacific, MIT’s largest singles graduate dormitory, will undergo renovations starting this coming summer to replace the main heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. As a result, sections of the building will be temporarily closed for renewal, displacing 370 residents from their rooms to other ends of the dormitory, off-campus, or elsewhere in the graduate dormitory system.
Judi Segall starts as ombudsperson
On Sept. 2, Judi Segall was welcomed in as MIT’s newest ombudsperson. In her new role, she will serve as a confidential resource to the MIT community by helping visitors attempt to constructively and peacefully resolve conflicts.
White House nominates AeroAstro Professor for top NASA position
Dava Newman PhD ’92, Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Housemaster of Baker House, was recently nominated by President Obama to be NASA’s deputy administrator.
Close races mark freshman elections
The Undergraduate Association released the results of the 2018 Class Council elections in an email sent to all freshmen on Friday. The class elected Colin O. Webb ’18 as president and Daysi N. Gomez ’18 as vice president.
More mental health visits
In the wake of recent campus deaths, students have been seeking mental health services in greater numbers, part of a general increase in mental health-related visits over the last five years, according to Alan E. Siegel, Chief of MIT’s Mental Health Service.
ASE pass rates up for most GIRs, especially biology
The Advance Standing Exam (ASE) takers, mostly students from the Class of 2018, generally did well on the tests during orientation this year, garnering an overall pass rate of 54.9 percent. This pass rate is slightly higher than last year’s 54.2 percent and 52-53 percent in recent years.
MIT Medical director steps down
After 14 years as the medical director of MIT Medical, William Kettyle, M.D., will be stepping down. According to MIT News, the announcement was made by Executive Vice President and Treasurer Israel Ruiz SM ’01 on Oct. 14 in an email to faculty and staff.
CORRECTIONS
An article about Kendall Square plans in the Friday, Oct. 17 issue of The Tech misstated the provost’s class year. He is Martin A. Schmidt PhD ’88. The article also misstated the name of a Graduate Student Council committee. It is the Housing & Community Affairs committee, not the Housing Community Activities committee.
Department of Chemical Engineering establishes new professorship
The Department of Chemical Engineering has recently announced the creation of the Raymond F. Baddour (1949) Chemical Engineering Professorship, a title meant for a distinguished faculty member within the department.
IN SHORT
MIT Medical will be administering flu shots tomorrow, Oct. 22 in Walker Memorial Lobby from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The clinic is walk-in — no appointment is needed. Children 9 and under are not eligible for the walk-in clinic in Cambridge and should schedule an appointment for their immunizations.
MIT and MGH distribute grants aimed towards supporting projects in clinical medicine
MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have recently allotted up to $3 million over a two-year period to fund research projects in clinical medicine, according to the MIT News Office. The projects will address in improving clinical diagnostics, treating infectious/autoimmune diseases, and diagnosing and treating major neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.
IN SHORT
MIT Medical will be administering flu shots next Wednesday, Oct. 22 in Walker Memorial Lobby from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The clinic is walk-in — no appointment is needed. Children 9 and under are not eligible for the walk-in clinic in Cambridge and should schedule an appointment for their immunizations.
Students from China differ on Hong Kong’s protestors
Some Chinese MIT students are working to raise awareness of the protests for democracy in Hong Kong, even as others see the protestors as too disruptive.