Chemical spill reveals some flaws in MIT Alert
On Tuesday afternoon, a chemical spill in the Dreyfus Building (18) prompted the evacuation of the building and exposed problems in the campus-wide emergency communication process.
Murder charges against MIT alum dropped
Prosecutors dropped a murder charge against former Media Lab employee Geoffrey V. Wilson ’02 on Sept. 18. Wilson, who had been free on bail, was accused of shaking his baby to death in 2010.
Despite concerns, bitcoin startups get ample VC funding New startups announce investors
Even though concerns remain about the digital currency‚ staying power, bitcoin startups are attracting more dollars from well-known venture capitalists.
MIT Chapel undergoing major maintenance and renovations
The MIT Chapel has been temporarily closed for a substantial renovation process, which will include key restorations and upgrades to the more than half-century-old building.
Excess postdocs causes quiet crisis
The life of the humble biomedical postdoctoral researcher was never easy: toiling in obscurity in a low-paying scientific apprenticeship that can stretch more than a decade. The long hours were worth it for the expected reward — the chance to launch an independent laboratory and do science that could expand human understanding of biology and disease.
Investigation ensues after Harvard students receive death threats
This past Friday afternoon, hundreds of Harvard University students and affiliates received identical death threats via email from a “hotmail.de” address and a Google Mail address. The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) reported no suspicious activity on campus immediately following the email distribution.
CORRECTIONS
In the October 3rd issue of The Tech, the article titled “MIT community reflects on recent deaths, ‘opens doors’” implied that the gathering was organized by Cru, when it was in fact organized by students in Cru. Students from several different Christian fellowships participated in the gathering.
Bexley demolition to begin next summer
The demolition of Bexley Hall is projected to take place in the summer of 2015 according to MIT, but the site will have a temporary use before a permanent structure is built there.
Phoebe Wang recalled fondly for humor, spirit
Editor’s Note: The remembrance below was provided to MIT News by Phoebe Wang’s family.
MIT community reflects on recent deaths, ‘opens doors’
This past Monday, students, professors, and administrators came together at noon to reflect on the recent deaths in the MIT community. Following the death of Phoebe Wang ’17, Chancellor Cynthia A. Barnhart PhD ’88 and student leaders called upon the community to take part in a 15-minute reflection on Monday, calling it an “All Doors Open” period.
Windows 10 on the horizon
SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft appears to believe that the next version of its operating system is such a big change that it’s calling the software Windows 10, skipping the more logical Windows 9.
‘How to Start a Startup’ comes to MIT
The MIT Undergraduate Association’s Innovation Committee began a series of informal evening classes last week, offering live streaming sessions of Stanford University’s “How to Start a Startup” course.
FNL speaks on Kendall design plan
The newest edition of the MIT Faculty Newsletter includes an editorial and article addressing the East Campus development process — both in response to the update on the plan from this summer broadcast by Provost Martin A. Schmidt PhD ’88. The article, written by Architecture Department Head J. Meejin Yoon, outlines the heavy involvement of the School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P), in developing a revised vision for the design project.
China limits spread of Hong Kong news
BEIJING — Chinese officials moved quickly to control news reports of the pro-democracy demonstrations that began in Hong Kong over the weekend and by Sunday night had turned into the largest street clashes in decades between civilians and the territory’s police force.
CORRECTIONS
The InShort section of Friday’s issue misstated the date of Add Date. It is Friday October 3, not October 4.
Snapshot of First Year Survey results for Class of 2018
MIT recently administered the annual First Year Survey to members of the class of 2018. The survey aims to gain a better insight into the class’s “demographic characteristics, expectations of the college experience, secondary school experiences, degree goals and career plans, college finances, attitudes, values, and life goals, and reasons for attending college,” according the survey’s description provided by MIT Institutional Research (IR).
NEWS BRIEFS
In an effort to increase interaction between students and faculty outside the classroom, the Undergraduate Association Committee on Education and the Division of Student Life announced a new initiative — Faculty in Dining Halls.