NEWS BRIEFS
According to an MIT News Office press release, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) included five MIT professors in the group of 388 scientists it named as fellows last Tuesday.
Willis H. Ware, computer engineer, dies
Willis H. Ware SM ’42, an electrical engineer who in the late 1940s helped build a machine that would become a blueprint for computer design in the 20th century, and who later played an important role in defining the importance of personal privacy in the information age, died Nov. 22 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 93.
1983: MIT’s first sorority rush
Editor’s Note: This article originally ran 30 years ago in Issue 54 of Volume 103 of The Tech on Friday, Dec. 2, 1983. “From the Archives” is the first of a recurring segment where we reprint articles from The Tech’s archives that are relevant or interesting to today’s MIT community.
Retailer Amazon announces drone delivery plan
SAN FRANCISCO — Hard to believe, but there was once a time when the visionaries worked for the government. Rebuilding a ruined Europe, putting a man on the moon, ending poverty, connecting the American interior with highways — these were immense tasks undertaken, and often achieved, by bureaucrats.
Oxytocin and social behavior
Scientists have been eager to see if the hormone oxytocin, which plays a role in emotional bonding, trust, and many biological processes, can improve social behavior in people with autism. Some parents of children with autism have asked doctors to prescribe it, although it is not an approved treatment for autism, or have purchased lower-dose versions of the drug over the counter.
John Mikhael awarded Rhodes
John G. Mikhael ’13 has received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University next year, the Rhodes Trust announced Saturday. Mikhael is one of 32 U.S. students and the only MIT student this year to receive the prestigious scholarship.
Koch childcare center meets parent demand
On Oct. 1, MIT opened a new daycare center at 219 Vassar Street. The center, known as David H. Koch Childcare Center or TCC Koch, is the fourth of MIT’s Technology Childcare Center (TCC) facilities. Three other on-campus centers are located at Eastgate, Westgate, Stata, and the fourth is in Lincoln, Mass., serving all MIT affiliates including Lincoln Labs employees. Additionally, there is also an on-campus infant care room in Building 68.
Kavli, benefactor of science prizes, dies
Fred Kavli, a physicist who left Norway for California as a young man and made millions manufacturing sensors for appliances, automobiles and aircraft, then late in life began donating much of his fortune to science, establishing a major prize he intended to rival the Nobel, died Thursday, Nov. 21 at his home in Santa Barbara, Calif. He was 86.
Externship numbers
This January, 339 undergraduate and graduate students will be participating in alumni-sponsored externships. Now in its 17th year of operation, the externship program is run by the MIT Alumni Association and provides students with opportunities to explore career paths during the January Independent Activities Period (IAP). This year, 993 students submitted 2,459 applications (a student can apply for up to three externships); 861 were undergraduates and 132 were graduate students.
Sparse attendance plagues faculty meetings
In a first for this semester, the November faculty meeting reached quorum on Wednesday when more than 30 faculty members showed up. MIT has about 1,000 faculty members.
Gender-inclusive policies expanding
MIT Residential Life & Dining is planning to initiate gender-inclusive housing policies across campus, expanding upon the implementation of such a policy in Random Hall and Senior House. Students opting for gender-inclusive housing would be able to room with people of different genders and gender identities, which would be ideal for students who have preferences about the gender identities of their roommates.
NEWS BRIEFS
The official results of the Cambridge Municipality Council and School Committee elections show no changes in the winners from the previous unofficial results, simply the order of the candidates elected. Four new city councillors: Dennis Benzan, Marc C. McGovern, Dennis J. Carlone, and Nadeem A. Mazen ’06 were elected, while two incumbents: Ken E. Reeves and Minka Y. vanBeuzekom were defeated. Two city council seats will be filled by MIT alumni: Mazen is also MIT’s head squash coach, and Leland Cheung MBA ’12 was reelected.
Task force releases new report on MIT education
In an email to the MIT community yesterday, President L. Rafael Reif released the preliminary report of the Institute-wide Task Force on the Future of MIT Education. Last February, Reif charged the Task Force to explore “bold” possibilities of the future of MIT education both on campus and for those around the world, in addition to evaluating MIT’s financial model and pricing structures. The work was split among three working groups, focused on the future of the MIT education and facilities, the global implications of edX, and a new financial model for education.
Bexlians modify illustrations in new community space
Former residents of Bexley Hall had to modify illustrations in the Pritchett Lounge in Walker Memorial last week that were deemed offensive by the Campus Activities Complex (CAC). In August, the former Bexley residents were given use of the room in Walker Memorial, meant to serve as a community space, following the closure of Bexley in May.
Athena clusters scheduled to be renovated or closed
MIT’s Athena clusters, which have not seen a significant upgrade since their creation in the 1980s, will soon be receiving a long-awaited upgrade. Although construction in several buildings will lead to the temporary closure of some clusters and three will be permanently closed, there are plans to renovate the Student Center cluster, and eventually, other public computing spaces.
Haiyan aid lagging
BASEY, Philippines — When Typhoon Haiyan hit this coastal town, residents ran for Saint Michael the Archangel Church. Now, 10 days later, more than 100 of them remain.