Ann Wolpert, director of libraries, dies at 70
Ann Wolpert, MIT’s director of libraries since 1996, has died after a brief illness. She was 70 years old.
Institute reactions to the federal shutdown
On Monday at midnight, the U.S. Congress remained deadlocked on passing this fiscal year’s budget, causing the federal government to partially shutdown starting on Tuesday. Many non-essential federal employees across a wide number of agencies have been furloughed, some to the point of complete cessation. The webpages of several of these agencies including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have been replaced with landing pages stating that the website cannot be maintained during the shutdown.
Twitter becomes favored diplomatic venue after UN
UNITED NATIONS — Countries all over the world, dictatorships and democracies alike, have in the past few years sought to tame — or plug entirely — that real-time fire hose of public opinion known as Twitter.
IN SHORT
Today is Add Date! This is the last day to add subjects to Fall registration, change electives to or from Jr/Sr P/D/F grading, change subjects to or from Exploratory for sophomores, or change a subject from Listener to Credit. The add/drop forms can be found at http://web.mit.edu/registrar/reg/add-drop.html.
Institute reaches out to first-generation students
CAMBRIDGE — To the legions of students who have been tutored and molded and prodded toward a top college most of their young lives, it would be an absurd question: How many of you had to explain to your parents what MIT is?
Rape cases allow more appeals
Under new procedures announced by Professor Robert P. Redwine at the Sept. 18 faculty meeting, complainants may now appeal decisions of the Committee on Discipline (COD) in sexual-assault cases. The COD is a standing committee of the faculty charged with “investigating complaints against students’ academic [and non-academic] misconduct.”
Tensions rise as students, faculty address BC murals controversy
Tensions have escalated in the controversy over the removal and modification of certain interior wall murals in Burton-Conner and the manner in which students were notified. Last Friday, a variety of posters appeared around campus referring to the controversy, spurring reactions from both students and faculty.
MIT hosts community meeting about Title IX, professors win MacArthur Grants
Earlier this week, posters related to the removal of Burton-Conner murals were displayed around the MIT campus. Barbara Baker, the Title IX Co-Coordinator for MIT, wrote an email to the Burton-Conner community in response to concerns about these posters, encouraging residents to attend a community meeting to “discuss MIT’s policy against sexual harassment and misconduct in compliance with Title IX,” among other topics.
Rush 2013 sees more students rushing, over 50 percent of freshman men pledging
The first week of the academic year marked another successful Rush period, according to IFC Rush Chair Haldun Anil ’15. Of the 451 bids MIT fraternity chapters issued to 381 students, 330 have accepted their bids, accounting for more than half of the male freshmen population. (Not all students issued bids were freshmen.) These numbers are an increase over 2012 when 440 bids were issued to 375 students, yielding 324 pledges, and 2011 when 455 bids were offered to 369 students, yielding 321 pledges. Historical records show that the number of bids issued has remained fairly constant over the years but that the number of students receiving bids has increased steadily since around 2009.
Small offices for profs during renovations Courses 14, 18 move to cramped spaces
After being relocated into smaller offices due to renovations of their buildings, the Mathematics and Economics Departments are optimistic, though frustrated with their situation.
Regulators fine British firm ICAP $87 mil in Libor scandal
LONDON — U.S. and British authorities moved a step further Wednesday in their investigation into the manipulation of the benchmark interest rate known as Libor, fining the British financial firm ICAP a combined $87 million for its role.
Google alters search engine to handle complex queries
Google on Thursday announced one of the biggest changes ever to its search engine, a rewriting of its algorithm to handle more complex queries that affects 90 percent of all searches.
Innovation Initiative
President L. Rafael Reif announced Friday a new Innovation Initiative at MIT for research and education focused on the role of manufacturing in “accelerating” innovation, which he called the “signature competitive advantage” of the United States.
MIT Medical administered 13,492 flu vaccines in 2012
In addition to changing leaves and cooler temperatures, October brings with it the official start to flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu season can last until May. In response, MIT Medical will once again hold free flu vaccination clinics.
Slight increase in bids given in sorority recruitment
The MIT Panhellenic Association held sorority recruitment for five of MIT’s six sororities beginning Aug. 31 with an afternoon kickoff on Kresge Oval and ending with bid night on Sept. 4. The “4-day process [is] designed to introduce [women] to MIT sorority life,” according to the association’s online FAQ page.
Experimental treatment for muscular dystrophy
Terri Ellsworth is convinced that her 12-year-old son Billy, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is being helped by an experimental drug that counteracts the genetic mutation causing his disease.
FYRE results reveal disparity in dorm demand
This was the second year of the First Year Residence Exchange (FYRE), the process allowing freshmen to switch their dorm assignment. Participation dropped from 159 to 124 students. As of this year, students could no longer move into Maseeh Hall during FYRE, but the total number of moves increased from 96 to 107.