Do students care about the election?
With just a month to go before the presidential election on November 6, MIT students are all talking politics. Or are they? In light of the first presidential debate, how do students feel about voting, elections, and politics in general this year?
Junot Diaz, MacArthur Grant winner
Often overshadowed by its engineering and science counterparts, the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS) at MIT has been called the “hidden jewel” of the Institute. Now, the SHASS has one more award to add to its list of accolades. On Oct. 2, the MacArthur Foundation announced that it had selected MIT professor Junot Diaz to receive a MacArthur Fellowship for his outstanding talent in fiction writing. The foundation awards about 20 so-called “Genius Grants” each year, which each come with $500,000 of no-strings-attached prize money in installments over five years.
The faculty newsletter on edX
Released approximately two weeks ago, the features views on edX from the faculty and highlights from the Faculty/Staff Quality of Life Survey conducted in the spring, in addition to continued coverage of MIT 2030 developments — such as the establishment of the Provost’s Task Force on Community Engagement in 2030 Planning — and graduate student housing difficulties. The Tech recently covered faculty involvement on MIT 2030 at http://tech.mit.edu/V132/N39/mit2030.html.
Police Log
Sept. 25 Bldg. E52 (50 Memorial Dr.) 4:00 p.m. Person left his wallet and cell phone in men’s room at the faculty club and when he realized it he went back and they were gone.
MongoDB courses to be offered via edX
Software company 10gen, developer of the popular MongoDB database platform, announced last week that it will be offering two free online courses on MongoDB, using the edX platform.
MIT & Cambridge statistics on crime
How has crime at MIT changed in the past two years? In 2011, the MIT Police received six reports of rape and 22 reports of liquor law violations referred for disciplinary action on MIT’s campus, according to the 2012 MIT Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, released on Friday by the MIT Police. These are the highest numbers since 2007. In 2010, there were three reports of rape and 38 reports of liquor law violations on campus at MIT.
A conversation with provost Chris Kaiser
After the festivities of L. Rafael Reif’s presidential inauguration subsided, Chris A. Kaiser PhD ’87, who succeeded Reif as provost, had a chance to sit down with The Tech and share his thoughts on his new position. The provost is MIT’s senior academic and budget officer who holds overall responsibility for the school’s education programs; he also oversees recruitment and promotion of faculty. Kaiser has been a member of the faculty since 1991, and the department head of Biology (Course 7) since 2004. Although offered a job as the director of National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) last fall, Kaiser decided to stay with the MIT community instead. He officially became provost on July 2.
New freshman class council
After a week of campaigning by the 2016 Class Council candidates, the UA announced the results of the election last Saturday. The freshman class elected Anish D. Punjabi ’16 as president and Pratyush “Priya” Kalluri ’16 as vice president. Of the 1140 freshmen, 40.5 percent voted this year, up from 33.5 percent last year. In previous years, senate elections were held concurrently with the freshman class council elections in the fall, but the Undergraduate Association (UA) disbanded the senate at the end of last year.
Great Dome to get skylight by next January
If all goes well, students studying in the Barker Reading Room will be able to see the light of day through an amethyst-colored skylight on the Great Dome by next January.
Career fair features 370+ companies
The inauguration of President L. Rafael Reif didn’t stop the students from scrambling to talk to companies at this year’s Career Fair on Friday. Johnson Ice Rink and the 3rd floor track were still packed with students hoping to network with the 370+ companies that attended this year’s fair.
Warren faces scrutiny over LTV Steel legal work
U.S. Senator Scott Brown has attacked Elizabeth Warren in recent days for her legal work on behalf of Travelers Insurance in an asbestos case, asserting that it undermines her reputation as a consumer advocate. But Travelers is not the only large corporation Warren has represented.
440 bids offered this Rush
During MIT fraternity Rush this fall, 375 rushees were offered a total of 440 bids (one person can receive more than one bid), which is an average of 1.18 bids per person, according to statistics provided by Interfraternity Council (IFC) president Thomas A. Anderson ’13. As of Monday, 324 rushees (86.4 percent) have pledged. MIT’s Panhellenic Association offered 173 bids this year, after 350 women registered for the first day of recruitment.
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: In ceremony, Reif takes helm of MIT
The past week was full of celebrations in honor of the inauguration of MIT’s 17th president, L. Rafael Reif. The events reached a peak Friday afternoon with the inaugural ceremony in Killian Court.
A Rhumba for Rafael Reif
Rafael Reif — has a rhythm all his own. Rafael Reif — is the one to set the tone. He brings a new solution to the techno revolution, Rafael Reif — is already in the zone.
Freshmen fare well on ASEs
The Class of 2016 showed typical or better than average overall performance on the Fall semester Advanced Standing Exams (ASEs).