Planning Board rejects Novartis courtyard proposal
On July 17, the Cambridge Planning Board reviewed Novartis’ plans for fencing its public access courtyard at the new Novartis campus. The board rejected the plans due to concerns over the courtyard security, requiring Novartis to come back with a new proposal.
New 2-A curriculum to be introduced in the fall
This coming fall, students in Course 2 (Mechanical Engineering) will see the introduction of a new Course 2-A curriculum, the modified, more flexible version of the traditional Course 2 track. Incoming sophomores, the class of 2015, will have their choice between the current 2-A curriculum and this new one, while students from the class of 2016 on will go into the new curriculum. For more information, see The Tech’s previous coverage of the announcement of the new program in April Edward E. Burnell ’12, a Course 2 senior, sat down with Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Course 2-A program coordinator Annette Hosoi, to ask about the proposed changes.
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: Higgs boson developments
This summer I have had the opportunity to work with the MIT physics faculty at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, near Geneva, Switzerland. CERN is home to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), and I am here with a group of MIT professors, postdocs, grad students, and undergrads working on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS). And yes, this is at the heart of the search for the Higgs boson. I have witnessed most of the biggest behind-the-scenes events over the past month and will share them here.
Five dorms to have RLADs in coming fall
Last Monday, July 2, new details regarding the Residential Life Area Director positions were released. On-campus interviews will begin next Monday, July 15. The selected RLADs would step into their roles no later than Aug. 3.
Zoning changes for Kendall begin to gel
At tonight’s meeting of the Cambridge Planning Board, the City’s Community Development department presented a draft recommendation of planned zoning changes for Kendall Square.
Memorable Fourth of July show!
Earth, wind, rain, and fire were on the menu for this July 4th. I gathered my blanket and camera, donned my backpack, and was ready to sit on the esplanade through the weather to see the fireworks spectacular that so many people descend upon Boston to get a glimpse of. As someone who spent their life watching fireworks on TV, I was more than excited to see the Boston Pops Fireworks spectacular on July 4th.
CORRECTIONS
The article about the Inman Square shootings in the June 13 2012 issue of The Tech incorrectly noted that the shooting happened “on Sunday night”. The shooting happened on the previous Sunday, June 3.
Landlines set to be removed from dorm rooms
According to a statement released by the Division of Student Life last week, landline telephones will be removed from all on-campus dorm bedrooms by the end of summer.
Car Talk will move to syndication
The popular radio show Car Talk hosted by MIT alumni brothers Tom Magliozzi ’58 and Ray Magliozzi ’72 will stop new episodes in Septemnber; reruns will continue in syndication. Car Talk was first broadcast by WBUR in 1977, and was picked up by the National Public Radio ten years later. Car Talk has been broadcast on NPR for the last 25 years.
Chris Kaiser becomes provost
Chris A. Kaiser PhD ’87, former head of the department of Biology, assumed the role of provost on July 2. He succeeds L. Rafael Reif, who became president on July 2. The provost is the Institute’s senior academic and budget officer and is in charge of recruiting faculty as well as MIT’s educational programs.
Class of 2012 senior survey
As the Class of 2012 finished their last semester as undergraduates, MIT administered to all seniors the online Senior Survey, asking them to reflect on their experience at MIT and their plans for the future. MIT conducts a senior survey once every two years. Of the 1046 seniors this year, 72.8 percent responded to the survey (“answered at least one question”).
House’s suit against US marches forward
Attorneys have agreed upon a schedule in House v. Napolitano, where David M. House is suing the federal government because they confiscated his laptop at a border crossing and held it for 49 days. The case is in Massachusetts federal district court.
Selecting Reif for president
How hard was it to select L. Rafael Reif as MIT’s 17th president? By all accounts, everyone wanted Reif.
Sal Khan gives a Commencement speech of love, empathy, and optimism.
The following is a transcript of the speech given by Salman Khan on June 8, 2012 during MIT’s Commencement.
Drive-by shooting in Inman Square leaves one teen dead
Charlene “Chay” Holmes, 16, was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting outside 34-36 Willow St. near Inman Square on Sunday night, roughly one mile from MIT. Her companion, Thanillee Cotto-Felix, 17, was also shot and remains in critical condition.
CORRECTIONS
The table “Selected other university president’s 2010 compensation” that accompanied last Friday’s article about top salaries at MIT incorrectly listed the compensations for President Hockfield. Hockfield’s 2010 paid and total compensations were $832,629 and $1,000,969, not $1,260,427 and $1,316,463, respectively.