Mass Ave./Vassar St. intersection a deadly hazard
CAMBRIDGE — As the traffic signal turned red Friday morning, Marcia Pearson paused her lavender bicycle in the middle of Vassar Street.
MITx vs. OCW
MITx differs from OpenCourseWare (OCW) in several important ways, but there is the possibility of confusing the two. Here’s a breakdown of what MITx is and what it isn’t, and how it compares to OCW.
Weapon caused spacecraft’s failure?
MOSCOW — A Russian scientific spacecraft whizzing out of control around the Earth, and expected to re-enter the atmosphere on Saturday, may have failed because it was struck by some type of anti-satellite weapon, the director of Russia’s space agency said in an interview published Tuesday.
Can an MIT professor save the USPS?
With the United States Postal Service (USPS) on the verge of eliminating 35,000 jobs to avoid bankruptcy, government officials are desperately seeking solutions to avert the crisis. MIT might have one. In the coming months, MIT Professor and the holder of the first copyright to “EMAIL,” Shiva Ayyadurai will be working on a proposal that will investigate how the USPS could save thousands of jobs by entering the email management industry .
MITx is beginning of sweeping new online push
MIT is developing an online educational platform that will be open-sour, largely free, and let users outside of MIT earn certificates for completing Institute-caliber courses online. MIT hopes the initiative, internally dubbed "MITx" will change the way students learn on-campus — by incorporating elements of MITx into existing curricula — and push MIT's educational reach beyond campus borders in a way the current OpenCourseWare (OCW) cannot.
MIT 2010 alum killed in traffic accident
Phyo Kyaw ’10, 23, was killed last night after he was struck by a truck while riding his bicycle at the intersection of Vassar St. and Massachusetts Ave.
Walker Memorial’s future is unknown
The future of Walker Memorial remains a mystery to administrators and student groups alike. In October 2010, members of the administration, including Associate Provost Martin A. Schmidt PhD ’88, announced that plans were in the works to assess the feasibility of a project to repurpose and restore Walker Memorial for use by the Music and Theater Arts department (MTA). Although progress has been made on the project over the summer and this past semester, there is no clear end in sight.
Woof! Puppies to invade campus
If you find yourself in finals week distress, MIT Libraries hopes to help you de-stress with its upcoming “Cookies with Canines” study breaks.
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK Occupy protesters make last stand Thursday
Over 1,000 Occupy protesters gathered for one last stand at Dewey Square on Thursday — making it clear that they would not be deterred Mayor Menino’s notice that after midnight, protesters in the area would be subject to “arrest and criminal prosecution,” according to the Boston Herald.
2.009 projects are ‘on the go,’ mobilizing the world
On Monday Dec. 12, students in 2.009, Product Engineering Processes, presented their final projects to an overflowing Kresge Auditorium. Students worked in assigned teams of 11 to 13 people throughout the semester to develop ideas, design products, and build prototypes related to the “on the go” theme. Each had a $6,500 budget and help from professors and shop instructors as they refined their projects. Eight teams presented during the event, which included live music and audience involvement. Eight-minute presentations were followed by five minutes of audience questions.
Alleged assault and battery in Tang Hall
On Sunday morning, a female resident of Tang Hall reported that an unknown male entered her bedroom, attempted to hold her down on the bed, and asked repeatedly for a kiss, according to MIT Police.
Triple homicide in Cambridge
An investigation is under way for a triple homicide followed by a suicide that occurred in Cambridge on Friday, Dec. 9. At 6:40 p.m., police responded to reports of gunshots at a home on Grove Street (North Cambridge), where they discovered three deceased victims. A man was reportedly seen leaving the scene in a white Toyota Camry. After heavily armed police officers searched for several hours, the suspect’s body was found at 10 p.m. along the river at 1400 Soldiers Field Road, near the Brighton State Police Barracks. The suspect apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Students head off to varied externships
When Celena Chan ’12 applied for her externship with Bank of America Merrill Lynch last year, she was looking for some real world experience and a look into the professional world.
MIT fined $125k for shipping unlabled hazardous materials
MIT has paid the Federal Aviation Administration a $125,000 fine for failure to properly label hazardous materials shipped through Federal Express that resulted in a fire on Aug. 25, 2009.
Khan represents MIT mission
Salman A. Khan ’98 — founder of the Khan Academy and MIT’s 146th commencement keynote speaker — has found a new popularity at his alma mater. The Tech’s Tuesday article on Khan’s selection as commencement speaker had been shared on Facebook 453 times as of yesterday evening. But where did the idea to select Khan, the youngest commencement speaker in at least 30 years, come from?
Block meal plan for IAP
This Independent Activities Period (IAP), MIT will be offering an optional “block meal plan” to students to fill the gap in service between the regular meal plan offered each semester.
Will Nightline be replaced?
Up until the spring of 2010, distressed students had a place to call for peer support from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every night of the term. The anonymous callers spoke to Nightline, a student-run and student-staffed peer-to-peer counseling, information, and support service that was originally advised by Student Support Services (S³). Nightline closed last year when the group stopped service to examine their impact on campus. After a year of evaluation, it has been determined that Nightline will not reopen and will instead be replaced by another peer support service.
Living Pink guide sheds light on LGBT views
At some point before arriving on campus, every incoming freshman wonders what his or her dormitory life is going to be like. Will I get along with my roommates? Will I like the people on my floor? What is the atmosphere of my dorm? Will I feel welcome?