Burns to give Commencement address
Today, at the end of MIT’s 150th anniversary celebrations, the Institute holds its 145th commencement ceremony. MIT will be awarding degrees to 983 undergraduates and 1,471 graduate students. Collectively, 1,161 bachelor’s degrees, 1,547 master’s degrees, and 609 doctoral degrees were awarded by MIT, according to Registrar Mary Callahan.
Lewin gives final lecture In emotional goodbye, physics prof. wows 26-100
With a crown of tousled grey hair on his head, a shroud of rainbow-stripes on his shoulders, and a large plastic fuchsia ring twisting around his left middle finger, legendary physics professor Walter H. G. Lewin set down his piece of dull yellow chalk for the last time, marking the completion of his final lecture at MIT.
MITIMCo real estate development (expected over next decade)
MITIMCo real estate development (expected over next decade)
Academic construction and renovation (expected over next decade)
Academic construction and renovation (expected over next decade)
26 admitted from waitlist
Despite a significant increase in the number of students given a spot on this year’s waitlist, fewer undergraduates were admitted off the list due to a high admissions yield — 65 percent of admitted students accepted offers to enroll. About 1000 applicants for the Class of 2015 were waitlisted, compared to 722 students for the Class of 2014. Of the students who chose to remain on the waitlist this year, only 26 (3.6 percent) were admitted.
Emily, always.
Emily Obert ’11 fell on a clear warm day almost exactly like today. The kind of day when, in her faint Virginia twang, she might order you to stop sitting around and go outside.
Help Desk relocates to E17
Help Desk will soon have a new home. The MIT IS&T Computing Help Desk is relocating to the first floor of Building E17 at 40 Ames St. Help Desk’s N42 location will close at 1 p.m. today, and weekday walk-in hours from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. will resume Monday in E17. Additional customer service operations are moving to the sixth and seventh floors of E19.
News Briefs
Theresa M. Stone SM ’76, MIT’s executive vice president (EVP) and treasurer, announced on May 17 that she would step down from her position in the fall, which she has held since February 2007.
Joichi Ito set to lead Media Lab
Joichi “Joi” Ito, who was recently named the new director of the Media Lab, took the time to talk with The Tech about his ideas and perspective on the future of the Media Lab. Despite not having a college degree, Joi has made a name for himself in the technological and entrepreneurial world. Joi is currently a general partner of Neoteny Labs and chairman of Creative Commons, a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating the sharing of intellectual property. Yesterday, Joi announced that he will be helping to launch LinkedIn Japan, a job that he describes in his blog as the “last ‘real job’ before I transition over completely to the Media Lab role.”
Professor’s presidency criticized
Students and faculty at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have become concerned over a recent spate of suicides at the university. Since January, four students and a professor have killed themselves, with the most recent student suicide occurring on April 7. Criticism has mounted against President Nam P. Suh ’59 — an MIT professor emeritus — who has been accused of contributing to the suicides by increasing academic competition through his policies. Nine student suicides have occurred since the beginning of Suh’s presidency.
Global Challenge added to IDEAS
Last Friday, MIT announced the winners of its annual IDEAS (Innovation, Development, Enterprise, Action, and Service) Competition and Global Challenge. Over forty teams, consisting of everyone from undergraduates to non-MIT affiliates, competed for up to $150,000 in awards.
UA Finboard — Summer 2011 Allocations Top Ten Allocations Bottom Eleven Allocations Notes
UA Finboard — Summer 2011 Allocations
Dorms to see renovations this summer
Next House, New House, Random Hall, and Bexley Hall will be closed this summer for renovations, according to the MIT Department of Housing. Scheduled major projects include a new fire alarm and sprinkler system in New House and a new front desk for Next House.
New UA VP appointed
Last night, the Undergraduate Association Senate swore in President Allan E. Miramonti ’13 and confirmed vice presidential appointee TyShaun Wynter ’13. Wynter was one of seven students that applied for the position following the resignation of former Vice President-Elect Alec C. Lai ’13. Wynter is currently New House President, and has not had any previous experience with the UA.
Stem cell plaintiffs propose schedule
In a filing yesterday afternoon, James L. Sherley and Theresa A. Deisher, the two scientists suing the federal government to stop NIH-funded human embryonic stem cell research, have proposed a schedule for the long-stalled case to continue.
Bicyclists disgruntled over Bldg. 26 ramp move
The recent removal of the ramp just west of Building 26 has upset cyclists who rely on that section of sidewalk to go about their daily business. Up until a few weeks ago, the curb from the roadway between Buildings 12 and 24 had a ramp in the center, and bicyclists and skateboarders travelled through the Bldg. 26 underpass and toward the Stata Center.
Smile, MIT! You’re on the Mood Meter
Are MIT students happier on Fridays? Do midterms prevent students from smiling? Does the weather influence the mood of the campus?
T stop’s Pythagoras is back
The familiar sound of bells has been resurrected at the Kendall T Station after a 13-month restoration effort of Pythagoras by the MIT Kendall Band Preservation Society. The swinging set of aluminum chimes — controlled via handles mounted on the walls of the station — was created by local artist Paul Matisse for the station 23 years ago. It deteriorated to the point where the platform controls became dysfunctional in 2007 due to wear and tear.
Engagement on Walker continues
The relationship between student groups in Walker Memorial and the administration has improved in the past few months with the formation of the Walker Memorial Assessment Team. In late March, the Graduate Student Council Task Force on Walker Memorial formally joined with the administration to form the team, chaired by Associate Provost Martin A. Schmidt PhD ’88. Representatives from the Undergraduate Association, the Music and Theater Arts faculty, Dean of Student Life Costantino Colombo, Dean of Graduate Student Education Christine Ortiz, and several faculty support staff are also part of the coalition.