Institute turns 150
One hundred and fifty years ago this Sunday, Massachusetts Governor John Andrew put pen to parchment, signing a charter to create the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The April 10, 1861 charter, as passed by the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives, called for an institute to advance “science in connection with arts, agriculture, manufactures and commerce.” A century and a half later, those words greet students as they make their daily passage through Lobby 7. Though the 1861 charter’s words continue to inspire the Institute’s mission today, the MIT of 2011 is the product of 150 years of development, evolving from a small tech school across the Charles to the world’s leading research university.
Maseeh dining facility named Howard Dining Hall
With about five months left until its opening, Maseeh Hall’s dining facility now has a name. The 360-person dining hall was named Howard Dining Hall by the anonymous donor whose contribution set the renovations of the former graduate residence hall into motion. According to an April 7 MIT News Office article, “‘Howard’ has significant personal meaning for the donor, but it is not the donor’s name.”
College Board, other companies send spam warnings
Prefrosh, beware! SAT scores and monthly newsletters may not be the only thing College Board puts in your inbox. Last weekend, hackers broke into Epsilon Data Management LLC’s systems, gaining access to customers’ names and e-mail addresses. Epsilon, a marketing company for large companies like Best Buy, JPMorgan Chase, and College Board, sends more than 40 billion emails annually. While no financial information — like credit card numbers or social security numbers — was compromised, Reuters reports that this data breach could be “one of the biggest such breaches in U.S. history.”
Big Screw nominations and Thursday totals
This week, Alpha Phi Omega hosted its annual charity fundraiser, the Big Screw, which recognizes the MIT faculty or staff member who “screws” students the most. Each cent donated to each nominee’s charity of choice counts as one vote, and the winner is awarded a 3-foot-long left-handed screw engraved with their name, which is passed down from year to year. Heading into its last day, the Big Screw has raised just over $745, with Professor of Mathematics Pavel Etingof maintaining his lead with $149.94 for the American Cancer Society.
Paul Harris
Hi everyone! My name is Paul Harris (yes, there was a movie that just premiered entitled Paul, but I advise you to wait until the DVD comes out). I am in Boston for my first time for CPW, and I must say, it is a huge change from what I am accustomed to. I’m originally from Atlanta, Ga., where the spring and summers are sweltering and the AC is always broken, so being in Boston — where the temperatures can drop as low as 50°F in April — is a huge change for me. My experience during my first day at MIT (where I’ve been enjoying the seemingly infinite amounts of free food and dance parties) has been idyllic! I’ve never seen so many people willing to just hand me food!
Changes to draft of new UA structure
After a week of deliberation, the Undergraduate Association Ad-Hoc Committee on Restructuring presented several changes to bill 42 UAS 14.2, UA President Vrajesh Y. Modi ’11’s proposed overhaul of the UA governing structure. The most significant change is the expansion of the proposed Council of Representatives — which would replace the UA Senate should 14.2 be approved — from 16 to 20 members, adding three additional representatives from the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and one additional representative from the Panhellenic Association (Panhel). According to Committee Chair Timothy R. Jenks ’13, current senator of fraternities, the additional members were added in response to Committee concerns of underrepresentation of affiliated Greek students on the Council.
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK Professors speak on worldviews at Veritas Forum
Life, the universe, and MIT — how do these relate? At this year’s annual MIT Veritas Forum, four MIT professors answered this question and shared their views on religion. Approximately 550 people gathered in Kresge Auditorium last Saturday to attend the event, jointly sponsored by the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, the Large Event Fund, and the MIT United Christian Organization. In welcoming the speakers and audience to the forum, Anna Fung ’11 — a member of the Veritas planning committee — said that the hope was to “hear more of a personal, philosophical side of professors.” Moderated by Rosalind W. Picard ScD ’91, founder and director of the Affective Computing Group at the Media Lab, the forum opened with each of the professors briefly sharing their views on life at MIT, religion, and life’s meaning.
City picks Kendall study firm
Cambridge City Council yesterday selected Goody Clancy & Associates, a Boston architecture and planning firm, as consultants for the forthcoming study on the future of urban development in the area between Kendall and Central Squares. The study will define processes and implement changes that account for “missed opportunities” between the squares and bring together the wide array of existing plans and zoning change proposals that are in progress in the area.
Big Screw nominations and Monday totals
The Institute Screw Contest, commonly known as the Big Screw, is an annual charity fundraiser hosted by Alpha Chi Omega that raises money for a variety of causes. Faculty or staff who “screw” over students can be nominated by anyone and select their favorite charity that students donate to as a “vote” for that particular professor. One cent is equal to one vote. So far, the Big Screw has received $235.79 total with Pavel Etingof, Professor of Mathematics, in the lead with $107.78 for the American Cancer Society.
Student center repairs to be finished by end of April
MIT Facilities Manager of Communications Ruth T. Davis said that renovation outside W20 is expected to be finished by the end of April. The project, which began in March and is scheduled to be completed in time for the MIT150 Open House on April 30, is repairing areas “damaged from storms and vehicular activity,” according to Davis. According to the MIT Facilities website (), construction will be taking place Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., with additional work on Saturdays.
Former security guard replies to lawsuit
Russell J. Novello, the former Next House security guard who is being sued by Wolfe B. Styke G, submitted his response to the lawsuit last week on Tuesday. Novello was the security guard who provided Anna L. Tang access to Styke’s room, which enabled her to stab Styke in his sleep in October 2007.
Novartis selects Maya Lin as architect for new complex
Novartis has selected Maya Lin, the designer of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., as the architect and designer of its new campus to be built on Massachusetts Avenue just north of MIT, at the former Analog Devices site, between Albany Street and Windsor Street.
Narrowing the gender divide
In 1999, a group of women faculty members came together to report on the experience of being a tenured female faculty member at MIT. According to the original report, women faculty “proved to be underpaid, to have unequal access to the resources of MIT, to be excluded from any substantive power within the University.”
Student leaders consider governance overhaul
At the Undergraduate Association (UA) Senate meeting on Monday, March 28, UA President Vrajesh Y. Modi ’11 proposed a total overhaul of the UA Constitution to address internal organizational issues, in conjunction with 42 UAS 14.2, the Bill to Unify the Undergraduate Student Voice at MIT. The UA passed a bill proposed by Senate Speaker Jonté M. Craighead ’13 — 42 UAS 14.1 — which formed an ad-hoc committee to review the current structure of the UA and to consider the changes proposed in 14.2. Together, the bills may mark the beginning of the end of the UA Senate.
McCormick refugees flee to MacG, BC
Sophomores and juniors at McCormick Hall have been given the option of moving to Burton Conner or MacGregor next fall due to dissatisfaction with the new dining plan. The former McCormick residents will be integrated as formal residents of their new houses, residing in non-dining communities that maintain the single-sex aspect of living in McCormick.
Disaster-struck Japan faces power gap for months
TOKYO — The term “rolling blackouts” has become shorthand for noting one way Japan is trying to cope with its national calamity.