Number of Applicants Increases; Acceptance Rate Is Record 10.2%
The number of students applying to MIT increased by the largest margin in recent memory, thanks in part to a new partnership with a non-profit admissions organization and deteriorating economic conditions. As a result, the acceptance rate plummeted to a record-low 10.2 percent, a substantial decrease from the Class of 2012’s 11.6 percent acceptance rate. Waitlist spots were offered to 454 applicants.
Men’s Basketball Cements Legacy with Historic Run
Four years ago, MIT basketball players planned to make history. This year, they made it.
Bringing a Bit of MIT to Space
Space, at first glance, was “hard to look at,” said Greg E. Chamitoff PhD ’92. Exciting as it may have been to travel out of this world and fulfill a childhood dream to become an astronaut, “when you first get up there you are not feeling good so it is hard to look at it at first,” he said. <br/><a href='http://tech.mit.edu/V129/N12/chamitoff/interview.html'>Video Interview with Astronaut Greg E. Chamitoff » </a>
Video Interview with Astronaut Greg E. Chamitoff
Video Interview with Astronaut Greg E. Chamitoff
MIT Libraries Lays Off Staff, Plans to Close Two Branches
Facing Institute-mandated budget cuts, the MIT Libraries are planning to close two branch libraries, Lindgren Library, which serves the Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Department, and the Aeronautics and Astronautics Library. Some staff have received advance notice of layoffs or hour reductions that will take effect at the end of the fiscal year.
Students Form New Dining Comm.
The Undergraduate Association Senate passed legislation on Monday night creating a new UA Dining Proposal Committee charged with recommending “a comprehensive program that meets the needs of the MIT community,” according to the bill. The new committee will consist entirely of students and will develop a dining proposal at the same time the Blue Ribbon Committee on Dining, charged by the MIT administration with re-envisioning dining at MIT, aims to develop its own.
Tang Trial Scheduled for October
Anna L. Tang, the former Wellesley student accused of stabbing Wolfe B. Styke ’10, is tentatively scheduled to face a jury trial on October 13, 2009. In October of 2007, Tang allegedly stabbed Styke -- her ex-boyfriend -- seven times in his neck and torso as he slept.
Amherst Alley Steam Leak to Be Repaired This Summer
A steam leak under Amherst Alley between Burton-Conner and the tennis bubble will be repaired this summer, but until then, steel plates will remain in the road covering the site of the leak.
Denoncourt Says Dining Committee Will Report Back Soon
The Blue Ribbon Committee on Dining has been given until April to release final recommendations for dining at MIT reported Donna M. Denoncourt, associate dean for residential life, at last night’s Undergraduate Association Senate meeting.
‘Change’ Is Theme At 4th MIT Energy Summit
The Fourth Annual MIT Energy Conference brought together over 1000 people this past weekend to talk about the future of energy, how technology is involved, and how MIT can help.
2009 Sophomore Standing Numbers Roughly the Same
This year, 128 freshmen accepted early sophomore status out of the 1051 students in the Class of 2012. 181 qualified for early sophomore standing. The percentage of freshmen offered sophomore standing this year is consistent with the percentages of recent years.
UA Candidates Spar Over Student Issues
From the dining system to student-administration transparency, Undergraduate Association presidential and vice-presidential candidates discussed popular student government issues in a debate last Sunday night. The debate was co-hosted by <i>The Tech</i> and the UA Election Commission.
Admissions Reduces Staff, Travel, Will Use The Web for Recruiting
The admissions office has laid off staff, will reduce travel spending by 30–50 percent, and will move much of its communication with students to the Web. The measures will help Admissions meet MIT’s mandated 5 percent budget cut for the fiscal year beginning in July.
Jackson, Bulovic, Jones, And Henderson Achieve MacVicar $100K Grants
On Thursday night, four MIT faculty members were named MacVicar Faculty Fellows in recognition of their contributions to undergraduate education. They each receive $100,000 for educational activities and research.
Von Maltzahn Wins $30,000 Award for Cancer Research
Last Tuesday, graduate student Geoffrey von Maltzahn was named winner of the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize and received an unrestricted cash gift of $30,000 for his innovative work in cancer therapy.
Battle of the Jewish Pastries:
On Wednesday night, six respected professors gathered in 26-100 for the Seventh Annual Latke-Hamentashen Debate. Students and faculty, ushered by a yarmulke-wearing Tim the Beaver, packed the lecture hall for the humorous academic dispute over the virtues and shortcomings of the latke and the hamentashen.
E-mail of the Week!
An e-mail thread yesterday on the Campaign for Students mailing list discussed bringing pitchforks and broadswords to an upcoming UA meeting where the mandatory dining controversy would be discussed with Dean Donna M. Denoncourt, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Dining Committee. Andrew R. Drechsler ’10 wrote, “I think we should forge our own instead of buying them.”