In Short
A memorial service for Professor Jin Au Kong will take place this Saturday at the Douglass Funeral Home, 51 Worthen Rd, Lexington, MA. There is a visitation period from 1–3 p.m. and a memorial service from 3–5 p.m. Photos, videos, and stories for the memorial service can be submitted to ProfessorJAKong@gmail.com.
Claerbout’s Art Now On Display At MIT’s List Visual Arts Center
David Claerbout is a Belgian artist in his late 30s. Nationality is rarely determining as regards art. Jean-Luc Godard and Paul Klee, two of the freer-floating sensibilities in 20th-century culture, were born in Switzerland, for goodness’ sake. But in Claerbout’s case it’s telling that he should come from such an in-between place: not France, not the Netherlands, but a country that draws on both for an identity that’s distinct itself yet elusive.
Women’s Colleges Struggle To Adjust To Transsexual Students
It was late on a rainy fall day, and a college freshman named Rey was showing me the new tattoo on his arm. It commemorated his 500-mile hike through Europe the previous summer, which happened also to be, he said, the last time he was happy. We sat together for a while in his room talking, his tattoo of a piece with his spiky brown hair, oversize tribal earrings and very baggy jeans. He showed me a photo of himself and his girlfriend kissing, pointed out his small drum kit, a bass guitar that lay next to his rumpled clothes and towels and empty bottles of green tea, one full of dried flowers, and the ink self-portraits and drawings of nudes that he had tacked to the walls. Thick jasmine incense competed with his cigarette smoke. He changed the music on his laptop with the melancholy, slightly startled air of a college boy on his own for the first time.
1,554 Accepted Into Class of 2012; Admit Rate is Lowest Ever
MIT released admissions decisions for the class of 2012 on Saturday; 1,554 students, or a record-low 11.6 percent of 13,396 applicants, were admitted. This year’s round of admissions saw an increase in applications from women, under-represented minorities, and international students, said Stuart Schmill ’86, Interim Director of Admissions. There was an overall 8 percent increase in the number of applications from 12,443 last year.
Fed. Education Secretary Says Student Aid Stands, Despite Market Troubles
The federal education secretary told Congressional lawmakers Friday that despite tight credit markets, students would still be able to find a lender to help them borrow money for college.
Joseph Weizenbaum
Joseph Weizenbaum, professor emeritus of computer science at MIT who grew skeptical of artificial intelligence after creating a program that made many users feel like they were speaking with an empathic psychologist, died March 5 in Berlin. He was 85.
UROP Proposal System Moves to Web for All Students by Summer
In many departments, UROP research proposals can now be submitted online by students and approved online by faculty and UROP coordinators.
Report Urges New Focus On Math, Problem Solving In U.S. Education System
American students’ math achievement is “at a mediocre level” compared with that of their peers worldwide, according to a new report by a federal panel, which recommended that schools focus on key skills that prepare students to learn algebra.
Most Undergrads Pay Less Tuition Despite Increases, MIT Says
What should you make of MIT’s voluminous response to the Senate Finance Committee, which asked it to explain exorbitant tuition costs in light of a sixth-in-the-nation endowment?
Franklin Company’s Bloodless Glucose Monitor Passes Test
A small Franklin company says it is developing a novel device that could potentially let diabetics continuously monitor their blood-sugar levels — without having to draw blood.
In Short
The 2008–2009 ASA Executive Board was elected at the General Body Meeting last night. Student groups in the Association of Student Activities elected Keone D. Hon ’11 president, Shan Wu G treasurer, Rishi V. Gupta ’10 secretary, Nan Gu G and Roberto J. Perez-Franco G graduate members-at-large, Gillian M. Grogan ’10 and Rachel E. Meyer ’10 undergraduate members-at-large, and Kevin A. Riggle ’08 student member-at-large. All positions were uncontested.
Decrease in High School Graduates Will Increase College Admission Rates
High school seniors nationwide are anxiously awaiting the verdicts from the colleges of their choice later this month. But though it may not be of much solace to them, in just a few years the admissions frenzy is likely to ease. It’s simply a matter of demographics.
Fin. Aid Boosted; No Tuition For Families Earning Under $75K
MIT announced on Friday that students whose families earn less than $75,000 per year — approximately 30 percent of the student body — will no longer pay tuition. To cover these and other new policies, MIT’s financial aid budget will rise to $74 million, a $7 million increase over last year’s budget.
MIT Names MacVicar Fellows For Excellence in Undergrad Teaching
Five MIT faculty members were named MacVicar Fellows for their excellence in undergraduate teaching last Friday during this year’s MacVicar Day, a celebration which recognizes contributions to undergraduate education at MIT. The program began in 32-123 with a lecture on science education by Nobel Laureate in Physics Carl E. Wieman ’73. The lecture was followed by an MIT faculty reception hosted by President Susan Hockfield at Gray House, where the five fellows were announced.
Student Triumphs Despite Socioeconomic Pressures
Eric Delgado is what those in research call an outlier — an anomaly, a deviation from the typical.
Profs Debate Merits of Tasty Pancakes, Yummy Pastries; No One Wins
Mob psychology, a conversation with an intelligent computer, and audience participation all numbered among the tactics used by six MIT professors Wednesday evening at MIT Hillel’s Sixth Annual Latke vs. Hamentashen Debate.
Follett Is Fourth MIT Student To Star in ‘Beauty and the Geek
Another “Beauty and the Geek” season is about to begin, and another MIT contestant is ready to show off his talents.