New Discovery Could Lead To Bird Flu Early Warning
For a decade, disease trackers have watched anxiously as avian influenza has migrated from Asia to Europe and on to Africa, devastating poultry flocks and wild birds. To humans, it has proved — so far — less of a widespread peril, lacking the genetic machinery necessary for efficient person-to-person transmission. Just 348 people have been infected worldwide since 2003.
Reactor Cited for Minor Violations By Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory was cited by federal officials for violating regulations because a worker was exposed to nearly a year’s worth of radiation in just one day.
Colleges Build Interactive Web Sites to Lure the Class of 2012
Once dominated by glossy brochures, college fairs, and campus tours, the college admissions landscape is rapidly shifting toward online social media, as schools blanket the Internet with podcasts, blogs, and videos to recruit wired high school students.
No. of Students Admitted to MIT Through Early Action Program
No. of Students Admitted to MIT Through Early Action Program
MIT Admits More Early Applicants, Anticipating More Will Decline Offer
Both the number of early applicants and the Early Action admittance rate rose this year, resulting in 522 early admissions (out of 3,928 total applicants) for the Class of 2012. Last year, 390 students were admitted early (out of 3,493) for the Class of 2011.
Intel Ends OLPC Partnership, Markets Own Low-Cost Laptop
A frail partnership between Intel and the One Laptop Per Child educational computing group was undone last month in part by an Intel saleswoman: She tried to persuade a Peruvian official to drop the country’s commitment to buy a quarter-million of the organization’s laptops in favor of Intel PCs.
Tang to Be Released On $10,000 Bail, Kept Under House Arrest
Anna L. Tang, who allegedly stabbed her ex-boyfriend Wolfe B. Styke ’10 multiple times in his Next House room in October, will be released today after a $10,000 cash bail is posted on her behalf. By the terms of her release, she will be under house arrest and must wear a GPS bracelet that tracks her location. She has been detained since her Oct. 23 arrest.
News Briefs
Upon the closing of the sale of Hotel@MIT on Dec. 5, the name of the hotel was changed to La Meridien Cambridge.
Harvard Plans Major Increase in Student Aid For Next School Year
Harvard University announced Monday that it would significantly increase the financial aid it offers to middle-class and upper-middle-class students, seeking to allay concerns that elite colleges are becoming too expensive for even relatively well-off families.
Energy Initiative Plans for Minor Degree, Faculty Hires
The MIT Energy Initiative, officially established in September 2006, has made steady progress, with plans to create a minor degree program in energy and increase energy efficiency within the Institute.
Members Elected to ’08 Panhel Board
The MIT Panhellenic Association has elected new members to its executive board, which will serve for the upcoming year. This line-up of elects was approved by the five MIT sororities last night after two slates were previously rejected. One goal for the newly-elected executive board will be to add a new sorority to the five currently existing in Panhel.
Police Log
The following incidents were reported to the MIT Police between Nov. 8 and Dec. 2, 2007. This summary does not include incidents such as false alarms, general service calls, larcenies, or medical shuttles.
Course VI Eliminates Popular 6.170, Lab in Software Engineering
The Laboratory in Software Engineering class, 6.170, was offered for the last time this term and will not be offered in any subsequent terms.
ASA Allocates Student Group Space, Chooses Rooms for More Review
As a result of this year’s student group space allocations, a number of rooms in the Student Center and Walker Memorial have been marked as spaces that could “be allocated in more creative ways to better serve the student group community,” according to the Association of Student Activities.
News Briefs
The Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation has announced that last summer’s $40 access fee will now be permanent — the fee will continue for summer 2008. DAPER charged students an access fee for the first time last summer. Previously, access to DAPER facilities had been free for all students year-round.
Yunus Chosen as ’08 Class Speaker
Muhammad Yunus, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in microlending and alleviating global poverty, is MIT’s 2008 Commencement speaker.
Tenure at MIT Still Predominantly a Male Domain
Just one out of 25 faculty members granted tenure this year at MIT is female, a gender imbalance that appears to contrast with the university’s decade-old effort to boost the status of women.
Randolph Defines Role of MIT Chaplain
Having worked at MIT for 28 years in a several different positions, Robert M. Randolph brings a wealth of experience to the table as MIT’s first Institute chaplain.