First-year Students Enjoy MIT Orientation
With the fall term around the corner, first-year undergraduate and graduate students populated the campus this past weekend to kick-off this year’s event-filled orientation programs.
Final Demographics For Class of 2011 Released
The demographic breakdown of the Class of 2011 has been released, with gender and ethnicity statistics comparable to last year’s.
Police Log
<i>The following incidents were reported to the MIT Police between June 19 and July 23, 2007. This summary does not include incidents such as false alarms, general service calls, larcenies, or medical shuttles.</i><i></i>
MIT Senior Suffers Fatal Injuries From Fall
MIT senior James T. Albrecht ’08 died on July 22 from injuries sustained in a fall that may have been alcohol-related.
Eugene Bell
Eugene Bell, a former MIT biology professor renowned for his pioneering work in the field of regenerative medicine, passed away on June 22. He was 88.
News Briefs
The Department of Facilities is in the process of replacing the automatic door mechanism for MIT’s front door, the main double doors into Lobby 7. The work began on July 16, and currently the doorway is covered by a large plywood board. Joseph P. Vella, Jr., supervisor of Carpentry for Facilities, said that he hopes the doors would be complete by Friday, Aug. 17.
Number of Pell Grant Recipients Increases In ’06–’07
Both the number of MIT students receiving Pell grants and the average amount awarded to MIT students increased for the 2006–2007 academic year. The number of recipients increased 3.5 percent and the average amount increased 5.5 percent from the previous year, Director of Financial Aid Daniel Barkowitz said.
News Briefs
Students who bank at the MIT Federal Credit Union will no longer have to trek to the Technology Square office as renovations to place a new branch office in the former Game Room on the first floor of the Student Center nears completion.
‘We Have to Stay on Top,’ Says New Sloan School Interim Dean
Steven D. Eppinger ’83, professor of Management Science, has been appointed as the interim dean of MIT Sloan School of Management, effective July 1. The former dean of Sloan School Richard Schmalensee ’65, professor of economics and management, stepped down at the end of the Spring 2007 term after nine years as dean.
MIT Releases Preliminary Report on New Race Study
MIT released a preliminary report detailing recommendations on how the Institute can undertake a study on faculty race issues. The study is anticipated to be fully launched at the start of the 2007–2008 academic year, according to the report released on July 16.
Suresh Becomes the New Dean of Engineering; Magnanti Steps Down
Subra Suresh PhD ’81, professor in the Department of Material Science and Engineering, was appointed as the new dean of engineering in June, effective July 23. Suresh replaced Institute Professor Thomas L. Magnanti, who was dean since 1999, according to the MIT News Office.
Missing Alumnus Found Dead in National Forest
The body of Cambridge resident Edgar R. Gonzalez ’04 was found in Grout Pond in Stratton, Vt. on July 29. Gonzalez had been missing since July 7 when he became separated from his group while hiking during a camping trip in the Green Mountain National Forest.
Joseph F. O'Connor
Joseph F. O'Connor, Draper Laboratory's retired vice president of human resources and administration (1981-1994) and secretary of the Corporation (1994-2005), died June 11 of cancer at the age of 77.
Pritchett Dining Closes, Preferred Dining Fee Is Rolled Back to $300
Pritchett Dining will not reopen this coming fall, according to Richard D. Berlin III, director of Campus Dining. The discontinuation of Pritchett Dining, a response to a student-led plan for improvement of east campus dining options, was announced in conjunction with the decision to rollback the semester fee for Preferred Dining to $300 for the coming fall.
Affiliate Housing Construction Begins; $30 Million Committed
Construction has begun on 303 Third Street near Kendall Square, the site that will house MIT's University Residential Community, the result of over four years of planning by various members of the MIT community to provide affordable housing to those with institutional affiliations close to campus.