MIT settles Fidelity lawsuit
According to a Sept. 4 district court order, MIT reorganized its offerings of 401(k) investment options, removing hundreds of funds July 15. MIT’s supplemental 401(k) plan is managed by Fidelity, the recordkeeper and investment manager responsible for choosing and tracking MIT’s funds.
Changes planned to Commencement starting 2020
The administration is planning to change the structure of the 2020 Commencement ceremony, likely in the form of a short ceremony for all students followed by separate degree awarding ceremonies. The changes aim to address issues such as the lack of space in Killian Court and the extensive length of the ceremony.
Anne Hunter retires after 37 years as EECS undergraduate academic administrator
Hunter: I think the greatest challenge has been getting all the work done while counseling all the students who needed me to talk to them and explain things to them. They’re sort of two pulls: talking to students versus getting all the administrative stuff done.
Hundreds gather to march in Global Climate Strike
Participants held signs reading “You Lie = I Die,” “Break free from fossil fuels,” “Climate Action Now,” and “Greta gets it.”
President Reif addresses ties between MIT and Epstein at faculty meeting
“There were many assumptions mentioned today. I don’t blame you for the assumptions you made. I want to beg you, honest to goodness, wait a little longer," Reif said.
Richard Stallman resigns from MIT after facing backlash over Minsky comments
Stallman wrote, “We can imagine many scenarios, but the most plausible scenario is that she [Giuffre] presented herself to him as entirely willing.”
Dorms implement new room assignment procedures
The administration is working on gathering “quantitative data” and “qualitative feedback” on how these new rooming procedures were implemented
MacGregor, New House most popular FYRE destinations
MacGregor and New House overtook Simmons and Maseeh to become the most popular dorms to move into during FYRE.
#THEY KNEW protesters rally against MIT’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
After the program of scheduled speakers ended, members of the crowd were also invited to speak in an open mic session, and about thirty minutes later, the protest culminated with a march to Reif’s office, where protesters delivered their signs and continued to voice their dissatisfaction with the Institute’s administration.
Literature minor introduces new film track
At most two of the classes, still with film analysis as the primary focus, can be taken in a section outside of literature. These non-literature classes can comprise, but are not limited to, film-related courses in comparative media studies, anthropology, global studies and language, and women’s and gender studies.
Deputy Executive Vice President Tony Sharon to retire after 20 years of service
The Tech asked how fun life at MIT was out of 10. Sharon answered, “It was cyclical, but if I integrate over the curve I would say eight.” He added, “I wouldn’t have kept coming back if it was not fun.”
Final exam schedules, Career Fair, minor completion date
Final exam schedules have been posted on https://finalexams.mit.edu/.
IM sports, half-term add date, blood drive
Fees and deposits for intramural sports are due Friday, September 13.
Several dorms experience difficulties with new laundry system
Next House President Jessica Tang ’20 wrote, non-functioning dryers and the “shaky support for MIT TechCASH” have resulted in “a very frustrating and poor experience for Nexties.”
Eric Lander stands by denial of association with Epstein after photos surface
Lander wrote that he “briefly met” Epstein at two events in 2012 and did not meet with him again. Lander also wrote that he and the Broad have neither requested nor received any financial support from Epstein or his foundation.
5.111, 7.01x, 18.01A ASE pass rates increase
The 7.01x (Introductory Biology) ASE maintained its high pass rate from last year. Of the 137 students taking the exam, 66.4 percent passed, compared to 151 participants and a pass rate of 65.6 percent from last year.
Media Lab Cofounder Nicholas Negroponte defends Joi Ito
Negroponte defended Ito in accepting Epstein’s money, telling the Globe that he said to Ito that Ito should take Epstein’s contribution and he “would say that again based on what we knew at the time.”
DSL launches new pick-a-lunch pilot program
Students are able to use a meal swipe to pay for their choice of one entrée, two sides, and a drink.
Sixty percent or higher on math diagnostic is required to pass out of 18.01
“We found historically that some students who received a ‘5’ on the Calculus BC exam did not have a strong grip on the fundamentals — especially of pre-calculus material (algebra, logs, trigs, etc.) — to do as well as we would like in MIT subjects,” Barbara Peskin PhD ’90, academic administrator of the mathematics department, wrote in an email to The Tech.
Media Lab Director Joi Ito resigns after efforts to hide his ties with Epstein are revealed
“After giving the matter a great deal of thought, I have chosen to resign as Director of the Media Lab and as a Professor and employee of the Institute, effective immediately,” Ito wrote in an email to Media Lab members obtained by The Tech.