News Briefs
Twenty students were admitted to the Class of 2011 from the waitlist this year, according to Interim Director of Admissions Stuart Schmill.
Vest to Give 2007 Commencement Address
Over 2,000 students will receive almost 2,500 degrees during this morning's Commencement ceremony held in front of an expected 10,000 guests.
Douglas Statement on Resignation — June 4, 2007
I would like to make it very clear that the issue for me is not, and has not been, whether Professor James Sherley should be given immediate tenure or not. I cannot judge that and would not even presume to do so. I have absolutely not attempted to determine whether Professor Sherley is correct in his allegations or the Institute is right in its posture, because I do not have enough information nor context to make such a judgment.
GSC Concerned Over Summer DAPER Fee
The Graduate Student Council has expressed serious concerns to the Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation over DAPER's decision to charge students for summer access to its facilities. DAPER had announced this past term that it would charge students $40 for summer access; previously summer DAPER access had been free to students.
CBI Head Douglas Resigns Over Race Concerns
MIT Professor Frank L. Douglas resigned Friday, saying that the Institute breached an agreement to continue discussions with Professor James L. Sherley regarding his claims of racial discrimination in the tenure process.
Gov. Wants Free Two-Year Colleges in Mass.
Community colleges in Massachusetts would be free to all students within 10 years under a proposal by Gov. Deval Patrick.
Body of Davis '10 Found In Mount Holyoke Range
A body found in the Mt. Holyoke Range on May 26 has been identified as missing student Ryan M. Davis '10. He was 20. Davis had been missing since March 31, and was last seen on the Mt. Holyoke College campus.
UMass Faculty Criticize Restructuring Plan
Faculty leaders at the University of Massachusetts at Boston approved a no-confidence vote Wednesday against UMass president Jack M. Wilson's restructuring plan, increasing pressure on the university system president.
Police Log
<i>The following incidents were reported to the MIT Police between May 8 and May 20, 2007. This summary does not include incidents such as false alarms, general service calls, larcenies, or medical shuttles.</i>
MIT Statement on Douglas Resignation — June 3, 2007
MIT deeply regrets Professor Douglas' intention to leave the Institute. He is a valued member of the MIT community, and has been a visionary leader of the CBI, since he joined MIT as a Professor of the Practice more than two years ago. We believe his decision is based on inaccurate information, and we sincerely hope that, once the facts are clarified, he will reconsider his decision.
Preferred Dining Fee to Be Frozen at $325
Campus Dining has decided to freeze the Preferred Dining fee at $325 for up to three years. The decision, which came last Friday, May 11, follows a May 4 report released by the Baker House Dining committee, which found that the average Baker resident loses $125 per term through Preferred Dining. Preferred Dining costs $300 this term; a $25 price hike for fall term was announced earlier this year.
Approved Undergraduate Association Executive Committee Members
Source: Ruth Miller '07, Outgoing UA Vice President
Police Log
<i>The following incidents were reported to the MIT Police between April 24 and May 7, 2007. This summary does not include incidents such as false alarms, general service calls, larcenies, or medical shuttles.</i>
PSC to Restructure by Fall '07
The Public Service Center is currently undergoing a restructuring that will be complete in the fall. Several PSC programs are going to be passed over into the hands of student groups, who will then run the programs with occasional help from the PSC.
MIT Corporation Statement on Divestment
MIT shares the concern of many in our community for the extraordinary human tragedy taking place in the Darfur region. The situation is sufficiently grave that MIT in this case is making an exception to its long-standing policy of not speaking with a single institutional voice on matters of public debate not directly affecting MIT's core mission of education, research, and service.
Funding Is Uncertain After Daytime Shuttle Donor Ceases Support
The Daytime Boston Shuttle, which runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays during the school year, may not have sufficient funding for next school year, according to Undergraduate Association President Martin F. Holmes '08. One of the two major sources for funding — a private donor — will no longer be available to cover the costs of running the shuttles throughout the school year, Holmes said.
Mass. Governor Deval Patrick Announces $1 Billion Plan to Advance Stem Cell Work
In the most sweeping policy announcement of his new administration, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick proposed Tuesday $1 billion in funding for scientific research, a package designed to cement the state's reputation as a global powerhouse of medicine and biotechnology.
Wheelock and 11 Other Colleges Raise Cry on School Rankings
Wheelock College, along with 11 other small liberal arts colleges, is urging other institutions to stop using the US News & World Report rankings to promote themselves, arguing the rankings are too subjective.
Sherley Seeks Tenure Process Review; MIT Police Posted at Lab
James L. Sherley, an African American associate professor in the Biological Engineering Department, said that he remains steadfast in staying at MIT until the Institute assesses the validity of his charges of discrimination in the tenure process. According to Sherley, the administration agreed to reassess problems in the tenure process through an external panel in exchange for Sherley ending his hunger strike. The Institute says that there is no agreement for external review of the tenure process.