EECS updates 6-4 curriculum
On August 21, EECS Undergraduate Officer Dr. Katrina LaCurts sent an email to the EECS undergraduate mailing list regarding an update to the Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making (6-4) curriculum.
MIT launches Philippe A. Embiricos fellowship to drive maritime innovation
MIT has introduced the Philippe A. Embiricos Fellowship in Ocean Engineering, with help from a substantial $500,000 donation from Libra Philanthropies. This fellowship is specifically designed to encourage and support Greek talent, fostering the next wave of leaders in maritime innovation.
Former MIT-owned edX’s parent company goes bankrupt
On July 27, 2U Inc., the online education firm that acquired edX from MIT and Harvard for $800 million in 2021, announced its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
Zesiger pool assault under police investigation, new facility policies implemented in response
On July 25, a Timely Warning notice was made public following five reported incidents of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 at the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center. The assault is said to have occurred on July 24 between 7:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. while the victims were swimming in the lap pool. The suspect, described as a male around 30 years old with a mustache, was last seen wearing a lime green shirt and carrying a duffel bag.
Division of Student Life to introduce new free expression policies
MIT is set to introduce new policies and clarify existing ones aimed at balancing free expression, respectful dialogue, and safe campus operations, as announced in an August 15 email from the Student Organizations Leadership & Engagement Office. Vice President and Dean for Student Life Suzy Nelson announced that the finalized policies, developed with significant input from students, were to be shared in the coming weeks as the fall semester approaches.
MIT commits to upholding anti-discrimination, harassment policies
As the fall semester draws near, MIT is reaffirming its dedication to fostering an inclusive and safe environment for all members of its community. In a recent emailed announcement on August 19, Sarah Rankin, Director of the Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response Office (IDHR) and MIT's Title IX and VI Coordinator, emphasized the importance of understanding and adhering to the Institute's anti-discrimination and harassment policies.
Institute sees precipitous decline in racial minority enrollment for incoming class year
MIT’s incoming Class of 2028 is the least racially diverse in recent memory. In the Institute’s first admitted class following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action, 16 percent of students are Black, Hispanic, Native American and Pacific Islander, a significant decrease from the 25 percent in an aggregated profile for the previous four classes.
Sunny Skies Welcome the Class of 2028!
Boston is rolling out the red carpet for the class of 2028 with sunny skies shining overhead for the start of Orientation! Temperatures are not too warm either - high 70s - so be sure to explore MIT and its surrounding areas! I like to walk along the Charles river or in Boston Commons when it's nice out! If it's getting warm in the dorms, take shelter where there is AC (dorm dining halls/stud) and crack open a window at night! Welcome home to MIT!
Future of Latino Cultural Center uncertain as Sin LíMITe, Latino CPW events face low turnout in spring semester
The Spring 2024 cohorts for Sin LíMITe and Ebony Affair were both opened for all admitted students, regardless of cultural or ethnic identification. Sin LíMITe’s 2024 cohort dropped in enrollment to around 40 students, which also included some participants who did not identify as Latino—a first for the program.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’75 SM ‘76 slams alma mater in congressional speech as Washington erupts in protest
“It’s not only the campus protesters who get it wrong. It’s also the people who run those campuses,” Netanyahu said, about halfway through his speech. “Eighty years after the Holocaust, the presidents of Harvard, Penn, and I’m ashamed to say my alma mater MIT couldn’t bring themselves to condemn the calls for the genocide of Jews.”
End of Summer :(
With one month left until the start of school, the ominous lull of schoolwork approaches Boston accompanied by an increasing chance of rain. Each warm day (higher 80s) ends with a chance of showers, a great metaphor for the upcoming end of summer. The low temperature should be quite consistent, with 72 °F occurring each night. Enjoy the warm weather while it lasts - with the return of school comes the slow return to the cold.
Independence Day celebrations ensue with annual Boston fireworks show
On the evening of July 4, thousands of spectators gathered around the Charles River esplanade to watch the annual Boston Independence Day fireworks show.
Dialogues Across Differences: Susannah Heschel and Ezzedine Fishere host panel on dialogue engagement surrounding the conflict and war in the Middle East
On May 9, Susannah Heschel, the Eli M. Black Distinguished Professor and chair of the Jewish Studies Program at Dartmouth College, and Ezzedine Fishere, a senior lecturer on Middle East politics at the same university, held the final panel of MIT’s Dialogues Across Differences: Building Community, a speaker series hosted at the Schwartzman College of Computing. Heschel studies the evolution of Jewish and Protestant religious ideas in Germany throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Cambridge City Council Unanimously Approves Safety Audits Following Fatal Intersection Collision
In response to the death of Minh-Thi Nguyen G on the morning of June 21 following a fatal collision with a truck, the Cambridge City Council voted unanimously on June 24 to initiate safety audits at intersections where serious collisions have occurred.
MIT Expands Insurance Options with New Enrollment Partner
MIT is set to enhance healthcare accessibility for students with expanded insurance choices and a new enrollment system.
MIT Introduces New Guidelines for Personal Wheels (PWs)
MIT has introduced new guidelines for the use of "Personal Wheels" (PWs), including scooters, skateboards, and bicycles, in response to a surge in their popularity on campus.
In Memoriam: Minh-Thi Nguyen G
Minh-Thi Nguyen G, a third-year graduate student in the Department of Physics, passed away the morning of June 21 following a traffic collision while biking from her apartment to campus.
MIT’s Touchstone system to be powered by Okta starting June 17th
Starting June 17, Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) will update MIT’s single sign-on (SSO) web authentication service Touchstone to be powered by Okta Identity Engine, “a modern cloud-based and extensible platform,” to protect users’ identities and facilitate app access from any device.
Premature reports of Noam Chomsky’s death refuted by account from family of ongoing recovery
In June, reports of renowned linguist, philosopher, and political activist Noam Chomsky’s apparent death surfaced across several news sites and social media platforms.
Interphase EDGE hit with declined enrollment for current cohort amidst student speculation of broader trends
Student enrollment for the 2024 Interphase EDGE program has reportedly declined to around 30 students, according to student sources.