Corrections
Because of a typographical error, the April 15 editorial “COD Should Face Tough Questions” misstated the middle initial of the Committee on Discipline’s former chair. He is George E. Apostolakis, not George J. Apostolakis.
Multiculturalism May Erode Strength Of Western Values
Amal Dorai G mischaracterizes my letter from last week. Far from saying that we should accommodate the intolerance of other cultures, I was posing a question — how do we reconcile our liberal society (here I use “liberal” in its classical sense) with respect for multicultural diversity, when some of our own values, such as respect for the rights of homosexuals, conflict with those of other cultures? Do we dare to assert the superiority of civilized Western liberalism over the medieval puritanism which still persists in some parts of the world today? Dorai seems to think so, and his letter suggests that it is ridiculous to think otherwise — he believes it is “ludicrous” to accommodate another culture’s bigotry.
Letters to the Editor
Whose idea was it to give far more page space to Baker House’s Piano Drop than the UA presidential elections? Last time I checked, two broken pianos don’t have a say in whether I have to eat in a dining hall or if incoming freshmen get their choice of living groups. The UA may not be the most well-liked group on campus, but without a doubt it is one of the most influential and their elections (which determine who represents me and the entire undergraduate community to the administration) deserve a bit more attention. At least we know that if Baker House decides to drop the UA Exec Board off a roof, everyone will hear about it.
Corrections
The headline for an April 15 article discussing the Media Lab’s Center for Future Banking incorrectly identified Sloan Professor Dan Ariely as the lead of the new group. Ariely is a member of the group, which is directed by Deb K. Roy, associate professor of Media Arts and Sciences.
Power From Space: Its Time Has Come
Last week, we saw a significant policy shift on greenhouse gas emissions when President Bush called for a halt in the growth of U.S. emissions by 2025 and urged other major polluting nations to develop national goals to address climate change. On the same day, South Korea’s president started a visit to the U.S. to make a pitch to companies and investors to assist the country’s desire to become an energy producer following the discovery of deposits of gas hydrates — crystalline solids of methane and water molecules — off its coast last year. The country’s aspirations are understandable. They would, however, add to emissions from methane released during extraction. Gas hydrates have also been found in large quantities off the coasts of China, India, and Taiwan, all of which have increasing energy demands.
Letters to the Editor
Thomas Armet suggests that The Tech should have not published Artem Kras’ name to avoid a “witch hunt.” The term “witch hunt” distinctly implies an absence of “witches,” which is not the case here — there was a severe incident with an identifiable perpetrator, and the Committee on Disciple proved too impotent to effectively punish him. <i>The Tech</i> is acting as an important public servant by ensuring that Kras is roundly ridiculed for his actions, and is doing the COD’s job by ensuring that this kind of action does not go unpunished in our community.
Letters to the Editor
How MIT responds to Artem Krasnoslobodtsev’s incendiary e-mail to the Sloan LGBT group will impact how the Institute is viewed by the public. Indeed, as an alumnus, I learned about the incident by reading the <i>Wall Street Journal</i>’s Best of the Web column. <i>The Tech</i> editorial written on April 15 compares the harsh three-semester suspension of Burns Schilling ’02 to the comparatively light punishment meted out to Krasnoslobodtsev, and asks “How does Kraus’s case differ from Schilling’s?” One difference is that Krasnoslobodtsev did not grow up in the U.S., as is pointed out in a published letter from the Sloan LGBT student group, while Schilling did grow up here, presumably. The Committee on Discipline may not have expected from Krasnoslobodtsev the same respect for the freedom of homosexuals that we would expect from Schilling.
Undue Criticism of Beijing Olympics
An editorial cartoon serves as a visual metaphor to express satire towards political issues. Last week’s cartoons (Page 4 of <i>The Tech</i>, April 8, 2008 and April 11, 2008) imply that China does not deserve to host the Olympics because of human rights issues. While we do not deny that China still has many problems, many Chinese and Chinese Americans are concerned about China’s image in the West. We are concerned that many Americans and other citizens of other Western countries have an outdated and distorted view towards China.
Corrections
An April 15 sports caption incorrectly reported the score of the women’s ultimate team’s scrimmage against Northeastern University. sMITe won 15-5, not 5-3.
Approaching China With Culturally-Sensitive Activism
Tuesday’s edition of <i>The Tech</i> brought the Chinese human rights debate to MIT. Opposite of Perez-Franco’s searing cartoon criticism of China’s policies towards Tibet and Sudan were the impassioned defenses of Liang and Guo, two graduate students from the PRC.
COD Should Face Tough Questions
Outrage over a threatening e-mail sent by Artem Krasnoslobodtsev (Kraus) G, in which he called members of the Sloan Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community “fucking fags,” is well deserved.
Letters to the Editor
In an age where you can learn more about a person from the internet than you can from meeting him or her face to face, leave it to me to have not “Googled” myself since my first semester at MIT nearly 6 years ago. I recently left Cambridge to begin graduate school, and I couldn’t help but begin to wonder whether my new friends and colleagues were sneaking a curious peek at my life via Google, MySpace, Facebook, and the like. I searched for my name today and unfortunately came upon an article which, to this day, still irks me with its inaccuracies and implications as to my actions as well as those of my sisters during recruitment: “AEPhi’s Return to Jewish Identity Spurs De-pledgings, De-affiliations.” As such, I would like to take the opportunity to correct a few things.
Jessop and Bennie for UA Leadership
The role of Undergraduate Association President is rigorous, time-consuming, and often thankless. It is no insignificant challenge to provide guidance and leadership to the UA committees, supply a voice to the Senate, maintain relationships with other student governments, and develop a rapport with the “powers that be” on campus. An outstanding President must do all these things while constantly fighting for the interests of students. And the UA President must do so in a system that, by design, discounts students’ voice. Only candidates with ability, passion, and self-assuredness can accomplish lasting change. We recommend that you vote for the ticket of Noah S. Jessop ’09 and Michael A. Bennie ’10, which is most likely to excel.
Corrections
Because of an editing error, Friday’s story “GSC Officers Elected” reported that incoming Graduate Student Council president Oaz Nir is the current editor of <i>Graduate Student News</i>. He was its editor last year. The story also incorrectly reported that the officers had been elected to serve in the 2007–2008 rather than the 2008–2009 school year.
Star Simpson: Part of the MIT Family
<i>If we were President Susan Hockfield, here’s the letter that we would write concerning Star A. Simpson ’10:</i>
Letters to the Editor
The whitewashing of the cast of the movie “21,” based on Ben Mezrich’s best-seller <i>Bringing Down the House</i> is indeed wrong, and almost enough to get me from seeing it. However, unfortunately I got convinced by some friends into spending $8 to go and see it, only to realize that, much worse than the way the whitewashing treats Asians is the picture in which MIT is painted.
Corrections
A page 11 table in the April 1, 2008 issue of <i>The Tech</i> omitted one of the candidates for 2010 Class Council. Barry D. Bannon ’10 is running for Class of 2010 Vice President.
Letters to the Editor
The Recording Industry Association of America continues to send “pre-litigation settlement letters” to college students throughout our country.
Today I Wish I Were a Harvard Man
Last night Dean for Student Life Larry G. Benedict sent the MIT community a letter warning about the dangers of copyright infringement. As I read through this and past letters to campus, I came to realize something extraordinary. You’ll have to take my word on how insane it feels to write these words, but today I wish I were a Harvard man. Why? Simply put, because unlike our own Institute, Harvard treats its students with respect.
Green Hall: No Longer Home for Female Graduate Students
The residents of Green Hall were recently informed that Green Hall, opened in 1983 in honor of Ida Flansburgh Green, a major MIT benefactor and advocate of graduate studies for women, would no longer function as a graduate women’s dormitory. As a resident and transition coordinator of Green Hall, I would like to share the perspectives from Green Hall residents on how the MIT administration has handled this matter.