Stratton Student Center Reopens after Renovations
On Sept. 12, the Stratton Student Center reopened after its complete closure in April 2023. First opened in 1968, the Student Center, known as the “Stud,” experienced catastrophic water pipe damage in February.
Orientation Held for Class of 2027
Orientation for the Class of 2027 began on Aug. 27 and ended Sept. 1. Many events were packed into the week, including residential exploration (REX) and a Convocation address from President Sally Kornbluth.
Mostly clear skies ahead
A lovely sunny weekend is arriving as a higher pressure system moves towards the eastern US this week. Showers may interrupt the clear skies when the outskirts of Hurricane Nigel pass by on Saturday. According to our friends at the Northeast River Forecast Center, some flooding is possible through the weekend.
Local 26 Union Rallies to Protest MIT’s Café Closures
On Sept. 7, the Local 26 union, which represents MIT Dining staff, held a rally in front of the Strata Center to protest MIT’s handling of the Steam and Koch café closures. Displaced staff, current workers, and supporters assembled to air their grievances with MIT Dining management.
Maria Zuber becomes Presidential Advisor; Search for Vice Provost of Research Begins
In an email to the MIT Community, President Kornbluth announced that Maria Zuber, Professor of Geophysics, will become MIT’s Presidential Advisor for Science and Technology Policy. Zuber is currently Vice President for research at MIT, with previous roles as the department Head for Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences as well as a stint at NASA.
Tentative Agreement Reached with the MIT Graduate Student Union
In a brief statement to the MIT community, the MIT Bargaining Team negotiating with the MIT Graduate Student Union (MIT GSU) have announced a tentative agreement. The GSU will now have to vote on ratifying the agreement.
MIT Dining Announces Closure of Steam and Koch Cafés
The Steam and Koch Cafés, formerly located in Buildings 7 and 37 respectively, are permanently closing. In a statement to the Tech, Mark Hayes, Director of Campus Dining, said that Campus Dining “undertook several enhancements” to continue to make healthy food accessible across campus.
SOLE announces reopening timeline of the Student Center
In an email to the MIT community, Student Organizations Leadership and Engagement (SOLE) laid out a reopening timeline for the Stratton Student Center. The Student Center, which was closed in February due to water pipe explosions, has been undergoing renovations for the past seven months.
Search for Institute Community and Equity Officer begins
Following the recent departure of Institute Community and Equity Officer (ICEO) John Dozier, President Sally Kornbluth announced the creation of a search committee in a national search for a Vice President for Equity and Inclusion. In her announcement Aug. 4, President Kornbluth wrote that because “health of our community” is dependent on the Institute’s ability to respond to challenges in equity and inclusion, the new ICEO leader would report directly to her.
MIT Information Systems and Technology unveils new notification system
Mark Sillis, Vice President for Information Systems and Technology at MIT, wrote in an email to the MIT community Aug. 9, that the IST department is “implementing a new notification system called MIT Atlas Alert,” which will provide “prompt notifications” of disruptions to IT services including internet, phone, and email. Atlas Alert will be conveyed via email, the Atlas mobile app, and text messages, and is intended to reach the community through multiple channels in the event that one system is down.
MIT to invite students and employees to participate in Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Surveys
In an email to the MIT community dated Aug. 17, Chancellor Melissa Nobles announced mandatory harassment prevention training for faculty, staff and third year graduate students for the fall 2023 semester. Additionally, during the 2023-24 academic year, MIT will invite members of the community to participate in a sexual harassment and misconduct survey. According to the email, students were surveyed by the Institute in 2014 and 2019, but the upcoming survey will “mark the first time the Institute is surveying staff and faculty.” The survey will be confidential and voluntary.
U.S. Department of Education investigating legacy admissions at Harvard
On July 25, the U.S. Department of Education opened a civil rights investigation into the legacy admissions policy at Harvard University. This move comes after the Supreme Court ruled affirmative action unconstitutional on June 29, prompting further scrutiny of the college admissions process.
U.S. Women Stumble in World Cup
The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team had a rocky start to the World Cup which began on July 20. After beating Vietnam 3-0 in their opening match, the squad has drawn their last two matches 1-1 and 0-0 with the Netherlands and Portugal respectively. The team has advanced to the Round of 16, where they will face a strong Sweden team on Aug. 6.
Former President Trump Indicted on charges stemming from 2020 election
On Aug. 1, Former President Donald J. Trump was indicted on four counts relating to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, which culminated in a deadly insurrection in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The indictment , which was filed by special counsel Jack Smith, contains charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, witness tampering and conspiracy against the rights of citizens, and obstruction of an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding.
Last Day of Summer Session, First Day of Classes for 2023 Fall Semester
The last day of classes for the summer session is August 18.
A brief stormy pause to an otherwise pleasant weekend
Clear skies are coming to Boston as high pressure moves in from the west. Cloud cover will increase into Friday, when heavy rain and some thunderstorms are expected to move through the Northeast. Then, pleasant temperatures and comfortable humidities will return over the weekend. It’s a great time to enjoy some outdoor activities in Boston as the summer term is wrapping up!
Affirmative action brought down by Supreme Court
On June 29, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action, ruling that race-conscious admissions processes at Harvard and the University of North Carolina were unconstitutional. In a video to the MIT community on July 1, President Sally Kornbluth said she wanted to "express my profound frustration with these decisions." She added that such an action "threatens our mission."
Warm, sunny days to soak up the summer
A string of warm, sunny days are coming for Boston following Independence Day weekend.