Letters to the Editor
On Labor Day I was biking in Marlborough when I was knocked off the bike by the side view mirror of a truck. I was thrown about ten feet and fell on my back and head. The bike helmet was broken in two places, and aside from assorted bruises and scrapes, I sustained a concussion and a small hairline fracture of my coccyx.
Corrections
An article on Friday about a $400 million gift to the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, by Eli and Edythe Broad, described the Starr Foundation, another donor to the institute, incorrectly. It is a private foundation, not the philanthropic arm of the insurance company American International Group. (The Starr Foundation was created by Cornelius Vander Starr, the founder of A.I.G., and the foundation’s chairman is Maurice Greenberg, the former chairman and chief executive of A.I.G.)
Microcredit Changes Lives
The news of riots, violence, and street demonstrations over food crises, due mostly to rapid price hikes worldwide, has been broadcast the world over since the beginning of 2008. But how could a natural disaster-prone country — Bangladesh, with its population of 150 million squeezed into a floodplain the size of Wisconsin — avoid such food riots?
Conventions 2008
Instead of enjoying my last two weeks of summer, I watched the political conventions with the help of a bottle of whiskey. To spare you from the same pain, I will summarize the festivities in brief.
Eastern Promises
The United States should carefully consider its foreign policy priorities before it makes commitments to endangered neighbors of Russia.
Corrections
The Aug. 8, 2008 In Short section incorrectly named the position that Karl W. Reid ’84, director of the MIT Office of Minority Education, will hold when he leaves MIT and joins the United Negro College Fund of Fairfax. He will hold the position of senior vice president of academic programs and strategic initiatives, not a liaison position.
Trouble in Zimbabwe
<b>“We the Peoples of the United Nations determined to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small …”</b>
Grand New Party
On August 29th, in a historic move that surprised pundits, Senator John McCain announced his selection of Alaskan governor Sarah Palin (pronounced PAY-lin, not PAH-lin) for his vice presidential running mate. The reaction from the left was immediate and visceral; feminists claimed the choice was patronizing, liberal bloggers sardonically thanked McCain for the giving them the election and the Obama campaign lashed out, calling the governor inexperienced and a pawn of Big Oil.
Fraternities at MIT
Why will over 50 percent of freshmen men pledge fraternities this year? What is it about fraternity life that leads freshmen to join organizations that are so often associated with binge-drinking, dirty houses, and failing grades, a false stereotype that has been propagated by movies such as <i>Animal House</i> and <i>Old School</i>? How can so many men, from such a diverse set of backgrounds, find common homes in fraternities?
The Wisdom of Choosing Biden
After months of speculation and debate, Barack Obama chose policy veteran Senator Joe Biden to be his running mate. Each of the top three contenders, including Biden, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, and Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia had strengths and weaknesses. Joe Biden is the smartest choice, and here’s why.
What We Need from a National Energy Policy
In a season of record-high gas prices, economic instability, and a solidifying consensus that climate change is due to greenhouse gases, there has been much talk of a “price on carbon” in order to penalize carbon dioxide emitters and incentivize new, clean energy technologies. Massachusetts has decided to respond by becoming a part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, — “RGGI”, affectionately pronounced “Reggie” — a regional “cap-and-trade” program designed to promote renewable technology. RGGI does this by requiring permits for carbon dioxide pollution in the electrical sector. Both presidential candidates McCain and Obama have proposed similar regulation on the federal level, and other regional carbon markets are sprouting up throughout the country.
Independent Living Groups at MIT
Independent Living Groups offer a variety of unique opportunities for MIT students. The ILGs are a collection of five different houses, each with its own lifestyle, culture, and personality. Students who join ILGs find themselves a part of a small, close-knit community of friends.
The Struggle for Peace in Lebanon
Ever imagine how college life would be different in a university other than MIT — say several thousand miles away in a Middle Eastern country like Lebanon? During IAP this year, I was in Lebanon and I decided to ask my friends about their college experiences. I even visited a college right after student government elections. Having lived in Lebanon for almost 17 years of my life, I was not surprised by the diversity of the students who come from all Lebanese districts, speak various accents, and belong to different political groups and religions.
Sororities at MIT — Come as You Are
Come as you are. Sororities at MIT are about finding a place where you feel comfortable as an individual as well as feel supported as part of the community. Each sorority on campus has a distinct personality, yet all were founded on similar values and as a support system for women at MIT. Many have found a strong community with their sorority, and that experience has made all the difference in their lives at MIT. Below are a number of tales straight from Greek women on campus:
The Gender Gap in Science and Engineering
During my first run at graduate school, nearly half the students in my engineering research lab were women. My newly appointed and tenured adviser, a decorated researcher from Bell Labs who was eventually awarded a MacArthur “Genius” Grant, was a woman. And looking back at my time there, most of the friends I made were women and the same was true of my undergraduate experience studying electrical engineering. As a result, I feel that even as stereotypical (Asian) male engineer, I well understand the problems that women in science and engineering experience.
UA Calls on Incoming Class to ‘Seize the Day’
Welcome to MIT! Whether you were covered by green Jell-O at Burton Conner’s Jell-O wrestling, inspired by Yet-Ming Chang’s research, or entertained by life-sized Tetris at East Campus, we are fairly certain that you’re aware of the fact that MIT is like no other college. From the 9 a.m. Math Diagnostics Test to rush events running throughout all hours of the night (and morning!), we are sure that you have begun to experience what it means to be an MIT student. These last few days of adrenaline filled all-nighters have been designed to integrate you into MIT’s unique experience: too much amazing stuff to fit into a short period of time.
One Moment in Time
Someone once said that a movie endowed with five unforgettable scenes is a classic. As the most anticipated event of 2008, the Beijing Olympic Games captivated the world with many moving and magical moments. Each second was a motion picture packed with life and passion. Thus, I had a hard time figuring out where to start after my friends asked me to write an article about this monumental event.
Is This a ‘Daddy’ election?
Two months ago, it looked like the McCain camp was in shambles. The Arizona senator was struggling to read from a teleprompter, giving speeches in front of garish green backdrops, and standing behind podiums that made him look small and awkward. His campaign organization was muddled, full of deadweight managers who lacked the skills to play in the big leagues, but whom the senator didn’t have the heart to fire. And instead of moving to the center, as most candidates do in the general election, McCain, if anything, was moving to the right. In national polls he was only behind by four points, but with the enthusiasm gap, the fundraising numbers, and the dismal condition of the Republican brand, pundits were confident that John McCain was well on his way to a crushing defeat in November.
Welcome to MIT
Orientation is a wonderful and exhilarating time to be on campus. Representatives from the many diverse segments of the MIT community — from living groups to student activities, athletics teams and learning communities — are part of the process of showcasing this amazing place to the incoming class. Since this is my sixth year on campus participating in orientation, I can tell you that no year’s events are ever quite the same — there are always new things to discover. In fact, there seem to be so many sessions, events, demonstrations and parties that it can sometimes seem completely overwhelming.
Sustainable Transportation Should Be a Priority
The administration made a wise move last week in deciding to take proactive steps to more explicitly encourage the use of public transportation by campus commuters. The recent change included an expansion of the commuter rail pass subsidy to 50 percent for all zones and the decision to provide free transit passes for the month of September to employees who currently park on campus. By making it easier for MIT faculty and staff to utilize the Boston metropolitan area’s comprehensive transit system, the administration’s efforts can go a long way towards decreasing the impact of rising fuel costs on our community and reducing our collective carbon footprint.