MIT’s The Weather Oldest and Largest Today: Flurries, clearing, 38°F (4°C) Tonight: Clear, 23°F (–5°C) Newspaper Tomorrow: Sunny, 35°F (2°C) Details, Page 2
Volume 121, Number 6 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Friday, February 23, 2001 UA Elections Draw MIT Discusses Online Courses Few Contested Races Faculty Raise Concerns About OpenCourseWare at Meeting By Eun Lee ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR Council Seats Create Little Interest A number of issues related to MIT’s role in the future of web- By Diana S. Cheng and Dana require signatures. based education were discussed at Levine the faculty meeting on Wednesday. STAFF REPORTERS Cause of low participation unclear The proposed OpenCourse- The Undergraduate Association “I really don’t understand why Ware@MIT initiative, led by Pro- elections have failed to create a high people haven’t been talking about fessor Steven R. Lerman ’72, Chair number of contests, with many UA [the elections],” Scott said. To pub- of the Faculty, and Professor Harold Council and class licize the elections, the UA Election Abelson PhD ’73, garnered the most council seats Commission attended an Interfrater- discussion. remaining open or nity Council presidents’ council Other issues raised during the uncontested. meeting and a Dormitory Council meeting included a report on the Elections The UA presi- meeting to ask their leaders to implementation of the new humani- dential contest has drawn three can- encourage their constituents to run ties communication-intensive (CI) didates — Rhett Creighton ’02, for UA council. “I guess [the house requirement for the Class of 2005 Jaime E. Devereaux ’02, and Sanjay and dormitory presidents] haven’t and a motion to implement changes K. Rao ’02. been relaying the information to to the Rules and Regulations of the MATT T. YOURST–THE TECH According to UA Election Com- their houses,” Scott said. Faculty, specifically regarding test- Professor Steven R. Hall ’80 discusses the communication require- missioner Zhelinrentice L. Scott In addition, the UA has run Lec- ing procedures in graduate subjects. ment at Wednesday’s faculty meeting while President Charles M. ’00, “class council is pretty much ture Series Committee slides, sent e- Vest looks on. running uncontested.” mail, and ran spots on MIT cable. Faculty discuss OpenCourseWare This is the first year that all UA “There have been tons of posters Faculty members voiced their be available online. Examples of example for other leading educa- Council representatives are being everywhere,” Scott said. opinions on the OpenCourseWare course materials that would be post- tional institutions worldwide. elected by popular vote. Previous- Of the shortage of petitions, Scott initiative, designed to put all of the ed on the web include syllabi, stu- “Nobody sees this as providing ly, some houses held elections, added, “You would think that people graduate and undergraduate course dent work, and other content con- an MIT education elsewhere, but while other representatives were would look more at the UA, [and] content at MIT into a web-based trolled by faculty. only as a model for what a top-flight appointed by the presidents of the want to be involved. … People on format. Although faculty involve- The estimated cost for a 10-year institution constructs for its educa- houses. this campus are weird, in the sense ment would be voluntary, the major- project to launch and maintain tion programs,” Lerman said. At the Tuesday deadline, nine that they read e-mail selectively, they ity of the material on the OCW web OpenCourseWare for approximately President Charles M. Vest students had submitted petitions for look at bulletin boards selectively.” site would be open and available to 2,000 courses is about $100 million. uncharacteristically expressed a per- the 27 available UA Council posi- The election process is five weeks the world at no cost. The project would put MIT at sonal opinion on the issue during tions. The UA is extending the long, the same length of time as pre- Abelson described a two-year the forefront of integrating educa- the discussion of the initiative. deadline for council petitions until experiment, at the end of which tional technology with an on-cam- Saturday. These petitions do not UA Elections, Page 16 material for 700 MIT courses would pus education, as well as setting an OpenCourseWare, Page 18 Thomas H. Lee Professor Emeritus Thomas H. Lee, a member of the MIT com- munity for 22 years, died on Feb. 4 at the age of 77. Lee is best known for being a founder and president of the Center for Quality Management, and for his contributions to electrical engineering. “I recall Tom Lee as having great energy, and a great ability to lis- ten to others and learn from them,” said Professor Joel Moses, a for- mer dean of the School of Engineering. “Tom was a truly wonderful colleague,” said Professor Gerald L. Wilson in a recent edition of Tech Talk. “He made hundreds of friends in the Boston area and later worldwide due to his interest in learning about better management techniques and his great desire to share them with others. I don’t think Tom ever stopped having fun.” “Tom was very interested in helping organizations improve them- selves,” Moses said. “Thus he, Ray Stata, Alex D’Arbeloff and other local CEOs founded the Center for Quality Management to do just that. CQM now has branches in a number of countries. Tom had a great love of the U.S. and worked for many years on improving the relations between China, his birthplace, and the U.S.” Lee served as president of CQM from 1990-1998 and served on its board of directors. He became president emeritus of CQM in KAILAS NARENDRAN—THE TECH 1998. Since then, he had been studying worldwide anticorruption tac- Local tattoo artist Dan Paine of Tribal Ways, located at the corner of Newbury Street and Massachu- tics with Transparency International. Lee was also instrumental in setts Avenue in Boston, looks over his work before applying the finishing touches. organizing CQM’s new chapter in Shanghai. Born on May 11, 1923 in China, Lee earned the BS in mechanical engineering in 1946 from Chiao Tung University and served in the Alcohol May Be Easier to Obtain on Web Republic of China Army. He then joined General Electric Co. in By Rubi Rajbanshi the times. nessed a significant decrease in Shanghai. While in the United States as a GE employee undergoing Recently, however, the tide influx over the past several years. training, China underwent a communist takeover. Lee and his wife When it comes to local laws and seems to be turning. The recent lift- Although he was not aware of decided to remain in the United States. regulations, Massachusetts has ing of the tattoo ban and rumors of online deliveries, alcohol policies Lee worked for GE in the United States for 30 years, earning an always been famous, or infamous, online liquor stores delivering to are the toughest he has seen in his MS in electrical engineering from Union College in 1950 and a PhD for its minors in dormitories seem to point 22-year career in the liquor busi- from Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute in 1954. “While at GE, Tom prudish- to a chink in armor of some of the ness. “The combination of a total became a noted expert on power systems,” Moses said. Feature ness. laws considered prudish by many. Is partnership between universities, Lee joined the MIT faculty in 1980, and became the Philip Sporn With tough alcohol policies and Massachusetts finally relaxing its bars, restaurants, the government, Professor of Energy Processing in 1982. He had a distinguished sting operations, a mandate that stiff upper lip? and the Boston police has made it career, directing the Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic liquor stores be closed on Sundays, According to Steven Ruben, harder for underage kids to obtain Systems and becoming the associate director of the Energy Laborato- a ban on double-edged knives wine manager of Huntington Wine alcohol in shops at least,” said ry. In 1984, Lee became the director of the International Institute of (although owning a sword is per- & Spirits, this is not the case. In Ruben. Applied Systems Analysis in Vienna. fectly legitimate), and even a fact, he claimed, his famous “Wall Recently, Boston has dedicated Lee is survived by his wife, Kin Ping, his three sons, William, decades-old ban on tattoos, the Bay of Shame,” a wall dedicated to con- Thomas Jr., and Richard, and eight grandchildren. State seemed to have fallen behind fiscated fake identifications, has wit- Tattoos, Page 15
Comics MIT and Harvard meet A CD-ROM World & Nation ...... 2 with the Cambridge City Council will describe Opinion ...... 4 to discuss in lieu of tax payments. living groups On the Screen ...... 8 for incoming On the Town ...... 9 freshmen. Events Calendar ...... 12 Page 10 Page 13 Page 16 Page 2 THE TECH February 23, 2001 WORLD & NATION Immense Space Collision Likely Led Navy Delays Inquiry of Sub To Massive Extinction on Earth THE WASHINGTON POST Scientists presented strong evidence Thursday that the worst cata- Collision with Japanese Boat clysm ever to befall the planet was triggered by a comet that collided with Earth in a spectacular explosion 250 million years ago. By Tony Perry high-profile military cases. civilians aboard at the time. Researchers found molecules of “stardust,” containing trapped gases LOS ANGELES TIMES The court of inquiry will hear Two of those visitors were seat- that could have come only from outer space, in ancient sediments laid The Navy on Thursday delayed from Navy personnel and civilian ed at the sub’s control positions at down at various locations around the planet at the time of the catastrophe. the court of inquiry into the colli- guests who were aboard the the time of the accident. The molecules were carried to Earth by a comet whose impact sion between the U.S. submarine Greeneville on Feb. 9 when it At the invitation of the Navy, an caused oceans to die and killed 90 percent of all marine species, the Greeneville and a Japanese fish- smashed into the trawler Ehime admiral from Japan’s Maritime Self researchers said. Seventy percent of land species also vanished, per- ing trawler off the coast of Maru nine miles off Honolulu. Nine Defense Force will act as an adviser haps starving to death because there were no plants left to eat. Hawaii. people aboard the trawler are miss- to the court, although he will not The mass extinction marks the boundary between the Permian and The inquiry, which had been set ing and presumed dead. have a vote on the issue of whether Triassic periods of geologic time and is the worst of five similar catastro- to begin Monday, now is to start Three admirals assigned to any Navy personnel should face phes during Earth’s prehistory, the most recent of which is believed by March 5, Navy officials at Pearl hear evidence at the court of charges. scientists to have led to the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Harbor announced. inquiry will attempt to determine Waddle, the sub’s executive offi- The impact may have triggered or exacerbated volcanic eruptions that The delay had been requested by how the submerged Greeneville cer, and the officer of the deck — spewed sheets of lava across an area two-thirds the size of the United Virginia lawyer Charles Gittins on failed to realize how close the on advice of their lawyers — have States. Clouds of dust and grit probably flew into the atmosphere, pro- behalf of Cmdr. Scott Waddle, skip- Ehime Maru was when it engaged declined to speak to the National voking massive global warming and downpours of acid rain or wreathing per of the nuclear attack sub. Gittins in an emergency surfacing maneu- Transportation Safety Board investi- Earth in a chill twilight like an ancient version of nuclear winter. has represented clients in several ver as a demonstration for the 16 gators. Sega Sues Kmart for $2.2 Million Dreamcast Discrepancy Tribunal Convicts Three Serbs LOS ANGELES TIMES Video game maker Sega of America on Thursday sued Kmart Corp. for allegedly refusing to paying a $2.2 million tab. Of Wartime Sexual Violence The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in San Francisco, claims Kmart failed to remit $2.2 million of a $25.9 million bill for Dream- United Nations thrived in the dark atmosphere of in court. cast video game consoles shipped since September 1999, when Sega the dehumanization of those When Serbian forces occupied launched the machine in North America. Court Sentences believed to be enemies.” Foca, they separated Muslim men Sega stunned the game industry in January when it revealed plans In London, the rights group and women into separate camps, to bow out of the hardware business on March 31, the end of its fiscal Serb Commanders Amnesty International applauded the detaining men in a local prison and year, and focus solely on producing games. verdict and said it set a precedent. women in a sports hall and various At the time, reports suggested that Kmart dropped Sega’s console By Marjorie Miller “This verdict is a significant step hotels and houses. The victims told in August. The lawsuit, however, claims it was Sega that halted ship- LOS ANGELES TIMES for women’s human rights — sexual how soldiers arrived at their deten- ments to Kmart in July for being delinquent. LONDON enslavement in armed conflict is tion centers in groups of three to “This ongoing, malicious lack of payment by Kmart does not pro- The United Nations war crimes now legally acknowledged as a five and selected their prey. duce a working environment for companies to trade with one anoth- tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, crime against humanity, and perpe- “They would point their finger: er,” said Charles Bellfield, a Sega spokesman in San Francisco. convicted three former Bosnian trators can and must be held to ‘You, you and you,’” Witness No. 50 Bellfield said Kmart accounted for less than 5 percent of Sega’s Serb commanders of rape and tor- account,” the group said in a pre- told the court in March. Just 16 at the North American sales and that Kmart had no impact on Sega’s deci- ture Thursday in the first interna- pared statement. time of her confinement, she was sion to leave the hardware business. Worldwide, Sega sold more than tional trial to focus exclusively on The defendants were charged raped so often during two months of 6.5 million Dreamcasts, about half in the United States. wartime sexual violence. with more than 30 counts of war terror, she said, that she lost count. The three received sentences crimes and crimes against humanity, One woman, identified as Witness ranging from 12 to 28 years for including rape, torture, enslavement No. 75, said she was raped for three Scientists Say Tobacco Companies enslaving Muslim women and girls and outrages upon personal dignity. hours by 15 men. Two teenage girls in “rape camps” during the Bosnian The crimes carry maximum penal- said they were held for months by Could Build a Better Cigarette war, after Serbian forces overran the ties of life in prison. one of the defendants as personal sex LOS ANGELES TIMES southern town of Foca in April 1992. During the 11-month trial, the slaves before being sold for 500 Ger- WASHINGTON The sexual violence was deemed court heard testimony from 63 wit- man marks each to soldiers from the A panel of scientists reported Thursday that it may be feasible for to be part of a widespread attack on nesses, including the horrifying Yugoslav republic of Montenegro. tobacco companies to produce less harmful cigarettes but it said there a civilian population during the accounts of 16 victims held for For such abuses, the court sen- is no evidence that products already on the market or under develop- 1992-95 war in Bosnia-Herzegovina months in sexual slavery and sub- tenced 40-year-old Dragoljub Kunarac ment will reduce smoking-related diseases. and was termed a crime against jected to multiple gang rapes. to 28 years in prison, 39-year-old The research panel, convened by the National Academy of Sciences’ humanity — a charge second only The victims, some of whom Radomir Kovac to 20 years and Zoran Institute of Medicine, said new regulations are needed to assess the ben- to genocide. were 12 and 13 years old at the time Vukovic, also 39, to 12 years. efits and risks of modified tobacco products and smoking substitutes. “Rape was used by members of of their abuse, were identified by Kunarac commanded a recon- The group’s comprehensive report comes as several leading ciga- the Bosnian Serb armed forces as an numbers rather than names as they naissance unit of the Bosnian Serb rette manufacturers are starting to make major investments in pro- instrument of terror,” presiding testified. Their voices were scram- army, while Kovac and Vukovic grams to develop and market such products. Judge Florence Mumba said as she bled and their faces hidden to avoid were paramilitary leaders, according “We believe that it may be possible to reduce harm from tobacco delivered the verdict. “The three further shame in their conservative to the prosecution. The three admit- use,” said Stuart Bondurant, professor of medicine at the University accused are not ordinary soldiers Muslim communities. Some sobbed ted that they participated in the of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and chairman of the research panel. whose morals were merely loosened as they recalled their nightmares, attack on the town but denied the “But we frankly do not know the health effects of the various prod- by the hardships of war. … They but they confronted their attackers charges against them. ucts on the market today.” Questions Mount About Pardons WEATHER ers with special access may have answer the questions raised by the Controversy Remains influenced the pardon process. American citizens and the press Documents turned over Thurs- corps.” Reversal of Fortune Over Role of Clinton day to congressional investigators Hillary Clinton said she was by Clinton’s presidential library “extremely disappointed” with her By Michael J. Ring Relatives and Friends foundation showed that Democratic younger brother Hugh Rodham and EDITOR IN CHIEF By Peter Slevin fundraiser Beth Dozoretz, who tried to distance herself from the In a reverse of the snowfall accumulation pattern more typically and James V. Grimaldi spoke with Clinton about Rich’s clemency decisions that sparked associated with winter storms, the heaviest accumulation from last THE WASHINGTON POST pardon application, pledged to raise investigations by Congress and fed- night’s snow occurred on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nan- $1 million for the library. Dozoretz eral law enforcement authorities. tucket, with up to six inches falling there. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is a friend of Rich’s ex-wife, Denise “I don’t have any memory at all When the center of a winter storm passes over New England, the said Thursday her brother exercised Rich, who gave $450,000 to the of talking to my brother about this. I Cape and Islands experience southerly or southeasterly winds, draw- “terrible misjudgment” in taking library. But the library refused a knew nothing about my brother’s ing warmer air over those regions and causing precipitation to fall in $400,000 to help two convicted House committee subpoena to involvement,” Clinton told reporters. the form of rain. The center of this storm, however, passed to the felons win clemency from former reveal its full donor list as part of “With respect to any of these deci- south of the region, giving the Cape and Islands a dose of colder president Bill Clinton, while the ex- the pardon inquiry, an action that sions, you’ll have to talk with people northeasterly winds which supported last night’s snowfall. president’s office said his brother committee chairman Dan Burton who were involved in making them, We will deal with precipitation again this weekend, but it will lobbied unsuccessfully for other (R-Ind.) deemed “unacceptable.” and that leaves me out.” probably fall as rain as warmer air moves into the region Sunday after pardons. Also Thursday, Hillary Clinton’s Yet Clinton said that “many, a seasonably cold day Saturday. Roger Clinton collected no pay- campaign treasurer said he helped many people” seeking clemency Looking ahead to next week, milder temperatures should reign, ment, a spokesman for the former two last-minute clemency applicants spoke to her or asked her to pass but showers are possible several days next week. president said, and Bill Clinton from Arkansas win pardons. information to the White House in granted clemency to no one on the President Bush, questioned the final month of her husband’s Weekend Outlook list submitted by his brother. Thursday about the matter, said term, after word traveled that he Despite Hillary Clinton’s effort Congress has a “right” to investigate was considering pardon grants. Today: Flurries ending in the morning, then clearing. High of 38°F to tamp down controversy over her the pardons but avoided commenting “You know, people would hand (4°C). brother’s involvement, a series of directly. “I’ve got too much to do … me envelopes. I would just pass Tonight: Clear. Low of 23°F (-5°C). developments Thursday added to to be worrying about decisions my them” to the counsel’s office, Clin- Saturday: Sunny. High of 35°F (2°C). the growing turmoil over Clinton’s predecessor made,” Bush said. ton said. Asked whether she spoke Saturday Night: Becoming cloudy. Low near freezing. last-minute pardons. Scrutiny has “Should I decide to grant par- in favor of any clemency requests, Sunday: Warmer, with rain probable. High of 45°F (7°C). Low of spread beyond the initial focus on dons, I will do so in a fair way. I’ll she responded, “You know, I did 40°F (4°C). the pardon of fugitive financier have the highest of high standards,” not have any involvement in the Monday: Rain ending in the morning, then clearing. High of 45°F Marc Rich to encompass questions Bush said. “But the president made pardons that were granted or not (7°C) and low of 30°F (-1°C). about how Clinton relatives and oth- the decisions he made, and he can granted.” February 23, 2001 WORLD & NATION THE TECH Page 3
Bush Issues Warnings on Iraq, As Tech Stocks Tumble, Broader Market Holds Steady
LOS ANGELES TIMES China in First News Conference NEW YORK By Dana Milbank ago, claimed success. “We got his notes, struggled with a question about Stumbling technology shares pulled the NASDAQ market Thurs- THE WASHINGTON POST attention,” Bush said of Hussein. European military capability and at day to its lowest close in more than two years, and Wall Street overall WASHINGTON The president fielded a wide one point elicited shrugs from aides sank amid persistent fears about the economy’s weakness. President Bush, in his first news range of questions from reporters in when he referred to the eradication of The NASDAQ composite index gyrated wildly, ending down conference since moving to the the White House briefing room that “cocoa leaves” in Colombia. 23.98 points, or 1.1 percent, at 2,244.96, its lowest finish since Jan. 4, White House, sounded a tough note touched on his budget and tax-cut Bush said the budget he unveils 1999. toward Iraq on Thursday and plans, the FBI spy scandal, missile next week would increase spending However, there was enough bargain-hunting to lift the index well warned that “we’re going to send a defenses and the ongoing controver- for Medicare next year, but he also off its low for the day of 2,185. message” to China over its help in sy surrounding former president Bill said his budget would slow the The Dow Jones industrial average inched up 0.23 of a point to building Iraqi air defenses. Clinton’s pardons. growth of government and include “a 10,526.81 after losing as much 154 points early in the session. The president said last Friday’s Bush showed sparks of his trade- decrease or two” in spending. He had Despite the market’s recovery from its lows, losers still swamped airstrikes against Iraq sent a signal to mark humor, warning that he’d “run words of support for FBI Director winners by 19 to 11 on the New York Stock Exchange and by 2 to 1 President Saddam Hussein that the out of ties” if he held news confer- Louis Freeh following allegations that on NASDAQ, in very heavy trading. new administration “will remain ences too regularly, and said of inter- veteran FBI agent Robert Hanssen But Wall Street remains very much a split picture: While NAS- engaged” in the Middle East. Though preting Federal Reserve Chairman had spied for Moscow for much of the DAQ is in its worst bear market since 1973-74, most other major Pentagon officials said Wednesday that Alan Greenspan, “Why don’t I just past 15 years, and he said he found indexes are holding up relatively well. most guided bombs dropped against put some words in his mouth.” There “encouraging” recent statements by Economist Edward Yardeni, chief market strategist for Deutsche Iraqi air-defense systems missed their were also traces of Bush’s discomfort Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Bank Securities, argues that stocks are in “a very broad bull market marks, Bush, whose father presided with language and policy detail. In the Putin indicating Russia might be open masked by a narrow bear market for technology.” over the Persian Gulf war a decade half-hour session, he relied heavily on to some form of missile defense. Korea Warns It May Resume Turkey Feels New Financial Crisis Missile Tests THE WASHINGTON POST Currency Plunges billion into the banking system to ensure possibly, after an initial In its first reaction to what it called a “hardline stance” by the cushion the lira’s free fall, Prime increase, that the inflation rate con- Bush administration, North Korea warned Thursday that it may As Nation Tries Minister Bulent Ecevit tried to tinues to decline.” resume testing long-range missiles. That would end a moratorium assure Turkish and foreign markets The lira plunged from a value of that was a key achievement of the Clinton administration. To Stem Lira’s Fall that the moves would end the coun- about 680,000 to the dollar on cur- “We promised not to test-fire long-range missiles during the dura- try’s latest financial crisis. rency markets Thursday to 960,000 tion of talks” with the United States, said a statement from North By Amberin Zaman “We believe the floating regime to the dollar. Korea’s Foreign Ministry. “But we cannot do so indefinitely.” LOS ANGELES TIMES will revive the economy in a signifi- The Istanbul stock exchange regis- Threats are a standard negotiating tactic for the Stalinist country. ISTANBUL, TURKEY cant way,” Ecevit said after four tered a slight recovery, with its main But this is the first response by North Korea to the new American The Turkish currency lost more days of market turmoil. He insisted index registering a 10 percent gain administration, and it carries an ominous warning. than 40 percent of its value Thurs- that Turkey will continue to carry after plummeting 18 percent Wednes- Its August 1998 test launch of a long-range rocket that passed over day after a political and financial out anti-inflation measures backed day in its worst single-day loss. Inter- Japan and came down in the Pacific Ocean had wide repercussions. It crisis brought on by tumbling stock by $11 billion in loans from the est rates, which shot up to a dizzying alarmed Japan, accelerated U.S. consideration of a missile defense sys- prices forced the government to International Monetary Fund, 7,000 percent on Wednesday, hovered tem and prompted an overhaul of the U.S. policy toward Pyongyang. abandon exchange controls. although other officials said the pro- around 700 percent on Thursday. As a result, the Clinton administration stepped up negotiations. Turkey’s second financial crisis gram had to be revised. Similarly, stock prices in other That led to a promise in September 1999 by North Korea to suspend in three months has sent the stock IMF officials offered cautious key emerging markets rallied after its missile testing, adding to a pledge it made in 1994 to stop its market tumbling, weakening the support for the end of currency con- diving Wednesday on fears that nuclear program. government of this key U.S. ally in trols, announced at 3 a.m. after a 13- Turkey’s woes could hurt capital- But Pyongyang warned today that the agreements could be jeopar- the Middle East and sending jitters hour Cabinet meeting. Horst raising worldwide. Brazil’s main dized by the new Republican administration. It blasted Bush’s deci- through emerging markets from Koehler, the fund’s managing direc- stock index rose 2 percent and Mex- sion to push ahead with development of a missile shield to protect the Russia to Brazil. tor, said the decision “should help ico’s added 0.4 percent. Russian United States and possibly Japan and other Asian allies. As the central bank injected $3 stabilize the exchange rate and stocks also rebounded.
will host a President & VP debate this Wednesday, February 28 at 6 pmin the lobby of the Student Center . We encour-
age YOU to submit questions for the candidates: STOP by
Debate Page 4 THE TECH February 23, 2001 OPINION Yet Again,UA Elections Disappoint Another year brings yet another round of disappointments Additionally, candidates are now charged a $25 “process- Chairman with the Undergraduate Association’s election process. After last ing fee” for prosecuting an election offense, ostensibly to curb year’s debacle, UA Election Commissioner Zhelinrentice L. the complaints that beset last year’s election. This outrageous Jordan Rubin ’02 Scott ’00 has engineered an elec- fee discourages candidates from complaining about campaign Editor in Chief tion intended to avoid controversy transgressions and essentially gives Scott and the commission Michael J. Ring ’01 Editorial of any kind. In the process, she and carte blanche to run the election in whatever way they see fit. It Business Manager other members of the election commission have designed a is unwise to grant this level of authority to her commission. Huanne T. Thomas ’02 process offering little choice and democracy to students. This fee will also certainly reduce the amount of violation Managing Editor The greatest crime committed by the commission this year claims, thus allowing the commission to shirk its responsibility Eric J. Cholankeril ’02 is the accelerated election schedule. To prevent the scandals of to prosecute all transgressions. Executive Editor last year’s election from carrying deep into the term, Scott and Additionally, some of the candidates are so entrenched in Dana Levine ’02 the commission scheduled the elections as early as allowable in the system that observers may reasonably question if they are the UA Election Code. The commission even violated its own still in touch with the student body. Candidates need to reach NEWS STAFF rules by starting elections one day before the required minimum out to all parts of campus in order to learn more about the stu- Editors: Naveen Sunkavally ’01, Rima start date. Candidates now have little time to get out the vote, dents they want to represent. The abbreviated election Arnaout ’02, Matthew Palmer ’03; thus hindering students’ ability to participate in the campaign. deprives candidates of the time they need to meet students, Associate Editors: Nancy L. Keuss ’04, Jennifer Of course, many students aren’t even aware that there’s an thus preventing them from accurately representing the needs Krishnan ’04, Brian Loux ’04, Shankar Mukherji ’04; Staff: Daniel C. Stevenson G, election at all, as publicity this year has been atrocious. Aside of all students. Frank Dabek ’00, Sanjay Basu ’02, Kevin R. from some e-mails and a few posters in the Student Center, The commission’s performance this year gives students a Lang ’02, Efren Gutierrez ’03, Diana S. public notices on petition deadlines were virtually nonexistent. reason not to care about the elections. Fortunately, there is still Cheng ’04, Vicky Hsu ’04, Pey-Hua Hwang ’04, Ask an average student about the Transitions Debate Series time to save these elections from complete irrelevance. First, the Pallavi Naresh ‘04, W.S. Wang ’04; (run by UA stalwarts for UA stalwarts) and the likely response commission must postpone the start of the election for at least Meteorologists: Véronique Bugnion G, Rob will be: “What debates?” Granted, most MIT students couldn’t one week. While this change won’t increase the diversity of the Korty G, Peter Huybers G, Greg Lawson G, give a damn about the UA, but the commission could have at campaign field, it will at least give students a chance to learn Bill Ramstrom G. least tried to get students to care. more about the current slate. Second, Scott should strike down
PRODUCTION STAFF That the commission didn’t try to publicize the elections the $25 fee. Candidates have the right to complain about viola- Editor: Satwiksai Seshasai ’01; Associate gives the impression that it willingly avoided publicity in order tions without paying a dime. If the commission members have a Editors: Stacia Swanson ’03, Gayani Tilleker- to preserve the ruling order’s grip on power. If this was the com- greater workload, tough — that’s the job they agreed to accept. atne ’03, Joel Corbo ’04, Joy Forsythe ’04, Tao mission’s intended effect, we applaud them on a job well done. Lastly, the UA should relinquish control of the debates immedi- Yue ’04; Staff: Mary Obelnicki ’98, Ryan Besides the Class of 2004 elections, most of the class elections ately. Every candidate, insider or outsider, deserves an equal Ochylski ’01, Ian Lai ’02, Vimal Bhalodia ’04, are uncontested. In the UA race, the favored ticket is intertwined chance. There is little evidence to indicate that the current com- Kartik Lamba ’04, Andy Leiserson ’04, Andrew with the current administration. Outsiders considering a chal- mission will grant that chance to every candidate. With these Mamo ’04, Shefali Oza ’04, Eric Tung ’04. lenge may look at the current system and wonder if they have three simple steps, the UA can bolster an electoral process that OPINION STAFF any chance to be competitive, let alone to win. currently stands on shaky ground. Editors: Kris Schnee ’02, Mike Hall ’03; Associate Editor: Veena Thomas ’02; Colum- nists: Philip Burrowes ’04, Roy Esaki ’04, Ken Nesmith ’04, Jyoti Tibrewala ’04; Staff: Letters To The Editor Matthew L. McGann ’00, Michael Borucke ’01, failed utterly. I speak about the ongoing debate level, some or all of the eleven represent Kevin Choi ’01, Jason H. Wasfy ’01, Philippe C. Promoting Pro-Life over the number of suicides at MIT. Should some failure for persons at the institution. Larochelle ’03. In Betsy Nichols’s letter to the editor [“Pro- one read the dispatches that have gone forth But without hard numbers on the ratio of SPORTS STAFF Life Roses Have Thorns,” Feb. 20], she depicts recently, without a critical appraisal of the attempted suicides to actual suicides, we Editor: Aaron D. Mihalik ’02; Staff: Alvan MIT Pro-Life’s Valentine’s Day rose sale as an facts presented, one might be tempted to think won’t know. Nor will we ever really know if Eric P. Loreto ’01, Jeffrey Colton ’02, Brian K. absurdity. I see it as another positive way MIT that Charles Vest is even now brewing up a this represents single, momentary, lapses, or Richter ’02, Jennifer C. Lee ’03. Pro-Life operates on this campus. The roses special batch of Kool-Aid for the lot of us. systemic problems. But to read the debate, ARTS STAFF sold at Pro-Life’s Lobby 10 booth are another The Globe, on scant intelligence and pre- one is expected to buy into an ‘everybody Editors: Devdoot Majumdar ’04, Annie S. reminder to the community that romance need sumptive theories of causality, manufactures a knows’ logic that bypasses the point and dis- Choi; Associate Editor: Fred Choi ’02; Staff: not always be coupled with sex. Further, the distracting appearance of crisis perhaps far respects the living and the dead. Erik Blankinship G, Bence P. Olveczky G, Roy money raised by Pro-Life’s various sales removed from the reality of the day. In I suspect, however, that even if we were Rodenstein G, Vladimir V. Zelevinsky ’95, Seth through the year often go directly to help response, cries of failure by members of the to gather the right intelligence, we would Bisen-Hersh ’01, Katie Jeffreys ’01, Rebecca women who have chosen to bear their unexpect- MIT community, are perhaps wrongheaded find that the mental health services at MIT Loh ’01, Bogdan Fedeles ’03, Lianne ed children. Pro-Life’s activities are focused on and even more blindly dangerous. Anecdotal have been unable to help. This, I feel, may Habinek ’02, Jumaane Jeffries ’02, Jacob education and support those who choose life. evidence about ‘waiting for a week or more’ is not be due to incompetence or lack of trying, Beniflah ’03, Daniel J. Katz ’03, Jane Madu- They do not raise simply “another dollar for the a frail truss on a bridge to nowhere. Further- but rather to the overwhelmingly cynical and ram ’03, Amy Meadows ’03, Ryan Klimczak ’04, fight against women’s reproductive freedom.” more tarring an already stigmatized profession persistently analyzed view that the greater Izzat Jarudi ’04. only compounds the problem and may cost MIT community takes towards the Mental PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF Samuel J. Hoolihan ’01 lives. You’re not part of the solution if you Health Services. Until we do a study that Editors: Nathan Collins G, Sephir Hamilton G; begin with the premise of failure. attempts to determine the extent to which Associate Editors: Roshan Baliga ’03, Wendy Eleven people have killed themselves. the communal sense of deficiency depresses Gu ’03; Staff: Erika Brown G, Krzysztof Cynics Taint Mental How many have not? How many people have the seeking of help, we should stop beating Gajos G, Garry Maskaly G, Karlene R. reported to MIT medical suicidal feelings? up the Mental Health Services at MIT. For Maskaly G, Wan Yusof Wan Morshidi G, Health at MIT Surely more than eleven, no? How many someone in need of help at MIT that might Michelle Povinelli G, Bob Sumner G, Samudra If rigorous attention to detail and respect attempts were made in the past eleven years? be the biggest roadblock of all. Vijay G, Gregory F. Kuhnen ’00, Charles for the truth are important, then both The Surely more than eleven? Boatin ’01, Nii Dodoo ’01, James Snyder ’01, Boston Globe and the MIT community have Perhaps, on a personal and/or professional Petr Swedock Yi Xie ’02, Leonid Drozhinin ’03, Ekaterina Ossikine ’03, Pedro L. Arrechea ’04, Brian Hemond ’04, Max Planck ’04, Jacqueline T. Yen ’04. Erratum FEATURES STAFF Associate Editors: Melissa S. Cain ’04, Eun The final panel of the Lee ’04; Staff: Sonali Mukherjee ’03; Car- toonists: Aaron Isaksen G, Kenneth Lu G, comic “Mat & Solar” Solar Olugebefola G, Jennifer Dimase ’01, did not run in Tues- Grace H. Wang ’01, Bao-Yi Chang ’02, David day’s issue. The com- Ngo ’02, Lara Kirkham ’03, Alison Wong ’03, plete comic is printed Guan-Jong Chen ’04. to the right.
BUSINESS STAFF Advertising Manager: Rachel Johnson ’02; Operations Manager: Jasmine Richards ’02; Staff: Kedra Newsom ’02, Dashonn Graves ’03, Joey Plum ’03.
EDITORS AT LARGE Senior Editor: Eric J. Plosky ’99; Contributing Editor: James Camp G. ADVISORY BOARD or cartoon will be printed anonymously without the express prior Paul E. Schindler, Jr. ’74, V. Michael Bove ’83, Opinion Policy approval of The Tech. The Tech reserves the right to edit or condense Barry Surman ’84, Diana ben-Aaron ’85, Editorials are the official opinion of The Tech. They are written letters; shorter letters will be given higher priority. Once submitted, Robert E. Malchman ’85, Simson Garfinkel ’87, by the editorial board, which consists of the chairman, editor in all letters become property of The Tech, and will not be returned. Jonathan Richmond PhD ’91, Reuven M. Lern- chief, managing editor, news editors, and opinion editors. The Tech makes no commitment to publish all the letters received. er ’92, Josh Hartmann ’93, Jeremy Hylton ’94, Dissents are the opinions of the signed members of the editorial The Tech’s Ombudsman, reachable by e-mail at Anders Hove ’96, Saul Blumenthal ’98, board choosing to publish their disagreement with the editorial. Indranath Neogy ’98, Joel Rosenberg ’99, [email protected], serves as the liaison between The B. D. Colen. Columns and editorial cartoons are written by individuals and Tech and its readers. From time to time, the Ombudsman writes an represent the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of the news- independent column reflecting the complaints, questions, and con- PRODUCTION STAFF FOR THIS ISSUE paper. cerns of the readership. Night Editors: Eric J. Cholankeril ’02, Joy Forsythe ’04, Tao Yue ’04; Staff: Jordan Letters to the editor are welcome. Electronic submissions are Rubin ’02, Andy Leiserson ’04, Eric Tung ’04. encouraged and should be sent to [email protected]. Hard copy submissions should be addressed to The Tech, P.O. Box To Reach Us The Tech (ISSN 0148-9607) is published on Tuesdays and Fridays during the academic year (except during MIT vacations), Wednesdays during Janu- 397029, Cambridge, Mass. 02139-7029, or sent by interdepartmen- The Tech’s telephone number is (617) 253-1541. E-mail is the ary and monthly during the summer for $45.00 per year Third Class by The tal mail to Room W20-483. All submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. easiest way to reach any member of our staff. If you are unsure who Tech, Room W20-483, 84 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, Mass. 02139. Third Class postage paid at Boston, Mass. Permit No. 1. POSTMASTER: two days before the date of publication. to contact, send mail to [email protected], and it will be Please send all address changes to our mailing address: The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, Cambridge, Mass. 02139-7029. Telephone: (617) 253-1541, editor- Letters and cartoons must bear the authors’ signatures, addresses, directed to the appropriate person. The Tech can be found on the ial; (617) 258-8324, business; (617) 258-8226, facsimile. Advertising, sub- scription, and typesetting rates available. Entire contents © 2001 The Tech. and phone numbers. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. No letter World-Wide Web at http://the-tech.mit.edu. Printed on recycled paper by Charles River Publishing. February 23, 2001 OPINION THE TECH Page 5 Eminem’s Slim, Shady Lyrics Kevin Choi
On Wednesday, the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles amidst a sea of controversy regarding the nomination of Eminem’s “Marshall Math- ers LP” for Album of the Year. Perhaps there is some justice in the music industry after all, as the Recording Academy deprived Eminem and his producers the Album of the Year Award. I applaud the Recording Academy for not rewarding Eminem with the evening’s top prize. Tonight on FOX: Death of a Madman! Giving him the award would have meant that the Academy condoned his hateful lyrics. Even McVeigh’s act so personally hurt everyone in some exposed to this violent act. Or maybe, though Eminem’s music should not be censored, Michael J. Borucke Utah that they deserve to see him die? when the day comes, our culture will have so I am glad he was not further celebrated (he did Though McVeigh’s execution will most desensitized people to horrendous acts such win three other Grammys during the evening, In a letter released earlier this month, likely be on a closed-circuit broadcast so that as murder that no one will find a televised including Best Rap Album) and rewarded for convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy only a limited number of people (including the execution unusual. the hate and violence that his music promotes. McVeigh asked for a public broadcast of his victims’ relatives) can witness it, the time may Not only do I think televising his execu- In “Kill You”, one of the tracks on his new execution. The reaction of the mainstream come when the idea of televised execution is tion would be a mistake, I am against his exe- album, The Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem press to this rather macabre request has been seriously considered. That in itself may speak cution at the hands of the state. Why, you raps about raping his mother doggy-style. rather macabre itself. At least two opinions volumes of the present state of our culture. might ask. He’s admitted to the crime, so “Shut up, slut, you’re causing too much in two different mainstream papers have sup- The reality shows that are jamming the there is no possibility of killing the wrong chaos,” he sings, “Just bend over and take it ported the televising of McVeigh’s execu- airwaves today are an example. As I write, a man. He has voluntarily stopped his court like a slut, ok ma?” And within the same tion. I have yet to read any articles advocat- TV show that gets its ratings by breaking appeals process so his death would be cheap- song, he raps about harming gay people: “I’m ing an opposite sentiment, so I thought I’d real-life couples apart is second only to er to taxpayers than life in prison. The trial ready to make everyone’s throats ache. You write my own. another show which places real people on an was relatively without error. All the tradition- McVeigh’s decision to stop his appeals island and encourages them to survive. In al arguments of the anti-death penalty move- process is easy enough to understand. With addition, Cops and The Real World have ment don’t seem appropriate in this case. the extreme horror of his crime, and the pub- become reality staples of our society. While Yet every execution the state carries out We shouldn’t censor Eminem’s lic attention it has garnered, there is little I cannot deny the awesome value that these helps to legitimize the state’s right to kill. I chance McVeigh’s defense can overturn his shows have in improving the lives of their simply don’t think the state should have such music because, in America, he death sentence. respective audiences, I wonder why pro- authority. I would rather the family members has a right to write and sing But why would McVeigh want his death to grams on channels such as C-SPAN which of the victims each take a whack at be broadcast to the world? Can’t say. Perhaps cover truly important aspects of society McVeigh’s head with a stick until he died. To whatever he wants.What we as an apology. Perhaps as a joke. Regardless, don’t get similar ratings. me, this seems more just than having a judge the press seems eager to watch McVeigh’s life We’re trapped in a cycle. They program sentence death and an executioner inject should do is stop celebrating his extinguished on Channel 7. sensational garbage, we get used to it, start death — neither of whom knew the victims music as if it was the best the In my view, the prospect of a nationally- to like it, demand more of the same; they or the criminals involved. televised execution cannot be a sign of a only respond to ratings, right? But at what I know that this scenario is unlikely. Still, I industry has to offer. humane and/or advanced society. There is point do we say that something is too per- do not believe state-sanctioned death is the simply no moral or rational reason to have the sonal, too horrifying to air? For some, the answer. The main reason championed by death public as a witness. What could be accom- line isn’t drawn at execution. penalty advocates is that the death penalty faggots keep egging me on till I have you at plished by having every American watch The only effect of an open broadcast that I acts as a deterrent. Will any future Timothy knife point, then you beg me to stop?” someone die? Would justice be better served can see — besides the phenomenal ratings — McVeighs be deterred by the death penalty? In another song, “Criminal,” Eminem if people in California got to watch? Has is the inevitable trauma that will occur in My guess is no. Feel free to speculate. continues his anti-gay crusade. “My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge. And I’ll stab you in the head, whether you’re a fag or Seeing Through Misappropriations les. A homosex, hermaph, or a transeves. Homophobic? Hey fags, the answer’s yes. al Football League is dominated by blacks Few except for Hitler’s “Aryan” pride- Nah, you’re just heterophobic.” Philip Burrowes while at the same time biased against black bearers and Klan members, however, had ever Are we supposed to interpret Eminem’s quarterbacks. Affirmative action is reverse dis- taken such pride from Europe. As superior as lyrics as poetic and beautiful, as some of his For whatever reason, humans tend to attach crimination for some and reparations for oth- they might have felt to the peoples of Asia, admirers have done? Whether taken in or out their own characteristics to other objects. This ers. Africa, and the Americas, they tended towards of context, his lyrics are homophobic and is why an Indian Siddhartha Gautama is Out of Negritude, however, comes the suborning their neighbors as well. This atti- misogynistic. We shouldn’t censor his music depicted as a Chinese Buddha, why spirits of most dangerous misconception, and it is that tude persisted into the United States, where because in America, he has a right to write the Greco-Roman world became a pantheon of a distinctly black culture. A reaction to cen- anti-immigrant sentiments were probably and sing whatever he wants. What we should of anthropomorphic deities, and why the turies of vilification of Africa and its peoples, higher against the Catholic Irish and Italians do is stop celebrating his music as if it was the Hebrews in the movie Prince of Egypt had the Negritude movement sought positive ele- than the Chinese. Negritude had therefore best music the industry has to offer. American accents. History, when told from ments in places its founders had been told to inadvertently posited a concept of genetic It’s very dangerous if teens and young chil- the vantage point of one group or another, is ignore all their lives. It helped introduce, or pride unheard of in legitimate cultural studies, dren think Eminem’s music is cool. The minds given similar — if usually more subtle — reintroduce, such areas as Timbuktu, Nubia, and was successful with it in ways theretofore of kids are like sponges. If they like his music, treatment. More than one people is to blame and even Harlem into the modern lexicon. unduplicated. how long will it take before they take his lyrics for this during Black History Month, African- Success was greatest, however, with creat- to heart and follow the path of his violent char- Americans included. ing a concept of “black” within the national acters? While we can never get into the minds The primary legacy misappropriation is consciousness of African-Americans. Euro- of teenagers who commit violence, research served upon civil-rights figures. Their aims, The real problem lies in trying peans in the Americas took the first step by has shown that violence in music does register actions, and aspirations are shoehorned into erasing the connection slaves felt to their in the minds of children who listen to them. the earnest perceptions and misguided rhetoric to overcome a history of skewed native tribal states. African-Americans went Eminem has said in various interviews that of whoever invokes them. Martin Luther King, representation with a view beyond that by ignoring those lines and con- his lyrics are a joke and that we shouldn’t take Jr. becomes a pacifist to discourage any con- ceiving of all peoples of African descent — them seriously. He says that music is a form of frontational activism, Malcolm X becomes a skewed in your own direction. not necessarily the original “Negroid,” sub- therapy for him. He also claims that his violent violent racist to radicalize black nationalism, Saharan Africa concept of race — as part of a lyrics are written just to get a rise out of peo- and even Muhammad Ali becomes a mere whole. As positive as this was, it has not only ple. Cathy Renna, the news media director for entertainer to strip other athletes of a socially While there was nothing wrong with celebrat- reinforced a notion of necessarily separate GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against conscious role model. Each misrepresentation ing the achievements of the past and present, conformity on the part of blacks, perhaps best Defamation), puts it best on CNN’s TalkBack is not just a product of the past, however, for it is slightly illogical that they were a source seen in their overwhelmingly Democratic vot- Live: “Eminem’s lyrics are not a joke. It’s not a they are freely promulgated to this day. of pride. The truth of the matter was that ing pattern, but it has prevented African- joke to the boy in the school cafeteria who gets As a a result of this historical sanitizing, African-Americans were taking credit for Americans from seeing the important distinc- harassed and called ‘faggot’ every day of his African-Americans often feel a need to apoth- events that had little to do with them. tions between black people across the world. life. And it’s not a joke to women who are eosize their leaders. Dr. King is beatified, Being African-American implies being a Duality often actually exists, and various abused by their boyfriends or husbands.” Brother Malcolm is always telling it like it is, descendant of the West Africans who were perceptions can be simultaneously correct. I don’t hate Eminem or his music. I just and Ali is everything from grand martyr to enslaved in this country. Many of the feats cel- American rock music, for example, is equally dislike his lyrics and what he stands for. MIT goodwill ambassador. To actually point out ebrated were not of American or West African “white” and “black,” if more so one than the students who like Eminem and his music are their faults and failings is to undermine their origin, such as the those of the Kingdom of other at different times. The real problem lies probably smart enough to not take his lyrics achievements, not place them in the proper Ethiopia. Some were not even ostensibly in trying to overcome a history of skewed rep- literally. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same context. black, such as those of post-Nubian Egypt. Yet resentation with a view skewed in your own for young children who listen to Eminem. Such conflicting characterizations are not anything positive that ever took place in direction. Neither side will do anything but I’m concerned that young children will inter- reserved for such individuals, or individuals at Africa was viewed as a testament to the exacerbate the bias of the other. That will, in pret Eminem’s music as a call to violent all. Republicans are political progenitors of strength of African-Americans, and to deny turn, further alienate you not only from the behavior. Teen violence continues to be a big the Great Emancipator, yet show no interest in that was tantamount to perpetuating the occi- truth, but also from any reasonable members problem in America. Our world can certainly the cares of the black community. The Nation- dental legacy of anti-African sentiment. of the sides you’re trying to appease. use less violence in its music.
is hosting a UA President & VP debate on Wednesday in the Lobby of the Student Center. We want to include your questions Debate in the debate. Send questions to [email protected]. Page 6 THE TECH OPINION February 23, 2001 Settling the Cloning Question Lessons unleashed on the general public. ments which should not be forced upon indi- Roy Esaki Regardless of whether one supports or viduals, who should have the freedom to do opposes banning researching or practicing with the genetic components of their body as Learned In the scientific pursuit of progress, inno- human cloning, it is important that we acknowl- they wish, especially to save or restore life. vation, and academic or monetary greatness, edge the importance of ethical considerations. It Others, among them bioethicists and legisla- questions of “how” and “how soon” a result is far too easy to for Frankenstinian impulses to tors, would disagree, based on the consequences From TEAL can be reached are asked far more often than lead us to technologies “just because we can,” if for human justice and liberty that is the product questions of “why” and “should we.” As this not because that’s where the money, prestige, or of cloning. For example, given the high proba- Guest Column week’s feature story in Time brought to the research opportunities lie. Though it could be bility of birth defects and congenital abnormali- limelight, the “whys” and “should wes” of argued that technologies themselves are amoral, ties such as immature lungs and severe cardio- Peter A. Shulman human cloning have emerged from futuristic and only become good or evil depending on vascular problems, what should happen to the abstractions — pondered over by the public in cloned babies? Would they be euthanized or Last Friday saw the official announcement movies such as The Eighth Day or Gattaca — allowed to live with such defects? that the experimental Teaching Enabled Active to an immediate and pressing concern. As The rights of the cloned person must also Learning (TEAL) project will begin next fall future and current researchers, entrepreneurs, Is the creator of a technology be considered. Even if a person were cloned in the physics reading room in Building 26, and policy makers, it is incumbent upon us to perfectly, how would the clone feel about and not in the fifth floor Stratton Student Cen- seriously reflect upon, and seek a resolution responsible for the consequences being either a John II, a mere replacement for ter Reading Room, as originally planned. This to, the ethics of human cloning. a departed sibling, or a Mini-Me born to announcement came as a major victory for the It is clear that human cloning is an issue of the applied technology? quench the narcissistic thirsts of the parent? Undergraduate Association, the name for both that must be addressed as soon as possible. Both proponents and opponents bring up the entire undergraduate student body and the Just last month, a team of South Korean valid concerns, which is exactly why we must student government that represents it. researchers claimed to have created, and how we use them, the potential for harm makes engage in critical discourse of the ethics A glance back over the past year reveals destroyed, a cloned human embryo, while the it necessary to consider whether the technology involved, rather than dismissing ethics as an several lessons, from which all members of religious group of Raelians claim to have the itself is something mankind desires or not. unworthy or secondary issue, or stubbornly the MIT community, whether student or staff, lab, scientists, volunteers, and fierce determi- Should researchers and users of technology maintaining one’s moral righteousness. faculty member or administrator, can learn. nation to clone a dead ten-month old boy. care if 90 percent of their fellow citizens For many grieving parents of a dearly Three lessons stand out for both future Considering that the cloning of Dolly wasn’t (according to a Time/CNN poll) think it is departed toddler who are offered the option of decision-making in the administration and for announced until seven months after the event, wrong to clone humans? Is the creator of a recreating a baby with those same ruddy future student-government activism: (1) with scientists arguing that cloning mammals technology responsible for the consequences cheeks and chubby nose, or for infertile ensure communication between all interested from adult cells was not possible, it’s conceiv- of the applied technology? women presented with the ability to become a parties before decisions are finalized; (2) able that human cloning is closer to imple- Many people, among them libertarians and mother, even matters of ethics or legality may remember and respect the intertwined nature mentation than imagined. Though it is difficult objectivists, would answer no to such ques- not deter them from taking advantage of an of living and learning environments; and (3) to speculate on yet unestablished technologies, tions. Concerns of “religious beliefs” and available technology. Thus, it is essential that always place education first, although some- we should arrive at some degree of philosoph- questions of “human individuality” cited by we reconcile the issue, both through legislation times the right decisions are not always the ical direction before the technology is opponents to cloning are personal value judg- and by general consensus, as soon as possible. easiest or most obvious ones to make. First, we must ensure communication. It is clear that the original decisions on TEAL were made for logical reasons by intelligent people, but they were made in an absence of all the data and perspectives. By not consulting stu- dents until the move was imminent, the administration and faculty found itself hard- pressed to search for alternate solutions. Months of scrambling, researching, meeting, lobbying, and negotiating could have been avoided. Second, much of the student arguments against TEAL rested on preventing an acade- mic body (the TEAL classroom) from moving into the west, or “non-academic” side of cam- pus. Clearly, this cannot hold: what happens primarily in the W20 Reading Room is noth- ing other than studying. But I contend that most students attached to this principle of “no academics west of Mass. Ave.” were grasping for some logical reason to oppose the TEAL move. This reasoning comes after that strange sense of discomfort upon first hearing about the proposal. Most students felt they needed a reason beyond the simple sense that there should not be a classroom in the Student Cen- ter because it is a student center. But, in reali- ty, that should be reason enough. With space at such a high premium at the Institute, every little square inch is precious. It is harder to come by than either money or staff. But espe- cially for space designated to promote the well-being of students, we suffer a great dearth. Third, we must remember why the Institute exists. With perhaps the most accomplished faculty in the world (in every field we have) and with the undoubtedly hardest working and brightest student body in the world, we must always remember that community-affecting decisions must be made with these groups in mind. We all suffer from constraints: time, resources, space, money, staffing. But the final resolution on TEAL reveals what effective communication brings: a more appropriate classroom for the TEAL project itself, improved accessibility for both students and faculty, and a reaffirmed commitment to pro- vide community space. It should be noted that the physics reading room will itself be relocat- ed in this current move, a great concession by the Physics Department, showing their dedica- tion to providing for the quality of life of their students. For TEAL in particular, the new Building 26 plan could not have happened without a close interaction between the UA and key members of the administrations, most notably the Provost, the Chancellor, the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Education, the Department of Facilities, and especially the Physics Department. Each person or group had a particular perspective on the Institute, and the student success on this issue involved identifying the key players in space allocation, and logically explaining why a new space allo- cation could better serve those for whom the Institute exists, its students and its faculty. As a student body, we are grateful this issue is resolved, and look forward to effective com- munication between students, faculty, and the administration in the years to come. Peter A. Shulman ’01 is the president of the Undergraduate Association. February 23, 2001 THE TECH Page 7 Page 8 THE TECH February 23, 2001 THE ARTS ON THE SCREEN — BY THE TECH ARTS STAFF —
★★★1 The following movies are playing this weekend Snatch ( ⁄2) at local theaters. The Tech suggests using Madonna’s new hubby
a.m.–5 p.m.; Sat.–Sun., 10 a.m.–5:45 p.m. West Wing open Thurs.–Fri. until 9:45 p.m. Clubs Admission free with MIT ID, other- Axis wise $10, $8 for students and 13 Lansdowne St., 617-262-2437 seniors, children under 17 free; $2 after 5 p.m. Thurs.–Fri., free Sundays: See Avalon below. Wed. after 4 p.m. Mondays: Static. Gay, casual Mon.–Fri.: introductory walks dress. $5, 18+. through all collections begin at Thursdays: Chrome/Skybar. 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Progressive house, soul, disco; “Asian, Egyptian, and Classical dress code. $10, 19+; $8, 21+. Fridays: Spin Cycle. Progressive Walks” begin at 11:30 a.m.; house, 80's. $12, 19+; $10, “American Painting and Decorative 21+. Arts Walks” begin at 12:30 p.m.; “European Painting and Avalon Decorative Arts Walks” begin at 15 Lansdowne St., 617-262-2424 2:30 p.m.; Introductory tours are also offered Sat. at 11 a.m. and Sundays: Gay Night (with Axis on 1:30 p.m. long weekends). Featuring hard- A weekly guide to the arts in Boston core house and techno. $10, On The Town Permanent Gallery Installations: 21+. “Late Gothic Gallery,” featuring a Thursdays: International Night. February 23 – March 2 restored 15th-century stained Eurohouse. $10, 19+. glass window from Hampton Fridays: Avaland. House. $15, Compiled by Fred Choi Court, 14th- and 15th-century stone, alabaster, and polychrome 19+. Send submissions to [email protected] or by interdepartmental mail to “On The Town,” The Tech, W20-483. Saturdays: Downtown. Modern wood sculptures from France and house, club classics, and Top the Netherlands; “Mummy Mask 40 hits. $15, 21+. Gallery,” a newly renovated Orpheum Theatre Egyptian gallery, features primitive 1 Hamilton Pl. , Boston, 617-679- masks dating from as far back as Circle 0810 2500 B.C.; “European Decorative Every Tuesday, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. A Ticketmaster: 931-2000 Arts from 1950 to the Present”; small but energy-filled place to “John Singer Sargent: Studies for hear local DJs spin a range of Feb. 24: Jose Luis Perales. techno/trance. No age restric- Mar. 3: Moe. MFA and Boston Public Library tions, no dress code. At the VFW, Murals.” 371 Summer St, Somerville, MA Sanders Theatre Gallery lectures are free with (take the Red Line to Davis 45 Quincy St., 02138, 617-496- museum admission. Square). $5, $1 before 9:30. 2222
Karma Club Mar. 4: Ladysmith Black Museum of Science 9 Lansdowne St., 617-421-9595 Mambazo. Science Park, Boston. (723- Mar. 10: BeauSoleil. Sundays: "Current dance 2500), Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri., 9 favorites" by guest DJs. Cover Mar. 23: John Gorka. a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 9 a.m.-5 varies. p.m. Admission free with MIT ID, Tuesdays: Phatt Tuesdays. With Tsongas Arena otherwise $9, $7 for children 3-14 Bill's bar, modern dance music. Lowell, MA and seniors. $10. Ticketmaster: 931-2000. Wednesdays: STP. Gay-friendly, The Museum features the theater of electricity (with indoor thunder- house. $15, 21+. Mar. 15: Pantera. Thursdays: Groove Factor. House. and-lightning shows daily) and Fridays: Pure. Drum and bass, Mar. 28: Ani Difranco. $26.50. more than 600 hands-on exhibits. guest DJ. $15, 19+. Ongoing: “Discovery Center”; Saturdays: Elements of Life. T.T. the Bear's Place “Investigate! A See-For-Yourself International House. $15. 10 Brookline St., Cambridge, 617- Exhibit”; “Science in the Park: 492-BEAR Playing with Forces and Motion”; ManRay “Seeing Is Deceiving.” Feb. 24: Emm Gryner, Meghan 21 Brookline St., Cambridge, 617- Ongoing: “Friday Night 864-0400 Toohey. Feb. 28: After This, Live Wire. Stargazing,” Fri., 8:30 p.m.; Wednesdays: Curses. Goth. “Welcome to the Universe,” daily; Appropriate dress required. $5, “Quest for Contact: Are We 19+; $3, 21+. Alone?” daily. Admission to Omni, Thursdays: Campus. Popular Jazz laser, and planetarium shows is tunes + House. Gay, casual $7.50, $5.50 for children and dress. $10, 19+; $7, 21+. seniors. Fridays: Fantasy Factory (First and third Friday of the month. Features kinky fetishes and Music industrial music.) Hell Night (every second Friday. 19+. Regattabar Includes Goth music.) Ooze (the Concertix: 876-7777 Other last Friday of the month.) $10, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge 02138, 21+. reduced prices for those 617-662-5000 wearing fetish gear. Saturdays: Liquid. Disco/house + Feb. 23-24: Ron Carter Quartet. New Wave. $15, 19+; $10, Feb. 27: Steve Lacy Trio. Feb. 28: Greg Piccolo & Heavy Events 21+. Juice. Dangerous Curves: Art of the Scullers Jazz Club Guitar DoubleTree Guest Suites, 400 Popular Soldiers Field Rd., Boston, 617- 562-4111 Through Feb. 25, 2001: The first comprehensive museum exhibition Feb. 23-24: New York Voices & to focus on the guitar as an objet Band. KIMBERLY BUTLER d'art. Audio guide narrated by Music Feb. 27-28: Al Di Meola. James Taylor. The exhibit covers All 32 Flavors of ultrawoman Ani Difranco take control at Tsongas Arena March four centuries and features more Axis 28th. than 130 instruments from muse- 13 Lansdowne St., 617-262-2437 the Depression with high style Amphitryon ums and private collections Next: 423-NEXT and New Deal optimism. Book by around the world. Highlights Classical Ken Ludwig, Lyrics by Ira Mar. 9-Apr. 8: The Huntington include a 17th-century guitar cre- Mar. 3: Grand Theft Audio. Gershwin, Music by George Theatre Company, a professional Exhibits ated by famous violin maker, Gershwin. Tickets: $26 general, theatre in residence at Boston Antonio Stradivari and electric gui- Avalon $13 seniors, $7 students. For University presents Moliere's com- Institute of Contemporary Art 15 Lansdowne St.., 617-262- tars owned by celebrity artists more info or for reservations, edy, with the East Coast premiere 955 Boylston St., Boston, such as Prince and Jimi Hendrix. 2424 Music call the box office at 617-912- of a new verse translation by 02115, 617-266-5152 (Hynes 9142. Richard Wilbur. Directed by Darko Tickets: complimentary to MFA Convention Center T-stop). members (Number of tickets Feb.23: Eric Johnson & Alien Love Boston Symphony Orchestra Tresnjak. The production will be Gallery hours: Wed., Fri. 12-5 Child With Derek Trucks Band. Tickets: 266-1492. The Doctor's Dilemma ASL-interpreted on Saturday, Mar. p.m., Thurs. 12-9 p.m., Sat. and dependent on level of member- Feb. 24: Boy George. Performances at Symphony Hall. 31 at 8:00 pm. Deaf patrons are ship). Adults $16 on weekdays, Through Mar. 14. At the Loeb Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Features a Mar. 8: Xzibit. Call for ticket prices. asked to purchase tickets for this wide variety of contemporary con- $18 on weekends. Mar. 8: Tha Liks. Drama Center (64 Brattle St., performance via TTY 617-266- Students/Senior citizens For MIT Students: Tickets are Cambridge 02138), presented by ceptual art with shows which Apr. 5: Cowboy Mouth. offered for Th. evening concerts 8488 by Mar. 25th. Tickets $36, emphasize artists from outside $14/$16. Children 6 - 17 $6 for the A.R.T. and directed by David $44, $52, $55. Students, (8 p.m.) and Fri. afternoon con- Wheeler, by George Bernard the United States. Admission $6 both weekdays and weekends. Berklee Performance Center certs (1:30 p.m.) and are avail- Seniors, BU Faculty/Staff/Alums adults, $4 students and seniors, Children 5 and under free. Adult Berklee College of Music Shaw. London's finest physician $5. ASL section $27. Visit able on the day of the concert is on the horns of a dilemma — free to children under 12 and group visits are available. Visit 1140 Boylston St. only at the BSO Box Office at
for more info. E Floyd Collins emphasis on Italian Renaissance China's premiere woman director, Theater E Through Feb. 24, at the Boston Center for the Arts and 17th-century Dutch works. is a subtly subversive portrayal of Feb. 24: Hybrasil, Laurie Sargent, Crazy for You W (539 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116). Wed.-Sat. 8 Among the highlights are works E modern Beijing. Set within a des-
Heidi Saperstein. H p.m., Sun. 7 p.m., matinee 2/24 at 2 p.m. Up-and- by Rembrandt, Botticelli, olate landscape of imposing sky- Feb. 24: Gamelan Presents: Thurs.-Sat. Mar. 8-10 at 8 p.m., T coming Broadway songwriter Adam Guettel's musical Raphael, Titian, and Whistler.
F scrapers amidst stretches of ten- about a trapped Kentucky caver and the media Guided tours given Fridays at Yonder Mountain String Band, Sun. Mar. 11 at 7 p.m., Sat. and O ement housing, contemporary
Gordon Stone Band. Sun. Mar. 10-11 at 2 p.m. at the K brouhaha that ensued. Presented by the SpeakEasy 2:30 p.m.
C urban life emerges as a highly Feb. 25: The Explosion. Boston Conservatory Theater (31 I Stage Company. Tickets: $22 and $25, seniors and
P compromised series of negotia- Mar. 13: The Donnas, Bratmobile, Hemenway St., Boston). The students $19 and $22. Half-price tickets may be Museum of Fine Arts S tions between individuals Mooney Sukuzi. Boston Conservatory presents ’ available the day of the show through BosTix 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. D
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the crass rat February 23, 2001 The Tech Page 11
Solution, page 15 Puzzle Crossword
Dilbert® by Scott Adams Page 12 The Tech February 23, 2001
TechCalendar appears in each issue of The Tech and features events for members of the MIT community. The Tech makes no guarantees as to the accuracy of this information, and The Tech shall not be held liable for any loss- es, including, but not limited to, damages resulting from attendance of an event. TechCalendar Contact information for all events is available from the TechCalendar web page. Visit and add events to TechCalendar online at http://tech-calendar.mit.edu Friday, February 23 Monday, February 26 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Al-Anon Open Discussion: Al-Anon Meeting. free. Room: E25-101. Sponsor: MIT Medical. 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Mac Tech Partners. free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Information Sys- 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Overview of Purchasing on the Web. This demo integrates all aspects of using tems. SAPweb for purchasing, including requisitioning external vendors, internal providers and preferred partners. 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – “Higgs and other Augmented Holomorphic Bundles.” free. Room: Room 4-159. In this session we will introduce the SAPweb requisitioning form, the new online catalogs and purchasing Sponsor: Differential Geometry Seminar. Department of Mathematics. procedures for buying from preferred partner vendors. free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Information 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. – Aga Khan Lecture: Social Memory and Practices of Commemoration: Lahore’s Systems. Monumental Past. free. Room: 3-133. Sponsor: Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – Formal Engineering Design Synthesis: Application to Microsystems. free. Room: 3- 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. – MIT Student Phonathon. free. Room: Bush Room (10-105). Sponsor: Association 133. Sponsor: ME Seminar Series. of MIT Alumni & Alumnae. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – Department of Chemical Engineering Seminar Series. Determination of Protein 6:30 p.m. – Architecture Lecture: “Beyond Paper and Curtain: Architectural Words and Humanitarian Structure and Function Using Computer Simulations and Structural Bioinformatics. free. Room: 66-110. Activities”. Talk by Shigeru Ban, architect, Tokyo. free. Room: 10-250. Sponsor: Department of Architecture. Sponsor: Chemical Engineering. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. – Hungarian Film Seminar. free. Room: 4-237. Sponsor: Graduate Student Council, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. – Balancing Work and Life as a Christian in today’s business world. Hal Eason, a Hungarian Student Association of MIT. consultant with Bain & Co, will speak on the issues Christians deal with in the workplace. free. Room: Stu- dent Center West Lounge (W20-201). Sponsor: Graduate Christian Fellowship. Tuesday, February 27 7:00 p.m. – MIT Anime Club Showing. free. Room: 6-120. Sponsor: Anime Club, MIT. 7:00 p.m. – African Film Festival. Guel Waar (Ousmane Sembene, Senegal, 1992) Runtime: 115 min. free. 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. – The Birth of Chemical Engineering. Dibner Institute Lunchtime Colloquia. free. Room: 4-237. Sponsor: Foreign Languages & Literatures, Women's Studies Program, Comparative Media Room: E56-100. Sponsor: Dibner Institute. Studies. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Word User Group. free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Information Systems. 8:00 p.m. – SONOS Concert. Bayla Keyes, violin; Marcus Thompson, viola; Michael Reynolds, cello; David 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. – Civic Environmentalism: Democratic Pathways to Sustainability - A Roundtable Deveau, piano. Haydn's Piano Trio in E; Edward Cohen's Piano Quartet; Beethoven's String trio in C Minor, Series. Civic Environmentalism and the Pursuit of Sustainable Communities. free. Room: Tufts University, Op. 9. No. 3. free. Room: Kresge Auditorium. Sponsor: Music Section. Olin Building, Laminan Lounge. Sponsor: Department of Urban Studies and Planning. 8:00 p.m. – The Revenge of the Unloved Show. MIT’s improv troupe provides “an hour or so of fast-paced 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Flaw Characterization in Metallic Waveguides using Broadband, on-the-spot improv comedy that'll make you a better person.” free. Room: 35-225. Sponsor: Roadkill Buffet. Multi-Mode Signals. free. Room: 1-350. Sponsor: Engineering & Environmental Mechanics Group. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – MTL VLSI Seminar Series. Magnetic Recording Head Technology- Physics, Process- Saturday, February 24 ing Technology and Scaling. free. Room: 34-101. Sponsor: MTL VLSI Seminar. 4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. – Gas Turbine Seminar Series. free. Room: 31-161. Sponsor: Gas Turbine Laboratory. 4:00 p.m. – African Film Festival. LA VIE EST BELLE. [“Life Is Rosy”]. (Mweze Ngangura and Benoît Lamy, 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. – MIT Student Phonathon. free. Room: Bush Room (10-105). Sponsor: Association Belgium/Congo, 1987) Runtime: 80 min with Papa Wemba as Kourou. LA PETITE VANDEUSE DE SOLEIL of MIT Alumni & Alumnae. [“The little girl who sold the Sun”]. (Djibril Diop Mambety, Senegal, 1999) Runtime: 45 min. free. Room: 4- 7:00 p.m. – Feminism at the Millennium. Lecture by Katha Pollitt. New Words Bookstore will be selling her 237. Sponsor: Foreign Languages & Literatures, Women’s Studies Program, Comparative Media Studies. books and there will be a signing after the talk. free. Room: 6-120. Sponsor: Women’s Studies Program. 8:00 p.m. – African Film Festival. Sango Malo [The village teacher]. (Bassek Ba Kobhio, Cameroon, 1991) 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. – From Bertolt Brecht’s Flight of the Lindberghs to Robert Wilson’s Oceanflight. Hol- runtime: 94 min. free. Room: 4-237. Sponsor: Foreign Languages & Literatures, Women’s Studies Program, ger Teschke speaks on Experience with Bilingual Theater Production at the Berliner Bilingual Ensemble. Bilin- Comparative Media Studies. gual Arts series. free. Room: 4-237. Sponsor: Foreign Languages & Literatures. 8:00 p.m. – Metamorphosis. Performance by Staniewski Center for Theatre Practices, Gardzienice, Poland. Sunday, February 25 Co-sponsored with The Charlestown Working Theater and Double Edge Theatre. $15, free with current MIT ID. Room: Kresge Little Theater. Sponsor: Music and Theater Arts Section. 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. – Ballroom Dance Lessons. Cha-Cha at 1p.m., Tango 2 at 2p.m., Amer. Fox Trot 3 at 4:30p.m. Free social dancing from 3:30-4:30p.m. $1 to $5. Room: Sala de Puerto Rico. Sponsor: Ballroom Dance Club. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – F.A.S.T. Sunday (Family Adventures in Science and Technology): The Magic of Chemistry. This F.A.S.T. program is designed to show just how much fun and exciting chemistry can be — and kid-friendly, too! Free with Museum admission. Room: MIT Museum’s Main Gallery, 265 Massachusetts Avenue, Bldg. N52-2nd fl. Sponsor: MIT Museum. 3:00 p.m. – Edward Cohen, Composer: 60th Birthday Concert. Piano Quartet 1999; Suite for Solo Flute 1999; Piano Sonata (1994); Five Pieces for Piano (1999); Songs of Enchantment 1997; Sextet 1961. free. Room: Killian Hall. Sponsor: Music Section. 4:00 p.m. – African Film Festival. WOMEN OF ANGOLA — Documentary. Discussions with women from all angles on the conflict in Angola. EVERYONE’S CHILD. Runtime: 90 mins. Examination of orphans of AIDS and a reaffirmation that orphans are “everyone’s child.” free. Room: 4-237. Sponsor: Foreign Languages & Literatures, Women’s Studies Program, Comparative Media Studies. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. – MIT Student Phonathon. free. Room: Bush Room (10-105). Sponsor: Association of MIT Alumni & Alumnae. February 23, 2001 THE TECH Page 13 MIT, Harvard Meet With City Council Schools Discuss in Lieu of Tax Payments
By Melissa S. Cain agreement existed before that. MIT, ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR on the other hand, has “no formal Executive Vice President John agreement,” according to Maloney. R. Curry and representatives from Harvard University recently met Schools object to raising payment with members of the Finance Com- MIT and Harvard objected to a mittee of the Cambridge City Coun- large increase in the payments cil to discuss reforming the “in lieu because, “we [MIT and Harvard] of” payments policy. contribute to Cambridge in other The main reason for the meeting, ways,” said Curry. Curry said the according to James P. Maloney, universities contribute to the “eco- head of the Fiscal Department of the nomic base of the city itself.” Cambridge City Council, was that Having MIT and Harvard in “some City Council members were Cambridge “attracts businesses to worried that the in lieu of tax pay- the area, as well as creating many ments of the universities were not spin-off companies that choose to increasing proportionally with the locate near the universities they expenses of the city.” came from, creating ‘cities of Currently, “the in lieu of taxes knowledge,’” added Curry. request increases by about 2.5 per- MIT and Harvard both own large cent every year,” said Maloney. amounts of commercial property The meeting was held to establish and are among the top ten commer- a better system for increasing “in lieu cial taxpayers in Cambridge, which of” payments, especially for MIT. is another reason the colleges have objections. MIT, Harvard pay in lieu of taxes Curry was optimistic about the As academic institutions, MIT outcome of the discussions and and Harvard have tax-exempt status. believes “the Cambridge City Coun- Because these institutions occupy cil and City Manager understand the such a large percentage of land in extent to which the universities Cambridge, “the city loses a lot of offer contributions” to the city. potential commercial income,” Mal- oney said. Tech Square may pose problem Approximately 50 percent of the Another issue worrying city property in Cambridge is tax- councillors, the issue which initiated exempt, which makes the “in lieu the meeting in the first place, is of” payments important to city eco- MIT’s recent purchase of the Tech- nomics. nology Square property near In light of these facts, the city Kendall Square. The property is requests that both institutions pay a “the largest commercial real estate sum in lieu of tax payments on their complex in the city,” according to tax-exempt property. Every year Maloney. MIT gives over one million dollars The city is “worried about MIT to the city of Cambridge in lieu of removing [Tech Square and MIT’s tax payments. other commercial properties] from Every year the city sends out the tax rolls” by turning them into requests for in lieu of tax payments classrooms or labs, Curry said. from all of the tax-exempt property One of Curry’s goals at the owners. As the top two owners of meeting was to stress to councillors tax-exempt property in the city, that “MIT bought Tech Square as a MIT and Harvard account for a commercial investment” that will large percentage of the payments. remain commercial and added Harvard has had a written agree- “[MIT] agreed we would discuss ment with the city of Cambridge transitions [of commercial into not- about its in lieu of tax payments for-profit property] with the city in since the 1960s and an informal the future.”
NII DODOO–THE TECH Diana Aubourg G performs a dance to the song “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday at the 26th Annual Ebony Affair orga- nized by the BGSA. This year’s event had the theme “Harlem Nights” and focused on the Harlem Renaissance. It took place last night at the VFW “Cotton Club” in Cambridge. Page 14 THE TECH February 23, 2001 California Colleges May Drop SAT Use By Shankar Mukherji continue to require the so-called ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR SAT II, which tests students in sub- The President of the University ject areas such as English, mathe- of California, Richard C. Atkinson, matics, history, science and foreign has recommended that the use of languages. Along with the SAT I, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) the University of California would scores in determining admission to also drop the use of the ACT test, the Golden State’s public university another standardized test which stu- system be discontinued. dents are now allowed to submit as At the annual meeting of the an alternative to the SAT I. American Council on Education in The move follows similar deci- Washington, Atkinson told the audi- sions taken by Bates, Bowdoin, and ence that “for many years, I have wor- Mount Holyoke colleges, which ried about the use of the SAT, but last each make the SAT an optional part year my concerns coalesced.” of the admissions process. Never- The turning point, according to theless nearly 90 percent of four- Atkinson, was a trip to an upscale year colleges and universities private school, where he learned require the SATs for admission. “that they spend hours each month MIT Dean of Admissions Mar- — directly and indirectly — prepar- ilee Jones has called Atkinson’s ing for the SAT.” move “brave … even bold.” Jones, “The time involved was not however, has also expressed reser- aimed at developing the students’ vations about such a move. reading and writing abilities but “I wonder how they will assess rather their test-taking skills,” he all of those students equitably with- continued. “I have concluded what out some standardization,” she said. many others have concluded — that “I can only imagine that this will be America’s overemphasis on the a nightmare because, being a state SAT is compromising our educa- university system funded by taxpay- tional system.” ers, the UC system will have to The proposal flies in the face of prove that it has found a way with- a national movement toward greater out the SAT to be fair to all appli- emphasis on standardized testing cants, including those populations and increased school accountability. who traditionally score high on the President George W. Bush, for SAT but who would lose that example, has included provisions advantage in a new system.” for nationwide testing of basic skills Still, Jones understands the sen- as part of the education package he timent behind the proposed move. will send to Congress. “I know that the College Board For the University of California suggests that the source of SAT score to suspend the use of the SAT, both differences lies in the socio-econom- the faculty senate and the university ic level of various populations and system’s governing board of regents school systems, but without solutions must approve the decision. to this, California is facing a future in Under the Atkinson proposal, the which its majority populations nine-campus state university system (Black, Latino, Asian) will increas- would drop the requirement that ingly be closed out of a public uni- applicants submit scores from the SAT I, an aptitude test, but would SAT, Page 16 February 23, 2001 THE TECH Page 15
MATT T. YOURST–THE TECH Professor Clarence G. Williams delivers Thursday night’s authors@mit presentation on his book, Technology and the Dream: Reflections on the Black Experience at MIT. Williams’ book chronicles 75 interviews conducted for the Blacks at MIT History Project from 1941-1999. State Court Decision Legalizes Tattooing
Tattoos, from Page 1 with the law. On October 23, 2000, Superior Court Judge Barbara much effort to prohibiting the pur- Rouse lifted the ban on tattoos, chase of alcohol by minors, culmi- implemented in 1968 after a hepati- nating in the “Cops in Shops” pro- tis scare, claiming that it was an gram. “Cops in Shops” employs unconstitutional infringement on undercover police officers to run freedom of expression. sting operations in the hopes of “Ever since we’ve started tat- catching minors in the act of buying tooing, we have been booked,” said liquor. It has been embraced by the Daniel Paine, the tattoo artist at Massachusetts press and communi- Tribal Ways, a body piercing and ty and, according to Ruben, has now body art salon in Boston. “It is contributed significantly to the now easier for people who were on decline of minors trying to buy the fence in getting a tattoo,” he alcohol in stores. said, citing college students as an This decline, however, may not increasing population amongst his have put an end to the struggle to customers. prevent underage purchase of alco- Like many tattooists around the hol. Recently, rumors that it was city, Paine had tattooed illegally for possible to purchase alcohol online several years before. Despite the circulated around campus and lack of advertising, Paine claimed prompted The Tech to investigate that it was not hard to find cus- this new trend for itself. tomers. Paine depended mainly on An order to be delivered to referrals, though he occasionally, Baker was placed to evineyard.com, and unabashedly, broadcasted his a popular online wine store. The work on radio stations. “The online account asked for a date of demand is incredibly higher now,” birth and the shipping policies listed he said, “because tattoos are so pop- on the web site stated that “an adult ular and people who were unsure signature is required by law for all before can get one now.” deliveries; proof of age will be veri- Tenley D. McHarg ’04 was one fied by delivery carrier.” of the college students who could A week later, the package was not wait until the ban was lifted. A ground delivered to Marie L. Blanke native of Massachusetts, she had to ’01, who was the desk worker that get her tattoo out of state “because day. According to Blanke, the couri- those places are more likely to be er simply asked for her signature clean since they are legal. It was after handing her the package. “He hard to get a legitimate tattooist did not card me or ask for any iden- around here unless they you had tification,” she said. “The package connections.” did seem a little heavier than usual Although his work was under- but I had no idea what it was.” ground, secret, and his competition Sheila Wilson, a customer ser- open to bad practioners, Paine was vice representative at unafraid of the ban, for he claimed evineyard.com, said the situation that it specifically cited that he was “unusual.” Jim Aufiera, the needed to be caught in the act of tat- Massachusetts manager of evine- tooing to be charged. His knowl- yard.com, concurred, adding that edge of the law was apparently mir- evineyard.com did not take respon- rored by other tattoo artists who sibility; instead “the burden of fought hard to lift the ban. “Our responsibility goes to our carrier most valuable asset was the fact that service, which is Front-Line. We we had a lot of educated people do instruct them to check the iden- fighting to lift the ban,” said Paine, tification of anyone under the age “we are by nature an extreme people of 30.” and things could have gotten ugly “I have no idea how this hap- but we changed the law in a civi- pened,” said a Front-Line customer lized manner.” representative, Jason Barba. “Obvi- As for the idea that Massachu- ously a college student would look setts might be relaxing its puritani- under the age of 30. We’ll look into cal ways, Paine scoffed, adding a the matter and fix it.” colorful analogy. “Comparing alco- Whereas such an easement of hol policies to tattoo policies is like alcohol policies could lead to an comparing apples and oranges; the evasion of the law, tattoo policies in tattoo ban was very specific, so the Massachusetts have experienced a idea that Massachusetts is relaxing similar relaxation in accordance is ridiculous.” Page 16 THE TECH February 23, 2001 Debates in Contested Students Make Rush CD-ROM By Siobhan Walsh
Races Held Next Week In the hope of giving incoming students more information about the UA Elections, from Page 1 Friday, as part of the debate series. Institute’s residence system, students For the UA presidential debate, entering MIT’s Class of 2005 will vious elections. Scott said that “in questions will be made up in receive a CD-ROM this summer. the past, elections have been done advance and given to the candidates, Incoming freshmen choose tem- late. This [election] is on time.” Scott and the audience will have time to porary housing before arriving at added that “people basically have ask the candidates questions. Scott MIT, based on the information pro- had two weeks to get signatures and said that “it’s good to think about vided to them. two weeks to campaign.” [the questions] in advance … Bush Dormitory Council President and Gore had the questions in Jeffrey C. Roberts ’02 explained Debates replace study breaks advance, why shouldn’t [the UA that the idea is to give freshmen a This year, there are several candidates]?” virtual tour of dormitories, fraterni- changes in the election process. ties, sororities, and independent liv- Instead of holding study breaks, Election commission creates fines ing groups. According to Roberts, class council officer candidates in The UA Election Commission incoming freshmen will be, in contested elections will debate. The has established rules on violations essence, “surfing through living Class of 2004 candidates debate will whereby a party may charge a can- groups” and thereby be able to make be held on Monday, and the Class of didate of campaign violations a pro- more educated decisions about their 2003 candidates debate will be held cessing fee of $25. temporary housing assignments. on Thursday. The Class of 2002 The UA Judicial Review Board An Interactive Introduction to the candidates will debate on March 4. would then determine whether the Institute, or I-3, began about a year
Also, two debates for the presi- candidate charged of campaign vio- ago when student leaders began to ROSHAN BALIGA–THE TECH dential and vice-presidential candi- lations is guilty. Guilty candidates plan for the changes that will be Vikash Gilja ’03 videotapes UA President Peter A. Shulman ’01 for dates will be held. The Tech will host will be fined $150 and the JudBoard implemented to rush in 2002. the new Dorm/Living Group rush video. The video, which is intended one of the debates on February 28, will then determine whether the can- Since the Chancellor’s Report to give an account of all MIT living groups, will be mailed out on CD- and the UA will host the other on didate is still fit to stand for election. provides freshmen in the Class of ROM to all incoming freshmen before they arrive at MIT. Possible election code violations 2006 with the option of squatting in include violating Athena rules of use the temporary housing assignments will be several different components grams and the residence system. SAT Use or violating any MIT Association of they choose over the summer, stu- to the CD-ROM. In addition to the Student Activities postering rules. dent leaders wanted to create a mul- videos produced by the individual UA to review CD-ROM’s impact Scott said she cares about UA timedia presentation that captured living groups, the CD-ROM will The Undergraduate Association elections because “there are a lot of the personalities of the individual contain a welcome video from MIT Committee on Housing and Orienta- Under Fire things that affect student groups. dormitories and FSILGs in a way and a basic overview of the orienta- tion hopes to assess the effect of I-3 SAT, from Page 14 They need advocates on council, or that a piece of paper could not. The tion process. on students’ residence and rush deci- student groups will get screwed result was I-3, which allows dormi- Moreover, students with Internet sions, and ultimately use the infor- versity education, all because of a over silly things.” She mentioned tories and FSILGs to make a short connections can use a “chat client” mation to gain insight into planning standardized test.” the Technology Enabled Active video segment highlighting the component that will connect them for the rush changes in 2002. The university as a whole has Learning program as a “perfect important aspects of their individual with other freshmen and a select Meanwhile, Roberts confirmed seen minority admissions fall drasti- example about how students advo- groups. number of upperclassmen. that no changes to next year’s rush cally in the years following the pas- cating on behalf of the student body Although several dormitories Since the changes in rush taking process will be imposed by MIT. sage of the state ballot initiative can bring about change. That is why and FSILGs have begun working on effect in 2002 will be new to upper- Any and all changes will be volun- Proposition 209, which ended affir- it is important for people who care the project, no one has yet complet- classmen and freshmen alike, Gilja teered by students, he said, but at mative action programs at Califor- to be on class council.” ed a video. However, planners hope described the video as “a crutch that this point, no new rush rules have nia’s state universities. Electronic voting will be begin that a prototype version of the CD- will help freshmen through the new been established. The university system has on March 4 after the Class of 2002 ROM will be distributed to fresh- orientation process.” This fall will, however, mark the already de-emphasized the use of debate, and will end on Thursday, men this summer. Gilja believes that the CD-ROM last year of Killian Kickoff and the the SAT by allowing students in the March 8th. Paper balloting will be will ultimately provide a comprehen- famous summons to “Let the Rush top four percent of their high school held on Friday, March 9th, and elec- MIT, students contribute to CD sive introduction to MIT and include Begin.” Roberts believes, however, class to bypass the standardized tion results will be announced on The project’s principal coordina- information about the various acade- that the “perception amongst students tests in applying for admission. March 10 at noon. tor, Vikash Gilja ’03, said that there mic departments, pre-orientation pro- that it [rush] is over” is misguided. February 23, 2001 THE TECH Page 17 Page 18 THE TECH February 23, 2001 Faculty Debate Internet Initiative OpenCourseWare, from Page 1
“I think we’re in a kind of brief shining moment in general in that the World Wide Web is making infor- mation available to the world for free,” Vest said. “I would like to think that, for at least a brief period of time, we could be a leading source of higher education on the web.” Vest cited MIT’s leading role and influence on higher education during the ’60s and ’70s, which he attributed to well-conceived struc- ture and carrying out of educational initiatives. “My view and hope of the Insti- tute is that we can play a similar role today using the timescales and flexibility that the web makes avail- able,” Vest said. Other faculty members endorsed the measure. “I do believe that other universities will follow suit because we as educators undertake the same global endeavor,” said Professor Jacob K. White ’80. Several faculty members, how- ever, expressed concern about the proposal during the meeting. “We came away quite puzzled as to what the OCW would really achieve,” said Professor of Architecture William L. Porter PhD ’69. Porter described the web-based resource as an “elaborate catalog” that could neither accurately repre- sent MIT teaching to the world nor encourage dynamic use of web- based teaching. Professor of Civil Engineering John Williams expressed concerns about the quality of the web-based resource and its reflection on MIT. “We’re trying to serve too many purposes. There is no chance of sta- bility,” he said. “We’re going to give away our most valuable asset for what I consider to be a half- baked business plan.” CI change Another important issue dis- cussed during Wednesday’s meeting was a report given by Professor Steven R. Hall ’80 on the imple- mentation of the communication requirement, which will go into effect with the incoming undergrad- uate class of 2005. The requirements will include four CI subjects with substantial instruction and practice in writing and speaking. Half of these subjects will be part of the HASS require- ment, while the other half will come from a student’s degree program. Hall addressed faculty concerns about enforcement and implementa- tion issues of the new requirement. “The first line of enforcement is not enforcement at all — it’s advis- ing,” he said. The HASS communication sub- jects must be in place by the fall of 2001 for the class of 2005. Approxi- mately 86 subjects have received approval by the Committee on Cur- ricula, and the critical tasks required to implement the requirement have been established.
Solution to Crossword from page 11 February 23, 2001 THE TECH Page 19
If you can do this: Given n > 2, prove that: an + bn = c n cannot be satisfied by any integers a, b, and c > 0.
You can do this: [email protected]
Mexico/Caribbean or Central America $300 r.t. plus tax. Europe $179 o.w. plus tax Other world wide destinations cheap. Book tickets on line www.airtech.com or (212) 219–7000. Page 20 THE TECH February 23, 2001 SPORTS Women’s Swimming and Diving Second at Championship Meet Six Individual, Four Relay Victories Among Engineers’ Highlights By Victoria Anderson vidual victory for the meet. evening, the 800 freestyle relay, TEAM MEMBER Morrison soon followed Hilb’s Hilb, Erb, Duffy and Alberi teamed The MIT women’s swimming victory with another individual win to take MITs third relay victory, and diving team took second place as she took the 50 freestyle in 24.84; turning in a time of 7:59.35, less at last weekend’s New England she later made a national qualifying than a second ahead of Springfield. Women’s and Men’s time in that event at a trial session The third day of competition Athletic Conference following the meet. brought three more victories to the Championships at The first day’s competition con- Engineers. Hilb again won the Wheaton College. cluded with another win for MIT, as evening’s first individual event, the Though Springfield Kirstin M. Alberi ’03, Lea W. Engst 1650 freestyle, with a time of College topped the ’02, Harsanyi and Morrison com- 18:08.88, and Morrison took the team point totals with 873 to MIT’s bined to take the 400 medley relay in 100 freestyle in a NEWMAC-record 770.5, the Engineers left the meet a NEWMAC record time of 4:03.83. time of 54.13. Finally, the meet con- with several successes, including six The second day also proved to cluded with another relay victory individual and four for the Engineers as relay victories and well as another nation- three NCAA national The prospects of a future NEWMAC title al qualifying time qualifying B-cuts. when Alberi, Duffy, The meet started for the team are quite favorable. Erb and Morrison took with the 200-yard the 400 freestyle relay freestyle relay, which title in a NEWMAC- led to an MIT victory and the first be successful for the team, as they record time of 3:36.82. national qualifying time. Kathryn amassed another two individual vic- Though the Engineers did not M. Duffy ’04, Lauren T. Erb ’01, tories and a relay victory during the take the conference title this year, Andrea J. Harsanyi ’02, and Monica finals. they are losing only three team F. Morrison ’04 teamed together to Hilb won her second event, the members, Erb, Zofia K. Gajdos ’01 finish in 1:38.58, setting a new 400 individual medley, in a time of and Christina M. Wilbert ’01, to NEWMAC record in the process. 4:45.18, setting a new school and graduation next season. With a Immediately following the relays conference record. Alberi, who went great amount of talent in both the victory, Georgene Hilb ’04 set into the finals of the 200 freestyle the freshman and sophomore class- another NEWMAC record in the seeded second, took the event with a es, the prospects of a future NEW- 500 freestyle with a time of 5:14.10, time of 1:58.94. MAC title for the team are quite turning in the Engineers’ first indi- During the last event of the favorable.
UPCOMING HOME EVENTS
Saturday, February 24 AARON D. MIHALIK—THE TECH Rayna B. Zacks ’04 puts up a short jump shot during the Men’s Gymnastics vs. University of Vermont, 2:00 p.m. women’s basketball game on Tuesday. MIT lost to Babson in Women’s Gymnastics vs. Rhode Island College, 2:00 p.m the NEWMAC quarterfinal game 87-77. Yates, Southwell Lead Nordic Skiers’ Efforts in New Hampshire By Karl McLetchie TEAM MEMBER Last weekend, the MIT Nordic ski team traveled to New London, New Hampshire to compete against the other schools of the U.S. Collegiate Ski Association in a contest of endurance and willpower. All team members achieved personal success and enjoyed spending time in their favorite state. The action began Saturday morn- ing with a 5K freestyle race. Derek G. Southwell ’01 took first place with a mixture of style and stamina remi- niscent of a young Bjorn Daehlie. Finishing closely behind South- well, Timothy G. Garnett ’02 took sixth place, Christopher M. Testa ’03 took seventh, and Karl-Magnus W. McLetchie ’02 took 12th. On the women’s team, Marissa L. Yates ’03 continued to move up through the field with her first sec- ond-place finish of the season. After a few hours of rest to reflect on the morning’s success, the men once again braved the freezing temperatures to test their strength and speed in a series of 1K, full- contact sprint races. Southwell dominated the men’s sprints with another first-place finish, and Garnett stunned the crowds with a brutal rear takedown that earned him a fourth-place finish. Testa and McLetchie earned seventh and 12th respectively, and Yates again secured her second-place position. MARISSA YATES The competition resumed Sun- MIT Nordic skier Karl-Magnus W. McLetchie ’02 competes in the 5K skate race on Saturday morning. McLetchie finished 12th. day morning with a 5K classic pur- suit race. Yates once again man- garnering a third-place finish for the pursuit race. McLetchie dropped back Both the men’s and women’s opinion of the entire team when he aged to take second place, and weekend. one place to finish the pursuit race in teams lost to Clarkson, their long- says, “I attribute my success to ended the weekend with a second- Garnett and Testa held their sixth- 13th, soundly beating Samuel T. time rival. However, the individual coach Michael Johnson, for honing place finish. Meanwhile, Southwell place and seventh-place standings for Coradetti ’02 with a miraculous dis- performances of the weekend were my body and mind into a single finished fourth in the classic race, both the classic race and the overall play of athletic prowess. phenomenal. Testa reflects the skiing machine.”