Add Date Today: 03 + 06 + 09 = 18

MIT’s The Weather Oldest and Largest Today: Cloudy, 50°F (10°C) Tonight: Mild, 40°F (4°C) Newspaper Tomorrow: Sunny and pleasant, 60°F (16°C) Details, Page 2 http://tech.mit.edu/

Volume 129, Number 10 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Friday, March 6, 2009 Battle of the Jewish Pastries: Admissions Reduces Six Profs Duke It Out; Latke and Hamentashen Inspire Debate By Ziwei Hao Staff, Travel, Will Use On Wednesday night, six respect- ed professors gathered in 26-100 for the Seventh Annual Latke-Hamen- The Web for Recruiting tashen Debate. Students and faculty, ushered by a yarmulke-wearing Tim By Michael McGraw-Herdeg “This was a painful decision and the Beaver, packed the lecture hall Executive Editor was made reluctantly,” Schmill wrote for the humorous academic dispute The admissions office has laid off in an e-mail. over the virtues and shortcomings staff, will reduce travel spending by of the latke and the hamentashen. 30–50 percent, and will move much Layoffs come during busy season The hamentashen is a triangular of its communication with students Admissions staff have been under jelly-filled pastry traditionally eaten to the Web. The measures will help pressure this spring because of the on the holiday of Purim; the latke is Admissions meet MIT’s mandated 5 increased workload caused by in- an oil fried potato pancake dipped percent budget cut for the fiscal year creases in applications, Schmill said. in applesauce that is served during beginning in July. MIT this year received about 15,600 Hanukkah. The changes came as MIT pro- applications for the Class of 2013, cessed a record-high number of ap- 17 percent more than last year and Team Hamentashen: plications to the Class of 2013 in almost 50 percent more than applied ¶ Tom Leighton PhD ’81 what will almost certainly be a his- to enter the class of 2009. Professor of Applied Mathematics torically selective admissions cycle. Unless MIT accepts more than ¶ Jeffrey I. Steinfeld ’62 This year’s acceptance rate will like- about 1,800 students, this year’s ac- Emeritus Professor of Chemistry ly be the lowest ever. ceptance rate will be the lowest ever. ¶Jeremy M. Wolfe, PhD ’81 Citing privacy concerns, Dean of Last year’s acceptance rate was 11.6 Lecturer in BCS and Concourse Admissions Stuart Schmill ’86 de- percent, a record-low, with 1,554 clined to disclose how many staff had students accepted. 35 more were ad- Team Latke: been laid off. The office has about 35 mitted in May off the wait list. ¶ David Jones, employees, although not all work for Applications were level for years

Professor in STS Monica Kahn—The Tech the entire year. but rose dramatically after MIT ¶ Keith Nelson Tim the Beaver gets the crowd excited before the annual Latke-Ha- The layoffs were not immediate: launched a new admissions Web site Professor of Chemistry mentashen debate, held this year on Wednesday, March 4 in 26-100. staff were given notice within the last in 2004, Schmill said. Applications ¶ Donald Sadoway The placard on his chest reads “MIT” in Hebrew. month that they were being laid off. decreased from year to year for the Professor of Materials Chemistry MIT administrators are “offering as classes of 2007–2009 but have since very possibly “decide the fate of the Sive unveiled the secret mecha- much support and help for the staff risen, overall increasing about 50% The moderator, Hazel Sive, Pro- planet.” nism that determined the order of as we can,” Schmill said. from the Class of 2009 to the Class fessor of Biology, a hamentashen Each professor was given seven the debate: latke and hamentashen Were staff given advance warn- of 2013. supporter from the 2008 event, pro- minutes to present their argument. flying frogs. The two teams shot ing that layoffs were coming? “It was The current admissions staff posed that the results of the debate After all professors had spoken, one their respective plastic frogs at a never taken off the table that layoffs will be able to absorb the laid-off will “drive the Institute forward professor from each side took five might occur” in discussions about into the next millennium” and may minutes to rebut. Jewish Pastries, Page 14 the budget, Schmill said. Admissions, Page 12 Jackson, Bulovic, Jones, In Short ¶¶Ten percent of Athena worksta- tions across campus no longer dis- And Henderson Achieve play seconds on their login screens because they are now testing a beta Athena version 10. They run Ubun- tu Linux, which makes it easier to MacVicar $100K Grants install popular and up-to-date soft- By Emily Prentice vation associated with the MacVicar ware for them; support for USB Associate News Editor Fellows Program. drives is now much better. On Thursday night, four MIT Students and faculty members faculty members were named are able to nominate professors ¶¶Add date is the last day to drop MacVicar Faculty Fellows in rec- who must then be endorsed by their classes without them showing up ognition of their contributions to department heads. According to on your internal transcript. undergraduate education. They each Leann Dobranski, assistant director receive $100,000 for educational of the Teaching and Learning Lab, ¶¶The men’s basketball team fac- activities and research. the MacVicar Advisory Committee es Rhode Island College tonight in The four professors come from this year was chaired by the Dean of the opening round of the Division a variety of fields: Literature Pro- Undergraduate Education Daniel E. III NCAA Tournament, their first fessor Diana Henderson; Electrical Hastings PhD ’80, and also included trip ever to the tourney. The game Engineering and Computer Science two current MacVicar Fellows, two tips off at 6 p.m. at RIC. A webcast Professor Daniel Jackson PhD ’92 non-MacVicar Fellow faculty mem- of the game is available at http:// and Associate Professor Vladimir bers, and two undergraduate stu- tinyurl.com/c35wa4. See story on Bulovic; and Science, Technology, dents selected by the Undergraduate page 16. and Society Professor David Jones. Association Nominations Commit- The MacVicar Day event this tee. The Advisory Committee sub- ¶¶Happy Anniversary! to Presi- year will be a faculty panel discus- mits their recommendations to Pro- dent Susan J. Hockfield and Dr. sion entitled “New Directions in vost L. Rafael Reif who makes the Thomas N. Byrne. The couple General Education” from 2:00–3:30 final decision. celebrated their 18th wedding an- p.m. today in 9-057. MacVicar Day Hastings said that in evaluating niversary last Monday. is annual celebration of undergradu- ate education and educational inno- Teaching Prize, Page 11 ¶¶Watchmen opens today in 3,611 theatres. There were midnight shows last night. “But who watches Von Maltzahn Wins $30,000 the Watchmen?”

Chelsea Grimm—The Tech The scantily-clad men’s swim team cheered through the Infinite Award for Cancer Research E-mail of the on Thursday in celebration of Sunday’s NEWMAC title win. By Robert McQueen tion and revolutionize chemotherapy Associate News editor treatment. Week! Last Tuesday, graduate student One of von Maltzahn’s most no- An e-mail thread yesterday on Geoffrey von Maltzahn was named table inventions is the application of the Campaign for Students mailing Set your winner of the Lemelson-MIT Stu- gold nanorods to detect and destroy list discussed bringing pitchforks World & Nation ������������2 dent Prize and received an unre- tumor cells. His nanorods are very and broadswords to an upcoming clocks Opinion ��������������������������4 stricted cash gift of $30,000 for his small particles on the nanometer UA meeting where the mandatory forward this innovative work in cancer therapy. scale that are specially designed to dining controversy would be dis- Arts ��������������������������������5 weekend. Currently pursuing his doctor- absorb infrared radiation. cussed with Dean Donna M. De- Comics & Fun Pages ����8 ate at the Harvard-MIT Division of When these nanoparticles are noncourt, who chairs the Blue Rib- Daylight saving time Health Sciences & Technology, von injected into the blood stream, they bon Dining Committee. Andrew R. Sports ��������������������������16 Maltzahn is working to combine concentrate around cancerous tumor Drechsler ’10 wrote, “I think we begins at 2 a.m. Sunday. nanotechnology, medicine, and en- should forge our own instead of gineering to improve tumor detec- Lemelson-MIT, Page 13 buying them.” Page 2 The Tech March 6, 2009 Wo r l d & Na t i o n President Signals Compromise Fear Slams Shares, as Blue On Health Care By Robert Pear Chips Trade for Pocket Change and Sheryl Gay Stolberg The New York Times WASHINGTON By Jack Healy 500-stock index has increased tenfold economic downturn deepens. President Barack Obama vowed Thursday to end a decades-long The New York Times since the market reached a peak in Oc- Investors had bid up shares on stalemate on overhauling the health care system, and he indicated for The banking giant Citigroup once tober 2007. And with no end in sight Wednesday, for example, on hopes the first time that he was open to compromise on details of the proposal commanded a stock price of $55. But to the downward spiral, the New York that China would increase spending to he put forth in the campaign. at one point on Thursday, as markets Stock Exchange has temporarily sus- shore up its unraveling economy, but Obama spoke at a White House forum on health care, where he hurtled to their lowest close in 12 pended its $1 minimum share-price sold off after the Chinese government bluntly warned lobbyists and “special interests” not to stand in the way years, the shares were worth less than requirements to prevent a wave of de- swatted away those rumors. With so of efforts to rein in costs and guarantee coverage for all Americans. He an item at the Dollar Store. listings. much uncertainty, investors are para- said he intended to achieve those goals by the end of this year. After months of headlong de- One share of General Motors chuting out of companies ranging “During the campaign,” Obama said, “I put forward a plan for health clines, this is what Wall Street has stock, which fell below $2 on Thurs- from banks to retailers to utilities, and care reform. I thought it was an excellent plan. But I don’t presume that come to: Blue-chip companies, once day as it warned of possible bankrupt- abandoning stock markets everywhere it was a perfect plan or that it was the best possible plan.” considered safe investments and cor- cy, is not even enough to buy a gallon from Asia to Europe to Wall Street. As a candidate, Obama said he would establish a new public insurance nerstones of the economy, are the new of gasoline for your Chevy. A share of Many are concerned the recession program to compete with private insurers, and would require employers to penny stocks. General Electric, battered this week to may gain force before it ebbs, espe- contribute to the cost of coverage for their employees or to the cost of the The bear market is tightening its little more than $6, would not buy two cially as job losses increase, a worry public plan. Insurers strenuously oppose the idea of a new public plan. grip, despite efforts by the government of the company’s compact fluorescent that is likely to drive stocks into a to support the economy and some of light bulbs. And at its current price of downward trend over the next few its biggest companies. Fears about 73 cents, it would take two shares of months. Economists expect the unem- CNN Medical Reporter Ends the depth and breadth of the recession Office Depot stock to buy a box of ployment rate for February to rise to drove the Dow Jones industrial aver- paperclips. 7.9 percent from 7.6 percent in Janu- Surgeon General Candidacy age down 4 percent more on Thursday, The Dow Jones industrial aver- ary, and they estimate that the econo- By Gardiner Harris bringing its losses since January to 25 age closed at 6,594.44, down 281.40 my shed 650,000 jobs last month. The The New York Times WASHINGTON percent — just shy of the 33 percent points, or 4.09 percent — its low- Labor Department will release Febru- Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent and a prac- decline recorded for all of 2008. est close since April 15, 1997. The ary’s unemployment numbers at 8:30 ticing neurosurgeon, has withdrawn from being considered for sur- “It borders on unbelievable,” said broader S&P 500 fell 30.32 points, a.m. Friday. geon-general, CNN reported on Thursday. Glenn W. Tyranski, senior vice presi- or 4.25 percent, to 682.55, its lowest “It’s just a continuing self-destruc- Several other candidates are now under serious consideration, in- dent of financial compliance at NYSE close since September 1996. The Nas- tive market where even the slightest cluding Dr. Irwin Redlener, the director of the National Center for Di- Regulation. “You’re seeing companies daq composite index fell 4 percent, or good news is considered negative,” saster Preparedness at Columbia University, according to people who that are just really suffering across the 54.15 points, to 1,299.59. said Peter I. Cardillo, chief market have been briefed on the situation. board.” The rout highlighted the apathy economist at Avalon Partners. “No Gupta had been approached by the Obama transition team and dis- The number of companies trading and pessimism that has seeped into one is taking a backseat approach. Ev- cussed the job with President Barack Obama late last year in Chicago. at $10 or less on the Standard & Poor’s all corners of the market as the global eryone is just selling.” An administration official said in an e-mail message to reporters that Gupta had been under “serious consideration” and added, “We know he will continue to serve and educate the public.” Gupta’s wife, Rebecca Olson Gupta, is expecting a child, and Gup- Quiet Layoffs Hit Workers ta wants to spend more time with his family and continue practicing medicine and serving as a CNN correspondent, the CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer said on Thursday. By Thousands By Steve Lohr But the next day, more than 1,400 ers smaller job cuts. That would give Bank of America Looks Into How The New York Times employees in IBM’s sales and distri- people more time to seek new jobs, With the economy weakening, bution division in the United States career counseling and retraining. Merrill Lost Money So Quickly chief executives want Wall Street to and Canada were told their jobs “The twin goals are transparency By Louise Story see them as tough cost-cutters who would be eliminated in a month. and decency,” said Harley Shaiken, a and Eric Dash are not afraid to lay off workers. But More cuts followed, and overall, IBM labor economist at the University of The New York Times CHARLOTTE, N.C. plenty of job cuts are not trumpeted has told about 4,600 North American California, Berkeley. “The issue be- One Merrill Lynch trader apparently gambled away more than $120 in news releases. employees in recent weeks that their comes all the more pressing in this million in the currency markets. Others seemingly lost hundreds of Big companies also routinely jobs are vanishing. downward economic spiral.” millions of dollars on tricky credit derivatives. carry out scattered layoffs that are J. Randall MacDonald, IBM’s The notification law, known as the But somehow all this red ink did not spill into plain view until after small enough to stay under the ra- senior vice president for human re- WARN Act, is a legacy of an era when Merrill earmarked billions of dollars for bonuses and staggered into dar, contributing to an unemploy- sources, said it was routine for the the economy was more dependent on the arms of Bank of America. ment rate that keeps climbing, as company to lay off some employees manufacturers, and legislators were Inside Bank of America headquarters here, executives are asking Friday’s monthly jobs report is likely while hiring elsewhere. concerned about blue-collar workers why. The bank is investigating how Merrill accounted for wayward to show. “This business is in a constant suddenly locked out of their factory. trades in the final, frantic months of 2008 — and why at least one big IBM is one such company. It re- state of transformation,” MacDonald That kind of shutdown is hard to hide, loss was slow to appear on Merrill’s books. ported surprisingly strong quarterly said. “I think of this as business as while white-collar layoffs spread Of particular concern are the activities of a Merrill currency trader profits in January, and in an e-mail usual for us.” across many locations are not. in London, Alexis Stenfors, whose trading has come under scrutiny by message to employees, Samuel J. These unannounced cuts, labor The WARN Act requires 60 days’ British regulators, according to people briefed on the investigation. The Palmisano, the chief executive, said experts say, raise issues of disclosure notice, but the events that require no- loss Stenfors is believed to have incurred so alarmed Bank of America that while other companies were and the treatment of workers. They tification are specific — a plant clos- that this week the bank examined the books of other traders who were cutting back, his would not. “Most argue that the federal law requiring ing, a layoff of 500 or more people at on vacation. importantly, we will invest in our warning of certain kinds of layoffs one location, or a cut of at least one- people,” he wrote. should be overhauled, so that it cov- third of the work force at a site. We a t h e r Historical Perspective for 2008–2009 Situation for Noon Eastern Standard Time, Friday, March 6, 2009

130°W 125°W 120°W 115°W 110°W 105°W 100°W 95°W 90°W 85°W 80°W 75°W 70°W 65°W 60°W Seasonal Snowfall 40°N By Garrett P. Marino Staff Meteorologist

Monday’s 8.5" snowfall brought our seasonal total to 63.7", about 20" 998 above an average winter season. The average additional snowfall from now 1029 until the end of the season is still another 8". However, even if we were to 35°N receive no additional snow this winter, this year would still rank as the 18th snowiest season (snowfall records for Boston date back to 1871–1872). So if you feel that we’ve had a lot of snow this winter, you’re correct, although it could have been a lot worse! The highest snowfall for a season belongs to 1995–1996, when Boston recorded 107.6" of the white stuff. In case you’re 30°N wondering what the historical snowfall trends are for Boston, the answer is that the trend is fairly flat over the entire period of record 1871-2008, al- 1005 though four of the seven snowiest winters have occurred since the 1990’s (2004–2005, 1995–1996, 1993–1994, and 1992–1993). Snow will not fall during the foreseeable future, except perhaps a brief 25°N flurry early this morning. A warm front will pass over us today, advecting warmer temperatures and pleasant conditions, especially for Saturday. Next week is expected to turner cooler than the weekend, but no bitter cold is in store. Enjoy!

Extended Forecast Weather Systems Weather Fronts Precipitation Symbols Other Symbols Today: Cloudy and breezy with a slight chance of early morning flurries or Snow Rain Fog High Pressure Trough sprinkles. Highs around 50°F (10°C). - - - Showers Thunderstorm

Tonight: Partly cloudy and mild. Lows around 40°F (4°C). Q Q Q Q Warm Front Light Low Pressure Haze Tomorrow: Mostly sunny and pleasant with highs approaching 60°F (16°C). LLLLL Cold Front Moderate Compiled by MIT Tomorrow night and Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows Hurricane Q Q Meteorology Staff L L Stationary Front Heavy around 40°F (4°C). Highs in the upper 50s°F (14°C). and The Tech March 6, 2009 Wo r l d & Na t i o n The Tech Page 3

Food Safety Problems Slip By Alex Rodriguez To Play With Labrum Tear Private Auditors By Tyler Kepner The New York Times TAMPA, Fla. By Michael Moss this facility was considered to be: SU- plants whose contaminated products Alex Rodriguez will try to play through a labrum tear of his right hip, and Andrew Martin PERIOR,” he concluded in his March later sickened consumers. the Yankees said Thursday, because the condition would require him to The New York Times 27, 2008, report for his employer, the In one case involving hamburgers miss four months if he needs surgery. When food industry giants like American Institute of Baking, which fed to schoolchildren, the Westland/ “It doesn’t mean it’s going to get worse, it doesn’t mean it won’t get Kellogg want to ensure that American performs audits for major food com- Hallmark Meat Co. in California worse,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “That’s the gray area, that’s consumers are being protected from panies. A copy of the audit was ob- passed 17 separate audits in 2007, what we’re all trying to figure out. It’s in our best interest, because he’s contaminated products, they rely on tained by The New York Times. records show. Then an undercover such an asset. Part of the conservative treatment is to limit his spring private inspectors like Eugene A. Hat- Federal investigators later discov- video made that year showed the training. If we’re going to try to see if we can get through the season with field. So last spring Hatfield headed ered that the dilapidated plant was plant’s workers using forklifts to it, let’s shorten the pounding he’ll be taking.” to the Peanut Corp. of America plant ravaged by salmonella and had been force sickly cows into the slaughter- Rodriguez was in Vail, Colo., on Thursday to have a cyst on his hip in southwest Georgia to make sure its shipping tainted peanuts and paste for house, which prompted a recall of drained by Dr. Marc Filippon, who examined him on Wednesday and chopped nuts, paste and peanut butter at least nine months. But they were 143 million pounds of beef in Febru- found the labrum tear. Cashman would not say how severely Rodriguez were safe to use in foods like granola too late to prevent what has become ary 2008. tore the labrum, but he said that he would need surgery after the season, bars and ice cream. one of the nation’s worst known out- Audits are not required by the if not sooner. The peanut company, though, breaks of food-borne disease in re- government, but food companies Cashman said Rodriguez, who had been training with the Dominican knew in advance that Hatfield was cent years, in which nine are believed are increasingly requiring suppliers Republic, would not participate in the World Baseball Classic. Cashman coming. He had less than a day to to have died and an estimated 22,500 to undergo them as a way to ensure said he expected Rodriguez to return here soon. check the entire plant, which pro- were sickened. safety and minimize liability. The Manager Joe Girardi said he would limit Rodriguez’s workload this cessed several million pounds of pea- With government inspectors over- rigor of audits varies widely and spring by using him as a designated hitter, restricting his innings and giv- nuts a month. whelmed by the task of guarding the many companies choose the cheapest ing him more days off. But Girardi, who typically plays down injuries, Hatfield, 66, an expert in fresh nation’s food supply, the job of moni- ones, which cost as little as $1,000, acknowledged his concerns. produce, was not aware that peanuts toring food plants has in large part in contrast to the $8,000 the Food were readily susceptible to salmonel- fallen to an army of private auditors and Drug Administration spends to la poisoning — which he was not re- like Hatfield. And the problems go inspect a plant. Typically, the private Auditors Raise Doubts quired to test for anyway. And while well beyond peanuts. auditors inspect only manufacturing Hatfield was inspecting the plant to An examination of the largest plants, not the suppliers that feed in- About GM’s Viability reassure Kellogg and other food com- food poisoning outbreaks in recent gredients to those facilities. Nor do By Nick Bunkley panies of its suitability as a supplier, years — in products as varied as they commonly test the actual food The New York Times DETROIT the Peanut Corp. was paying him for spinach, pet food and a children’s products for pathogens, even though Auditors for General Motors, in one of the bleakest assessments yet his efforts. snack, Veggie Booty — show that gleaming production lines can turn of the automaker’s prospects, said Thursday that GM’s survival was in “The overall food safety level of auditors failed to detect problems at out poisoned fare. “substantial doubt” even if it received all $30 billion it hoped to borrow from the federal government. The report by the auditing firm Deloitte & Touche also raised the pos- sibility that GM could have to liquidate its operations if its loan request Amid Outcry, Gandhi’s Simple is denied. GM’s acknowledgment that it is perilously close to bankruptcy — its auditors made a similar announcement last fall — was not unexpected. Things Sold for $1.8 Million But the report stirred new fears among investors, who drove down GM’s shares by 15 percent, to $1.86. By A.G. Sulzberger Kingfisher beer. for public display. But Prabhu Dayal, Deloitte & Touche laid out numerous chains of events that could trig- and Sewell Chan For the Indian government — India’s consul general in New York, ger a bankruptcy filing by GM. The company, which lost $30.9 billion last The New York Times which faces general elections next said, “There is still a legal matter to year and has received $13.4 billion in government loans since December, NEW YORK month — the sale was of question- be resolved,” because a court in New made the disclosure in its annual report filed with the Securities and Ex- More than a decade ago, a Los able legality and threatened to deny Delhi had issued an injunction to change Commission. Angeles filmmaker and peace activ- the nation part of the cultural legacy block the sale. The announcement does not mean bankruptcy is imminent. But it un- ist named James Otis began collect- of its founder. For Gandhi’s descen- Nonetheless, Tushar Gandhi, 49, a derscores how difficult it will be for GM to successfully complete the ing items that represented the ascetic dants, the sale seemed to contradict great-grandson of Gandhi who heads restructuring plan that it filed with the Treasury Department last month. lifestyle of Mohandas K. Gandhi. his aversion to materialism. Gandhi the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, “Our recurring losses from operations, stockholders’ deficit and in- They were the simple belongings of himself had given away several of the said in a phone interview from Mum- ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our obligations and sustain a man who did not care for posses- items. For Otis, the sale was to be a bai after the sale, “I am very happy our operations raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a sions: his steel-framed spectacles, a means to promote pacifist causes, al- now. Now the things will come back going concern,” GM said in its filing. pair of sandals, a bowl, a plate and a though the uproar later proved to be to India to where it rightly belongs.” GM, which is seeking an additional $16.6 billion in federal loans, pocket watch. upsetting. Criticism of the sale had prompt- must prove its viability to President Barack Obama’s auto task force by a Those modest possessions of the Antiquorum Auctioneers insisted ed Otis — who also owns a vast Dr. March 31 deadline. leader of the nonviolent struggle for that the sale would go on regardless. Seuss collection — to make an un- Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said the task force India’s independence touched off an The dispute drew comparisons to usual offer on Wednesday. He said was well aware of GM’s precarious state before the auditors’ report was international struggle as they went an auction in Paris last month, after that he would donate the items to released. on sale at Antiquorum Auctioneers in which a Chinese collector who said India if the government agreed to Manhattan on Thursday. he was the winning bidder, refused to sharply increase spending on the poor The tiny auction room at 595 pay for Qing Dynasty bronze sculp- or include the items in an exhibition Pakistan’s Truce With Madison Ave. was thick with finely tures, saying the works had been that would travel the world. dressed bidders, a throng of journal- looted in the 19th century. In New Delhi on Thursday, Anand Taliban Is Volatile ists and a lawyer for Otis, who was While the Gandhi items were Sharma, a junior foreign minister, By Jane Perlez and Pir Zubair Shah trying to stop the auction after having believed to have been legitimately said that those terms would violate The New York Times PESHAWAR, Pakistan second thoughts. obtained, both sales pitted auction India’s sovereignty and that Gandhi The Taliban and the Pakistani army signed a truce in February in In the end, after days of contro- houses against governments that himself would have rejected them. Swat, the once-popular tourist area just an hour north of the capital. But versy that roiled India, the lot sold could ultimately do little more than Nonetheless, Prime Minister Man- far from establishing peace, the pact seems to have allowed the Taliban for $1.8 million to Vijay Mallya, an complain. mohan Singh directed his representa- free rein to expand their harsh religious rule. Indian liquor and airline magnate Mallya pledged through a repre- tives in the United States to do every- Just days after the truce was signed, a member of a prominent anti- who owns the company that makes sentative to return the items to India thing possible to secure the items. Taliban family returned to his mountain village, having received assur- ances from the government that it was safe. He was promptly kidnapped by the Taliban, tortured and murdered. Clinton Proposes Including Iran The militants then erected roadblocks to search cars for any relatives who dared travel there for his funeral. None did. This week, two Pakistani soldiers who were part of a convoy escort- ing a water tanker were shot and killed because they failed to inform the In Talks on Afghanistan Taliban in advance of their movements. By Mark Landler be chaired by the United Nations. tions.” The New York Times Iran did not say Thursday whether it Her approach reflects the admin- BRUSSELS, Belgium would accept an invitation. istration’s policy of mixing carrots Senators Ask, Setting up the prospect of its first Clinton’s proposal underscores the and sticks with Iran — extending of- face-to-face encounter with Iran, the administration’s belief that Afghani- fers as a path to engagement but also ‘Who Got Money From AIG?’ Obama administration has proposed stan may provide the most promis- maintaining a hard line on issues like By Mary Williams Walsh a major conference on Afghanistan ing avenue for opening a diplomatic nuclear weapons. The New York Times WASHINGTON later this month that would include channel to Iran — something that The proposed conference would The Senate Banking Committee told the vice chairman of the Federal Iran among the invited countries, President Barack Obama has made a give the United States a venue to Reserve to identify all the parties made whole by the bailout of the Amer- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham major goal of his foreign policy. present the results of its Afghanistan ican International Group or forget about coming back to ask Congress for Clinton said Thursday. Earlier this week, Clinton said policy review to its NATO allies. more rescue money. “We presented the idea of what is Iran could play a useful role in sta- The review is to be completed by the “You will get the biggest ‘no’ you ever got,” Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., being called a big-tent meeting, with bilizing Afghanistan, noting that its middle of March, State Department warned Donald L. Kohn, vice chairman of the Fed board of governors, in all the parties who have a stake and an officials consulted regularly with the officials said. a hearing on Thursday. “I will hold up the bill.” interest in Afghanistan,” she said at a United States in the early days of the Next week, Vice President Joe The hearing was called to examine the regulatory patchwork that had news conference here after a meeting war to oust the Taliban in 2001. Biden will meet with officials at allowed huge risks to build up at AIG. Since AIG’s near-collapse in Sep- of NATO foreign ministers. “If we At the same time, she kept up an NATO to offer further details of the tember, the government has committed $160 billion to keep it afloat. move forward with such a meeting, it unyielding tone toward the Iranian emerging U.S. policy, which Clinton Tens of billions of those dollars have merely passed through AIG to is expected that Iran would be invited, regime. The U.S. plan to install a outlined in broad strokes on Thurs- its derivatives trading partners, shielding them from losses. The Fed has as a neighbor of Afghanistan.” missile defense system in Poland and day. refused to provide the names of those financial institutions, and senator Prodded by the United States, the Czech Republic, Clinton said, is Clinton said the international after senator expressed outrage. NATO’s 27 members also agreed to driven in part by the threat of Iran, community must view Afghanistan Kohn said the Fed believed that the only hope of recovering the tax- resume high-level relations with Rus- which possesses long-range missiles and Pakistan as a “single strategic payers’ money was to get AIG back on its feet, doing business as usual sia, which were suspended last Au- and is trying to build up its nuclear concern.” She described the border — and that meant respecting its customers’ privacy. “I would be very gust after Russia’s military offensive program. region between the two countries as concerned that if we gave out the names, people wouldn’t want to do against Georgia. “There’s an ongoing debate about the “nerve center” for the 9/11 at- business with AIG,” he said. The United States has asked what the status of Iran’s nuclear tacks; the bombings in Madrid and Committee members also pressed regulators from the Office of Thrift the Netherlands to act as host for weapons production capacity is,” London; the assassination of the for- Supervision and the New York State Insurance Department to concede the Afghanistan conference, which Clinton said. “But I don’t think there mer Pakistani leader, Benazir Bhutto; that they were at least partly at fault for failing to prevent AIG’s crisis. would take place on March 31 and is a credible debate about their inten- and the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Page 4 The Tech March 6, 2009 Op i n i o n

Because of inaccurate information provided by the Undergraduate Association Election Commission, Tuesday’s table that listed UA and Class Council candidates gave the incorrect Chairman class years for some Class Council candidates. Rishi Dixit ’12 is running for class of 2012 — Austin Chu G Corrections not 2011 — president. David S. Zhu ’12 is running for class of 2012 — not 2011 — treasurer. Editor in Chief Zhu is also a Tech sports editor, which the table did not disclose because of an editing error. Nick Bushak ’10 A caption on page 1 of Tuesday’s issue incorrectly stated the location of Roadkill Buffet’s performance. The improv show took place in 6-120, not 6-270. Business Manager Mark Thompson ’11 Managing Editor Steve Howland ’11 A Broken Model for Energy Change Executive Editor Michael McGraw-Herdeg G Our Current Energy RD&D Isn’t Working News Staff News and Features Director: Arkajit Dey ’11; I’m not reaching when I say there’s a dis- The flagship energy event at the flagship Editors: John A. Hawkinson ’98, Jeff Guo ’11, Gary Shu connect somewhere here. Political will, ab- technology university would be a place where Natasha Plotkin ’11; Associate Editors: Emily sent backbreaking compromises, is obligatory. one would normally expect presentations of Prentice ’11, Elijah Jordan Turner ’11, Pearle The past few weeks have seen a flurry of Money is necessary, but spending it well is a groundbreaking research. Yet, the Energy Con- Lipinski ’12, Robert McQueen ’12; Staff: energy news, more than all the news from the requirement. To use a campaign turn-of-phrase ference ends up as little more than a glorified Daniela Cako ’09, Ji Qi ’09, Yiwei Zhang ’09, last three administrations put together. What’s a — “hope” is not a strategy. networking event. Yuri Hanada ’10, JiHye Kim ’10, Joyce Kwan cynical, snarky graduate student to do to keep Much political capital and money will be Last year’s speakers included a partner at ’10, Jenny Liu ’10, Yan Huang ’11, Ryan Ko up? spent on delivering energy research, develop- noted venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Cau- ’11, Lulu Wang ’11, Omar Abudayyeh ’12, Jessica Lin ’12, Maggie Lloyd ’12, Sandhya Last Monday, a high profile gathering of ment, and deployment (RD&D) but we cannot field & Byers, John Doerr, who gave a speech Rawal ’12, Zeina Siam ’12, Aditi Verma ’12; legislators, administration officials, and energy be but surprised when our lofty expectations and managed to refrain from crying about cli- Meteorologists: Cegeon Chan G, Garrett P. executives met at the Clean Energy Summit are not met by the broken system we have so mate change like he did at a TED conference. Marino G, Jon Moskaitis G, Roberto Rondanelli to push around hot air. Attendees included the firmly institutionalized. How the aspects of Jim Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy — the na- G, Scott Stransky G, Brian H. Tang G, John K. current Speaker of the House (Nancy Pelosi), RD&D end up being implemented will deter- tion’s third-largest corporate emitter of CO2 — Williams G, Angela Zalucha G. the Senate Majority leader (Harry Reid), the mine if a new energy paradigm is realized. did his best to persuade people that he’s serious Production Staff Current Nobel Laureate Secretary of Energy What does the current state of deploying about the threat of climate change (convincing) Staff: K. Nichole Treadway ’10, Alexander W. (Steven Chu), a former Nobel Laureate Vice energy innovation look like then? and that he deserves cap-and-trade permits for Dehnert ’12. President (Al Gore), and a blowhard oilman (T. Our transmission system is a jigsaw puzzle free to make it easy (not so convincing). Boone Pickens). of authorities, regula- Frankly, the reason there is little homegrown Opinion Staff The consensus at tions, models, govern- substance to counterbalance such self-serving Editor: Andrew T. Lukmann G; Staff: Florence this run-of-the-mill DC ments, and utilities, all displays at the MIT Energy Conference is that Gallez G, Gary Shu G, Keith A. Yost G, Josh “Money is necessary, but Levinger ’07, Krishna Gupta ’09, Aditya Kohli power lunch? We’re with their own agenda hardly any groundbreaking energy research is ’09, Jennifer Nelson ’09, Daniel Yelin ’10, going to support green spending it well is a requirement. and gunning to keep actually done at MIT or any other university. Ethan Solomon ’12. energy and transmis- their piece of the pie. This is where energy research fails to live up sion infrastructure with To use a campaign turn-of- The bulk of the work to its promise. Sports Staff comprehensive federal phrase — ‘hope’ is not a done at the Energy Unlike research in — for instance — lasers Editors: Aaron Sampson ’10, David Zhu ’12; policies and a nation- Department’s National or designer drugs, university energy research Staff: Michael Gerhardt ’12, Nydia Ruleman ’12. wide “superhighway” strategy.” Labs has little to do lags behind that of industry and lacks the re- for electricity. I’ll be- with energy. sources that large multi-billion dollar compa- Arts Staff lieve that when the When was the last nies have at their disposal. What few potential Editor: S. Balaji Mani ’10; Staff: Sudeep scorched earth lobbying, the turf battles within time that you heard about an innovation that scientific breakthroughs that universities do Agarwala G, Bogdan Fedeles G, Andrew Lee Congress, and the grousing from state regula- came out of the Department of Energy that the produce are so far from large-scale deployment ’07, Joanne Y. Shih ’10, Kevin Wang ’10, tors all simmer down. oil companies and staid electricity companies that these technologies will need to be slowly Maggie Liu ’12, Samuel Markson ’12. Like a duck being fattened for a fois gras didn’t like? nurtured toward success while being exposed to Photography Staff slaughter, the recently-passed stimulus bill is Cap-and-trade will be birthed in such a the whimsy of human affairs we call politics. Editors: David M. Templeton ’08, Andrea about to shove funds down the throat of the De- frenzied holy war of lobbying and deal-making I’m not alone in my disillusionment with Robles ’10, William Yee ’10; Associate partment of Energy — approximately $40 bil- such that that nothing effective will be left un- university energy research. Harvard’s Energy Editors: Allison M. Alwan ’12, Rachel Fong lion worth in a department that already handles scathed. Technology Innovation Policy (ETIP) research ’12; Staff: Vincent Auyeung G, Alex H. Chan How about energy development? We’ll say group and the Brookings Institution have in the G, David Da He G, Perry Hung G, Maksim $25 billion. The money is diffusing throughout Imakaev G, Arthur Petron G, David Reshef G, all parts of the organization, from the widely a prayer and move quickly past the maimed past few weeks released reports on revamping Martin Segado G, Noah Spies G, Scott Johnston vaunted energy efficiency and weatherization corpses of “cleantech” venture capital firms energy research but do little to solve the prob- ’03, Martha Angela Wilcox ’08, Chelsea Grimm money ($14 billion) to renewable energy loan while welcoming the departure of their pen- lem. Harvard’s report produced a number of ’09, Peter H. Rigano ’09, Eric D. Schmiedl ’09, guarantees ($6 billion) to smart grid funding chant for faddish jargon. maddeningly vague policy recommendations Seth A. Villarreal ’09, Diana Ye ’09, Biyeun ($4.5 billion). We’re left with energy research. Ah, research like “Develop, publish, and implement a com- Buczyk ’10, Arka P. Dhar ’10, Helen Hou ’10, Of course money is also being dished out in ­— the pure one, untouched and uncorrupted by prehensive U.S. energy innovation strategy”. Monica Kahn ’10, Diane Rak ’10, Jongu Shin such portions like $6.5 billion for two federal such silly things like politics, or people. Brookings study reheats the old idea of re- ’10, Dhaval Adjodah ’11, Monica Gallegos ’11, Vibin Kundukulam ’11, Michael Y. McCanna power grids to perform system maintenance We here at MIT like to imagine that we are gional research clusters between government, ’11, Michael Meyer ’11, Kari Williams ’11, and upgrades as well as $6 billion for euphe- at the cutting edge of everything. MIT, whose academia and business by simply sticking the Andrew Shum ’12, Meng Heng Touch ’12. mistic-sounding departments for radioactive name rings loud and clear to distant lands, draws word “energy” at the front. waste cleanup (i.e. Office of Legacy Manage- into its realm a highly disproportionate share of Some days I worry about the future of the Campus Life Staff ment and Environmental Management). Given Asian tourists to clog up country and the world. Editor: Michael T. Lin ’11; Staff: Roberto that the Energy Department’s Loan Guarantee Lobby 7. The Institute The other days I read Perez-Franco G, Danbee Kim ’09, Sarah C. Proehl ’09, Ben Shanks ’09, Christine Yu ’11; Program has yet to deliver a single cent of its works hard at main- “… university energy research the paper so I can know Cartoonists: Daniel Klein-Marcuschamer G, nearly $100 billion worth of loans and that Sec- taining its image of the what in particular to be Jason Chan ’09, Michael Ciuffo ’11, Ben Peters retary Chu needs new laws passed to revamp technological elitism. lags behind that of industry and worried about. ’11. the program, how “stimulating” do you think (What other university lacks the resources that large I do have one bit of Business Staff all this money will really be? has so many rules re- hope: the Advanced Re- The budget proposed by the Obama admin- garding the use of its search Projects Agency Advertising Managers: Joseph Maurer ’12, multi-billion dollar companies Greg Steinbrecher ’12; Operations Manager: istration last week already depends on $90 bil- painfully ugly logo?) — Energy, otherwise Sherry Yan ’11; Staff: Michael Kuo ’10, lion worth of revenue from a nationwide cap- The MIT Energy have at their disposal” known as ARPA-E. Heymian Wong ’10, Nikhil Sud ’11, Connie and-trade program on carbon dioxide to pay Initiative has produced Amply funded in the Chan ’12, Mengjie Ding ’12, Eric Trac ’12. for items like tax cuts and renewable energy influential reports stimulus bill after sev-

Technology Staff research. How much does our nationwide cap- shaping a future cap-and-trade program and eral years of sitting idle without appropriations, and-trade program currently deliver? carbon capture and sequestration in addition to ARPA-E is modeled after the Defense Depart- Director: Quentin Smith ’10. Oh wait, we don’t even have one. single-handedly breathing new life into the De- ment’s DARPA with the high-risk, high-reward Editors at Large We do have the recently launched Regional partment of Energy’s geothermal technologies research that produced the Internet. Contributing Editors: Ramya Sankar G, Greenhouse Gas Initiative cap-and-trade sys- program. Any Joe Six-Pack off the street would ARPA-E has potential for energy innova- Shreyes Seshasai G, Nick Semenkovich ’09, tem here in the Northeast though! So far, it’s be impressed. tions but probably because it doesn’t really ex- Caroline Huang ’10, Jessica Witchley ’10; generously produced carbon permit revenues That’s why the MIT Energy Conference at ist yet. In this crazy world, maybe that’s really Senior Editors: Brian Hemond G, Charles Lin to the tune of $140 million. the end of this week will be so disappointing. all the change we can hope for. G, Satwiksai Seshasai G, Benjamin P. Gleitzman ’09, Ricardo Ramirez ’09, Angeline Wang ’09, Praveen Rathinavelu ’10.

Advisory Board property of The Tech, and will not be returned. Letters, columns, and Paul E. Schindler, Jr. ’74, V. Michael Bove ’83, Opinion Policy cartoons may also be posted on The Tech’s Web site and/or printed Barry S. Surman ’84, Robert E. Malchman Editorials are the official opinion ofThe Tech. They are written by or published in any other format or medium now known or later that ’85, Deborah A. Levinson ’91, Jonathan E. D. Richmond PhD ’91, Karen Kaplan ’93, Saul the editorial board, which consists of Chairman Austin Chu, Editor in becomes known. The Tech makes no commitment to publish all the Blumenthal ’98, Frank Dabek ’00, Daniel Ryan Chief Nick Bushak, Managing Editor Steve Howland, Executive Editor letters received. Bersak ’02, Eric J. Cholankeril ’02, Jordan Michael McGraw-Herdeg, and Opinion Editor Andrew T. Lukmann. Guest columns are opinion articles submitted by members of the Rubin ’02, Nathan Collins SM ’03, Keith J. Dissents are the opinions of signed members of the editorial MIT or local community and have the author’s name in italics. Col- Winstein ’03, Akshay R. Patil ’04, Tiffany board choosing to publish their disagreement with the editorial. umns without italics are written by Tech staff. Dohzen ’06, Beckett W. Sterner ’06, Marissa Letters to the editor, columns, and editorial cartoons are writ- Vogt ’06, Zachary Ozer ’07, Marie Y. Thibault ten by individuals and represent the opinion of the author, not neces- ’08, B. D. Colen. sarily that of the newspaper. Electronic submissions are encouraged To Reach Us Production Staff for This Issue and should be sent to [email protected]. Hard copy submis- The Tech’s telephone number is (617) 253-1541. E-mail is the eas- Editors: Michael McGraw-Herdeg G, Steve sions should be addressed to The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, Cambridge, iest way to reach any member of our staff. If you are unsure whom Howland ’11. Mass. 02139-7029, or sent by interdepartmental mail to Room W20- to contact, send mail to [email protected], and it will be di-

The Tech (ISSN 0148-9607) is published on Tuesdays and Fridays dur- 483. All submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. two days before the date rected to the appropriate person. You can reach the editor in chief by ing the academic year (except during MIT vacations), Wednesdays during January, and monthly during the summer by The Tech, Room W20-483, 84 of publication. e-mailing [email protected]. Please send press releases, requests Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Mass. 02139. Subscriptions are $50.00 Letters, columns, and cartoons must bear the authors’ signatures, for coverage, and information about errors that call for correction per year (third class). Postmaster: Please send all address changes to our mailing address: The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, Cambridge, Mass. 02139- addresses, and phone numbers. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. to [email protected]. Letters to the editor should be sent to 7029. Telephone: Editorial: (617) 253-1541. Business: (617) 258-8324. Facsimile: (617) 258-8226. Advertising, subscription, and typesetting rates The Tech reserves the right to edit or condense letters; shorter let- [email protected]. The Tech can be found on the World Wide available. Entire contents © 2009 The Tech. Printed on recycled paper by ters will be given higher priority. Once submitted, all letters become Web at http://www-tech.mit.edu. Saltus Press. March 6, 2009 The Tech Page 5 Ar t s CD REVIEW Nels Cline Drones On… …And On and On By S. Balaji Mani now. separate tracks on the album). in the Nels Cline catalog and may be the only ARTS Editor His original inspiration for Coward (a title While Cline uses Coward as a method of item like it for many years to come. Now that Nels Cline which he’s had reserved for decades) lends itself exploration and experimentation for the guitar, Coward has been released, Cline is already Coward to jazz albums like John Abercrombie’s Char- there are also plenty of songs written to pay trib- back at work with his trio, the Nels Cline Sing- Produced by Nels Cline acters and Bill Connors’ Theme to the Guard- ute to friends and loved ones. The third track, ers, and they plan to release an album later this Cryptogramophone ian. However, Cline’s influences and interests in “Thurston County,” is an obvious tip of the hat year. Released February 10, 2009 string music have changed, and thus have con- to Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, a colleague tributed to a decidedly different record. Cow- of Cline’s. The song begins with a humorously ou either know Nels Cline as the thin- ard contains not only jazz-inspired solo guitar sinister arpeggio supplanted with sirens that framed lead guitarist for the alt-folk pieces, but microtonal compositions as well. A sound like a misbehaving theremin. Delicate collective Wilco, or as one of LA’s most beautiful duet, “The Divine Homegirl,” sounds chords replace the arpeggio, and the sirens Yexperimental composers of avant-garde like an updated version of a Pat Metheny song (Cline’s clever use of a lap-steel) succumb to jazz guitar fronting the Nels Cline Singers. Ei- from the 70s ECM era. Electric guitar swells in gorgeous, emotive soloing. A distorted guitar ther faction of Nels-fanatics would find some- and out of a predominantly acoustic piece that revisits dissonance, culminating in an idiosyn- thing new in the accomplished guitarist’s latest features Cline’s fast finger work and penchant cratic guitar riff that precisely mimics Moore’s endeavor, Coward. Though Cline’s canon dates for darker harmonies that modulate rapidly. playing in Sonic Youth. back to 1979 (including myriad collaborations, As the album progresses however, a later The resemblance to Moore’s style is un- trio projects, and a fraction of the Wilco discog- track called “The Nomad’s Home” sounds like canny and convincing. Cline evokes sorrow in raphy), this is his first true solo album in that he a gradual trip from the UK to India. The com- another 18-minute epic “Rod Poole’s Gradual composed all of the music and plays all of the position begins with a slide guitar gliding over Ascent to Heaven,” whose eponymous hero was instruments. a chord-heavy acoustic arrangement. Cline’s a friend of Cline’s, and was brutally stabbed to The liner notes include a hand-written ac- soloing becomes more fragile throughout the death two years ago. Cline admits that he wept count of exactly what instruments were used song, balancing on its toes while the acoustic for his friend while listening to the final mix for each recording. Cline took on playing not guitar is fingerpicked. At the climax, the slide of this song. Prepared guitars provide a more only 6- and 12-string acoustic and electric gui- guitar speeds up with the backing guitar, and percussive sound in this song, and the listener tars (even prepared guitars for a few songs), but jumps intervals reminiscent of South Indian could envision Poole marching slowly into the a vast array of zithers, sruti boxes, loop units, carnatic music. The fast lead line towards the depths of his afterlife. drum machines, banjo and tenor ukuleles, bass- end echoes Cline’s growing interest in interna- With a runtime of 72:31, Coward is not easy es, and even a home-made guitar constructed tional music and Indian scales. Cline’s natural to consume in one sitting. As an album, the se- from a cigar box. Cline mentions on his website disposition for long, droning sounds finds its quencing seems arbitrary to me. Perhaps Cow- photo credit: Nelscline.com that he’d intended to make this record for years way into the hypnotic opener, “Epiphyllum” ard wasn’t written to play front-to-back. Rather, Avant-garde guitarist Nels Cline gears up — an album solely devoted to rich, layered gui- as well as portions of the near 18-minute mini- it could be a collection of Cline’s long-awaited for a new album with his trio upon the re- tar music — but only got around to doing so opera, “Onan Suite” (which is divided into six guitar project. Regardless, this is a unique piece lease of his first solo album. CD REVIEW Ben Folds Lets You Play the Producer Mix to Your Delight, then Mix It Again! By S. Balaji Mani drums arbitrarily for a genre-bending contem- The clear standouts are “You Don’t Know Arts editor porary experience. This move alone proves that Me” and “Cologne,” both of which bring out two Ben Folds Folds is approaching genius. Finding a way to very distinct strengths of Folds’ writing style. Stems & Seeds merge the culturally-ubiquitous with the cultur- The former is a bouncy pop tune with tongue- Produced by Dennis Herring ally-necessary has never looked — or sounded twisting lyrics that glide forward with no slip Epic Records — better. Such an effort hearkens back to Ra- difficulty. Giving them an extra boost is Regina Released February 10, 2009 diohead’s remix contest, where the aged Brits Spektor, and the vocal duet is a rare moment in released modified stems of a small selection of recent pop collaboration. The slower, contem- he Ben Folds fanbase has spoken: 2008’s songs encouraging fans to “make them better.” plative “Cologne” features Folds’ falsetto over a Way to Normal was TOO LOUD and we The other disc contains the seeds, which vivid chord progression, often arpeggiated. The want our money back; or, at least, a re- translates to the full Way to Normal tracklist in string arrangement found on this song is a some- Tmix. addition to some peculiar gems: full versions what diluted memento of the earlier Ben Folds Given that the majority of Ben Folds’ follow- of “fake” songs Folds leaked on an early hoax Five piece “Narcolepsy.” Even the rock and roll ers are uptight audiophiles (and I say this with version of the album and a couple of live tracks. bulldozer “Errant Dog” will translate nicely utmost respect), it’s clear that they just weren’t The new mix treatment sounds less harsh, and live, and could pass as an early Rolling Stones satisfied with the way the last record sounded. allows Folds’ vocals to sit calmly above the rich b-side. Instead of letting his fans down, Folds decided to instrumentation. The release of each Ben Folds Stems & Seeds is a success — not necessar- re-release Way to Normal, with a fresh mix sensi- solo album has seen increasing attention to ily for the music but mainly for its bold decision tive to the most discriminating ear. However, the multi-instrumental arrangements and a variety to challenge fans to mix the album according to questionable mixing doesn’t end there; because of sonic color choices. The lyrical content of this their listening pleasure. The album will become if the fans hate the mix, then they should mix it album is more blatantly humorous, and Folds re- a prized toy for fans and curious listeners to re- themselves, right? turns to using casual vulgarity. In “Bitch Went visit frequently, giving new identity to the record Released in mid-February, Stems & Seeds is Nuts,” he matter-of-factly sings “… she called itself. Folds is still writing strong, catchy hits, a double-disc product that opens up new pos- me ‘cunt’.” Sillier lyrics follow and also find but his age might put him past the humor he’s sibilities in the artist-listener relationship. Fans themselves weaved into songs like “Free Coffee” injected into the new material. Take your own with Macs (read: audiophiles) can load the stems (“they didn’t charge me / they didn’t charge me”) stab at the new songs by purchasing Stems & of the original Way to Normal album into their and the opener “Effington” (where Folds will Seeds and remixing it yourself, or just catch Ben photo credit: Benfolds.com Garageband software — and let the experiments start a new “effinglife”). Though “Free Coffee” Folds when he rocks MIT for our annual Spring Pick up Ben Folds’ latest, Stems & Seeds, begin! You can turn the vocals up – or down – cut includes a novel electronic backbeat, these three Weekend concert. Tickets are currently on sale at and remix the album on your own home out the bass track, add effects, or chop out the make up the weaker tracks on the album. http://sao.mit.edu/tickets/2009/spring-concert. computer.

INTERVIEW Hsunami Merge the Old with the New Who Else Could Rock the Erhu? By Maggie Liu the Chinese basketball team during the 2008 es? never really felt that we needed one. Jack’s Staff WRITER Summer Olympics. HN: Japanese rock was a major influence erhu is pretty much the melody. As for vocal- I had the opportunity to catch the band — X/Japan, Porno Graffiti, BIS. I could name ists, we never ever encountered one that really t the CSC Chinese New Year banquet, after their act and interviewed both Jack Hsu some more — we really liked the usage of gui- fit with the music. the closing performance featured Hsu- (erhu/violin/synth) and Brent Bergholm (gui- tar riffs and other techniques. But you know, TT: I definitely agree. The erhu is more Nami, a group named after founder tar). The whole band consists of the erhu, two these Japanese bands were actually influenced than sufficient as a substitution for the vocals. A Jack Hsu. The band labels itself as guitars, bass, and drums. During the live per- by Western bands. We also listened to a lot of So last question — what direction do you part of the “progressive Asian soundscape.” formance, there was also a female keyboard- 70’s, 80’s oldies — Led Zeppelin and stuff. think the band is heading in, musically and An instrumental rock band, they feature a tra- ist. TT: So, Jack — how old were you when commercially? ditional Chinese instrument called the erhu. (TT = The Tech and HN = Hsu-Nami) you first started playing the erhu? HN: Well, I guess, just continuing to play The erhu is sometimes called “southern fid- TT: I was really impressed by the band. It’s HN: In elementary school? I started the music we like. We’re also probably going to dle” and its sound can be compared to that of an interesting twist on both rock and tradi- violin when I was 4. You know Asian parents. try to enter the mainstream — nothing too the Western violin. The usage of an amplified tional Chinese music. Who came up with the Mine wanted Chinese culture to remain with avant-garde. We really want people to listen erhu lends a touch of classic Chinese folk to concept? me, I guess. It was a way to embrace my heri- to our stuff and get ourselves out there. We’re the predominantly rock songs. HN: We actually met at college. We were tage. actually releasing our new album The Four Initially I had been slightly skeptical be- all music majors at the time and it just kind TT: The erhu definitely lends a distinctive Noble Truths on March 24th. You can also cause I am one who sometimes listens to songs of … started. quality to the songs. find more updates about our band at our web- purely for their lyrics. However, the erhu was TT: So how long have you guys been to- HN: Yeah, we try to combine the classical site (http://hsu-nami.com) and our MySpace surprisingly effective as a replacement for gether? folk with other modern instruments. (http://www.myspace.com/hsunami). vocals and possessed a versatility that even, HN: About three years? I don’t remember TT: Well, it’s awesome stuff. But I was TT: Thanks so much. I understand you’re dare I say, surpasses that of vocals. Perhaps if we officially started in 2005 or 2006 but it wondering, will there be a vocalist in the fu- based in New Jersey? it is for this reason that their song “Rising of was around them. ture? HN: It was a five-hour-long drive but it the Sun” was chosen as the entrance theme for TT: What do you count as your influenc- HN: We actually get asked this a lot. We was pretty awesome playing at MIT. Page 6 The Tech Ar t s March 6, 2009 Concert Review When Sound Worlds Collide Collage New Music Performs Contemporary, Remembers Bach By Sudeep Agarwala night, and what was strikingly notable was late, but almost to a fault — American “r”s the ensemble’s considerable talents. STAFF WRITER its earnest presentation of twentieth century often curdled sustained vowels and tainted This was not so, however, in the final Collage New Music music. her glorious musical lines. piece of the evening, Imbrie’s Pilgrimage, Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall The concert began with Christopher Old- Bettina’s emotionally charged perfor- composed for Collage in 1983. The work March 2, 2009 father at the piano presenting Donald Crock- mance was followed by Picker’s Blue Hula, flourished under Hoose’s leadership, employ- ett’s Pilgrimage (1988), a piece based on performed by Christopher Krueger (flute), ing a particular brand of attention to detail ollage New Music, performing in Bach’s famous chromatic progression B-A-C- Robert Annis (clarinet), Catherine French that created a surprisingly coherent ensemble Longy School of Music’s Edward M. H (in English notation, B flat-A-C-B natural). (violin), Joel Moerschel (cello), Christopher out of Imbrie’s otherwise fractured composi- Pickman Concert Hall this past Mon- The work begins with the first three notes of Oldfather (piano), and David Hoose as con- tion.Certainly composed with the same rai- C day, articulated contemporary voices the progression and journeys through various ductor. This was a piece charged with the son d’être as Crockett’s piece earlier in the in music with a unique and refreshing ability. textures and motifs to loose rhythms and har- performace, Imbrie’s work approached the This isn’t a complaint about contemporary achieve the ultimate monies of early twen- subject from a very different perspective. music performances: it’s not difficult to see “H” (the point of ar- “The second half … was somehow tieth century’s curious Imbrie’s Pilgrimage is ethereal, probing the that most contemporary music is performed rival cruelly and mys- new “le jazz” in both funadmentals of harmonic series and rhythm, by competent musicians and that it takes a teriously transposed more neurotically introspective: score and perfor- ending the evening in a world not discon- very talented musician to play contemporary six octaves above the mance. It’s hard not nected from the glorious resonance of domed music in the first place. droning B-A-C). Cer- this is the musical sound world to draw the parallels chapels and gothic cathedrals. When looking at music in general, one tainly, the music is between the progres- To be sure: it may be an affectation di- contemplates the notion of “sound worlds” — conceived with Bach that is somehow less willing to sion in the concert’s vorced from both composer’s or performer’s that a piece written ten or twenty years ago in mind, and some reveal its secrets at first blush.” program and musical intent to hear the forebears of Western music occupies a musical topology that is distinct form of chorale or history. in Monday evening’s concert. Regardless, it’s from (but not unrelated to) music from the counterpoint almost The second half of important to note that each of Collage’s mem- baroque era which in itself occupies a musi- continuously occupies the work. But there Monday’s performance was somehow more bers, although performing contemporary mu- cal toplogy that is distinct from (but, again, was more to Oldfather’s performance — it neurotically introspective: this is the musical sic, do not belong solely to this sound world: not unrelated to) music from the Romantic was impossible not to hear an Ives-ian lament sound world that is somehow less willing to each member also has a background in the era, the Classical era, and so on. The instru- in the opening arpeggiations on the three reveal its secrets at first blush. more traditional Western canon (many are in- ments and even ways of performing the music note motif, perhaps Debussy in the growling Bettina returned for the world premiere of structors in Boston’s various conservatories). (issues concerning interpretations of tempo, bass of the second portion of the music, or a David Rakowski’s Phillis Levin Songs, com- To answer whether musicians trained in dynamic, touch and various other aesthet- tempered Beethoven in the closing chorales. missioned in 2008 for the Collage. Levin’s different sound worlds can interact: a re- ics) that are specific for each of these sound Something — perhaps Brahmsian or Schu- poetry is complicated and practically beyond sounding yes. In fact it’s surprising to hear worlds would seem out of place in any other. bertian in Catherine French’s violin and Old- comprehension, and it was unclear that Ra- how these backgrounds informs an under- At some point we’re left asking whether a father’s piano, (during Andrew Imbrie’s 1997 kowski had attempted to understand the po- standing and performance of contemporary musician trained in the sound world of Jos- work, Chicago Bells) — occurred in the mu- etry or interpret for the listener anywhere music — that perhaps the Western opus isn’t quin or du Fay can even begin to approach sicians’ attention to ensemble playing as run- beyond the most superficial. Mr. Hoose’s easily definable into tragically distinct inert Copland or Barber (assuming, of course, that ning melodies underscored the hair-raising performance with Collage presented an at- bubbles and niches. Perhaps it’s a false hope Copland and Barber can begin to occupy the “vivace” movement. tentive interpretation of Rakowski’s difficult and potentially inaccurate one, but, as Mon- same sound world). Judith Bettina’s rich soprano in Tobias score, but an almost juvenile understanding day’s concert demonstrated, it may not be too It’s worth arguing whether or not these Picker’s settings of two WS Merwin poems of Levin’s work, combined with unreason- unreasonable to hear music as a dialogue. It is distinctions constitute a valid approach to in Two Songs (from Rain In Trees) somehow able melodic lines that bordered on sustained a blurring of worlds, that despite time, locale, listening to the vast opus of classical music, brought to mind Strauss or Mahler, as melod- “parlando vocalise” (what, exactly, does one thought and background, allows even Bach but regardless of that discussion: here was ic lines lushly blossomed in her higher range. sing when there’s nothing to sing? More pre- to live within music written and performed Collage Music’s performance on Monday Bettina’s diction in these pieces was immacu- cisely: how?) simply seemed a molestation today. Concert Review Giants Among Men Handel and Haydn Society Perform Couperin and Bach By Sudeep Agarwala work had the air and excitement of jazz; me- The argument, if I understand correctly, is that aged the same enthusiasm as Couperin or STAFF WRITER lodic lines were traded with an almost natural the English composer, Henry Purcell, was an in- Bach. “The Masque” is a work for the English Handel and Haydn Society facility; ornamentation and French affect were tegrator of French, Italian, and English influenc- Theater and often came out as such, incorpo- Paul Goodwin, Conductor fluid and were performed by members of the es because he was imitating composers such as rating baudy humor, (funny only because it New England Conservatory, Jordan Hall ensemble with the polished ease of seasoned Jean-Baptiste Lully and Fraçoise Couperin, Ital- was taking place in the ectopia of Jordan Hall) February 27, 2009 improvisers. Of particular note, however, were ian masters such as Monteverdi and Gesualdo, juvenile antics and hackneyed drama which instruments that were often in the background and continuing the choral tradition of the Eng- seemed more the subsistence of the work than tereophiles have ruined music as I love of the more complicated work: Robert Nairn lish composers Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. the music itself. it. frequently seemed to be on the verge of snap- Purcell is also considered an innovator because Again, the musicians told volumes of the The plight of modern instruments ping his bass in two during the more vehement of his novel use of the countertenor voice (creat- stage’s enthusiasm for the work — soloist sing- S is no secret: keyboards and violins are movements. Michael Sponseller too, although ing castrati were considered a barbaric practice ers were, more often than not, completely bur- tending towards brighter, more stereo-friendly appropriately demure during the more reserved by the almost-entirely Protestant English). ied in their scores, and the performance was sounds, preferring Billy Joel or Elton John to movements, effectively drove the harpsichord None of these seem like particularly good plagued with missed entrances. Even the pro- the brassy Horowitz Steinway, or the electric home in his fantastic stormy interpretations of reasons to ascribe the level of genius that often gram notes, printing the text of “The Masque”, violin to the lyrical Heifetz Stradivarii. Or, figured bass during the faster movements. accompanies the composer. Purcell was writ- were riddled with typographical errors. It’s even earlier — Beethoven’s second Quasi una Goodwin also led the ensemble in a perfor- ing music in the late seventeenth century while hard not to wonder whether this work wouldn’t Fantasia piano sonata (the Moonlight) asks the mance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Branden- his Italian and English forebears had developed have benefited a few more rehearsals. pianist to depress the suspension pedal for the burg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048. their signature styles nearly a century prior, and In a question and answer session after the entire C-sharp minor first movement: a com- Before performing the Friday’s concert aptly concert, Goodwin lamented the fall of English plete mess on the modern piano but a fine re- work, Goodwin an- revealed that although music after Purcell. His point is well taken: af- ality on Beethoven’s boxier nineteenth century nounced that the first “It was curious that, even in Purcell was a near con- ter King James II, William and Mary ushered model. Earlier still, consider Bach’s famous movement would be temporary of Lully and in a period of harsh Protestantism in England, D minor chaconne from the second partita, an alternate form of such an exciting performance, Couperin, the French banning music, theater, and most forms of the in which Bach’s violin’s shallower bridge and the concerto, one that were producing more arts; after which it took until the late nineteenth arced baroque bow could simultaneously pull Bach reworked for the Goodwin felt the need to sophisticated works of century to re-develop a patently English sound. triple stops without breaking the chord — an overture of his Cantata music, especially when It’s hard not to imagine, however, that Goodwin almost-impossibility on the modern violin. BWV 184 Erwünschtes add novelty to the standard compared to the Eng- was a little too enthusiastic with his boundaries It’s these archaic instruments and sounds Freudenlicht (historical repertoire.” lish master. on the decline and fall of the English sound. that brought Friday evening’s concert with the accounts suggest that Sandwiched be- Friday’s concert made patently clear exactly Handel and Haydn Society, playing works by the Margrave of Bran- tween Couperin’s Con- how well English music was surviving com- Couperin, Bach and Purcell under conductor denburg, Christian Ludwig, for whom the six cert dans le goût Théâtral and Bach’s Third pared to the music of France and Italy: even Paul Goodwin, to life. To be sure, the thin, concerti were first composed, was less than Brandenburg Concerto, Purcell’s Funeral Purcell couldn’t hold a candle to it. The Protes- nasal strings, the tinny harpsichord, and the disinterested in the works upon receiving them Sentences, composed for octet, seemed like a tants had already won. quacking woodwind section of the baroque or- — reusing the work was a mere practicality cruel joke. To his credit, Purcell’s work was not chestra aren’t the most marketable of sounds, for Bach, who was charged with writing a new without some merit ­— in true English form, and these instruments are painfully difficult cantata for every week of the church calendar Purcell’s anthem incorporated and developed to play. The baroque cello lacked an endpin during his tenure as Thomaskantor in Leipzig) the rich chromaticism and use of cross-relation Phish Friday (and and is squeezed between the thighs in order that added oboes and, in Goodwin’s own words, that were characteristic of his Elizabethan pre- to be played, horns, almost exclusively, lacked “screaming horns”. Friday’s performance decessors, Tallis and Byrd (Purcell was writ- Saturday and valves and were modulated solely by changing lacked the screaming horns, maintaining the ing during the reign of King Charles II and omberture, not to mention the fretted theorbo, oboes, which was little more than nuisance (I James II). And Purcell’s writing is not without Sunday, too!) which, even at no less than seven feet in length, lie: ornamentation in the oboes during the mi- imagination — although heavy-handed in its Tonight, legendary jam band Phish is held like a guitar. nor re-transition to the shaggy G major reca- symbolism, Goodwin was right to ask the choir will perform their first concert in over But baroque music was written for these pitulation left me panting for breath). to gliss down a seventh interval when singing 4 years at the Hampton Coliseum in instruments, and it is a sound, despite its near- It was curious that, even in such an excit- the text “… to fall from thee …”. But Purcell’s Virginia. Their highly-anticipated three cacophony, that I love. ing performance, Goodwin felt the need to add funereal choral piece (with portative organ night residency will answer the ques- Goodwin showed exactly how these pieces novelty to the standard repertoire. The perfor- as sole accompaniment) was stodgy English tion on every hippie’s mind: is Phish were supposed to sound. François Couperin’s mance continued to amaze: Daniel Stepner im- music that didn’t seem to impress the choral good again? If you’re not already on Concert dans le goût Théâtral practically shim- provised the Phrygian cadence of the second singers, many of whom were solidly buried in your way down to the venue, then don’t mered in the Handel and Haydn Society’s movement (albeit ending on a slightly sour their scores and seemed unattached to the mu- worry. Head to http://livephish.com, performance. Although tuning issues between chord) and the conclusion of the final move- sic. And who could blame them? Sandwiched where you can download free mp3s of the cello and woodwind section marred early ment of the concerto required no less than between works from two of the great creative each night’s gig. Check out next week’s portions of the performance and balance is- three rounds of applause from the audience. Al- minds of the mid to late Baroque era, it had no edition of The Tech to read about the sues sometimes obfuscated the counterpoint though not the cleanest of renditions of Bach’s chance but to seem boring. highlights from the weekend and pre- early on in the piece (perhaps more a function famous work, the ensemble more than made up Purcell’s “Masque” in Dioclesian utilized dictions for Phish’s upcoming summer the space of Jordan Hall than any fault of the for their lack of accuracy with a natural excite- the full orchestra and choir in the second half reunion tour. ensemble), Friday’s performance of Couperin’s ment that pervaded the entire performance. of Friday’s concert, but still never quite man- March 6, 2009 Ar t s The Tech Page 7 Restaurant Review Hipster Dragons and Funky Haikus Myers+Chang Provides a Fun (and Cheap) Date Night By Joanne Shih Date,” the chef’s choice tasting menu. We re- on a plate decorated with coconut cilantro pu- have been the only one that did feel like a tradi- STAFF WRITER quested that their fried chicken (I had heard rée, sweet and hot dipping sauce, and a lime tional home-cooked dish. Myers+Chang good things) be incorporated in our meal, and garnish. The chicken met my expectations — For $5 extra as part of the Cheap Date 1145 Washington Street, Boston, MA we were gladly accommodated by our wait- delicately fried to a perfect crisp on the outside menu, we could add a dessert. Seeing as how South End ress. (there’s hardly any batter coating the meat) and we weren’t aiming to be health-conscious in (617) 542 5200 Our first two dishes were rather uneventful. juicy on the inside. The coconut cilantro puree the first place (we had emphatically rejected Green papaya salad garnished with cilantro, was refreshing but I found the dipping sauce to the healthy date option), we caved in and or- blizzard may keep me from going to chopped peanuts, and red chilis lit a small fire be a better complement to the chicken. Thank- dered a frozen vanilla bean parfait with orange class, but I refuse to let the elements in my mouth, but other fully, our waitress pre- granita. The pairing of the buttery richness of hinder my food critiquing endeavors. than the spiciness, I emptively brought us the ice cream with the granita, a refreshingly A So, I braved the cold on Monday night wasn’t too impressed. Good for: vegetarians, a stack of moist tow- tart treat, was perfect, with the exception that I with a friend to try Myers+Chang, an Asian fu- This was quickly fol- elettes, warning us, was nursing a food baby by this point. sion “funky indie diner” in the South End. Run lowed by a plate of omnivores, brown rice lovers, “You get involved with Verdict: Go for the funky ambience — not by owner and chef Joanne Chang and executive mostly unremarkable the chicken.” solely for the food — and you won’t be dis- chef Matthew Barros, the place gives off an up- crispy spring rolls hipsters Our final dish, appointed. Take advantage of the Cheap Date scale yet casual, retro-modern feel, with mod filled with leeks and along with a bowl of Night deal — for the amount of food we got, off-white cushiony seats and pink, borderline- accompanied by sweet Bad for: people who don’t like brown rice, came out it’s definitely the best way to go without dig- kitschy bar stools. Bright pink dragon designs dipping sauce. When to share, germaphobes (unless you sometime during my ging an unjustified hole in your wallet. adorn the glass exterior, and inside are red and the waitress brought involvement with the Tips before you go: The restaurant is right white lights amidst white bauble lanterns. We out bowls of red kuri horde your dishes), Asian-food fried chicken — a bowl next to the East Berkeley Street stop on the Sil- were pleasantly charmed before the food even squash soup for us of homestyle stirfry ver Line. If you’re afraid of silences, sit near arrived by the playing music, which included next, I started to won- elitists, people who don’t want to with soft tofu, black the haiku corner by the bar or any of the mark- Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” and Death der if perhaps we had be considered a cheap date. peppered pork, kimchi, er-graffitied mirrors for a surefire way to start Cab for Cutie’s “A Lack of Color.” ordered the vegetarian and bok choy. The mix- a conversation. (I make no guarantees of the Sunday through Tuesday evenings, date by accident, but, ture of tofu, pork, and quality of the conversation though; the pithy Myers+Chang offers Cheap Date Night, a way after a couple spoonfuls, I decided I could be vegetables was definitely not the most beauti- gems include phrases such as “Dragons make to try a generous sampling of their Asian tapas- vegetarian — at least for the duration of this fully presented item of the night, but the point nice pets … in bed.”) like dishes. Among the selection of dates are soup. Drizzled with mild red chili oil, the of homestyle cooking is never the aesthetics Good for: vegetarians, omnivores, brown menus with names like “The Hot Date,” “The creamy soup was sweet with savory tones of but more so the rate at which you can get it rice lovers, hipsters Healthy Date,” “The Vegetarian Date,” and curry, and the rich flavor was extremely satisfy- into your stomach. And though it was nothing Bad for: people who don’t like to share, “The Pig Out Date.” At $40 per couple, the ing (not to mention filling). groundbreaking, the pleasantly smoky, pep- germaphobes (unless you horde your dishes), deal seemed like a good idea. We were feel- Next was the highly anticipated pery flavor of the dish was both appetizing and Asian-food elitists, people who don’t want to ing adventurous, so we settled on “The Blind Myers+Chang fried chicken, which arrived comforting. Of all the items we tried, this may be considered a cheap date.

This space donated by The Tech March 6, 2009

Page 8

Steal My Comic by Michael Ciuffo

The Daily Blunderbuss by Ben Peters March 6, 2009 The Tech Page 9

Instructions: Fill in the grid so Pseudoscience by Daniel Klein-Marcuschamer that each column, row, and 3 by 3 grid contains exactly one of each of the digits 1 through 9. Solution on page 12.                         Solution, tips, and computer program at http://www.sudoku.com

ACROSS 45 Not anchored 15 Game show classic Crossword Puzzle 1 Chocolate tree 47 Long fish 17 Park and Lex. Solution, page 12 6 W-2 info 48 Weekday abbr. 20 __ und Drang 9 Utter an orison 51 Carmichael classic/broom 24 Storage facilities 13 Pontificate buddies 25 Utopias 14 Pie __ mode 55 Canadian leaf 26 Mm-mm good! 15 Communicate by letter 58 Just imagine! 27 Singer DiFranco 16 Euphemistic exclamation 59 Mystery award 28 Josiah of bone china 18 Pluto’s realm 60 Comfy shoe 29 Affectations 19 Fashion update/done to 61 Home planet of Queen 31 Bananalike plant death Amidala 32 Missed the mark 21 Surgery rms. 62 Rich, dark soil 33 Gentler 22 Hi-__ graphics 63 Hindu title 34 Leave text as is! 23 Wonderland service 64 Certain collars 37 “The Flying Dutchman” 27 DDE’s rival girl 28 Man from Tarsus DOWN 38 Take off 30 Nev. neighbor 1 Kramer of TV 44 Enormous 31 Insurance giant 2 Bellowing 46 Muslim faith 34 Richard’s Agnew 3 Puts in order 47 Italian luxury goods maker 35 Guitarist Paul 4 Sioux tribe 48 Boxing-like exercise 36 Meeting of minds/ 5 19A, 36A and 51A on 15D 49 Merger pressure line? 6 Wise guys 50 These, in Leon 39 Humerus place 7 Talk like a boozehound 52 Turning figs. 40 Monopoly cards 8 Half of Mork’s sign-off 53 Fashionable Christian 41 Persnickety 9 Miuccia of fashion 54 Kind of fall? 42 Lincoln center? 10 Divested 55 Actor Gibson 43 Poker stake 11 Devoured 56 Small ruckus 44 Wernher __ Braun 12 Affirmative 57 Links org.

Dilbert® by Scott Adams Page 10 The Tech March 6, 2009

Helpdesk by Michael Benitez

DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEFNightline TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER DEFWe’re TUV TUV OPER OPERhere DEF TUV to TUV OPER listen. OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER This space donated by The Tech 3-8800 March 6, 2009 The Tech Page 11 MacVicar Day Celebrates Work of UROP’s Founder Teaching Prize, from Page 1 Having a conversation in a large Jones said that he fully sup- cross-disciplinary subjects like the net Sonenberg, Learning from the lecture-style class can be difficult. ported the 2008 change from double class she is currently co-teaching Past: Drama, Science, Performance this year’s candidates, “as always In order to explain material clearly, degrees to double majors which re- with Professor of Theater Arts Ja- (21L.016). we look for excellence in teaching Jackson said, “I try and make the as- duced the number of units required as evidenced by the innovation and sumption, whenever I am preparing because “it allows engineers to more care in the classes as well as the stu- for class, that all of my students are easily do serious work in STS.” dent comments.” very clever and totally ignorant.” In addition to the certificate Bulovic said that receiving the The winners also agreed on the that the new Fellows were awarded award was a humbling experience importance of sharing compelling last night, they will also receive because he was being recognized and relevant examples that make $10,000 per year through the next both by his colleagues and, most class ideas more personal for stu- 10 years for curriculum develop- importantly, his students. Jackson dents. Jones talked about directing ment and improvement of teaching said, “What’s wonderful about [the his Disease and Society In America methods. Fellowship] is that it funds innova- (STS.005) students to take walks MacVicar Day and the MacVicar tions in education, and it gives you through the neighborhoods of Bos- Fellowships are named after Dean an opportunity to talk to other peo- ton while trying to find reasons for for Undergraduate Education Mar- ple who are excited about teaching the disparities in the health data garet MacVicar, who died in 1991. at the Institute.” from each. Bulovic commented on MacVicar founded MIT’s Under- When explaining the methods the current MIT curriculum saying, graduate Research Opportunities that they thought made them effec- “The remarkable thing about MIT Program (UROP) and had a strong tive teachers, all of the professors is that we have a curriculum that influence on MIT’s undergraduate stressed that engaging students in makes all of our students techni- program. a conversation was crucial. Bulo- cally savvy.” Jones already has some plans for vic said that learning happens best In addition to her teaching re- his money. He would like to “hire when the teacher can respond to sponsibilities, Henderson also people to create better visualiza- matters that are on students’ minds. serves as the dean for curriculum tions” of health data, an endeavor “If I’m answering what they’re pas- and faculty. “It’s important for stu- which he says could have a big sionate about, that’s what they’ll re- dents to understand different ap- impact on students in his classes. member,” he said. proaches to knowledge,” she said. Henderson hopes to develop more

Jessica Lin—The Tech Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Associate Professor Vladimir Bulovic stands in his lab next to an integrated materials growth system, used in the development of nanostructure optical and electronic devices. He is one of four professors named MacVicar Fellows this year for excellence in teaching.

Brian Hemond—The Tech Literature Professor Diana Henderson was named a MacVicar Fellow this year for excellence in teaching. Henderson’s areas of research include gender studies, Shakespeare, modernism, and world drama.

Arthur Petron—The Tech Eric D. Schmiedl—The Tech MacVicar winner Daniel Jackson, professor of Electrical Engineering Associate Professor in Science, Technology and Society David Jones, shot in high dynamic range, was and Computer Science, was nominated by students and faculty for named MacVicar Faculty Fellow this year for his outstanding teaching. Jones, besides teaching, has led his contributions to teaching. Jackson studies software engineering for the past four years a series of conferences about race, science and technology. in CSAIL’s Software Design Group. This space donated by The Tech Page 12 The Tech March 6, 2009 Admissions Cuts Won’t Affect Minority Recruitment Admissions, from Page 1 sions is steering its recruiting efforts our travel as well,” Schmill said. Although expensive, MIT’s trav- Some spending is still safe away from travel to attempts to reach Admissions will likely cut its travel eling regional information sessions Some recruiting costs won’t be employees’ workload, Schmill said. more prospective freshmen online. budget by one third to one half, he do work. “We’ve always had very, cut. “We’re gonna figure out how to be- To accommodate a 15 percent said. very strong attendance,” Schmill Recruitment targeted at minority come more efficient,” Schmill said, budget cut, Harvard’s admissions The cut means that MIT will visit said. “The feedback that we have and low-income students will con- and “we’re gonna figure out how to office cut its travel budget in half, fewer high schools, although “we gotten from the sessions have been tinue with no budget cuts, Schmill do things a little bit differently.” eliminating virtually all high school have done significantly less of that very positive … So it does help us said. “We may well enhance some of visits, The Harvard Crimson report- anyway than some of our peers.” But recruit. our targeted recruitment efforts,” he Online recruiting efforts increase ed on Tuesday. some visits will still happen as part But “visits to specific high schools said. Currently, MIT keeps in touch As part of that difference, Admis- “We will likely have to cut back of a “targeted outreach” program. have had more mixed results,” Sch- with specially chosen high schools mill said in an e-mail. and reaches out to community-based Made possible by the Council for the Arts at MIT Admissions staff will continue to organizations and to local Boston- travel to parts of the US where they area schools. think students are not already being Admissions also funds trips to pointed towards MIT. Underserved visit the MIT campus for some ad- areas, in particular inner cities, will mitted students whose financial situ- Free tickets for MIT students! be a focus, Schmill said. ation would make it hard to travel. Schmill has already begun the Schmill said he is “fully committed” cuts, cancelling a planned trip to to supporting those expenses. New York City to visit spring college In fact, Campus Preview Week- Radius Ensemble fairs. Instead, Admissions has asked end is not expected to change much, Featuring Marcus Thompson, viola alumni in the area to do outreach. although Admissions will try to That request may come naturally make minor reductions to the bud- to Schmill, who before becoming get. “It’ll look very much the same,” Dean of Admissions was head of the Schmill said. Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 8 pm Educational Council, the group of And what about recruiting excep- alumni who volunteer to recruit and tionally high achievers, the so-called Killian Hall at MIT,14W-111 interview prospective students. “superstars” that MIT recruits ag- “Leveraging alumni is a great gressively? idea … we should be doing it re- Athletic superstars are largely the Piazzolla Tangos for wind quintet (arr. Scott) gardless” of budget concerns, Sch- responsibility of MIT coaches, not mill said. Admissions. For music superstars, Gubaidulina Quasi hoquetus for viola, bassoon, & piano Schmill has other ideas for MIT will continue to connect stu- changing the way students apply to dents with music faculty. Ibert Aria for flute, clarinet, & piano schools. By redirecting travel funds And for other superstars in aca- toward a “more robust Web site,” demics or extracurricular activities, Brahms String quintet in F, Op. 88 Schmill is staking the future of Admissions will largely continue to MIT’s admissions on the promise of make special visits to events across Internet community. the country to attract students such Boston Modern Orchestra Project How, exactly, could the MIT ad- as national competitors in the FIRST missions Web site stand to improve? Robotics competition or entrants to Schmill said he doesn’t want to the Intel International Science & En- John Harbison: A Winter’s Tale change anything about the mitad- gineering Fair. missions.org blogs. But he had in Even as Admissions plans to Friday, March 20, 2009, at 8pm mind “more kinds of Web commu- spend much less to go see prospec- nications, like video.” tive students, recruitment travel will Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory And to cut costs, paper mailings be “targeted” and “focused,” Schmill will be largely supplanted by out- said. reach online through the Web. “I don’t think this will have an ef- John Harbison Winter’s Tale (1974, rev. 1991) The Web is “the most egalitarian fect on our ability to recruit the best Concert performance - Opera in two acts way to communicate,” Schmill said. students,” he said. Solution to Sudoku Solution to Crossword Based on the play by Wiliam Shakespeare from page 9 from page 9          2 tickets per MIT student ID                   Tickets available at the MIT Office of the Arts (E15-205)          Monday - Friday                   2 - 5:30pm in person, first-come, first-served only                   http://web.mit.edu/arts/see/freetickets/index.html          Call for Nominations! 2009 Student Art Awards

LAYA and JEROME B. WIESNER LOUIS SUDLER STUDENT ART AWARDS PRIZE IN THE ARTS

The Laya and Jerome B. Wiesner Student Art Awards are The Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts is presented annually to a presented annually to up to three students (undergraduate or graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence or the graduate), living groups, organizations or activities for highest standards of proficiency in music, theater, painting, outstanding achievement in and contributions to the arts at MIT. sculpture, design, architecture or film. The Prize was established Established in 1979, these awards honor President Emeritus in 1982 by Mr. Sudler, a performer in the arts and an arts Wiesner and Mrs. Wiesner for their commitment to the arts at patron from Chicago. An endowment fund provides a $1,250 MIT. An endowment fund provides a $1,250 honorarium to award to the honoree. each recipient. http://web.mit.edu/arts/about/awards/wiesner.html http://web.mit.edu/arts/about/awards/sudler.html

Please send nominating letters by Friday March 20, 2009 to: Susan Cohen, Director, Council for the Arts at MIT- E15-205 [email protected] http://web.mit.edu/awards/ March 6, 2009 The Tech Page 13 Graduate Student Inventor Battles Cancerous Tumors Lemelson-MIT, from Page 1 cells. Once the tumors have been found, the nanorods’ high absorption ability allows them to be heated up to toxic levels using infrared light, kill- ing all nearby tumor cells. At age 28, von Maltzahn has al- ready made a significant impact in the fields of medicine and nanotech- nology. He has not only submitted 19 scholarly papers and eight patent applications, but he has also founded two companies: Nanopartz, Inc. and Resonance Therapeutics. “The significant motivation be- hind my work,” von Maltzahn said, “is seeing the toxicity and limited ef- ficacy of cancer therapy.” “Less than one percent of chemo- therapy drugs go to tumor cells,” von Maltzahn said. The remaining 99 percent of the drugs maliciously af- fect normal healthy cells, resulting in undesirable side effects like hair-loss and nausea. Von Maltzahn has dedicated his time to developing new treatments that will minimize therapy side ef- fects and improve tumor eradication. In fact, he noted that the particles act similarly to antennas and can ab- sorb infrared radiation 10,000 times better than chlorophyll. Von Maltzahn explained that in Andrea Robles—The Tech 2009 Lemelson-MIT finalist Erez Lieberman G explains his invention, the iShoe, to a local middle school student, Mickaella Casseus. The iShoe laboratory trials involving mice, can be placed in any shoe and wirelessly connects to a laptop to provide physicians with diagnostic information about the wearer’s sense of all of the tumors were eradicated balance. Geoffrey von Maltzahn G won the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize, awarded to promising inventors, for his work on cancer therapy. in only two weeks using this ap- proach. illnesses and other abnormalities. also an active participant in MIT’s year’s recipient Timothy K. Lu ‘03, Prize and $100,000 Award for Sus- To introduce his nanorod in- Von Maltzahn hopes to implement Undergraduate Research Opportuni- who is currently pursuing his M.D. tainability. The Lemelson-MIT pro- vention to industry, von Maltzahn the same network with his tumor- ties Program (UROP), supervising for his work involving gene detec- gram will announce the winners of founded a company called Reso- detecting nanoparticles: if one par- fourteen undergraduates and helping tion and sensing. these awards later this spring. More nance Therapeutics this past fall. ticle detects a tumor, then all other them get involved in cancer therapy In addition to the $30,000 student information on the prizes and past This spring, he will be looking for particles will also know the location treatments. prize, the Lemelson-MIT program winners is available on the Lemel- seed funding to support his new en- of that tumor. Every year, the Lemelson-MIT also awards inventors with its pres- son-MIT program website, http:// trepreneurial venture. The company Von Maltzahn has won several Program recognizes an MIT senior tigious $500,000 Lemelson-MIT web.mit.edu/invent. owns exclusive rights to his nanorod awards for his research including or graduate student who has dem- cancer treatment in clinical applica- MIT’s Outstanding Undergraduate onstrated innovation and invention tions. Research Mentor Award, the Na- in his or her field. A diverse panel of Although it may take five to ten tional Science Foundation Gradu- MIT alumni specially selected by the years to introduce the nanorod ther- ate Research Fellowship, and the Lemelson-MIT program determines apy to current cancer therapy treat- Biomedical Engineering Society the winner of the $30,000 award. ment, von Maltzahn is optimistic of Graduate Research award. He is Past student winners include last its potential, saying “the time line is Up to long, but we’re hopeful that this could Eating Disorder Treatment SPERM DONORS make a difference for patients.” NEEDED $1100 a month! On Apr. 24, von Maltzahn will Treatment of Adults Suffering from defend his thesis which entails a sys- Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa tems approach to tumor detection. Healthy MEN in college or with a college degree wanted for our Informed clinicians refer their clients to “By engineering nanoparticles to sperm donor program. Laurel Hill Inn. LHI provides the most communicate,” said von Maltzahn, Minimal time commitment effective treatment and deploys the highest “tumor therapy and detection may Help people fulfill their dreams of starting a family. become much more efficient.” staff-to-client ratio in New England. We Von Maltzahn explained how in provide extensive programming in a highly Receive free health and genetic screenings. natural systems, like the immune structured and supervised non-institutional system, particles interact to create therapeutic setting. Evening, day, and residential treatment as well as APPLY ONLINE: a network that can quickly detect weekly support groups in West Medford and West Somerville. Call Linda at 781 396-1116 or visit www.laurelhillinn.com. www.SPERMBANK.com

NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009 2:00 – 4:00pm Twenty Chimneys (3rd floor, Student Center) Check out research opportunities and career paths in Nuclear Science and Engineering [email protected] Page 14 The Tech March 6, 2009 Hamentashen Is Like Star Trek; X-Rayed Latke Produces Images Jewish Pastries, from Page 1 tashen, he declared, pointing to an argument on environmental impact. overlooked photo of spoiled hamen- Hamentashen production factories wall. Team Hamentaschen’s frog tashen left on the party trays by the cause pollution while latke produc- flew the closest, and opted for the catering company the party hosts tion is water-powered, clean, and latke side to serve. Both sides used had hired. quiet, he said. contradictory historical, theological, In recent NTSB findings regard- and scientific “evidence” to support The Birds and the Bees ing USAir 1549, a plane was forced their respective delicacies. Leighton spoke first in defense of to land in the Hudson River because the hamentashen, praising its popu- of large Canadian geese attacking Germy Pastries in History larity as a favorite treat at OPEC the engines. David Jones opened with the meetings and its resemblance to the Why did the geese attack the “Forgotten Role of Latke in De- Star Trek uniform emblem. “Where plane? The answer, according to velopment of Germ Theory.” He do all the hamentashen come Sadoway, was revealed in the stom- presented a Centers for Disease from?” he asked before unveiling ach of one goose. New Yorkers had Control and Prevention report on a the explicit content of hamentashen fed them hamentashen, which drove salmonella outbreak from spoiled procreation. them mad. latkes at a Hanukkah party. Skepti- Leighton arranged two 9" by 10" Steinfield spoke second on be- cal of the accusation, Jones decided triangular pastries into a 90 square half of the hamentashen. In com- to get to the bottom of it. inch rectangle, shifted them diago- parison to an oil-drenched latke, the In his search, Jones claimed he nally, and sliced off the protruding hamentashen has better sustainabil- came across a writing by someone two trangular corners to form two ity. Steinfield brought a visual aid, who tried to grow tuberculosis bac- new baby hamentashen. a trophy with a six-year-old hamen- teria on an abundance of leftover If hamentashen can keep grow- tashen and latke. The latke portion hamentashen, since “no one wanted ing and reproducing, he said, their was missing, disposed of as hazard- to eat any of them.” However, the exponential growth could solve ous waste. The aged hamentashen, pastries were quickly contaminated world hunger! Of course, you can’t however, is in still “good shape.” with mold. do the same with round latkes. “Lat- “It’s growing a bit green,” said The author later discovered that kes don’t have sex,” he said. “They Steinfield. “This is good, because latkes provided a more sterile con- are shredded potatoes!” MIT is going green.” Arthur Petron—The Tech dition to grow the sputum because Professor Nelson, the last of the Rebecca J. Heywood ’12 presents her team’s design for a build- of their oily surfaces. Energy storage, sustainability, chemists to present, appealed to it-yourself night light on Wednesday, March 4 as part of 2.00B Jones concluded that latkes and … the Apocalypse? latke supporters with evidence that (Toy Product Design). Each team got a chance to present four couldn’t have been spoiled and con- The battle of the chemists en- lies in the inherent structure of the ideas that centered around this year’s theme, “The Arts.” taminated with salmonella. sued. Sadoway was the first to step hamentash and latke. The real culprit is the hamen- up to the plate. He structured his “I have been chosen by God to tell you a story of good and evil,” he declared. “Haman, the villain Made possible by the Council for the Arts at MIT of the story, sought the fiery death of all Jews. Every bite of every hamentashen you will ever eat is Free tickets for MIT students! filled with the soul of Haman!” The circular latke is superior in sym- metry in comparison to the trian- Two Men of Florence gular hamentashen, said Steinfield. When samples of both foods were Thursday, April 2 at 7:30pm submitted for X-ray diffraction, the The Huntington Theater diffraction pattern of the hamen- tashen displayed the face of the 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA devil. The latke, on the other hand, projected the Star of David and the yin-yang. by Richard N. Goodwin In ancient Zapotec, the Hamen- Directed by Edward Hall tash means “the death of innocents,” Scenic & Costume Design by Francis O’Connor he said. He finished his case, en- couraging the audience to support Starring Edward Herrman and Jay O. Sanders the round symbol of peace.

Galileo Galilei and Pope Urban VIII face off in The Inconvenient Truth “We, the hamentashen party, a battle for the soul of the world! More Information at : have tried very hard to reach out to 1 ticket per MIT student ID those of the other party,” said Wolfe, pentagonmarch.org who proceeded to take an etymo- logical perspective in defending the Pick up tickets @ the Office of the Arts (E15-205) Organized by: www.newenglandunited.org/ hamentashen. Monday - Friday 2 - 5:30pm easternmass “The original name of the latke -March 21 is ‘Tohu,’” he said, displaying a pic- in person only Mobilization Committee (617) 640-9112 ture of latke with a picture of tofu. -New England United [email protected] He claimed that the hamentashen Antiwar Network resembles the “Lechem Da’at,” the http://web.mit.edu/arts/see/freetickets/index.html -A.S.W.E.R. Coalition bread of knowledge. “Who am I to tell you that-what-it-is you should choose,” he questioned the audience,  showing a display of a hamentashen  connecting the words “understand- ing,” “wisdom,” and “beauty” by its corners, along with a latke paired  with mushy tofu. Wolfe ended his argument with  experimental data on rodent output for latke, hamentashen, and cocaine. “We all know that that lab rats will   work much harder for latkes,” he •    said, but that does not necessarily  mean latkes are better, Wolfe ar-   gued. Mice also work hard for co- •   caine, which completed the upward   trend on the graph.   As the debate closed with witty •  and stringent rebuttals from Wolfe  and Nelson, two students wearing  latke and hamentashen costumes •  took a hand-raise poll to determine  the winner. Sive declared that the  audience was split between the two sides. Trophies for the professors •  were handed out to commemorate Henisi. Pat, cor sum nos doloreet elesseq uatuera esectem doloboreet, con heniscidunt at, quat dolobore diam, veliquisl el ut adip eraesto duis dolor sum ex exeros ea faci ea amcommo lorper adit nullaor at, commy nosto odolenim nostrud et laore feu facidunt alit lutetue modolor accum ea am, quamcon sequat wisl ullam, consequat. Iquat. Ut el iure feugait elit, quis adionsectet ex endre facip er accum zzrit lor sustis aut verit, sed modolor eraessim et dolore duis nisis ad minit in vendrem quatums andigna feuissed enim zzriusci tem nos dipsusto od magniat wismod tat, voluptat. Ut amcon volesequisl iure deliscillam quatetum dolorpe riusto del eriusto core facilit, qui tem nonsenim zzriustrud dolore conse molestrud modolore corpercilla feu faccum quisci blan volut iustrud minim ipsum ad magnibh esequatem qui bla con volor sectem zzrit eum nonum ese dolortisis amconullaore vulla feu feu feu feum duipsus tionsectem erci tet aci endreet lor si.  the tie. Free hamentashen and latkes    were served afterwards in Lobby Magnim do doloreet, conulput wisi ex ex eu facincilit alit iustissed eugue vel dolore vent 10. 

  LEGAL COUNSEL  MIT students, family, employers and    start-ups seeking U.S. legal counsel,   campus or office consultation. Call: James Dennis Leary, Esq. 321-544-0012 March 6, 2009 Sp o r t s The Tech Page 15 MIT Plays Tonight in Div. III Tournament First Round Contest Men’s Basketball, from Page 16 about the tournament, Johnson said, “We’re pumped. We’re ready much about each other and about to keep making history, but more playing and winning for each oth- importantly, make MIT proud. This er.” “It’s awesome we get to keep one’s for the nerds!” Two fan buses this ride going and now we’re all will be leaving from Amherst Al- just focused on winning six more ley at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $6.00 games and extending this journey for general admission, and $3.00 for three more weeks.” for students with an ID. The game The next stage of that journey will also be broadcast live at http:// begins tonight as the Engineers ricollege.ezstream.com/play/index. embark on their NCAA tourna- cfm?id=121FA01A9A. The full ment bid, facing Rhode Island tournament bracket is available at College at 6 p.m. in RIC’s Mur- http://www.d3boards.com/playoffs/ ray Center in Providence. Asked mbbbracket2009.pdf. Racz Swimmer of the Year and Stumbaugh Rookie of the Year ’09 Men’s Swimming, from Page 16 1:54.30 set during the 1982-83 sea- son and resulted in an NCAA “B” for the Engineers as David C. Parell cut. Toomas R. Sepp ’11 finished ’12 closed in 2:08.94 and Alejandro fourth in the race, with senior Deke Dos Reis ’12 swam 2:09.49. John R. Hu ’09 closing in fifth. Walk ’10 finished eighth in the race The Engineers put the finishing as MIT swimmers boasted half of the touches on their dominating team field. Adding to Tech’s success in the win with another record-breaking event, rookie Yang Yang ’12 secured relay effort. Finishing first in 3:03.07 a four-second victory in the consola- in the 400 free relay, the team of tion final. Wellings, Cummings, Pierson, and Taking three of the top five spots, Charpentier smashed the school re- MIT once again flexed its depth in cord by two seconds while wiping the 200 fly. Matthew R. Chapa ’12 out the NEWMAC open and cham- erased one of the oldest records on pionship marks. Cummings and the Institute’s books to pace the ef- Charpentier were both under 45 sec- fort, finishing second overall in onds for their splits, with Charpen- 1:53.75. The final time eclipsed tier reeling off a meet-best 44.19 to Andy Renshaw’s ’84 swim of anchor the victory.

Do you know anyone who has served in the military? What do you think when you see someone in uniform?

Rob Berschinski did ROTC at Yale and Maura Sullivan is an MBA/MPA at Tyson Belanger holds a B.A. from Yale Rye Barcott is an MBA/MPA student at Doug Raymond received a Harvard MBA served as an Air Force intelligence officer Harvard. She served as a Captain in the and is a Harvard Ph.D. candidate. He has Harvard. He attended UNC-Chapel Hill and served as an Armor and Military in Korea, Germany, Rwanda, and Iraq. Marines, completing tours in Iraq, Japan, served 5 Marine tours, 3 in Iraq. on a ROTC scholarship and served in the Intelligence Officer in the Army. and Korea. Marines in Iraq, Bosnia, and Africa. Our democracy is built on civilian control of the military. But for too many years, civilian elites and military service members have lived in different worlds.

What are some ways you can connect with peers serving in the military? Here is some advice from recent graduates: • Don’t confuse politics with military service. Military service members often join to protect the defenseless or to stand against genocide. They choose to serve their country. They do not choose their wars.

• Never declare that someone killed in war died in vain. Officers take a vow to our constitution. Many die protecting friends within their units. Even if civilian leaders have made serious strategic mistakes, the sacrifices of service members have meaning.

• When you say you support the troops—do something! Troops coming home often feel dislocated—they return from the stress and carnage of war to a country that seems to be going on without them. Connect. Organize your friends to pack care packages. Volunteer at a local veterans hospital. Visit a local base.

• Finally: Learn more. Our military serves under civilian command. As future leaders, you should know how our military works. Build your leadership ability, visit: www.trumanproject.org/military101.

The Truman National Security Project is a national security leadership institute, the nation’s only organization that recruits, trains, and positions a new www.trumanproject.org generation of progressives across America to lead on national security. For more information or to take part in our leadership programs, visit our Web site: Page 16 The Tech March 6, 2009 Sp o r t s Game of the Week Men’s Swimming and MIT Men’s Basketball Captures Diving Wins NEWMAC First NEWMAC Championship Championship by 245 By Aaron Sampson Guard Academy on February 25 smallest men’s basketball team By James Kramer the Engineers while posting the sec- Sports Editor marked the single game Institute in the conference, making every DAPER Staff ond-fastest time in program history The MIT men’s basketball team record. As a team, the Engineers player essential. According to After finishing second in the last with a clip of 1:52.08. Stumbaugh made history on Sunday, March 1, shot 47% for the game and made Johnson, ”Before each game, we’re two NEWMAC Men’s Swimming closed second overall in the race defeating Springfield College 76-50 ten of 25 three-point attempts. constantly met with questions from and Diving Championships, three with freshmen Ryan N. Terbush ’12 to claim the first New Springfield narrowed MIT’s lead referees, other teams, and fans ask- times proved to be a and James S. Griffin ’12 taking fifth England Women’s and to only seven points in the second ing ‘Wait, where’s the rest of your charm as the Engi- and eighth. Men’s Athletic Con- half, but a surge of scoring from team?’ We chuckle a little bit at neers delivered one of Laurent Charpentier ’09, who ference (NEWMAC) Bartolotta and Johnson widened that, go out and play, then come the most commanding won the 200 free earlier in the meet, championship in over the gap, allowing the Engineers to back and finish our p-sets.” victories in the history followed up that performance with a a century of MIT bas- finish ahead by a comfortable mar- The team has had a long road to of the meet on Sun- convincing win and school record in ketball. This game gin. the championship, starting practic- day at Wheaton Col- the 100 free. Charpentier split 45.16 capped a stellar season in which Johnson recalled his feelings es soon after the completion of the lege’s Balfour Auditorium. Scoring and nearly missed on an NCAA “A” the team, led by senior tri-captains going into the game: “We knew 2007-2008 season, and continuing 1,030 points to outpace the runner- cut, while the ferocious swim set a James M. “Jimmy” Bartolotta ’09, what was at stake … over a cen- to practice together throughout up, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, by NEWMAC championship record. Willard J. “Billy” Johnson ’09 and tury of history was riding on these the summer. Even the squad’s in- nearly 300 points, MIT secured its MIT authored two other strong per- Bradley H. Gampel ’09, cultivated next 40 minutes of basketball. But coming freshmen members were first NEWMAC title since 2003 and formances in the championship final, a 20-8 record (8-4 NEWMAC) we also knew that we had to treat it present for summer practices. In fourth overall. Following the compe- with Luke R. Cummings ’10 notch- and broke Institute records for as just another game, another op- addition to the almost daily work- tition, Rastislav Racz ’10 was named ing an NCAA “B” with a fourth- single-game points, career points, ponent, and another chance to just outs and lifting sessions, the play- NEWMAC Swimmer of the Year, place finish of 45.70, and Peter J. single-season assists, single-game leave everything on the floor.” ers’ summer schedules included while Timothy J. Stumbaugh ’12 Wellings ’09 closing sixth in 46.67. and single-season steals, and three- The Engineers were recognized competition in a Summer League earned Rookie of the Year honors. Cummings’ time also bested the pre- point shots. The conference cham- for their accomplishments in the against other college teams as well Sophomore Michael J. Dobson vious Institute record, while the En- pionship earns the Engineers’ their NEWMAC Postseason Awards. as former professional or Division ’11 sparked the last night of finals gineers tacked on additional points first-ever spot in the National Colle- Bartolotta, Gampel, and Johnson I and II college players. with his second individual win of the in the event as Jeffrey Y. Zhou ’10 giate Athletic Association (NCAA) all received all-conference selec- The team was guided through- weekend. Leading from the opening and Andrew W. Pierson ’12 finished Division III Tournament. tions. Bartolotta, who was recently out by Anderson; Assistant Coach- gun, Dobson split 15:53.15 to secure 1-2 in the consolation final. Sunday’s championship game named ESPN the Magazine Aca- es Kevin Byrne, Paul Grant, and NCAA “B” cuts and NEWMAC Another narrow miss on an saw the Engineers performing demic All-America of the Year, was Brian Phillips; Director of Basket- First Team All-Conference honors, NCAA “A” cut did little to dampen characteristically well. Bartolotta also named NEWMAC Player of ball Operations Gunner Hagstrom; while finishing 43 seconds ahead of MIT’s commanding performance in scored 37 points, just six points shy the Year. In addition, MIT head and Leadership/Alumni Relations second place. Udit Garg ’09 finished the 200 breast. Racz set a NEWMAC of the Institute record of 43 points coach Larry Anderson was named Coach Indran Ratnathicam ’98. third overall, while Zachary C. Cord- championship record and pool re- he set in November against Curry Coach of the Year, an honor he also Looking back on the team’s sea- ero ’10 and Eric J. Roselli ’11 placed cord while cruising to a sweep of the College. Gampel made three steals, received after the 2005-2006 sea- son, Gampel commented, “I’ve just seventh and eighth, respectively, as breast stroke events in 2:03.77. A pair extending his Institute record for son. never been on a team that cares so MIT dominated the event. of freshmen finished third and fourth single-season steals. Gampel’s Their successes have come In the 200 back, Stumbaugh eight steals against the U.S. Coast despite the fact that MIT has the Men’s Basketball, Page 15 earned another NCAA “B” cut for Men’s Swimming, Page 15

MIT Receives USTFCCCA Accolades Women’s Tennis Overcomes Bates 7-2 After Record-Breaking Match Was Attended by the Team’s Adopted Teammate from Friends of Jaclyn. By Jennifer Rees was off next, losing a long three-set Jenny C. Dohlman ’11 served up a Cross Country Campaign Team Member match 6-2, 0-6, 4-6. The overall score winning exhibition match 8-4. In the The MIT men’s and women’s cross country teams were honored This past Saturday, the MIT wom- was now MIT 5, Bates 2. McCree closing statements, Assistant Coach by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches As- en’s tennis team defeated Bates Col- played an intense match after Diskin Dan Griffin said, “It’s good that the sociation (USTFCCCA), as both teams received the USTFCCCA’s lege 7-2 in their opening match of the with long rallies. She pulled out the team is already playing with confi- All-Academic Team award. In addition, a num- Spring Season. Adding match 6-3, 6-2. Next to finish was dence this early in the season.” ber of student-athletes received individual ac- to the excitement was Pikhart, who won six straight games As a result of the win, Head Sports colades. the fact that this was the in the second set to win 6-3, 6-1. This Coach Carol Matsuzaki now holds After finishing an astounding 10th overall first match attended by left MIT with a 7-2 victory. the record for tennis coach with the Shorts in its first appearance at the NCAA National Caroline Hamilton — In the exhibition matches Kerry most career wins in the history of Championship, the women’s cross country the adopted teammate R. Weinberg ’10 lost 7-9, even with MIT women’s tennis, with a total of team earned the All-Academic Team award with a combined GPA of from Friends of Jacyln, her impressive lob winners. Finally, 128. 3.44. Jennifer A. Doyle ’09, Maria J. Monks ’10 and Jacqueline M. which matches children with brain Wentz ’10 were also named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team. tumors with college and high school Wentz, the 2008 NEWMAC Runner of the Year, led the Engineers at athletic teams. The team’s confidence the National Championship, finishing 54th overall, the highest finish after the first match, Caroline, and Up c o m i n g Ho m e Ev e n t s by an MIT runner at the event in 10 years. fan support gave them a good start. On the men’s side, MIT garnered All-Academic Team honors First up were the doubles match- Friday, March 6, 2009 with a 3.44 team GPA, after ending the season with an eighth-place es. The number one team of Leslie Men’s Tennis vs. Bates College 4 p.m., J.B. Carr Tennis Bubble finish at the Division III New England Championship. Hemagiri A. Hansen ’10 and Anastasia Vish- Arumugam ’10, Jeremiah R. “Yermie” Cohen ’09 and Jake J. Ru- nevetsky ’12 defeated their oppo- Saturday, March 7, 2009 zevick ’09 were also named to the All-Academic team individu- nents with a decisive 8-1 win. They Women’s Lacrosse vs. Endicott College 11 a.m., Jack Barry Field ally. were closely followed in victory by Men’s Lacrosse vs. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth —Greg McKeever, DAPER Staff the number three team of Anisa K. 2 p.m., Jack Barry Field McCree ’10 and Melissa A. Diskin Men’s Volleyball MIT Invitational 4:30 p.m., Rockwell Cage ’11 who defeated their opponents No. 13 Endicott Defeats Men’s 8-2. This gave MIT a 2-0 lead over Sunday, March 8, 2009 Bates. Women’s Fencing NCAA Northeast Regional Volleyball Next to finish was the exhibition 8:30 a.m., duPont Athletic Center The MIT men’s volleyball team saw its 11-match winning streak team of Alexandria C. Hall ’12 and Men’s Fencing NCAA Northeast Regional come to an end following a 30-22, 30-26, 30-24 loss to nationally- Jennifer A. Rees ’11, who defeated 9 a.m., duPont Athletic Center ranked No. 13 Endicott College on Tuesday. Michael Demyttenaere their opponents 8-2 as well. This Men’s Volleyball MIT Invitational 10:30 a.m., Rockwell Cage ’10 paced the Engineers with 17 kills, a .536 hitting percentage, four left the number three team Karina aces, and three blocks. T. Scott Pollom ’09 notched five blocks as Gar- N. Pikhart ’09 and Yi Wang ’09. The rett L. Winther ’11 recorded eight kills. Eugene Jang ’09 anchored the match was close and many points defense with six digs while Caine L. Jette ’10 picked up six assists and found all four players at the net, but two blocks in one game. Timothy R. Lee ’11 finished with 22 assists in the end Pikhart and Wang lost 4-8 and four digs. to Bates. This had MIT in the lead Sc o r e b o a r d The opening set was a back-and-forth affair as it featured nine 2-1 going into the singles matches. ties. With the score knotted at 12, Endicott called a timeout and then All the while, Caroline’s cheering Women’s Gymnastics picked up back-to-back points following the break. MIT cut its deficit could be heard by the team, encour- in half (16-15) before the Gulls scored three in a row. The Engineers aging them to play well. Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009 narrowed the gap to two (22-20), but Endicott notched five straight The singles matches followed. SUNY Brockport 187.600 points to take control of the game. Hansen and Vishnevetsky, one and MIT 182.150 Endicott raced out to a 17-4 advantage in the second set. The En- two respectively, were the first two gineers narrowed the lead to two (23-21) and each side exchanged matches to finish. Vishnevetsky start- points until the Gulls posted two in a row to double their margin (29- ed off her match on the offensive, at- Men’s Volleyball 25). A strike by Demyttenaere extended the set, but a serving miscue tacking the net in the first game. She ended hopes of a comeback. won her match 6-1, 6-2. Hansen’s Tuesday, March 3, 2009 In the final set, both squads traded points until midway through match was tough, but she finished it Endicott College (18-7) 3 the game. With the score knotted at 14, Endicott mounted a 6-1 run. off with a running crosscourt fore- MIT (16-10) 0 Following its own timeout, MIT registered a 4-2 spurt which narrowed hand winner to take the match 6-3, the gap to three (22-19). Both teams alternated scoring, maintaining 6-4. This gave MIT a 4-1 lead over Thursday, March 5, 2009 the small margin before the Gulls secured six of the last nine points Bates. Newbury College (17-6) 1 to seal the match. Wang followed and won the final MIT (17-10) 3 —Mindy Brauer, DAPER Staff point in her match with a forehand passing shot down the line. Diskin