Volume 133, Number 23 Friday, May 3, 2013
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Established 1881 WEATHER, p. 2 MIT’s Oldest and Fri: 58°F | 44°F Largest Newspaper Sunny SAT: 62°F | 42°F Sunny tech.mit.edu SUN: 65°F | 45°F Sunny Established 1881 Volume 133, Number 23 Friday, May 3, 2013 ‘Old’ ASA requirement The Class of 2015 receives their Brass Rats at Fenway leaves some unsettled Some student groups concerned over wording of governance clause By Kath Xu Some Establishedgroups unsettled by ASA 1881 STAFF REPORTER governance clause The Tech Model Railroad Club In early spring, the Association of Stu- (TMRC), an ASA-recognized group, cur- dent Activities (ASA) emailed to all ASA- rently does not have the clause in its con- recognized student groups requiring that stitution. It was founded in 1948, making the information in their ASA database it one of the oldest student organizations entry to be up-to-date and compliant on campus, possibly predating the ASA. with the ASA’s rules and regulations. One (The earliest mention of the Association of the requirements was that group con- of Student Activities in The Tech was in stitutions include the ASA Governance 1963, although previously there existed Clause — any group missing the clause an Activities Council.) The Tech, founded from its constitution received a notifica- in 1881, predates the ASA. tion of such, requiring that the clause be “We think that the ASA’s governance added in order for the ASA to approve clause seems overly broad, and we are the constitution. (TheT ech, as it is cur- unclear what the implications of adopt- rently an ASA-recognized group without ing it are,” said Rebecca Perry, TMRC’s the governance clause, also received this governor,Established speaking on behalf of the 1881 club. request.) The clause as a requirement for “As requested by the ASA, we are in the ASA-recognized groups has existed for process of voting on the adoption of a several years, according to ASA president governance clause, according to the pro- TAMI FORRESTER—THE TECH Rachel H. Keeler ’14, but has not been cedures specified in TMRC’s constitution The Class of 2015 gathered at Fenway Park Thursday evening for Ring Delivery, the much- uniformly enforced. … the ASA has been asking us to acceler- anticipated event where Institute sophomores receive their Brass Rats. In light of this, some groups have ate this process, but to do so violates our questioned whether the clause grants too constitution.” broad a power to the ASA. The governance clause provides the ASA too much power, agreed Alexander The ASA Governance Clause Chernyakhovsky ’13, the chair of MIT’s The clause reads: “The [activity name] Student Information Processing Board Three suspicious packages found on campus this week agrees to abide by the rules and regula- (SIPB). SIPB was approved by the ASA tions of the Association of Student Ac- and founded in 1969. Feel like MIT’s been popping up on your a food worker who was going to change for work tivities, and its executive board. This “The ASA Governance Clause gives phone a lot these days? The past week has seen left his backpack in the bushes when he went into constitution, amendments to it, and the ASA overly broad authority over stu- three more reports of suspicious packages the building to change. Someone saw him leave the by-laws of this organization shall be dent groups, and allows it to overstep the around campus — at Kendall Square and build- it, and reported it to police. He returned to find subject to review by the ASA Executive boundsEstablished of its mission,” said Chernyak 1881- ings 54 and E52 — causing police to issue mes- his bag swarmed by police. The MIT alert was re- Board to ensure that they are in accor- hovsky. “However, when speaking with sages to students through MIT Alert and evacu- leased at 11:41 a.m., and the all clear at 11:59 p.m. dance with the aforementioned rules ASA representatives, I was informed that ating buildings. All three alerts were cleared Shortly before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the sec- and regulations.” the ASA does not see the Governance within an hour. ond floor of the Green Building was evacuated According to its website, the ASA Clause as giving the ASA any power, but The first alert of a suspicious package came after a report of a suspicious package in the stair- “oversees student group activity and is that it is merely recognition of the stu- on April 29, when an unattended backpack was well; the all clear was given at approximately 1:38 the governing body of student groups on dent group that the ASA has power over spotted near the Chipotle in Kendall Square. p.m. the MIT campus.” Being ASA-recognized them. That is to say, the ASA believes that Subway service to the Kendall T stop was sus- There have now been a total of six suspicious comes with many resources and privi- they already have all of the powers.” pended as the police investigated the package. packages reported on MIT campus since the Bos- leges, including office space, a spot at He continued, “Ideally, I think the An alert was sent to the community at 12:42 ton Marathon bombings two weeks ago. The first the Activities Midway, and bulletin board ASA Governance Clause should not be p.m., and an all clear was issued at 1:14 p.m. The three were reported within the first few days after space in the Infinite Corridor. As stated required in all groups’ constitutions; backpack had just been abandoned by a stu- the bombing. in its operating guidelines, the ASA can some groups are ‘special,’ and have obli- dent, who later received his bag in shreds. Students who see anything suspicious are en- derecognize groups either by a two- gations and oversight that are incompat- Two suspicious packages were reported on couraged to call the MIT police at 617-253-1212 or thirds vote at a General Body meeting or ible with the ASA.” May 1, the first near E52 and the second in build- to dial 100 from any campus telephone. if the Executive Board deems that a group ing 54. The package at E52 was also a backpack — —Jessica J. Pourian is not meeting “its responsibilities.” ASA, Page 12 IN Short Summer and Fall Pre-registration is now Amherst College faculty vote against joining edX open! If you’re a continuing student, remem- On April 16, 2013, Amherst College fac- the college’s interests. MOOCs from edX stemmed from a pres- ber to start the process by May 31 or face a ulty voted 70-36 against a motion to join At the end of the meeting, the faculty sure to cut costs and would compromise $50 fine. the edX consortium. The college would voted to approve a second motion that the universities’ quality of education. “We have been the second liberal arts college would explore alternatives to edX. The believe that having a scholar teach and If you borrowed art through the List Visu- to join edX, after Wellesley College. motion claimed that Amherst’s mission engage with his or her own students is far al Arts Center Student Loan Art Program, According to the Amherst Student, de- is “best served by having the College it- superior to having those students watch a you must return it the week of May 13. Art- bate at the deciding faculty meeting cen- self, rather than an outside organization video of another scholar engaging his or work can be returned May 13–15 and May 17 tered around the suitability of the edX that offers so-called massive open online her students,” they wrote. from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Artwork can also platform and massive open online courses courses, develop and offer these online In response, San José provost and vice be returned 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 16. Be (MOOCs) to Amherst’s educational mis- courses and course materials.” president for academic affairs Ellen Juan sure not to return the artwork in wet weather sion. Proponents of the motion argued Amherst is not the only college with stated that despite the university’s edX to avoid moisture damage! that the edX technology would make it faculty to come out against edX. Yesterday, pilot program, faculty members will have easier for Amherst to offer online courses professors in the philosophy department sole responsibility in determining “how The City of Cambridge can help you re- and help Amherst gain experience with at San José State University issued a pub- much, or how little, of the edX course cycle furniture you can’t take with you if MOOCs, while others cited a lack of confi- lic statement about their refusal to use the materials they will incorporate into their you’re moving out! Visit CambridgeMA. dence in the edX platform for this purpose. popular edX course JusticeX in their de- blended courses,” in a statement to the gov/Furniture for more details and pick-up One key point of contention was edX’s re- partment. In a letter to Harvard Professor Chronicle of Higher Education. instructions. quirement that Amherst offer certificates Michael Sandel, who teaches JusticeX, the This week, edX also released 8.MReV: of completion for courses offered more professors argued that the California State Send news information and tips to news@ than once, which many viewed as against University system’s contract to license EdX, Page 11 tech.mit.edu. DorMcon PLAYS how MoraL PEOPLE Differ MUD: BeaUtifUL BerKLee’S HAIR SECTIONS World & Nation .