Volume 127, Number 14

Happy Spring Break!

The Weather MIT’s Today: Mostly sunny, 54°F (12°C) Tonight: Clear and calm, 32°F (0°C) Oldest and Largest Tomorrow: Sunny, but cool, Newspaper 45°F (7°C) Details, Page 2

Volume 127, Number 14 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Friday, March 23, 2007 Holmes/Wyne Elected UAP/VP in Landslide Twelve Undergraduate Voter Turnout Up 11 Percent From Last Year’s UA Spring Elections By Mei-Hsin Cheng Percent STAFF REPORTER With voter turnout up 11 percent, Martin F. Holmes ’08 and Ali Admitted S. Wyne ’08 won the Undergraduate Association elections for president and vice president in a landslide victory. To Class Holmes and Wyne captured 1,019 out of a total 1,847 votes (55 percent). Holmes and Wyne will re- Of 2011 place UA P/VP Andrew T. Lukmann ’07 and Ruth F. Miller ’07. By Marissa Vogt Amidst the controversy of the STAFF REPORTER 2008 Class Council race, Phi T. The size of the freshman class Ho ’08 and Rajat Bhalla ’08 were will increase next year, which is ad- elected president and vice president, mittedly good news for the 12,443 respectively. Vivian Tang ’09 and applicants to the Class of 2011. Deepa Mokshagundam ’09 won the Nearly 60 more students were admit- 2009 Class Council presidential and ted this year, but because the num- vice presidential elections, although ber of applicants also increased, the their running mates were not elected. Arthur Petron—The TEch acceptance rate fell to a record-low Jason A. Scott ’10 and Laura H. Han Undergraduate Association President-elect Martin F. Holmes ’08 and Vice President-elect Ali S. Wyne 12.3 percent for the Class of 2011. ’10 won the uncontested 2010 Class ’08 talk with Wendi Zhang ’08 on Thursday. The 1,533 admitted students span Council presidential and vice presi- he looks “forward to making a lot of ide by starting a Harvard Bridge Saf- companies to become more involved 50 states and 66 countries. Forty- dential elections. positive changes and protecting a lot eRide and expanding the size of the in the Career Fair, eventually result- eight percent of those admitted are A table of results, including vote of things in MIT that make it unique Cambridge West shuttles. ing in “greater funding opportuni- women and 24 percent are under- totals, is available on page 11. compared to other colleges,” includ- Holmes also described the imme- ties.” The Career Fair holiday is not represented minorities. Of students ing Residence Exploration and inde- diate goal of creating an Institute hol- likely to happen this coming year, ranked in their high schools, 49 Holmes, Wyne optimistic pendent dining options. iday for the Career Fair. Holmes said but “2008 has a good chance,” Hol- percent are valedictorians and 90 Holmes, who is the president of Wyne, vice chair of the UA Sen- that they want to make a Career Fair mes said. However, the Registrar’s percent are in the top five percent of the 2008 Class Council, said that he ate and a Tech opinion staff writer, holiday so that students have “more Office already has a schedule of key their class. and Wyne are “extremely excited” said that he and Holmes have estab- time to prepare” for the Career Fair. dates, including student holidays, Dean of Admissions Marilee and “extremely pleased with the lished their priorities for the next few Holmes said he hopes that MIT will Jones said that the target size for the election results.” Holmes said that months, including improving SafeR- benefit by encouraging students and Elections, Page 11 freshman class has increased from 1,005 to 1,020. The admissions office is anticipating a yield of 66.5 MIT Pistol Team Claims percent, which would be similar to last year’s yield, allowing them to admit 10 of the 500-600 students who have been placed on the waitlist. National Championship “It was very, very hard to select Engineers Beat Out Military Schools For Big Win such a small number of students in such a large and stellar applicant By Travis Johnson (6,372), Army (6,365), and Navy pool. It gets worse that way every Sports Editor (6,322). MIT’s top individual per- year as applications grow,” Jones Here’s something to brag about formers were co-captains Daipan wrote in an e-mail. over spring break: MIT students have Lee ’07, who placed third overall, better aim with a pistol than their and Diana Nee ‘07, who placed third Admit rate higher for women counterparts at among women. Though exact data for this year the Army, Navy, MIT students do so well in pis- are not currently available, Jones said Sports Coast Guard, tol because “they are focused, disci- that the ratio of male to female ap- and Merchant plined, detail-orientated, and excep- plicants and the relative acceptance Marine Academies. tionally competitive,” Head Coach rates for each group were about the The Engineers captured their of Pistol Will Hart Jr. said in an e- same as last year’s. Those numbers second national championship in mail. Nee concurred and said in an show that the acceptance rate for three years by beating the four e-mail, “We are used to exercising women was nearly 26 percent for aforementioned academies, one concentrated focus and self-disci- women and 10 percent for men. The other military school, and four ci- pline, which are both really impor- acceptance rate for all applicants was vilian schools in a three-day compe- tant qualities to be a good shooter.” 13 percent, with the number of male tition held last week at West Point Teamwork is another of the Engi- applicants nearly tripling the number and sponsored by the National Rifle neers’ advantages. “The MIT pistol of female applicants. Data from the Association. team is always, by far, the most tight- classes of 2008 and 2009 showed The final scores in the open di- ly-knit team at nationals,” Nee said similar trends, and can be found in vision, which includes both male and female competitors, was MIT Pistol, Page 13 Admissions, Page 11 Cal State Faculty Could Soon Go on Strike By Lisa Munoz An arbitrator will continue work- The faculty walkout would be The New York Times ing with administration officials and the largest in the history of Ameri- LOS ANGELES the California Faculty Association, can higher education, although the Faculty members of California the union representing some 24,000 union says it would be a rolling State University, the nation’s largest Cal State instructors, to end the strike — that is, it would begin on four-year university system, over- deadlock, which centers on sala- one of the system’s 23 campuses Omari Stephens—The Tech whelmingly authorized a strike on ries. But if meetings over a 10-day and last there for two days, then Cai P. GoGwilt ’10 plucks the strings of his cello during the Wednesday after nearly two years in “quiet period” now break down, a move on to another campus for intermission of the MIT Symphony Orchestra’s concert last Fri- which they and the administration strike could begin as early as next two days, and so on. In this way, day, March 16. See more photos and a review on page 8. failed to negotiate a contract succeed- month, said the union’s president, ing one that expired in July 2005. John Travis. Cal State, Page 12

Because of the Spring News In Short World & Nation �� 2 Break holiday, The NY sues loan company ¶ TimesSelect, the restricted online 2005. TimesSelect includes pieces Opinion �� 4 content of The New York Times, is now from columnists like David Brooks, Tech will not publish Page 11 Comics / Fun Pages �� 6 free to students and faculty with .edu Maureen Dowd, Thomas Friedman, next week. Regular Moscow university e-mail addresses. Sign up on http:// Bob Herbert, Nicholas Kristof, Paul Arts �� 8 www.nytimes.com/. This service al- Krugman, and Frank Rich. publication will resume investigates complaints Sports �� 16 lows access to content from the Opin- April 3. Page 11 ion section. It has been restricted to Send news information and tips to paying subscribers since September [email protected]. Page The Tech March 23, 2007 World & Nation U.S. and South Korea Remain More U.S. Soldiers Deserted Apart on Trade Negotiations By Choe Sang-Hun The New York Times SEOUL, South Korea Than Was Earlier Reported Trade negotiations between the United States and South Korea have failed to narrow gaps on issues like agriculture, automobiles and tex- By Paul Von Zielbauer to the toll of wartime deployments “It is just unbelievable to the tiles, leaving them for next week, negotiators said Thursday. The New York Times and point to the increasing percent- GAO to hear that the Army does not “There have been some gains made in the four days of talks,” Min A total of 3,196 active-duty sol- age of troops who are on their sec- know what that number is,” he said Dong-seok, the assistant agriculture minister, said after his meeting diers deserted the Army last year, or ond or third tours in Iraq or Afghani- in an interview Thursday. with Ambassador Richard Crowder, the chief American agricultural 853 more than previously reported, stan. Noting that the problem with the negotiator. “Those that have not been resolved will be referred to a according to revised figures from the An Army spokeswoman, Maj. desertion numbers comes at a time ministerial-level meeting next week.” Army. Anne Edgecomb, gave different when the service cannot find enough The lack of agreement delayed a free-trade deal that the Bush ad- The new calculations by the Army reasons. Most soldiers desert be- recruits to fill certain crucial special- ministration has called the most ambitious since the North American significantly alter the annual deser- cause of personal, family, or finan- ties, like medical experts and bomb Free Trade Agreement of 1994 and a possible model for other deals it tion totals since fiscal year 2000. In cial problems, she said, adding, “We defusers, Stewart said, “In the con- seeks in Asia. 2005, for example, the Army now don’t have any facts to indicate that text of their current recruiting prob- A deal with South Korea, experts say, would not only add billions says that 2,543 soldiers deserted, not soldiers who desert now are doing so lems for certain occupations, these of dollars a year to bilateral trade but also help two allies strengthen a the 2,011 it had reported. For some for reasons different from why sol- desertion numbers are huge.” recently strained security relationship. earlier years, the desertion numbers diers deserted in the past.” The Army’s new figures also were revised downward. National Lt. Col. Brian C. Hilferty, an show a faster acceleration in the Public Radio first reported on Tues- Army spokesman, said the desertion rate of desertions over the previous Democrats See Growing Support day that the Army had been inaccu- data errors were caused by confu- two fiscal years than the Army had rately reporting desertion figures. sion among employees who tally disclosed. In 2006, for instance, de- For Bill Setting Iraq Deadline A soldier is considered a deserter them. “They were counting things sertions rose by 27 percent, not 17 By Jeff Zeleny if he leaves his post without permis- wrong, and doing it inconsistently,” percent, as the Army previously said, and Robin Toner sion, quits his unit or fails to report Hilferty said in an interview. an Army spokesman said. The New York Times WASHINGTON for duty with the intent of staying He added, “We are looking at the The Army’s revised figures show For days, Democratic leaders have scrambled to shore up enough away permanently. Soldiers who are rise in desertions, but the numbers 2,543 desertions in the fiscal year support to pass their Iraq legislation. They delayed the final vote by a absent without leave — or AWOL, remain below pre-war levels and re- 2005, an 8 percent increase from the day, fearful that a few undecided lawmakers — on the left and right a designation that assumes a soldier tention remains high, so the force is 2,357 the year before. Previously, — could jeopardize their plan to set a timeline to bring troops home still intends to return to duty — au- healthy.” the service said 2005 desertions from Iraq by Sept. 1, 2008. tomatically are classified deserters The Army’s failure to count its had dropped by 17 percent, to 2,011 But when the House opened its war debate on Thursday, the loudest and are dropped from a unit’s rolls deserters accurately is inexcusable, from 2,432. opposition was beginning to fade, particularly from liberals who had if they remain away for more than said Derek B. Stewart, the director But from fiscal year2 000 through argued that the proposal would not end the war fast enough. Leaders of 30 days. for Defense Department personnel 2003, there were hundreds fewer de- the Out of Iraq Caucus gave their blessing to a handful of Democrats Some Army officers link the re- issues for the Government Account- sertions than the Army had previ- to change their votes, saying it was not in their interest to impede the cent uptick in annual desertion rates ability Office. ously reported. measure, which is scheduled to come to a vote on Friday. On both sides of the Capitol on Thursday, Democrats considered emergency war spending proposals, which they are trying to use as vehicles to change course in the four-year-old war. The Senate Ap- British Police Arrest Three in propriations Committee adopted a nonbinding goal of removing troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008, setting the stage for a vote by the full Senate as soon as next week. Connection With ’05 Bombings By Alan Cowell police routinely do not release names minded the July 2005 attack probably Chief Says FCC is Against Cell The New York Times of suspects until charges are filed. still remained a puzzle for the British LONDON The arrests in the case, Britain’s authorities. Phone Use on Airliners The British counterterrorism po- worst peacetime attack, were present- He said that the ages of the three By Matthew L. Wald lice seized three men on Thursday ed by the police as evidence of their men arrested on Thursday indicated The New York Times WASHINGTON for offenses related to the bombings efforts since the attacks to establish that they were probably not the major The Federal Communications Commission will give up on the idea in the London transit system on July whether the bombers, who exploded planners, but instead “co-conspira- of allowing cell phone use on airplanes, the chairman said on Thurs- 7, 2005, in which four suicide bomb- backpack bombs on three subway tors,” perhaps on the periphery of the day, because it is not clear whether the network on the ground can ers killed themselves and 52 passen- cars and a double-decker bus, had ac- plot. handle the calls. gers. complices or worked for some shad- He said he concluded from fol- While the chairman, Kevin J. Martin, cited a technical reason, thou- The arrests were the first in Brit- owy mastermind. The announcement lowing the case that “the security ser- sands of air passengers have written to the FCC, urging rejection of ain in connection with the attack and renewed speculation about whether vices have always believed there were the proposal because of the potential for irritating passengers in air- rekindled speculation about whether the bombers could have acted alone. more involved than the four suicide liner cabins. The Federal Aviation Administration had been laying the the plot had extended beyond the four An Egyptian chemist who had bombers,” and added: “But they’ve groundwork to allow in-flight cell phone use. bombers. known one of the bombers in Eng- never caught the mystery men, the Both agencies would have had to approve before the phones could Two of the men, ages 23 and 30, land was held for several weeks in men who recruited them, provided be legally used on board. were arrested around 1 p.m. at the Egypt not long after the bombings as the money, the technical assistance. The problem cited by Martin did not have to do with flight safety airport in Manchester, in northwest- a suspect in the case but was eventu- They’ve always hit a brick wall on or the mood in the cabin, but a problem raised by the cell phone indus- ern England, as they were preparing ally released. that.” try. The system is designed for phones to communicate with a single to board a flight to Pakistan. A third M.J. Gohal, a security analyst in The police moved in on Thursday cell tower at a time. But a cell phone that is several miles in the air man, age 26, was arrested at a house London who is executive director of at a delicate time in an array of coun- can contact many towers at once, tying up circuits in all of them, the in Leeds three hours later, the police the Asia-Pacific Foundation and who terterrorism inquiries. Six men are industry argued. said. Several of the July 7 bombers has been following the case closely, currently on trial after failed bomb- had close links to Leeds. The British said that the issue of who master- ings in London on July 21, 2005. Weather Melting Away the Winter Situation for Noon Eastern Daylight Time, Friday, March 23, 2007 By Jon Moskaitis

130°WS 125°W 120°W 115°W 110°W 105°W 100°WW 95°W 90°W 85°W 80°W 75°W 70°W 65°W 60°W

Staff Meteorologist S

W S

S W 40°N

W S S

Fairly tranquil weather is in store for the first weekend of the spring season S W

W S

in Cambridge. We will be under the influence of a high pressure system today W S

W S

and tomorrow, keeping skies clear and temperatures seasonal. A developing S

low pressure system will skirt to our south on Saturday night and Sunday, S

1023 S

potentially close enough to give us some light snow or rain showers. However, S

S 35°N

it is most likely that we will just see an increase in cloud cover. S

Those traveling away from the Northeast today or this weekend may run W

into some stormy weather, depending on the destination. The cold front that 1020 S

W passed through the Northeast last night stalls today in the Ohio river valley

and Mid-Atlantic, serving as a focus for heavy rain there over the next few W 30°N W

W W days. Separate storm systems will bring precipitation to the Southwestern W states and to the Pacific Northwest. At least Florida and the adjacent Gulf 1011 and Atlantic coasts will stay dry and warm through the weekend, for those 1026 vacationing at these traditional spring break havens. 25°N Extended Forecast 1010 Today: Mostly sunny. High 54°F (12°C). Tonight: Clear and calm. Low 32°F (0°C). Tomorrow: Sunny, but cool. High 45°F (7°C). Tomorrow night: Increasing clouds, chance of light snow or rain showers. Low 32°F (0°C). Sunday: Mostly cloudy, slight chance of rain showers. High 46°F (8°C). Weather Systems Weather Fronts Precipitation Symbols Other Symbols Snow Rain Fog High Pressure Trough - - - Showers Thunderstorm

Q Q Q Q Warm Front Light Low Pressure Haze LLLLL Cold Front Moderate Compiled by MIT Hurricane Q Q Meteorology Staff L L Stationary Front Heavy and The Tech March 23, 2007 World & Nation The Tech Page

Pentagon Chief Gates Sought As 2008 Candidate, Giuliani Strikes a New Tone on Guns Early Guantanamo Shutdown By Richard Perez-Pena The New York Times By Thom Shanker backed by the office of Vice Presi- Even so, one senior administra- As mayor of New York City, Rudolph W. Giuliani became the favor- and David E. Sanger dent Dick Cheney, administration tion official who favors the closing ite Republican of gun control advocates. The New York Times officials said. of the facility said the battle may be He spoke in favor of a licensing system for gun owners that would WASHINGTON As Gates was making his case, renewed. “Let’s see what happens to require trigger locks and firearms training, and he lobbied Congress to In his first weeks as defense Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Gonzales,” said the senior adminis- outlaw most military-style assault weapons. He was the only Republi- secretary, Robert M. Gates repeat- joined him in urging that the deten- tration official, a reference to specu- can mayor to join a lawsuit by dozens of cities against the gun industry, edly argued that the detention facil- tion facility be closed, according lation that Gonzales will be forced to and he complained that Southern states had lax gun laws that fed the ity at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had to administration officials. But the step down, or at least is significantly illegal weapons trade in the Northeast. become so tainted abroad that legal high-level discussions about clos- weakened, because of the political “It was very important to have a visible Republican to make the case proceedings at Guantanamo would ing Guantanamo came to a halt after uproar over the firing of U.S. attor- that this wasn’t some liberal Democratic agenda,” said Paul Helmke, a be viewed as illegitimate, according Bush rejected the approach, although neys. “I suspect this one isn’t over former Republican mayor of Fort Wayne, Ind., and the president of the to senior administration officials. He officials at the National Security yet.” Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “I was at the signing ceremony told President Bush and others that Council, the Pentagon and the State Details of the internal discussions on the South Lawn of the White House when Bill Clinton signed the it should be shut down as quickly as Department continue to analyze op- on Guantanamo were described by se- crime bill with the assault weapons ban, and Giuliani had the most possible. tions for the detention of terrorist nior officials from three departments prominent seat in the front row.” Gates’ appeal was an effort to turn suspects. or agencies of the executive branch, But as a presidential candidate, Giuliani now talks very differently Bush’s publicly stated desire to close The base at Guantanamo holds including officials who support mov- about guns as he tries to allay the concerns of Republican primary vot- Guantanamo into a specific plan for about 385 prisoners, among them 14 ing rapidly to close Guantanamo and ers. He says he supports the right of individuals to bear arms, and that action, the officials said. In particular, senior leaders of al-Qaida, includ- those who do not. One official made states — and generally not the federal government — should decide Gates urged that trials of terror sus- ing Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who it clear that he was willing to discuss whether to put some limits on that right. He also spoke in favor of a pects be moved to the United States, were transferred to the facility last the internal deliberations in part be- federal appeals court ruling this month that struck down a District of both to make them more credible and year from secret prisons run by the cause of Gonzales’ current political Columbia law barring people from keeping handguns in their homes. because Guantanamo’s continued ex- CIA. weakness. The senior officials dis- istence hampered the broader war ef- Under the Pentagon’s current cussed the issue on ground rules of fort, administration officials said. plans, some of the prisoners, includ- anonymity because it entailed confi- News Corp. and NBC in Web Deal Gates’ arguments were rejected ing Mohammed, will face war crimes dential conversations. By Richard Siklos after Attorney General Alberto R. charges under military trials that The officials said Gates and The New York Times Gonzales and some other govern- could begin later this year. “The poli- Rice expressed their concerns about In a long-anticipated challenge to YouTube and other online video ment lawyers expressed strong ob- cy remains unchanged,” said Gordon Guantanamo in conversations with sites, two big media companies Thursday announced a new venture to jections to moving detainees to the D. Johndroe, a spokesman for the Na- Bush and others, including Gonzales, showcase their own programming across the Internet’s biggest Web United States, a stance that was tional Security Council. beginning in January and onward. sites, as well as a new jointly owned Web destination. The News Corp. and NBC Universal will distribute their latest video fare, like episodes of “24” and “The Office” on AOL,Y ahoo, MSN and MySpace, which together reach about 96 percent of the Internet’s Residents Hold Out as Egyptian audience in the United States. The content, which will appear in an embedded media player on these Web sites as well as on a new separate video site that News Corp. Govt. Evicts Hundreds of Peasants and NBC Universal will introduce, will be supported by advertising and free to viewers. By Michael Slackman until it finds terms that are accept- In Gurna — which sits on the Viewers will also be able to edit the content and post their own vid- The New York Times able, or at least accepted. tombs of the Nobles and between eos, a popular feature of other online video sites, as well as buy down- GURNA, Egypt Political analysts say the dy- the Valley of the Kings and the Val- loads of movies from the 20th Century Fox and Universal studios. The Egyptian authorities have namics here are similar to those all ley of the Queens with their tombs News Corp. and NBC Universal, like other media companies, have evicted hundreds of peasants from over Egypt as the government tries that date back some 3,500 years had complex and increasingly tense relationships with Google, which this village in southern Egypt be- to transform a centrally controlled — much of the familiar tableau of owns YouTube. The media companies’ copyrighted material, like tele- cause their mud brick houses, which economy. In recent months thou- tourist kitsch and village life has vision shows and music videos, show up on YouTube without the me- have sat atop some of the world’s sands of workers in bloated state- been razed into piles of mud brick dia companies’ permission. Viacom, which has held discussions to join most treasured and ancient tombs owned factories have staged wildcat rubble. the unnamed new venture but so far as not, is suing YouTube for $1 for centuries, were leaking sewage strikes, out of fear that privatization Egyptian officials say that in billion alleging copyright infringement. onto priceless antiquities. will take their jobs or demanding Gurna they will finish the task The families have been resettled pay raises. because science and decency are nearby in an Egyptian version of Since September there have on their side. They are preserving Citing Quran, German Judge Levittown with running water and been dozens of protests relating to priceless antiquities and moving telephones. But 80 families are economic demands. In each case, the villagers to a community with Defers Muslim Divorce Case holding out, saying they want more the government avoided the heavy- the running water that they lacked By Mark Landler from a government that has so far handed tactics it uses to silence po- in Gurna. They complain that the The New York Times FRANKFURT, Germany been reluctant to use brute force. litical opposition. holdouts are trying to extort the A German judge has stirred a storm of protest by citing the Quran The Gurna standoff near the “The state told its citizens to government. Under the plan, every in turning down a German Muslim’s request for a speedy divorce on famed Valley of the Kings illustrates expect everything from it,” said married man receives a two-bed- the ground that her husband beat her. the challenges facing an authoritar- Nawal Hassan, a sociologist who room house in what is known as In a ruling that underlines the tension between Muslim customs and ian government that for decades im- has worked closely with the people New Gurna. But the holdouts are European laws, the judge, Christa Datz-Winter, noted that the couple posed its will on the people keeping of Gurna for many years, referring pressing for one house for every came from a Moroccan cultural milieu, in which it is common for hus- them poor but fed, under-employed to promises of free education, low- son. bands to beat their wives. The Quran, she wrote in her decision, sanc- but employed, but now seeks to cost food, and guaranteed jobs. “The “Each family man is asking for tions such physical abuse. adjust the social contract without economy was centralized and activi- a house for himself, and for one News of the ruling brought swift and sharp condemnation from sparking widespread unrest. The ties were controlled, and it was the for his children,” said Sabry Abdel politicians, legal experts and Muslim leaders in Germany, many of government has again imposed a government which was providing Aziz, head of the Egyptian Antiqui- whom said they were confounded that a German judge would put sev- solution — one that will change the people with what they needed. You ties Sector. “We are not distribut- enth-century Islamic religious teaching ahead of German law in decid- way hundreds of families live — but can’t tell them now, ‘Keep that men- ing millions here. It is a problem of ing a case of domestic violence. is negotiating with those left behind tality and manage on your own.”’ greediness.” The court in Frankfurt abruptly removed Datz-Winter from the case on Wednesday, saying it could not justify her reasoning. The woman’s lawyer, Barbara Becker-Rojczyk, said she decided to publicize the rul- Edwards Says Presidential Bid ‘Goes ing, which was issued in January, after the court refused her request for a new judge. “It was terrible for my client,” Becker-Rojczyk said. “This man beat her seriously from the beginning of their marriage. After they On’ Despite His Wife’s Breast Cancer separated, he called her and threatened to kill her.” By John M. Broder and we have no intention of cowering finished second in the Iowa caucuses Muslim leaders agreed that Muslims living here must be judged by and Christine Hauser in the corner,” Edwards said. in 2004, making him an obvious con- the German legal code. But they were just as offended by what they The New York Times He said that after the news con- tender for the vice presidential nomi- characterized as the judge’s misinterpretation of a much-debated pas- CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ference they would leave together for nation with the eventual nominee, sage in the Quran governing relations between husbands and wives. John Edwards, the North Carolina New York and Boston, and then to Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. Democrat, said Thursday that his wife’s California on Friday. This year he has placed special cancer had returned, but that his bid for The announcement came a day af- emphasis on winning the Iowa con- In Baghdad, U.N. Chief Praises the presidency “goes on strongly.” ter Edwards canceled a campaign ap- test. He has visited the state 19 times “The campaign goes on, the cam- pearance in Iowa to rush home to join since early 2005 and has said that he Security as Shell Explodes paign goes on strongly,” he said, with his wife at a visit with doctors who are believes winning the caucuses is cru- By Kirk Semple his wife, Elizabeth, at his side. monitoring her treatment for breast cial to his chances of capturing the The New York Times BAGHDAD, Iraq Edwards said he learned earlier cancer. He attended a fund-raising nomination. A mortar shell fired into the heavily fortified Green Zone landed this week that the cancer had reap- picnic here Wednesday night. Edwards has staked out a position about 80 yards from the home of Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Mali- peared in his wife’s rib cage and that Mrs. Edwards received her original to the left of most of the other Demo- ki on Thursday while he and the U.N. secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, the couple recognized that it was no diagnosis of breast cancer at the end cratic contenders, invoking populist were holding a news conference to mark Ban’s first visit to Baghdad. longer curable, though it could be of the 2004 campaign, but deferred a language and imagery to appeal to Like most such attacks on the Green Zone, a favorite target for in- managed with treatment. public announcement until after the working class and middle class Dem- surgents with mortars and rockets, the bombing caused some structural Asked by a reporter whether recur- election results came in. Edwards has ocratic primary voters. damage but no casualties. Its greatest impact was felt in the symbolic rence of the cancer would cause him said he waited to announce a second He advocates an immediate with- realm. to suspend any campaign activities, bid for the presidency until he and drawal of 50,000 troops from Iraq and Seconds before the shell struck, Ban said he was considering ex- such as fundraising or travel, Edwards Mrs. Edwards’ doctors were confident virtually complete disengagement by panding the U.N. presence in Iraq because of an improvement in the said no. “We know from our previous about her recovery. the end of next year. He has proposed security situation. The deafening explosion seemed to unnerve the sec- experience that when this happens you Edwards is considered a top con- an ambitious and expensive plan for retary-general, who like almost everyone else in the room ducked his have a choice, you can go cower in the tender for the presidency. Although he universal health care. He would pay head as windows shattered outside and flecks of plaster drifted down corner and hide, or you can be tough tends to finish third in national polls for the $90 billion to $120 billion from the ceiling. Al-Maliki barely shifted. and go out there and stand up for what behind Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton health care plan by repealing the Bush- A bodyguard rushed up to al-Maliki and grabbed his arm in an you believe in,” he said. of New York and Barack Obama of Il- sponsored tax cuts for the wealthiest effort to lead him to another room, but the prime minister brushed “Both of us are committed to the linois, he is leading in some early polls Americans. This week, he announced him away, saying sharply, “It’s nothing.” When the bodyguard did not cause and we’re committed to chang- in Iowa, which holds the first nominat- a plan to combat global warming and relent, the prime minister turned to him and snapped, “Go!” ing this country that we love so much ing contests in the nation. Edwards reduce dependence on imported oil. Page The Tech March 23, 2007 Opinion

Chairman Michael McGraw-Herdeg ’08 Editor in Chief Marie Y. Thibault ’08 Business Manager Cokie Hu ’08 Managing Editor Austin Chu ’08 Executive Editor Rosa Cao G

News Staff Editors: Benjamin P. Gleitzman ’09, Kirtana Raja ’09, Angeline Wang ’09; Associate Editors: Valery K. Brobbey ’08, JiHye Kim ’10, Joyce Kwan ’10; Staff: Curt Fischer G, John A. Hawkinson ’98, Waseem S. Daher ’07, Ray C. He ’07, Kristina M. Holton ’07, Hanhan Wang ’07, Jiao Wang ’08, Daniela Cako ’09, Mei- Hsin Cheng ’09, Gabriel Fouasnon ’09, Hannah Hsieh ’09, Diana Jue ’09, Ji Qi ’09, Yinuo Qian ’09, Nick Semenkovich ’09, Yi Zhou ’09, Nick Bushak ’10, Swetha Kambhampati ’10, Apoorva Murarka ’10, Manisha Padi ’10, Joanne Y. Shih ’10; Meteorologists: Cegeon Chan G, Jon Moskaitis G, Michael J. Ring G, Roberto Rondanelli G, Scott Stransky G, Brian H. Tang G, Tim Whitcomb G, Angela Zalucha G.

Production Staff Editor: Jessica Witchley ’10; Staff: Emily Ko ’08, K. Nichole Treadway ’10.

Opinion Staff Editors: Barun Singh ECS ’06, Aditya Kohli ’09; Staff: Josh Levinger ’07, Justin Wong ’07, Ali S. Wyne ’08, Krishna Gupta ’09.

Sports Staff Editors: Travis Johnson ’08, Caroline Huang ’10; Associate Editor: Ryan Lanphere ’06; Staff: James Zorich ’08, Albert Ni ’09.

Arts Staff Editor: Jillian A. Berry ’08; Associate Editor: Sarah Dupuis ’10; Staff: Bogdan Fedeles G, Kapil Amarnath ’07, Tony Hwang ’07, Andrew Lee ’07, Alice MacDonald ’08, Tanya Goldhaber ’10, Tina Ro ’10.

Photography Staff Editors: Ricardo Ramirez ’09, Eric D. Schmiedl ’09; Associate Editor: Omari Stephens ’08; Staff: David Da He G, Stanley Hu ’00, Scott Johnston ’03, Yun Wu ’06, Gheorghe Chistol ’07, Fred Gay ’07, Grant Jordan ’07, Dmitry Kashlev ’07, Christine Moran ’07, Martin Segado ’07, Christina Kang ’08, Arthur Petron ’08, David Reshef ’08, David M. Templeton ’08, Jerzy Szablowski ’09, Daniel P. Beauboeuf ’10, Mindy Eng ’10, Catherine Huang ’10, Bea Jarrett ’10, Samuel E. Kronick ’10, Diane Rak ’10, Aaron Sampson ’10, Jongu Shin ’10, William Yee ’10.

Campus Life Staff Editor: Bill Andrews ’05; Staff: Bruce Wu G, Kailas Narendran ’01, Elizabeth Zakszewski ’06, Victor Cabral ’07, Ruth Miller ’07, Matt Zedler ’07; Cartoonists: Scott Burdick G, John David Payne G, Roberto Perez-Franco G, Emezie Okorafor ’03, Jia Lou ’07, Andrew Spann ’07, Ash Turza ’08, Danbee Kim ’09.

Business Staff Advertising Managers: Neeharika Bhartiya ’10, Ritu Tandon ’10; Operations Manager: Zachary Ozer ’07; Staff: Jeffrey Chang ’08, Tai Ho Kang ’08, Jennifer Chu ’10, Michael Kuo ’10, Heymian Wong ’10.

Technology Staff Director: Shreyes Seshasai ’08.

Editors at Large Contributing Editors: Tiffany Dohzen G, Brian Hemond G; Senior Editor: Satwiksai Seshasai G.

Advisory Board Paul E. Schindler, Jr. ’74, V. Michael Bove ’83, Barry Surman ’84, Robert E. Malchman The Tech reserves the right to edit or condense letters; shorter let- ’85, Deborah A. Levinson ’91, Jonathan E. Opinion Policy ters will be given higher priority. Once submitted, all letters become D. Richmond PhD ’91, Saul Blumenthal ’98, Editorials are the official opinion of The Tech. They are written property of The Tech, and will not be returned. The Tech makes no Frank Dabek ’00, Daniel Ryan Bersak ’02, Eric by the editorial board, which consists of Chairman Michael McGraw- commitment to publish all the letters received. J. Cholankeril ’02, Jordan Rubin ’02, Nathan Collins SM ’03, Keith J. Winstein ’03, Akshay Herdeg, Editor in Chief Marie Y. Thibault, Managing Editor Austin Guest columns are opinion articles submitted by members of the R. Patil ’04, Kelley Rivoire ’06, Beckett W Chu, Executive Editor Rosa Cao, and Opinion Editors Barun Singh MIT or local community and have the author’s name in italics. Col- Sterner ’06, Marissa Vogt ’06, B. D. Colen. and Aditya Kohli. umns without italics are written by Tech staff. Dissents are the opinions of signed members of the editorial Production Staff for This Issue board choosing to publish their disagreement with the editorial. Editor: Austin Chu ’08, Jessica Witchley ’10; Letters to the editor, columns, and editorial cartoons are writ- To Reach Us Staff: Nick Semenkovich ’09, Angeline Wang ten by individuals and represent the opinion of the author, not neces- The Tech’s telephone number is (617) 253-1541. E-mail is the ’09. sarily that of the newspaper. Electronic submissions are encouraged easiest way to reach any member of our staff. If you are unsure

The Tech (ISSN 0148-9607) is published on Tuesdays and Fridays during and should be sent to [email protected]. Hard copy submis- whom to contact, send mail to [email protected], and it will the academic year (except during MIT vacations), Wednesdays during Janu- sions should be addressed to The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, Cambridge, be directed to the appropriate person. You can reach the editor in ary, and monthly during the summer by The Tech, Room W20-483, 84 Mas- sachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Mass. 02139. Subscriptions are $45.00 per Mass. 02139-7029, or sent by interdepartmental mail to Room W20- chief by e-mailing [email protected]. Please send press releases, year (third class) and $105.00 (first class).P ostmaster: Please send all 483. All submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. two days before the date requests for coverage, and information about errors that call for address changes to our mailing address: The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, Cam- of publication. correction to [email protected]. Letters to the editor should bridge, Mass. 02139-7029. Telephone: Editorial: (617) 253-1541. Busi- ness: (617) 258-8324. Facsimile: (617) 258-8226. Advertising, subscription, Letters, columns, and cartoons must bear the authors’ signatures, be sent to [email protected]. The Tech can be found on the and typesetting rates available. Entire contents © 2007 The Tech. Printed on addresses, and phone numbers. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. World Wide Web at http://www-tech.mit.edu. recycled paper by Charles River Publishing. March 23, 2007 The Tech Page

Smile! Who knows what you’ll find peeking out from behind the door here in the southeast corner of the Student Center! Come meet our friendly staff every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday night during term and become a part of making the news happen. [email protected] W20-483 March 23, 2007

Page March 23, 2007 The Tech Page

Dilbert® by Scott Adams

Pseudoscience by David Klein-Marcuschamer

Instructions: Fill in the grid so 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 “Silas Marner” 2 Financially function 1 Reason by author rewarding 32 Stead deduction 46 Blackjack 3 Having pertinence 34 Slippery catches 7 Green beryls 49 Disengage 4 Mosque leader 36 Fires 15 Hired killers 51 Greek covered 5 Malicious 38 Contest at law 16 Northern Israeli walkway language 39 Untied 17 Having the power 52 Contemptible 6 Draw into 40 Coarse of flight persons contradiction undergarment 18 Former love 54 Indian instruments 7 Head-swelling fabrics 19 Ladylove 56 Ending of a belief experience 42 Scotland’s 21 Bone cavity 57 Spirit in “The 8 Feeling of emblem 22 E-mail punctuation Tempest” discomfort 43 Most trendy 23 Spanish capital 59 Artifice used to 9 Aged, old-style 44 Fly high 25 Seven days gain an advantage 10 Repeated rhythmic 46 Sacred beetle 26 Bahrain ruler 61 Compartment in a phrase 47 Dawn goddess Solution, page 12 28 Hangs in sleeping car 11 Sanction 48 Arrest record suspension 63 Abstruse 12 Tenants’ contracts 50 South African 30 Crafty 64 Advents 13 Maiden stockades 31 Alternative beau 65 Doorway header 14 Underhanded 53 Big rigs 33 Coined money 66 Nursery piece 20 Fusses 55 Mall or mine 35 Picturesque 67 Exceeds the limit 24 Orlop, for one preceder 37 Funeral tollings 27 “We the Living” 58 Son of Leah 41 Obituary page DOWN author 60 Skin problem listings 1 Room screens 29 Trigonometric 62 Soak up rays Crossword Puzzle Crossword Page The Tech March 23, 2007 Arts CONCERT REVIEW MITSO Performance Shines With Exuberance Elisabeth Hon Delights in Mozart’s Cantata By Bogdan Fedeles The piece requires only a small chamber though the first movement lacked some of the which suffused the audience with its seren- Staff Writer orchestra for accompaniment, comprised of liveliness and brilliance required by the con ity. The strings had their moment in “Ase’s MITSO Concert strings, oboes and horns. Although not in the brio marking. The other movements got more Death,” a movement for muted strings only, Friday, Mar. 16, 2007 spotlight, this reduced complement of MIT- exciting, notably the heartfelt melancholy of where they effectively conveyed the hero’s Kresge SO confidently supported the soloist, high- the Andante, the energy and good voicing in sorrow watching his mother on her deathbed. lighting Mozart’s inventive figurations. The the Scherzo (called here Menuetto) and the “Anitra’s Dance” featured the triangle, per- uring my time at MIT, I have learned violas introducing the slow movement theme wit of the finale. The overall performance was haps a little too abundantly, so that despite the that the best thing to do on a Friday were especially expressive. Also noteworthy enjoyable, but the occasional imperfection in good dance impetus, the movement came out night is to grab some friends and go was the presence of the organ as a continuo in synchronization prevented the music from less expressive than the other three. Finally, Dto a MITSO concert, which is possi- the recitatif section. Hearing the instrument reaching sustained expressivity. the famous troll chase from “In the Hall of ble about twice a term. When I got to Kresge adorning one of Kresge’s balconies come Grieg’s suite fared slightly better. Due to the Mountain King” was extremely entertain- last Friday, I was delighted to see a large audi- to life while Hon’s voice soared gracefully the popular nature of the tunes featured, MIT- ing and good humored. Although in MITSO’s ence that apparently felt the same way despite through the auditorium made for a mesmer- SO’s rendition of “Peer Gynt” was engaging, rendition, the trolls seemed to stumble occa- the surprisingly inclement weather. Under izing moment. despite very occasional intonation difficulties. sionally while chasing Peer Gynt, by the end, the baton of conductor Paul M. Biss, MITSO If you missed Friday’s concert, you will Again, the winds stood out with captivating the hero makes a successful escape and the again delivered an uplifting performance, have another chance to enjoy Hon’s vocal solos in the first movement, “Morning Mood,” piece ends with a fulfilling bang. featuring the all-time favorites Grieg’s “Peer mastery, at her Emerson recital, Friday April Gynt Suite” and Stravinsky’s “Firebird.” The 20, 5 p.m., in Killian Hall. program also included Beethoven’s “Sympho- Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite,” performed ny No. 1” and Mozart’s early masterpiece, the last, was also breathtaking. This time, the cantata “Exsultate, Jubilate”, with soprano music required a large orchestra, including Elisabeth Hon G, winner of the MITSO con- a great variety of percussion instruments. certo competition. MITSO tackled Stravinsky’s famous score The concert was enjoyable throughout, but with a youthful exuberance and energy, in several moments were outright impressive. the end delivering an engaging performance. Among these, the cantata was the highlight The slow sections in the piece were the most of the evening. Hon, a PhD student in electri- expressive, due in great part to excellent play- cal engineering, enthralled the audience with ing in the winds section. The extended wind her singing, showcasing not only a solid vo- solos, often on simple Russian folk tunes, cal technique, but also a uniquely sweet tim- went straight to audience’s heart. The faster bre. Her graceful, unassuming stage presence sections, although imbued with good energy, matched Mozart’s playful music, written when tended to get a little hectic, though never out the composer was only 16 years old. Also re- of control. Nevertheless, the most memorable markable was Hon’s expressivity, as she ef- section of the piece — the ending — was also fortlessly conveyed the central emotion in the the most exciting, being rendered with great piece, which is exultation in divine commu- enthusiasm and verve. nion, achieved through prayer and song. The first half of the concert featured Although an early composition, Mozart’s Beethoven’s “Symphony No.1” and Grieg’s “Exsultate Jubilate” is a notoriously difficult “Peer Gynt Suite No.1.” Although solidly piece. Hon delivered it with a dexterity that played, this half was clearly overshadowed by demonstrated rigorous musical and vocal the charm and ebullience of the second half. training, as well as ample performing experi- While Beethoven’s first symphony is often ence. All the challenging elements, including considered a lesser work, this performance trills, high notes and melismata (vocal runs) highlighted its intricacies and novel ideas. were rendered with utmost precision, to the The majestic character of the introduction great delight of the audience. and first theme were accurately conveyed, al-

Omari Stephens—The TEch Omari Stephens—The Tech The MIT Symphony Orchestra performed a concert this past Friday, March 16 featuring MITSO Conductor Paul M. Biss applauds the members of the orchestra during his sec- soprano soloist Elisabeth A. Hon G, winner of the 2007 MITSO Concerto Competition. ond curtain call at the end of the night. She is pictured singing during Wolfgang Amadé Mozart’s “Exsultate, Jubilate.”

Omari Stephens—The Tech Omari Stephens—The Tech Ina Zdorovetchi, a harpist from the New England Conservatory, plays Amy L. Norovich plays pizzicato during MITSO’s performance of “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” part of during MITSO’s final piece of the night, the 1919 version ofIgor Edvard Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Opus 46.” Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Suite.” March 23, 2007 Arts The Tech Page CD REVIEW ‘Neon Bible’ Catalogues Faith Unrewarded Arcade Fire’s Sophomore Release Unsettling and Unsettled By Andrew Lee off. Based on what I gather from Neon Bible, Ar- phors are less charming and frequently more rience of listening to it shouldn’t be missed by Staff Writer cade Fire’s latest album, the band has probably transparent than they were on Funeral, and the any Arcade Fire fan and also serves as a great Arcade Fire realized this. While the mentality of Funeral is tension-then-payoff mantra of the older material introduction to the band, but hearing it on this “Neon Bible” underpinned by a faith in the cinematically re- is frustratingly inverted this time around, with album so long after its initial release gives the Produced by Arcade Fire deeming nature of a life experience, Neon Bible “Intervention” the first of a litany of offenders. unshakeable impression of the song as a reprise. Merge Records concedes the truth that we spend our whole lives Not much on the record compares to the allure It compromises the album as a whole the same avoiding: some suffering is and always will be of that initial blast of pipe organ. It burns brightly way that the presence of a cover song would. Al- n the liner notes to the Arcade Fire’s debut with you, and if you manage to get a learning only long enough for the band’s acolytes to brief- though “No Cars Go” is admittedly improved in album, Funeral, there’s a remark on how the experience out of it, then good for you, but you ly warm their hands over before it flickers and this version, its inclusion is still a misguided act band was mindful of “the irony of their first can’t keep it away for long. dies. That “Intervention” can’t live up to the tran- of fan service. Ifull length recording bearing a name with The opening track of Neon Bible, “Black Mir- scendence it promises is a small complaint (it’s That Neon Bible encountered such troubles such closure.” It’s an aspect of the title not hard ror,” is both our bridge from the previous record still an album highlight), but some of the next is disappointing, but there will be few other al- to notice on your own, but I saw it as only being and also the album’s declaration of ideology. The tracks fall into a similar pattern of eager build-up bums released this year in the same league. The half the story behind the title and the album. familiar strokes are there: husband and wife team, with inexplicably arrested momentum. It’s as if redemption of Neon Bible comes in the unlikeli- When seeking “closure” — whether it’s for Win and Régine, quiver through string-punctuat- the band were forcing itself to assemble more so- est of places with the charging acoustic number the passing of a friend, relative or relationship ed drama, and then, as listeners have come to ex- phisticated song structures instead of letting the “(Antichrist Television Blues),” in which the — what are you really looking to put an end to? pect from their lyrics, unexpected French breaks songs write themselves. protagonist frantically spills out his fear of con- The end has already happened (at the moment forth! With the eponymous “miroir cassé” (bro- Of those songs, “The Well and the Light- tinuing with the ongoing tragedy of a life without of death, separation, or disappearance), and your ken mirror) in fragments, no one is left to turn to house” falls the most into the built-in groove it some kind of sign that his paranoia and piety will time since then is a lingering afterimage. It’s not for answers, either inwardly or externally. carves for itself. The brisk first half teases the lis- be part of some ultimate design by the end of his until there’s a burial — figurative or actual — that The grim realizations continue into the hym- tener into believing he’s found the centerpiece of life, or at least for his children. It is the soul of the fog clears and you can re-gather what’s left of nal “Intervention,” where the lyrics are as candid the album, deceptively including gems like “I’m Neon Bible laid out in all its honesty, and it lifts what you once were. The moment of closure is as anything we’ve seen from the band. “Working serving time all for a crime I did commit/ You the album’s second half from its mire. the beginning of the rest of your life. for a church while your family dies” is an exces- want the truth?/ You know I’d do it all again” over Voltaire’s ever-theorizing protagonist Candide To me, Arcade Fire’s Funeral was a veiled sively blunt line, but at least it gets the message a hyperventilating bass line. Régine’s cries of would rationalize such calamities and despair celebration of that fact. After a series of impos- across. Arcade Fire isn’t mourning a world of “what you fear/ what you fear” in the background as nothing more than “the shadows in a beauti- sibly maudlin verses, a track on Funeral like reason — the world has always been maliciously turn out to be a false climax, as the song wrench- ful picture” that are necessary for the existence “Crown of Love” culminates in an outburst of reasonable — instead, the just world that they ingly puts on the brakes and transforms into a of “the best of all possible worlds” in which all unbridled joy that is nothing short of revelatory. thought they had a grasp on (and faith in) pulled perplexing sort of waltz. At best, it’s a missed are privileged to live. I would disagree; after all, When singer Win Butler finally confesses “your a vanishing act on its own whim. Faith had its use opportunity. Realistically, it’s a mistake the band “those shadows … are horrible blemishes.” With name is the only word that I can say!” he liber- as a temporary salve, but now the band and its didn’t need to make, and it’s not the last one they Neon Bible, Arcade Fire reaches this less sunny ates his mind and body into an exultation that listeners get to watch as “the king’s taken back make on Neon Bible. conclusion as well. A sacred world exists solely, can only be achieved once all his inhibitions have the throne” and hear “the soldier groan all quiet Arcade Fire likely intended “No Cars Go” to if at all, within the buttresses of a cathedral, and been hurled aside. and alone,” recalling the existential horror of be the ultimate payoff of the album. As a stand- only as far as its organ can drone. Just look at the Unfortunately, to cling to a hopeless situ- World War I trench warfare — a chapter in our alone single, the track is magnificent — every- album cover: a Bible awkwardly splayed apart ation is just too … comfortable. Sometimes it history now cruelly resurrected. thing one could ask for from the band. Unfortu- tries vainly to radiate its pages’ divinity to the takes more courage than we have to cut ourselves Neon Bible turns out to be somewhat less sat- nately, this is actually a new performance of an rest of the world but its glow fails in the face of loose, when there are no guarantees that it’ll pay isfying a record than its predecessor. The meta- old song — one of their first, in fact. The expe- an impossible task.

CONCERT REVIEW The Shins Bring Boston to Its Knees Live Performance Brings Rawer Sound Alice Macdonald a chick rocking it out on guitar à la Jack. Some chestral.” Upon returning from the show, I gave maracas, and Mercer busted out a harmonica Staff Writer fans I talked to had some negative things to say Wincing the Night Away another listen and it during the encore. These guys are multi-talent- The Shins about the band such as, “They should never was way better than I remembered. Seeing the ed! My least favorite part of the night involved Orpheum Theatre play music again.” I though they were pretty band live completely changed my perspective an audience sing-along. You can imagine how Thursday, Mar. 15, 2007 hilarious with over-the-top stage mannerisms, on the music (deep, right?) Besides the new this went, (“called to see, if you’re back …”). and they exceeded my expectations for an songs, they played all their hits off of Chutes This might just be a pet peeve of mine, but resh off their new album release, Winc- opening act. Too Narrow, and Oh, Inverted World. They also when I pay to see a show, I would like to hear ing the Night Away, The Shins are in Next there was a brief pause to change played a couple covers (including “Someone I the band perform — not the vomit-scented girl the midst of a whirlwind tour, and last sets, and the empty seats filled. The Shins took Care About,” by The Modern Lovers) … which in a backless shirt next to me. F Thursday they graced Boston with their the stage and there was much rejoicing. They were okay, I guess. Looking around, I was reminded of how presence. I was lucky enough to witness this, played a lot of their new stuff, which rocks a The Shins play my kind of show. There much people love rock music. There was awk- and what follows is a (mostly) accurate rep- lot harder live than on the recording. In fact, are no costume changes, unnecessary sets, or ward dancing all around and the only person resentation of what went down. Interviewing The Shins rock a lot more in general on stage stupid jokes and anecdotes between numbers. who wasn’t feeling it was the eight-year-old fans leaving the venue, I gathered the follow- than on their recordings. This is likely because They just played the music without unneces- seated directly to my left, who seemed a little ing: the show was “fucking awesome,” “really their recordings involve a lot of ephemeral, sary embellishment or shenanigans. The result overwhelmed. Apparently, parents are a lot great,” and “smokin’.” sometimes psychedelic, sometimes electronic was that they played really well. They seemed cooler than when I was his age. It was a school It all started with the opening act, Viva moments. This is hard to do live. I consider to really care that the music sounded awesome. night, for crying out loud! Voce. I had never heard of them, but appar- them to be on the line between a sort of indie Frontman James Mercer even restarted a slow After this Boston stop, the Shins continue ently they are from Portland, Oregon, and have soft rock and pop music. I’ve heard their style number halfway through because something their tour, hitting up Canada, Europe, and Cali- matching haircuts. They were like an inverse called “orchestral pop,” but their live sound wasn’t right. I am now also in love with the guy fornia. If you missed them this time around, White Stripes with a man playing Meg’s role was much less pop-y than I remembered from who plays the keyboard, Martin Crandall. He tickets are on sale for Brussels, Belgium. May- on the drums (only a way better drummer), and listening to their CDs and certainly not “or- rocks. Crandall sometimes plays the bass or the be I will see you there.

MOVIE REVIEW hhh½ The Epitome of Epic ‘300’ a Mix of Violence, Gore, and Gratuitous Nudity By Kevin Wang perfect six-pack. angle which the first day of 8.01 could have with all unnecessary encumbrances such as “300” Based on a graphic novel of the same told you is impossible. The film also cleverly meaningful dialogue. Besides Leonidas, Gor- Directed by Zach Snyder name, the film describes one of the great- intersperses slow-motion sequences with real go, Theron and Xerxes, there are virtually no Written by Zach Snyder and Kurt Johnstad est moments in human history: the Battle of time action, giving a nice long view of every speaking parts, and I confess that I didn’t even Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, and Thermopylae. Ancient historians tell of a bat- gory impalement while skipping over the bor- catch the names of most of the other charac- Dominic West tle where a handful of Greeks, notably some ing parts, like jumping over Persian corpses. ters, although that might have been the awe- Rated R 300 Spartans, sacrificed themselves to delay Even more than the Mars landing or the inter- someness of the fight sequences blasting ex- Now Playing an army of hundreds of thousands of Persian net, 300 illustrates the true wonders of modern traneous details from my brain. Moreover, the invaders. 300 follows two main plot lines: one computing: showing exactly what a severed film is far from historically accurate — just in 00 is like watching low budget pornog- at Thermopylae, the other back in Sparta. The head looks like as it lofts through the air in case there was any doubt as to who the “good raphy: you know that it’s terrible and majority of the movie tracks the exploits of the slow motion. guys” are, the Persian army contains any num- generally degrading to the human race, warriors headed by King Leonidas as they bru- As an added bonus (and to use those de- ber of unrealistic baddies, such as a rhino and 3 but you can’t help loving it. A lot. tally attack their Persian enemies. The rest of lightful computer-enhanced graphics further), an executioner who looks like Jabba Chain- 300 is the most epic of rampages, featur- the film focuses on Leonidas’ wife Gorgo, as 300 features more unnecessary nudity than saw-Hands. While this detracts a bit from the ing more testosterone than the lovechild of a she struggles to convince the Spartan council I’ve seen since my last spring break. The Spar- film — the story was dramatic enough already Superbowl party and a WWE title match. It is (led by the corrupt politician Theron) to send tans, it seems, were big fans of Speedos. There — what good action movie couldn’t use an ar- kick-you-in-the-tonsils violent, blending the aid to her beleaguered husband. There’s noth- is nary a scene lacking in copious amounts of mor-plated rhino? brutal drama of Gladiator with all the vicious- ing like a little betrayal to make the good guys exposed flesh — it really does seem that you All in all, seeing 300 is a more than worth- ness of Quentin Tarantino’s films. Movie the- seem better, and 300 is no movie to miss an can’t spell “epic” without a “pec.” Just to break while investment of time. Everything about it aters showing it should be required to hand out opportunity to make the stakes even more ri- up the monotony of this nonstop Bowflex info- shrieks “epic.” The Spartans, vastly outnum- diapers when you buy your ticket. The oodles diculous. mercial, 300 mercifully includes a plethora of bered yet fighting for the right to freedom, de- of combat sequences leave absolutely nothing But these grand historical backdrops are topless women — indeed, no female character mocracy, puppy dogs, and candy-canes, defend to be desired: they are exciting, enthralling, and just icing on the cake to the amazing visu- with a speaking role goes fully clothed for the their homeland from evil invaders representing generally satisfy every repressed urge that we als that the film presents. Saying that 300 is duration of the film. tyranny and oppression. 300 is a reverse mirror have accumulated in a society that discourages “violent” is like saying Bambi is lame; sure it’s 300 does suffer from some flaws, however. that shows our modern society the things that poking holes in one another with sharp sticks. true, but it doesn’t even begin to scratch the A screenplay composed of 90 percent combat we lack: the courage to stand up for our ideals, 300 is nothing if not a reminder of simpler surface. The scenes and textures in 300 were and 9.9 percent gratuitous nudity doesn’t leave the strength to defend our families, and perfect times, when men and women stood, fought, digitally enhanced, so one gets a great glimpse much room for character development, and bodies to bare at every possible moment. Go and died for their beliefs, and everybody had a of every dismembered limb as it flies off at an like a streamlined stealth fighter,300 dispenses see it. Page 10 The Tech March 23, 2007

Not Ulysses Grant Not Hugh Grant

It’s Council for the Arts grant!

Application deadline: April 6, 2007 Contact: Susan Cohen at [email protected]

Application: http://web.mit.edu/arts/do/funding/grantguide.html

Get Involved ! Run for a Committee Chair Position at Sidney Pacific Apply at s-p.mit.edu Between 3/21 and 4/4 for a chance to contribute to your community and for a housing spot at S-P for the year 07-08

Open to Entire MIT Graduate Community March 23, 2007 The Tech Page 11 ’08 Election May Cause Changes NY Attorney General Holmes and Wyne Credit Success to Door-to-Door Campaigning Effort Elections, from Page To Sue Student Loan available online for the 2008-2009 Results of Spring 2007 UA Election school year, which does not provide for another student holiday. UA President and Vice President Company in Civil Suit Holmes and Wyne also stressed Martin F. Holmes ’08 and Ali S. Wyne ’08 ¥ (1019 Votes) the formation of a Committee on By Jonathan D. Glater “The price to the borrower is based Institute Communication. The com- Class of 2008 The New York Times on the borrower’s risk profile,” Brio- mittee would report to the UA Presi- President Phi T. Ho 293 Votes Andrew M. Cuomo, New York’s nes said. dent and Vice President to “bridge Vice President Rajat Bhalla 227 Votes attorney general, announced Thurs- She added that the payments to the gap between the administration day that he planned to bring a civil colleges could support financial aid and students,” Holmes said. Holmes Treasurer Anthony M. Cappaert 72 Votes lawsuit against a student lending to needy students. expressed concern over a lack of Secretary Christina S. Kang*§ 381 Votes company for deceptive business Briones criticized the attorney student input in administrative de- Publicity Chairs Jennifer D’Ascoli 302 Votes practices, accusing it of paying col- general’s office for rushing to file cisions, specifically citing rumored & Estevan (Milo) Martinez † leges and universities to steer student a lawsuit before all the facts were plans to remove Burton-Conner Social Chairs Connie C. Yeh 413 Votes borrowers toward its loans. known. “We question whether the kitchens. & Stephen A. Steger* Cuomo’s action, which would attorney general’s office is seriously Holmes attributed his and Wyne’s seek to bar the practice and to recov- interested in learning all of the facts success to their “door-to-door” cam- Class of 2009 er money from the company, Educa- and whether there has been an actual paign. Wyne said that campaigning tion Finance Partners of San Fran- violation of law,” she said. President Vivian Tang 232 Votes door-to-door allowed the pair to hear cisco, stems from an investigation of Cuomo said more than 60 colleges “what [students] wanted to see the Vice President Deepa Mokshagundam 208 Votes relationships between colleges and and universities nationwide have re- UA do.” Wyne also attributed the Treasurer Angela L. Cantu* 356 Votes universities and the companies that ceived payments from Education Fi- increase in voter turnout to their in- Secretary Ting Ting Luo* 327 Votes lend money to students. nance through arrangements in which teractive campaigning and said that Publicity Chairs Arjun Naskar 374 Votes Lawmakers in Washington, in- colleges and universities receive mon- the increase in turnout was “very en- & Demario D. Dayton* cluding Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, ey based on how much students bor- couraging.” Social Chairs Tina P. Srivastata 377 Votes D-Mass., who heads the education row. The payments create a conflict of & Amirah Nabiyah Khan*† committee, are also looking into interest for university financial aid of- Election improvements these ties. fices, Cuomo said, because they are an Changes to the elections sys- Class of 2010 Cuomo said his office was also incentive to steer students to a lender tem may be in order after problems talking with universities about adopt- for reasons unrelated to loan terms. arose regarding the vice presidential President Jason A. Scott* 344 Votes ing a code of conduct to govern rela- On Wednesday, Kennedy, who candidacy of Prashant K. Dilwali Vice President Laura H. Han* 328 Votes tions with lenders, including the pay- heads the Senate Committee on ’08 and his late ballot application. Treasurer Wen Y. Tang* 332 Votes ment arrangement that some refer to Health, Education, Labor and Pen- Dilwali said that “members of the Secretary Natasha (Tash) Bosanac* 330 Votes as “revenue sharing.” sions, sent a letter to several large ‘08 class who voted earlier [in be- “We believe these revenue-shar- student loan companies, including Publicity Chairs Crystal J. Mao 337 Votes tween Wednesday and Saturday] ing agreements are really no differ- Sallie Mae, Citibank, Bank One and & Tiffany T. Chu* were not as informed as they could ent than kickbacks,” Cuomo said at Bank of America, asking that they have been,” because the Web site Social Chairs Steven H. Hong 329 Votes a news conference at his office in detail their financial relationships indicated he had violated campaign & Thomas W. Hay* Manhattan. He added that his office with educational institutions. rules, though the violation was not believed the payments were illegal “When students take out loans to explained until later. “[The] deci- * Unopposed candidate under New York law, which would ar- pay for college, they should be as- sions … should [have been] made † Incumbent guably apply to the company because sured that the relationship between available promptly to the public,” ¥ Wyne is also an opinion staff writer for The Tech it extends loans to students in New their school and their lender is free said Dilwali. § Kang is also a photographer for The Tech York and markets its loans here. of bias or conflict of interest,” Ken- Holmes said he would consider Source: Michelle Jeong ’08, UA Election Commission Chair Tamera Briones, the chief execu- nedy said in a statement. possible changes to future election tive of Education Finance, said in a Among the institutions that have proceedings. “The simple fact that statement that the company had been received payments from Education Fi- they [the UA] didn’t have an existing when they do arise, we need a solid, by ensuring “that all the candidates cooperating with the attorney gener- nance are St. John’s University, Long JudBoard at the time was a problem,” concrete way to deal with them.” are well-informed at the start of the al’s investigation. She defended the Island University, Boston University, he said. “People just need to be more Holmes said. Holmes also said that election so people can know when payments to colleges, saying they Clemson University and Baylor Univer- aware that problems can arise and the UA can improve their elections they are violating the code.” did not affect the terms of the loans. sity, the attorney general’s office said. Gender Inequality an Issue Moscow University Investigates Claims Still Present in Admissions Students Say Teaching, Living Standards Declined at Prestigious School By C.J. Chivers curriculum in a telephone interview, Dobrenkov also said that the Admissions, from Page Jones said that MIT continues The New York Times saying that the student claims “are complaining students represented to recruit women and other groups MOSCOW full of hints, rumors and half-truths” a small fraction of his department’s the table below. through a variety of methods, in- Moscow State University, one of and that no anti-Semitism has been 2,000-member student body and that Jones said that the higher accep- cluding directly contacting target Russia’s most prestigious schools, taught or tolerated on campus. their influence was exaggerated. tance rate for women reflects fewer students that have good standardized has opened an investigation into He conceded only that the liv- On this point the students dis- female applicants. Jones said it would test scores. We “try to get as many accusations by students that teaching conditions were poor and said agreed, saying they had a nucleus be “misleading” to say that standards different people to come to MIT” ing standards and living conditions that they would be improved. Stu- of more than 20 core members and differ for accepting women into MIT. from many different places, Jones in one of its academic departments dents have said that ventilation is had signatures of support of nearly “Women don’t apply in the same said. “The problems of the world have been severely eroded, students inadequate and that their cafeteria 10 percent of the department’s stu- numbers as men do. It’s a cultural need to be solved by people who are and university officials said in recent has been outrageously overpriced dent body — a remarkable num- thing,” Jones said. “The ones who do, from those places,” she said. days. — a suggestion of profiteering. “We ber, they said, given a climate of they’re just really strong” and “very The investigation, into the condi- should have a constructive dialogue surveillance and worries of retali- desirable types of candidates,” while Increase in class size planned tions in the Sociology Department, with the students,” the dean said. ation. the male applicant pool has “wider Jones is a member of the Enroll- will be conducted by a special com- ranges,” she said. Jones did not know ment Management Group, a commission of faculty members and whether the ratio of males to females mittee of administrators with ties to administrators that was formed last would change if the number of fe- undergraduate education. The com- week. It follows a rare and remark- male applicants increased. mittee, which reports to President able burst of defiance and student ac- Jones said that MIT does not Hockfield, recently recommended an tivism on a Russian campus, a case have quotas for the number of male increase in the size of the incoming of grass-roots organization and civic or female students accepted and that class. Although there was a slight activity that private groups and crit- the only quotas the admissions of- increase in the incoming class size, ics of the Kremlin have said has been fice employs are for international a large increase will come following in decline in recent years. students. Foreign student admissions the conversion of Ashdown House The accusations, many of them are limited to eight percent of the in- into an undergraduate residence. circulated by a small group of stu- coming class. Jones, however, suggests caution dents to Western universities in an Jones, who has worked in the ad- in increasing the class size. She said effort to gain support, also strongly missions office since 1979, said that admitting more students is a “thin suggested that official anti-Western MIT tries to actively recruit popula- line to walk,” stating that MIT should attitudes and creeping nationalism tions that are underrepresented in the take care to ensure the best oppor- were undermining the quality of the applicant pool, that can vary widely tunities and access to resources for teaching. from year to year. Gender, however, all students. Jones doesn’t think the The students said, for example, has always been an issue, she said, increasing class size will decrease that extremist views had become in- and “it continues to be true.” When MIT’s selectivity and predicts that stitutionalized and that conspiracy Jones first arrived at MIT the under- within three years the acceptance theories had infiltrated the teach- graduate population was 17 percent rate will fall to Yale’s recent level of ing. female. That number rose to 39 per- 8 percent. “The dean’s office has distrib- cent by 1998 when Jones was named Jones, however, said that she uted a brochure to all students that Dean of Admissions. The Class of doesn’t foresee the class size reach- approvingly quotes the ‘Protocols of 2010, which entered last fall, was 45 ing over 1,100 students. “We’re not the Elders of Zion,’ blames Freema- percent female. there yet,” she said. sons and Zionists for the world wars, and claims that they control U.S. and MIT Applied and Admitted Statistics British policy and the global finan- Applied Admitted cial system,” the students wrote in Years Male Female Male Female one of their public appeals. “Study- ing conditions at the department are 2005-2006 7608 2832 758 (10.0%) 736 (26.0%) unbearable.” 2004-2005 7669 2797 898 (11.7%) 767 (27.4%) Vladimir I. Dobrenkov, the dean 2003-2004 7651 2898 885 (11.6%) 850 (29.3%) of the Sociology Department, dis- Source: MIT Office of the Provost, Institutional Research at http://web.mit.edu/ir/cds/ missed the complaints about the Page 12 The Tech March 23, 2007 Cal State Admins. Say a Strike Will Not Close Down Campuses Cal State, from Page ruptions, of course, but that doesn’t “We are a faculty that’s fed up,” mean that the university will be shut he told them, “and we are a faculty union officials say, disruption to the down.” that’s ready to walk off the job.” schedules of students, particularly The union said 94 percent of Many low- and middle-income graduating seniors, would be kept more than 8,000 members who had students from around the state, about to a minimum. voted on a strike favored authoriz- a third of them the first in their fami- Without elaborating, Cal State ing it. lies to attend college, rely on the Cal administrators said they would have At the university’s Dominguez State system for an education. But contingency plans to deal with any Hills campus, in Carson, Travis was faculty salaries there lag far behind walkout. cheered by dozens of his members, those at other universities and, the “This is just what unions do,” who wore black T-shirts bearing the union says, have remained stagnant said Clara Potes-Fellow, a university inscription “I don’t want to strike, since 2002. spokeswoman. “There will be inter- but I will.” Moody’s Investors Service reported this week that Cal State had cash reserves of $1.2 billion, which union officials say gives the university the financial flexibility to resolve the dispute. Administrators say that this money has been allocated to other pur- poses and cannot be used for teacher pay.

Solution to Crossword from page 7

Solution to Sudoku from page 7 March 23, 2007 The Tech Page 13 Royal Bengal Some Team Members Came to Boston’s only authentic Bengali Cuisinerestaurant 313 Mass. Ave .,Cambr idge Open Daily Except Monday (617) 491-1988 MIT Without Pistol Experience 11:30 am – 11:30pm T: Red Line, Bus# 1– Ce ntra lSquare Pistol, from Page 1 where shooters have to make 5 shots 600, good for the top team score in Lunch Buffet $6.95 Unique Bengali fish dishes include in 10 seconds and an air pistol event the event and enough to push MIT Reasonably Pr icedDinners Paabda maachher jhol,Rui maachher in an e-mail. The team members say where shooters have 75 minutes to ahead of Army by 7 for the overall kalia,Mochar ghanto, Shorshe Ilish this cohesiveness gives them a feel- shoot 40 shots. victory. Take-out, platters, and catering available. Delivery with minimum order. ing of calm, knowing that they have The first event was free pistol, Next year the Engineers will lose 10% Discount on $15 (or more) order with MIT ID. the support of their teammates both which took most of last Thursday Nee, Lee, and another top shooter, http://www.royalbengalrestaurant.com competitively and emotionally. and consisted of 60 shots in 2 hours P. Raja Palaniappan ’08. Despite the Hart plays a big role as well, with a .22. MIT completed this event losses, Hart said in an e-mail that www.mitcycling.org transforming MIT students, many of in second place, 26 points behind another national championship next mountain whom have no previous shooting ex- Army. These people are good. The year is not out of the question. “My cyclocross perience, into nationally-competitive free pistol event is shot at targets 50 philosophy is one shot at a time, one track athletes. Both Lee and Nee came to feet away and rewards 10 points for match at a time. But, the best way to road MIT without any pistol experience a bull’s-eye, 9 for the second ring, 8 get MIT students to do something and became national medal win- for the third ring, and so on. In 60 is to tell them it cannot be done, so ners by their senior year. Hart says shots, Lee scored 518, for an 8.6 av- we’ll see,” he said. he actually prefers shooters with no erage per shot. Lee and Nee will leave with a experience because they have no bad The Engineers started their come- slew of awards, including their in- habits to break. back in the second event of the open dividual and team medals from this The national competition itself competition, the standard pistol, shot year, medals won at previous nation- is a marathon designed to measure on Friday. Again, they finished sec- al events, and All-American honors. as precisely as possible the shooting ond, but this time they were ahead of They will also leave with their NRA ability of the teams involved. Teams Army and behind Navy, making the membership card that they are re- compete in three different events, overall standings 4,141-4,140, with quired to buy to participate in the photo testing their ability to shoot differ- Navy one point ahead going into tournament. It’s a running joke on John Naegle ent types of pistols with different the final event, Saturday’s air pistol. the team that they are some of the amounts of time to aim. For example, Lee, Nee, Edward S. Huo ’08, and few card-carrying members of the there is a rapid-fire .22-caliber event Fuzhou Hu ’09 averaged 558 out of NRA in Cambridge. WE WANT YOU. Join the MIT Cycling Team. No Experience Necessary. Email for more info: Women's Captain: Sonya Cates, [email protected] Men's Captain: Eric Edlund, [email protected]

presented by

MIT Cycling is proud A C T I V E INGREDIENTS to be sponsored by www.k3corp.com DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEVNightline TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEVWe’re TUV hereTUV OPER to listen. OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER

Edward Huo DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER YunJa Chen ’07 lines up her shot at the National Rifle Association’s Intercollegiate National Champion- DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER DEV TUV TUV OPER OPER ship in West Point, N.Y. MIT defeated the U.S. Military Academy to take the National Championship. DEV TUV TUV OPERThis OPERspace 3-8800donated DEV by The TUVTech TUV OPER OPER

Is everything in a mental health visit really 100% confidential? Everything that you tell a mental health clinician I am applying for a job that requires a This is one of a series of mental health FAQs is privileged information. This means that the security clearance. Will the fact that I developed by SHAC (Student Health Advisory information about you cannot be given to any other have been seen at MHS have an impact Committee) with input from MIT Medical’s person without your permission. on my clearance? Mental Health Service. More questions and There are a few exceptions: 1) if you are in danger answers on mental health issues are available This is an issue that comes up frequently. Usually online. of physical harm by suicide, then your clinician the agency that is doing the clearance contacts can notify other people in order to keep you from MHS after notifying you (we need your permis- harming yourself; 2) if someone else is in danger, Go to http://web.mit.edu/medical to find sion to release information; usually the agency has answers to the following questions: then that person can be informed; 3) if you are already asked you to sign something to this effect). involved in the abuse or neglect of a child or an u elderly person, then your clinician is mandated to The agency will ask your clinician for his or her Does information about mental health inform the appropriate agency. professional opinion as to whether you are a risk appointments go in my medical record? to security. They are generally more interested in I am applying for a job and the applica- the clinician’s overall assessment regarding your u Who should use mental health services? tion asks if I have ever been diagnosed potential risk to security than in the details of your u How do I make an appointment? with a psychiatric disorder. Does seeing medical record. someone at MHS mean I have to an- u What should I expect at my first visit? swer yes to this question? Not necessarily. Many people are seen at MHS for u Does it cost anything to use the mental health things other than “psychiatric disorders.” It is also MIT Mental Health Service service at MIT Medical? important to remember that for most jobs a “yes” MIT Medical, E23-3rd Floor answer to that question usually just leads to a few Call 617-253-2916 for appointments and info more questions and the prospective employer pos- Walk-in hours 2–4 pm, Monday–Friday sibly contacting the clinician at MHS. for urgent matters To learn more about SHAC membership, visit our website http://web.mit.edu/medical/student. Page 14 The Tech March 23, 2007

“Say Cheese!”

Join The Tech photography department and have fun taking pictures with your fellow shutterbugs [email protected] March 23, 2007 SportS The Tech Page 15

Flynn Leads Offense “A wickedly entertaining show” With 6 Points, Kang – Tom Shales, The Washington Post Contributes 11 Saves Lacrosse, from Page 16 an insurance goal with 27 seconds left to play. into the second half as she gave the Watson picked up a team-high Engineers their largest lead of the five groundballs to go along with day, 8-3, after 26 seconds elapsed. three draw controls and two caused On the ensuing draw control, Keene turnovers. Ming Leong ’09, He, and State’s Tully registered the first O’Keefe each added three ground- goal of her career. The game was balls as Flynn totaled three draw scoreless from there until Meagan controls. Goaltender HeeJay Kang Moran’s goal with 21:12 left on the ’07 collected 11 saves for the En- clock. The Owls closed the gap to gineers. two (8-6) three minutes later on MIT will travel to West Palm Tully’s second goal of half. Beach for spring break matches A defensive battle ensued for against Hartwick College and the remainder of the game until He SUNY Potsdam on Monday, March set up Samantha F. O’Keefe ’09 for 26 and Tuesday, March 27.

7CIFH9B9M7CL

“FANTASTIC...TERRIFICALLY FUNNY! CHECK IT OUT!” – AIN’T IT COOL NEWS “ONE OF THE TRUE GEMS THIS YEAR!” – JEFFREY HARRIS, HYBRID MAGAZINE “I COULDN’T STOP LAUGHING... A WILL FERRELL/STEVE CARELL-STYLE COMEDY.” – DON R. LEWIS, FILM THREAT

The criminal mind is a terrible thing to waste

www.livefreemovie.com Love sports? Love writing? AMC LOEWS EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT HARVARD SQ. 5 10 CHURCH ST., CAMBRIDGE STARTS FRIDAY, MARCH 30TH! 1-800-FANDANGO #733 Write for The Tech! [email protected]

MIT THE TECH 2x7 FRI 3/23 Page 16 The Tech March 23, 2007 Sports Volleyball Wins in Four Games; Upcoming Home Events Saturday, March 24, 2007 Sets Records for Digs, Blocks Sailing Dinghy Cup 9:00 a.m., Charles River By James Zorich hitter Thomas S. Pollom ’09 are al- ting percentage. Sunday, March 25, 2007 Staff Writer ready well on their way to rewriting The first three games of the Sailing Dinghy Cup 9:00 a.m., Charles River MIT men’s volleyball lost the the record books in career blocks. match provided little drama. In the first game to Johnson & Wales Despite being underclassmen, both first game, the Wildcats took the University Wednesday night at are over halfway towards the career lead for good at 5-4, as the Engi- Saturday, March 31, 2007 NOTE:Rockwell The Cage, boxes but below calmly are and merely record. guidelines. You are free toneers format were slightlythe quote lethargic however com- youSailing choose. Oberg Trophy 9:00 a.m., Charles River David Nawi,methodically 3/16/2007 won the The fourth game of the match ing out of the gate. MIT’s hitters Softball vs. Smith College (Doubleheader) 12:00 p.m., Briggs Field next three for a 26- was the most exciting, as MIT (25- attempted a number of finesse tips Men’s Lacrosse vs. UMass-Boston 1:00 p.m., Jack Barry Field Knowledge is30, as 30-25, wings 30-22, to man's 30- 5,life, 10-0) and trailed a ladder for thefor majorityhis ascent. and (for seemed 3-20-07) to be trying to place 28 victory. of the game before taking its first their spikes, and it was not until Sunday, April 1, 2007 On their way to lead at 25-24. The lead widened the second game that Tech’s power Sailing Oberg Trophy 9:00 a.m., Charles River the triumph, two En- to 26-24 on a controversial point game took over. gineersDaily set Meditation significant milestones when the referee overruled the line Johnson & Wales never held a “Knowledgefor the men’s volleyballis as wings program. to judge, ruling that a ball was not lead in the second game. After a man'sWith a life,personal-best and a ladder 20 digs, forRyan tipped on its way out of bounds. 10-10 tie, the Engineers kept the G. Dean ’08 now--Bahá'u'lláh stands alone as This appeared to inspire the Wild- Wildcats at bay, maintaining at MIT Women’s Lacrosse histhe ascent.” Institute’s all-time leader with cats (8-15, 4-4), who were able least a two-point advantage for the 815 MIT career Bahá'í digs, Association while six-foot, to fight their way back to a 27-27 rest of the game following a Pami- seven-inch Michael Demyttenaere tie, but Praveen Pamidimukkala dimukkala kill for a 13-11 lead. ’10 contributed five blocks to set ’08 provided the final two kills of In the third game, the Engineers Beats Keene State 9-6, a new MIT record for blocks in a the match for MIT to avoid a fifth took advantage of a number of un- Makeseason My with love 140. thy treasure, and game.cherish it even as thy very sightforced and errorslife. by(for the 3-23-07) Wildcats to Demyttenaere and fellow middle Pamidimukkala led the Engi- turn a 20-18 lead into a comfort- Flynn Leading Scorer neers with 24 kills, as his spikes able 30-22 win. often met little resistance from The Engineers, ranked No. By Mindy Brauer naya Nelson evened the score at Daily Meditation the Johnson & Wales blockers. He 11 nationally, will take their un- Daper Staff two. “Make My love thy treasure, finished with a huge .431 hitting blemished NorthEast Collegiate The MIT women’s lacrosse team The Engineers responded with and cherish it even as thy very percentage, followed closely by Volleyball Association record to beat Keene State College 9-6 on three unanswered goals in a span of sight and life.” --Bahá'u'lláh Kenneth K. Rosche ’08, who had a the conference tournament next Tuesday for their first win of the four minutes to open up a 5-2 lead. season-best 14 kills and a .428 hit- weekend. season. Flynn started the spurt, which was MIT Bahá'í Association Casey M. Flynn followed by a free position goal ’10 led all scorers with from Laura C. Watson ’08 and a Study on reading and dyslexia at MIT six points, including shot from He that trickled into the five goals, as the En- net. CloseMIT (Johnyour Gabrielieyes to lab)racial is currentlydifferences, conducting and welcome research onall with the light of oneness. (for 4-03-07) gineers improved to Mazzotta narrowed the Owls’ reading difficulties. We are looking for adults (ages 18-35) 1-1 on the year. Michelle Mazzotta deficit to two (5-3) with 11:38 re- and Dene Tully each scored twice maining in the half before Flynn with reading difficulties. Individuals with a previous diagnosis for the Owls (0-1). contributed to MIT’s final goals of dyslexiaDaily areMeditation especially welcome. “Close your eyes to racial differ- Mazzotta opened the scoring of the frame as she set up Watson ences, and welcome all with the light 2:08 into the contest with an unas- and then converted a free position Participants will be--Bahá'u'lláh compensated $20/hr. sisted strike. Flynn tied the game attempt for what proved to be the of oneness.” five minutes later and then con- game-winning goal. MIT Bahá'í Association nected on a feed from Lily He ’09 Flynn carried the momentum For more information please contact Christina at to give MIT the lead at 18:34. Just [email protected] or at 617-324-2898 over a minute later, the Owls’ La- Lacrosse, Page 15

Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship. (for 4-06-07)

Daily Meditation “Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.” --Bahá'u'lláh MIT Bahá'í Association

Put your trust in God, and commit your affairs to His keeping. (for 4-10-07)

Daily Meditation “Put your trust in God, and commit your affairs to His keeping.” --Bahá'u'lláh MIT Bahá'í Association