MIT’s The Weather Today: Showers likely, 69°F (21°C) Oldest and Largest Tonight: Decreasing clouds, 46°F (8°C) Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, 62°F (17°C) Newspaper Details, Page 2 Volume 126, Number 42 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Friday, September 29, 2006 Homophobic Graffiti Continues in Walker Two Years Later, Culprit Remains at Large By Manisha Padi postings has increased from once a STAFF REPORTER month last year to about once a week Homophobic graffiti and posters this year, according to Abigail Fran- have been found in and around the cis, project coordinator of the LBGT men’s bathroom in the basement of Services. Graphic posters accusing the Walker Memorial Building mul- lesbians of being “jealous” of male tiple times over the past few weeks genitalia, and gay men of spreading — the latest in a string of incidents AIDS were also seen both inside and dating back at least two years, ac- outside the bathroom. cording to police reports. The mes- Although the graffiti has been a sages are particularly disturbing main concern for both the campus because of their proximity to the police and the LBGT Issues Group, Rainbow Lounge, a safe haven for no progress has been made in catch- Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, and Trans- ing the offender. Following a surge of gender MIT community members. similar graffiti in October of last year, The graffiti, which states, “Ho- a Hate Speech and Harassment Sub- mosexuality may be politically cor- committee of the LBGT Issues Group rect, but it will never be biologically was formed, and met to discuss pos- correct,” was found on a blackboard sible solutions. “We are looking into in the men’s room on Sept. 8, 12, putting into place a variety of secu- and 19, according to MIT police re- rity measures, such as a card reader ports. The same message was seen at the men’s room door and security DENNIS W. FANTONE written in this location in October John W. Finn, the oldest living Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, is recognized in front of the of last year, but the frequency of the Grafitti, Page 11 State House during a special Medal of Honor Ceremony held on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Members of MIT’s ROTC program attended the ceremony. Mendoza Appointed as Alcohol Policy Reworked, Codified New Mediation Director Updated Institute Guidelines May Draw Student Displeasure, Distrust By Yi Zhou I’d gained when I left.” By Jihye Kim until Aug. 2006. tended to facilitate the roles of house STAFF REPORTER In addition to seeing the stu- In accordance with the No Child “New GRTs and housemasters team members and increase student The fifth floor of the student cen- dent judicial process take on a more Left Behind Act, alcohol procedural were having difficulty figuring out support and governance, Nedzel ter not only boasts a renovated read- prominent role, Mendoza would like guidelines have been revised and how to respond to certain ‘high-risk’ raised a concern about the implica- ing room this fall, but also the office mediation to be a bigger part of the codified in hopes of consistently situations, and saw a need to have tions of the aforementioned mini- of the newly appointed Director for Institute. While MIT currently of- addressing alcohol issues in MIT some guidelines drawn up to out- mum sanctions required by law on Student Mediation and Community fers a mediation training course over dormitories, although increased di- line what steps they should take in the GRT system. Standards, Veronica Mendoza ’96. As IAP, she would like to examine how it ciplinary action may cause negative certain situations,” said Dormitory “These ‘mimimum response’ director, Mendoza’s primary respon- works at “other universities where it’s student responses. The guidelines Council President David A. Nedzel guidelines seemed somewhat strict. I sibility is to oversee student conflict really established” and then “work outline the proper procedures to deal ’07. Since students typically rely worry that this policy document and management and discipline functions with students … to make our own with alcohol problems or emergen- on their living communities and on others like it may reduce that feeling at MIT, including providing support unique model.” cies, such as medical transport and each other for such personal support, of trust and GRT approachability in for student judicial panels and the “I’m trying to hold back on mak- student confidentiality. these guidelines were drawn up to be fear of risking disciplinary penal- Institute’s own judicial process. ing any kind of decisions at this point Led by the Community Develop- sensitive to each community’s stan- ties,” Nedzel said. This opening was therefore “the because it’s really important that I ment and Substance Abuse Programs dards and culture. The guidelines are Different alcohol standards in perfect position for me,” Mendoza take the time to reacquaint myself in collaboration with MIT housemas- not as rigid as those of other univer- graduate dormitories allow for flex- said. “This was a wonderful opportu- with the Institute,” said Mendoza. “I ters, legal counsel, and other student siies, specifically in terms of conse- ibility even though general alcohol nity to get back into what I was inter- feel that I have to be very careful to governance groups, the entire revi- quences and severity. ested in and still put to use my JD (a sion process lasted from Nov. 2005 Although this document is in- Guidelines, Page 13 law degree) and the experience that Mendoza, Page 13 ILGs Offer Wozniak Describes Techno Childhood; Endorses Autobiography By Kirtana Raja ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Bids For Fall Steve Wozniak, inventor of the Apple II, the world’s first personal computer, and co-founder of Apple Semester Computer, Inc., made an appear- By Apoorva Murarka ance at MIT yesterday to tell his in- Three of MIT’s Independent Liv- spirational story of success as well ing Groups — Epsilon Theta, Fen- as sign books for his new autobi- way House, and the Women’s Inde- ography that was released this past pendent Living Group — have given Monday. bids to students for the fall semester. Wozniak, or Woz, as he refers Student House did not give any bids to himself, told the audience about for the fall and pika was unavail- the history of his Apple II invention, able for comment. As of yet, there briefly touching upon his childhood are no official figures regarding the ambitions and then giving a techni- total number of bids sent out by the cal and anecdote-infused timeline ILGs or the total number of pledges of his innovation. received. Several MIT students, faculty, The Living Group Council, an and other MIT community mem- umbrella organization that encom- bers attended the MIT Coop-spon- passes the five ILGs, “does not man- sored event to get signed copies of date specific timings for rush and his new book iWoz, and also to take the living groups are free to choose pictures with Wozniak. One MIT the dates and duration of their rush student even brought an antiquated BROOKE A. JARRETT Stephen “Woz” Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, Inc., signed copies of his new auto-biography and ILG Rush, Page 12 Wozniak, Page 17 even students’ laptops yesterday. In Short NEWS ARTS World & Nation. 2 ¶ The MIT Police and Campus Activi- Web founder Berners-Lee explains The Tech interviews the cast of cult ties Complex will host a barbecue for Opinion . 4 freshmen on Friday, Sept. 29 from 5-8 why he supports Internet neutrality comedy series Stella p.m. at the Kresge BBQ pits. Laptop Arts . 5 registration will be offered for ten dollars and food and music will be provided. Comics. 8 Sports . 20 Send news information and tips to Page 15 Page 6 [email protected]. Page 2 THE TECH September 29, 2006 WORLD & NATION Baghdad Death Toll Rises as Insurers Prepare For Fight Violence Escalates Amid Ramadan By Michael Luo THE NEW YORK TIMES BAGHDAD, IRAQ Over US Terrorism Coverage As many as 60 bodies, many of them shot in the head at close range and bearing signs of torture, were discovered across the city on Thurs- By Joseph B. Treaster the Council of Insurance Agents and without terrorism insurance. day, an Interior Ministry official said. THE NEW YORK TIMES Brokers. The reason is that many com- The death toll was one of the highest in weeks and came as U.S. and Insurance and business groups Insurers say the frequency or se- panies sell workers compensation Iraqi troops continued to sweep Baghdad’s most dangerous neighbor- are gearing up for a battle to pre- verity of terrorism attacks is unpre- insurance. State regulators require hoods in a broad effort to control the capital. The execution-style kill- serve a government program that dictable, and that is why the industry those policies to cover injuries or ings, often driven by sectarian hatred, jumped dramatically here after would cover most of the losses from needs the government to play a role. deaths to employees, regardless of the bombing of a Shiite shrine in Samarra in February. another major terrorist attack. “The potential is so large that no the cause, including terrorism. Also on Thursday, an Islamist Internet site posted an audio clip of After Sept. 11, 2001, President single industry can absorb that risk,” That means insurers could be a man it identified as Hamza al-Muhajir, an Egyptian man whom the Bush campaigned for the program to Edmund F. Kelly, the chief executive stuck paying billions of dollars for U.S. military has said is al-Qaida’s new chief in Iraq.