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Volume 124, Number 25 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Friday, May 7, 2004 SAE Ljubicic, Robot Win 2.007 “Big Dig” Contest By Kathy Dobson STAFF REPORTER Decision Dean M. Ljubicic ’06 took first place in the annual 2.007 design contest with his robot besting that of Bryan Woodruff ’06 in the final Tabled round. Both robots featured complicat- By Pon-Pon Yeh ed designs with multiple strategies, STAFF REPORTER and both robots required an addi- The Interfraternity Council tional driver. tabled a vote at a President’s Coun- “A lot of people say, ‘Make your cil meeting this past Wednesday to design simple,’” Ljubicic said; “I give associate IFC member privi- did something complicated but put leges to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon in enough time to make sure it fraternity. The vote will instead be worked.” taken after the fall 2004 recruitment Samuel M. Felton ’06 and Adam period in order to better assess the S. Kaczmarek ’06 were the other two fraternity’s situation, said IFC Presi- in the final four of the contest and, as dent Daniel H. Daneshvar ’05. a result of their finish, will partici- Associate members of the IFC have pate with Ljubicic and Woodruff in all the privileges of full members the International Design Contest in except voting rights. Japan this summer. SAE submitted a petition to become an associate member of the Contest features many options IFC and spoke at the IFC Presi- Named “Big Dig” in honor of dent’s Council two weeks ago. Boston’s Central Artery/Tunnel Becoming an associate member is Project, this year’s contest had four BEN GALLUP—THE TECH the first step in the process of scoring options — more than there Dean M. Ljubicic ’06 (right) and co-driver Salvatore B. Pallante ’06 (left) celebrate Ljubicic’s come- becoming a full member organiza- have been in previous years’ con- from-behind victory in final round of the 2.007 mechanical design competition Thursday night. Ljubicic’s tion of the IFC. tests. The most popular scoring robot employed a spinning device that he had not used previously in the competition, catching his oppo- “I think it went really well,” said option was to move balls from a nent off guard. incoming SAE president Joseph P. stack located between the two play- Another scoring option, which grams, in the hole. multiplied the total score by two. Carlucci ’05. “The IFC tabled the ers’ starting positions and drop them was also used by many participants, The last two scoring options, vote, but gave us full permission to into a hole in the table. Fifty-five was to spin a paddle wheel which which were rarely, if ever, used, were Multiple strategies used rush.” small balls and four large shotput was only accessible by driving up a to push a button on the table, which Ljubicic relied on his blocking The MIT chapter of SAE was balls, as well as pucks that lined ramp. The score was the maximum added ten times the number of sec- projectile to stop his opponents, but derecognized in January 2000 after areas of the table, could be placed in rotational speed of that shaft. This onds elapsed to the score, and to push an underage drinking incident. The the hole for points. value was multiplied by the mass, in mass through a small tunnel, which 2.007, Page 10 SAE house was shut down by the Boston Licensing Board and MIT withdrew recognition of the fraterni- Masterpiece or Junkpile? Stata Opens Its Doors ty. The SAE alumni board expelled the upperclassmen at that time. By Frank Dabek architectural innovation.” Provost orange carpet. hello? … I want my unique design will likely win Currently, there are nine members STAFF REPORTER Robert A. Brown said he hopes that money back.” awards, but it also makes finding the of SAE. MIT’s newest building, the Ray the many open spaces inside the The responses of building resi- stairwell a non-trivial task. All of and Maria Stata Center, will be offi- $280 million building, which he dents to their new space paint the this in a building that came in at Petition still being examined cially dedicated today. called the “new entrance to MIT,” early history of Stata as one of good three times its original budget. An expansion committee con- William will draw students out and create the intentions gone awry. A vision of This is not to say that no stu- sisting of several fraternity presi- J. Mitchell, opportunity for “different forms of collaborative spaces has become, dents are happy with the new dents was formed to look into the Feature professor learning.” for many students, a reality of work- building. “I love the Stata center. petition and make recommendations of architec- The building’s residents have ing with little or no privacy. Beautiful, interesting, artsy,” wrote to the council. The committee con- ture, said that the building, designed their own opinion, however. Natalia Gehry’s name makes it easier to Bryan A. Ford G. A highly infor- ducted several interviews to “deter- by Frank O. Gehry, is part of a wave H. Gardiol G spoke for the majority attract funding, but it also attracts mal poll has “hate it” far outpacing mine whether these members would of building on campus that is (or possibly a very vocal minority) “visitors” who turn a workplace into “love it,” however. One is left to be an addition to the IFC communi- “reclaiming MIT’s great tradition of in an e-mail: “noisy. complicated. a tourist attraction. The building’s wonder where vision and reality ty… whether they’d add something, diverged. bring something to the table,” Daneshvar said. Stata planning began in 1996 Based on its findings, the com- Planning for the Stata Center mittee recommended that “we table began in 1996, and the project was the votes on SAE until after rush of announced in January of 1997. At next year,” said Daneshvar, primari- that time, MIT’s Laboratory for ly because “but there were some Computer Science and the Artificial concerns about some of the individ- Intelligence Laboratory (the two uals and their behavior regarding laboratories have since merged to rush and orientation of last year.” form the Computer Science and “These guys have serious poten- Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) tial to bring something positive to were slated to move to the building the community,” said Daneshvar in 2000. The budget projection at “We wanted to kind of give them a the time of the announcement was chance to prove to us that they $95 million. wanted to be a valuable members of When Building 32 (Stata’s name the community.” under MIT’s numeric system of The council gave SAE stipula- naming buildings) was finally occu- tions to follow in order to prepare pied this year, 78,000 cubic yards of them for potential future IFC mem- concrete had been poured around bership. Members are to receive countless feet of #18 re-bar (the training for intervention procedures, largest manufactured), one million which is required of all IFC mem- bricks had been laid by hand, 1,000 bers. students, faculty, and staff moved

In addition, SAE is required to FRANK DABEK—THE TECH their belongings in 16,000 orange meet with Steven J. Tyrell, associate Frank O. Gehry speaks at a media event prior to today’s dedication of the Ray and Maria Stata Center. crates, and the center’s budget had Gehry designed the $280 million building, which is home to the Computer Science and Artificial Intelli- SAE, Page 16 gence Laboratory. Stata, Page 13

OPINION Comics NEWS BRIEFS Two former MIT baseball players Villacorta elected GSC treasurer. World & Nation ...... 2 clarify facts about the baseball LaVerdes makes delayed charges. Opinion ...... 4 career of Jason E. Szuminski ’01. Hazmat responds to improper Features ...... 12 acid dump in Tech Square. Sports ...... 20 Page 5 Page 7 Page 14 Page 2 THE TECH May 7, 2004 WORLD & NATION FDA Rejects Morning-After Pill U.S. Knew Soldiers Abused Without Prescription THE NEW YORK TIMES Federal drug regulators on Thursday rejected a drug maker’s Iraqi Prisoners for Months application to sell a morning-after pill over-the-counter because of concerns about whether young girls would be able to use it safely. By Neil A. Lewis He noted that some people had In exchange for such access, the The Food and Drug Administration told the pill’s maker, Barr and Eric Lichtblau said that the offenses were “even Red Cross typically does not publi- Pharmaceuticals that before the drug could be sold without a pre- THE NEW YORK TIMES more awful” for the Iraqi prisoners cize its findings but reports them scription the company must either find a way to prevent young WASHINGTON because, in Arab culture, that kind only to the host government. But in teens from getting it from store shelves or prove, in a new study, The International Committee of of treatment is unbearably shameful. rare cases like the situation at Abu that young girls can understand how to use it without the help of a the Red Cross regularly complained He said one thing that Red Cross Ghraib, it makes its complaints pub- doctor. Company executives expressed confidence that they could to senior U.S. officials in Iraq and in officials did not know was that lic when its officials believe its rec- clear those hurdles, although it was unclear how long that would Washington over the last several guards were taking photos of what ommendations have been ignored. take. months about prisoner abuses at was occurring. The committee reports of the The decision was a surprise because in December, a panel of inde- Abu Ghraib prison, a spokesman for Other human rights groups, abusive behavior, Huguenin said, pendent experts assembled by the FDA voted, 23-4, to recommend the group said on Thursday. including Amnesty International, were distributed to the prison that the drug be sold over-the-counter. The majority concluded that The spokesman, Roland Human Rights Watch and Human authorities in Baghdad as well as to the drug was not only effective but that women could be trusted to Huguenin, said, “Our reports to the Rights First, said this week that they senior officials of the Coalition Pro- use it correctly without a physician’s advice. The FDA normally fol- U.S. administration contained many had complained to the administra- visional Authority, the U.S. civilian lows the recommendations of its advisory panels. aspects which have now been tion about reports of prisoner abuse administration running Iraq. In addi- reported with clear descriptions of and humiliation. Officials with the tion, he said, the reports were given the treatment of prisoners.” groups said they took personal to senior officials in the Bush Suicide Bomb Explodes Near Huguenin, who spoke by tele- appeals to L. Paul Bremer, head of administration, but he declined to phone from London, said the reports the provision authority in Iraq, and say which ones. U.S. Headquarters In Baghdad were based on the Red Cross’ inter- Condoleezza Rice, the national secu- He said that it was the commit- THE NEW YORK TIMES views with prisoners and “were very rity adviser, but that their appeals tee’s practice to makes its com- BAGHDAD, IRAQ extensive and detailed.” often seemed to fall on deaf ears. plaints known widely inside a gov- A suicide attacker detonated a car bomb Thursday near the Ameri- “We knew everything that was “Unfortunately, we have not got- ernment to prevent any one person can occupation headquarters here, killing five Iraqi civilians and one going on,” he said. ten the impression they’ve dealt with from sitting on the report, allowing American soldier, witnesses and military officials said. Huguenin would not describe the these issues very seriously,” said senior officials to claim ignorance The bomb exploded at a military checkpoint where cars were details of the reports, but he said Alexandra Arriaga, head of govern- later on. waiting to be searched before crossing a bridge leading to the head- that they included accounts of the ment relations for Amnesty Interna- The assertion that the Red Cross quarters. Twenty Iraqi civilians, three Iraqi police and two American abuses like those disclosed over the tional, which issued a report in warned U.S. officials of mistreat- soldiers were wounded in the blast, a military spokesman said. last week in news accounts involv- March that cataloged reports of beat- ment of prisoners in Iraq comes as A group linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant ing prisoners made to strip naked ings, torture and other abuse in Iraq. the Bush administration is depicting with ties to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack in a state- and pose in demeaning positions. The International Committee of a situation in which many senior ment posted on Thursday on an Arabic-language Web site. Though “We condemned most firmly these the Red Cross is the only group officials were unaware of the prob- American officials have not yet verified the statement’s authenticity, practices that are absolutely humili- whose officials are allowed to inter- lem until a set of photographs was they told news agencies that the bomb attack bore the signatures of ating to anyone in the world.” view the prisoners in Baghdad. shown on CBS last week. Zarqawi. “We may not have any verbal or physical evidence at this point, but it is certainly the calling card of a terrorist organization,” a senior coalition official told Reuters. Controversial Spy is Appointed Bush Says Rumsfeld Will Stay, Apologizes for Abuse of Iraqis Britain’s New Intelligence Chief THE NEW YORK TIMES By Sarah Lyall The move was immediately criti- “Given that John Scarlett is central WASHINGTON THE NEW YORK TIMES cized by Prime Minister Tony to that review, and that the inquiry President Bush said on Thursday that he was sorry for the abuse LONDON Blair’s political opponents, who said has not yet reported, I believe that of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers, but vowed that the man in A career spy who presided over that the government should wait this appointment at this time is inap- charge of the U.S. military, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, and approved a much-disputed until it completes its inquiry into propriate.” would remain in his job. British government dossier that how possibly erroneous intelligence But Blair said Scarlett was rec- Bush’s apology was made in the White House Rose Garden at the asserted that Iraq had unconvention- was used to justify Britain’s involve- ommended by a selection panel led side of King Abdullah II of Jordan after they met in the Oval Office. al weapons was on Thursday named ment in the Iraq war before allowing by David Omand, Blair’s security The president, who had deplored the abuse but stopped short of an as the next chief of the Secret Intel- Scarlett’s appointment to go ahead. and intelligence coordinator. Saying apology in Arab television interviews on Wednesday, appeared to ligence Service, or MI6, Britain’s “In today’s world, Britain’s that Sir Omand had worked inde- direct his words to the king as the leader of an Arab nation. equivalent of the CIA. Secret Intelligence Services is cen- pendently of the government, Blair “I told him I was sorry for the humiliation suffered by Iraqi pris- The spy, John Scarlett, 55, is tral to our national security,” told reporters: “You can only imag- oners and the humiliation suffered by their families,” Bush said. currently chairman of the govern- Michael Ancram, the foreign affairs ine what you guys would have been Bush pledged that his defense secretary would not be ousted, even ment’s Joint Intelligence Commit- spokesman for the Conservative saying to me if I had interfered with as he acknowledged that he had chastised Rumsfeld 24 hours earlier tee. In that role, he oversaw the Party, said in a statement. “And it is that process.” for his failure to inform him about graphic photographs showing the compilation of the dossier, which essential that the whole country has Scarlett — who joined MI6 in American abuse of Iraqi captives at the Abu Ghraib prison near was released in September 2002. the fullest confidence in it. 1971 and who served in Moscow, Baghdad. “Secretary Rumsfeld has been the secretary during two The weapons have not been found, “The government-appointed But- Paris and Nairobi, Kenya, among wars and he is an important part of my Cabinet, and he will stay in and it appears now that British and ler inquiry is currently reviewing other places — is to take over the my Cabinet,” Bush said. U.S. intelligence officials relied on the whole question of intelligence, job this summer, replacing Sir faulty information. and the use made of it,” he added. Richard Dearlove. WEATHER Perpetual Spring Situation for Noon Eastern Daylight Time, Friday, May 7, 2004 130°W 125°W 120°W 115°W 110°W 105°W 100°W 95°W 90°W 85°W 80°W 75°W 70°W 65°W 60°W By Robert Lindsay Korty 40°N STAFF METEOROLOGIST About fifty million years ago, Earth’s climate started to cool. Through ▼▼

the Cretaceous period and into the early Cenozoic era, which began with the ▼▼▼

1031 ◗

1013 extinction of the dinosaurs sixty-five million years ago, palms grew across ◗

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◗ 35°N

what is now the United States and forests populated the Arctic coast. There ◗ ▼ ▼ ◗

were crocodiles, turtles, lotus, and strange plants and animals inhabiting ◗ ▼ ▼ ◗

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locations north of the Arctic Circle that are presently inhospitable. This ▼

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▼ ◗ ◗ ▼ ◗ ◗ weekend, like most over the past fifty million years, will not be as warm. ▼ ◗ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ But first there is today: sunshine, May flowers, and warm temperatures will make today an enviable one. Cooler air across eastern Canada will slide 30°N

south Saturday morning, leaving the weekend with a mixture of clouds and 1017 sun, but about 15–20°F (8–10°C) cooler than today.

Extended Forecast 1024 25°N Today: Sunny and mild. High 74–79°F (23–26°C). Tonight: Mostly clear. Low of 45°F (7°C). Saturday: Mostly cloudy and cooler; isolated shower possible. High 60°F (16°C). Sunday: Mostly sunny. High 59°F (15°C); low 45°F (7°C).

Weather Systems Weather Fronts Precipitation Symbols Other Symbols Snow Rain Fog High Pressure Trough - - - Showers Thunderstorm

◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ Warm Front Light Low Pressure Haze ▲▲▲▲▲ Cold Front Moderate Compiled by MIT Hurricane ◗ ◗ Meteorology Staff ▲ ▲ Stationary Front Heavy and The Tech May 7, 2004 WORLD & NATION THE TECH Page 3

FAA Supervisor Destroyed Tape Defense Suggests More Suspects Aided Oklahoma City Bomb Plot

THE NEW YORK TIMES Of 9/11 Controllers’ Statements MCALESTER, OKLAHOMA By Matthew L. Wald the events of a few hours earlier. the report. The tape had been made A persistent cast of mystery men joined the elusive “John Doe No. THE NEW YORK TIMES The recording included statements under an agreement with the union 2” as defense lawyers on Thursday began their effort to sow doubts WASHINGTON of five or 10 minutes each by con- that it would be destroyed after it that Terry L. Nichols was Timothy J. McVeigh’s sidekick in the At least six air traffic controllers trollers who had spoken by radio to was superseded by written state- bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building nine years ago. who dealt with two of the hijacked people on the planes or who had ments from the controllers, the With the trial that could end in Nichols’ execution now at its mid- airliners on Sept. 11, 2001, made a tracked the aircraft on radar, the report said. point, witnesses opening the defense phase on Thursday told of spot- tape recording a few hours later report said. The quality-assurance manager ting at least three other possible associates of McVeigh as the plot describing the events, but the tape Officials at the center never told told investigators that he had moved toward the explosion on April 19, 1995, that killed 168 people. was destroyed by a supervisor with- higher-ups of the tape’s existence, destroyed the tape because he Two of the strangers — one described as wearing the same dis- out anyone making a transcript or according to a report made public thought making it was contrary to tinctive baseball cap depicted by the FBI in the sketch of a man sup- even listening to it, the Transporta- on Thursday by the inspector gener- Federal Aviation Administration posedly accompanying McVeigh to the Ryder agency where he rent- tion Department said Thursday. al of the Transportation Depart- policy, which calls for written state- ed the truck for the bombing — were placed by witnesses at a motel The taping began before noon ment. ments, and because he felt that the where McVeigh stayed in Junction City, Kan. on Sept. 11 at the New York Air A quality-assurance manager at controllers “were not in the correct Nichols, 49, in his regular uniform of gray blazer and white shirt, Route Traffic Control Center, in the center destroyed the tape sever- frame of mind to have properly looked on impassively and at times with a fierce wide-eyed stare, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., where about 16 al months after it was made, crush- consented to the taping” because of occasionally jotting notes and leaning over to whisper to one of his people met in a basement confer- ing the cassette in his hand, cutting the stress of the day. three lawyers. He did not doze as he appeared to do last week during ence room known as the Bat Cave the tape into little pieces and drop- None of the officials or con- graphic accounts of the recovery of the remains of 19 children that and passed around a microphone, ping them in different trash cans trollers were identified in the left jurors weeping. each recalling his or her version of around the building, according to report. Massachusetts Aims To Cut White House Requests $25 Billion Emission Of Greenhouse Gases THE BOSTON GLOBE Governor Mitt Romney plans to unveil a comprehensive agenda on climate change Thursday, which officials said would make Massa- To Finance Troops in Middle East chusetts the first state to consider the impact on greenhouse gases By Stephen J. Glain Budget Committee. to Representative Curt Weldon, a when state regulators evaluate highway projects and other public con- THE BOSTON GLOBE Spratt and other legislators said Pennsylvania Republican and vice struction plans. WASHINGTON they were informed Wednesday chairman of the House Armed Ser- Massachusetts, which was the first state to regulate carbon dioxide The Bush administration told morning by White House Budget vices Committee. emissions from power plants, would go further by basing its trans- Congress Wednesday it would seek Director Joshua Bolten that the White The White House request is portation planning and funding decisions in part on the greenhouse an additional $25 billion to finance House would submit its third special expected to be formally submitted in gases that projects would produce. The plan also suggests giving the military operations in Iraq and request for war funding as part of its about 30 days, said officials on owners of hybrid cars tax breaks and the right to use high-occupancy Afghanistan, breaking its pledge to budget proposal for fiscal 2005, Capitol Hill, and would be provided vehicle lanes even without passengers. resist such a move before the which begins Oct. 1. Pressure on the as a “reserve,” or off-budget, spend- The Massachusetts Climate Protection Plan represents the state’s November presidential election. Bush administration for additional ing bill that would resemble the pre- effort to meet regional emissions goals that New England’s governors Though lawmakers from both spending had been building even vious two supplemental funding and Eastern Canada’s premiers embraced in 2001. parties welcomed the request, many from Republicans as prolonged fight- requests totaling $149 billion. Spratt, The plan was cheered by environmental groups, which had hoped said it was inadequate, pointing out ing in Iraq depleted existing funds. whose aids have closely compared for a strong signal that Romney would extend the previous adminis- that the White House itself said ear- “It was clear there were the costs of the Iraq war against the tration’s efforts to limit greenhouse gases. lier this year to expect a funding bill resources our men and women in money allocated to finance it, said “Governor Romney is making it clear that he understands that that could total $50 billion. Iraq and Afghanistan needed and the he estimates the conflict is costing failure to act on climate change is not an option,” said Frank Gorke, “This is a partial payment at other members of the armed services $75 billion at an annual rate. The of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group. “And that he most,” said Representative John M. committee brought this to their additional $25 billion would last understands that, to rise to the challenge of reducing pollution, states Spratt, a South Carolina Democrat attention and they responded,” said until March, he said, making a have to lead by example.” and ranking member of the House Michael Conallen, the chief of staff fourth spending bill inevitable.

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Falun Dafa, also called Falun Gong, is a meditation practice that has brought better health and inner peace to millions around the world. All Falun Dafa activities are run by volunteers, absolutely free and open to general public. Page 4 THE TECH May 7, 2004 OPINION Head for Editorial Chairman MIT’s core set of General Institute Requirements combines ware becoming more and more involved in all areas of science Hangyul Chung ’05 depth with breadth, exposing all undergraduates to intensive and engineering, students should at the very least be aware of fundamental courses in both the sciences and the humanities. the role computers play in their field of study. Introducing a Editor in Chief Nevertheless, the administration’s computer programming and science requirement that, much like Beckett W. Sterner ’06 decision to review the GIR curricu- the Institute Lab requirement, can be satisfied by a range of Editorial lum is sure to spawn suggested well-designed courses spanning a number of majors is a sensi- Business Manager additions to an already extensive common academic program. ble reform. It would recognize the fundamental importance of Roy K. Esaki ’04 We believe that MIT should not overwhelm its students with computers to modern practice in science and engineering. Managing Editor requirements, but if it does expand the GIRs, it should add com- Even computer science may not merit an additional GIR, David Carpenter ’05 puter programming rather than a requirement on diversity. however. Academic exploration should serve as a key compo- The study of diversity is a valid and logical area for curricu- nent of the curriculum, even at a technical school like MIT. The NEWS STAFF lum development, but it has not yet reached the maturity required current GIRs dominate almost all of freshman year for many as a field to be taught alongside history and music as a HASS-D. students, inhibiting their ability to explore different majors. As News Editors: Kathy Lin ’06, Marissa Vogt ’06, Jenny Zhang ’06; Associate Editors: Waseem S. Being a student at MIT does provide some inherent understand- the GIR taskforce progresses through its review, it should Daher ’07, Ray C. He ’07, Tongyan Lin ’07, Giree- ing of cultural and individual differences via its remarkably remember how extensive the current core curriculum is and how ja V. Ranade ’07, Julián E. Villarreal ’07; Staff: diverse student body, but the fact remains that students spend limiting adding additional requirements would prove. While Kathy Dobson G, Eun J. Lee ’04, Michael E. Rolish much of their time working and studying in a homogenizing envi- there is a good argument for adding computer science, the fact ’04, Jay K. Cameron ’05, Issel Anne L. Lim ’05, ronment. An increased emphasis of diversity in the curriculum remains that students have four short years in which they must Kelley Rivoire ’06; Meteorologists: Cegeon Chan could certainly help MIT graduates thrive in their private, profes- be able to both fulfill MIT’s requirements and explore subjects G, David Flagg G, Samantha L. H. Hess G, Vikram sional, and civic experiences. At the same time, diversity is not a that appeal to their individual curiosity and passions. Khade G, Robert Lindsay Korty G, Greg Lawson subject deserving of the status as a GIR requirement. As a con- We should take pride in how our literature majors are well- G, Nikki Privé G, William Ramstrom G, Michael J. Ring G. cept, diversity is not well-understood or well-defined enough to versed in calculus and chemistry, and we should recognize how successfully teach students in one class how to better appreciate studying in a wide variety of fields increases our understanding

PRODUCTION STAFF and feel comfortable with diversity. MIT should develop more and knowledge. MIT’s broad, interdisciplinary education would diversity-themed HASS courses to help support the issue and our not be possible without the strong and extensive core program Editors: Andrew Mamo ’04, Sie Hendrata Dhar- understanding of it, but creating a diversity GIR of the same edu- the GIRs provide. At the same time, mandating subjects, no mawan ’05, Tiffany Dohzen ’06; Associate Editor: Nicholas R. Hoff ’05; Staff: Joel C. Corbo ’04, Joy cational value as a history HASS-D class is not currently feasible. matter how important they seem, should be limited so freedom Forsythe ’04, Kevin Chen ’05, Albert Leung ’06, A more logical candidate for a new GIR, keeping to MIT’s of choice and the ability to explore remain intact. While we Jolinta Lin ’06, Jonathan Reinharth ’06, Jennifer core value as a technical institute, would be introductory-level applaud efforts to reassess the entire GIR program, we caution Huang ’07, Yaser M. Khan ’07, Y. Grace Lin ’07, computer programming and science. A reasonable expectation against adding additional units to the core curriculum. MIT stu- EunMee Yang ’07, Sylvia Yang ’07. of MIT students is that they learn to program at a respectable dents must always have the flexibility to explore their passions,

OPINION STAFF level by the time they graduate. With simulations and other soft- because there is no better time than now. Editor: Vivek Rao ’05; Columnist: Andrew C. Thomas ’04, Ruth Miller ’07, Chen Zhao ’07; Staff: Basil Enwegbara SM ’01, Gretchen K. Aleks ’04, Ken Nesmith ’04, Atif Z. Qadir ’04, W. Victoria Lee ’06, Daniel Barclay ’07.

SPORTS STAFF Editors: Phil Janowicz ’05, Brian Chase ’06; Staff: Yong-yi Zhu ’06, Alisha R. Scher ’07.

ARTS STAFF Editors: Christine R. Fry ’05, Amy Lee ’06; Associate Editor: Kevin G. Der ’06; Staff: Bog- dan Fedeles G, Xian Ke G, Ruby Lam G, Sonja Sharpe G, Fred Choi ’02, Chikako Sassa ’02, Jed Horne ’04, Pey-Hua Hwang ’04, Josiah Q. Seale ’04, Petar Simich ’04.

PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF Editors: Peter R. Russo ’02, Brian Hemond ’04, Jina Kim ’06; Associate Editors: Daniel Bersak ’02, Jonathan T. Wang ’05; Staff: Frank Dabek G, Mar- cus Dahlem G, Wendy Gu G, Stanley Hu ’00, Scott Johnston ’03, Miguel A. Calles ’04, Jimmy Cheung ’04, Ben Gallup ’04, Dmitry Portnyagin ’04, Hassen Abdu ’06, Matt D. Brown ’06, John M. Cloutier ’06, Grant Jordan ’06, Stephanie Lee ’06, Edward Platt ’06, Omoleye Roberts ’06, Rene Chen ’07.

FEATURES STAFF Editor: Akshay Patil ’04; Associate Editor: Tiffany Kosolcharoen ’06; Columnists: Bruce Wu G, Kailas Narendran ’01, Ian Ybarra ’04, Mark Liao ’06, Rose Grabowski ’05, Danchai Mekade- naumporn ’05, Alex Nelson ’06, Zach Ozer ’07, Letters To The Editor Dan Scolnic ’07; Cartoonists: Jason Burns G, Jumaane Jeffries ’02, Sergei R. Guma ’04, Sean Liu Erratum Graffiti on Campus This is an issue that affects not only the ’04, Brian Loux ’04, Jennifer Peng ’05, Nancy Phan To All Members of the Community, ethnic group targeted, but everyone in this ’05, Qian Wang ’05. Over the past several months, there has community. Therefore, we are seeking the BUSINESS STAFF been an active campaign of hurtful graffiti tar- help of each and every member of MIT to geted against Asian members of the MIT assist in bringing an end to this repulsive prac- Operations Manager: Lauren W. Leung ’07; community. The content of these graffiti tice. The caption issue for the May 4 Staff: Jyoti R. Tibrewala ’04, Lynn K. Kamimoto ranges from the cruel to overt threats of vio- If you come upon an example of these photo of two men mudwrestling dur- ’05, Chris Ruggiero ’07. lence. graffiti, do not ignore it. Please report it to the ing steer roast misspelled the name of TECHNOLOGY STAFF The graffiti are written in black indelible MIT Police as soon as possible so that we Stephen Rinehart ’93. marker, and are not confined to any specific may make a record of it and expedite its Staff: Daniel Leeds ’05, Lisa Wray ’07. area of campus, but have surfaced throughout removal. Further, if you see anyone engaged EDITORS AT LARGE the Institute. The MIT Police, working in this practice or if you have knowledge through Facilities, have been successful in about who may be doing this, please let us Senior Editors: Satwiksai Seshasai G, Keith J. removing most of the hurtful slogans immedi- Winstein G, Jennifer Krishnan ’04; Contributing ately upon their discovery. Continued on Page 6 Editors: Jeremy Baskin ’04, Devdoot Majumdar ’04.

ADVISORY BOARD Letters, columns, and cartoons must bear the authors’ signatures, Opinion Policy addresses, and phone numbers. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. Peter Peckarsky ’72, Paul E. Schindler, Jr. ’74, V. Editorials are the official opinion of The Tech. They are written The Tech reserves the right to edit or condense letters; shorter letters Michael Bove ’83, Barry Surman ’84, Robert E. will be given higher priority. Once submitted, all letters become Malchman ’85, Deborah A. Levinson ’91, by the editorial board, which consists of the chairman, editor in chief, managing editor, opinion editor, a senior editor, and an opin- property of The Tech, and will not be returned. The Tech makes no Jonathan Richmond PhD ’91, Saul Blumenthal commitment to publish all the letters received. ’98, Joseph Dieckhans ’00, Ryan Ochylski ’01, ion staffer. Rima Arnaout ’02, Eric J. Cholankeril ’02, Ian Lai Dissents are the opinions of signed members of the editorial ’02, Nathan Collins SM ’03, B. D. Colen. board choosing to publish their disagreement with the editorial. To Reach Us

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Printed on recycled paper by Charles River Publishing. May 7, 2004 OPINION THE TECH Page 5 Defending Szuminski’s Who Can Candid Comments Save Africa? Jeffrey J. Billing e-mailed NECBL coaches and found his interview. In our opinion, it was exceedingly own transportation to Providence for a try- considerate of Szuminski to never have Basil Enwegbara and Alvie P. Loreto out with the only team with a remaining ros- brought these issues up in prior interviews. ter spot. During his four-year journey through the Just like any great people at a historic In the April 13 issue of The Tech, Second, once scouts became interested in ranks of professional baseball, he has been juncture, Africans today are crying out for Christopher Anderson opines negatively seeing Jason play at MIT, the coach at the interviewed multiple times, so he has had leadership. They are looking for a messiah toward recent media quotes of MIT alumnus time refused to cooperate with Jason or the ample opportunities to convey these negative to show them the way, a messiah endowed and current professional ballplayer Jason E. scouts. He failed to implement a pitching feelings towards MIT athletics — yet he with the power to ignite their passion and Szuminski ’01 rotation — a standard baseball strategy which never brought the topic up himself. Only inspire the best in them. They are impatient- [“Szuminski’s plans that pitcher X when ESPN broached ly waiting for a leader who not only will Letter to Barbs Hurt will throw on day Y. the subject and then counter the great forces of status quo but MIT Ath- Instead, an hour before prodded him for an will also be capable of persuading and mobi- letes”]. It is game time the coach When scouts would call answer did he lizing people. The Editor unfortunate selected his starting respond accordingly. But in the absence of the awaited leader, that, in defending MIT Athletics, Anderson pitcher (the coach did inquiring about Szuminski’s Anderson ends his Africans have acted like a people without applies scant third-hand information about know who he was status, the coach would say he column by saying he direction. We have simply embraced “easy” Szuminski’s collegiate career to make his going to pitch long doesn’t “feel like ways, accepting poverty as if we had no other supporting points. As four-year MIT baseball before, but he liked to wasn’t sure, but maybe Jason cheering for [Szumin- choice. And more frightening is our willing- players (three years as teammates of Szumin- defy the standard con- ski], he doesn’t seem ness to place our destiny in others’ hands. In ski), and senior-year co-captains, we feel vention to emphasize would throw today… or to be cheering for us.” doing so, we have come to believe we can compelled to enlighten Anderson and anyone his personal ideology It so happens that simply contract out development to those else who reacted with passionate assent to about “being prepared tomorrow… or the next day. upon the hiring of the “specially endowed,” and that out of sheer Anderson’s opinions. for every game”; he did new baseball coach- sympathy they must come to our rescue. Before touching upon Szuminski’s com- not at all believe it was ing staff in September In Africa, narrow, short-term gains are ments toward the MIT baseball program of counterproductive to his players). As a result, 2003, we exchanged e-mails with assistant everyone’s goals, leading to confusion every- the past, we must emphasize that things have when scouts would call inquiring about Szu- coach Chris Campassi to wish the new coach- where — in politics, in religion, and in econo- vastly improved. In regards to the Department minski’s status, the coach would say he was- ing staff good luck and offer alumni support. my — especially since public office holders of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recre- n’t sure, but maybe Jason would throw Szuminski carbon-copied on our e-mails and are fully aware they may not last long or have ation (DAPER), one needs only to visit cam- today… or tomorrow… or the next day. responded to Campassi Sept. 16 with the fol- a second chance. Little wonder Africa is today pus to see the remarkable newly-installed Scouts would then call Szuminski directly lowing reply: “Chris, I just wanted to chime in littered with so many failed, corrupt projects, facilities. In regards to the baseball program, a (and even at his home in Texas) trying to find wishing y’all good luck with the new pro- making it extremely difficult for any serious new, extremely knowledgeable coaching staff out when and where they could see him pitch. gram. I’m sure you realize how excited most projects to take place in the region. has been hired, and the future of the program We remember vividly how frustrating this of your players and the recent alums are to The enforcement of the structural adjust- is bright. With a strong underclassman core experience was for Szuminski. Additionally, have [a new coach]. Hopefully you still have ment policies of the IMF and the World Bank complementing these qualified coaches, now because it actually prevented some scouts enough guys psyched to play baseball and can in the 1980s dramatized the already difficult is the most exciting time in recent history to from seeing him pitch, it empirically reduced quickly build a fun and competitive team … situation. These policies stifled local be a current or prospective member of the his draft chances. (Luckily he threw well on Best of luck, Jason Szuminski” economies and made it popular for privileged MIT baseball team. the days that scouts did come, and the rest of The truth is that Jason and the rest of us Africans to seek greener pastures outside the With that being said, let us address Ander- Jason’s improbable journey is history.) alumni want nothing more than to see the MIT continent. Since governments had their hands son’s accusation that “Szuminski betrayed the Any athletic coach is not supposed to baseball program succeed, perhaps to the off when any form of social development — entire department that made his Major League make it harder to achieve success — he or she point of producing more professional-caliber including education — was concerned, West- Baseball gig possible.” should assist team members in recognizing players. However, the program’s future is ern colleges and universities replaced their First, Szuminski’s path to the major and capitalizing upon all athletic opportunities bright only because past players endured so African counterparts for the education of leagues started in 1999 in the New England at hand. But Jason received no such support, frustrating an experience for so long that they Africans, particularly the rich. It didn’t end College Baseball League (NECBL), a sum- neither from his coach nor from an athletic eventually delivered an ultimatum to DAPER there. In fact, those who can afford it have mer wooden-bat league comprised mainly of department that constantly looked with pas- to “either remove the coach or cut the pro- come to believe that it will even serve the best NCAA Division I players. It was here, not sive indifference upon a fundamentally gram.” (Obviously, this was a desperate and interests of their returning children — if at all during MIT games, that scouts first saw Szu- unqualified baseball coach who produced five less-than-ideal approach; we concur with they ever return — to inherit the status quo. minski pitch. He was the NECBL all-star losing seasons in six years, including an 8–43 Brian Chase’s April 13 Tech article [“A Today the result is glaring. Africans have game’s winning pitcher, and only after his record from 2001-2002. Being that this situa- Focused Look at MIT Athletics”] in hoping compromised the future for narrow gains, and over-the-top summer performance did scouts tion was the biggest roadblock to his dream, more ideal conduits are put in place for feed- the cleverest people, badly needed to help lead express interest in attending MIT games to one would expect Szuminski to harbor some back to DAPER.) Current MIT athletes should the continent’s economic development, are see him pitch. Incidentally, he made the lingering animosity. not be scorning Szuminski for telling the truth now a giveaway to western economies. It’s NECBL through no assistance from anyone Thus, it was no surprise to us to see within DAPER. Rather, Szuminski himself Jason’s comments in Jim Caple’s ESPN.com Szuminski, Page 6 Africa, Page 6 A Realist Critique of U.S. Iraq Policy

Adam Kolasinski ation of Kosovo Serb war crimes by several tance and to coerce Syria into stopping its as the associates of the Ayatollah al-Sistani, orders of magnitude. sponsorship of radicals. We cannot win our who have a popular following and who, with As American casualties in Iraq mount, Others have charged that Bush’s strategy war on radical Islam until we achieve these American help, could come to rule Iraq the President Bush’s Iraq policy has come under was excessively unilateral. On its face, this three objectives. Furthermore, while Hussein way Abdullah rules Jordan. We should pick a intense criticism. While Bush deserves criti- charge is demonstrably false since many may not have yet had an alliance with Al- popular moderate and offer him power in cism for his Iraq policy, much of it has been nations, including Australia, Britain, Poland, Qaeda, he was aiding other Islamic terrorists. exchange for his leading his followers to fight erroneous. Let us sift the valid criticism from and Italy, contributed troops. Those impor- Such aid, and the fact that he shared some the Sunni insurgents and the Iranian-backed the nonsense. tant countries that protested or sat out were interests with Al-Qaeda, made likely a future Shiite radicals. Iraqis will be more willing to Many critics have asserted that Bush lied not going to help no matter what. China, alliance, one which would be particularly dan- fight for a local like Sistani than Paul Bremer. about Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass France, Germany, and Russia had financial gerous given his capability of manufacturing For all its faults, the British Empire demon- destruction to get us into the war, since it is interests in keeping Hussein in power. chemical and biological weapons. Throw in strated that ruling by proxy through favored now apparent that Saddam Turkey worried the benefit of Iraqi oil coming to market, and local factions is an effective method of occu- Hussein did not have any the war might the case for war becomes irrefutable. pation. actual stockpiles of such encourage Kur- Instead of making such a case based on Yet instead of picking a desirable faction, weapons. Such criticism is Before the war,Bush was acting dish nationalism. geopolitical strategy, Bush attempted to base the Bush administration, in its desire for outrageous because U.S. Yes, we recently everything on WMD, and now that WMD democracy, has foolishly sought to give all intelligence agencies were as if he were a prosecutor,trying lost Spain’s help, have not been found, on democratizing Iraq. factions a voice and favored none. Al-Sadr’s certain that Hussein did but one cannot Neither argument is persuasive. Other rogue faction, for example, now giving us no end have WMD stockpiles, a to prove that Saddam violated blame Bush for regimes possess WMD. Many countries are of trouble, never made secret its desire for fact that can be verified by UN resolutions in order to Spanish cow- not democracies. Why single out Iraq? Iranian-style theocracy. Yet the Bush admin- a myriad of sources, ardice. Inability to articulate the strategic impor- istration tolerated them, squandering several including Bob Wood- justify his ouster,as if great Bush’s true tance of our presence in Iraq appears to be opportunities to neutralize al-Sadr. Our sup- ward’s new book and Ken- fault has been a causing Bush to engage in foolhardy occupa- port of a Baathist general in Fallujah is neth Pollack’s article in the powers need some legal pretext failure to articulate tion policy. To realize the strategic benefits another example. If we are to achieve our January/February Atlantic. the strategic of the war, it is imperative that a stable, strategic objectives, we must ensure that Furthermore, while it may in order to eliminate an imperative of the friendly government be installed in Iraq as those Iraqis who will make good allies end be true that Hussein did annoying rogue regime. war. Before the soon as possible. Whether such a government up in power. not have any stockpiles of war, Bush was act- is democratic matters little, so long as it is Bush must disabuse himself of neo- ready-to-use chemical or ing as if he were a not wildly unpopular or an egregious violator Wilsonian delusions about democracy. Many biological weapons, he did prosecutor, trying of human rights. Bush, however, is prioritiz- countries in the world are not democratic, yet possess the materials and technology to manu- to prove that Saddam violated UN resolutions ing democracy over our strategic interests, to only a small subset of them breeds terrorism. facture such weapons and was funding an in order to justify his ouster, as if great powers the detriment of the latter. Democracy will To win our war we must destroy those who effort to obtain nuclear weapons, as is docu- need some legal pretext in order to eliminate not likely succeed in a primitive, quasi-tribal sponsor the radical islam that causes global mented in David Kay’s report. an annoying rogue regime. Instead of making country like Iraq, as the experiences of Haiti, terrorism. A government of an Islamic coun- Other critics, while admitting that Bush a legalistic argument, Bush should have Zimbabwe, and countless other places seem try need not be democratic to aid in this task, never lied, charge that he misled the public by argued that we were taking Hussein out to indicate. We can hold elections in Iraq, as Jordan and Egypt demonstrate. The expe- omitting mention of intelligence that seemed because it was in the West’s strategic interests but one, we probably won’t like the outcome rience of Turkey suggests that the purging of to indicate Hussein’s nuclear program was to do so. and two, whoever wins will likely follow in radical Islam from a country by a benevolent only a minor threat. This criticism has merit, Situated in between three countries that the footsteps of Aristide or Mugabe and dictator may even be a necessary first step to but given that Iraq’s nuclear program was either actively sponsor or tolerate radical become a useless thug. Scholar Daniel Pipes lasting democracy. Yes, it would be nice if only a small part of the case for war, the bio- Islamic terrorists, Iraq has great strategic rightly noted that our interests would be best we could make Iraq democratic immediately, logical and chemical programs taking center importance. The ability to move bases out of served by installing in Iraq a friendly, but the meager, unlikely-to-be-realized bene- stage, Bush’s transgressions here seem minor. Saudi Arabia to Iraq will allow us to pressure “democratically-minded strongman” in the fits from attempting it do not justify the Unfortunately, all wartime presidents hyped the Saudis to crack down on Islamic radicals. tradition of Ataturk or the Hashemite mon- risks. their wars, and Bush’s hype is minimal com- Iraq will make a convenient base from which archs. Adam C. Kolasinski is a graduate student pared, for example, to Bill Clinton’s exagger- to conduct operations aiding the Iranian resis- There are plenty of moderates in Iraq, such in financial economics. Page 6 THE TECH OPINION May 7, 2004 Rethinking MIT Baseball Improves Quality Africa Responds to Criticism, Hires New Coach Szuminski, from Page 5 did cast a negative light on MIT athletics, but Szuminski has always had the mindset to elic- Africa, from Page 5 they were the cold, hard truth regarding his it improvements in the structural integrity of about his experiences any more than they particular time there, not “non-constructive his personal environments. Judging by today’s mind-boggling that nothing is being done to should scorn today’s student-athletes for sub- criticisms” or parting shots intended to shame rejuvenated state of MIT athletics (and in par- reverse Africa’s brain drain. To say the least, mitting critical feedback to their superiors. the Institute. Szuminski’s outspoken yet sensi- ticular MIT Men’s Baseball), Jason Szuminski it is a tragedy. Future generations, historians Were it not for mounting complaints, initiated ble approach toward life, from his MIT days is every bit as proud of DAPER as the Insti- included, will find themselves perplexed not by Szuminski and continuing through six sea- of past to his MLB days of today, has been a tute should be of the first Brass Rat big-lea- because we failed to look ourselves in the mir- sons’ worth of MIT ballplayers, the baseball key building block in the Institute constantly guer. ror, but because we expected others to take program would likely be in the same decrepit re-examining and improving its athletic Jeffrey J. Billing ‘01 and Alvie P. Loreto responsibility on our behalf. They will find it state as it was in Jason’s time. department through the feedback of its student ‘01 played for the MIT baseball team from incomprehensible that we strongly hoped that In closing, Szuminski’s candid comments participants. First and foremost an engineer, 1998-2001, and captained the team in 2001. some distant nations would come to our res- cue, even when never in history has any dis- tant nation ever left its own problems to go and solve another’s. Letters To The Editor As humanitarian as humans can be, we always offer aid after weighing our own inter- Continued from Page 4 Noticeably lacking in the recent reportage do this immediately. ests. We first ascertain the costs of humanitar- — and in an accompanying apologia mas- The position of ombudsman should be ianism, and should there be any doubts, not know. You may contact us at 617-252-1703. querading as editorial — is 1) a clear presen- filled immediately and not left to languish. only will we not help, but we may go so far as This truly is a community problem and tation of the facts of the case and 2) a clear Anything less is clear legitimation of a puerile to try to ensure that those in need do not suc- will only end with community involvement. and stated commitment to maintain the posi- emotionalism that puts the fact of criticism ceed even on their own. We do so because of Thank you, tion of ombudsman at The Tech. (harsh or not) above the reality of the reader- the simple law of human survival. No amount John DiFava The facts of the case should not turn on ships views (harsh or not). From where I sit of moralization will change this law. Chief of MIT Police personalities and thin skin and should be pre- John Hawkinson was doing a good job of it. I Ability to recognize these realities will sented to the readers as a matter of course. have seen nothing in print from The Tech that help Africans begin to find the right solutions Whatever infraction was committed and pun- contradicts this view. He should be rehired to their problems. Understanding that the Ombudsman Decision ishment meted should be put forth and not immediately or, if the true facts of the case — uniqueness of African problems will require If The Tech’s own reporting is to be shirked. You have removed the readerships to which I am not privy — bode otherwise, some unique and homegrown solutions is believed and the words of the executive board direct link to the editorial board. You must then the position must be filled immediately essential and is the right way to begin. Recog- to be taken at face value, the inescapable con- have justification for this action and you must by someone of equal or greater facility with nizing that there are no shortcuts or magic clusion is that MIT possesses the rarest of rare detail that justification. If you wish ever to be the written word and critical analyses. solutions, understanding that there’s no great breeds — the thin-skinned editor — in abun- taken seriously by that readership which you Petr Swedock success without accompanying risk, sacrifices, dance and in crucial positions. have so callously stripped of a voice, you will LIDS Research Staff and trial and error learning, and appreciating that the size of the problem also defines the size of the opportunity will make us more pre- pared to face today’s challenges. More importantly, giving everyone an equal opportunity to participate and to experi- ment will help ignite the entrepreneurial vigor in most Africans. The day we begin believing in ourselves, trusting one another, treating one another with respect, and praising and giving credit to deserving fellow Africans is the day our development begins to take strong roots. The day we guarantee everyone’s economic freedom is the day African capitalism emerges. And more importantly, the day we stop spending billions of dollars annually in defense and start channeling that money into education, health care, and agriculture is the day we really know how to put our money where our mouths are. Africans need more actions than blueprint declarations if they want to become a compet- itive member of the global economy. They need an African central bank and an “afro cur- rency,” not just to ease regional trade but also to reduce present dependence on non-African currencies and their associated transaction costs. Africans will welcome a unified Africa in which governments do less to divide them or obstruct their free movement, where goods and services move freely not only because that will guarantee them access to a huge mar- ket but also because it will facilitate cross- border flows of capital across Africa. The presence of a regional assembly making laws, a regional police force maintaining law and order, and a regional peacekeeping force mak- ing war a thing of the past will begin to cement regional integration. Africans must do these things not to impress anyone; it is Africa’s future that is at stake. Looking to make a few extra dollars?

offers paid positions: • Web design • Network Support • Advertisement Sales [email protected] May 7, 2004

Page 7

by Jason Burns

Tr io by Emezie Okorafor

State of the Institute Address by Brian Loux

QED by Brian Lewis Page 8 The Tech May 7, 2004

I Live in A Giant Bucket by Adam Love

Dilbert ® by Scott Adams May 7, 2004 The Tech Page 9

ACROSS 41 Whole shebang DOWN 29 Sets free 1 Custard treat 44 Invite to enter 1 Ice mass 30 Refutes by 5 Biggers’ 45 Danny or Stubby 2 Peru’s capital detailed detective 46 Dispatched 3 Latin love examination 9 Checked out the 47 Greek advisor 4 Opposite of 32 Appearance joint 49 Meadows to a everybody 33 Word with point 14 Prom transport poet 5 One of superior or length 15 Singer Falana 51 Circulars quality 35 Automobiles 16 Left bed 52 Retirement grp. 6 Diamond name 37 Revue part 17 “Typee” sequel 53 Ump’s call 7 Thanks __! 39 Actress Ione 18 Armageddon in 55 Narrow inlet 8 Night in 42 Arrogantly brief 57 “If I Had a Nuremburg 43 Influence 19 Put into service Hammer” group 9 North or South 48 Regret again 64 Italian violinmaker state 50 RSVP part 20 Medical 66 Legendary 10 Precinct 54 Trick partner specialty lawman 11 Asian nation 56 Maytag rival Solution, page 14 23 Dawn goddess 67 Rene’s friend 12 Superman’s 58 French state 24 Poetic contraction 68 Tag line from letter 59 Peel 25 “48 __” Aesop 13 Billy __ Williams 60 “Rule Britannia” 28 High peak 69 Florence flower 21 Expression of composer 31 Fifty percent 70 Actress Foch wonderment 61 Dictator Idi 34 Pointed stake 71 Like a nitpicker 22 Grave letters? 62 Peel 36 Superman’s 72 Adolescent 26 Repair again 63 Some votes sweetie 73 Words missing 27 Wading birds 64 Elec. unit

Crossword Puzzle Crossword 38 Dove sounds from theme 28 Pinkerton and 65 A Stooge 40 One Judd entries Ramsay Bridge

By Jason Chiu

Another critical tool for getting to odds-on grand slams is asking the right questions. In this deal from the First Qualifying Session of the Blue Ribbon Pairs, ask- ing the right question means the difference between N languishing in 6NT or enjoying the matchpoints for 7♠. After I made a pointless stall with the New Minor W E Forcing 3♣, the auction ceased to be manageable. The S information that my partner does not have three spades nor six hearts is irrelevant, since we have not settled on a strain. We cuebid several controls, but eventually stopped in 6NT. My partner squeezed South in hearts and diamonds, but +1470 was worth only 13.5 match- points on a 25 top. Then he pointed out a general principle which included a nearly certain path to this grand slam. If I stepped back from the ecstasy of slam investigation to realize that the ♣A and the kings of the remaining suits would give play to 7♠, then the correct call was clear. Bidding a forcing, and mildly slammish, 3♠ would enable us to cuebid fruitfully, eventually allow- ing him to conclude that I held six strong spades and two red aces. Bidding the grand slam would be worth 21.5 matchpoints. Answer from the April 30 column: The question was slightly more tricky than I had intended, and no correct answers were received. If North-South avoids taking the ♥A or leading clubs, then 6♦ doubled shall fail by four tricks. Any such slip would allow West to establish an extra trick in dummy. Question, due at [email protected] by Tuesday, May 11. Why did I never choose to bid 4NT? An entry shall be chosen at random from the correct responses to win a free play at the MIT Draper Lab’s Bridge Club. The winner and answer shall be printed on May 14.

Student Pugwash Forum: Monday, May 10, 7pm The Future of MIT Room 54-100 Panelists Travis Franck Technology and Policy Program Environmentalism Sarah Fredericks Lutheran Episcopal Ministry Gillian Harding MIT College Republicans Ken Nesmith The Tech Jerrad Pierce GreenMap MIT Philip Sheehy Students for Global Sustainability David Strozzi MIT Greens Moderator Daniel Collins MIT Student Pugwash

web.mit.edu/pugwash Sponsored by MIT Student Pugwash and MIT UA/Finboard Laughing is one form of mental hygiene. Page 10 THE TECH May 7, 2004 BEN GALLUP —THE TECH

ANDREW YIP —THE TECH ANDREW YIP —THE TECH ANDREW YIP —THE TECH Students Fight for 2.007 Glory Contest More Complicated Than Last Year, But Students Finish Robots Earlier in Term 2.007, from Page 1 were a little more on schedule this year. The instructors did “a better he also built in several offensive job coaching and keeping them to a ANDREW YIP —THE TECH mechanisms capable of scoring schedule,” he said. points. “I expected to do well,” Lju- The course also differed this bicic said. “My goal was to place in year in that students built a simple the top four” because of the trip to car for three weeks early in the Japan, he said. semester as an introduction, Slocum In the finals, Ljubicic was able to said. Between a quarter and a half of spin the paddle wheel to win the the students incorporated their early round and the contest. cars into their final machines, he “I didn’t know he had a spin- said. ner,” Woodruff said. Ljubicic said The “robots generally came out that he had not used the spinner in less well-made this year, but they any of the earlier rounds because he came out sooner,” said Peter K. was saving it as a last resort. Augenbergs ’05, an undergraduate Woodruff’s robot, which was assistant for this year’s contest who faster and more mobile than most, participated last year. consisted of two smaller robots. One “People were driving around a of the robots was specialized in lot sooner than last year,” said Jere- spinning the paddle wheel, and did my H. Scholz ’05, also an assistant so quite successfully until the last who participated last year. round. The other robot pushed balls into the hole. Many hours spent on robots Woodruff said that he stayed up Both Ljubicic and Woodruff on Wednesday night trying to figure said that they spent a lot of time out how to beat Ljubicic. “He was building their machines. the one person I feared,” Woodruff Ljubicic said that he spent about said. twelve hours a week on his machine. Contest more complicated Woodruff said that he worked on Professor Ernesto E. Blanco, an his machine every day over spring instructor in the course, said that the break and 16 hours a week during contest was more complicated than the semester. past years’ contests. “I wonder if we Woodruff’s advice for anyone made it too complicated and too dif- taking 2.007 in future years? “Don’t ficult,” he said. leave a 2.005 project until the night Slocum said that the students after 2.007.” ANDREW YIP —THE TECH ANDREW YIP —THE TECH (center of page) Philip E. Murray ’06 (left) and Marc D. Strauss ’05 ANDREW YIP —THE TECH (right) face off in the first round of the 2.007 finals. Strauss was vic- torious and moved on to the next round.

(clockwise from upper left) Mechanical Engineering Professor Alexander H. Slocum ’82 gives the audience an earful of sophomore Neera Jain’s FemmeBot as it uses its a high speed rotor to spin the scoring paddlewheel. BEN GALLUP —THE TECH ANDREW YIP —THE TECH Diana Lui ’06 and her assistant Somin Lee ’06 work the controls.

Bryan Woodruff ’06 (left) takes the controls from his assistant Celeste K. Chudyk during the third round of competition.

Competition staffer Christina M. Laskowski ’05 (left) explains the contest rules to a group of kids.

Woodruff and Chudyk place their robot on the table in preparation for the final round of competition. Woodruff placed second overall.

Professor Slocum hoists winner Dean M. Ljubicic ’06 for Slocum’s trademark 2.007 victor-haul. This year’s competition ended with a highly dramatic final round, complete with a come-from-behind victo- ry.

Behind the scenes, AV specialists film the competition with remote- controlled cameras.

Josiah B. Rosmarin ’06 (right) reacts to a momentary setback while assisting Marcos G. Berrios ’06.

Professor Slocum entertains the audience with a joke between rounds of competition. Page 12 THE TECH May 7, 2004 FEATURES It May Not Be Right, But is it Even Wrong? School Spirit, Our Spirit, Rocky and Bring It On

By Dan Scolnic school, but we know that’s not the case. It The culture just feeds on itself. People go rooting for ourselves. It is not just our school FEATURES COLUMNIST just doesn’t make sense. So what’s the prob- to sports games only to see that no one goes spirit that dies but our own spirit. Our school MIT has cheerleaders, but who are they lem? and then never come back. Naïve kids who spirit depends on our own spirit. If we could leading? MIT has sports teams, but who’s The easy answer is that we’re too busy. have a chance of liking the place and maybe still cheer ourselves on, we could cheer this watching them? The Coop has MIT sweat- There are around forty sports teams, which even going to a football game are soon taught school on. If we could be proud of who we shirts, but who’s wearing them? MIT is one of means we’re pretty spread out. But more otherwise. We talk about MIT with this feel- are then we could be proud of where we are. the best schools in the world, but who’s proud importantly, we don’t have time to watch ing that borders on vengeance. They took So let’s remember we who we are and of it? squash when we have a test that’s about to something from so we’re not going to give where we are. We are these kids going up Not many of us. squash us. But at other great schools, like them anything. We have the logic of five year against this monster. We are Rocky going up Not many of us go to nearly as many Princeton, Duke or Yale, they come together olds. But still, they break us. We feel MIT against MIT’s Drago. MIT is a Soviet Union sports games at college as we did in high for some of their teams, and they are very stole a certain happiness from us, they took backed, P-set giving, steroid-using machine. school. Not many of us even go to one game busy, too. For them, a sports game is an event something we cherished in ourselves and But let’s remember that we’re in the ring. here at MIT. My high school basketball team and they treat it like we treat an Advisor’s we’re scared its gone forever. And we can win. But the most important thing was terrible; we didn’t have a guy taller than meeting. But it hasn’t left us. That’s even one of the is that we fight. We fight for our place in the six feet, but there were still five times as So the problem is deeper. painful parts; we can still feel these wishes for ring. We fight for our happiness. And if we many people at every game than at any MIT The problem is we don’t care. The most happiness. But we give up; we de-prioritize can fight for ourselves, if we can fight against game. repeated expression here is “IHTFP,” so why our happiness too quickly. Why do we say we what this school is doing to us then we can We say that MIT sports stink; but that’s go to one of this FP’s sports games? Knock- hate this place? We hate it because we hate change this school into something worth fight- not the case. Our men’s soccer team went to ing MIT is the culture here, and we aren’t what it’s doing to us. ing for. the the division III elite eight this year and going to support something we knock. We IHTF place is really our projection of What I’m trying to say is if I can change, our men’s water polo won their tournament. may complain and whine, but we’re not hyp- IHTF person. And we just stop cheering. We and you can change, then we all can change. We say that there were more people in high ocrites. stop going to our own sports games. We stop Or better: its been brought. Positive Sinking How To Eat It All Works Out In Base Thirteen Like an Asian By Akshay Patil FEATURES EDITOR Howdy, here’s a random question to ponder (this is my typical “ice-breaker” question Asian Childhood Snacks I always use when I’m meeting new people): If you had to drown in anything other than water, what would it be, and why? By Mark Liao aged by Glico and has gained so much I’ve heard all sorts of answers from the ordinary (beer, chocolate, etc.) to the uber- FEATURES COLUMNIST popularity they’ve even got David Beck- geeky (liquid oxygen, heavy water, phosphate-buffered saline, etc.) to the downright As a kid, we all had some fantasies ham endorsing it. Of course there are bizarre (liquified corn dogs, E-Z Cheese with bacon flavoring, etc.), so I’m interested to that in retrospect were just plain weird. now a hundred and one different flavors hear what the Positive Sinking guru can come up with.. Some of us longed to be covered in out there ranging from marble tea choco- — Vanessa green ooze and become giant mutant late flavor marketed at men, to white Water. Oh crap, that’s not allowed. Uhm, well I’m really not keen on the whole dying turtles. Others wanted to have a bullet- chocolate with almonds flavor marketed thing, so how about cryogenic-super-cold-liquid-stuff-that-doesn’t-kill-you-but-preserves- proof, talking car you could communi- as the “sophisticated” Pocky. Bottom you-for-future-revival? You know, like I was Ted Williams… minus the ability to hit the cate with via your watch. line, there’s a type of Pocky for every- ball with a bat, but plus the calculus. I was no different; my crazy childhood one. Assuming that’s not allowed either, I’d probably have to be all uncreative like and say dream was to be locked overnight in a Now some of you might remember “chocolate.” Or maybe chocolate with penguins. I’d say liquid penguin, but that’s kind of supermarket. Just imagine how many Koala Yummies, tiny koala shaped cook- gross if you think about it, which you are, since you’re reading this. prepubescent food fantasies you could ies filled with chocolate, strawberry or Anyways, chocolate with real living penguins in it, might not be so bad. That’s proba- fulfill. I would never run out of Magic vanilla. You can still find Koala Yummies bly cheating though since the penguins would save me from drowning in the first place Shell for my Haagen Daz ice cream and at most of your local Asian supermar- since they’re nice and, while I’m picking, I’d probably be dressed up in my giant penguin I could actually have an entire bowl of kets, sometimes even in jumbo sizes. suit.… errr, I mean “a” giant penguin suit. Heheh, wouldn’t want to imply that I have a Lucky Charms with only marshmallows. Sadly, they no longer come in a giant giant water-proof penguin suit in my closet which I save for special occasions. Because I But here’s where you and I probably octagonal prism full of hundreds of tasty don’t. And that’s all I have to say about that. differ in how we would take advantage Koalas… now they come in bunches of of our one night of good fortune. As little individually wrapped packets each with You are a witty and quotable guy. Why don’t you have a Technique quote? kids, when you were downing Fruit about fifteen or so cookies. Be careful — Jon Rollups and Shark Bites, I was raised on not to buy the cheapo imitation brand Me? Quotable? You must have me confused with somebody else. As my regular reader dried squid jerky and pickled plums. with the scary looking panda on the box. (hi mom!) will attest, most of what I say is absolute gibberish. Heaven forbid anyone Let’s face it; our priorities would be a bit Shifting gears into the saltier types of should actually quote me, it’d be like translating a high school literature paper into pig different don’t you think? snacks, I know there are things out latin — not only is it horribly obfuscated and weird, but underneath it all nobody’s saying So today, I am going to try to resolve there that most white guys would be anything in the first place. That or it’s full of teenage stang-ay. this little issue. Submitted for the squeamish about. I remember seeing a I actually did turn in a Technique quotation, which I can only imagine was either lost approval of the midnight society, I call page in Maxim on tiny roasted whole or thrown out as stupid. Nothing creative though, since everything I do is probably stolen this article, (queue weird powder that crabs, then seeing them next to the from someone else, whether I realize it or not. makes the campfire roar) Asian child- squid jerky on a trip to Super 88. So I’m Anyways, the quotation I wanted by my photo was “mostly harmless,” which is a hood snacks. just going to lay it out there for you guys phrase that anyone could, and everyone probably does, string together should they put As in any culture, snacks can be and you get to decide whether or not to their mind to it. I like to attribute it to good ol’ Dougie Adams though, since he’s the one divided up into roughly two categories: go for it. who got famous for saying it. salty and sweet. Let’s start with the Almost every culture around the Maybe the good folks at Technique took it out because they felt it was false advertis- sweets. world has some form of jerky. Since beef ing on my part — my friends make me sit in the corner at parties because I tend to scare One of the best parts of the Asian was, and sometimes still is, a luxury in away the cute girls with my inane babbling and giant penguin suit. I like to think I’m not supermarket snack aisle is the candy Asia, we had to find alternative meats to much of a bother though and have yet to receive a restraining order (they did, however, packaged in chains of little packets, salt, dry, and preserve. I can honestly kick me out of the zoo —said I was scaring the children). each with a different flavor. They usually say that nothing will beat a nice piece of Perhaps “mostly harmless” isn’t as kick ass as, you know, ’N*SYNC lyrics, but it felt hang on the ends of the aisle and con- Taiwanese pork jerky. It has the same like the proper footprint to leave in our spiffy red yearbook, four year after being handed tain an assortment ranging from choco- great flavor of a Chinese sweet sausage a red (maroon? cardinal? What is our school color anyways?) Hitchhiker’s guide to late covered fruit flavored gummies to and is much more tender than any Institvte orientation. Japanese super sour hard candies that American jerky I’ve ever had. The only make you cry. thing that may make you hesitate is the Dear Sinking to Wear Pants To, Perhaps my favorite of all such pack- fact that it’s sometimes a bit greasy in its Make something about Beanie Babies eating EG-6 fusion droids in under thirty sec- aged snacks is the round little crackers packaging. onds. It should be soca but definitely not ska. Try and do a Bahamian accent. about the size of large chocolate chips. As for your preserved seafoods, I — Egg Conveying an Emoticon Reading the English translation, these highly recommend the squid jerky. Now I I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I like your name. More importantly, your little guys are made of potato starch but know it sounds odd, but we’ve already e-mail pushes me over my self-imposed minimum word count. Woot. they are, oddly enough, sweet. I really established that squid is good in any Term’s almost over, better unload all those weird thoughts you have into an e-mail to couldn’t care less (grammar people form. Just remember, calamari is good [email protected] where they can be recycled into an environmentally-safe alternative. across campus are screaming right… even if it’s not fried. Squid jerky usually Like newspaper. Which is probably more detrimental to the environment than your weird now) because they are amazing. They’re comes in two types: the stringy shoelace thought… unless your weird thought involves toxic components such as walruses, dresses, usually a light beige color with an artifi- type that is prepackaged, and the long or all natural flavoring. cial crown of brown so you think they flat pieces that are sometimes stored in were individually baked. If you hold rolls. Both have their appeal. The stringy them in your mouth for a little, they kind ones are chewier while the flat pieces of just melt. On my recent trip back to are much softer. Hey, just be grateful I’m Taiwan, my grandmother kept making not trying to convince you to eat dried fun of me because she considers these anchovies or those little cubes of dried Come and play Quark snacks baby food; babies can’t choke on fish wrapped in brightly colored foil that them. could be easily mistaken for candy. Another popular snack is Pocky. The Sticking to the theme of seafood, a [email protected] familiar red box contains roughly twenty good alternative to your Ruffles or or so chocolate covered cookie sticks. Pringles would be shrimp chips. I really This snack of Japanese origin is pack- can’t tell you why they’re called shrimp May 7, 2004 THE TECH Page 13 Community Has Mixed Feelings About Stata Center Stata, from Page 1 want to be subject to that kind of of building projects that includes the glass. with several layers of physical invasion of privacy.” Other designs Stata Center was intended “not just Nicholas E. Matsakis G com- security: reaching an office requires ballooned to $283.5 million dollars. that didn’t make the cut were based to meet space needs,” but to pared working at his desk in Stata to passing through several doors that around the idea of how orangutangs “rethink the idea of a campus.” working in Project Athena’s “fish- open only via MIT ID cards MIT asked for ‘generic’ design live and a colonial mansion. Stata was built to encourage a bowl” cluster that opened onto the equipped with radio frequency Christopher J. Terman, a senior The Stata Center will be a suc- “learning community,” he said. The Infinite Corridor. Working in the identification tags. The added secu- lecturer in electrical engineering and cess, Gehry said, if he was able to planners “recognize that in the end fishbowl was less of a problem, rity measures, unprecedented on computer science, found himself in “interpret what [the occupants] were research is about discussion … Matsakis said, because the fishbowl MIT’s open campus, spawned a the position of liaison between MIT talking about in a way they never [and] encounters in the corridor.” was clearly public space with no lengthy debate. Research Affiliate and the architects constructing the expected.” The building, if it is a This goal is reflected in the expectations of privacy or owner- and well-known privacy advocate building. As one of the representa- success, should come as a surprise building’s numerous open spaces, ship, unlike an office. Richard M. Stallman said that the tives of the new building’s clients, to occupants and “engender a kind many of which serve as office space Others are pleased with the new system of locked doors “embodies Terman ended up as one of MIT’s of pride.” for graduate students. Gehry said building. Graduate student Nicole S. the threat of pervasive computing: main contacts with Gehry. Part of Gehry’s desire to push the enve- that he followed “a simple formula” Immorlica’s impression of the new pervasive surveillance, such as no his job, he said, was to translate lope of comfort may be responsible to draw students out of offices and building is “infinitely better” than tyrant had the ability to impose in from an architect’s “weird lan- for unhappiness among current resi- encourage collaboration: add “a few Tech Square. “Just walking into the past.” guage” to language that engineers dents, but the building’s planners funny colors and bring in some nat- Stata makes you smile.” Deacon Mitchell said that the Stata Cen- could understand. are optimistic. All of the problems ural light.” “If the building seems said that being on campus is advan- ter will be open to the public but Gehry’s approach to the problem “are very solvable,” Terman said. weird and strange … it is related to” tageous. that it will be necessary to find a of designing Stata was to determine Mitchell said that he expected dis- the design goal of encouraging col- The Stata Center’s price tag has compromise between security and the necessary qualities of the space, comfort following a “culture laboration, he said. also raised eyebrows. Terman said accessibility. Electronic security not to solve particular design prob- change.” “The building is an experi- that the building’s budget was a provides the “flexibility to achieve lems, Terman said. The building’s ment,” he said. “I suspect that peo- Many say open spaces lack privacy “series of half-yearly crises.” Each security and openness,” he said. design process was “not a case of ple will discover that they like more The lab’s many open spaces have time the budget had to be reevaluat- Debates about how to improve both the customer being right,” he said, openness,” he said. led, among some, more to a feeling ed, the designers had “worked hard security and privacy are to be wel- but rather a case of the “customer While Gehry was not aware of of lost privacy than a noticeable gain to get [the building] the way you comed and are in the spirit of MIT, needing to broaden their horizons.” the complaints of new occupants, he in collaboration. Leigh Deacon, a want and now you need 30 percent he said. MIT asked that the design of the suggested that the building could be laboratory administrative assistant, less of it,” he said. Gehry said that Despite added security, unwant- building be generic instead of adapted to address them. “You can wrote that her location in one of the in designing the building, he ed visitors appear to be a problem. “shrink wrapping the space” around do it, but you lose something,” he Stata Center’s open spaces was infe- responded primarily to client Gehry said that a sign of a build- the particular needs of current facul- said; changing the building would rior to her office at LCS’s previous requests, but also to “stupid things ing’s success is that “the world ty. “It’s going to take a while to fig- “give up a sense of community.” location in Technology Square. “My like budgets.” Gehry said that the comes to peek at it.” Administrative ure out how to make these spaces Gehry also suggested that residents office at Tech Square might have building’s final design was as far Assistant Mary M. McDavitt said work for us,” he said. may adapt to their new surroundings. been a bit of a hole… but I loved it. from a “brick box” as the budget that she feels like “the ‘unofficial’ In his dialogue with the Stata If those that don’t like the new space It was my hole. I could close the allowed. information desk” on the seventh Center’s future occupants, Gehry can’t accommodate themselves, then door,” she wrote. Another assistant Stata’s unique design also posed floor of the Gates tower. Answering pushed for more radical designs. the building is a failure, he said. also commented on the loss of priva- a series of challenges to those con- questions from visitors makes con- When he first met with MIT repre- cy that results from working in such structing it, Terman said. Several centrating difficult, she said. sentatives, Gehry said that he cor- Students complaints many, varied spaces: “I feel like I lost something contractors went out of business The divergence of opinion that rectly predicted that they would ask An unscientific poll of students very important — a sense of my before the work they were hired to Stata invokes may be partially to replicate their former offices in and staff subscribed to a a CSAIL- own space — and a feeling of do was completed. Mistakes also explained by the fact that there are the new space without realizing that wide mailing list (csail- importance.” caused delays; for example, prob- so many different types of offices in was what they were asking for. The [email protected]) has revealed Many graduate students working lems with the poured concrete walls the new building, some of which are design process asked “how do we a litany of complaints about the new in open spaces, intended to increase of an elevator shaft necessitated better than others. As Gardiol com- get away from this,” he said. building, many of which fly directly collaboration, have voiced concerns jackhammering away a corner of the mented: “NE-43 was wretched; but, Initial designs (including one in the face of the design goals. about privacy and distractions. Stu- shaft and re-pouring it, he said. at least everyone was in the same based on a traditional Japanese Encouraging collaboration was a dents reacted to open spaces that boat. In Building 32, some folks got house) were rejected because facul- major goal in designing the Stata shared glass walls with hallways by RFID security leads to debate the plums, and others got the ty “wanted flexibility but didn’t Center. Mitchell said that the series painting, blocking, or papering the The Stata Center is equipped smushed plums.” Got a hot news tip? Let The Tech know! x3-1541 or e-mail [email protected] Page 14 THE TECH May 7, 2004 Financing for your venture. Old LaVerde’s Transactions Now We’ll ship your stuff home. Serious business Appearing on Credit Card Bills ( ) plans wanted. A rash of unauthorized charges to credit cards from LaVerde’s Even if home is halfway around the world. Market are the result of transactions that were not processed until Contact Greenwich recently, according to a notice to customers posted around the store. Sterling Group, In the notice, LaVerde’s said that “About 6 months ago, we discovered that our Visa/Master Box 294, Hull, Mass. News card processor, (Global Payments), had not 02045 processed a number of credit card transactions Briefs in late 2002 and early 2003; about 20 random days.” “Global Payments our credit card processor, gave us the autho- Solution to Crossword rization to key-enter the un-paid transactions and we are in the from page 9 process of doing so,” the notice states. The notice also states that LaVerde’s has “the original transmis- Let our packaging experts handle your sion tapes” and signed copies of customer receipts from the 2002 international shipping needs. and 2003 transactions. — Marissa Vogt • A range of international services—from standard to next-day The UPS Store • Proper handling of paperwork—to One Kendall Square, Bldg 600 GSC Elects Treasurer help your package clear customs faster Cambridge, MA 02139 The four newly-elected Graduate Student Council officers ran • Online tracking available 617.577.7578 FREE PICK-UP their first meeting on Wednesday at the May monthly GSC General • Plus all the resources and Council meeting. ® www.cambridgeupsstore.com expertise of UPS Virgilio M. Villacorta G was elected treasurer on April 21 at a We’re located near campus. Stop in and ask for details. special GSC session, because he was unable to attend the April Gen- eral Council meeting, during which elections took place. Villacorta ©2004 Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. was the only candidate for GSC treasurer, though other graduate stu- dents could have become candidates after the April meeting, said Michael R. Folkert, the former GSC vice president. Barun Singh G, the new GSC president, Hector H. Hernandez G, the new GSC vice president, and Lucy Wong, the new GSC secre- tary, were all elected at April’s general council meeting. — Kathy Dobson

Acid Releases Dangerous Gas At 300 Tech Square The Cambridge Fire Depart- The person who threw the bottle ment and its hazardous materials into the dumpster called the fire team responded to a call on department, he said. Wednesday, outside 300 Tech- Burns said they responded nology Square. with level A hazard suits and “There was an acid that was applied “soda ash” to neutralize dumped into one of the dump- the ashes, and that no one was sters on the side of the building,” harmed in the incident. said Fire Department Deputy Improper disposal of chemi- Chief James Burns. cals does not occur too often, but “The bottle broke and some it is also not uncommon, he said. gas was released,” Burns said. —Beckett W. Sterner

FRANK DABEK—THE TECH

The Production Department’s Word of the Day Saccade: A rapid intermittent eye movement, as that which occurs when the eyes fix on one point after another in the visual field. May 7, 2004 THE TECH Page 15 Smile! It’s Friday.

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Salaries start at $40,000 per year. If interested, please send a resume and cover letter to: Tamara Cupples [email protected] *MCAT is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges. **Certain restrictions apply. Page 16 THE TECH May 7, 2004 SAE To Rush With IFC in Fall SAE, from Page 1 Province Archon, a national official “the only privileges that they don’t from SAE international fraternity, have are voting privileges.” In addi- Free dinner on dean of discipline, and Daniel Tru- and several people within the MIT tion, Daneshvar added that “they jillo, associate dean for community administration, including David N. also have to submit reports to us on development and substance abuse Rogers, assistant dean and director a regular basis as associate proba- programs. of FSILGs, “because he's been tionary members.” As of right now Sunday nights. Before Orientation 2005, SAE working closely with them,” said SAE doesn’t rush with the fraternity must meet with the IFC recruitment Fiorentino. system because they are not mem- chair to “outline our expectations of “The conclusion that we came to bers of the IFC. them during the recruitment period” … was that they seem to be in good said Daneshvar. shape so far but we kind of don’t SAE plans to rush in fall Wilmer F. Fiorentino ’05, want to rush them,” Florentino said. “The fact that we can rush next spokesman for the expansion com- Becoming associate members of year is a big thing for us … we’re mittee, said, “We’re pretty much the IFC would be the first step to really excited about next year. going to give them some more time full institute recognition of the fra- We’ve been working really hard,” to get to know the IFC, to get to ternity. “Any group needs to come said Adam P. Leeb ’07, SAE assis- know the individual chapters, to through us to get recognition. Once tant rush chair. get more acquainted with the IFC a group is recognized by the IFC it Carlucci said that SAE had and the MIT administration in gen- can get ASA and MIT recognition,” already been “recognized as a eral.” said Daneshvar. colony and pledged in October,” but If SAE can adhere to the IFC A vote by half of the President’s would be initiated as brothers rules and “they can pretty much go Council would make SAE associate tomorrow. A colony is a precursor [email protected] through rush without any incident, members of the IFC. After one year, to a fraternity. W20-483, 617-253-1541 then it would clear up any questions another vote of the council would He said that they were working that we have,” said Fiorentino. give SAE probationary membership. on plans to live with Beta Theta Pi. Then after another six months, the We would “rent the top two floors Committee interviews members council would vote whether or not of their annex,” he said. The expansion committee inter- to make SAE full members of the He calls the IFC permission to viewed four of the nine SAE mem- IFC. rush fully gets them “a step closer” bers, William Noz ’57 President of “Associate members are able to to returning SAE as a member of Want to know what this is? Come the SAE Alumni Corporation, the rush with the IFC,” said Daneshvar, the MIT community. by The Tech and find out! E-mail [email protected] Nightline DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER

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Free tickets for www.Boston .com MIT Students! Insurance Online Auto, Home and Renter’s Insurance Rates made possible by The Council for the Arts at MIT Vellucci Insurance Agency, Inc. Boston Modern Orchestra Project 657 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02141 presents the next generation of prominent Tel: 617-492-4150 American composers and brings to light the energy and creativity of those finding their niche

Next Please join us for yet another great…

Friday May :pm Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory Gainsborough Street Boston

ELENA RUEHR Sky Above Clouds () We’re serving up the finest DAVID RAKOWSKI Persistent Memory () hamburgers, hotdogs, and veggie burgers on campus– AUGUSTA READ THOMAS Aurora () Ursula Oppens piano please join us. Food, drinks, friends, and fun– everyone STEPHEN HARTKE Concerto for Clarinet and welcome! Orchestra “Landscapes with Blues” () Richard Stoltzman clarinet Where: Kresge BBQ Pits EVAN ZIPORYN TBA () World Premiere When: Sunday, May 9th, 2pm-4pm; 6pm-8pm Commissioned by the Catherine and Paul Buttenwieser Foundation Why: To celebrate the end of the school year!

Program Notes :pm with the evening’s composers hosted by MIT faculty member Elena Ruehr Sponsored by Tech Catholic Community and the Graduate Student Council. BMOP composerinresidence

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One ticket per valid MIT student ID Page 18 THE TECH May 7, 2004

WAN YUSOF WAN MORSHIDI—THE TECH Juliana D. Olmstead ’06, Sara E. Cinnamon G, Riva L. Bakal ’06 and Jessica B. So ’05 perform “Celebration,” a piece choreographed by Michelle S. Machon ’04, in Dance Troupe’s Verve at Little Kresge. There will be performances May 7 through May 9.

BUILDING STATA The Design and Construction of New Medlinks Program Features! Frank O. Gehry's Most of us are trained in: -First Aid -CPR -OTC (Over-the-Counter medication) distribution Come to us, we can help you stay healthy! Stata Center at MIT written by Nancy Joyce afterword by William J. Mitchell

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Now Available at The MIT Press Bookstore! May 7, 2004 SPORTS THE TECH Page 19 Track Third in Championship, The Best of Baseball Small Squad Hurts Bid for Title And the Jano Awards By Benjamin A. Schmeckpeper little difficulty finding their rhythms Brewer’s time came up just short, Sox, from Page 20 the way he handled one of the no TEAM MEMBER in the pole vault. Getting the most placing him ninth by just 0.16 sec- decisions. He said to the press after The MIT Men's Track team took out of the tailwind, Hernandez onds. run, and 13 strike outs. Included in one of the games that the wins a squad of just 17 athletes to cleared 14' 1" before having to with- Traina returned to the track to that stretch was a string of seven would have been nice but that no Williams College to defend its title draw because of an injured ham- compete in the finals of both the 100 perfect innings in one rain-logged blame should be given to the from last year at the string. Ball continued vaulting, nar- and 200 meter dashes, looking to game against the Tigers. In that bullpen. That’s how the game is New England Divi- rowly missing his last attempt at 16'. continue the string of near-perfect game, Jeff “Unleaded” D’Amico played. Kudos to you, Jake. sion III Champi- Having cleared 15' 6 1⁄4" earlier, races he had run this season. In the started the game, gave up four runs, Utility: Mike “And the Mechan- onships this weekend. Ball placed second overall; Hernan- 100 meter final, Traina was barely and recorded no outs. Then, the rains ics” Matheny of the St. Louis Cardi- Competing with small dez’s efforts were good for a sev- outleaned at the finish line, giving came and washed him out of the nals. On Tuesday, it was Matheny numbers all season, enth place finish. him a fourth place finish. Traina’s game. When the game resumed, who saved the game for the Cardi- the team looked to continue its On the track, the 4x100m relay specialty is the half-lapper, howev- Westbrook was brought in to pitch, nals and not Izzy. Here’s the stage: strong performance from the NEW- team of Zachary J. Traina ’05, Mar- er, and he had the support of the and the rest is history. Because of Cards up 6–5, bottom 9, 2–2 count, MAC championship the previous cus R. Carson ’07, Jonathan C. entire team as he raced down the his stellar pitching and AL Pitcher of bases loaded, Izzy on the mound, weekend. At the start of the meet, Hsieh ’06 and David A. Blau ’06 homestretch to a second place finish the Week honor, Westbrook has and Burrell at the plate. Izzy throws Williams was the clear front runner, got things off on the right foot, cov- in 21.87 seconds, a scant 0.13 sec- finally earned a spot in the Indians’ some high cheese and gets Burrell with Bates College, MIT, Tufts Uni- ering 400 meters in a season’s best onds behind first place. rotation. Congrats, Jake. to chase it. Strike three was called, versity, and Springfield College 43.13 seconds. Immediately follow- Ultimately, MIT was unable to Not only is the pitching stellar, but the ball got away from Matheny. expected to battle for the second and ing the relay, MIT sent four steeple- defend the title it won last year, as but the hitting is coming together. The runners immediately took off in third place trophies. chasers to the track and Benjamin Williams lived up to expectations Offseason acquisition Ronnie “Ring an effort to tie the game, but Mathe- Competing in the decathlon on A. Schmeckpeper ’05, Krzysztof J. and finished with a dominant 142.5 My” Belliard has set the table for ny raced to the back wall and fired it Thursday and Friday, Thaddeus J. Fidkowski G, and Carlos A. Renjifo points. MIT claimed third place and the Tribe’s offense all year. Belliard to Pujols at first, who himself made Wozniak ’06 secured a third place ’04 ran to third, fourth, and seventh the final trophy, finishing a mere has shown once again that he is a an excellent stretch to nail the out. finish with a score of 5,595 points. place finishes, respectively. two points, 68–70, behind runners- solid hitter with his .385 average. Game over. Cardinals win. It takes a Wozniak saved his best perfor- Competing in what could have up Bates College. Although the Up and down the line-up, everyone smart catcher to act that quickly on mances for his last meet of the sea- been his final collegiate meet, Fid- Engineers did not put together a per- can hit, and hitting coach Eddie his feet to save the game for his son, setting career best marks in five kowski ran 9:42.02, fast enough to fect meet, for such a small squad to “Axel Foley” Murray has shown team. of the ten events. qualify for the All New England finish third in a large championship them how. Look for the Tribe to Honorable Mention: Brian National champion Uzoma A. Championship and extend his sea- is quite an accomplishment. continue producing runs but blow- “Speedy” Roberts of the Baltimore Orji ’06 competed in all three son by a week. After the conclusion The third place finish and NEW- ing leads in late innings. Orioles. This kid can fly. On Tues- throwing events for the Engineers; of the steeplechase, John A. Brewer MAC Championship go a long way day alone, he stole four bases and however, he was unable to find his ’05 ran the 1500 meter in a season’s to erase the team’s memory of their Jano Awards: scored four times for the O’s. He rhythm, placing fifth in the hammer best time of 4:02.89 to win his heat. 2–5 record during the regular sea- Hitting: Michael “Neil” Young has been the spark plug for the Ori- and ninth in the discus before heav- All Brewer could do was watch the son. With the exception of Fidkows- of the Texas Rangers. Judged by oles’ offense and is impossible to ing the shotput 55' 1" to win by following heat and hope his time ki, the entire team returns next year many to be a “sleeper” this year double-up. This season alone, nearly three feet. Nestor F. Hernan- would place him amongst the eight and will look to reclaim the New (damn you, dad), Young has Roberts has 24 runs, 1 HR, 8 RBIs, dez ’05 and Nathan B. Ball ’05 had fastest runners. Unfortunately, England Division III title. exploded in the heat of Texas. So 13 SBs, and a .327 average. He and far this season, Young has 26 runs, another Roberts will run away with 4 home runs, 20 runs batted in, 3 the stolen base titles this season. Rugby Scrums Well, Wins the Match stolen bases, and a .356 hitting aver- Trojan-Enz Boner of the Week: age. Having been moved to short- David Riske “Business” of the By Jenny Hu up the ball immediately and keep kicks down the field during play to stop by the acquisition of Soriano, Cleveland Indians. Sigh. You have TEAM MEMBER moving forward. Lineouts, or advance the ball. Young can now play two positions lost the job you won last season and The Women’s Rugby team throw-ins, have been difficult for the The MIT Women’s Rugby team for your fantasy team. Young hits have had only one good outing all defeated Tufts University 30–5 last team throughout the season. has come a long way in the past before Blalock, so pitchers who year. Maybe your new son is the Saturday morning to finish the Last Saturday was less windy couple years. During the 2002-2003 originally feared Blalock decided to bad luck charm you joked about? spring season 6–0. than previous Saturdays, which season, the team did not win a sin- pitch to Young, trying to get the Honorable Mention: Jimmy MIT dominated the helped thrower Olivia Leitermann gle game. Even last year, the team easier out. Now that Young is pro- “Dinner” Rollins of the Philadelphia game from the begin- ’05 put straight throws into the line- often had difficulty fielding a full ducing, Blalock is seeing more Phillies. Much like the rest of ning, with players outs for jumpers Michele C. Vertic- side of 15 players. This year, with pitches to hit and is producing as Philadelphia’s sports teams, you making runs up the chio G and Perfors to catch. the addition of many talented rook- well. Only a work stoppage can stop have done terribly this season. field between good MIT’s defense was solid ies and the guidance of coaches Ali- this radical chain reaction in Texas. Sporting a Mendoza-esque .188 scrums by forwards and fast, clean throughout the game. Players were son Elliott and Trey Dean, the team Honorable Mention: Ronnie Bel- average with only 7 runs, 4 RBIs, rucks. (A scrum is a fight for pos- aggressive, coming up to meet the has completely turned around. At liard of the Cleveland Indians. See and 2 SBs, you embody all that is session of the ball after a stoppage other team, and tackling low and the beginning of last fall’s season, above section. wrong with the Phillies: inconsisten- in play, and a ruck is a spontaneous hard. Twice, Tufts reached their try only three members of the forward Pitching: Jake Westbrook of the cy. Luckily for Pat Burrell, his scrum.) In previous games, the team zone only to have the ball held up. pack had played rugby before. Cleveland Indians. See above sec- slump has been passed along to you. has had trouble winning rucks, part- MIT’s back line, led by flyhalf Syn- Undiscouraged, the team practiced tion. ly because of their relatively small thia L. Tonn ’06, ran the ball hard to improve individual skills Honorable Mention: Jake “The Hot Fantasy Pick-ups: size compared to other teams. This throught Tufts’ defense to gain and learn how to play together. Snake” Peavy of the San Diego Robby Hammock, Jake West- time players consistently came in yards and score. Sheila A. Longo Progress was visible in the team’s Padres. Following his promising brook, Cliff Lee, Matt Holliday, low and hit hard, pushed back the ’05 assisted in the game’s first try record. They lost the first two offi- trend from last season, Peavy is rip- Rafael Betancourt, Gerald Laird, other team to establish their position by carrying the ball up the middle of cial games of the fall season but ping up the competition. So far, Chone Figgins, Chad Tracy over the ball, and allowed scrumhalf the field and evading several oppo- then won the next three. UMass Peavy has racked up 2 wins, 31 Ks, Rebecca Asser G to take the ball out nents before passing the ball off to Lowell was defeated 48–5, and and a 1.80 earned run average. The Cold Fantasy Dumps: easily. Christiana O. Obiaya ’04, who ran Hartford College was beaten 45–0. only problem with Peavy’s starts is Jimmy Rollins, David Riske, Eight-man Margret I. Nelson ’07 the last few yards into the try zone The win against Tufts puts the MIT that the bullpen tends to blow them. Mike Mussina, Alex Cintron, the and flanker Amy F. Perfors G both and touched the ball down. Longo team on a nine-game winning steak. Three of Peavy’s leads have been Toronto Blue Jays, Mike Lieberthal, had several impressive runs, fight- later scored her own try, as did MIT plays in the New England erased by errant bullpen pitching. Jason Phillips, Derek Jeter, Henry ing off defenders or dragging them Maria E. Stiteler ’04 and wings Rugby Football Union’s Division The thing I like most about Peavy is Blanco behind as they carried the ball up Lucy E. Rodd G and Danielle M. III. Three of the recently defeated the field. The entire team showed Gilbert ’04. Although MIT did not teams, including Tufts, belong to improvement in placing the ball complete any conversion kicks after Division II. With a strong record down neatly after being tackled, scoring, Gilbert and fullback Mary behind them, MIT is looking for- 6725(<285678))29(5%5($. often allowing their support to pick P. Harding ’07 made several long ward to more victories next fall. VW0RQWK

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JENNY HU The women’s rugby team fights for the ball against Tufts University on Briggs Field, Saturday, May 1. MIT won the game 30–6, and finished the spring season with a record of 6–0. /2&$7,2161$7,21:,'(86725(,7:::86725(,7&20 Page 20 THE TECH May 7, 2004 SPORTS Rangers and Indians Yzerman Takes One for the Team By Christopher P. Anderson sons), the Ottawa product was named play is under discussion. With the captain at the tender age of 21. He current collective bargaining agree- Last Saturday in Detroit, the has since ascended to the right hand ment about to expire, NHL commis- Halt Sox Win Streak crowd at Joe Louis Arena sat in of Red Wings patriarch Gordie Howe sioner Gary Bettman has called for shock as the man known across hock- — practically a hero in perhaps the an across-the-board reduction of the By Phil Janowicz Benoit outpitched the top Beantown ey as “The most fervent American outpost of arguably inflated players’ salaries. SPORTS EDITOR hurlers. Closer Francisco “49er” Captain” professional hockey, the place they Unfortunately, the only method for What is up with the Sox? They Cordero has racked up the saves and Column lay sprawl- call Hockeytown. He has skated three this proposal by the owners is a steal six of seven from the Yankees has shot down opponents with his ed on the Stanley Cups around the “Joe,” as lockout, cancelling next season to just to lose to the Rangers and Indi- fastball. With their offense running ice, victim of a deflected puck to the well as winning gold on Canada’s force negotiation with the Players’ ans? May- on all cylinders of this pick-up, face. No one said it, but everyone 2002 Olympic team. Steve is so pop- Association. This could mean the be the real Texas should have a good reason to watching knew it might have been ular that last year Detroit erected a early retirement of some of the Column issue here smile for years to come. the last of one of the great ones. ten-story downtown mural of him, league’s best players — Yzerman, isn’t the I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it In a sport full of passion and con- but he’s the kind of guy that if it were Hull, Colorado’s Peter Forsberg, and losing of the Sox but the winning of again: the Indians are a good team. troversy, few topics go uncontested his decision, it never would have hap- Toronto’s Ed Belfour, to name a the Rangers and Tribe. Stop laughing because they are like the legend of Detroit Red Wings pened. few. Something the Rangers have good, and here’s why: pitching. center Steve Yzerman. In a revolving Fitting was the sight of Yzerman Yzerman quipped in 2002 that he always lacked is quality pitching. With one of the lowest starter ERAs list of top-flight names (most recently handing the 2002 Stanley Cup to “couldn’t afford” to retire. I doubt They tried grabbing hot commodi- in the majors, the Tribe has the abili- Shanahan, Hasek, Hull, and Chelios), Wings coach Scotty Bowman — leg- hockey can afford it either, but at age ties like Chan Ho “Bag” Park and ty to get into every game they play his has always stood out as the oil of end to legend. He epitomizes leader- 39, his laces aren’t getting any focusing on home-grown talent. because the starters are holding the Red Machine. His team counts on ship and class and the qualities that longer. If there is a work stoppage This year, GM John Hart “Attack” opponents to three runs a game. Jake him to push them to their peak, in the go with them: toughness, confidence, next season and he decides to hang has given the Rangers their long- “Jerry” Westbrook had a string of 22 fashion of Larry Bird, Joe Montana, high performance, and humility. In ’em up — if the last image of Steve is awaited arms. Kenny “Bad Chick- innings during which he only gave and Mario Lemieux. The importance these respects, Stevie Y is all but him shuffling off the ice guarding his en!” Rogers is back with more fer- up 2 runs, 8 hits, 5 walks, 1 home of that leadership was apparent after unparalleled in sports. He’s the cap- cheekbone, his team whimpering vor. Relative newbies Ryan Drese Saturday’s injury, as the Wings lost tain all coaches wish they had, an without him — I will never forgive “Lightning” and Joaquin “Phoenix” Sox, Page 19 their punch and dropped out of the unselfish superstar who pulls every- Bettman, Wings owner Mike Ilitch, playoffs with two 1–0 losses to the one up with him. and the rest of their gang. Nor will Calgary Flames. His injury is expected to heal, but the city of Detroit. Nor should any NHL Lightning, Flames A lifelong Red Wing (21 sea- whether he will have a season to hockey fan. Predicted in Cup Final By Andrew C. Thomas been inconsistent against the OPINION COLUMNIST Islanders in the first round. Has he These picks are dedicated to regained his scoring touch? It sure every hockey mother who insisted looks that way. her son or daughter wear facial pro- Lightning in 5. tection when they San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Column made it Calgary Flames (6) big. Facial Darryl Sutter, Flames coach, I’m injuries have skyrocketed in the sorry I doubted you in the last NHL, the most tragic of which is round. You were the one who detailed in Christopher P. Ander- brought your club to life with grit son’s ’07 column about Steve Yzer- and heart and carried them past the man. powerhouse Detroit Red Wings. College hockey requires facial The Kipper may have been great in protection, at least with visors if not goal, and Iggy might have inspired a full mask as the IM program at his team with timely physical play, MIT requires. But the NHL, with but the captain’s example can only faster skating, harder shots, and go so far. lighter sticks, is witnessing a stag- On the other side of this battle is gering rise in stick and puck contact Sutter’s former employer, the San with the face. Jeremy Roenick of the Jose Sharks, who are seeing equally DMITRY PORTNYAGIN—THE TECH Philadelphia Flyers suffered a puck good coaching out of Ron Wilson. The synchronized swimming team performs their team number to Vanessa Mae’s rendition of to the face several months ago that Both teams beat juggernauts to get Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” during Spring Weekend. Counterclockwise from the far gave him a concussion. The puck to this dance, so both will be riding left: Leah C. Blasiak G, Cilanne E. Boulet G, Lesley D. Frame ’04, Alice Wuu ’05, Tenley D. shattered his jaw; one can only won- on confidence. McHarg ’04, Victoria K. Anderson G. der how bad the damage would have This series is a tough one to been if it had hit him higher in the pick. San Jose has proven consis- face, ruining his boyish good looka. tently better in the long run, but So please, if anyone in the NHL slipped a bit in the last round to April Brings Many Surprises in Baseball is reading this who’s considering allow Colorado to threaten a come- maintaining their sight for the rest back from a 3–0 disadvantage By Yong-yi Zhu way to spend a weekend, either. Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry of his life: if a visor is good enough before closing it out 4–2. Calgary SPORTS COLUMNIST Speaking of Texas, all they have Zito. (What a cure for hitting, eh?) for Joe Sakic or Peter Forsberg, it’s looks as though nothing can stop April brought us some pleasant done this year has been to produce Maybe they just woke up from their good enough for you. them, even a goalie as solid as Cur- surprises and interesting turn- the most wins in baseball. Some call winter sleep and realized that spring tis Joseph was in the last round. arounds in the world of baseball. In it the “Alex Rodriguez syndrome” was finally here. Since that awaken- Tampa Bay Lightning (1) vs. Flames in 6. fact, it has while others simply say that the ing, the Yankees have scored big, Philadelphia Flyers (3) even had Ranger pitching has performed up to getting an average of 7.5 runs per To Hell with those Flyers and Projected Cup final Column major turn- par. For some odd reason, whenever game over that seven game winning their fantastic coach, Ken Hitch- Assuming these picks are solid, arounds of turn-arounds. A-Rod leaves a city, that team’s streak. The return of Jon Lieber also cock, for sending Toronto back into the Stanley Cup final would then For one, take the Red Sox and record shoots up the following sea- gives them a lift where they really playoff torpor for the second year in take place between the Lightning the Yankees. The Red Sox have son. Just look at the Mariners who need one. Do they have all the a row. Their goaltending is consis- and Flames starting around Memori- finally stripped the Yankees of their won 116 games after A-Rod left. But pieces in place? We know for one tent, and the injuries are manage- al Day, and I have trouble imagin- temporary stranglehold of first place then you look at some more realistic that Derek Jeter can still find his bat, able, including those to their defen- ing the Lightning having trouble in the American League East. The factors and the success actually starts as difficult as it may have seemed. sive stalwarts Kim Johnsson and with anybody at this point. Barring Sox seemed invincible at one point, to make sense. Kenny Rogers and But there are so many different Vladimir Malakhov. But the real an injury to a leading scorer like sweeping the Yankees in their own Chan Ho Park are good pitchers. story lines that have emerged from miracle worker has been Robert Lecavalier or the dynamic Martin home. The Sox pitching has also Granted, they are not terribly consis- this one little month. It took the “Silent Bob” Esche, who back- St. Louis, I’d expect the Lightning given up fewer runs than any other tent, but when they’re good, they’re Detroit Tigers all the way until the stopped the Flyers to victory. to be able to skate around the grit American League team. On top of good. In addition, we’ve always end of May last year to win as many Still, these Lightning have been and take it in 5, on home ice, for that, they were getting hits at very dreaded that Texas offense. They games as they have now. The same close to perfection. The only gap their first Stanley Cup. (If you can opportune times. Hey, as long as have so many talented young players goes for San Diego, who might has been the hot-cold play of enig- believe it. The idea of the Cup being you score more than your opponent, that I think they will be a force to actually have a shot at winning the matic former captain Vincent brought south of the Mason-Dixon it doesn’t matter how many runs reckon with in the very near future. National League West. The NL Lecavalier, who showed flashes of wasn’t good to me 2 years ago, and you score, right? (Very near might mean this year.) Central is as backed up as it was a brilliance against Montreal but had it ain’t now.) However, as of late, they can’t The heart of their order really year ago, with nobody below .500. seem to get anything going. The big can offer problems for teams. With And the Florida Marlins have taken four — Martinez, Schilling, Lowe, Michael Young and Alfonso Sori- the early lead in a weak division and and Wakefield — have each taken a ano batting right, Dave Delucci and will try to stop Atlanta for the first loss during the five-game skid, and Hank Blalock batting left, and Mark time in 13 seasons. their offense has been sluggish. Teixeira switching hitting, there’s It’s been a crazy month, April. They’ve given up leads early and trouble no matter which pitcher is But one thing is for sure, this is only have only managed to scrounge up a on the mound. Plus, these guys have the beginning of May. The wait until couple of runs late in the game. an average age of well below 30. October is still quite a ways away. Suddenly, the inferiority com- The possibilities for where this team Will Texas keep up with Anaheim in plex that the Boston Red Sox have could be in two years are about as the AL West? Will Boston and New had ever since Babe Ruth is surfac- cringe-inducing as thinking about York have their private duels again? ing again. Pedro Martinez’s decision the Yankee lineup now. Or will Baltimore have something to to become a free agent and leave the Oh yes, the Yankees. They have say about the American League East Sox in an unstable state isn’t doing cured their hitting woes since they crown? What will the crazy NL anyone in Beantown any favors, and last met Boston. All the Bombers bring? All I know is that summer is being swept by Texas is not a great had to do was to plow through Tim here, and summer will be great.