The Weather MIT’s Today: Sunny becoming cloudy, 43°F (6°C) Oldest and Largest Tonight: Cloudy, 33°F (1°C) Newspaper Tomorrow: Sunny, 46°F (8°C) Details, Page 2

Volume 126, Number 13 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Tuesday, March 21, 2006 Admit Rate for 2010 Smaller Than Usual, One in Eight Gets In By Angeline Wang Harvard last year and Stanford ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR this year have also announced plans Only 13 percent of MIT’s appli- for increasing financial aid for stu- cants got in this year — a recent low dents from low income families. for the Admissions Office, which ex- The 1,474 acceptances includes pects that an even higher percentage 377 applicants admitted early, as of admitted students will enroll this well as 107 international students. fall than last. There were a total of 2,575 interna- Out of 11,373 applicants to the tional applications. Institute, only 1,474 have been ac- All 50 states and the District of cepted, but MIT hopes to admit stu- Columbia are represented, as well as dents from its waiting list as well, 61 foreign countries and territories, something it hasn’t done for the last Schmill said. This year’s admitted three years. Last year, 14 percent of class is 52 percent male and 48 per- the applicants were accepted, and in cent female, according to Dean of 2003 and 2004, 16 percent were ac- Admissions Marilee Jones. Twelve cepted. percent of the deferred applicants OMARI STEPHENS—THE TECH Of those accepted, the percentage from the early applicant pool were Barry Kelly, along with Keith Klefsted, George Howell, and Bill Peterson (not pictured), of Bartlett who actually come to MIT, known as accepted during regular admissions. Tree Experts prune trees in the vicinity of Building 2. During Spring Break, Bartlett Tree Experts the yield, has steadily increased in The Institute also raised the ad- will remove a Great American Elm tree, located near the Killian Court entrance to Building 3, which the last few years. It hovered around mission of under-represented minor- has reached its life expectancy. 55 percent in the late 1990s, but ities back up to 19 percent, which is jumped to 60 percent in 1999 and hit close to the 20 percent accepted for a high of 67 percent in 2005 for the the Classes of 2006 through 2008. Class of 2009. According to e-mail from Jones “We are planning for an increased after Early Action decisions were Scholarship to be ’06 Senior Gift yield [of 68 percent] this year, and sent, the Admissions office “redou- therefore we did admit fewer stu- bled our recruitment efforts for this Annual Reward to Senior Will Be Based on Contribution to Community dents,” Senior Associate Director of cycle” after getting only 14 percent Last night, the Class of 2006 50 percent donates, down to $5,000 ties, Department of Athletics, Physi- Admissions Stuart Schmill said. under-represented minorities for the unveiled its Senior Gift: an annual if between 20 and 30 percent par- cal Education and Recreation/Sports “The key for us is doing two Class of 2009. scholarship for a senior who contrib- ticipate. “I’m interested in helping at MIT, another designation of their things: admitting students who are a Instead of waiting for the decision utes to the MIT the senior class” build their fund, choosing, or Institute Unrestricted great match for MIT, who are inter- letters which were mailed out Friday, community, said and providing “extra motivation,” he funds. ested in the things we do here, and a majority of the applicants checked News Ryan F. Allard said. Allard said the choice of senior not letting finances drive their deci- for their decision online Saturday. ’06, Chair of In a departure from the usual Fi- gift was based on a senior survey car- sions,” Schmill said. “If we do those “Within two hours of the deci- the Senior Gift bonacci Challenge, where seniors do- ried out in November. He anticipates two things, students will choose to sions going live, approximately Brief Committee. nate $10, then $10, $20, $30, etc., the that the scholarship will amount to come. For students who want an ana- 7,000 of the 11,373 applicants had Fo l l ow i n g theme this year is the 5.0 challenge, about four percent of the funds do- lytical education, there is no better checked the site,” Schmill said. tradition, the current alumni asso- where students who donate $50 or nated to that category, though it may place than MIT.” “More have been checking through ciation president is the challenger, more are part of the “5.0 club.” As vary from year to year. Another lure for prospective stu- the weekend.” encouraging Class of 2006 members usual, seniors are not limited to do- The 2006 Senior Gift Web site is dents is the Institute’s new financial Earlier this month, the College to participate. Scott P. Marks Jr. ’68 nating to the senior gift. In addition, http://web.mit.edu/senior-gift/index. aid initiative, where MIT will match Board discovered errors in the pro- pledged to donate $25,000 if 60 per- they can designate their donation to html. Federal Pell Grants for all eligible cent of the class donates, $20,000 if Undergraduate Research Opportuni- — Jenny Zhang students, Schmill said. Admissions, Page 11 Nanoknitting Operation Restores Hamster Sight More Testing Required Before Trials on Humans By Carey Goldberg and brain injuries, particularly those THE BOSTON GLOBE whose brain injuries leave them “no In work that may hold promise for longer the person that was before.” victims of spinal cord and brain inju- “Our goal is to try to reconnect ries, researchers report that they have disconnected parts to restore that per- managed to restore sight to blinded son as much as possible,” he said. hamsters using a process they call The researchers injected nanofi- nanoknitting. bers into the gap created by cutting The work represents the first time the neural pathway that enables vi- that nanotechnology - engineering sion. These fibers linked themselves on an ultra-tiny scale - has been used together into a tiny scaffold that ap- to fix brain damage, said Rutledge parently helped heal the brain tissue Ellis-Behnke PhD ’03, a neuroscien- and let axons - the transmission lines tist at the Massachusetts Institute of that connect neurons - regrow. Technology and the lead researcher The knitting technique offers a on the paper. possible way to overcome a formi- It will be years before the knitting dable problem: When neural con- technique can be tried in humans, nections in the brain or spinal cord and it must still prove its worth in are damaged, they don’t tend to other animal experiments. But Ellis- heal, which can result in lifelong PHOTO COURTESY OF VALENTINA LUGO Behnke said he hopes it can someday brain damage and paralysis. When The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers collaborated serve as part of a multipronged ther- a neuron is cut, Ellis-Behnke said, to organize a Karaoke Night for Charity on Saturday, March 18 in the Student Center Coffeehouse. apy to help regenerate nerve connec- it sprouts a “growth tip,” like a tree Over 100 students attended, and the event raised more than $350 for the Boston Ronald McDonald tions in the millions of people who House. suffer strokes, spinal cord damage, Nanoknitting, Page 14

Comics Students, local CAMPUS LIFE World & Nation ...... 2 professionals Cassandra R. Hunt describes her Opinion ...... 4 perform in experience of getting sued by the Campus Life ...... 5 Juggle Mania II. RIAA. Sports ...... 16 Page 5 Page 6 Page 8 Page 2 THE TECH March 21, 2006 WORLD & NATION Business Prepares Bush Speech Concedes War For the Possibility of Avian Flu By Melanie Warner THE NEW YORK TIMES Setbacks, Remains Hopeful The deadly strain of avian flu has not been found anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, but Mark Holden, a chicken grower for Tyson By Elisabeth Bumiller as not living in a fantasy world about But Bush recounted how U.S. Foods in Ellijay, Ga., is not taking any chances. THE NEW YORK TIMES the three-year war. and Iraqi forces launched a ma- Every seven weeks a group of his chickens is tested before the birds CLEVELAND “In the face of continued reports jor military offensive against the are sent to be slaughtered. All people who enter or leave the chicken President Bush on Monday held about killings and reprisals, I under- insurgents last fall, including the houses must walk through disinfecting baths. And visitors and workers out the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar stand how some Americans have had construction of an eight-foot dirt must wear plastic booties over their shoes. as an example of U.S. success in the their confidence shaken,” Bush said. wall around the city to cut off es- “Even though we don’t have any outbreak now, we want to take all war, but he also acknowledged in re- “Others look at the violence they see cape routes. After successful com- the precautions we can to protect our product,” said Holden, who has marks that were as grim as they were each night on their television screens bat operations were over, Bush said, been in the chicken business for 10 years and lives across the street hopeful that the city’s improvements and they wonder how I can remain more than 1,000 Iraqi forces were from one of his chicken houses. were not matched in other parts of so optimistic about the prospects of deployed to keep order. “In short, Poultry producers and restaurants doubt that their chickens will be Iraq. success in Iraq. They wonder what I you see a city coming back to life,” infected by avian flu or that people would catch the virus even if there In the second of a series of see that they don’t.” Bush said. were contamination. But they are concerned that if the virus gets to the speeches meant to build up sagging To answer that, Bush told his au- Military analysts do not dispute United States, people will eat less chicken, simply out of fear. And they support for the war, Bush said that dience his story of Tal Afar, a city of Bush’s version of events, and cor- are revving up big plans to be prepared. U.S. forces had driven insurgents 200,000 near the Syrian border that respondents on the ground say that In Senate testimony earlier this month, Michael Leavitt, secretary from Tal Afar in 2004, only to see was a crucial base of operations for the security situation in Tal Afar is of the Department of Health and Human Services, declared that it was them move back in two months later. the Iraqi insurgent group al-Qaida significantly better than it was be- “just a matter of time” before birds infected with the virus found their The Americans learned from their in Mesopotamia. The insurgents had fore the military operation last fall. way to the United States. mistakes, the president said, and in turned the city into a nightmare of But the analysts also say that the of- 2005 worked with Iraqi forces to re- violence, Bush said, with behead- fensive required so many U.S. troops take lost ground and begin to bring ings, kidnappings and mortars fired — 5,000 — that it would be difficult FBI Agent Testifies Superiors the city back to life. into soccer fields filled with chil- if not impossible to replicate in other “I wish I could tell you that the dren. parts of Iraq, particularly in Bagh- Didn’t Pursue Moussaoui Case progress made in Tal Afar is the “In one grim incident, the ter- dad, and that success in Tal Afar does By Neil A. Lewis same in every single part of Iraq,” rorists kidnapped a young boy from not translate into improved security THE NEW YORK TIMES Bush told the City Club of Cleveland the hospital and killed him, and then for most Iraqis. ALEXANDRIA, VA. at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. they booby-trapped his body and Democrats used Bush’s speech to The FBI agent who arrested and interrogated Zacarias Moussaoui “It’s not.” placed him along the road where his step up their criticism on the three- just weeks before the Sept.11, 2001, attacks told a jury on Monday Overall, Bush’s speech was a pos- family would see him,” Bush said. year anniversary of the war, saying how he tried repeatedly to get his superiors in Washington to help con- itive message that conceded some of “And when the boy’s father came to that the White House was on the firm his certainty that Moussaoui was involved in some imminent ter- the setbacks on the ground, a formu- retrieve his son’s body, he was blown verge of trading a brutal dictator, rorist airline hijacking plot. lation meant to portray the president up.” Saddam Hussein, for chaos. But the agent, Harry Samit, testified that he was regularly thwarted by senior bureau officials whose obstructionism he later described to Jus- tice Department investigators as “criminally negligent” and who were, he believed, motivated principally by a need to protect their careers. U.S. Calling For New Vote After Samit’s testimony added a wealth of detail to the notion that offi- cials at the FBI played down, ignored and purposely mischaracterized the increasingly dire warnings from field agents in the Minneapolis Belarus’s Presidential Election office that they had a terrorist on their hands in Moussaoui. By C.J. Chivers illegitimate, having been rigged and the difficulties of challenging the For Airline Employees, Free Flights and Steven Lee Myers held under widespread repression. deeply entrenched power of Lukash- THE NEW YORK TIMES “The United States does not ac- enko, often referred to as Europe’s MINSK, BELARUS cept the results of the election,” said last dictator. “The number who came Are in Free Fall The United States declared the Scott McClellan, the White House to the square was not enough,” he By Jeff Bailey results of the presidential election spokesman. “We support the call for said. “We need 10 times more.” THE NEW YORK TIMES in Belarus invalid on Monday and a new election.” Reaction to the election has thus Through deep pay cuts, shrunken pensions and longer hours, airline called for a new race, even as Presi- The principal opposition candi- far broken along familiar lines, with employees who survived the endless rounds of layoffs knew they could dent Aleksandr G. Lukashenko defi- date, Aleksandr Milinkevich, who Western organizations and officials still count on one thing: free flights. But that perk, a touch of jet-setting antly swept aside criticism and de- received 6 percent of the vote, ac- issuing condemnations and in some glamour in an increasingly dreary line of work, is now much harder to clared himself the winner of a third cording to the government’s initial cases vowing to seek punitive mea- use because so many flights are full. term. count, said, “We are simply not go- sures against Belarus, while Rus- “This system is now just ripping at the seams,” said Patricia Had- In an impassioned appearance ing to recognize the election.” sia and the representatives of other don, an American Airlines flight attendant for 29 years who often en- hours after state television announced Several thousand opposition former Soviet states have celebrated joyed flying in first class. “We all came to work here because we value that he had won nearly 83 percent of demonstrators once again ignored Lukashenko’s victory. the benefit. We are middle-class people, but this allows us to have up- the vote, Lukashenko exuded con- warnings that they could be arrested Echoing the Bush administra- per-class experiences.” fidence and said the outcome had or beaten and returned in the evening tion, the Organization for Security Airline employees and many of their family members can fly standby, “convincingly demonstrated who the to a central square in Minsk to con- and Cooperation in Europe, which taking unsold seats. But after post-Sept. 11 problems prompted airlines to Belarussians are and who is the mas- tinue peaceful protests against the brought 400 observers here, sharply reduce their fleets, a strong economy has revived demand for business and ter of our house.” results. criticized the election, noting harass- leisure travel. Planes now fly on average with only about 22 percent of seats He said he was unafraid of fur- But the crowd that appeared Mon- ment and arrests of opposition can- unsold. While that still sounds like a lot, quite a few are on unpopular routes ther economic and political isolation day was smaller than that on Sunday, didates, propagandistic coverage on or at inconvenient times. Many popular routes in prime hours are packed. after an election that Washington and and Milinkevich’s campaign manag- state media and extensive irregulari- international observers described as er, Sergei Kalyakin, acknowledged ties in the counting of ballots. WEATHER Time to Buy Home Depot Stock Situation for Noon Eastern Standard Time, Tuesday, March 21, 2006

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 Timothy R. Whitcomb � 40°N STAFF METEOROLOGIST

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began today, is already far from normal. Climatology (high/low/mean tem- � � � �

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flooding situations. Suddenly, the cold doesn’t look so bad. � � � � � Extended Forecast Weather Systems Weather Fronts Precipitation Symbols Other Symbols Today: Sunny becoming cloudy, high 43ºF (6ºF) Snow Rain Fog High Pressure Trough Tonight: Cloudy, low 33ºF (1ºC) - - - Showers Thunderstorm

Wednesday: Cloudy, high 46ºF (8ºC) � � � � Warm Front Light Low Pressure Haze Wednesday night: Cloudy, low 32ºF (0ºC) ����� Cold Front Moderate Compiled by MIT Thursday: Cloudy, high 42ºF (6ªC) Hurricane � � Meteorology Staff � � Stationary Front Heavy and The Tech March 21, 2006 WORLD & NATION THE TECH Page 3 U.S. Citizen Stabbed to Death Scientists Oppose Delisting Park’s Grizzlies By Jim Robbins In Mexican Drug Trading City THE NEW YORK TIMES By Ginger Thompson trafficking routes that run through a new police communications sys- HELENA, MONT. THE NEW YORK TIMES Nuevo Laredo into Texas. They said tem. A group of 269 biologists and other scientists from around the MEXICO CITY the recent wave of violence proved Drug traffickers had gained access country asked the Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday not to lift the A man identified as an American that a crackdown against drug traf- to police radio frequencies and used protections given to the Yellowstone grizzly bear by the Endangered citizen was found stabbed to death fickers that was started last year by them, the authorities said, to issue Species Act. on Sunday in Nuevo Laredo, a city of President Vicente Fox had failed to threats or orders. Doing that, they said, could jeopardize its survival. 300,000 along Mexico’s border with end the lawlessness there. But Solis contended that the mu- A letter from the scientists came on the last day of the comment the United States that has become “The police continue to serve nicipal police force continued to serve period on the agency’s plan to remove protection for the bear. The ser- the principal battlefield for Mexico’s criminal organizations,” said a human drug traffickers. He said that when the vice has said that the bear population, estimated at 500 to 600, is fully most powerful drug trafficking orga- rights advocate, Arturo Solis. “And government pushed against the traf- recovered and growing at 4 percent a year. There are safeguards to nizations. until that changes, the violence will fickers, the traffickers pushed back. restore protection, federal biologists say, if the numbers decline. The Mexican authorities said Joe continue.” Earlier this year, the diplomat Some environmental groups, including the National Wildlife Feder- Cantu, 47, of San Antonio, had been Last June, after the killing of the said, the city’s emergency response ation, support the move to remove the bear from the endangered list. found dead with more than 13 stab local police chief seven hours after he system was disrupted when a man The letter from opponents of the move says the Yellowstone grizzly is wounds. was sworn into office, Fox sent hun- stole a bulldozer from a city crew at cut off from other bears, and therefore new sources of DNA. Because of The authorities said they had not dreds of federal agents to take control work near the police communications that, the population needs to be 2,000 to 3,000, the scientists say, to survive determined the motive for the kill- of law enforcement in Nuevo Laredo. center and toppled the main antenna. a catastrophic event, like disease or the loss of a critical food source. ing. But one official, who spoke on He ordered all local police officers re- Mexico’s interior minister, Carlos “The Yellowstone grizzly bear population faces significant threats the condition of anonymity because moved from duty pending the results Abascal, and Homeland Security to recovery because of its small size, significant annual fluctuations he was not authorized to disclose in- of drug and lie detector tests. More Secretary Michael Chertoff signed an in mortality rates, inadequate habitat protections, major threats to key formation related to the case, said it than half of the force failed the tests agreement early this year to improve foods, genetic risks, and proposed additional human-caused bear mor- appeared that the killing might have and were dismissed. cooperation among federal law en- talities,” the letter said. involved a drug-related dispute. The governor of Tamaulipas state, forcement agencies on both sides of The killing followed the assassina- Eugenio Hernandez, provided new the border. Last week, Fox sent 800 tions last week of four federal police equipment for the beleaguered de- more federal officers to Nuevo Lar- A Soldier’s Family Awaits One More officers and the killing two weeks ago partment, including uniforms, cars edo. Two days later, four of those of- of the chief of the state police unit in and a communication system. ficers were shot dead on a busy street Inquiry Into His Death Nuevo Laredo and of the director of A diplomat in Nuevo Laredo, who in daylight. By Monica Davey and Eric Schmitt the city’s emergency response sys- spoke on the condition of anonymity Ruben Aguilar, the chief spokes- THE NEW YORK TIMES tem. because he was not authorized to dis- man for Fox, said the four officers SAN JOSE, CALIF. Diplomats and law enforcement cuss the case publicly, said the killing had detected a safe house that was be- Patrick K. Tillman stood outside his law office here, staring intently officials on both sides of the border of the coordinator of the emergency ing used by the notorious Gulf Cartel, at a yellow house across the street, just over 70 yards away. That, he said the attacks were linked to the response system, Ramiro Tellez Con- which has long controlled drug traf- recalled, is how far away his eldest son, Pat, who gave up a successful fight for control of the lucrative drug treras, was in retaliation for installing ficking in Nuevo Laredo. NFL career to become an Army Ranger, was standing from his fellow Rangers when they shot him dead in Afghanistan. “I could hit that house with a rock,” Tillman said. “You can see every last detail on that place, everything, and you’re telling me they Israel Briefly Reopens Gaza Strip couldn’t see Pat?” Tillman, 51, is a grieving father who has refused to give up on his son. While fiercely shunning the public spotlight that has followed Cpl. Crossing to Get Palestinians Food Pat Tillman’s death, Tillman has spent untold hours behind the scenes considering measurements like the 70 yards. By Greg Myre Israel agreed to allow food supplies Israel managed to unload their He has drafted lengthy, sometimes raw, letters to military leaders, THE NEW YORK TIMES into Gaza on Monday. goods for delivery into Gaza. The demanding answers about the shooting. And he has studied — and JERUSALEM “The shortage of basic food- Palestinians were not permitted to challenged — Army PowerPoint presentations meant to explain how Israel reopened the main freight stuffs was weighed against the ter- move their products in the other his son, who had called out his own name and waved his arms, wound crossing to the Gaza Strip on Mon- ror threat, and the logical decision direction. The Palestinian exports, up dead anyway, shot three times in the head by his own unit, which day to allow delivery of flour and to open it for a limited amount of mostly fruits, vegetables and flow- said it mistook him for the enemy. sugar to the Palestinians. But it time was made with the hope the ers, have been rotting during the abruptly closed the crossing af- Palestinians will uphold their com- long closing. ter just a half-hour, citing security mitments,” Amos Gilad, a Defense When Israel shut Karni for three NYU And Columbia Get Gifts threats. Ministry official, told Israel Radio. weeks beginning in mid-January, Israel has kept the Karni Cross- But shortly after he spoke, Karni the military said it had informa- Of About $200 Million Each ing shut for most of the past two was again closed. The military said tion that Palestinians were digging By John Noble Wilford and Jonathan D. Glater months, saying it has intelligence there were security alerts, but did a tunnel to attack Karni. The Pales- THE NEW YORK TIMES that Palestinians are planning to at- not provide details. tinians say they have searched for NEW YORK tack the goods terminal, which has Salim Abu Safiya, who handles tunnels but have not found any. New York University and Columbia have each received donations often been a target. border crossing issues for the Pales- Gaza’s economy is hugely de- of about $200 million, among the largest to academic institutions in re- But with Gaza’s food stocks run- tinians in Gaza, told Reuters, “The pendent on the crossing for all its cent years. The gifts, from different donors, come as both universities ning low, the U.S. ambassador to Is- Israelis need to stop using this silly imports and exports. The Palestin- try to compete with rivals that have far larger endowments. rael, Richard H. Jones, arranged for method and these silly alerts.” ians have not been permitted to The gift to NYU, among the largest it has ever received, will create talks between the Israelis and the During the brief period Karni build a port, reopen the Gaza air- a multidisciplinary center for the study of the ancient world. Consist- Palestinians on Sunday night, and was open, only a few trucks from port or trade directly with Egypt. ing of cash and real estate valued at up to $200 million, the gift is from the Leon Levy Foundation. Levy, who died in 2003, was a Wall Street investor and benefactor of art and archaeology. The university presi- dent, John Sexton, and the Levy foundation’s trustee, Shelby White, Supreme Court Considers Use of 911 Levy’s widow, are expected to announce the gift on Tuesday. The gift to Columbia, announced Monday at a ceremony attend- ed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, is the largest in the university’s Calls as Evidence Against Attackers history. It is from the Jerome L. Greene Foundation, established by Greene, a prominent New York lawyer and a Columbia alumnus, and By Linda Greenhouse to collide with the Sixth Amend- ington, No. 05-5224, the Washington from his widow, Dawn M. Greene. The money, slightly more than $200 THE NEW YORK TIMES ment’s Confrontation Clause, which Supreme Court rejected a defense ar- million, will establish the Jerome L. Greene Science Center to study WASHINGTON guarantees to a criminal defendant gument that a 911 call from a woman the brain and human behavior. A crime victim’s emergency call the right “to be confronted with the who said her former boyfriend had NYU officials emphasized in interviews that a goal of the new cen- to 911, when introduced in court, witnesses against him.” violated a no-contact order and was ter, to be called the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, was to can provide powerful evidence of the In Crawford v. Washington, the beating her constituted a testimo- approach the research and teaching of antiquity on a broad geographic attacker’s identity and the circum- court laid down a new rule: A “testi- nial. and thematic scale. The focus will be on cultural evolution through stances of the crime. monial” statement made out of court The incident took place, and the time and across societies and regions, incorporating the history, ar- Perhaps too powerful — or so cannot be used at trial unless the per- man, Adrian M. Davis, was con- chaeology, literature and art of antiquity. most Supreme Court justices seemed son who made the statement is avail- victed, before the Crawford decision. to conclude during an argument able for cross-examination. The victim, Michelle McCottry, was Monday on whether the prosecu- Now the question is whether the subpoenaed but failed to appear in Google Offers tion could use such evidence without justices meant what they said, even court. Following the Crawford deci- violating defendants’ constitutional in situations with strong policy argu- sion, Davis’ lawyers argued on appeal A Financial Search Service rights to face their accusers in the ments for bending the rules. Based that the admission of the 911 tape vi- By John Markoff courtroom. on their responses in the courtroom olated his right to confrontation, but THE NEW YORK TIMES The constitutional problem arises on Monday, they did. the Washington Supreme Court said SAN FRANCISCO when the victim fails to appear in The Crawford case barred the the call was not testimonial. It was, Harnessing yet another data category to its search-engine prowess, court and is therefore not available admission of a woman’s tape-record- the court said, a request for “help to Google is introducing a financial information service intended to com- for cross-examination. ed eyewitness account of a fight in be rescued from peril.” pete directly with offerings from Microsoft, Yahoo and other sources, In domestic violence cases, the which her husband stabbed another In the second case, Hammon v. Google executives said Monday. scenario is common; in one study man. But the court stopped short of Indiana, No. 05-5705, the Indiana Google said the service, at www.finance.google.com, would dis- cited to the Supreme Court, as many defining the various types of “tes- Supreme Court likewise upheld a tinguish itself by providing stock charts with interactive qualities like as 90 percent of victims of domestic timonial” statements to which the conviction for domestic battery, those on its Google Maps service, allowing users to find deeper or violence fail to cooperate with the newly empowered Confrontation ruling that a wife’s statement to the specified layers of data by sliding the cursor. prosecution, because of fear or mis- Clause would now apply. Defense police officer who arrived to inves- The site will focus on current and historical data for both public and placed loyalty to their abusive part- lawyers around the country soon be- tigate a report of a disturbance could private companies, and following a Google practice for its new offer- ners. Rather than abandon such cas- gan to argue that the decision should be used as evidence against her hus- ings, it will not immediately carry advertisements. es, a growing number of states have bar the admission of 911 calls and of band, Herschel Hammon. The wife, “Our focus is on the user and the product,” said Marissa Mayer, begun to relax their evidentiary rules statements given to police officers Amy Hammon, failed to appear in Google’s vice president for search products and user experience. She and permit juries to hear 911 tapes or who respond to a crime scene. court. Her statement to the investi- said the company would consider revenue possibilities later. read transcripts of police interviews Two cases were argued to the gating officer was not testimonial, Google said the initiative grew out of a survey it conducted 15 with victims. court on Monday, one of each type. the Indiana court ruled, because her months ago, asking its users what kinds of new services they would Two years ago, however, the Su- Both have drawn wide attention “motivation was to convey basic find helpful. The response was dominated by two themes, maps and preme Court issued an unmistakable from organizations concerned with facts” rather than provide evidence finance. warning that these efforts were likely domestic violence. In Davis v. Wash- for later use at trial. Page 4 THE TECH March 21, 2006 OPINION

The March 17 article “Debate Over New Dorm’s Future Continues” gave an incomplete title for Karen Nilsson. She is Associate Dean and Director of Housing, not Director of Hous- Chairman Corrections ing. Also, the Executive Vice President is Sherwin Greenblatt, not Sherman Greenblatt. Zachary Ozer ’07 Editor in Chief Jenny Zhang ’06 Letters To The Editor Business Manager entists at the Lincoln Laboratories without itor encounters MIT students, marble columns, Editorial Unfairly waiting for the results of the investigation, and a front door blocked by a metal bar. A sign Jeffrey Chang ’08 and denigrate the newly appointed investi- on the door requests that, in order to save ener- Managing Editor Impugned DoD gator and those overseeing his review only gy, the visitors avoid using the main entrance. I Michael McGraw-Herdeg ’08 Your editorial [“MIT Can’t Access It’s because they have chosen public service in suppose this is less embarrassing than the signs Own Research,” March 14] asserted that a the Department of Defense. Your readers that used to declare the door broken, and the NEWS STAFF Department of Defense investigation of al- have a right to expect a more informed and caution tape that has prevented people from us- Editors: Kelley Rivoire ’06, Marissa Vogt ’06, leged research misconduct by two Lincoln judicious opinion from your editorial staff. ing it for months on end over the past couple of Marie Y. Thibault ’08; Associate Editors: Ben- Laboratories scientists who contributed to a Rick Lehner years. But it is still an embarrassment and an jamin P. Gleitzman ’09, Angeline Wang ’09; classified 1998 report would only be cred- Communications Director, annoyance. If having an automatic door wastes Staff: Curt Fischer G, John A. Hawkinson ’98, ible if it decided the allegations were true. U.S. Missile Defense Agency too much energy, then install a non-automatic Brian Keegan ’06, Waseem S. Daher ’07, Ray That assertion is founded on the unwar- door. As a school that is at the frontier of sci- C. He ’07, Tongyan Lin ’07, Hanhan Wang ’07, ranted conclusion that the allegations must ence and technology, we should be able to find Michael Snella ’08, Jiao Wang ’08, Daniela be true and the unspoken assumption that Can’t We Buy Real a solution that will allow us to have a usable Cako ’09, Mei-Hsin Cheng ’09, Gabriel Fouas- no one in the Department of Defense can front entrance all year round, and not just for non ’09, Hannah Hsieh ’09, Diana Jue ’09, Lau- be trusted. It is surprising and disappointing Doors for Lobby 7? Campus Preview Weekend and Orientation. ra Nicholson ’09, Kirtana Raja ’09, Yi Zhou ’09; that you would impugn highly respected sci- Walking up to 77 Massachusetts Ave., a vis- Alya Asarina ’06 Meteorologists: Cegeon Chan G, Robert Korty G, Jon Moskaitis G, Michael J. Ring G, Roberto Rondanelli G, Brian H. Tang G, Tim Whitcomb G, Angela Zalucha G; Police Log Compiler: Marjan Rafat ’06.

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Advertising, subscription, and typesetting rates Letters, columns, and cartoons must bear the authors’ signatures, [email protected]. The Tech can be found on the World Wide available. Entire contents © 2005 The Tech. Printed on recycled paper by addresses, and phone numbers. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. Web at http://the-tech.mit.edu. Charles River Publishing. March 21, 2006 THE TECH Page 5 CAMPUS LIFE Run Over by the RIAA Fo’ the By Cassandra R. Hunt at hand: the materials inside said MIT would The law firm was kind enough to pass along I have a confession. Once upon a time, in a be forking over my name in fourteen days, and a number to contact RIAA representatives, so I land just a little more dangerous than it is now, I proceeded to enumerate my rights and respon- gave it a ring … and reached their “settlement Shorties was … a pirate! I did not sail the torrential seas sibilities hitherto and forthwith and sideways negotiation hotline.” My jaw nearly dropped. Fighting of the Internet in search of precious MB of glit- etc., etc., etc. And just in time for Christmas. Talk about an organized attack! And to add in- tering mp3 booty. No, I was content in my little I’ve got to hand it to MIT legal, though. In sult to injury, the area code was for Missouri, By Victor Cabral cove, which was given the innocuous name mid-January I received another fat envelope let- my home state. I left my name and number at and Nikhil Shenoy i2hub. You will not find it with any site map or ting me know that, because there was no confir- the beep as instructed but decided to talk to the STAFF COLUMNISTS search bar — today it is googols of miles away, mation that I had received the last mailing, MIT law firm instead … and reached their RIAA re- Beer is great. In fact, our favorite type is farther than any can travel, for even my haven had held off giving up my name so they could lated answering machine. “JBeer.” But there are some downsides asso- was not safe from the long arm of the RIAA. send another one. Which may be legitimate, but Eventually, I got through to a real person and ciated with consuming libations, or so we’ve Last fall I wrote an opinion piece on music also sounds like someone’s tap dancing to buy asked, perhaps a little peevishly, “So, what is it heard. Somewhere between five and ten beers, piracy (How to Avoid Getting RIAAed, Oct. time. If this was the case, thanks, MIT. that you guys think you have on me, anyway?” or two JBeers, dance juice becomes fight juice 21, 2005) that may have seemed oddly timed However, even the ‘tute couldn’t put things The answer was (a whopping) 272 songs and, for men everywhere. College guys, too. Now, to all but myself and, I am told, one other MIT off forever. Some things in life are inevitable, should the case go to trial, potentially $750 per we’re not suggesting that you get into drunken student. It was inspired by an e-mail from MIT like death, taxes, and late nights tooling; such is song. Now, I know what you’re thinking: with brawls, we wouldn’t want something like that letting me know that the RIAA intended to ex- the RIAA’s relentless pursuit of villainous, scur- a collection of 272 whole songs, no wonder the in writing; but we really do fully endorse fight- tract my name from the ‘tute so that I could be vy pirates like myself. I received a letter from a RIAA felt compelled to squash my threat to the ing, maybe. However, if you do happen to step named in a lawsuit. I began looking into previ- Colorado-based law firm telling me I’ve been sanctity of music. However, with the grace and on someone’s kicks at a frat party, there are ous RIAA suits to see how these things played named in a suit for copyright infringement. benevolence only a huge corporate machine some general guidelines to follow. Why only out, and was surprised by the lack of firsthand At no time in the course of any of this had could display, the lady on the phone told me guidelines and not hard rules? Because rules accounts. How tragic, since the RIAA hopes I been informed exactly what the RIAA had they’d be willing to settle for $3750. are for women and cheaters. fear of lawsuits will keep people from stealing against me. I had been informed, however, that I actually started laughing at her. “Okay,” Fighting in a frat is tricky business. Frat music. More information on the process would I should not delete any evidence of my crimes I said, “so who do I talk to about negotiating guys tend to be cliquey, and when one of their turn that fear of the unknown into something from my computer, even though they already that?” She replied that they usually wanted the own is in duress, they all feel the need to con- more concrete and deridable. had this mysterious evidence. Ironic, really, amount within 15 days, but that they had a six verge on the purveyor of said duress. Transla- So here we go: an account of my foray into considering that not long ago I had sent my month payment plan available. How nice. “No, tion: you will get yo’ ass beat if you pick a the RIAA lawsuit machine. After that first computer in to HP for a replacement DVD- no,” I said, “I mean who do I talk to about ne- fight with anyone in a frat. If you have to get e-mail, I didn’t hear anything for about two ROM and, in their infinite wisdom, the compa- gotiating the amount.” Turns out the whole ‘ne- into a fight at all, we would highly recommend months until I received — joy of joys! — a ny had decided that this warranted wiping my gotiation’ part of the hotline covered the way bar fights, if we were going to recommend package in the mail. While normally an oc- hard drive. On top of the three major projects they take your money, not to what degree. fighting, but we’re not, really. casion to celebrate, the fact that it was a large and loads of photographs I’d lost, the music On a related topic, check out my upcoming There is a gentle balance, almost an art, envelope from MIT legal quickly changed by I’d been accused of sharing now rested in that series on the best ways to raise money @mit. to choosing who and when to fight at a bar. tune. And tunes turned out to be the manner mythical paradise to which all lost data goes. edu. The two main variables are 1) not breaking your beautiful nose and 2) not coming off as a bully. These two competing factors are ex- This Monkey’s Gone to Heaven actly what the ladies don’t want to see: no one wants to go home with a bloody nosed loser or with a bully. Of course, here we assume the Roaming the Dusty Savannahs of MIT goal of everything you do is to get women, By Ruth Miller ing calls (or pickup lines) and plumages (be it or dates, this process presents some obstacles. and this is a good assumption. Just ask Bryan OPINION EDITOR a popped collar or indie rock shirt). Why is mating at MIT so difficult? Adams. MIT is not your typical football-loving, sun- Mating rituals at MIT are something else en- Third: Winners of this competition are rare- Question: why does the rest of the world worshipping, skip-class-on-Friday-because- tirely. Here, your personal worth is determined ly the best to date. I’ve heard of a guy who’s hate America? They hate us because we pick you-partied-too-hard-on-Thursday: “The New by your workload: your lack of sleep, your berth girlfriend dumped him because he spent more fights with countries the size of Iowa that end Friday” -night, state school. And perhaps one of problem sets, your number and difficulty of time with his robot than her. Doesn’t sound too in “istan” and brutally kick their asses, and of the subtlest differences that make MIT a so- major. Your “hard coreness,” so to 5p3a|<. We’ve ridiculous, does it? then talk about it ad nauseum as “victory.” Op- ciological collegiate outlier is the way in which seen it time and time again. Two sullen students Second: MIT students are inherently more timally, you want to pick a fight with someone students compete for mating rights. recognize each other in line at La Verde’s. hard core than their counterparts at other who looks bigger but isn’t, like America taking In the wild, animals compete for territory Tiredly, the first asks: “Hey, how’s it going?” schools, and thus must face difficulties when on all of Europe, Australia, West Virginia, and or mating rights with brightly colored feathers, Confidently (but also tiredly), the other re- interacting with the non-MIT world. Who hasn’t the Middle East. Guideline: never fight anyone sweet songs, and/or razor-sharp claws. Most of sponds: “Oh, man, I’m so hosed. I just pulled had the experience of chatting up a hot guy/girl smaller than you. Anyone with a semblance of us who have watched the Discovery Channel two all-nighters and still haven’t started my at Circuit City for twenty minutes, only for them a brain can understand this concept. And for know that combative grizzly bears on their hind third pset that’s due tomorrow.” to run away and “do inventory” when they find you course 14 and 15 guys, think about it this legs can reach almost eight feet. Male caribou Faux-sympathetic acknowledgment: “Yeah out you go to MIT? We’re thus left to inbreed. way: if you lose to a smaller opponent, that’s can grow antlers as wide as 160 cm wide to … I just finished my fourth pset of the week First: MIT girls aren’t typically the “I’m going just sad, and if you win, well, you were sup- beat the competition for females, even if these and have to stay up all tonight to start and finish to sit around on a pedestal and be a trophy” type. posed to win. Your expected value of fighting bulky antlers can get permanently entangled in a stupid HASS paper.” Neither are the guys. So the normal “male beats little people is thus negative, so another (re- low-hanging trees. The college-dating scene is Evoking the triviality of his opponent’s as- male, male wins female” system breaks down. ally the same) guideline: go big, or go home. no less bizarre or dangerous. signments, the other continues, “I’d rather take Variations manage to get by, but the process gets Unless you’re tossing midgets, which is jolly In the even wilder world of state schools, a HASS test than read a hundred pages on complicated when no one is to be “won.” good sport. competition is no less fierce. We’ve all got those something completely irrelevant to anything.” Does this mean that MIT students are Now, you’ve picked out the perfect op- friends, as Facebook often reminds us, who do Check: “The paper’s not as bad as the pro- doomed to loneliness? No, but it does partially ponent: he’s bigger, not necessarily badder, the most ridiculous things to get girls. There’s gramming project I’ve got due at the end of the explain why other schools worry more about necessarily drunker, and unnecessarily will- the guy that’s going to be a “rock star” and week. My group hasn’t even met yet.” pregnancy than suicide. So what is a lonely MIT ing to fight. Remember the one golden rule: serenades girls with the crap songs he wrote. Suddenly, out of nowhere: “Oh, and I just student to do? Swallow his or her pride and date go for the face. It’s not about who wins, it’s Sometimes, physical talent (i.e., being the star added a UROP, so I’m now at 72 units.” someone from BU? Heck, no. Look around and about who looks like the winner the next day. quarterback) is the ticket to ride. Whether the Checkmate. follow the trend. Grab a freshman before they No doubt, it would make you feel better if your wealth is inherited, earned, or looming in the The victor’s sub sandwich is up, he grabs learn better. And when that fails, adopt the old opponent is pissing blood, but no one except future, the rich kid is another archetype to ob- it and swaggers off to the caffeinated drinks Red Sox adage: “There’s always next year.” his gynecologist would know that. Note how serve. My personal favorite remains the winner before gloating smugly at his inferior from the Ruth Miller ’07 is dating a member of the we righteously call this dude a chick because of the traditional biggest pickup truck competi- checkout line. class of 2008 she met while checking in his lug- he lost a fight to someone smaller than him. tion. All these rituals come with specific mat- As a system of attracting potential mates, gage during Orientation. In the same vein, protect your face with ex- treme prejudice. If you go home with a black eye, you will be going home alone with a black eye. We wish we came up with this rule, but Ask Nutty B! it’s straight from The A**hole’s Guide to Han- By Bruce Wu well, that’s a different story. lost a few days ago, so the committee members dling Chicks, which would be required reading Nutty B is currently a graduate student at An arm as a power force for finishing your never got it (at least that’s how I explained it to if MIT offered a course on living life. MIT who tries to give his two cents’ worth on PhD? Isn’t your brain supposed to be your them). In their hit single “Bye Bye Bye,” one of anything and everything. Please e-mail him with power force, complemented by the rest of your I am quite sure our situations are very dif- the N*Sync guys croons “I’m doin’ this to- whatever question you would like someone to body? What kind of PhD were you doing that re- ferent. I didn’t apply to medical school, but I night, you’re probably gonna start a fight, I listen to, and give him an excuse to procrasti- quired only your right hand? Wait, I don’t want believe the application processes are quite dif- know this can’t be right, hey baby come o-on.” nate at 3:00 a.m. Please send all questions to to know … ferent. Also, unless you’re waiting-for-decision Clearly, he’s addressing the vicious battle of [email protected]. At any rate, if you are “switching” just for the time also involves spell casting, voodoo doll- ultimate destiny in which he and his boyfriend sake of switching, then you can always switch making, and wand waving, I can guarantee that are about to engage. The song goes on to talk Dear Nutty B, back, can’t you? As for finishing your PhD, I am our personal experiences were quite different as about other stuff like lies, insanity, and deep I’m a righty. However, I have to switch to my sure with a sharp mind like yours, you will be well. depression, but the overarching question is: left arm as my major power force, despite that fine with either arm! Why don’t you make a call to check the sta- just what was he doing this night, that would my right arm remains intact. Any advice on fin- tus, just to make sure you aren’t one of the lucky probably start a fight? The point here is that ishing my PhD in this situation? Dear Nutty B, ones who have some materials missing or a file you don’t need a reason to fight. In fact, fight- —Mr. Lucky Charm I am a senior, and I am in the process of ap- that was submitted but never received? Don’t ing isn’t cool: winning fights is cool. plying for medical school. I sent in all my appli- call too often, though, or else the admission of- Michael Jackson was the absolute King Dear Mr. Lucky Charm, cation materials on time. It’s almost April now, fice people might go nuts, and we don’t want of cool and dance fights. The man is a living Is this some sort of test of my wittiness and/ and I have not even heard back from one school. that! Before you make any call, I suggest that hate crime. The music video for “Beat It” still or nuttiness to see if I can answer a question What’s going on? My parents think I am hiding you re-check and double check the review time- gets regular play on VH1 because it show- without having enough info to understand it? I from them, but what can I tell them if none of line for each school. Every school in the U.S. cases Mike’s ability to bridge the gap between have to say this is one of the weirdest questions the 20 schools I applied to has got back to me? might have its own timeline in terms of admis- dangerous gang members and gang members. Notice this can’t be answer unless you give me more information. tion experience like this? plied to some medical schools in Central Ameri- construed as racism, because racism is only Why do you “now have to switch to [your] left — Veronica ca, Africa, or somewhere in the Middle East, the okay in small groups of close friends. arm,” if everything is OK with your right one? system might be totally different. In conclusion: fight, fight big, and most Does this really have to do with your arm, or Dear Veronica, Who knows? Perhaps by the time you see importantly, fight to win and entertain. And if is it actually about your mind? It’s OK either Twenty schools and none has got back to this column, the letters will start to arrive. Be you want to know more about cool and enter- way. If your right arm is physically hurt, then you?? Coincidentally, the owl I used to deliver patient, but do make sure your file is complete so taining, pick a fight with [email protected] and you should see a medical doctor. If it’s the latter, my report to my thesis committee apparently got you won’t be at any disadvantage. Good luck! [email protected]. March 21, 2006

Page 6

Trio by Emezie Okorafor

A Saferide Experience by Otoniel Tabares and Shahbano Imran March 21, 2006 The Tech Page 7

Dilbert® by Scott Adams

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that each column, row, and 3 by 3 grid contains exactly one of each of the digits 1 through 9. Solution, tips, and computer program at http://www.sudoku. com; see also solution on page 13. Page 8 THE TECH March 21, 2006 Juggle Mania II Wows Crowd TECH SCHMIEDL—THE ERIC D.

RAY C. HE—THE TECH

The MIT Student Juggling Club put on a performance called Juggle Mania II this past Saturday, March 18th in 54-100. The event raised money for the Afghan Mobile Mini Circus for Children, an organization that provides psycho-social support to children in difficult circumstances, according to its Web site. Clockwise from right: Milan A. de Vries G sells concessions while juggling. Zachary Warren, world-record-holder for “fastest marathon while juggling three objects,” escapes from a straitjacket while jumping rope. Eric W. Gilbertson ’08 jumps rope while on a unicycle for 6 jumps. Peter Panic, a professional juggler and ERIC D. SCHMIEDL—THE TECH comic who’s been practicing on campus with the MIT Juggling Club for the last 16 years, gives an impromptu dem- onstration after the show. While balancing on a board and 3-inch piece of PVC, David W. Rush ’07 juggles three knives in a variety of patterns. ERIC D. SCHMIEDL—THE TECH TECH SCHMIEDL—THE ERIC D. RAY C. HE—THE TECH March 21, 2006 THE TECH Page 9 Summer UROP MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

Want to have fun... work on interesting research... and get paid? Find out about CSAIL summer research opportunities for undergraduate students: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 P 4:00-5:00PM

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look into the new management M I N O R

“The new Sloan minor is the perfect complement to MIT’s highly technical education to prepare students for life after college.” — Alex Chernyakov, Mathematics, 2006

PROGRAM DETAILS Come learn about the exciting career opportunities

Required Courses: the Management Minor opens to you.

> 15.668 People and Organizations You are invited to attend our special information sessions, where you can: > 14.01 Principles of Microeconomics > Meet current students in the Management Minor > 15.501 Corporate Financial Accounting > Get your questions about the minor answered > 15.812 Marketing Management

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For More Information, Visit: http://mitsloan. mit.edu/undergrad Questions? E-mail: [email protected] March 21, 2006 THE TECH Page 11 28 SAT Scores Were Affected Admissions, from Page 1 cessing of October 2005 SAT tests, resulting in the miscalculation of at least 4,000 students’ scores, of whom 28 had applied to MIT. Col- leges were immediately notifi ed. All of the applicants were being considered in the regular action can- didate pool, Schmill said. Their ap- plications were re-reviewed, but no admissions decisions were changed. “The College Board problem did not affect the cases of the 28 applicants involved,” Jones said. “I can only wonder, though, about the students applying to Early Decision programs at other places who might not have been admitted in December because of the score change,” Jones. “It certainly shakes your trust in the College Board.” The writing section of the new SAT test was not a requirement for this year’s applicants, as not all stu- dents have taken the new test. Ac- cording to Schmill, the scores from the writing section were collected but not used to evaluate students. “We’ll do some analysis on the scores with this year’s group and know how to use the scores next year and in the future,” he said.

Solution to Bonus Crossword from page 7 Nightline DEF listen. to here We’re TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER 3-8800 DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER We want you in our sheets. Free food after 11pm. DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER DEF TUV TUV OPER OPER [email protected] [email protected] This space donated by The Tech W20-483, 617-253-1541 W20-483, 617-253-1541 General Get Involved Page 12 THE TECH March 21, 2006

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by ISADORE SINGER Institute Professor Professor of Mathematics

“SOME GEOMETRY OF THE PAST HALF CENTURY AND ITS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND”

Thursday 23 March 4:30 pm March 21, 2006 THE TECH Page 13 Solution to Crossword from page 7

Solution to Sudoku from page 7 6 3 4 7 5 1 9 2 8 9 2 7 4 8 3 1 6 5 5 1 8 2 6 9 7 4 3 2 5 9 3 7 8 6 1 4 4 8 3 9 1 6 5 7 2 7 6 1 5 2 4 8 3 9 8 4 2 6 9 7 3 5 1 1 7 5 8 3 2 4 9 6 3 9 6 1 4 5 2 8 7 Page 14 THE TECH March 21, 2006 Nanoknitting Not a Total Cure, But Helpful for Brain Surgeries Nanoknitting, from Page 1 boost nerve regrowth in adults. during human brain surgery. Ellis-Behnke’s work, published “Every time you cut the brain, whose branch has been cut, but then online last week in the Proceedings you’re disconnecting things, and that 600 courses. 7,000 students. Unlimited possibilities. the growth stalls. Researchers are of the National Academy of Science, disconnection has never healed in the trying to figure out why, and what adds another possible tool, said sev- past,” he said. “We’re not only heal- they can do to spur more growth. eral scientists familiar with the work ing it, we’re getting regeneration, and In the current work, Ellis-Behnke but not involved with it. we’re getting return of function.” theorizes that either the nanoparticles The neuroknitting appears “very One appealing feature of the block signals that trigger an immune helpful” for brain repair, and “I think nanomaterial is that it is biodegrad- DISCOVERTHE response or they coat the growing tip if they can do it in the spinal cord, it able and apparently poses no danger POWER OF SUMMER of the axon, blocking the signals that may be wonderful,” said Tatfong Ng, of contamination or inflammation in- tell them not to grow. a researcher at the Schepens Eye Re- side the brain or spinal cord. In recent years, scientists have search Institute in Boston. The nanoknitting work did not chipped away at the problem of re- The knitting “could be very use- totally cure the blind hamsters. But generating neural connections. There ful in combination with other treat- the nanomaterial, injected within an is growing consensus that there will ments,” said Wolfram Tetzlaff, as- hour after the visual pathway was be no magic bullet that addresses all sociate director of discovery science cut in 16 adult hamsters, appeared these problems. Instead, scientists ICORD, the International Collabora- to reduce the gap within the first 24 617-353-5124 | www.bu.edu/summer are investigating multiple strategies, tion on Repair Discoveries in British hours, and the axons regrew through each designed to address a different Columbia, which focuses on spinal the center of the cut. challenge. cord injuries. When tested, three-quarters of Some examples of recent prog- However, he said, the hamster those hamsters could see, as judged ress, as singled out in a report just work involved a “clean knife cut” by whether they turned toward a released by the nonprofit Dana Alli- across the optic nerve, and “this is nearby seed. None of the 31 blinded ance for Brain Initiatives: not how injuries typically present adult hamsters who had not received Using an enzyme to encourage themselves.” Usually, neural connec- the nanosolution regained their growth of the neuron and special tions torn by a stroke or a car acci- sight. cells to guide and structurally sup- dent, for example, tend to be much For all the drama of restored vi- port that growth improved the recov- messier and thus harder to bridge. sion, Ellis-Behnke emphasized that ery of rats with severed spinal cords. Repairing clean cuts could be nanoknitting “is not a panacea.” A mix of stem cells and gene extremely useful, though, for stem- “We think it will take several oth- therapy targeted at rebuilding myelin ming the harm from brain surgery, in er things, and we don’t even know if also improved the recovery of rats which a surgeon’s scalpel leaves col- this is the best,” he said. with injured spinal cords. lateral damage every time it cuts into One of his next areas of research, A growing understanding of what the brain. Ellis-Behnke, who also he said: Exploring whether the nano- blocks regrowth - including a protein works for the University of Hong material can be helpful long after the called “Nogo” - has led to several Kong Medical Facility, says he be- nerve damage has occurred, which possible countermeasures. lieves that within three to five years, would make it useful to people who Also, scientists have been experi- it could be possible to start experi- already suffer from spinal cord or menting with “growth factors” to ments with the nanoknitting material brain damage.

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������������������ ������������������������������������� March 21, 2006 SPORTS THE TECH Page 15 Best First Round NCAA Game: Northwestern State Over Iowa Lei, from Page 16 35 points to overcome a very com- that did the almost-impossible: beat a posed Xavier. Morrison’s good, as #1 in the first round. I swear, one of cial 25 times (More reason to get that advertised, but you probably weren’t these years, the Albanies in the world DirecTV package: there are no com- hoping his Bulldogs would have to are going to keep hitting those 3’s and mercials). work this hard to get past a #14 seed play defense like they’re tripping on 2) Gerry “Not-Gonna-Get-Draft- when you were picking them to go to speed down the stretch and prevail ed-Anymore” McNamara having the the Final Four. over the lackadaisical UConns in the worst game of his life: 2 points on 0-6 All the big shots and crazy finishes world. Nobody, not even the ones who shooting en route to his Orangemen coming one after another on day one, had UConn winning it all, was root- being upset by Texas A&M. (Note to and that’s only half of the first round ing for them when they were down by self: never, EVER pick an overrated games. Day 2 had arguably the best 12 with 10 minutes to go; the allure of team that got lukewarm before the game of the tourney so far: #3 Iowa the upset was too much. tourney to make it to the Sweet 16.) falling to #14 Northwestern State. The best part of the first 2 days 3) George Washington’s ho-hum They had Northwestern State down of the tourney? It’s just the tip. There 18-point comeback over UNC-Wilm- 17 with 8 and a half minutes to go, is so much more to come: When ington to win in OT, a game where all and all but watched as the Demons is Bradley’s run going to run out of but about 4 minutes were seen as a stormed back and then took the game steam? When will UConn finally re- score box in the upper left corner of with a fade away 3-pointer with half a alize they’re in a single-elimination the TV. An 18-point comeback just second to go. tournament and start killing the Alba- doesn’t look all that impressive when You just had to have seen it com- nies and the Kentuckies of the world you only see the score change. ing if you were watching the game (seriously you guys, step it up. For 4) The #7 Shockers of Wichita though. The Iowa coach, Steve Al- me. Please!)? These are just some of State beating the #10 Seton Hall Pi- ford, had his team playing flat-footed, the stories brewing below the tip of rates. Cue sexual innuendo. don’t-lose basketball after getting the this proverbial iceberg. So skip class, 5) Third seed Gonzaga needing all big lead in the second half, and State miss work, and tune in to the greatest- of Adam “Stop-Making-Fun-Of-My- just never stopped coming. until-I-decide-to-write-about-some- Baby-Mustache-Already” Morrison’s Finally there was the #16 seed thing-else tournament in the world! The Professors by David Horowitz

Noam Chomsky Professor of Modern Languages & Linguistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America ww.DangProfs.com Page 16 THE TECH March 21, 2006 SPORTS Bogsted Scores Run And Pitches Shutout For 1-0 Softball Win By Caitlin Murray were faster on the play than expect- STAFF WRITER ed, beating Bogsted home with the From leg-numbingly cold play, catching her in a potential run- bleachers that made the spectators down. But the Regis catcher, Blair long for spring, 23 dedicated fans Benander, just held the ball, allow- watched the MIT ing Bogsted to return, unchecked, Women’s Softball to third. In the meantime, Jeffrey team shut out the Re- moved on to second. But the Engi- gis College Pride 1-0 neers choked, stranding Jeffrey and in their season opener Bogsted and going scoreless into this Friday. Leah A. the third. Bogsted ’08, last year’s NEWMAC The Engineers were finally able Rookie of the Year and Friday’s to seal the deal in the bottom of the hero, posted nine strikeouts, and fourth. Leading off, Bogsted sent a scored the game’s only run. line drive up the middle for a single. After going 6-21 last year and Vannatta moved her to second with being knocked out of the NEW- a sacrifice bunt and Jeffrey sent her MAC tournament in the first round, to third on a ground out. The throw the Engineers hope to improve their to third went long, landing in foul performance this season. With five territory, giving Bogsted time to freshmen, eight sophomores, and reach home and give the Engineers a single upperclassman, this is a the lead. But the momentum and young team struggling to come into any chance to increase their lead its own. died with an inning ending ground Bogsted started shakily in the out. first, putting runners on the corners Both sides went down in order RICARDO RAMIREZ—THE TECH and walking another to load the in the fifth. In the sixth, Bogsted Zachary M. Eisenstat ’06 performs a straddleseat on the still rings in a competition against the bases with one out. But she quickly struck out two and forced another U.S. Military Academy held in du Pont Gymnasium. The MIT Men’s Gymnastics team lost to the set the tone for the rest of the game, into a ground out. In the bottom of Army team 188.55-199.65 this past Saturday, March 18. chalking up two decisive strike-outs the sixth, after Cheryl A. Texin ’06 to escape the inning unscathed. drew a walk, Bogsted grounded into The Engineers also missed some a double play. With two outs, the early opportunities. After drawing Engineers tried to awaken the team Pools, Upsets Make NCAA’s Great a walk as the lead-off batter, Adri- and pad the lead. Vannatta dropped By Wang S. Lei know every team’s Ratings Percent- and took a 6 point lead in the first OT anne H. Hee ’08 moved to third on a a single into left field and Jeffrey GUEST COLUMNIST age Index and Strength of Schedule. I with a barrage of threes. sacrifice bunt and a ground out, but drew a walk, but they were stranded Stop what you’re doing. This is don’t even know where most of these Next came #2 Tennessee squeak- was stranded by a short ground-out by an inning ending line-out. important. teams are located. And that’s one of ing by #15 Winthrop. There have been to the pitchers mound. Any last hopes for the Pride That’s right, the sporting event that the things that make March Madness grumblings that Tennessee should not In the second inning, the Pride were dashed by Bogsted’s perfor- is costing great: any schmuck can sit down with have gotten a #2 seed over the likes tried to get the upper hand on Bog- mance in the top of the seventh. companies a blank bracket, make the most ridicu- of Gonzaga and Boston College. sted. Veronica Coles nailed a drive After striking out two, she allowed Column nationwide lous picks, and look like a genius at Those suspicions were confirmed on down the left field line for a double. a single up the middle. But that was a little less the end of the day. Thursday, when the Volunteers need- After a sacrifice bunt moved her the end for the Pride, as she forced than $4 billion in lost productivity Oh, and did I mention the basket- ed a fade-away 19-footer by Chris to third, MIT left fielder Helen C. the next batter into a ground out to is here. March Madness, baby! As ball games? I may not have the per- Lofton with 3 seconds left to defeat O’Keefe ’09 stepped into the lime- third. of last Sunday, millions of workers, fect bracket (yeah, I picked Iona over lowly Winthrop. It’s a mystery to me light. Making a diving catch to rob MIT’s defense was impeccable, students, and illegal immigrants all LSU and had Utah State going to the why CBS didn’t show this potentially Coleen Hill of an extra base and an with Bogsted on the mound and suddenly became college basketball Sweet 16, wanna fight about it?), but huge bracket-buster over Marquette RBI, O’Keefe made another run- solid fielders behind her, but if they experts. as a basketball fan, you just can’t beat vs. Alabama, instead of only switch- ning catch, ending the inning and expect to improve their record this Let’s be honest here, maybe 10 having the 64 best college teams play- ing to it when there were only 2 left maintaining the shutout. season, their offense is going to percent of the people who filled out ing in 32 games over a 36-hour span. to play. Sure, the Marquette game was In the bottom of the second, af- have to be able to knock in runs. brackets in the country knew what As the Cookie Monster says, “Too pretty good in its own right (it even ter drawing a walk to reach first, Stranding seven does not bode well they’re doing, and 90 percent of those much of a good thing could be a bet- came down to a goofy-looking white Bogsted moved to second on a bunt for their ability to produce in the work for either ESPN or Sports Illus- ter thing.” guy missing a 3-pointer that would by Corinne E. Vannatta ’08. On a future. Nevertheless, the Engineers trated. But that hasn’t stopped anyone The game I skipped my first class have tied the game), but not when long, hard shot by Holly K. Jef- have demonstrated their ability to from throwing down those five dol- Thursday to watch, #4 Boston College compared to the Tennessee game. Just frey ’08, Bogsted took off, rounded win, which they hope to replicate lars (fake money, of course), picking vs #13 Pacific, was a thrilling double gives you a reason to get that Direc- third, and was waved home by the on Thursday, March 23 when they the bad teams with awesome-sound- OT win by Boston College (I know TV package. third base coach. But the Pride host Brandeis University. ing names like Xavier, Iona, or Texas where this school is, kind of), saving In addition to the barn burners, by to make improbable runs to the Sweet 10 million brackets. You have to give the end of the first night we had: 16. credit to BC for not losing their com- 1) The same Applebee’s commer- Of course, I don’t claim to be posure, even after Pacific fought back Men’s Volleyball Clinches a college basketball expert. I don’t into the game at the end of regulation Lei, Page 15 Berth in NECVA Tourney UPCOMING HOME EVENTS Engineers Win 20 for Second Consecutive Season By Mindy Brauer Volleyball Beats Emmanuel 3-0 Tuesday, March 21 ASST. DIR. OF SPORTS INFORMATION Two days earlier, the team de- Men’s Volleyball vs. Southern Vermont College Rockwell Cage, 7:00 p.m. Faced with a 24-20 deficit in the feated Emmanuel College (10-9) Wednesday, March 22 third game of its match against En- 30-22, 33-31, 30-26, in a NECVA Men’s Tennis vs. Bates College du Pont Tennis court, 3:30 p.m. dicott College on Thursday, the MIT New England division match. The Men’s Lacrosse vs. Endicott College Jack Barry Field, 4:00 p.m. Men’s Volleyball team win solidified the Engineers’ sec- Thursday, March 23 battled back to close ond-place ranking in the conference Baseball vs. Wentworth Briggs Field, 3:00 p.m. out the game and post and clinched their second consecu- Softball vs. Brandeis Briggs Field, 3:00 p.m. a 30-25, 30-16, 34-32 tive post season berth in the NECVA victory. The win gave Conference Tournament to be held the Engineers a 20-8 March 31 to April 2 at Endicott Col- record, marking the second time in lege. the program’s history that they have Raimondi paced Tech with a sea- notched back-to-back 20-win sea- son-high 11 kills. Pamidimukkala sons. Tech first reached this mile- recorded a career-high seven assisted stone during the 1986 and 1987 cam- blocks to go along with 10 kills and paigns. Endicott fell to 12-14. a team-best nine digs. Rosche posted Eugene Jang ’09 and Ryan G. eight kills while Dean tallied seven Dean ’08 anchored MIT’s defense kills, seven digs, and four assisted with 15 digs each while Jordan X. blocks. Jang contributed seven digs Wan ’06 collected 10 digs and 47 as- as Pollom racked up five assisted sists. For the second match in a row, blocks. Praveen Pamidimukkala ’08 tallied Wan, the previous week’s NEC- seven assisted blocks and contributed VA New England Player of the 16 kills and eight digs. Michelangelo Week, finished with 38 assists, six A. Raimondi ’06 had a solid outing digs, four assisted blocks, four kills, with 10 kills, three assisted blocks, and an ace. and two aces. Kenneth K. Rosche ’08 The Engineers will play their also totaled 10 kills and posted four final home match of the season on assisted blocks. T. Scott Pollom ’09 Tuesday, March 21 at 7 p.m. in Rock- bolstered the front row’s play with well Cage against Southern Vermont eight kills and six assisted blocks. College.