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Volume 119, Number 48 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Friday, October 8, 1999 MIT, Microsoft Join in I-Campus Alliance Bacow .,. / By Rima Arnaout "[Professor Abelson and I are] ASSOCIA TE NEWS E/)/TOR going to manage the interactions Receives MIT shocked the community between this program and other with the anJ)ouncement of an indus- groups and programs ... to make trial partnership with Microsoft sure this is a program that con- Corporation Wednesday. The initia- tributes to the Institute," Magnanti Reports tive, called I-Campus, involves a said. $25 million contribution from "We anticipate that many stu- RSSC, SAC Submit Microsoft over the next five years. dents will be working on the pro- _, In return, MIT offers access to its jects ... graduate students working, Conflicting Reports -i faculty and research facilities. and we hope to engage a fair num- Research will focus on the ber of undergrads as UROPs," By Sagara Wickramasekara development of educational technol- Magnanti said. STAFF REJ'ORTF.R ogy, said Thomas L. Magnanti, dean Two groups working to redesign of the School of Engineering and a Scope of partnership unclear the residence syst"em at MIT, the member of the MIT -Microsoft steer- The goals of MIT -Microsoft Residence System Steering ing committee. research have not been well-defined Committee and the Strategic "To say that there's $25 million past three initial projects. Advisory Committee to the specifically for education is an enor- Abelson said Microsoft wanted Chancellor, presented reports to mous opportunity for MIT," said to keep the deal confidential until GREG KUHNEN-TIfE TECH Chancellor Lawrence S. Bacow '72 Professor Harold Abelson '73, c,o- the official announcement "because Students at Microsoft's Futurefest storm the stage to grab copies of this week. director of project I-Campus. Microsoft Office 2000 which were being given away as door prizes. Bacow declined to comment on "Our main objective at least at 'YIicrosoft, Page 16 either of the reports until he reviews the outset is to improve learning on both the RSSC report and the

I,' campus ... to take programs that Unified Proposal from the SAC. we're currently doing and improve Braude Focuses on Coalition-building Bacow plans to meet with each them for our current stUdent body," group separately. Magnanti said. By Frank Dabek sions. In his previous experience as can't effectively petition 'their elect- Before presenting the report to Project I-Campus will be more EDITOR IN CHIEF a housing lawyer and member of a ed leaders, Braude said. He hopes Bacow, the RSSC released the visible to students than other MIT Jim Braude's campaign for tax and budget advocacy group, that a democratically elected mayor report to the community in relationships with industry. "This is Cambridge City Council stresses Braude said that he took pride in will lead to "greater participation [in September and held student feed- . really focused on the development coalition-building among city lead- the "consensus [he has] been able government] on election day and back forums to gather input. Along of educational technology," said ers along to fuse." after." with the amended final report, the Chancellor Lawrence S. Bacow '72. with the hot Braude also supports direct elec- "Democracy is the cure for what RSSC provided Bacow with the By contrast, other partnerships Election issues of a tion of Cambridge's mayor. The ails a cynical electorate in minutes of said forums. between MIT and industry "aren't strong mayor is currently chosen from Cambridge," Braude said. designed to engage students as mayor, among the city councillors. RSSC report largely unchanged learners but rather in their capacity '99 affordable Instituting a strong mayor would Role of universities "We believe that none of our

I as researchers," Bacow said. housing, and development. require amending the city's charter. Braude hopes to further integrate ... recommendations in this final report

,I The partnership with Microsoft Coalition-building is important Braude hopes to begin the process Cambridge's universities into the have changed significantly from will be overseen by a steering com- to Braude since he has seen "petty with a "high profile debate" on the city's culture. "Both Harvard and those of the draft document in mittee of MIT and Microsoft mem- personal conflicts standing in the issue of a strong mayor. MIT should see themselves as far September," the report stated.

J bers, including Abelson, Magnanti, way" of important issues in Cambridge government is limit- more citizens of Cambridge and far Apart from a few clarifications and Microsoft Research Vice Cambridge such as affordable hous- ed because voters don't know President Richard Rashid. ing and the easing of racial ten- "where the pressure points are" and .Braude, Page 23 RSSC, Page 18 Council Candidates Create \. Students' Political Alliance By Kevin R. Lang have issues, but let that not be a ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR threat to the re'st of the city." Speaking from the steps of De Francisci supports rent con- Boston City Hall, city council candi- trol, increased college dormitory dates from MIT, Emerson College, construction, and expanded hours \ ) and Northeastern University for public transportation. He sup- announced the formation of the ports running one line of the Green College Students' Political Alliance. ' Line past the Fleet Center, the the- Emerson College senior ater district, Kenmore Square, and Giovanni de .Francisci began gather- other entertainment areas late at ing support for the CSPA in June to night to discourage drunk driving. represent the concerns of college De Francisci has been endorsed by students in the Boston area. De Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Francisci is running for Boston City De Francisci said that student Council from District Eight as a participation is key to the CSP A's write-in candidate. success. "] urge you all to register to "I'm doing this to launch other vote," de Francisci said. He candidates' campaigns," de expressed confidence in candidate's Francisci said. "College students chances for election success. "We make up a very large percentage of can win this election," de Francisci the city." said. "It's all about momentum." "- While some Boston citizens see DUSTIN LEDBEITER college. students as transient resi- _MIT candidate supports CSP A Martha Nussbaum, Abdullahl An-Na'im, and Susan akin discussed issues raised in Susan akin's dents, "the concerns of the city and MIT student Erik C. Snowberg new book, Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?, on Wednesday as part of the authors@mit series. the concerns of college students are so similar," de Francisci said. "We CSPA, Page 27

Stephen FUN Despite party regulations, recent World & Nation , , ... 2 Hawking The Tech on-campus events have avoided Opinion ,. .4 gives cosmol- welcomes metal detectors with Institute Arts ' .. , , 6 ogy lecture. Fairytales@MIT. consent. On The Town 8 Sports , .. 32 Page 14 Page 10 Page 15 ... , ~, f, ' .. I ... ' ....~,' Page 2 THE TECH' October 8, 1999 WORLD & NATION Chechen Propaganda War Heats Up LOS ANGELES TIMES Vajpayee's BJP Wms Large MOSCOW As Russia's new war in Chechnya gains force and casualties mount, the Chechen side is using the Internet to publicize its side of the story and its claims of civilian casualties. Majority In Indian Elections On the opposite side, Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin has taken By Pamela Constable regional tensions over Kashmir and ment in April by a one-vote margin. personal control of Russia's effort in the propaganda war, launching a THE WASHINGTON POST international controversy over Congress party leader Sonia new government information center. NEW DELHI, INDIA India's nuclear weapons program. Gandhi, issued 'a statement saying Putin's move underscores the high stakes for him in the renewed The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya India and Pakistan have tested her party will "accept unhesitatingly Chechen war. He has gambled his position as the anointed heir to Janata Party headed by Prime nuclear weapons and missiles capa- the verdict of the people." She said President Boris N. Y~ltsinon winning the conflict. He is determined Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has ble of delivering them in the past 18 the election result "calls for intro- not to repeat the mistakes of the 1994-96 Chechen conflict, in which won a comfortable majority in months, and they fought in a 10- spection, frank ass.essment and deter- Russia lost the propaganda war badly and suffered a humiliating mili- India's parliamentary elections. week border conflict this summer in mined action." The 53-year-old tary defeat by the Chechen guerrillas. The decisive outcome promises the mountains of Kashmir, the long- Gandhi, the widow of the assassinat- He flatly denied Thursday that Russian tanks had fired on a bus in the nation a period of political sta- contested Himalayan region. , - ed prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, took northeastern Chechnya on Tuesday, killing dozens of civilians. bility for which it has long yearned Vajpayee appears eager to return the party reins last summer in what But the Chechens had already posted photographs on the Internet and sol id ifies the evolution of to the negotiations with Pakistan turns out to have been an unsuccess- showing a bus shot to pieces and the mangled corpses of several Vajpayee's BJP into a mass political that he initiated last winter, suggest- ful attempt to revive its fortunes. women passengers. movement after years of being ing. his re.:election may lead to A' relaxed and triumphant "If such an incident had really taken place, Chechens would not viewed as a fringe religiQus group. reduced tensions with Islamabad Vajpayee, 76, spent Thursday tele- have fled to Russia," said Putin, referring to a flood of more than With official results from five despite the Kashmir dispute. At the phoning political allies and inviting 100,000 refugees who have fled Chechnya since Russia's heavy weeks of elections almost complete, same time, advisers in Vajpayee's them to join his new government. bombing of villages began last month. the BJP and its allies in the 24-party outgoing government have elaborat- Party leaders later this week are National Democratic Alliance won ed a defense doctrine, making it expected to chose Vajpayee, the - 284 of 543 seats in the lower house clear the country intends: to equip , longtjme BJP head, as prime minis- Trump Announces Exploratory of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, while itself with modem nuclear weapons ter. Parliament is scheduled to take the opposition Congress party and its to be able to retaliate swiftly against office Oct. 21. Committee For Refonn Party,Nod allies won 130. Leftist and other par- any nuclear attack. "For the first time in 27 years in THE BAL T/MORE SUi\" ties accounted for 99 seats and, as of "We have been voted back to India, an incumbent prime minister WASHINGTON late Thursday night, the winners of power to continue the good gover- has been returned to office. That's Real estate tycoon Donald Trump inched closer to a third-party 30 seats had not been determined. nance that Vajpayee has been giving remarkable," Foreign Minister oil presidential run Thursday, announcing that he was forming an Vajpayee's solid victory came as to the people of this country," BJP Jaswant Singh said Thursday night. exploratory committee to seek the Reform Party nomination. a relief to many Indians who feared spokesman Venkaiah Naidu told The others have been defeated, The New York developer and casino operator, in the midst of a that a close result in the third journalists. The voters' verdict, he assassinated or otherwise unable'to series of TV appearances to promote an upcoming book, is one of national election in four years said, is a mandate "for the continu- complete their terms .. several celebrities who have attracted publicity in recent weeks by would leave the country with anoth- ance of good governance" and The election was a major logisti- hinting that they might enter the 2000 race. er narrowly based government dis- "against the destabilizers" in cal feat, with more than 650 million Trump, describing his poll numbers as "unbelievable," said on tracted by political horse-trading Congress and other parties that voters going to the polls in 90,000 CNN that he was forming a committee to advise him on a possible and instability at a time of high brought down the Vajpayee govern- locations. • run. Two national voter surveys have pegged his support at only seven or eight percent, though a recent poll of Reform Party members showed him running close behind Republican presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, who is threatening to join the third party soon. Trump said his first choice of a running mate would be talk show British Magistrate Will Decide host Oprah Winfrey. The two have not talked about it, he added. Labor Talks Intensify as UAW Pinochet Extradition on Frjday By Anthony Faiola . ingly and that his death abroad may come down to requesting mercy.~ ... Strike Deadline Approaches THE WASHINGTON POST have. the un'wanted effect of turning' Everyone sees this as'the last best THE H'..tSIIINGTON POST SANTIAGO. CHILE hi'm into a martyr back home, effort to get him.freed." -' WASHINGTON A British magistrate will decide according to Chilean Foreign Pirio'chet, the most notorious- of .... Labor negotiators for Ford Motor Co. and the United Auto Friday whether Augusto Pinochet Minister Juan Gabriel Valdes. South America's military dictators Workers are talking overtime, trying to settle a new contract before a can be extradited to Madrid, where If the British magistrate rules in of the 19705 and '80s, was arrested union-set strike deadline, set for II :59 p.m. Friday night. a Spanish magistrate wants him favor of Pinochet, Chilean authori- while visiting J;3ritain almost a year Ford is the last of Big Three auto manufacturers in the United tried for crimes allegedly committed ties hope the new initiative will ago, after Garzon requested' States to meet in nearly round-the-clock bargaining sessions with the during his 17-year rule in Chile. But allow them to circumvent a _Pinochet's extradition to try him in ~' UA W. The other two, General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler even if the decision goes against the promised appeal by the Spanish Spain for some of an estimated AG, recently accepted rich, four-year agreements with the. union .. former dictator, Chilean authorities magistrate, Baltasar Garzon, that 3,000 killings and missing-persons ..... But money is not an issue at Ford, any more than it was at GM are trying to build a case for his could keep Pinochet in London. cases blamed on his government. and DaimlerChrysler. The U.S. auto industry is running at full throt- release based on humanitarian con- And 'if the ruling goes against Since then, although his' age and tle, and is on the road to record sales and profits for calendar 1999. cerns over his failing health. Pinochet, the new strategy may be health have often been cited in legal Some bargaining sources said Thursday that Ford already bas In its attempt to win Pinochet's his best chance to avoid months of arguments for his release, they have agreed, in principle, to the same economic deal 'accepted by its rivals: release: the Chilean government has legal appe'als-and perhaps -the tri al never b.een the focus~of the Chilean a three percent annual wage increase over the life of a new, four-year cited mainly national sovereignty in Madrid that Garzon is seeking. government or Pinochet's lawyers. ~I contract; improved cost-of-living adjustments to help offset increases grounds and has pledged to put him "Nothing else the Chilean gov- . Now that is changing. Valdes in the inflation rate; improved pension benefits; and a one-time, upon trial here, but thus far without ernment has done to free Pinochet said in an .interview t~at the stress of .. front sign ing bonus of S I,350. success. So it has taken a new tack, has worked," said Ricardo Israel, legal proceedings and detention stressing that Pinochet's health - director of the University of Chile's have made Pinochet's medical con- .... he is 83 - has deteriorated alarm- Political Science Institute. "So it has dition "potentially fatal." .

t.. WEATHER The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful

By Peter Huygens STIFF ,\IF:TER( Jf.{JG/ST .' Though partly cloudy this morning, expect a sunny Friday afternoon with highs around 60°F ( 16"C) and light winds from the south of I0 to 15 rnph. Tonight, increasing clouds will act as a thermal blanket and moderate • lows to between 45 and 50"F (7 - 10°C). On Saturday morning we'll have clouds. breezcs, and a 30 percent chance of rain. By Saturday afternoon, though, the clouds will abate and the day will take a pleasant turn to partly sunny skies with highs reaching about 75°F (24°C) and lows Saturday night • of 50"F (((tC). Sunday will be partly cloudy with highs in the 60s. Monday, another chance of showcrs with highs in the 60s and lows of about 50°F ( 10"C) . ;:.r'-., ..

Weekend Summary

Friday: Mostly sunny. High 60"F (16"C), low 45°F (7°C) to 50°F (10°C). Wind 10 mph from the south. Saturday: Chance of rain. Warmer and partly sunny in the afternoon. High 75°F (24°C), low 50°F (10°C). Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the 60s .. Prtcipilalion Symbols Soaw : Rain Monday: Chance of showers. Highs 60 (16°C) to 65 (18°C), lows 45 - _ Truugh :. -= FOjl S...... en..V j V (7"C) to 55 (J3uC). 'R . Th~dcn'orm ~ -"",,- W.orm Fron' \ L Low Pressure ~~_ ..- ...!...\..:..-. 00 Haze A~ Cold Fro"' e Mode.- ** l .. Compiled by MIT Friday Sunrise: 6:53 am ~ Hunicarw Meleoroloa;y S,a/T ..... o.xludal Front Heavy Friday Sunset: 6: 17 pm A j.:. and n" TnIr . • October 8, 1999 WORLD & NATION THE TECH Page 3 " ------Thirty Dead, Hun~eds Injured Environmentalists' Study Shows . Tell-Tale Radiation Leve~s

LOS ANGELES TI.\fES or Missing in London Wreck TOKYO By Marjorie Miller One clue to how ma'ny local mourn without a body." Telltale signs of neutron radiation found in a gold bracelet.' coins. LOS ANGELES TIMES commuters boarded the ill-fated Many families of the dead and leaves and household salt leave little doubt that people in the neigh- READING. ENGLAND train to London's Paddington missing huddled with grief coun- borhood of Japan's worst nuclear accident were exposed to a poten- Among the bouquets of fresh Station on Tuesd~y could be found ,selors in Reading's Town Hall and tially damaging bombardment, environmentalists and scholars said flowers laid at the entrance to in the station's parking lot, where in a bunker-like conference hall at Thursday. ; Reading's central train station on "Of course the people who were within SOO (yards of the plant) ,) dozens of cars remained unclaimed. London's Royal Lancaster Hotel to Thursday, a sign beseeched: "Daddy At the rail station, on Thursday, wait for information. Police kept the were irradiated," said Hiroaki Koide of Kyoto University's Reactor Come Home. I love you. Claire." men and women awaited their trains media well away from them. Research Institute. "The only question is the degree." Whether or not Claire's daddy nervously and sought out rear cars, Late in the day, police escorted The Japanese government has said that at least 4lJ people. 33 of survived what may, turn out to be such as those that had fared the best dozens of grieving relatives to the them plant workers, were exposed to radiation last Thursday during a Britain's worst-ever rail crash, in Tuesday's crash. Passengers on crash site to see the horror for them- surprise nuclear fission reaction at a uranium fuel processing plant in Reading woke up to the reality that board trains to and from London selves. They laid flowers, hugged Tokaimura, about,80 miles northeast of Tokyo. as many as 50 of its fathers, mothers soaked up newspapers filled with and wept over the mangled rail cars. However, the environmental group Grcenpeace. after collecting and other family members who took stories about the accident. Emergency crews set up a crane its own samples of soil, leaves and household salt and sending it to a an express train to London two day In town, there was a sense of capable of lifting 100 tons and chemistry lab at Rikkyo University for analysis. announced that it before might never come home. , believes several hundred people may have been exposed during the , 'foreboding, grief and guilt. Some began to erect scaffolding around ',.' Thirty people are confirmed dead pubs closed and flags flew at' half the wreckage so that forensics teams "'- 20-hour crisis. and 127 are listed as missing in the staff. The uncertainty was agony for and investigators could get inside. The group said it found the radioactive isotope sodium-24 in salt fiery crash that incinerated rail cars. many; others' feared that the facts , Forensics experts said it could be collected from private homes 175 yards from the plant and in soil col- Another 150 passengers were would. ultimately prove to be even days and even weeks before they are lected 500 yards away. Though the isotopes have a half-life of just IS injured in the rush-hour collision, more painful. able to identify all of the bodies, hours and quickly fade away, they are the result of passing neutrons many of them suffering serious "By the end of this, it is likely some of which were burned to ash. that travel through buildings, cars and human bodies, potentially bums,' that everyone will know someone Rail officials have said that the causing DNA damage and increasing the risk of cancer in the long . The residents of Reading braced who wi II have been inj ured or crash occurred. when the rookie dri- term . I.. themselves to find out how many of killed," said the Right Rev. Dominic ver of an outbound Thames Trains the victims were theirs, fully expect- Walker, the Anglican bishop of service went through a red danger ing to be the community hardest hit Reading. "And the worst thing is signal and crossed onto the track of Thousands of Fen-Phen Claims , ,~\ by what has become a national that. for many there won't be any the incoming First Great Western tragedy, bodies. It will be very difficult to Train. ' Produce $4.83 Billion Settlement LOS ANGELES TIMES The maker of key ingredients in the diet drug cocktail known as ,,~Commander of East Timor Force Fen-Phen has agreed to pay $4.83 billion to settle thousands of claims from patients who may have sustained heart damage from taking the once-popular weight loss regimen. American Home Products, maker of fenfluramine, the potent por- ,',Defends Slow Peacekeeping Pace tion of the mixture, and dexfenfluramine, a chemical cousin some- times used instead, said Thursday it had signed a letter of intent with,

J• By Keith B. Richburg resistance leader Xanana Gusmao, 7,500 soon with the arrival of sol- lawyers representing 8,000 patients to pay for medical monitoring, .: " THE WASHINGTON POST and Jose Ramos-Horta, the Nobel diers from Thai land, which is health care and some compensatory damages to those who took the Dill, EAST TIMOR Prize-winnirig independence cam- expected to have the second-largest drugs before fenfluramine was pulled off the market in 1997. On the day after Australian-led' paigner, who have urged the force contingent here. Thai Maj. Gen. "It has achieved what we lawyers seldom see, and that is a full

I peacekeepers had their first direct to move faster. ~ Songkitti Chakkabatr took up his measure of justice for these people," said attorney Michael Fishbein, ,\'~ conflict' with, pro-Indonesian militia- "It is easy to stand back anti say,. duty as deputy commander of the one of the lead plaintiffs attorneys on the deal. men an'd killed two of them, the 'Why don't you shotgun your peo-, peacek.eeping operation Thursday, , The settlement, which still must be approved by a federal judge in commander of the international, pIe all over the province?'" placing an Asian face, and an ~ Philadelphia, would be open to all 6 million people who took either l.~ force defended the pace of the mis- Cosgrov~ ~aid. "This iS,a prudent Indone~ian neighbor, ~na prominent of the AHP drugs, marketed under the names Pondimin and Redux. sion a'gai~st charges ,it'is'moving too' but quick o,p,eration.'~, -.' :: ',' position:in the force in what has Those with the most serious heart disease could receive as much as slowly, 'in securing East Timor~;s out;....- , The pea'cekeepin'g'forcet"moved seen as a concession t~ 'Jakarta's $1.5 million under,the terms of the deal. ~ lying provinces. unchal'enge~ this week into nationalist sensibilities. But actual payments to "s~me patients with minimal heart damage ( . "IUs jusi.'a' litany of rubbish,'> Maliana, a former militia stronghold Meeting the press Thursday, for . could be as low as $6,000, and 'not all condition'S believed to be A'ustralian' ~,faj.' Gen. ,. Peter and 'hometown' of inIlitia ~omman- , the ,first tim'e;,.Soiigkitti said there : caused by fen-phen are included. For example, many doctors believe Cosgrove, the head of the U.N~- der-in-chief Joa~ Tavares. Tavares, . were no ,differences bet~een the , that the pills also caused a form of heart failure called primary pul- ~.,' backed peacekeeping force, told 68, who is now in'lndonesian-ruled ' approach hi's troops and the monary hypertension, but that is~ot part of the deal. \,. reporters at a morning briefing ill 'a western Timor, said in August that Australians are taking in the mis-: fortified seaside hotel. "Our peace- hfs men would wage a guerrilla war sion. , keepers are moving extremely to' prevent East Timor from becom- The United States also increased National Health Institute Director \) quickly .... in this harsh terrain." ing independent, and the over- its role with the arrival Thursday of Cosgrove angrily dismissed the whelming Aug. 30 vote in favor of the US~ Belleau Wood, an amphibi- Moves to Memorial Sloan-Kettering suggestion that aid groups and oth- independence unleashed a wave of ous assault ship bringing four NEWSDAY ./' ers have been moving into remote attacks by the' militias and their he.avy-lifting CH-53E helicopters Saying his "connection to New York is deep," Dr. Harold Varmus t " areas of East Timor well before the allies in the Indonesian military and that will be used to ferry equipment on Thursday announced he is resigning as director of the National peacekeepers. He said the humani- led to the peacekeepers' arrival. and supplies for the multinational Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., where he oversaw a $15.6 bil- tarian relief groups and the peace- "Maliana is now secure," said troops. , lion budget and 24 separate research institutes; to become president I( '. keepers "are working hand-in- Col. Mark Kelly, the spokesman for The crew of the Belleau Wood of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. glove" to reach all parts of the' the peacekeepers. includes 900 Marines and 900 The resignation, which will take effect Dec. 31, ends a six-year territory as fast as possible, while The multinational force now sailors, but only 20 Americans are government career in which "he raised the standards, the expectations , not risking lives unnecessarily.", " numbers more than 6,000. It is said to be on land and spending the and the spirit here," according to Dr. Richard Klausner, the director 'v Among the critics have been ex~ected to reach a full strength of. night in ~ili, the East Timor capital. of the National Cancer institute. Born and reared on Long Island, N.Y., the 59-year-old graduate of Columbia University's medical school described Sloan-Kettering as "Greenspan Creates.Panel. Evaluating "a place where I can feel a sense' of leadership," within the cancer research community. He replaces Dr. Paul Marks, who announced last year that he was retiring, after serving as president since 1980. .Procedures for Fed Public Statements During a news conference Thursday, the 1989 Nobel laureate said "", he was not leaving because.of any dissatisfaction with the NIH, but By John M. Berry ble future rates. and three Federal Reserve bank rather because he felt personally it was a time for change in his life. THE WASHINGTON POST After its May announcement that presidents, Michael H. Moskow of "It's actually a good time at the NIH," he said. "Our lab is flour- WASHINGTON the FOMC hadn't raised rates but Chicago, Robert T. Parry of San , ishing. I have a good relationship with the president, vice president Federal Reserve Chairman Alan had adopted an "asymmetrical" Francisco and William Poole of St. and Mrs: Clinton. And the genome project (in which scientists are Greenspan is famous for using stance - an indication that the next Louis. It is expected to make recom- aiming to identify all genes within the human body) is coming to obscure circumlocutions that some- move on rates would likely be an mendations' no later than next completion." ~'.,times leave listeners scratching their increase - financial markets react- spring. heads. Shortly after he become ed as if rates had al ready been The new pronouncements created chairman in 1987, he quipped, increased. problems because "the sentence relat- Domino's Pizza's $2 Million Fumble , "Since becoming a central banker I In a sense, the Fed's new open- ing to symmetry of the (FOMC) THE WASHINGTON POST l. .... have learned to mumble 'with great ness had, in the mind of some offi- di'rective, was subject to differing WASHINGTON incoherence, If I seem unduly clear cials, backfired. Part of the problem interpretations," according to minutes Domino's may know the cost of cheese, dough, tomato sauce and to you, you must have misunder- was that investors and analysts did- of the Aug. 24 policy-making session. pepperoni. What it didn't cou'nt on was the high price of Redskins '_ stood what I said." n't fully understand what was meant, FOMC members "also had touchdowns. In fact, one 'might call it Domino's ,Pizza's $2 million But in August, even Greenspan by the terms "symmetry" and expressed some discomfort with the fumble. - appears to have acknowledged that "asymmetry." There was wide- way these announcements had been Before the football season, the Washington area's 143 Domino's , the Fed may want to be a' bit clearer spread disagreement among FOMC interpreted," according to the min- outlet~ decided to'try to boost business on their slowest day of the ~..)in public statements. Fed minutes members about the precise meaning utes. "While the committee did not week - Monday - by offering customers $1 off every pizza, no released Thursday show that of the terms as well. contemplate retreating from its poli- matter the size, for every touchdown the Redskins scored the day Greenspan created a committee two Some Fed watchers, such as cy of immediate announcements, it before. I months ago to study "whether some Goldman Sachs Group Inc. chief might want to examine whether The 22 Domino's franchise holders in the Washington area knew < .t adjustment in its procedures would economist Bill Dudley, suggested some adjustments in its procedures the numbers from last year - the woebegone Redskins scored 40 ~e helpful." . the concept of symmetry was so would be helpful." touchdowns in a forgettable 6-10 season, which figures out to 2 1/2 Greenspan's concern stems from confusing that the FOMC ought to In the wake of the May touchdowns a game. ' • a change in Fed policy implemented drop the terms and simply te~1 the announcement that the FOMC was Or, put another way, that's an average of $2.50 off, say, a large ',.,..J in May, when the central bank's top public what it wanted to convey. leaning toward highe,r rates, the pizza with sausage and mushrooms .. policy-making group, the Federal The group reviewing the Fed's ,committee did raise the target for So, as Dave Wood, a Redskins season-ticket holder and owner of . Open Market Committee, began pronouncements is headed by Fed the federal funds rate by a quarter of 16 Domino's outlets in Northern Virginia, said, "we were figuring in' \<:} announcing not just changes in its Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson and .a percentage point, to 5 percent. The a big game they might get four touchdowns. Some games maybe targets for interest rates but also includes Fed board members federal funds rate is the interest rate they'd get zero, one or two." which direction the rate-setting Edward M. Gramlich, Edward W. 'financial institutions charge one \~. group was leaning regarding possi- Kelley Jr. and Laurence H. Meyer another on overnight loans. I?age 4 THE TECH f .. t , I" October 8, 1999 OPINION Register to VOte The past several years on campus have seen a great deal of states, students should register to vote in Massachusetts. student activism and protest. Unfortunately, many student Virtually without exception, registering to vote in efforts have ultimately proved unsuccessful; students; power is Massachusetts does not affect taxation, drivers' licenses, or jury Chairman 'torl'a1 limited over matters on campus and duty eligibility. Besides, local issues have more influence on Satwiksai Seshasai '0 I Edl in the surrounding community. students' everyday lives than most students realize - resident Editor in Chief ------Dealing with the administration is parking permits, public transportation, public safety, and park Frank Dabek '00 one thing - administrators have their own not-always-apparent and bicycle facilities, to name but a few, are all controlled by agendas, and are not ultimately responsible to students. . local governments, not by Congress or the President. Students Business Manager Joey Dieckhans '00 But elected officials, whatever their other motivations, would be well served to pay less attention to the high-profile share one common goal - re-election. Politicians are ultimately 2000 presidential election and more to this fall's local elections. Managing Editor responsible to their constituents; if they displease voters, they Controversial local matters are often decided by only a few Ryan Ochylski '0 I will soon find themselves on the sidewalk. One of the greatest votes; students could be a crucial constituency. Only legendary Executive Editor features of American democracy is citizens' power over the law student apathy has kept local candidates from ~ouriing the MIT Gregory F. Kuhnen '00 - by electing officials they believe best represent.their inter- vote. If students stopped making excuses, they would find ests, Americans exert control over the political process to a enough strength in numbers to elect the entire governments of NEWS STAFF degree usually overlooked by the cynical 1990s media. Cambridge and Boston. For exact figures, visit the web site Editors: Douglas E. H~imburger '00, Zareena Hussain '00, Jennifer Chung '0 I, In order that students are full-fledged participants in this . Naveen Sunkavally '0 I; Associate Editors: process, The Tech urges all MIT students (and community mem- If the entire student population of MIT registered to vote, Rima Amaout '02, Sanjay Basu '02, bers) to register to vote. The right to vote, a constitutional pre- thus empowering themselves, student activism would take on a Kristen Landino '02, Kevin R. Lang '02, rogative conferred upon every citizen eighteen years of age or completely different character. Activists and protesters would Karen E. Robinson '02; Staff: Anna K. be taken seriously by local elected officials, such as the mem- Benefiel '00, Gabriel Daleson '00, Laura older, is the most powerful political weapon, the most powerful McGrath Moulton '0 I, Krista L. Niece '0 I, tool of activism and protest. It should be claimed by everyone. bers of the Cambridge and Boston city councils - members Jane Yoo '0 I, Stev~ Hoberman '02, Mik~ The Tech applauds the campaign efforts of Erik C. students could elect. And the MIT administration, dependent on Hall '03, Aurora Schmidt '03, Sagara Snowberg '99, who has been busy registering MIT and Harvard these legislatures in a variety of ways, would have no.choice but Wickramasekara '03; Meteorologists: students to vote. Snowberg's candidacy for Cambridge City to take notice. Apathy is no longer acceptable. If students want Veronique Bugnion G, Greg Lawson G, Peter Huybers G. Bill Ramstrom G, Chris E. Council has brought immediacy to the cause of student voter to make their voice heard, if we are not to be a generation at the For~st, Marek Zebrowski. registration, and has rightfully drawn attention to several local mercy of our government, it is time to register to vote. PRODUCT/OS STAFF issues of student concern in Cambridge and Boston, including Voter registration forms are available at The Tech's office, Editor: Brett Altschul G; Associate affordable housing, transportation, and continuing urban gentri- on the fourth floor of the Student Center, through Tuesday. Editors: Mary Obelnicki G, Ian Lai '02, fication. In the absence of similar pressing issues in their home Wednesday is the last day to register for the Nov. 2 election. Jordan Rubin '02, Agnes Borszeki; Staff: Josh Bittker '99, Erica S. Pfister '00, Eric J. Cholankeril '02, Raag Airan '03, Bryan Guzman '03, Nancy Kho '03, Linda Microsoft Institute of Techno logy ? Liang '03, Veronica Lois '03, Jane Maduram '03, Supriya Rao '03, Jennifer It began last year with a ride to Logan Airport shared by years." While the initial three projects of I-Campus are well . Shieh '03. Chuck Vest and Bill Gates. However, the deal forged between defined, the long-term ramifications of this agreement may not OPINION STAFF MIT and Microsoft may have crossed the line of what defines even be known to those who negotiated it. Funding from indus- Editors: Eric J. Plosky G, Michael J. an acceptable collaboration between academia and industry. try should be attached to a specific, well-defined purpose, not to Ring '01; Columnists: Julia C. Lipman '99, Elaine Y. Wan '01, Veena Thomas '02, Kris 'torl'a1 The I-Campus project, a five- a set of amorphous buzzwords that could be interpreted in vari- Schnee '02; Staff: Wesley T. Chan '00, Jeff Edl year, $25 million joint venture ous ways. Robens '02. ------between the Institute and The three MIT faculty members serving on the I-Campus SPORTS STAFF Microsoft Research, isn~t the first between Gates and MIT - steering committee must remain vigilant on issues of intellectu- '.. Editor: Susan Buchman '0 I; Associate a previous $20 million donation to the Laboratory for al property throughout the life of this project,' and must err on Editor: Ming-Tai Huh '02; Staff: Ethan T. Computer Science will help to build the William H. Gates the side of free information exchange, not on the side of defend-: Goetz '00, Amir Mesarwi '00, Nisha Singh '00, Deborah S, Won '00, Alvan Eric building within the new Stata Complex, Nor is it the first time ing corporate interests. Loreto '0 I, Jenni fer C. Lee '02. that MIT has sought out industry collaboration amidst a back- Microsoft has a dubious history with regard to intell,ectual ARTS STAFF drop of a slow but steady decline in federal funding for scien- property. Through skillful negotiation; MIT has ~ilsured that Editors: Vladimir V. Zelevinsky '9~, tific research - Merrill Lynch, for example, invested $20 mil-Microsoft will not have pre-review rights on publications result- Rebecca Loh '0 I; Associate Editors: Bence lion in a new technical finance laboratory within the Sloan ing from this joint venture, and that professors can opt notto P. Olveczky G, Fred Choi '02; Staff: Erik Blankinship G, Daniel Metz G, Steven R. L. School of Management in March. Last month, DuPont and work on the project. Given the broad scope of the I-Campus Millman G, Roy Rodenstein G, Zarminae MIT announced an even larger investment - $35 million - project, those who oversee it must ensure that it does not merely' Ansari '97, Teresa Huang '97, David V. into biochemistry research. become a method for Microsoft to obtain the resources ofMIT Rodriguez '97, Tzu-Mainn Chen '99, Mark Yet the I-Campus project is more encompassing than either faculty and students at low cost. Work condu'cted here must be Huang '99, Kate Samrandvedhya '00, of those projects, as it has the potential to affect nearly every for academic enhancement on this campus and elsewhere. Francisco Delatorre '0 I, Amrita Ghosh '02, Daniel J. Katz '03, Heather Anderson. segment of campus and is, in general, not well defined beyond In order to endure, MIT has no choice but to form . PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF improving educational technology. According to t~e press alliances with industry. Future partnerships, however, must be Editors: Garry R. Maskaly '00, Karlene release, the I-Campus project will "focus on methods and tech- much more well defined than I-Campus, in order to remain. Rosera '00, Annie S. Choi; Staff: James nologies that will enhance education on our campus and could within'the bounds of acceptable academic-industry collabora- Camp G, Rich Fletcher G, Krzysztof Gajos set the pace for university education for the next five to ten tion. G, Sephir Hamilton G, Aaron Isaksen G, Wan Yusof Wan Morshidi G, Thomas E. Murphy G, Michelle Povinelli G, Omar Roushdy G, Jelena Srebric G, T. Luke Young G, J. Su G, ~tefan Carp '00, Rita H. Letters To The Editor Lin '00, Chris McEniry '00, Jorg Scholvin '00, Ajai Bharadwaj '0 I, Ying Lee '0 I, Yi RSSq Report Risks degree of damage control). Much of the world is, too poor to afford Xie '02, Lucy Yang '02, Wendy Gu '03, It does replace a nascent but promising proprietary software. Will the fruits of this Cheng Pei '03, Miodrag Cirkovic. FEA TURES STAFF Student Satisfaction ILG Resident Advisor Program with question- partnership be available to them? ably trained, unremunerated and lightly moti- In the past, MIT has made significant con- Editor: Katharyn Jeffreys '0 I; Cartoonists: The report of the Residence System Solar Olugebefola G, Jennifer Dimase '01, Steering Committee is here. It complies with vated individuals as a feeble shadow of the tributions to the world's pantry of open-source f Xixi D'Moon '0 I, Lara Kirkham '03, David the freshmen-in-dorms-in-200 1 edict, but recognized quality of mentoring provided by software (e.g., the X window system that is in Ngo '03; Staff: Aaron D, Mihalik 'Oi, what does it accomplish? ILGs, It does place injeopardy an ILG system use on millions of computers). Will MIT now Sonali 1\1ukherjee '03. It does not protect the lives of future fresh- that has served MIT for over 125 years, war- discourage its community members from Ii Bl'SI.\'ESS STA FF men from alcohol, substances or suicide. By rants a high degree of satisfaction from its res- using open-source software, and 'giv~ them Advertising Managers: Jasmine the admission of the committee and the idents, and provides loyal, participating and incentives to switch to Microsoft software? Richards '02, Huanne T. Thomas '02; Staff: administration, it doesn't even try! It does not contributing alumni. Also, MIT has resisted in court Karen Cheng '02. fulfill the visions of the Student Life and Tom Holtey '62 Microsoft's efforts to force researchers to TEC/I,\'()f.(iGl" ST.~fF Learning Report to provide a common fresh- hand over source material ["Microsoft \Loses Director: Shantonu Sen '02; Staff: Hoe- man experience, enhance student-faculty Bid for Sloan Research," Oct. 9, 1998]. Will it Teck Wee '02. interaction, or even suggest a better meal pro- Concerns Over be less inclined to guard its researchers now? E!ilT! IRS IT I...IR(,E gram. I'm looking forWardto reading your cover- ~ i Contrihuting Editor: Dan McGuire '99; It does "offend all parties equally," be they Microsoft-MIT Pact age df this issue. Color Editor: G,ibor Csiinyi G, undergraduates, ILG, dormitory or theme Here are just three of my concerns about Dan Kegel. AIWISOR!' BU1R{) house residents, graduate students, or faculty MIT's new I-Campus partnership with The author is a graduate of the California V. Michael Bove 'X3, Robert E. Malch- (although the RSSC must be thanked for a Microsoft: Institute of Technology. man 'X5, Thomas T, Huang 'l.;6, Jonathan Richmond PhI) '91. RcU\'en tVI. Lerner '92, Josh Hartmann '93, Jcremy Hylton '94, Garlen C. Leung 'l)5. Thomas R. Karlo '97. before the date of publication. Saul Blumcnthal 'n. Indranath Ncogy '98. Opinion Policy Letters must bear the authors' signatures, addresses, arid phone I'ROIll I( TlON ST.HF [-'OR nlls ISSUE Editorials are the official opinion of The Tech. They are written numbers. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. The Tech reserves the :'\ight Editors: Brett Altschul G; Associate by the editorial board. right to edit or condense letters; shorter letters will be given high~r :'\ight Editors: Mary Obclnicki G, Jordan Dissents are the opinions of the signed members of the editorial priority. 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,J given." What happens next? It's up to us to, armors-race. This week's test included a Missile Treaty to consider. Signed in 1972 by not weaken it." decide. decoy ballo.on, which the EKV successfully . the United States and the Soviet Unio.n, it I co.uldn't agree with yo.u more. During In the 1980s, President Reagan funded ignored; even so, so.me skepticism is still bans the development of anti-missile systems my past two years on the M IT cross country research for the Strategic Defense Initiative called for .. on the grounds that they would upset the glo.b- and track teams, I've seen our squad grow in

I (SOl), which was intended to create a national al balance of power, making nuclear war more number and strength, each year setting new missile defense system that could repel a likely. Present-day Russia refuses to amend SChDOIrecDrds and climbing in conference Soviet nuclear strike. The program was aban- the treaty to allow the American NMD system ranking. Our team's success has been one Df , doned as impractical and expensive, but now if the anti-missile system can to be built. But the treaty is obsolete in sever'al my greatest joys during my MlT career thu~ ~ the "Star Wars" plan rises again, revived by respects, and should not sto.p us from continu- far. Clinton ~nd Congress. overcomeenemy countern:easures, ing the NMD program. But this year is different. For the first time The new missile defense plan.- perhaps the question of whether to deploy , First, as the Soviet Union no. longer ever in my athletic experience, our juniDr var- , we should call it a Star Wars sequel - is exists, the U.S. has no legal obligation to sity crDSS country runners have been denied much more practical, than the o.riginal. The the system (perhaps by 2005, as uphold a treaty with its successor natio.n. the right to. cDmpete. In fact, JV teams all goal diis time is only to destroy ope or a few Second, the propo.sed missile shield will not around have been cut. missiles at o.nce, to. ward off po.tential threats planned) becomes a political and allow America to. wage a one-sided global What is the reason fDr this? Why has the ,~ like Syria, Iran, and China. Instead oJ a nuclear war, as might be feared; the former. athletics department been forced to take such space-based network of nuclear-po.wered X- military one. Soviet nations still have far too many mis- drastic measures? I do nDt believe that cut- ray lasers~ as was once proposed, the new siles to. sho.ot down all at once. Petty tyrants ting JV will strengthen any varsity team.

I system will use surface-to-space missiles have so.mething to. fear fro.m American mis- Anyone who. has ever been passionate about r ,\ assisted by ground and satellite tracking sys- If the anti-missile system can o.verco.me sile defense, but Russians do. not. Ho.wever, a sport, would agree that members of a JV tems. ' enemy co.untermeasures, the questio.n o.f if the're is ever talk of building a missile team improve themselves in skill and ability This new system is at least technologically whether to. deplo.y the system (perhaps by shield which can deflect the entire Russian to eventually replace varsity athletes that • feasible. And there is encouraging new evi- 2005, as planned) beco.mes il political and mil- arsenal, this argument can and -should come have graduated or left. I predict that withDut ., . dence that the technology really works - this it~lfY one. The above scenario is the so.rt of up again. , JV teams, o.ur varsity teams will have deteri- week, the National Missile Defense (NMD) dilemma America may face in a world where Two more anti-missile tests are scheduled Drated in strength and depth within a few • program,' led by Boeing, conducted a success- nuclear weapo.ns are widely available - for co.mpletion by next July, and some time years. , " ful, test of tin anti-missile system. Above the someday, a co.untry may decide to invade one next year the president is expected to Pacific Ocean, a surface.:.launched ,exoatmos- o.f its weaker neighbo.rs, and ke.ep the world's announce whether the NMD system will be pheric kill vehicle (EKV) locked o.nto and col- "peacekeeper" natio.ns out by threatening built and deployed. It remains to. be seen , lided with a dummy missile, destroyjng it. attack with a single ICBM. If we do. no.t or whether the techno.logy will work, and ho.pe- Clubs and intramurals can't I. This is only the first in a series of three tests cannot build a reliable missile defense system, fully future tests will confirm both the NMD match the compassion and of the syste~, but it is very impressive, given then we must accept theit any co.untry with system's reliability and its ability to over- anti-missile systems' poor track record. (The nuclear weapo.ns can keep America's entire co.me deco.ys. If missile defense passes these excitement found atJ~level \.; Patriot missiles used in the Gulf War, fo.r military might at bay by threatening an attack techno.lo.gical hurdles, we should support it, competitions ... instance, had a terrible success rate, according against which we have no defense. fo.r o.ur o.wn sake and for those we wish to. to later analysis.) Our o.wn ato.mic sto.ckpile is pro.bably nota protect. Any student wz1ling to commit 01 to and work hardfor a team () .D_, _olll~comingMistakes should never be denied the honor to wear an MIT uniform Guest Column cessful Ho.mecDmingWeekends in'the , ties was a horrendDus idea. High scho.o.l ,future,' . hDmecoming eyents usually invDlve 17- and at intercolleiate meets. Alex M. Hochberger On a mo.re impDrtant nDte, canceling Dther 18-year-o.lds driving into.xicated to. an event events to', suppo.rt this Dne was a mistake. If and attempting to. dance withDut falling I would like to applaud the effo.rt to make yo.u want to. build an MIT cDmmunity, YDU Dver. MIT Homeco.ming a campus-wide event. can't do. it o.ne weekend out o.fthe year. Greek A cDllege hDmecDming shDuld be an excit- Unfo.rtunately, recent MIT publicity has Schoo.l spirihs something that is serio.usly Week and the Fall Festival serve as two. ing weekend Df partying and celebratiDn. led to. a general impressio.n that students are , lacking here, and this was a go.od attempt to. o.ppo.rtunities to. uriite the fraternity system Instead Df banning events, the IFC sho.uld nDt taken care Df. It do.es nDt take much intel- ,,' establish it. Unfortuna!ely, the assumptio.ns' and the entire school, respectively. enco.urage o.pen events that will be cDo.rdinat- ligence to. see that no.bDdy on this campus made in the planning :were a little fo.o.lish and If YDU want a turnDut fo.r HDmeCo.ming, ed, fDr the weekend and published in The wants this impressiDn to. last. So. hDW are we prevented a truly successful week. I have a make cDming to. MIT, IFC':'wide, ,and MIT- Tech. The Greek system shDuld cDntribute to. going to. fight this battle? . , ~ couple o.f.criticisms and suggestions for future wide events CDmmo.n" riDt irregular. Other the weekend by providing a's~cial atmDsphere ' I strongly believe that getting students years. , events wo.n't lessen turnout, they will increase fo.r'the entire MIT community, with each invDlved in sports is a way to. alleviate student The name- "Domecoming ... The "Nerd turnDUt. ho.use dDing its share. prDblems. No.t Dnly do. the students get physi- ) Pride" mantra of MIT is appropriate at SDme ,Event selection. This is a CD liege hDme- Being frDm SDuth FIDrida, I'm accustDmed ,cal exercise, they also. have the DppDrtunity to. times; but not Dthers. I lo.ve the fact that peo.- co.ming, nDt, a high school ho.meco.ming. The to. the annual treks to. "GatDr Growl," the be part Df a team, "to. be part o.f something pIe ate cDmfDrtable being as geeky as t~ey Alley Rally .is fine, but put less focus o.n free University of Flo.rida hDmecDming. Days o.f bigger than just themselves." want withDut feeling Dstracized, but. support- fo.~d and mo.re Dn the event. If yo.u want to. classes are canceled; the SChDDIparties fo.r a Clubs and intramurals co.uld never match , ed. Ho.wever, HDmecDming is nDt the time Dr ,hDld a no.rmal co.llege ~vent, avoid excessive week befo.re watching their fDDtball team the cDmpassiDn and excitement fo.und at varsi- \'/ the place for "Nerd Pride;" An inclusive event MITisrris that serve to. alienate sections Df the annihilate a lesser DppDnent. No., we're ,nDt ty- and JV -levei cOllJpetitio.ns. I co.nsider it an that caters to' fraternity 'and SDrority members, scho.o.l. Anytime yo.u mentio.n "free fo.Dd" gDing to. co.mpete against a SChDDIthat ranks honor to. wear my MIT unifo.rmat intercDlle- athletes, and dDrm students sho.uld be' an (particularly in a quo.te fo.r The Tech); the in the to.p 10 fDr: fo.o.tball and partying, but giate meets. Any student willing to. cDmmit to. " attempt to. unify the school. While sDme seg- event immediately sDunds childish and nDt making ho.mecoming a time fDr the MIT co.m- and wDrk hard fDr a team shDuld nevef be ments Df the populatiDn Io.ve Nerd Pride, o.th- fun. ' munity to. celebrate to.gether might make us denied this sense Df hDno.r. ers are embarrassed by it. Reaching DUt to. the A mDvie sho.wn Dn campus is nDt a nDr- rethink the mo.ttD IHTFP. If the primary reaSDn fDr all these cuts is -" entire SChDo.Irequires nDt "geeking DUt" the' mal Friday night activity for co.llege stu- Still, the o.rganizers sho.uld be thanked fo.r finance-related, I implo.re yo.u to. think o.f the t;, theme. dents, particularly during ho.meco.min'g, a' great effo.rt at uniting MIT. Bringing back student athletes who. o.ften put o.ver 20 ho.urs Weekend Focus and,Puklicity. We all weekend. Cancel afternDDn classes, ho.ld ral- Do.meco.ming was the start - nDW we just a week into. practices in o.rder to. pro.udly knDw that-this event waspo.o.rly publicized. lies, and light a bonfire at night. Let 100Dse have to. do. it right. . represent MIT at interco.llegiate co.mpeti- , HDWeVer, as it becDmes an annual event, and have fun, with events that include the Alex M. Hochberger is a member' of the tio.ns: publicity wo.n't be a pro.blem. I expect suc- entire SChDo.l.'The IFC decisiDn to ban par- Class of 200 1. I understand that distributing funds is nDt an easy task, but I think there is defi- nitely ro.o.m fo.r improvement in terms o.f .,~,) .DROP Troubling 'setting prio.rities. Fo.r example, I think I speak fo.r many when I say I wDuld rather .Guest Column According to the feature, UROP is even the info.rmatio.n and research industries who. have JV teams than a perfo.rmance by Busta , ... Robert 1. Ragno spreading to. o.ther schools. I have been dis'" wo.uld rather no.t stoop to. physical labor, this Rhymes. turbed by the ethics o.f th~se practices fo.r a , o.nly makes day-to.-day life that much mo.re If you truly believe that o.ur gQ.al is to. difficult. Obtaining inexperienced wo.rk fro.m strengthen MIT athletics, then the student I was so.mewhat disturQed when I opened a child who. is probably still living o.ff o.f their athletes Dn this campus deserve a so.lemn '" to. Page 6 o.f.the October 5 Tech to. read a grip- parents'mo.ney poses at least as many prob- promise that the JV teams will be bro.ught ping Viewpoint Dn the state of the MIT school The coreof th~ :issue,renting out lems as hiring an experienced research back. I spirit and was instead co.nfronted with a large employee who. may have brilliant ideas and Thank you for taking the time to. read this . phDto. and accompanying feature article o.n the a basic component of human may even need the money,(perhaps to. put i'etter. Although I appreciate any response"and '::"'Undergraduate Research Oppo.rtunities intellect and creativity, is surely food on their ch,ildren's tables). feedback o.n the issues I have raised, I would PrDgram. " What's mo.re, the description given in the feel better kno.wing that yo.u have read my There are a number o.f facets o.f UROP that not a recent development. feature, calling for students who. have "skills," letter by yo.ur. not sending me the same fo.rm , are questio.nable and perhaps even trDubling. are mo.tivated and enthusiastic, and have a respo.nse you have been sendjng everyo.ne .....J The core Df the issue, renting Dut a basic co.m- "dream o.f greatness" to. "gain real-wDrld else. ' pDnent of human intellect and creativi~ is experience" (to. the tune o.f $7.50?), is . - .