Massachusetts Primary Today

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Volume 124, Number 9 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Tuesday, March 2, 2004 Dead Body Tentatively Identified as Mun MIT Pays By Beckett W. Sterner NEWS AND FEATURES DIRECTOR A male body recovered from the For Grad Charles River this Saturday has been tentatively identified as Daniel S. Mun ’05, a Chi Phi fraternity Insurance member who was last seen on Dec. 5. The identification is based on By Kathy Dobson Mun’s MIT ID card, which was STAFF REPORTER found in the body’s pocket, said Graduate students supported by President of the Chi Phi House Cor- research and teaching assistantships poration James Bueche ’62. will receive a full subsidy for their In addition, MIT News Director health insurance cost in the 2004- Arthur L. Jones said that “from 2005 academic year, Provost Robert what the police have said, the gener- A. Brown announced last week. al description is that the height and The subsidy provides graduate the size [of the body] is consistent” students supported by assistantships with Mun’s height and size. full health coverage with MIT’s The official confirmation of the individual extended hospital insur- identity of the body awaits the com- ance, which costs $1,440 for the parison of dental records, said 2003-2004 academic year. This will David Procopio, press secretary for result in an approximately 8 percent the Suffolk County District Attor- increase in disposable income for ney’s office, which is in charge of most affected students. Students that the investigation and autopsy. are not supported by the Institute “We're hoping that the autopsy will see no change in their insurance is going to do a couple of things,” costs, and families will only see a he said, such as “allow us to offi- BRIAN HEMOND—THE TECH partial reduction. cially identify the deceased” and Boston Fire Department firefighters load an inflatable dive boat aboard their truck Saturday night after Dean for Graduate Students establish the cause of death. searching the Charles River near the Boston side of the Harvard Bridge. A body, tentatively identified to Isaac M. Colbert said that the insur- He said they plan to do the be that of MIT student Daniel S. Mun ’05, was recovered from the river. ance subsidy is a result of the work autopsy today. Jonathan R. Moskaitis G, who Boston emergency dive team had Dexter W. Ang ’05, Mun’s for- of many groups, including “the was present during the recovery recovered the body, which was mer roommate, said that Mun did entire senior structure of the Insti- Body recovered from Charles effort, said that the body was initially clothed and wearing inline skates, own a pair of inline skates. tute” and the Graduate Student Passersby on the Harvard Bridge below the ice and a small distance from the river, Moskaitis said. He The DA’s office is “very actively Council. Both groups were “con- reported a body in the water shortly away from the bridge. said that the body appeared to have after 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. By approximately 5 p.m., the been underwater for some time. Mun, Page 16 Insurance, Page 19 Ringcomm Stands Firm; CONCERT REVIEW Rat Remains Unchanged A Taste So Bad, It’s Good By Marissa Vogt opinions about the design of the NEWS EDITOR ring. The survey asks students to Chorallaries Do It Again — Get It? ‘Do It.’ In a statement on its Web site rate two controversial features of By Jeremy Baskin last Friday, the Class of 2006 Ring the ring, namely the Greek letters CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Committee announced that they will phi and theta beneath the Cam- The Nth Annual Concert in Bad Taste not be altering the design for the bridge skyline and twin stars alleged The Chorallaries of MIT 2006 Brass Rat. The statement was by some to resemble the insignia of 10-250 issued in response to the recent con- the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. February 28, 10:59:59 p.m. troversy surrounding two Greek let- Michael J. Stanway ’06 said that ters and stars on the ring. the other creators of the Web site t’s funny that the Nth Annual Concert in Bad “We appreciate ArtCarved’s and he met with the ring committee Taste doesn’t change names each year, because it recent attempts to work with us on last Friday to discuss the possibility all starts to sound the same after a while. I haven’t possibly making changes to the of changing the ring design. Iquite figured out yet whether that’s a good thing design, but it is the Ring Commit- “At this point, it doesn’t look or not, but I guess because the tee’s final decision not to change the like there’s anything more that we alternative might be a regular 2006 Brass Rat, regardless of can do unless we have some huge Arts Chorallaries concert, I’ll take the whether or not it is a feasible surge of responses on the web site,” dildo and DKE jokes, thanks. option,” the committee wrote in the Stanway said. “It doesn’t look like The jokes were good this year, which is a shame statement. anything different is going to hap- because even though the line stretched out of 10-250 “Changing the ring design even pen unless there’s forty to fifty per- all the way to Building 7, there were a few empty slightly would set a very poor prece- cent of the class,” responding, he seats in 10-250. I bet it wasn’t like this back in the dent for ring committees of the said. day when Bad Taste started at midnight. future,” the committee wrote. As of last night, 226 students For those of you who haven’t had the distinct The full statement was issued on have responded to the survey, of pleasure of attending Bad Taste, I can sum it up for Friday and posted in the frequently which 199 are sophomores, or 20.2 you using the words of my 8.02 recitation leader who asked questions section of the Web percent of the class. was trying to show us how easy Gauss’s Law was site, http://web.mit.edu/2006ring- Stanway said that the ring com- because you could solve every problem the same comm/Webpages/FAQs.htm. mittee “didn’t feel like there was a way: it unfolds like a Kabuki play. You know the set- big enough response” and didn’t ting and the plot, and even though the characters Only 226 respond to online survey want the controversy to become DMITRY PORTNYAGIN—THE TECH might be different, the overall experience is rather The ring committee’s statement “something that separated the Geoffrey A. Becker ’05 and Daniel O. Bates ’05 predictable. came four days after a group of class.” drop their pants in a skit entitled “Bare-Assidy and sophomores launched the web site the No Pants Kid.” Bo S. Kim ’04 holds a sheet Bad Taste, Page 10 http://ring2006.mit.edu to collect Ring, Page 18 to preserve the remaining shreds of their dignity.

NEWS NEWS World & Nation ...... 2 Find out where you can go to ASA temporarily Undergraduate Association and Opinion ...... 4 vote in the Massachusetts rerecognizes Counterpoint . . 17 Class Council candidate list. Features ...... 7 Primary. Arts ...... 8 The Tech speaks with Fun ...... 12 Page 16 Professor Maria Zuber ...... 19 Page 19 Page 2 THE TECH March 2, 2004 WORLD & NATION U.S. Plans To Put Security Haitian Rebels Enter Capital Inspectors At Foreign Airports THE NEW YORK TIMES WASHINGTON While Aristide Criticizes U.S. Domestic security officials plan to station American inspectors at several foreign airports in Europe, Asia and elsewhere to look for ter- By Tim Weiner France and Canada have pledged witnesses as supporters of the rorism suspects who may be using fraudulent travel documents, offi- and Lydia Polgreen to help fill out a multinational force deposed president were found shot cials said on Monday. THE NEW YORK TIMES with police functions. The United dead on the edge of town, three of The plan, still preliminary, is seen as one way of avoiding the PORT-AU-PRINCE States is also discussing contribu- them bound at the wrists. repeated flight cancellations that have disrupted travel between Armed rebels swept into this cap- tions from Caribbean nations, as well Haiti’s army overthrew Aristide Europe and the United States in the last two months. ital on Monday and occupied nation- as from Brazil, Chile and Argentina, in 1991 and ran a violent junta until “Had there been a program like this in place, it may well not have al police headquarters, staking a officials said. 1994. U.S. armed forces reinstated been necessary to cancel flights at significant costs to the airlines,” claim to power as U.S. Marines Secretary of State Colin L. Pow- the president, who then disbanded Robert C. Bonner, the commissioner of customs and border Protec- secured the international airport and ell said Monday that an international the Haitian military. tion, said in an interview. “We would have had the opportunity to the presidential palace. force would help install a “respon- Now that he is gone, the army screen passengers who pose a terrorist threat.” It was far from clear on Monday sive, functioning, noncorrupt” gov- may be back. In the rebels’ ranks at Officials at the Department of Homeland Security have begun dis- who was in charge, although the ernment. the old army headquarters was Paul cussions with some foreign counterparts to determine if they would chief justice of the Supreme Court, He also said the armed rebel lead- Arcelin, 60, who identified himself agree to allow American inspectors at their airports to assist in Boniface Alexandre, was sworn in ers include “individuals we would as a former ambassador to the screening passengers bound for the United States. Sunday as the leader of a transitional not want to see re-enter civil society Dominican Republic and “an advis- government until elections in 2005. in Haiti because of their past records, er to the Haitian army.” Under Haiti’s Constitution, the legis- and this is something we will have to “This is our headquarters,” he Twenty Arrested In Hong Kong lature is supposed to ratify Alexan- work through.” said. “The army has come back. We dre’s succession, and there is no leg- The rebels, followed by throngs don’t need peacekeepers.” Financial Scandal islature, owing to the breakdown of of cheering, armed supporters, also Powell told CNN: “We have THE NEW YORK TIMES the government. occupied the former headquarters of ways of talking to the various rebel HONG KONG The deposed president, Jean- the Haitian army, vowing to revive leaders. And I am pleased that at Investigators have arrested 20 people here in a financial scandal Bertrand Aristide, landed in a tempo- the military, a force known for bru- least so far they said they are not involving allegations of bribery and rigging of share prices by corpo- rary exile in the Central African tality. Several of the armed rebels interested in violence any more, and rate executives, fund managers, a research analyst and a securities Republic. He said that he was over- were affiliated with the Haitian mili- they want to put down their arms.” broker. thrown by the United States, a claim tary or with armed gangs that have They did not put down their guns At least one of Europe’s largest banks, UBS, has been caught up dismissed as “complete nonsense” terrorized Haiti. on Monday. in the controversy, while anti-corruption investigators here said that by the White House. A wave of several thousand Two rebel leaders, Louis-Jodel employees at three more financial institutions and two publicly traded At the White House on Monday, dancing, cheering people following Chamblain, a former death-squad companies have been arrested. All those arrested have been released President Bush convened a meeting the rebel leaders rounded Port-au- member and convicted assassin, on bail. of the National Security Council to Prince’s main boulevard to the and Guy Philippe, a former police UBS said it had suspended one of its better-known analysts here, develop a plan for a multinational palace minutes after the rebels occu- chief, did thank the United States Nicholas Tan, after he was arrested. Mark Panday, a UBS peacekeeping force to take over from pied police headquarters. for moving to secure Haiti after the spokesman, said on Monday that the bank had hired both an outside the Marines within a few months. At least four men identified by fall of Aristide. law firm and an outside accounting firm to conduct an independent review of all the work done by the 40 senior and junior analysts and their 20 assistants in the bank’s Hong Kong office. America Says it Will Approve Supreme Court Will Hear California Prison Segregation Case Temporary Iraqi Constitution THE NEW YORK TIMES WASHINGTON By Dexter Filkins 30, and a mechanism for elections. of 2005, grants broad protections for The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a challenge to a Cali- THE NEW YORK TIMES “This is a major achievement, individuals within a federal system fornia prison system policy that segregates inmates by race during BAGHDAD only a day late, which I think is ter- designed to hold the country’s frac- their first 60 days of incarceration. American officials said Monday rific,” Secretary of State Colin L. tious parts together. The Iraqi leaders The state defended the policy, and a federal appeals court upheld they would approve a temporary Powell said during an appearance on said they would gather to sign the it, as a sensible way of minimizing interracial violence at reception Iraqi constitution hammered out dur- the CBS “Early Show,” referring to new constitution on Wednesday, fol- centers where inmates are housed for 60 days while being screened ing an overnight session early Mon- the Feb. 28 deadline. lowing the Shiite holiday of Ashoura, for long-term placement. One purpose of the screening is to assess a day morning, all but ensuring that The relief among the Americans which began in Karbala with a pro- new inmate’s potential for violence. the document would serve as the was matched by the excitement that cession on Monday. During this period, inmates are assigned to two-person cells framework for a new Iraqi state. swept Iraq’s government Monday The 25 members of the Iraqi Gov- according to whether they are black, white, Asian or “other.” Within But the celebratory mood was afternoon. erning Council, appointed by the those categories, prison authorities also separate certain groups by muted by the knowledge that Iraqi “This is a great day in the history Americans last summer, had tried at national or geographic origin. For example, they do not house Japan- leaders had put off for later many of of Iraq, an unforgettable day,” said different times to resolve the out- ese and Chinese inmates together, or Laotians with Vietnamese, or the most intractable issues. The Adnan Pachachi, the 80-year-old for- standing issues but found that the Latinos from Northern and Southern California. negotiators struck several important mer foreign minister who began his conflicts they created had threatened The segregation policy is also used for the first 60 days after compromises, including those on diplomatic career when Iraq was to scuttle the rest of the constitution. an inmate is transferred from one prison to another. In all women’s rights and the role of ruled by a king. “It is a unique day The agreement struck on Monday instances, however, areas of the prison other than the actual cells Islam. But they deferred issues like perhaps in the history of the whole grants broad autonomy to the Kur- — the yard, dining hall and work and recreation areas — are not the disarming of private militias, the region.” dish region in northern Iraq, which segregated. composition of the interim govern- The interim constitution, which is has been largely governing itself ment that will take charge on June likely to remain in force until the end since the end of the 1991 Gulf War. WEATHER A Slow March Situation for Noon Eastern Time, Tuesday, March 2, 2004

By Robert Lindsay Korty 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 STAFF METEOROLOGIST 40°N In the cold darkness of January, the first promises of a warmer season emerge. The sun sets a few minutes later than it did the day before, and the 1000 amount of solar radiation reaching each northern latitude begins to creep

higher. Before the full fury of winter has matured, its end has begun. 35°N There is a slow march toward spring, and March is perhaps the singular month during which winter bleeds into the new season. Sure there are few flowers growing in Boston, and it is not always that warm, but the sun is

brighter, higher, and stronger. Yesterday, a sea breeze developed, a common 30°N occurrence on the New England coast during spring. As temperatures warm over the land, convection transports the heat ver- tically and the wind shifts off of the ocean to replace the rising air. When 1009 this happens, temperatures plummet to levels near the ocean temperature, 25°N which is still cold during the spring months owing to the high heat capacity of water. A storm over the Midwest will push east today, bringing clouds and occasional showers. Temperatures will remain above normal for the first week of March. Winter is not completely over, though.

Extended Forecast

Weather Systems Weather Fronts Precipitation Symbols Other Symbols Today: Cloudy with occasional showers. High 52°F (11°C). Snow Rain Fog Tonight: Clearing late. Low 40°F (4°C). High Pressure Trough - - - Showers Thunderstorm

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High near 55°F (13°C). ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ Warm Front Light Low Pressure Haze Thursday: Becoming cloudy, rain possible late. High 49°F (9°C), low ▲▲▲▲▲ Cold Front Moderate Compiled by MIT 32°F (0°C). Hurricane ◗ ◗ Meteorology Staff ▲ ▲ Stationary Front Heavy and The Tech March 2, 2004 WORLD & NATION THE TECH Page 3

Low-Profile Technocrat Chosen Head of Enron Task Force Decides To Step Down As New Russian Prime Minster THE NEW YORK TIMES Just weeks after securing an indictment against the former chief By Seth Mydans M. Kasyanov, last Tuesday, political In itself, Fradkov’s appointment executive of Enron, the Justice Department task force investigating THE NEW YORK TIMES commentators began focusing on his does not send any strong signal the collapse of the company is reshaping itself. MOSCOW replacement as a possible front-run- about the president’s future policies. Leslie R. Caldwell, who has headed the task force since it was President Vladimir V. Putin sur- ner four years from now. These may become clearer once formed, will step down this week to begin pursuing a job in the pri- prised Russia on Monday by naming The closest anyone came on Mon- Putin begins his second term. Some vate sector, Justice Department officials said Monday. Her longtime a low-profile technocrat as prime day to foreseeing that possibility for commentators view his first term as deputy, Andrew Weissmann, will oversee the task force. minister, a position that answers Fradkov was a commentator who a period of consolidation after a Other prominent prosecutors on the task force, including Samuel directly to the president. said, “Anything is possible.” time of increasing disorder under Buell, who was directly involved in the investigation of the former The appointee, Mikhail Y. Frad- Aleksei Moiseyef, an economist his predecessor, Boris N. Yeltsin. chief executive, Jeffrey K. Skilling, are also moving on. kov, 53, has held a number of mostly at the Renaissance Capital invest- In announcing the appointment, Changes in the Enron task force were widely expected as its pri- economic portfolios including chief ment house, said, “Without a doubt, Putin said he had looked for “a mary responsibilities shifted from investigating potential crimes to of the tax police and was most he is clearly a bureaucrat without any highly professional person, orga- trying to prove criminal charges in court. While investigations into recently Russia’s representative to political ambition.” In appointing nized, having strong work experi- the collapse are continuing, with some former Enron executives the European Union. Fradkov, he said, Putin avoided cre- ence in varied branches of state reporting increased activity by government officials in recent weeks, Experts described him as a com- ating an alternative center of power activity.” He added that Fradkov the prosecutors are preparing for multiple criminal trials involving petent nonpolitical figure acceptable or a rival for the political spotlight. would deal strongly with corruption charges related to the collapse. both to the hard-line wing and to the Fradkov has been associated, because he “knows the security To assist in that effort, the task force over the last nine months liberal economic wing of Putin’s however, with Sergei B. Ivanov, the structures since he was the deputy has recruited an array of prosecutors both to try the cases already administration — a “liberal hawk,” in defense minister and a close ally of secretary of the Security Council brought and to continue the investigation. The new prosecutors have the words of one commentator. Putin whose name remains near the and headed the tax police.” held senior positions in U.S. attorney’s offices across the country. In appointing him, Putin ended a top of most lists of potential future In addition, Fradkov, who In an interview on Monday, Caldwell said that with so many of guessing game that had begun to presidents. speaks English and Spanish, was an the major investigations now moving toward trial, it seemed an overshadow a predictable presiden- In effect, said Boris Makarenko, economic adviser in the Soviet appropriate time for her to depart. “It’s the right time to leave,” she tial election two weeks from now that an analyst with the Political Tech- Embassy in India. In the early said. “When I signed on, it was never my intention to stay for the is seen as a sure thing for Putin. nologies Center, Fradkov has been 1990s, he was a member of Rus- duration of the entire case.” Already, the big political question selected as a political kamikaze to sia’s delegation to the United is the succession in 2008, when Putin do the government’s dirty work, to Nations and headed the delegation cannot run again. After he fired the take the blame and, sooner or later, to the General Agreements on Tar- Trial Proceeds For Defendant In incumbent prime minister, Mikhail to crash and burn. iffs and Trade. Oklahoma City Bombing THE NEW YORK TIMES Venezuelan Plan to Recall Chavez MCALESTER, OKLA. Sweeping aside defense claims of official misconduct, a state judge on Monday opened the trial of Terry Lynn Nichols in the deaths of 160 people killed in the Oklahoma City bombing of April Put on Hold by Election Officials 19, 1995. By Juan Forero of the Democratic Action Party and Carter Center was leaving the coun- But in ruling that jury selection could proceed, the judge, Steven THE NEW YORK TIMES an opponent of Chavez. “Because try. Jennifer McCoy, the center’s Taylor of District Court, warned that any improper withholding of CARACAS, VENEZUELA they see that the government is try- representative, said she planned to information by state or federal prosecutors would void the case. A campaign by opposition groups ing to steal their democratic rights.” stay. “There will not be a mistrial,” Taylor said. “There will be a dis- for a recall referendum to try to oust Government officials accused the “I want to make it clear that the missal, period.” President Hugo Chavez appeared on opposition, including municipal offi- Carter Center mission remains in Taylor also voiced some impatience with the FBI, which is the brink of collapse on Monday. cials in Caracas, of fomenting vio- Venezuela,” she told reporters. reviewing its handling of certain leads in the case. The defense Opposition leaders, expecting lence and inflating the troubles to Even so, the opposition has had claims these point to white-supremacist gang members as possible election officials to disqualify destabilize the country. little luck in trying to prod the coun- accomplices of Timothy J. McVeigh, who was executed in 2001 for enough of the 3.4 million signatures “There are politicians with gov- cil into altering a preliminary deci- blowing up the Alfred P. Murrah Building with a 4,000-pound truck they have collected for a recall to ernment duties who appear to be sion that hundreds of thousands of bomb. keep the measure off the ballot, functioning as leaders of urban guer- signatures were flawed. But the judge said, “It would be irresponsible for this court to accused Chavez of unfairly influenc- rillas because they are going against Under the constitutional provi- shut down this trial today based on speculation and guesswork what ing the process. the peace and security,” Gen. Jorge sion for a recall vote, 2.4 million the FBI can come up with.” Protesters battled National Guard Luis Garcia Carneiro, the defense valid signatures are required to place Nichols is already serving life without parole on a 1997 federal troops across the country in anti- minister, told the government’s Ven- the measure on the ballot. The oppo- conviction for assisting McVeigh in the attack, laid to anti-govern- government demonstrations that pres news agency. sition collected 3.4 million signa- ment hatred. An associate, Michael Fortier, who became a govern- began Friday and have gained The opposition has tried to dis- tures. (Venezuela’s population is 25 ment witness, is serving 12 years for concealing the plot. momentum. lodge Chavez, a populist who won million.) On Monday, young men threw office in 1998, through a short-lived But election officials were bottles at government troops and coup in 2002 and four big national expected to invalidate 400,000 and Another Asian Tiger Threatens burned tires to block off streets. The strikes. Nothing has worked, and to require additional verification of a country’s privately owned television since last year the broad-based oppo- million. That would bring the num- U.S. Economic Dominance stations, which have largely sided sition movement has worked for a ber of validated signatures below the THE NEW YORK TIMES with the opposition against the left- referendum. required total. GUANGZHOU, CHINA leaning president, beamed pictures of But on Monday, the probability The council has said that a mil- The welcome that China is offering to multinational companies chaos throughout the day. of a vote seemed slim as the five- lion signatures could go through a and foreign investment has left many Western business executives, National Guard troops have member National Electoral Council five-day “repair period,” starting on so critical of a closed Japan a decade or so ago, enthusiastically fought back with tear gas and disputed with the Carter Center, March 18, in which citizens could embracing China, its cheap work force and its huge markets. armored vehicles. Two people have which is based in Atlanta, over confirm that they had signed. But But that same openness — combined with China’s vast popula- died since Friday and several dozen whether the American center would diplomats monitoring the signature tion of 1.3 billion and military muscle — makes it an even greater have been hurt, several of them criti- continue its role as a mediator here. gathering and opposition leaders long-term economic challenge to the United States than Japan cally. The president of the council, said the process is so challenging seemed to be in the 1980s, according to a growing number of execu- “Why are the people in the Francisco Carrasquero, held a news technically that it could end any tives, economists and officials. street?” asked Henry Ramos, leader conference to announce that the chance of a referendum. While China’s economy is still about one-third the size of Japan’s, the potential size of its market has made it very hard for companies to say no when Beijing officials demand that they build Edwards Focuses on Crucial States factories, transfer the latest technology or adopt Chinese technical standards. Japan has effectively run out of low-wage workers for its indus- tries, and quickly brought much of its economy up to and in some While Kerry Sets His Sights on Bush cases beyond Western technological standards. China still has vast By David M. Halbfinger ination were already his, promising independents and moderate, reserves of cheap labor in inland areas and many backward indus- and Randal C. Archibold nearly 1,000 people in Columbus, thoughtful Republicans ought to shy tries that can grow swiftly as they copy Western and Japanese meth- THE NEW YORK TIMES Ohio, a “campaign of truth” against away for a moment from standing ods. ATLANTA President Bush. up in front of America, and making Sens. John Kerry and John He said he would prove to voters it clear that there is a better way to Edwards made a last push through that he could find money for his make America safe than this presi- Nuclear Waste In Space the crucial states of Ohio and Geor- costly proposals for health care, edu- dent has chosen,” he said at Morgan THE NEW YORK TIMES gia on Monday as Edwards worked cation and job creation. State University. “This president has Q. Rather than put the earth’s environment at risk, why not peri- to pull out a victory on Super Tues- “This isn’t going to be some kind in fact created terrorists where they odically shoot small loads of the waste from atomic power plants into day to keep his campaign alive and of we’re-like-them, they’re-like-us, didn’t exist.” space? Kerry tried for a clean sweep of the wishy-washy, mealy-mouthed, we- Kerry told some 600 people that A. While the idea of launching such waste into orbit or into deep 10 states in contention. can’t-tell-the-difference deal,” he Bush could use a visit to the cam- space was given serious consideration by some government and pri- In Ohio, Edwards bounded from said, borrowing a page from Howard pus, too. “If he came here, I believe, vate scientists early in the space program, it was not deemed practi- Toledo to Dayton and Cleveland Dean. “This is going to be some- I think he could straighten out his cal. before flying to Macon, Ga., focus- thing where we’re giving America a fuzzy math,” Kerry said, “because A federal law passed in 1982 mandates disposing of dangerous ing on two states where his advisers real choice. Our choice is, we’re the numbers don’t add up. American nuclear wastes in deep geological storage areas on earth, believe he has the strongest chance going to roll back George Bush’s tax “He’s not multiplying the jobs,” rather than placed in orbit, fired at the sun or sent into deep space. of winning. But unlike in earlier cut for the wealthiest Americans and Kerry continued. “He’s trying to One earlier idea was to use the space shuttle as a regular garbage contests in which Edwards came on invest in education and health care.” divide America. And so, I think our disposal vehicle, but shuttle flights never became regular enough or strong at the end, the crowds on By nightfall, Kerry was in solution — we ought to subtract frequent enough. Another potential problem was the catastrophic loss Monday were meager, the polls dis- Atlanta, where he won the endorse- George Bush from the political of a dangerous nuclear cargo through a spacecraft failure. In the early couraging and the endorsements ment of Mayor Shirley Franklin, equation of the United States.” 1980s, hardened waste containers built to withstand re-entry if a vehi- from major newspapers missing. who has strong support in the sub- At every stop, Kerry implored cle failed before entering orbit were tested. Edwards was also ignored by his urbs as well as in the city. Earlier in his listeners to vote with a sense of Even with projected frequent shuttle flights, the expense of space rival on the eve of what the Kerry Baltimore, Kerry appealed directly to urgency. “It’s not about words,” he disposal would probably have been too high for any but the most dan- campaign hopes will be his elimina- general-election voters on the issue said in Columbus. “It’s not about gerous of wastes, which would have had to be separated from other tion from the race. Kerry addressed of national security. parties. It’s about ideas. It’s about less unstable materials. Such reprocessing is now illegal. bigger, noisier crowds as if the nom- “I don’t think we Democrats and life itself.” Page 4 THE TECH March 2, 2004 OPINION

Chairman Hangyul Chung ’05 Editor in Chief Brian Loux ’04 Business Manager Roy K. Esaki ’04 Managing Editor David Carpenter ’05

NEWS STAFF News and Features Director: Beckett W. Sterner ’06; News Editors: Kathy Lin ’06, Marissa Vogt ’06, Jenny Zhang ’06; Associate Editors: Waseem S. Daher ’07, Gireeja V. Ranade ’07, Julián E. Vil- larreal ’07; Staff: Kathy Dobson G, Jeffrey Green- baum ’04, Eun J. Lee ’04, Michael E. Rolish ’04, Jay K. Cameron ’05, Christine Fry ’05, Sam Hwang ’05, Issel Anne L. Lim ’05, Jessica A. Zaman ’05, Brian C. Keegan ’06, Lauren E. LeBon ’06, Jennifer Wong ’06, Ray C. He ’07, Tongyan Lin ’07; Meteorologists: Samantha L. H. Hess G, Robert Lindsay Korty G, Greg Lawson G, Nikki Privé G, William Ramstrom G, Michael J. Ring G.

PRODUCTION STAFF Editors: Andrew Mamo ’04, Sie Hendrata Dhar- mawan ’05, Tiffany Dohzen ’06; Associate Editor: Nicholas R. Hoff ’05; Staff: Joel C. Corbo ’04, Joy Forsythe ’04, Kevin Chen ’05, Albert Leung ’06, Jolinta Lin ’06, Jonathan Reinharth ’06, Jennifer Huang ’07, Yaser M. Khan ’07, Y. Grace Lin ’07, Sylvia Yang ’07.

OPINION STAFF Editor: Vivek Rao ’05; Columnist: Andrew C. Thomas ’04; Staff: Basil Enwegbara SM ’01, Gretchen K. Aleks ’04, Ken Nesmith ’04, Atif Z. Qadir ’04, W. Victoria Lee ’06, Daniel Barclay ’07, Ruth Miller ’07, Chen Zhao ’07.

SPORTS STAFF Editor: Phil Janowicz ’05, Brian Chase ’06; Staff: Yong-yi Zhu ’06.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF Editors: Peter R. Russo ’02, Brian Hemond ’04, Jina Kim ’06; Associate Editors: Daniel Bersak ’02, Jonathan T. Wang ’05; Staff: Marcus Dahlem G, Wendy Gu G, Stanley Hu ’00, Scott Johnston ’03, Miguel A. Calles ’04, Jimmy Cheung ’04, Ben Gallup ’04, Dmitry Portnyagin ’04, Hassen Abdu ’06, Matt D. Brown ’06, John M. Cloutier ’06, Grant Jordan ’06, Stephanie Lee ’06, Edward Platt ’06, Omoleye Letter To The Editor Roberts ’06, Rene Chen ’07. To Our Readers: We have received a num- claims that it is “laughable” that Ralph FEATURES STAFF ber of inquiries and comments about “What a Nader was responsible for Al Gore’s defeat Errata Difference a Year Makes,” a true account of a in 2000. While he certainly wasn’t singular- Editor: Akshay Patil ’04; Associate Editors: woman who was raped on campus. One recur- ly responsible, he clearly had a large role in Tiffany Kosolcharoen ’06; Columnists: Bruce Wu G, Kailas Narendran ’01, Ian Ybarra ’04, Danchai ring, unaddressed question is why no record of the loss. Mekadenaumporn ’05, Alex Nelson ’06; Cartoon- this incident exists in MIT Police records. While The Oxford English Dictionary has this An article on Friday, Feb. 27 [“UA ists: Jason Burns G, Jumaane Jeffries ’02, Sergei R. the incident did occur on campus approximately definition for a spoiler: “One who mars the Elections Begin With Some Positions Guma ’04, Sean Liu ’04, Jennifer Peng ’05, Nancy one year ago, the police who responded to the chance of victory for an opponent, while not Going Uncontested”] incorrectly stated Phan ’05, Qian Wang ’05. call were Cambridge Police officers, not the being a potential winner.” That fits Ralph the dates of online balloting for UA and MIT Police. The report of the incident was filed Nader perfectly — he knows he has no Class Council Elections. It will take BUSINESS STAFF at an off-campus hospital and no official report chance of winning and that he is stealing place from March 8 to 11, not March 8 Operations Manager: Lauren W. Leung ’07; was made by the victim with MIT. These facts votes from the Democratic candidate. We to 13. In addition, Solomon M. Bisker is Staff: Jyoti R. Tibrewala ’04, Lynn K. Kamimoto were not made clear in the original account and could argue endlessly about how much of an a member of the class of 2006, not the ’05, William Li ’06, Victoria Fan ’06, Donald H. we hope that this will clear up any confusion. effect he has had, and will have, but that class of 2005. Wong ’07, Jennifer Y. Wong ’07. Christine R. Fry doesn’t change the fact that he is helping the A column on Tuesday, Feb. 17 TECHNOLOGY STAFF Arts Editor Republicans and hurting the Democrats. [“How to Bring Peaceful Coexistence With the prospect of another four years of Back to the Middle East”] incorrectly Staff: Frank Dabek G, Roshan Baliga ’03, Daniel George W. Bush at the helm, this time with- described the listing of “nationality” on Leeds ’05, Lisa Wray ’07. Don’t Blame Me, I out the accountability of a re-election, I Israeli ID cards. Since April 2002, the EDITORS AT LARGE don’t think we can afford to have a spoiler nationality section of all newly issued Senior Editors: Satwiksai Seshasai G, Keith J. Voted for Gore trying to steal votes from the Democratic IDs in the country has been left blank. Winstein G, Jennifer Krishnan ’04; Contributing Andrew Thomas, in his column “Don’t nominee. Editor: Jeremy Baskin ’04, Devdoot Majumdar Blame Me, I Voted for Kodos” [Feb. 27], Dave Lahr G ’04. ADVISORY BOARD Opinion Policy property of The Tech, and will not be returned. The Tech makes no Peter Peckarsky ’72, Paul E. Schindler, Jr. ’74, V. commitment to publish all the letters received. Michael Bove ’83, Barry Surman ’84, Robert E. Editorials are the official opinion of The Tech. They are written The Tech’s Ombudsman, reachable by e-mail at ombuds- Malchman ’85, Deborah A. Levinson ’91, by the editorial board, which consists of the chairman, editor in [email protected], serves as the liaison between The Tech and chief, managing editor, opinion editor, and a senior editor. Jonathan Richmond PhD ’91, Saul Blumenthal its readers. From time to time, the Ombudsman writes an indepen- Dissents are the opinions of signed members of the editorial ’98, Joseph Dieckhans ’00, Ryan Ochylski ’01, dent column reflecting the complaints, questions, and concerns of board choosing to publish their disagreement with the editorial. Rima Arnaout ’02, Eric J. Cholankeril ’02, Ian Lai the readership. ’02, B. D. Colen. Letters to the editor, columns,and editorial cartoons are writ- ten by individuals and represent the opinion of the author, not nec- OMBUDSMAN essarily that of the newspaper. Electronic submissions are encour- To Reach Us John A. Hawkinson. aged and should be sent to [email protected]. Hard copy submissions should be addressed to The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, The Tech’s telephone number is (617) 253-1541. E-mail is the PRODUCTION STAFF FOR THIS ISSUE Cambridge, Mass. 02139-7029, or sent by interdepartmental mail to easiest way to reach any member of our staff. If you are unsure Editors: Joel C. Corbo ’04, Sie Hendrata Dhar- Room W20-483. All submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. two days whom to contact, send mail to [email protected], and it will mawann ’05; Staff: No Help ’0X. before the date of publication. be directed to the appropriate person. Please send press releases,

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Once submitted, all letters become World Wide Web at http://the-tech.mit.edu. facsimile. Advertising, subscription, and typesetting rates available. Entire contents © 2004 The Tech. Printed on recycled paper by Charles River Publishing. March 2, 2004 OPINION THE TECH Page 5 Questioning Ring Committee Unhelpful Composition Boundaries issue to add their thoughts to an online than a few Greek letters: the composition of Jay S. Gill poll/petition at http://ring2006.mit.edu, and the committee itself. I know for certain that In Science the feedback is overwhelmingly negative. my own dorm, among many others, is whol- While the article about the 2006 Brass In response, the committee has nobly ly unrepresented. For the half of the class Rat controversy made many people aware of exercised its right to ignore, reveling in their that lives in these dorms, the Ring Premiere J. Helen Tang the situation [“Students Request Opinions complete lack of accountability. In a state- is the first opportunity we have to even see on Ring,” Feb. 27], I want to elucidate some ment posted online, the committee wrote, the ring, eliminating any influence we may What exactly are the global realities of of the complaints our “No class should have had on the process. While this is all today? While I agree with Basil Enwegbara that class has, and to believe that Ring Pre- well and good for the Ring Committee, who we should empower American children to suc- respond to the letter miere is a time to can gleefully put their own favorite symbols ceed and that that our Ring Commit- Why not at least ensure some submit ideas for the all over the Brass Rat, knowing that they America should tee has put on its web Brass Rat...and the have carte blanche on the design, it is rather Letter to keep ahead of the site. measure of validity to the process full responsibility of obviously not the formula for a ring that rep- rest of the world Above all else, I designing the ring resents the class. [“Remaking Amer- cannot fathom why by, for example, composing the was given to a com- So the question remains, why is the entire the Editor ica for New Global the committee possi- Ring Committee of mittee.” The class of Ring process put in the hands of ten people Realities,” Feb. 24], I am disturbed to read that bly thought I would 2006 is left with little whose sole qualification is the favor of the “history has taught us that no nation ever sur- want any Greek letters representatives from each dorm, recourse but to pon- Class Council? Why not at least ensure some vives by placing its hope on foreigners.” on my class ring. With der the wisdom of a measure of validity to the process by, for Although the historical evidence Enwegbara no disrespect to the and a proportional number from system in which we example, composing the Ring Committee of supplies includes legitimate examples of mili- fraternities at MIT. I the ILGs? can give no feedback. representatives from each dorm and a pro- tary “self-defeat” due to foreigners, I am disap- don’t find myself liv- Yes, the responsibili- portional number from the ILGs? Or why pointed to hear that analogy being used to ing in one, and I don’t ty of designing the not unveil the design earlier, allowing at describe America’s situation. After all, America want to explain to ring was given to a least one round of feedback? It seems the is a land of immigrants, not “foreigners.” people for the rest of my life why I’m wear- committee. Do you remember choosing either of these options might lead to a Ring I hope that the interpretation to follow is not ing an apparent fraternity name on my fin- these people? Most likely not, unless you’re Committee that spends less time designing a failure on my part to understand but a way to ger. Understandably, the eight Greek-affili- one of the six Class Council members that narcissistic Flash animations for its Web let my opinions be known. Foremost, the under- ated members on the ten-person Ring have a say in the matter. The committee was site, and more time designing a rat that does- lying sentiment in saying that “no nation ever Committee may not have realized at the time entrusted with the responsibility of design- n’t offend a large portion of the class. survives by placing its hope on foreigners” how ludicrous this is, but their lack of ing an appropriate ring for our class, and Until that happens, all we can do is cover resounds with another silent voice that I have response to the uproar highlights the self- even though 190 of 217 respondents thus far up this travesty in the best way possible: heard now and then — foreign scientists and absorbed nature of the whole process. say it has failed, the committee declines to “Why you have a Phi and Theta on your engineers (including those who are simply for- This is not the rant of a few bored indi- honor that responsibility: “It is the Ring ring?” eign-born) are “threats” to the United States, or viduals — as of Sunday afternoon, 20 per- Committee’s final decision not to change the “Oh, I’m a big fan of spherical coordi- maybe just added competition. Enwegbara’s cent of the class of 2006 has declared an 2006 Brass Rat, regardless of whether or not nates…” observations hint that the visibility of foreign equally strong objection. Those 200 sopho- it is a feasible option.” Jay S. Gill is a member of the class of scientists in America’s universities highlights mores thought strongly enough about this There is a problem more fundamental 2006. America’s inability to fill those positions with its own citizens. But, are they not the very peo- ple who are educating American citizens? In a world without clear boundaries, when Disputing Claims About world travel and communication are everyday affairs, I am quite concerned about the definite dichotomy between Asian and American that is The Middle East setup in the Enwegbara’s article. This dichoto- my is in addition to the split between foreigners manner.” That is, the lands mentioned may We did not realize how our people would and citizens. I do not want say too much on this Isaac Moses and Jake Solomon be sold neither to Jew, as verified by person- react. As soon as they heard that women had as resentment may be roused. I just do not al experience, nor Arab. Rather, the ILA, in been raped at Deir Yassin, Palestinians fled understand how the new wave (since the mid- The column “How to Bring Peaceful accordance with the law, leases state-owned in terror.” 1980s) of foreign scientists and engineers some- Coexistence Back to the Middle East” [Feb. land to Arab and Jew alike, as illustrated The column further claims that the U.N. times does not receive the same respect and 17], made several misleading claims against above. The ILA also administrates JNF- Universal Declaration of Human Rights regard as the wave of scientist emigrants from Israel. We would like to present a well-doc- owned land, but, following the accepted guarantees the Palestinian right of return. In Europe between the two world wars. Why umented refutation of a few of the most interpretation of the JNF charter, at least in fact, the U.N. Declaration states, “Everyone should they be seen as competitors and not sim- important of these claims. theory, it may lease this land only to Jews. has the right to leave any country, including ply future citizens trying to start a new life in a According to the author of that column, However, in practice, the ILA also leases his own, and to return to his country.” As new world? Are not the “foreigners” America’s in Israel, “‘National lands’ are to be sold, JNF land to Arabs by means of a legal one might guess from the emphasis on “the newest immigrants who want to build Ameri- rented, leased, or worked on by Jews only, instrument (Kretzmer, Legal Status of Arabs right to leave,” historically, this clause was ca’s future and become a part of that bright and these lands make up 92 percent of in Israel). aimed at countries which effectively impris- future? Israel.” Schoenman quotes a JNF lease to illus- oned certain minorities, such as the Jews in This problem is far more acute for those This blatantly contradicts established trate the standard interpretation of the JNF Eastern Europe and the former Soviet from Asian countries, so I naturally thought fact, as regards both Israeli law and common charter. In close proximity, he cites several Union. The “right to return” was only added about “competitors” in relation to the adminis- practice. For example, about one-half of all secondary sources which attest in general by the sponsor at the last minute to further tration’s old way of calling China a “strategic land Israeli-Arabs farm they lease from the terms to the equivalence in Israeli law of strengthen the clause (Jose Ingles, “Study of competitor.” I cannot help but notice the bias in Israel Land Administration (ILA), the Israeli state-owned land and JNF land. Indeed, the Discrimination in Respect of the Right of Enwegbara’s arguments that originates from government body that administrates state Basic Law above does equate the two on a Everyone to Leave Any Country, Including nationality differences as the most visible por- owned lands (David Kretzmer, Legal Status certain level. However, the juxtaposition of His Own, and to Return to His Country”). tion of today’s foreign scientists and engineers of the Arabs in Israel). At times, the ILA has these two facts leads the reader to believe Furthermore, many historical examples are of Asian descent. even enacted affirmative action in favor of that that Israeli law extends the JNF charter illustrate how population exchange has assist- I truly believe in maintaining America’s Israeli-Arabs. For example, in “Avitan v. to all ILA administrated land, hence falsely ed conflict resolution. Millions of refugees world leadership through the training of its citi- Israel Land Administration” (HC 528/88), incriminating Israel. were permanently resettled following the zens and by paying special attention to its disad- the Israeli High Court upheld ILA discrimi- The column blames only the Jewish conclusion of the Turkish War of Indepen- vantaged citizens — the minorities and the nation against Israeli-Jewish citizen Eliezer forces for the problem of the Palestinian dence in 1923, World War II, and the division impoverished, but we should not be intolerant Avitan as affirmative action for Bedouin cit- refugees. Even taking the perspective of the of British India into present-day India and of the scientists and engineers who come to this izens. The ILA had rejected Avitan’s appli- extreme political left, as represented by Pakistan. In all cases, immovable property country to study and work. The international cation to lease land in a Bedouin community Benny Morris, a great many Palestinians left left behind was seized by the respective gov- nature of America’s scientific force has generat- on the highly subsidized terms the ILA Israel of their own free will. Indeed, accord- ernments (Eyal Benvenisti and Eyal Zamir, ed synergy unmatched by any other nation. Col- offered Bedouins in that community. ing to Morris, about 75,000 upper and mid- “Private Claims to Property Rights in the laborative work among people of many back- A careful investigation of the cited dle-class Arabs fled between December Future Israeli-Palestinian Settlement”). grounds is a part of the American spirit and source for this falsehood, Ralph Schoen- 1947 and March 1948 due to fear of the Finally, the “back” in the column’s title should be embraced. man’s Hidden History of Zionism, reveals unrest characterized by sporadic reciprocal refers to a “long tradition of religious toler- America is a country built by immigrants that Schoenman never directly states the violence between Jews and Arabs, fear of ance and coexistence that characterized and for immigrants. I feel that foreign scientists claim of the citation, though he implies it, domination by the Arab leader Husseini, and Palestine before Zionism.” In fact, for hun- and engineers deserve as much right as the dis- and his sources certainly do not support it. violence by Arab irregulars (Morris, “Right- dreds of years before the advent of modern advantaged to become successful in this coun- Following is a detailed analysis of the eous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Zionism in the late 1800s, Palestinian Jews try. They do not deserve fewer opportunities sources: Conflict, 1881-1999”): “In some areas Arab and Christians suffered massive religious just because they are at the head of the game. As basic background information, the commanders ordered the villagers to evacu- persecution under the ruling Ottoman After all, in the aggregate, we best serve our Israeli government owns 79.5 percent of the ate to clear the ground for military purposes Empire. Joan Peters collected extensive doc- nation by attracting the best minds from other total land in Israel, the Jewish National Fund or to prevent surrender.” umentation of this trend (From Time countries and creating a friendly environment (JNF) owns 14 percent, and private Arab Furthermore, Arab propagandists con- Immemorial: The Origins of the Arab-Jew- for them to stay permanently while improving and Jewish owners roughly share the tributed significantly to the flight of the ish Conflict Over Palestine). For example, in our current education system and giving every remaining 6.5 percent evenly (Israel’s Gov- Arabs. In the BBC report, “Israel and the 1660, the Jewish community of Safed was student the tools to excel. ernment Press Office of Israel, as of 1997). Arabs: The 50 Year Conflict,” Hazam Nus- “massacred,” leaving only one survivor. Because I know of many “foreigners” who The Jewish National Fund is a private Jew- seibi, who worked for the Palestine Broad- After it had had a chance to rebuild itself, do come to this country to study, work, or start ish charitable organization dedicated to casting Service in 1948, admitted to being that Jewish Quarter was again “completely a family, I find unacceptable the way that the helping settle Jews in Israel. told by Hussein Khalidi, a Palestinian Arab sacked by the Turks” in 1799 (John L. Bur- foreign scientists and engineers are discussed in The full text of “Basic Law: Israel leader, to falsify reports of atrocities com- ckhardt, Travels in Syria and the Holy the article. I know, too, that particularly con- Lands,” excepting a few technical com- mitted by the Jews. Abu Mahmoud, a Deir Land). This was not a period of “tolerance cerning Asian scientists and engineers, the “for- ments, reads, “The ownership of Israel Yassin resident in 1948, told Khalidi, “There and coexistence.” eign competitors” view is not held by one per- lands, being the lands in Israel of the State, was no rape.” Khalidi replied, “We have to Isaac Moses is a graduate student in the son but by many others, if not here, in other the Development Authority or the Keren say this so that Arab armies will come to lib- Department of Civil and Environmental parts of the country. I hope that America is not Kayemet Le-Israel [i.e. the JNF], shall not erate Palestine from the Jews.” Nusseibi Engineering. Jake Solomon is a graduate divisive and exclusionary, and that the people be transferred either by sale or in any other continued, “This was our biggest mistake. student in the Department of Mathematics. supporting equality of opportunity for the disad- vantaged do not alienate future citizens. After all, America once was and is still a land of opportunity and immigration. Every knot was once straight rope. J. Helen Tang is a member of the class of 2005. Page 6 THE TECH OPINION March 2, 2004

The Ombudsman The Tech Brushes with Anonymity; More Care Needed Fry now says, “I know who it is … I am completely certain Features anonymity disappears John A. Hawkinson it is true.” The Tech’s features department has made great strides in No single editor should be responsible for maintaining eliminating unjustified anonymity lately. The editorial staff for Anonymity can be a powerful tool and a double-edged the paper’s credibility on anonymity issues. As part of the new volume (which started in February) appears to be much sword. Paradoxically, anonymity both allows the truth to production process, all copy is reviewed by both a section more concerned with the dangers of anonymity. News and get out where it otherwise might not and also risks the editor and the editor in chief (at a minimum). I asked Editor Features Director Beckett W. Sterner and Features Editor propagation of untruths, because there is no fear of retribu- in Chief Brian Loux, and he told me he assumed Fry had Akshay Patil asked the columnists if they’d be willing to be tion. known the identity of the author. That’s not good enough. identified, and it seems most are going along with it. Everyone needs to ask the right questions and cannot Two weeks ago today, on Feb. 10, the previously anony- Anonymous rape piece – was it true? assume that all the ducks are in a row. People make mis- mous “Sex and the Saferide” columns appeared with bylines, The arts department ran “What a Difference a Year takes. crediting Alex Nelson and Danchai Mekadenaumporn for their Makes: An Account of One Woman’s Rape and Assault at A piece like this should be accompanied by an editor’s work. How many of you noticed? MIT” [Feb. 24], by “Anonymous.” I thought it was a very note explaining its origin, and should give the reader some Of course, they have appeared on the masthead as “features powerful piece that sent a strong message — a message reason to trust that it is true, such as an assertion about columnists” since Nov. 25, 2003. That’s really hokey. If possibly tempered by its anonymity. independent fact-checking that was performed. columnists really and truly are anonymous, their anonymity In journalism, there are some expectations about should have the full support of the paper. anonymity. The identity of the anonymous person is known Inside coverage boxes The comics section has also moved to stricter attribution, to someone at the newspaper, and the paper has confidence I strongly agree with Mariana Recalde ’05’s letter pub- with “TRIO” credited to Emezie “Emie” Okorafor ’03 (mis- that the anonymously attributed facts are true. lished on Friday. The rape piece really should have been spelled in every issue since Friday the 13th), “Brian Loux’s The New York Times and The Washington Post have mentioned on the front page. But this is a larger issue: The comic” credited to Brian Loux (Brian Loux is the editor in both recently revised their guidelines for anonymity, and Tech really needs to give prominent coverage to more than chief of the paper; this is weird), and “Filler Space” credited to it’s instructive to look at them. The Times’ is available at three items (or two plus comics) on Jason Burns. This attribution started with the second issue of http://www.nytco.com/sources. It says, in part, “Whenever the bottom of the front page, as I term, on Feb. 6. anonymity is granted, it should be the subject of energetic wrote in my Jan. 21 column. negotiation to arrive at phrasing that will tell the reader as Recently, I happened to notice Weak news section lately much as possible about the placement and motivation of the that The Tech did a much better job The past two Tuesday issues have featured only two news source — in particular, whether the source has firsthand of this prior to its 1998 redesign. stories each. That’s not very much at all. A good issue should knowledge of the facts.” From at least 1978 through 1998, have upwards of four. Last week, I asked Arts Editor (and last term’s editor in the inside coverage box was free- To pick one item, what’s the deal with coverage of MIT’s chief) Christine R. Fry about the rape piece. I was pretty form and allowed for an arbitrary presidential search? Yes, there were two articles on Feb. 20, shocked to find out that she didn’t know who the author number of items. but no real solid information. According to an article in Satur- was; she had obtained the piece through the producers of The Tech should do something day’s New York Times [“Grasso Refuses to Return Any of The Vagina Monologues. How are we supposed to know to improve the situation. It comes $139.5 Million Pay” by Landon Thomas, Jr.], the interim that the story is true? If it’s not true, then the strength of the up over and over again. Feb. 20’s chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, John S. Reed ’61, message is radically diminished. issue buried a page 15 story on is being considered for MIT President “according to several I queried Fry on why she didn’t know the author’s iden- MIT losing a Nobel laureate Insti- members of the search committee.” Where is The Tech? tity, and she said, “I should have asked.” Initially she tute Professor — was a front page It was also disappointing that the graduate student health expressed a concern that asking for the identity might cause reference to Dilbert really more insurance announcement didn’t make Friday’s Tech. It was the piece to be withdrawn. That’s not a reason not to ask. It important? pretty important, and the news broke on Wednesday, so might be a reason not to press as hard if the answer is “No” The Tech’s inside coverage box in the March 3, there should have been plenty of time. and there’s independent confirmation available. 1998 issue was free-form and could accomodate as The Tech’s Ombudsman welcomes your feedback, to In the intervening week, though, Fry has made up for it. many items as it needed to. Why did we change? [email protected]. His opinions are his own. March 2, 2004 THE TECH Page 7 FEATURES It May Not Be Right, But is it Even Wrong? Shoplifting at LaVerde’s By Dan Scolnic how much of it was nonsense. Penalizing one Instead of shoplifting, think cheating. But it’s not just that we are worried about for stealing certain items but not others is like MIT’s greatest pride and torture is its prob- getting punished; we are MIT students and we Disclaimer: I do not in any way encourage not worrying about certain items being stolen. lem sets. Everyone knows this, including the understand that the odds of being caught shoplifting. LaVerde’s way of doing it is more encourag- teachers, so the teachers allow you to work in cheating, especially with a kid in another I don’t shoplift — I’m not strong enough ing, or better, less discouraging, of shoplifting groups. The catch is that you cannot blatantly recitation for a very large class, are slim. The to. I do, however, get a little too curious. than having no metal detector whatsoever. copy, and you have to write down with whom real uneasiness comes from the fact that we We’ve all left a store thinking about how easy LaVerde’s is by no means trying to give you collaborated. However, that is hardly a are cheating ourselves. We did not come here it would be to steal something; I happen to encouragement; catch. In this case, to copy someone else's answers. But how can think about it every time I enter LaVerde’s. instead, they are proba- blatantly copying will we not copy without having to work all by Now I don’t have anything close to a Dosto- bly sending the mes- set off the metal detec- ourselves? It is highly unusual that two people evesky “Crime and Punishment” mindset, but sage that they trust Teachers want the students tor as it has notably will come up with the same idea; at best, one nevertheless, I’m pretty curious. their buyers and their done so in years past. person will have an idea and the next person The flimsy, white bar with small red sirens consciences. Still, to write down their “own But because that’s the will know how to follow it. When you work in the front of LaVerde’s originally ignited my LaVerde’s wants to only bad thing one can with other people, there will always be copy- fascination. I figured the bar was either a real- cover its back and cre- answers”, but come on, the do, students will come ing. ly cheap metal detector or some kind of ate some kind of deter- answer by the kid down the as close as possible to So MIT draws a line. And even though we counter. One day I asked one of the store rent by using the most blatantly copying as know it’s arbitrary and too easy, a lot of us clerks who explained to me that, indeed, it was frugal method possible. floor is just so beautiful. they can. want to believe in it because we want to think a metal detector but only for items that have LaVerde’s just places Students copy the that we’re getting what we paid for; we want tags on them. It made sense. I recalled all the an arbitrary line that, main pieces of the to feel that we’re fulfilling the reason for times I bought candy or a drink and the clerk when actually thought problem but not the which we are here. So if not blatantly copying just typed in the price, so there was no way a about, might even seem to backfire against its details; they copy the equations but leave out is fulfilling that reason, then I am happy to machine could discriminate whether or not I motivation. the parameters. Teachers want the students to follow this arbitrary rule. shoplifted. The whole idea of drawing an arbitrary write down their “own answers,” but come on, So no, I’m not advocating shoplifting at Regardless, the amount of sense the idea line between what is wrong and what is right the answer by the kid down the floor is just so LaVerde’s, but all those crazy problem sets made to me was insignificant compared to manifests itself in many other places at MIT. beautiful. sure do make me hungry. Scratch Paper Dating: The MIT Way By Tiffany Kosolcharoen has responded to as an indicator of his/her pop- ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR ularity… or pickiness (the site has since Two almost-naked cupid babies greet you removed the percentages). with an arrow and heart upon your arrival at the A successful site would provide the means gateway to love: the MIT Match-Up to create the love that Meg Ryan and Tom (http://matchup.mit.edu). With more than 1,900 Hanks shared in “You’ve Got Mail.” In the student profiles, the free dating web site is still movie, the two rival bookshop owners’ rapid- feeling Valentine’s Day fever two weeks later fire instant messages brought about the spark in through the word-of-mouth buzz. their anonymous relationship. Last week, a girl friend candidly showed me Don’t get me wrong, the MIT Match-Up has le menú of datable guys. It was almost like been much-improved since last year, when I choosing the genes of a baby! In addition to wrote a news article for The Tech about it. How- choosing the age, build, and height (with those ever, people should be allowed to chat online at mathy ‘>’ and ‘<’ signs!), you can even think the match-up site or leave messages in a guest- future: to have kids or not? Even public love- book. A relationship comes down to communi- making preferences are shamelessly catego- cation. rized: keep a respectful distance, quick kiss, Still, the best romances and deepest friend- moochas smoochas, or sneak off for a quickie? ships I have ever witnessed have come from It’s all there. bold, risk-taking matchmakers who make the Yet, when my quick search returned 150 pro- first move to connect their single friends. By files with headlines like “Getting down to the lifting the pressure off of the couple to exchange business of getting down” or “If you want to introductions, screen names, and contact infor- hear my awesome pick-up lines, we'll have to mation, the matchmaker helps the couple focus meet in person,” something was missing. on what’s important: a lasting love. Sure, there were a few genuinely sincere At least, that was how it used to work. This space donated by The Tech profiles, yet the service also felt, to put it in its own words, “goofy.” Love was trivialized in the form of self-promo- tional ads, where profiles said more about what people wanted in their dream girl/guyfriends and what made them happy rather than how they would make others feel good. With the information to do the matchmaking so trivial, one must turn to other means of judgment: the photo. It felt like AOL Instant Messenger’s “Rate-A-Buddy!” popup that asks peo- ple to rate Photoshopped photos of men and women. The popup exclaims, “She’s a Britney — except blonder!” or “Tell Her: Is she yowza?” (yes, AOL knows I’m female, but it continues to ask me to rank both guys and girls). Instead of hotness ratings from 1 to 10, the MIT Match-Up uses the per- centage of solicitors’ e-mails the person

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Contact: Ramy Bodner 617-509-9123 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bodnerdatabase.com Page 8 THE TECH March 2, 2004 ARTS FILM REVIEW ★★1/2 ‘The Passion’: A One Trick Pony More Hype Than Soul By Philip Burrowes formance as an understated yet undeniably ally in pain, Morgenstern’s Mary always tries Joseph and the Creator/Spirit are noticeably demonic Satan. Gibson’s repeated focus on her to help, and a miscast Belluci keeps crying as absent from the screen. The Passion of the Christ unemotional gaze and ceaseless stalking of Magdalane. Only Hristo Shopov as Pilate gets Gibson, to his credit, didn’t intend for this Written by Benedict Fitzgerald, Mel Gibson Jesus never fail to foster a sense of unease. to truly act. film to be very accessible. For a while it wasn’t Directed by Mel Gibson One scene also stands out thanks to Gib- Scattered flashbacks better showcase the going to even have subtitles, and despite its Starring James Caviezel, Monica Belluci, son’s lugubrious take on the story, and that is ensemble’s acting chops, but as endearing they wide release it is notably absent from certain Maia Morgenstern, Hristo Shopov Jesus’ whipping at the hand of Romans. can come across, those vignettes often serve theaters in the country. Do not go expecting to Rated R Already beaten soundly by an assembly of more of a distraction from the story than a see something new or to have old faith n a way, “The Passion” is the reverse of Judeans, Jesus is sent to be whipped by the helpful narrative device. Anyone not consider- restored. In fact, it’s not a very uplifting piece, Peter Jackson’s “Rings” series. Whereas Roman procurator Pilate, who is reluctant to ably familiar with the backstory might become although it certainly has its miraculous ele- Jackson had to compress hundreds of pages have Jesus executed. Some Roman soldiers especially lost, wondering why they are sud- ments. Even if the crucifixion story is one I into a few hours, Mel Gibson had but a few proceed to give Jesus a vicious flogging to the denly watching things like palm fronds waving which holds special resonance with you, you pages to expand upon. Other Biblical works point where both sides of his ribcage have been in front of the camera. One might also wonder may still be disappointed. Just stay home and have compensated for the brevity of the source exposed. It is the most graphic and realistic cin- where Jesus’ supposed fathers are, as both read the Book. text with some sort of filler like songs (“Prince ematic beating I have ever of Egypt”) or hypothetical situations (“The seen, an experience empha- Last Temptation of Christ”). A striking amount sized by its length. of the scenes in “The Passion,” however, are Consequently, nothing in simply passages lifted from the Gospel and the rest of the film can drawn out over several minutes. The result is match it. Even watching hit or miss, with more of the latter than the for- Jesus get nailed to the cross mer. lacks the comparable viscer- First of all, this lack of source means the al impact. Having reached movie has a very slow pace. We see multiple its emotional apex before its shots of some events, and slowed-down shots narrative one, the story of others. The second technique especially is seems almost empty after- overused and makes it seem like Gibson is try- ward. ing to tell us, “This scene is especially impor- Perhaps if the cast could tant,” over and over again. Each scene is also have injected more dynamic usually something the audience is familiar into their roles, they could with, and you may find yourself wishing a have saved (no pun intend- scene would just end once you feel you’ve got ed) the picture. Leaving the point. aside how poorly they’re Two characters probably benefit from this probably speaking lan- style, however: Satan and Judas. Judas is guages that certainly aren’t depicted as a man immediately guilty for bring- their native tongues (the ing the Judean guard to Jesus. His torment is script is written in Aramaic more thrilling than that of Jesus himself and Latin with English sub- because we don’t see the exact path towards titles), we can’t detect any Judas’ death coming. Satan is shown assaulting change in their persona him with demons in the form of children, pro- because almost everyone is gressively chasing him out of town in the film’s locked into one feeling for second most disturbing sequence. Rosalinda the movie’s duration. NEWMARKET FILMS Celentano turns in a magnificently creepy per- Caviezel’s Jesus is perpetu- James Caviezel plays Jesus in The Passion of the Christ. SUGAR & SPICE Canned Foods: Not So Mmm Mmm Good Skip the Fake Pasta and Make It Yourself By Marissa Cheng canned food to you. for the salt. It has no vitamin A, no vitamin cornstarch-thickened liquid. The chunks of STAFF WRITER A couple weeks ago, I bought a couple C, no calcium, no iron, and though it has “beef” were brown on the outside, pink on y fling with canned, pre-prepared cans of canned spaghetti and canned ravioli. nine grams of protein, you could just eat a the inside, as if they had been injected with food has come to an end. To all of I’d seen a friend eating Spaghetti-Os over piece of real meat and be that much better food coloring. The rest was just mush. It was those who fear that I have become the past few months, and I wanted to know off. At least the high fructose corn syrup and at that point, I decided that there would be Ma depraved, I-only-buy-fresh- if they actually tasted good. I suppose it was MSG are relatively far down on the list of no more canned food. organic-produce-from-a-small-farmer- something about the shape of the pasta that ingredients. I suppose that it was just too good to be named-Frank maniac, let me assuage your made it so enticing. Well, canned pasta defi- My last foray into the canned food world true — like the chewing gum in Willy doubts. I still like the genre of canned food nitely tastes like no other food involved a can of Progresso “Pot Roast” Wonka and the Chocolate Factory that tastes that includes canned tomatoes, canned I’ve ever tasted. What you soup that my dad gave me. My initial like an entire meal (not all at once, of fruit, canned broth, etc, although canned get is this thing they call doubts, given the name of the soup, were not course). Canned food may have been invent- meat besides tuna fish is a travesty. By “pasta” in a sauce that unfounded. The soup consisted of carrots, ed as a way to feed armies, but the American canned food, I mean Chef Boyardee, resembles a low-end Chi- tiny onions, even chunks of “beef” in a can, army doesn’t eat canned food any more, and Spaghetti-Os, canned soups, etc. nese restaurant’s sweet-and- all combined with that same oddly cloying, neither should you. Growing up, I never experienced sour sauce. the dubious joy of canned food. Thus, First, let’s discuss the once I reached college, I developed an pasta. Anyone who has all-consuming desire not ever had fresh pasta for alcohol, but for should not eat canned WMBR’s Top Albums foods I’d never pasta. It’s disgusting tried. This not only — mushy, discol- included things like ored, with a taste Here are some of the most popular records played this week on WMBR, 88.1 FM, Indian food, Persian resembling MIT’s student-staffed radio station. food, and Cape sawdust. It’s Verdean food, an insult to 1. Henry Flynt & The Insurrections . . .“I Don't Wanna” but also extend- real pasta — ed to canned the kind that 2. Lambchop ...... “Aw Cmon / No You Cmon” [Radio] food, mac and you boil on cheese from a the stovetop. 3. Various Artists ...... “Night Recordings from Bali” box, frozen din- Then, there’s ners, and Chi- the sauce. It’s 4. Coachwhips ...... “Bangers…” nese delivery. thickened with (My foray into cornstarch, MSG, and 5. Cheeps ...... “The Cheeps” frozen food has god knows what else, just begun: last with a taste so sweet 6. Numbers ...... “In My Mind All The Time” week I bought a that it’s cloying. And the frozen cake.) beef ravioli — I learned my lesson 7. Liars ...... “They Were Wrong, So We Drowned” Back to the there. To say that the ravioli tasted even canned food. I just don’t understand what remotely like beef would be a blatant lie. 8. Channel ...... “Tones Are Falling” the allure is. Despite the speediness of However, they do taste like highly-spiced preparation (reheat in microwave, or eat cardboard. 9. M83 ...... “Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost Ghosts” cold) and the cheap nature of canned food To top it off, this stuff isn’t even healthy (Campbell’s Select is on sale at Star Market for you. Sure, the bright red can might look 10. Shalabi Effect ...... “Pink Abyss” this week, two for $3), you would do better pretty, but then, a box of cigarettes might with Ramen. This only takes about two more look pretty too, and that’s certainly not good To hear these and many other artists, tune in to 88.1 FM or at http://wmbr.mit.edu for minutes to prepare, and is actually cheaper for you. My can of beef ravioli has 13 per- live streaming MP3. Visit the Web site for WMBR’s program schedule. (please omit the flavor packet). However, cent of my daily value of saturated fat (and SOURCE: WMBR should you want to eat something that tastes that’s if I’m eating half the can), almost half like real food, I would not recommend of my sodium, and enough sugar to make up March 2, 2004 ARTS THE TECH Page 9 ALBUM REVIEW Pavement Keeps Us ‘Enchanted’ Over a Decade Later Obscure Band Could Have Had Nirvana’s Success

By Andrew Lee tent texture similar to that of focused blasts of one-of-a-kind. With his tired, half-sung, half- Pavement seems to delight in following radio static. Released independently in 1992, spoken delivery, it sometimes feels as though insanity with brilliance. The maniacal Slanted and Enchanted “Slanted and Enchanted” was Pavement’s Malkmus is singing a different song than the screams and shrieking guitars of “No Life Pavement debut album. It was recorded principally by band is playing, but the strange contrast pays Singed Her” immediately precede the under- Matador Records Stephen Malkmus and Scott Kannberg, two off perfectly. By throwing in some spoken stated and sublime “In The Mouth A Desert.” April 17, 1992 guitarists in their twenties who had known word, deranged yelping, and the occasional Right after the hilarious strutting of the play- ne day, while making the rounds of each other before college. Along for the ride pop-influenced “sha-la-la,” Malkmus creates ful jam “Chesley’s Little Wrists” is the noisy my favorite Web sites, I spotted a was Gary Young, a hippie relic drummer who an atmosphere where almost anything goes. exhaustion of “Loretta’s Scars.” These tracks link to a music site described as “the gave the band’s performances a zany vibe Malkmus’ lyrics are just as bizarre as his would have seemed immature or primitive in O eternal hipster homepage.” Apparent- with his drunken stage acrobatics. But vocal style. Any conventional sense of conti- the hands of another band or singer, but Pave- ly, these people at http://pitchforkmedia.com Young’s eccentric behavior wasn’t the only nuity goes right out the window, with his cut- ment casually spins off a string of lo-fi pop had compiled a sprawling list of the top 100 reason Pavement was unusual. and-paste sentences sounding like they were gems. albums of the 1990’s. The nineties was one of On first listen, “Slanted and Enchanted” is clipped out of an oddball mad lib. In order to Nirvana steered popular music of the those decades that I lived in, but didn’t pay immediately distinctive for its muddy produc- find any reason in this random wordplay, you 1990’s into a territory of sober introspection much attention to at the time, so I was eager tion. Imagine listening over a telephone to a have to relax your brain somewhat: it’s a lit- and angst amplified by power chords. Listen- to check out what I’d missed music-wise. The band playing in their basement. The album’s tle like unfocusing your eyes in order to see a ing to Pavement is like meeting the long-lost list occasionally contained a band that I demo-like quality, instead of becoming an 3D picture. Mysterious fragments like “I am twin of mainstream alternative — the one that remotely recognized, but the real surprise was irritating distraction, puts the spotlight on the not one half of the problem/ Zurich is stained, didn’t make it big. “Slanted and Enchanted” the top ten. How did this band, Pavement, spontaneity. Pavement’s decision to record the and it’s not my fault” or “Every time I look didn’t gain much notice outside of the under- squeeze two albums up there? One of these album in such a primitive setting was either a around, I find I’m shot” are surprisingly ground, and understandably so. This band is albums, “Slanted and Enchanted,” was even bold move or laziness on their part. Either clever and endlessly quotable. gloriously weird. Would I put this record ranked just above Nirvana’s “Nevermind.” As way, the reason why this has become an indie When someone says that an album is right up with “Nevermind”? Sure, and I a Nirvana fan, that was an open challenge, so classic is the way it consistently maintains an front-heavy, it usually means that the three or wouldn’t have minded seeing Pavement be I put Pavement onto my listening agenda. almost ridiculous level of quality while work- four best tracks are placed highest in the track the one to saturate MTV with videos and per- The band’s own name turns out to be an ing with such an unpredictable sound. order. When I use the term to describe “Slant- formances. I don’t think I would have wanted excellent metaphor for the feel of their early While the CD’s tracks are instrumentally ed and Enchanted,” I mean that the first two- to miss watching a drummer who does hand- sound. The guitars have a rough but consis- unique, it is Malkmus’ vocals that make them thirds of the album is effortlessly excellent. stands. CLASSICAL REVIEW American String Quartet Plays Haydn With Vigor Haydn’s ‘Quartet Op. 76 No. 1’ Is Lively and Colorful

By Bogdan Fedeles flair. The piece brings together, under its myste- and sing about her beloved, dead for a few famous Florida architect, Mizner. Apparently STAFF WRITER rious title, five unrelated stories, each involving years. The strong love connection beyond the architect cared so deeply for his pet that he American String Quartet supernatural relationships transcending time. time is evoked as a long, winding melody on was never the same after Johnnie died. More- MIT Kresge Auditorium The first, “Rudolpho’s Dream,” brings top of a delicate ostinato accompaniment. The over, the tombstone of the monkey reads Feb. 28, 8 p.m. back the main character of Puccini’s “La melody often uses the interval of augmented “Johnnie Brown-the Human Monkey,” a ast Saturday, MIT’s Kresge Auditori- Boheme,” longing for his beloved Mimi. The second, a strong reminiscent of the Middle strange epitaph to say the least. The music is um hosted a remarkable concert that I atmospheric dreamy music, made up of bro- Eastern music the composer’s grandmother fueled by this mystery and mostly explores the am sure most chamber music enthusi- ken chords and harmonics, is ensnaring, used to sing. The seamless shift from one unusual strong bond between the person and L asts didn’t miss. Featured by the MIT whereas the beautiful cello lament, symboliz- instrument to another is mesmerizing, sug- his pet. On top of an agitated landscape of ris- Guest Artist Series, the American String ing the lost love, is haunting. Following, there gesting the universality of the feeling. ing and descending scale fragments, one hears Quartet delighted the large audience with an is “Katrina and the Children,” a story about A faster movement follows, “Last Tango at an almost exact quote of a children’s tune, intensely delivered program that included the wife of the railroad tycoon Spencer Trask. Teatro Colon,” inspired by the famous opera suggesting the monkey’s behavior. However, Haydn, Danielpour, and Brahms. The direct- Katrina, whose children tragically all died, house in Buenos Aires. Here, in the decades once the motif slowly disintegrates, the coher- ness of delivery and the beautifully cohesive joins a fantastic ball taking place at the fami- following World War II, a tense audience made ence of the grave background is also lost and musical voice of the group were impressive, ly’s mansion, Yaddo (currently an artist’s up of Jews and Nazis shared the hall, animated the piece ends on a serene, subdued chord. The contributing to the instant success of the per- retreat). The agitated beginning of the move- by their common interest in music in a symbol- quartet played with intensity and delivered formance. Aside from their technical merits, ment soon leads to a waltz-like pulse, inter- ic, all-be-it superficial and formal reconcilia- once more a very credible musical apparition. the group’s enthusiasm added significant qual- rupted from time to time, by shrieking, ghost- tion. The music sustains the tango rhythm from I greatly enjoyed Danielpour’s Quartet ity to the musical experience. ly sonorities. Given the vivid and marvelous beginning until the end, and despite more agi- because, unlike a lot of the new classical Haydn’s “Quartet Op. 76 No. 1” received a interpretation, one could almost see the tated sections with very dissonant chords, the music, it sounded very coherent and accessi- fine performance, expressive and colorful, the apparitions of these ghosts in the huge man- tango remains in the end the single, defining ble at the very first listening. Of course, this attitude of the group resembling that of a nur- sion of Saratoga Springs, NY. idea. The performance was again impressive, was mostly because of the superb perfor- turing mother caring for its beloved child. The middle movement, “Swan Song,” is a Danielpour’s music suiting very well the tem- mance delivered by the American String Being one of Haydn’s late quartets, hence tale about the composer’s grandmother who, per and musical attitude of the quartet. Quartet, whose delightful concert last Satur- famous and played often, the piece limits the although stricken with Parkinson’s and arthri- Finally, the work closes with the strange day will certainly make me look for some of opportunities for original expression. Yet, the tis, a few days before her death, started to talk tale of Johnnie Brown, the pet monkey of the their recordings. American String Quartet delivered Haydn’s quartet in a manner that combined originality and good taste to a musically pure and witty result. The dialogue between parts — a fre- quent device in the piece — was used to highlight the individual voice of each instrument, but without compro- mising the ensemble sonority. The Haydnesque wit was also exploited (the ending-like beginning of the first movement or the unusual endings of the second and fourth movements) with theatrical postures. By contrast, Brahms’ “Quartet Op. 51 No. 2” was approached with a rather calculated distance and religious respect, but entirely appropriate for a piece found at the confluential pinnacle of the classical and romantic music. The symphonic sonorities required by the work came out entirely expressive and intense, full of the pathos that Brahms’s music is endowed with. In the first movement, the beautiful sec- ond theme unraveled full of grace opposing the more aggressive, force- fully delivered principal idea. Elegant playing poised both the dreamier sec- ond movement and delicately joyful minuet and trio. Finally, the loud and folksy finale was delivered with utmost agility and intensity, concluding a very articulate and enjoyable performance of Brahm’s string quartet. Richard Danielpour’s “String Quar- tet No. 4 ‘Apparitions,’” written in 2001, constituted perhaps the high point of the concert. The American String Quartet, confirming their interest and appreciation for new music, deliv- ered an exceptional rendition of Danielpour’s fascinating yet demand- ing music, with remarkable ease and Page 10 THE TECH ARTS March 2, 2004

Bad Taste, from Page 1

(As a side note, Bad Taste is easier than Gauss’s Law, though Kabuki plays, often five hours in length, are only slightly longer than Bad Taste, and are surely better ventilated. And the flux out of 10-250 starting at oh, 11:30 p.m. or so, was positive.) After the toilet paper and plastic dart guns calmed down and the list of people who would be offended was read, the first skit of the evening began, a takeoff of one of the more successful real- ity TV shows: Harvard Eye For an MIT Guy. Here Christopher L. Follett ’07, the quintessential reuse- loving, clean-clothes-hating East Campus resident is made over by a troupe of Abercrombie kids from Harvard, led by a hilarious Alexander S. del Nido ’05, complete with fake British accent and a con- sistently raised nose. In one part of the skit, del Nido attends a 3.091 lecture, answers his cell phone, and is promptly thrown out by an irate Professor Sadoway, played by Ross Runnion ’04, who screamed at del Nido “Do your friends have a PhD?” Other parts of the Kabuki play called Bad Taste included the “101 things this acronym could stand for” skit. This year, CMI was the victim, with some highlights including “college men, idiots,” “Chinese men itty-bitty,” and “speed of light, mass, square root of minus one.” The LSC previews were also back this year with “Mozilla” terrorizing people for not deleting their lock file and an incomprehensible Asian math teacher played by Bo S. Kim ’04 in “Lost in Trans- lation.” The excessive puns skit focused on Course

(clockwise from upper left)

Prathima Nandivada ’06 flips off the crow Haku’s “Perfect Day.”

Soloist Prathima Nandivada ’06 sings the girl on pass/fail.

Kuangshin Tai G and Mary R. Williamson

“We interrupted your request!” Sven H. pelts the performers with a rolled up pape

At the end of “Harvard Eye for the MIT G Kim ’04, shoots the Harvard fashionists a

Members of the MIT/Wellesley Toons sin

Sandra Rindler ’06 is reflected in a mak butler during “Story Hour With the Admini

The Chorallaries presented their nth annu night in 10-250.

Photography by Daniel R. Bersak, Dmitry March 2, 2004 ARTS THE TECH Page 11

VI jokes this year. The words of the girl in the row fighting.” behind me sum it up nicely: “I’m embarrassed that That skit got me thinking about Bad Taste in its n I understand 20 percent of it.” I figure that some- larger context at MIT. Quite frankly, the offensive e day, the 10-250 audience will be too young to ghetto party e-mail pales in comparison. Some- d remember what a 5 1⁄4-inch floppy is, but until that how, parts of MIT’s culture that are highly inap- x day comes, we… wait, did I just write a sentence propriate (Bad Taste) and even technically illegal s with “5 1⁄4-inch floppy” and “comes” in it? Wow, (Tangerine and Orange Tours, and hacking in gen- I guess Bad Taste has had at least some effect on eral) manage to survive in an era of unprecedented s me. administrative meddling (the recent flag and fourth e Oh yeah, there was singing, too, but thankfully of July raft incidents) and mild outbreaks over g not too much of it. Not that the Chorallaries can’t petty e-mails among friends to private e-mail lists - sing. Believe me, they can. But we were all there (the ghetto party). , to see the guest group, the Toons, give singing and Spending a night in 10-250 listening to offen- - raunchy humor the ol’ college try, as they say. It’s sive and, yes, racist jokes about every type of per- , just that a cappella concerts are a dime a dozen son imaginable, a stone’s throw from the office of m here, but geek and sex jokes are priceless. the President, who was so incensed about the ghet- o Well, not quite. The going price was $10, as to party, made me realize that if any high-up - sold on eBay to Jason W. Carver ’06. Carver’s administrators ever attended Bad Taste, we’d all be choice to buy a ticket to the front of the line in sensitivity training faster than you could say 1 instead of waiting begs the question of why people “Diversity GIR.” And we’d be in for it even faster y wait in line in the first place, especially since if President Vest heard some of the top ten things d everybody gets into 10-250 anyway. I guess the he’ll do after he leaves MIT. Let’s just say that , simplest reason is that if you’re going to get all Mrs. Vest appears on the list more than once, in e sweaty and smelly sitting next to your friends for different orientations relative to the horizontal. 1 two and a half hours listening to jokes about Does that mean that Bad Taste should be s Aimee Smith and the Assassins Guild, what’s an stopped? I wouldn’t put it past the current MIT s extra two and a half days spent playing video administration, which would ban toasters if they , games outside of 10-250? could think up a half-decent reason why. But no, it f One more skit, if you’ll indulge me. The debate should not be stopped. If you don’t like the jokes, for the next president of MIT featured as candi- you’re free to leave. No one — save perhaps DKE , dates Marilee Jones, Aimee Smith, Janet Jackson, — was unfairly singled out, and DKE certainly g Al Gore, and the Ghetto Party. The roles were pre- doesn’t represent a racial minority, though they are h dictable, with the best line perhaps by Al Gore at approaching an endangered species. - the end of the skit as the other four contestants The bottom line: good humor has bite. Period, e starting shoving each other around: “I invented paragraph.

wd during her performance of “On Pass/Fail,” an adaptation of e Chorallaries’ remix of “Perfect Day” about a drunk freshman

’06 scoop piles of paper into a garbage bag after the show.

Chilton ’05, enraged by a particularly awful computer joke, er projectile.

Guy,” the Darwinist couple from MIT, Chris Follett ’07, Bo S. nd the audience to save the world “one moron at a time.”

g, “Stacy's mom has got a giant schlong!”

eup mirror backstage as she prepares to play Charles Vest’s istration.” ual Bad Taste Concert, beginning at 10:59:59 PM on Saturday

Portnyagin, and Sylvia Yang. —THE TECH March 2, 2004

Page 12

Tr io by Emezie Okorafor

by Brian Loux

by Emily Yan March 2, 2004 The Tech Page 13

ACROSS 43 Atom with a 3 Middle East gulf 31 Bursera resin 1 Giraffe’s cousin variable nucleus 4 Clique members 32 Music critic Ned 6 Art Tatum’s jazz 45 20A co- 5 Unlawful 33 Mall unit style conspirators 6 Rotten apple’s 38 Jordan’s 9 Uneven cuts 48 Birthday number associate? nickname 14 Bike feature 49 Jack of “Barney 7 Aroma 39 And also not 15 Hubbub Miller” 8 Keats or Yeats 41 Enraged 16 Of sound quality 50 Lesson for 25A 9 J.E.B. and Gilbert 42 Marsh plant 17 Incantation and 45A 10 Salinger’s 43 Aware of 18 Fawn’s mom 58 Burton of “Roots” Caulfield 44 Small terrier 19 Ne plus __ 59 Dallas sch. 11 Debate side 46 Mexican menu 20 Market plot 60 Brouhahas 12 Senator Jake the item 23 Gear tooth 62 Dancer Astaire astronaut 47 Published 24 Exist 63 Tell whoppers 13 Smelting residue 50 Extended family 25 20A 64 Madagascar 21 Adams and 51 Start again from coconspirators lemur Rickles scratch

Solution, page 17 34 Additional edits 65 Nuzzled 22 Spotted 52 Currier and __ 35 Employs 66 California fort infrequently 53 Christiania, today 36 Fate 67 Cromwell’s 25 Boy Scout unit 54 Bahrain ruler 37 Aware of earldom 26 Oscar de la __ 55 Soprano Lily 38 Stereo part 27 One in a cast 56 Tacks on 39 Son of Agrippina DOWN 28 Couple 57 Eld 40 Of ears: pref. 1 Wife of Saturn 29 Mountain lions 61 “With __ You Get 41 Puccini song 2 Military cap 30 Horned viper Eggroll” Crossword Puzzle Crossword Page 14 The Tech March 2, 2004

Events Calendar appears in each issue of The Tech and features events for members of the MIT community. The Tech makes no guarantees as to the accuracy of this information, and The Tech shall not be held liable for any loss- es, including, but not limited to, damages resulting from attendance of an event. Events Calendar Contact information for all events is available from the Events Calendar web page.

Visit and add events to Events Calendar online at http://events.mit.edu Tuesday, March 2 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. – Start up Clinic. Through our Start-up Clinics, attendees discover how to present a plan to potential investors. Two pre-selected companies present their business 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. – WHOI Donut and Coffee Hour. Come join your classmates for post- plans and receive feedback from a panel of experts and the audience over an informal dinner. bus, pre-classes refreshments! Free. Room: WHOI Student Center. Sponsor: WHOI Student Room: MIT Faculty Club, E52, 6th Floor. Sponsor: MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge, Inc. Organization. 6:00 p.m. – Lewis Mumford’s City and Films of the New Deal. HTC Film Series. Free. Room: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Self Assessment: Finding a Place to Start. Get an introduction to 3-133. Sponsor: History, Theory and Criticism of Architecture and Art. concepts to help you think about your future career decisions; see some techniques for career 6:30 p.m. – “Technology & Tradition in Contemporary Japanese Architecture.” Architecture decision-making, and receive a framework for understanding your needs, wants, values, skills, talk with Hitoshi Abe, architect, Sendai, and Takaharu Tezuka, architect, Tokyo with moderator and priorities. All workshops require pre-registration. Register for workshops at Clifford Pearson, senior editor, Architectural Record. Free. Room: 10-250. Sponsor: Depart- http://web.mit.edu/career/www/services/workshops.html, select Calendar of Workshops. ment of Architecture. Japan Society of Boston and Japan Society (New York). Free. Room: 12-196. Sponsor: Career Services Office. 7:30 p.m. – Censorship: Left, right, & center. Renowned attorneys and social critics Wendy 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. – Finding Amphetamine’s Place in Medicine, 1930-1950. Dibner Insti- Kaminer and Harvey Silvergate lead a discussion on the repression of dissent in America’s tute Lunchtime Colloquium. Free. Room: E56-100. Sponsor: Dibner Institute. schools and beyond. Free. Room: 3 Church St., Harvard Square. Sponsor: Board of Chaplains. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Excel User Group. Free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Informa- The Cambridge Forum. tion Services and Technology. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. – Israeli Folk Dancing (participatory). Israeli Folk Dancing Early Teach- 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – How to Build the World’s Largest Technology Business. Hewlett- ing at 8 p.m., followed by teaching and requests until 11 p.m. Beginners are always welcome. Packard’s Imaging and Printing group has grown from nothing in 1984 to a 24 billion dollar Family dancing usually occurs from 7-8 p.m. each week. Great for kids of all ages! To confirm organization. In most markets that its various divisions participate in, they are not only the family dancing for a given week, and for up-to-date announcements about each week’s dance, largest in their respective fields, but larger than all competitors combined — and they’ve see our Yahoo! Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mitfdc/messages. Free for MIT stu- maintained that lead for better than a decade. How does a new technology grow from a wild dents; donations welcome. Room: Lobby 13. Sponsor: Folk Dance Club. idea, like using exploding water to spray ink on a page, into a huge profitable business? In 8:45 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. – Swing Dancing. Beginners welcome, no partner necessary. Free. this talk, Mr. Cloutier will recount the history of ink-jet printing, to chronicle the key axioms Room: Student Center 2nd floor. Sponsor: Lindy Hop Society, GSC Funding Board. that HP has used to base its business success and the role that technology invention has 10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. – Brazilian Carnival 2004. MIT - Harvard - BU - Suffolk - BC presents, played in shaping that success. Free. Room: Bartos Theater, E15. Sponsor: MIT Sloan Public the most expected event in Boston, the real Brazilian Carnival: CARNAVAL 2004, Wednesday, Web Site. March 3, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. With the Samba band, Banda Ponto Com. Advanced Tickets: $15. 12:05 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. – Mass. Free. Room: MIT Chapel. Sponsor: Tech Catholic Community. Where to buy: MIT Sloan (Lilian, [email protected] and Nicolas [email protected]) 21+ 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. – The US Gender Pay Gap in the 1990’s: Slowing Convergence. Spring (ID required). Advanced: $15. Room: The MATRIX, 275 Tremont St - Boston. Sponsor: Brazilian Seminar Series. Free. Room: E51-390. Sponsor: MIT Workplace Center. & the the Institute for Student Association, Brazilian Club @ Sloan. Work & Employment Research. 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. – Discretization of Parabolic PDE’s for Stefan Problems and Image Thursday, March 4 Segmentation. Refreshments at 3:30 p.m. in 2-349. Free. Room: 2-338. Sponsor: Physical Mathematics Seminar. 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – Tax Workstop for International Scholars. Free. Room: Sala de Puer- 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – MITea Time — Culture Exchange — English Chinese Class. Our free to Rico, 2nd Floor, Student Center. Sponsor: International Scholars Office. English class is good for newcomers to get start their English conversations in a very friendly 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. – WHOI Donut and Coffee Hour. Free. Room: WHOI Student Center. environment. Free. Room: 36-156. Sponsor: Chinese Student and Scholar Association, Gradu- Sponsor: WHOI Student Organization. ate Student Council. MIT CSSA & GSC. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – English Bible Class. You are welcome to attend this free Bible class 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – MTL VLSI Seminar Series. High-speed self-calibrating folding ADC. led by Barbara Beevers of Baptist Campus Ministry. International spouses are welcome espe- Free. Room: 34-101. Sponsor: MTL VLSI Seminar. cially, but open to all. Free. Room: W11 Board Room. Sponsor: Baptist Campus Ministry. 4:00 p.m. – MIT Physical Chemistry Seminar: Professor William H. Green, Jr. MIT Depart- 12:00 p.m. – MIT Chapel Concert. Claire Meghnagi, soprano; Zvi Orlianski, cello; Misha ment of Chemical Engineering. Room: 4-270 Predicting Reactive Chemistry of Complex Sys- Grandel, trumpet; Pedro Persone, harpsichord. H. Purcell’s “Music for a while. Free. Room: tems. Professor William H. Green Jr. of the MIT Department of Chemical Engineering MIT Physi- Chapel. Sponsor: Music and Theater Arts Section. cal Chemistry speaks. Free. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – TechTime: MIT Personal Calendar Quick Start. Free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Information Services and Technology. Wednesday, March 3 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. – Free Conversational English Class. International students, scholars and spouses are welcome to attend a free conversational English class. Come exchange cul- 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. – Optics & Quantum Electronics Seminar Series. High-Power Fiber ture, learn about American culture and holidays and make lasting friends. Free. Room: W11 Lasers. Free. Room: Kolker Room 26-414 (on this date only). Sponsor: Optics. Board Room. Sponsor: Baptist Campus Ministry. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – GAME Lunchtime Seminar Series. Room: 1-242. Sponsor: Graduate 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – Sharks in the Sun: Organized Crime in the New Japan. Velisarios Kat- Association of Mechanical Engineers, GSC Funding Board. toulas graduated with honors in Japanese and Economics from the School of Oriental and 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. – LBGT and Questioning Students’ Brown Bag Lunch Discussion: African Studies at London University, in 1993. After a short stint as an investment banker he Queer Art a Decade After Identity Politics. Bring your own lunch! Stop by the Rainbow Lounge joined Reuters News Agency and worked in its bureaus in London, Tokyo, Osaka and Beijing. In to chat with other LBGTQ students and staff about topics that matter to you! For MIT students. 1996, he became bureau chief in Tokyo for the International Herald Tribune, covering Japan Bring your questions about queer activism, queer art, and what all of it means for the LBGTQ and the Korean Peninsula. In 1998, he joined Newsweek to cover economics in East Asia. community today! Hosted by Bill Arning, Curator, MIT List Visual Arts Center. Organized by Free. Room: E38, 7th floor conference room. Sponsor: MIT Japan Program, Center for Interna- Emily M.M. Howe, Coordinator, Women’s Studies. Free. Room: 50-306. Sponsor: lbgt@mit. tional Studies. 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Air Quality, Infant Mortality, and the Clean Air Act of 1970. We 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Youth Encounter on Sustainability (YES) Info Session. For the past examine the effects of total suspended particulates (TSPs) air pollution on infant health using four years, MIT has participated in the Youth Encounter on Sustainability (YES). This two-week the air quality improvements induced by the 1970 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA). Free. summer symposium inSwitzerland brings undergraduate and graduate students from many dis- Room: E40-496. Sponsor: Laboratory for Energy and the Environment. ciplines together to discuss the challenge of sustainable development. Free. Room: E40-496. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Mac OS X Quick Start. Free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Sponsor: Laboratory for Energy and the Environment. Information Services and Technology. 4:10 p.m. - 5:10 p.m. – The 2004 Robert S. Harris Lecture. Sponsored by the Biological Engi- 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Environment and Sustainability Seminar Series - Air Quality, Infant neering Division & the MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences. Free. Room: 66-110. Mortality, and the Clean Air Act of 1970. Free. Room: E40-496. Sponsor: Laboratory for Ener- Sponsor: Biological Engineering Division. gy and the Environment, The Environment at MIT Web Site. Department of Economics. 4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. – Physics Colloquium Series: “Carbon Nanotubes: Electrons in a 1D 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – The Rise of China and the New Balance of Power in East Asia. World.” The Physics Community is invited to a pre-lecture reception at 3:45 p.m. in room 4- Brown bag lunch. Free. Room: E38-615. Sponsor: Security Studies Program. 339. Free. Room: 10-250. Sponsor: Physics Department. 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. – Mid-Day Prayer. Brief service of prayer in the Episcopal/Anglican 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. – The Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984. Dr. Ken Geiser, Director of the tradition. All are welcome. Free. Room: MIT Chapel. Sponsor: Lutheran-Episcopal Ministry. Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute, will discuss issues to be taken up at a global 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Chatter by the Charles Toastmasters Meeting. Free. Room: E19- level when large corporations enter third world nations, lessons from such disasters and what 429. Sponsor: Toastmasters, MIT Organization and Employee Development, Human has been done by the industrial control authorities worldwide since the Bhopal gas leak. Free. Resources, Training at MIT. Room: E38-615. Sponsor: Center for International Studies, Program on Human Rights & Jus- 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. – String/Gravity Seminar. Aspects of Hadronic Physics in the tice. Gauge/Gravity Corresponcence. Free. Room: Center for Theoretical Physics. Sponsor: Labora- 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. – Mars Gravity Speaker Event. Hear an interesting talk about current tory for Nuclear Science. and past Mars exploration activities! Free. Room: 1-190. Sponsor: UA Finance Board, AeroAs- 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – Isshinryu Karate Workout. Traditional Okinawan Karate in a Small tro. Club Environment. Free. Room: Rockwell Cage. Sponsor: Isshinryu Karate-do at MIT. 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. – Weekly Grad Student Bible Study for Absolute Beginners. Weekly 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – 16.S26 Seminar (Prof. Brian Williams). Free. Room: 37-212. Spon- informal Bible study for grad students; refreshments provided; lgbt welcome. Free. Room: W11- sor: AeroAstro, Masschusetts Space Grant Consortium. 007. Sponsor: Lutheran-Episcopal Ministry. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – HPCES Seminar. Representation of integer optimization problems. 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. – Chenrezig Mandala @ MIT. The Mandala, or Tibetan sand painting, is Free. Room: 4-237. Sponsor: Singapore-MIT Alliance/HPCES. an ancient art form of Tibetan Buddhism, thought to have originated in India. The MIT sand 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Hierarchical, Adaptive Clustering by Weighted Aggregation. Clustering mandala will be a vehicle to promote spiritual healing within the MIT community, symbolizing is a useful method for learning the intrinsic structure of data. In this talk I will describe a novel, compassion, acceptance and peace. Free. Room: Simmons Hall Multipurpose Room. Sponsor: highly efficient approach to determine all salient clusters, at all different scales, and that Graduate Student Council, Committee on Campus Race Relations, ARCADE (Assisting Recur- builds them into a hierarchical structure. Free. Room: E25-401. Sponsor: Brains and Machines ring Cultural Diversity Events), Visiting Scholars @ Simmons Hall. William R. and Betsey P. Seminar Series, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute. Computer Science & Artifi- Leitch Endowment, Council for the Arts at MIT. cial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL). 6:00 p.m. – “Crossing The Blvd: Strangers, Neighbors, Aliens In A New America.” 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. – Tie-Breakers. Reception at 3:30 p.m. in Room 2-349. Free. Room: 2- Lecture/Performance Reflecting Immigrants of America. Free. Room: La Sala de Puerto Rico, 338. Sponsor: Combinatorics Seminar. Department of Mathematics. Straton Student Center, 2nd floor, 84 Mass Ave. Sponsor: Committee on Campus Race Rela- 4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. – LAI Research Seminar. The CLIOS Process as a Way to Deal with tions. Physical and Institutional Complexity. Free. Room: 41-218. Sponsor: AeroAstro Lean Aero- 6:03 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. – Weekly meetings. Regular meeting of the core group at muddy space Initiative. charles. Free. Room: Muddy Charles. Sponsor: Techlink. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. – Rainbow Lounge Open. MIT’s resource lounge for lesbian, bisexual, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. – Graduate Christian Fellowship Bible Study. Come join us for Bible gay, transgender, and questioning members of the community offers a place to hang out, vari- study, prayer, and fellowship! We are currently studying the book of Ephesians. Free. Room: ous activities, and a lending library during its open hours. Free. Room: Rainbow Lounge (50- NW86-560. Sponsor: Graduate Christian Fellowship, GSC Funding Board. 306). Sponsor: lbgt@mit. 7:00 p.m. – poetry@MIT: Michael Franco. Free. Room: 6-120. Sponsor: Program in Writing 5:10 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. – Worship Service (Holy Communion). All students, staff and faculty are and Humanistic Studies. welcome at our weekly worship service. Free. Room: MIT Chapel. Sponsor: Lutheran-Episcopal 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. – Chess Club Meeting. A prominent player of the club will talk about Ministry. some ideas in the opening. Then it will be designated time for play! Free. Room: Student Cen- 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. – General Council Meeting. Agenda: Room: 50-220. Sponsor: GSC ter, PDR 1&2. Sponsor: Chess Club. Meetings. 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. – MIT Concert Band Rehearsal. The Concert Band, a student-run per- 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. – Graduate Christian Fellowship Bible Study. Come join us for Bible formance group, rehearses twice per week. We welcome students of all levels of musical expe- study, prayer, and fellowship! We are currently studying the book of Acts. Free. Room: 66-369. rience. Free. Room: W20-3rd Floor, 20 Chimneys. Sponsor: Association of Student Activities, Sponsor: Graduate Christian Fellowship, GSC Funding Board. Concert Band. March 2, 2004 THE TECH Page 15 Page 16 THE TECH March 2, 2004 MIT, Chi Phi To Plan Wed. Mun Memorial Mun, from Page 1 memorial service for Mun this Wednesday at 8 p.m. investigating how he entered the He said that the specific location water,” Procopio said. Following the had not been finalized yet, but those official confirmation, he said, they under consideration are on MIT’s plan to “go back and see if we can campus. put some pieces of the puzzle togeth- Ang said that Mun’s family will er.” be in attendance, and that the plans for the memorial may include a Note found on Mun’s computer slide show of pictures, a perfor- The Boston Herald reported in mance by the Korean drum group in December that Mun's father, Kyung which Mun participated, and the Mun of Kirksville, Missouri, said throwing of roses into the Charles “based on the note he left in his com- River. puter, he seemed to be depressed, and said goodbye.” Death marks sad day for MIT “I believe that there was some- “The horrible uncertainty that we thing in his computer,” said John have all felt regarding Daniel Mun DiFava, director of Security and has ended with the outcome we Campus Police Services, “indicating most feared,” said MIT President that he was sad.” Charles M. Vest in a statement. “I Ang said that Mun “was in his join his family and friends in mourn- normal demeanor” in the days before ing the loss of this fine young man.” he went missing. He said he was sure “I encourage any among us who Mun was not suffering from too feel the need for advice and comfort much stress and “did not have any to contact MIT Medical, or talk with negative feelings towards MIT.” counseling deans or housemasters,” Vest said. Memorial on Wed. at 8 p.m. “We’re not going to forget him Ang said Chi Phi is planning a in our memories,” Ang said.

Primary Poll Locations MIT Residence Halls Polling Location and Living Groups

Alpha Delta Phi (ADP) Random Hall Salvation Army Women's Independent Headquarters, Living Group (WILG) 402 Mass. Avenue Zeta Psi (ZP)

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ASA Temporarily Rerecognizes New Master’s and Ph.D. Programs Affiliated with the University of Chicago Counterpoint Through March By Michael E. Rolish notifies student groups of their derecog- dent Organizations and Funding Com- STAFF REPORTER nition 30 days in advance. mittee of Wellesley College Govern- Counterpoint, a joint MIT-Welles- However, Walter said that “If not ment. ley application, has been granted a peri- all ASA recognition requirements are “It is understood that groups like od of suspended recognition until April met by” June first, Counterpoint will be Counterpoint have multiple student 1. It had been derecognized by the derecognized.” members from other colleges, and it is We are The Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, whose mission is Association of Student Activities on Under rules agreed to by the ASA, therefore expected that the organization to achieve international impact through world-class research and education Feb. 12 for failing to meet the 50 per- the Undergraduate Association, and the will receive partial funding from the in fundamental Computer Science and Information Technology. cent MIT membership requirement. Graduate Student Council, Counter- other colleges,” Fleischer said. “Other During this period, Counterpoint point can appeal to the interim joint than that, there are no guidelines or We are now accepting applications for programs leading to Master’s and will not have access to its financial appellate board for ASA matters. requirements at this time that would cut Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science. Located on the University of account, which is being maintained by In an e-mail statement sent to The funding from an organization based on Chicago campus, our students will be able to cross-register for University the Student Activities Finance Office. Tech, Brian K. Dunagan G, MIT Editor its membership,” she said. of Chicago courses. This is a new program and generous scholarships are available in the Master’s program for the first few years while the program Following the ASA executive in Chief for Counterpoint, said, “Coun- “Our current policy is somewhat is being established. Ph.D. students receive full support without teaching board’s decision to derecognize the terpoint plans to work with the ASA vague, but allows the committee to requirements. The Ph.D. program is highly selective—only a small publication, Counterpoint submitted a executive board on any issues it still allocate an amount to an organization number of positions are available. written appeal for the ASA’s Feb. 26 sees and resolve them by the specified like Counterpoint based on provided meeting. date.” Dunagan declined further com- estimates of the funding they will For our On-Line Application, further information, or to contact us, ASA Treasurer Jason B. Alonso ’04 ment for this article. receive from MIT and the overall fund- please refer to our website: http://tti-c.org. said that in the appeal, Counterpoint ing they will need to operate,” she said. Equal Opportunity Institute had submitted a list of its members, Wellesley lacks similar rules which included 33 Wellesley members Unlike MIT, Wellesley does not Join Americas #1 Student Tour Operator Jamaica, Mexico, Bahamas, and Florida and 40 MIT members. Many of the have student makeup requirements for Sell Trips, Earn Cash and Go Free! Royal Bengal (India) MIT members were faculty and alum- its groups. “There are no rules on our Call for group discounts. ni, not MIT students. side as far as composition of a student Boston’s only authentic Bengali Cuisine restaurant For more information, After the latter meeting, ASA Presi- group,” said Lauren Fleischer, a contact STA Travel STUDENT 313 Mass. Ave., Cambridge at 617-225-2555 TRAVEL dent Kathryn M. 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Over 70 speakers exploring themes including: • Taking the Plunge - Financing Your Venture Changes required for recognition • Growth Areas in Consumer/Retail - Going to Market One Kendall Square Walter’s e-mail said that the dere- • Building the Right Team - Search Funds • Emerging Areas in Technology cognition was being suspended until • Emerging Trends in Healthcare / Life Sciences In front of Kendall Cinema April first because the ASA “did not • Intellectual Property and Legal Issues properly notify [Counterpoint] of the • Work/Life Tradeoffs in Entrepreneurship derecognition decision.” Alonso said that he had accidentally Plus –B-Plan Contest, Career Fair, Lunch, Networking Opps & 25% Off All Food Purchases told Counterpoint on Feb. 22 that the Entrepreneurial Idol: Battle of the Business Plan derecognition would be effective (Open to all conference participants – win up to $5,000!) with MIT I.D. immediately when in fact the ASA Register now at: www.hbseconference.com Registration fee: $35 student, $50 non-student participants SPONSORS: 617-225-0888 Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault General Catalyst Partners

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1-800-231-3373 Ext. 41 www.cryobankdonors.com Page 18 THE TECH March 2, 2004 Concerns Raised Over Ringcomm Selection Process Ring, from Page 1 Ring design process scrutinized “The decision we had to make in the end was based on the personal Ring Committee’s Response interest of members of the commit- tee, the mission of the committee, Dear Class of 2006, who we lived with during our freshman year. By settled on phi and theta. It was the intent of the and thinking about the integrity of forcing affiliated freshmen to live on campus, the committee, and the purpose of the selection what the ring is supposed to mean,” It has been an honor and a privilege to design new Rush policy allowed our class to be united process to make sure these letters do not refer to said Class of 2006 President the 2006 Brass Rat. This year’s Ring Committee for an entire year, unlike any other class before particular Greek organizations. They were cer- Raphael Farzan-Kashini ’06, who worked with incredible devotion since Septem- us. As a committee, we felt that the policy change tainly not chosen to honor certain organizations also served as a member of the ring ber. Our goal was to create a ring that embodies affected our whole class to a great degree and and offend others. As a committee, we voted committee. our class’s unity and showcases important events needed to be symbolized on the ring. unanimously that phi and theta were as neutral a Farzan-Kashini said that chang- that have occurred during our time at MIT. Every Our next task was to decide what symbol choice for the Greek letters as any other pair of ing the ring would make the ring symbol that was seen on the ring at the Ring Pre- would best represent affiliated and non-affiliated Greek letters, and more representative of MIT premiere an opportunity for every- miere was carefully thought out and discussed, members of our class living together in Cam- than any other pair we could have chosen. one to look at the ring and change sometimes for hours or days, before the entire bridge. The natural choice was to add a Greek The dissatisfaction of a portion of the class whatever they did not like about it. committee agreed to eternalize it as a part of our symbol to dorm row on the Cambridge skyline, with this aspect of the ring brought the Ring “The ring would lose its integrity class ring. and we decided that the most-recognizable Committee together to discuss the implications that way. I just think it’s traditional. We embarked on this mission with the knowl- Greek symbol is Greek letters. We decided to of changing the ring design. The concerns of That’s why the ring premier is so edge that no matter how hard we worked to rep- place two letters on the skyline because they those who submitted negative feedback were powerful,” he said. resent every student’s interest, no symbol would seemed more aesthetically pleasing than one or considered and the opinions of the students were Stanway said that while he satisfy every student in our class. The diversity of three letters. taken into account. However, we realized that thinks that the ring premiere should our class is what makes it great, but it also makes Choosing the letters to put on the skyline was changing the ring design even slightly would set still be the time when the ring is it impossible to find one representation that fits no simple task. We put a lot of effort into decid- a very poor precedent for ring committees of the presented to the class, the class everyone. Thank you for all the positive respons- ing how this should be done, and as a diverse future. No class should believe that Ring Pre- should be allowed to make deci- es that you have given us. Hearing from satisfied committee we decided on the following method. miere is a time to submit ideas for the Brass Rat sions beforehand regarding contro- members of the class is gratifying as it reflects Since the Brass Rat represents MIT, we knew we – the class’s ideas were taken into account dur- versial details of the ring. He said he that we have accomplished a very difficult task. wanted to put the letters on the ring that appear ing the design period in the fall, and the full feels that the general structure of the As ordering period continues, we are proud that most frequently in the names of MIT’s Greek responsibility of designing the ring was given to ring-design procedure should be hundreds of you are partaking in the age-old tra- organizations. (We included fraternities, sorori- a committee that was appointed by representa- remain the same. dition of the MIT Brass Rat. ties, independent living groups, and national pan- tives of the class. By making a change to the ring We appreciate the feedback that we have hellenic groups.) We counted up the letters that after the design has been premiered we make the Committee selection questioned received from the class since Premiere, both posi- appear in the organizations’ names, finding that already-daunting task of future ring committees Students raised concerns regard- tive and negative. Many of you have expressed phi occurred 17 times and alpha 11 times. How- much more difficult. In addition, changing the ing the composition of the ring com- valid concerns. However, it must be considered ever, these two letters together spell Alpha Phi, ring would deliver a different product than mittee and its selection process that Ring Premiere is the unveiling of the final and since our goal was not to represent one par- promised to those who have already ordered because of the presence of twin stars ring design, a design which was finished before ticular living group, we rejected this combination. their rings. on the ring’s bezel and shank. Thanksgiving and into which was put an enor- The next most frequent letters are theta and sigma We appreciate ArtCarved’s recent attempts to Four of the ring committee mous amount of thought and energy, while keep- each appearing 10 times. The combination of phi work with us on possibly making changes to the members, Tania D. Das ’06, ing in mind possible concerns. and sigma was also rejected because Phi Sig, like design, but it is the Ring Committee’s final deci- Valerie Y. Kuo ’06, Lucy Y. Li One thing that the committee agreed should Alpha Phi, refers to a specific organization. A sion not to change the 2006 Brass Rat, regardless ’06, and Wey-Jiun Lin ’06 are be represented on the ring was the policy change count with only residential fraternities, sororities of whether or not it is a feasible option, for rea- affiliated with the Kappa Alpha by MIT that all freshmen, whether affiliated or and independent living groups showed that phi sons listed above. Theta sorority. Class of 2006 Vice not, would live on campus. Changes in Rush still had the majority with 12, and theta, alpha, Thank you for all of your feedback, we look President Brendan J. Smith ’06 have been reflected on past rings, such as 2005, and delta all tied for second with 8. The same forward to seeing you at Top of the Hub! said that at the time of the selection which included a Rush gravestone on the class reasons as above can be applied to delta since the process, only two of the members shank. In our symbol, we hoped to reflect how common name on campus for Phi Delta Theta is Sincerely, were affiliated with the sorority, the policy change affected all the members of our Phi Delts. and the other two pledged during class, and we realized that it did so by changing After much discussion the committee finally The 2006 Ring Committee the year. Of the ten committee members, put the Greek letters on the skyline, dom Hall, Senior House, or Mac- applications were received from out and get more applications.” eight are affiliated with either a fra- said Stanway. Gregor. from East Campus, Random Hall, “We looked for people who ternity or a sorority. Questions regarding disparities Smith said that one committee Bexley Hall, and Senior House. would work well together,” said “I thought it was odd that there in living group representation were member, Meng Mao ’06, lived at The selection process “took Farzan-Kashani. “We did our best to were that many people that were also raised last week, as there were East Campus when he was chosen, probably 50 hours, including inter- diversify. I feel like we did a good affiliated and that they didn't realize no committee members from any of but then later moved to Zeta Psi. views,” said Smith. “It was a little job of representing different parts of that it would be controversial” to Bexley Hall, East Campus, Ran- He said that overall, very few much to ask us to go seek people campus,” he said.

SYLVIA YANG—THE TECH DMITRY PORTNYAGIN—THE TECH Professor Farhi tells the story about the revelation that Martin Ramos G trips Cemal Akcaba G in the A league intramural soccer finals. For the second occurred when fasting from latkes in the second annual Latke consecutive year, the Latinos Futbol Club played Besinamo (Turkish Student Association) for the vs. Hamentashen Debate. Six professors participated in the title. Despite beating the Latinos 3-0 earlier in the season and dominating most of the game, “intellectual” debate to argue whether latkes and hamen- Besinamo were unable to get ahead. The game went into overtime, and the Latinos edged out a tashens were better. victory in the seventh round of penalty kicks. March 2, 2004 THE TECH Page 19 Zuber Talks to Tech About Space Exploation Goals By Joia Ramchandani the space program, announced on commission is not to question the Many concerns to be addressed under the umbrella of one program. Jan. 14, includes the completion of administration’s goals for space Uniting the scientific and technologi- MIT Professor Maria Zuber was American work on the International exploration, but rather to start a Critics of the newly-announced cal efforts on both fronts will opti- appointed about a month ago to the Space Station by 2010, re-focused national dialogue about the future of program have voiced dissent regard- mize the space exploration process, Presidential Commission on the research on safety in space mis- the nation’s space program. ing the retirement of the Hubble she said. Implementation of United States sions, expansion of manned explo- Ultimately, Zuber said, the com- space telescope, which has been a To be truly successful, Zuber Space Exploration Policy. The nine- ration of space, and an extended mission’s duty will be to synthesize huge source data in microgravity- noted the American space initiative member commission has the task of human presence on the moon as a feedback they receive from both based research. also has to address the cultural chal- advising NASA on the long-term precursor to manned missions to advocates and critics of the initia- Another point of concern has been lenge of integrating the international implementation of President George Mars and beyond, according to a tive in the interest of developing an the billion dollar budget increase community into the space initiative, W. Bush’s space exploration initia- fact sheet released by the White implementation strategy that will NASA will require to carry out the while also balancing the importance tive. House. appeal to a broad spectrum of space program; opponents of the ini- of national security. Bush’s vision for the future of Zuber said that the role of the groups. tiative argue that these federal funds The commission is in the position would be better spent on domestic of defining the involvement of pri- programs, such as healthcare. vate companies in the space initia- Subsidy Among Changes for Grads Zuber said “investing another bil- tive. Along these lines, Zuber said lion dollars in healthcare [is not the that “there is never going to be a Insurance, from Page 1 the EECS department admits in the graduate students and a partial or way] to make the problem go away.” profit in this, at least not in our life- future. Although they finished full health insurance subsidy. She said that the future of healthcare time. This is not a money-making cerned about the quality of [gradu- admissions before learning about The full subsidy costs the facul- across the nation hinges upon educat- operation.” ate students’] lives.” the policy, “it would not have had ty less money than a stipend ing and inspiring America’s youth as However, the private community R. Erich Caulfield G, the presi- an impact” on the number of stu- increase of the same magnitude well as on maintaining the country’s could stand to gain from the techno- dent of the GSC, said “graduate dents they admitted, Smith said. would because the standard 60 per- competitive edge for knowledge and logical innovations made during the students are feeling the pinch,” and They admitted 173 out of 2,475 cent Facilities and Administrative discovery. course of the space program. In the this is one of the many initiatives applicants, seven more than the overhead on stipends does not Zuber also said that a large por- past, many medical devices, such as that the GSC is making in order to department was aiming for, he apply to the insurance subsidy. tion of the resources for the program pacemakers and MRI/CAT scans, relieve the financial strain on grad- said. are to be derived from the realloca- have stemmed from technology ini- uate students. Subsidy part of larger effort tion of funds and brainpower within tially developed for space explo- Family insurance reduced The health insurance subsidy is NASA. ration. Faculty, institute to absorb cost Health insurance costs for fami- one of the many changes being In addition to responding to the When asked to comment on the The majority of the cost of the lies will be reduced, but not fully made by the institute to reduce the critics of the space initiative, the prospect of the newly launched space health insurance subsidy will be eliminated, by the new plan. Fami- cost of living for graduate stu- commission would look back and program resulting in similar benefits, absorbed by the faculty and the lies will see a deduction in their dents. Another change being determine why similar programs have Zuber said that, at this early stage, it Institute. According to the GSC insurance rates equal to the amount implemented next year is a reduc- been unsuccessful in the past, Zuber is hard to foresee the broad spectrum newsletter, next year, the faculty an individual student would pay. tion in the rise of on-campus rents, said. of gains that will come out of the will pay 55 percent — rather than For example, using the rates from now increasing 3.7 percent com- She said that she feels that since space program. the previously planned 50 percent the 2003-2004 academic year, stu- pared with the planned 5.2 percent. the Kennedy administration, space — of the tuition for graduate stu- dents with families would have Although the health insurance exploration proposals have lacked a High expectations for exploration dents with research assistantships. about a $1440 deduction in the subsidy is only guaranteed for next unifying vision that has the power, Zuber expects that the revamped In exchange for the increased family’s insurance rate. The cur- year, “I don’t think that students appeal, and organization to span space initiative would motivate tuition coverage, the Institute will rent rates are $2,688 for a student should expect to pay health insur- beyond a single administration and young people to move toward scien- cover the health insurance expens- and children, $4,992 for a student ance again,” Caulfield said. But, bridge separate parties. tific and technical fields. es of all students with assistant- and spouse, and $6,240 for a stu- he added, “everything is in the Zuber said that in order for the Zuber also said that a huge advan- ships. dent, spouse, and children. realm of possibility.” program to be sustainable, “it can’t tage of the nation’s renewed space The effect of the cost of the Brown said that he is “very Brown said that he “expects, be President Bush’s space plan, it has exploration will be the intellectual subsidy to the Institute and faculty concerned about the cost of health except for a large change that can’t to be America’s space plan.” She capital that will enable the United is unclear. Brown said that he care [for] students with partners be anticipated, this plan will con- forecasts that the program, if success- States to remain at the forefront of anticipates a growth in research and with children,” but, he added, tinue.” ful, will extend through as many as science and technology and to main- money to cover the additional cost there is “no current plan to differ- ten presidential administrations. tain our “preeminence in the world.” of graduate students, but added entially subsidize that group.” COLAB instrumental in change “This is a lofty and grand that he does not expect the growth Colbert said that helping fami- Caulfield said that the GSC cost Changes in store, Zuber says vision. Make no mistake about it. to be spread evenly across the lies is “on our agenda,” and the of living advisory board, a group Zuber said that the commission This is as big as it gets,” Zuber departments. Brown said that the current plan is just a start. made up of administrators and the will need to consider making some said. She said that in her mind, the Institute is trying to give depart- Caulfield said that the GSC GSC, has been instrumental in pass- fundamental cultural changes to the greatest measure of the program’s ments “as much lead time as possi- plans to continue working with ing the health insurance subsidy space exploration program. success will be when “man on ble on changes in rate structures,” MIT Medical to find ways to help and reducing the rise in rent rates. Up until now, she said, there has mars” appears on the “ten most in order to allow the departments families. COLAB was formed last July in been no concerted effort to combine important things that happened in to make adjustments in the number order to address the rising cost of robotic and manned mission efforts the world” list. of students they admit. Subsidy propelled by rate hike living for graduate students at MIT. According to the GSC newslet- Colbert said that the health Both the students and adminis- ter, departments will have the insurance subsidy was “certainly trators are pleased with the health option of varying stipend levels on my agenda for a long time,” but insurance subsidy. “I think it’s UA and Class Council between –10 percent and +15 per- that last year’s 60 percent increase really a wonderful change. It sig- cent, although the institute has rec- in MIT’s Extended Hospital Insur- nals our support [for] students,” ommended no change to the ance rates “gave extra emergency Colbert said. Election Candidates stipend level. in the discussion.” Caulfield said that he is “very UA President / VP 2006 Treasurer Arthur C. Smith, professor of Caulfield said that the GSC happy that the institute has recog- Electrical Engineering and Com- began looking at specific solutions nized this need for graduate stu- David Smith Clarence Lee puter Science said, “I don’t think to the rising costs of health insur- dents and made this very important and Noelle Kanaga [the health insurance subsidy] is ance in fall of 2003. He said the step towards improving graduate Harel Williams 2006 Secretary going to have a major effect” on GSC looked at many options, student life, but there is still work and Phillip Vasquez Amy Lam the number of graduate students including increasing the stipend of to be done.” 2005 President 2006 Social Chairs Dexter Ang Nina Debenedictis Rohit Gupta and Leslie Kao Eston Kimani Karen Hunter and Jill Konowich 2005 Vice President Jameel Khalfan Arthur Mak and Zain Gulamali Jorge Noble John Velasco 2007 President Ovid Amadi 2005 Treasurer Haiming Sun 2007 Vice President Melvin Makhni 2005 Secretary Elizabeth Rosenblatt Alexis Desieno Nicholas Chun 2007 Secretary Shilpa Joshi 2005 Social Chairs Jeff Hsu 2007 Treasurer and Lauren Kai Ray Wu

2005 Publicity Chairs 2007 Social Chairs Rina Patel Christine Nee and Charlene Huang and Ji Eun Park Joy Liang 2006 President and Sharmeen Browarek Brendan Smith Charlene Shih DMITRY PORTNYAGIN—THE TECH and Vivek Shah Anjuli J. Willmer ’07 adorns Charles C. Val’s ’06 face in preparation for their intramural soccer 2006 Vice President Roland Tung semifinals match against the Aero-Astro Department. The entire Bexley Hall team, inspired by the Kim Wu and Shuo Song movie “Braveheart,” all sported blue war paint. The team went on to the finals and won the B+ Grace Lo level championship. and Susah Shin Page 20 THE TECH March 2, 2004 SPORTS Women’s Fencing Crowned New England Champions By Priscilla del Castillo starters, Suzannah Dorfman ’05, Mendel ’06 placed an individual TEAM MEMBER Gemma Mendel ’06, and Nancy Hua third. On Saturday, Feb. 21, the MIT ’07, proceeded to the individual Fencing Team returned from Tufts round of the competition. Mendel Men place third in competition University with the first place New took home her second New England The mens’ three-weapon team England Champi- silver medal, while Dorfman finished came in third overall with particular onship trophy for the as champion of womens’ foil for the props to great performances by the fifth straight year. Out third time, remaining undefeated second string competitors. Mens’ of fifteen schools, throughout the individual portion. For sabre led the team with 23 bouts to including Boston Col- the second string of the competition, take first as a squad. All three sabre lege, University of Tushiyyah Lui ’07 came in first while starts, Anthony Reinen ’04, Michael New Hampshire, Boston University, Grace Lin ’07 followed in second. Pihulic ’04, and William Walsh ’06, Tufts University, and Wellesley Col- MIT also brought home the competed in the individual round, lege, MIT came out on top as the plaque for first place womens’ sabre where Walsh finished third. In second number one six-weapon team. squad. Team captain, Priscilla del string, Matthew Lue ’07 placed first Castillo ’04, Shauna Jin ’06, and while Brian Quattrochi ’06 finished Women take first Drew Reese ’07 each placed first in second. For the fifth straight year, the their respective levels to move on to Mens’ epee and foil also had a womens’ team placed an overall first the individual round, where Reese great day of fencing, coming in third for all three weapons combined, win- proved herself to be the power fencer and fourth respectively. Squad leader ning thirteen more bouts than the by taking second place. Womens’ Vincent Chen ’05 took the bronze closest competitor. Foil tied with epee placed second as a squad, top- medal in foil. Luke Schmitt ’07 won Sacred Heart University for first ping off MIT as the best womens’ the gold medal in second string epee place womens’ foil squad. All three team of the day. Squad leader Lucy while Joel Sadler ’06 took third.

EVAN WHITNEY—THE TECH Epeeist Lucy R. Mendel ’06 (right) lunges at an opponent from Vas- sar College. Wheaton Invitational Debuts MIT Sync-Swim By Victoria K. Anderson with 88 points, and the University of TEAM MEMBER Rhode Island placed fourth behind The MIT Synchronized Swim- MIT with 59 points. ming Club made its competition MIT excelled in the technical debut at the Wheaton College Invita- figure portion of the competition, tional on Feb. 28 with which involved each athlete per- a strong third-place forming a prescribed set of move- showing and a total of ments and positions individually 69.5 points at the end before a panel of judges. In the of the meet. Host novice figure category, MIT’s aver- EVAN WHITNEY—THE TECH Wheaton was first in age score of 57.741 placed them Epeeist Trevor T. Chang ’07 (right) evades a toe-touch from Adrian Martin of Brown University. the total team scores with 94 points, well ahead of Wheaton’s 55.741 to Boston University finished second give MIT first-place in the category. Individually, Alice Wuu ’05 was second with 58.063, Tenley D. McHarg ’04 was third with 57.979, Lesley D. Frame ’04 was fourth How the NFL Should Change with 57.929, and Leah C. Blasiak G was seventh with 55.409. McHarg By Yong-yi Zhu agree with me. sary. earned the highest score from any COLUMNIST Another possibility is the pushing of Sun- Finally, the only good part of the plan that one judge in the novice figure cate- Football might just be different for all of day games to later start times. Currently, the I see is the proposal to add another network to gory, scoring two 6.5s on one of her us in a couple of years. There have been pro- afternoon games are at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.; they the NFL family so that another station can technical figures. posed changes to many of the scheduling pro- would be moved to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. I guess broadcast NFL games. What that would bring In the junior figure category, MIT tocols of the NFL Paul Tagliabue, the league’s commissioner, to the fan base is another game or two every was also first with an average score because of the thinks we are all too lazy to get up for the 1 week and more options as to who we can to of 67.320, which edged out second- Column upcoming expiration p.m. start time. Or perhaps he would like to see. This will be a hit to DirecTV, because it place Wheaton’s 66.928. Cilanne E. of the NFL’s con- have more NFL games fight for primetime may reduce the need for a satellite dish that Boulet G was second with 67.937, tracts with the television networks. The league programming with shows like 60 Minutes and grants additional options. Especially if a and Victoria K. Anderson G was wants to tweak some of the game times and the Simpsons. Whatever the reason, people national network were to carry the games, it fourth with 66.703. game dates for future TV contracts. While will be forced to choose between football and allows fans to see more of the games for free In the routine competition, MIT several of the changes will never happen and dinner, at least on the east coast. From the (and I know about MIT students’ affinity for continued to accumulate points many are completely absurd, a few of the pro- athletes’ side, I don’t think they enjoy having free things). Also, this allows more teams to towards their final second-place fin- posals are quite favorable to the fans, to my suddenly to adapt to an entirely different be publicized, since many teams do not ish. Frame, McHarg, and Wuu surprise. schedule. After all, we often do resist change. receive national recognition even though they placed third in the trio competition For instance, there is talk of moving Mon- Another idea of the NFL is to delay the may be Super Bowl worthy (see 2000 Super with a score of 62.000, while Ander- day Night Football. I have no idea who pro- opening day of football by several weeks. Bowl Champions Rams, 2002 Super Bowl son and Boulet placed fourth in the posed this, or what idiot would want to touch From many standpoints, this appears again to Champions Patriots, and 2004 Super Bowl duet competition, with 67.833, just something as sacred as Monday Night, but contradict good reason. The reason for the runner-up Panthers). Perhaps now, we won’t one-point behind the second- and apparently, there is interest in moving the delay is to allow the postseason games to con- underestimate those underdogs when they third-place duets from Boston Uni- game to a Thursday night. The general con- tend with others shows for ratings during Feb- plow their way through the playoffs, because versity. In the solo competition, sensus is that this will not happen, because of ruary sweeps. The playoffs draw a ton of peo- we will actually know about them beforehand. Anderson scored 68.500 for third the tradition of MNF. Monday Night started in ple, and the NFL feels that it should take If you are alarmed about these changes, place and Boulet scored 67.000 for 1971 with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and advantage of this and perhaps up the prices don’t be, because they will not come for some fourth place. In the team competi- Don Meredith as announcers. Through the for the commercials even further. The Super time. I do not think that the league will make tion, Anderson, Blasiak, Boulet, years, it has seen the likes of O.J. Simpson, Bowl would then consistently be in the middle the wrong decision. This isn’t the league Frame, McHarg, and Wuu placed Joe Namath, Boomer Esiason, and even of February. However, this is not the major that’s ignored steroids and a salary cap. In third out of five teams with a score of recently Dennis Miller as its commentators. problem that I see with pushing the start date fact, the NFL has undergone great change 68.333. Millions of Americans tune in to Monday back. What it means is that training camps successfully, at least in the last several years, The club springs back into action Night as their weekly primetime football will start later, which means suffering through in instant replay. I’m sure that Tagliabue will March 5-6 for the East Regional match up. Although ESPN has Sunday Night more heat during training camp season. In make the right calls in this case as well, doing Championships at the University of and occasionally Thursday Night Football, the addition, pushing the season back means what’s best for the fans and not what’s best Rhode Island, where they will take two do not close to bearing the same meaning pushing the playoffs back, so that during the for money purposes. I’m sure he doesn’t want on nine other schools and attempt to as MNF to football fans. Personally, I prefer a holidays, we still won’t have a clue as to who to be labeled a Bud Selig. But then, nobody qualify several athletes for the Col- night of sports over a night of CBS program- will be in the playoffs. Again, change can be can be as bad as Bud Selig, and that’s a whole legiate National Championships at ming. I’m sure many football fans would good, but something like this seems unneces- other article. the end of March in Ann Arbor, Michigan.