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Volume 124, Number 57 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Tuesday, November 30, 2004 Bug in MyMIT System Allowed Sharing of Users’ Information By Jeffrey Chang Redwine said. In those circum- “We then had to spend a few STAFF REPORTER stances, a user could see the informa- weeks trying to understand the MIT Admissions e-mailed about tion from someone else’s registration extent of possible access to informa- 9,500 registered users of the MyMIT or application. tion,” Redwine said. Of the total admissions Web site last week to con- MIT was alerted to this problem number of people who had used the firm that their applications were cor- by a student using the portal. “As portal, about 20 percent potentially rect after discovering and correcting a soon as we heard, we took the portal could have been affected. Out of that problem where users could potential- down,” Redwine said, causing the group, only a quarter, or about ly access other students’ applications. inaccessibility of the MyMIT site 2,400, were students who had MIT Admissions realized in late around Nov. 1 and the subsequent already submitted their applications. October that under some circum- extension of the Early Action appli- stances, a user of the site could find cation deadline. It took a couple Applicants alerted via e-mail himself or herself with the same ses- days, but the difficulty, a hardware “We have recently corrected a sion ID as someone else, Dean for configuration problem, was straight- Undergraduate Education Robert P. forward to fix. MyMIT, Page 13 Thirsty Ear Gets A Helping Hand By Beckett W. Sterner Hathaway, has been hired to manage and bartend for events on- and off- EDITOR IN CHIEF scheduling and the student bar- campus has also been improved, he The Thirsty Ear pub will reopen tender staff, said former Thirsty Ear said, in order to help save student this Thursday to a schedule of trivia, Manager Gregory S. Pollock G. groups the hassle of hiring bar- karaoke, and live music on Monday, Director of Campus Dining tenders from outside MIT. Thursday, and Friday nights, and Richard D. Berlin III said that since will otherwise be available to the the pub has no kitchen facilities, it Pub prospects look good MIT community for reservations. will serve food catered from Alpine The Thirsty’s “new business Thursday night will be the pub’s Bagel in the Student Center. model pares down our hours to the Grand Reopening, sponsored by the “I think it would probably be an shifts in which we had the most Graduate Student Council. abbreviated menu based on what business,” a change planned to make The pub, which closed last travels well” from Alpine to it financially self sustainable, spring after it was unable to find a Ashdown, he said. “I think one of Pollock said. manager within the MIT administra- the primary things would be … He said sustainability has been tion, is able to reopen now that an brick oven pizza.” OMARI STEPHENS—THE TECH Dean R. Gibbons and Tony Rebelo change the lights around outside, part time manager, Lance The pub’s ability to cater alcohol Thirsty, Page 14 Kresge Auditorium last Tuesday, Nov. 23. In addition to the light-changing, various facilities teams performed routine Six Marshall, Rhodes Scholars at MIT maintenance around campus. By Kathy Dobson ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Six MIT students were awarded scholarships to attend universities in Federal Database Tracking the United Kingdom for the next two years. Virginia L. Corless ’05, Brian A. Student Data a Possibility Mazzeo ’05, and Jessica A. Lee ’05 each won Marshall Scholarships, By Diana Jean Schemo which allow them to study at any THE NEW YORK TIMES university in the U.K. Elizabeth WASHINGTON Masiello G, Laurel Yong-Hwa Lee A proposal by the federal government to create a vast new database ’05, and Javed K. Samuel G were of enrollment records on all college and university students is raising awarded Rhodes Scholarships to concerns that the move will erode the privacy rights of students. study at Oxford University. Until now, universities have provided individual student informa- In total, 40 Marshall tion to the federal government only in connection with federally Scholarships and 47 North financed student aid. Otherwise, colleges and universities submit infor- American Rhodes Scholarships mation about overall enrollment, graduation, prices and financial aid were awarded this year. The scholar- without identifying particular students. ships each had about 900 applicants. For the first time, however, colleges and universities would have to give the federal government data on all students individually, whether Scholars to pursue interests or not they received financial assistance, with their Social Security Corless, who plans to pursue a numbers. doctorate in astrophysics at The bid arises from efforts in Congress and elsewhere to extend the Cambridge or Oxford, said that she growing emphasis on school accountability in elementary and high was ecstatic when she heard about schools to postsecondary education. Supporters say that government the scholarship. oversight of individual student data will make it easier for taxpayers “Studying in the U.K. for a PhD and policy makers to judge the quality of colleges and universities is ideal for me because I’m heading through more reliable statistics on graduation, transfers and retention. in a policy, applied science direction The change would also allow federal officials to track individual as opposed to academia,” Corless students as they journey through the higher education system. In said. Her goal is to “get into the real recent years, increasing numbers of students have been attending more world after I finish,” possibly pursu- than one university, dropping out or taking longer than the traditional ing international science policy or four years to graduate. Current reporting practices cannot capture such consulting. Corless said she was trends; a mobile student is recorded as a new student at each institu- interested in bring technology into tion. the developing world. Under the proposal, the National Center for Education Statistics at

Jessica Lee, who plans to attend JINA KIM—THE TECH the Department of Education would receive, analyze and guard the stu- Oxford or University of Wales to Virginia L. Corless ’05 and Jessica A. Lee ’05 (rear, left to right) are dent data. In making its case for the change, the national center points study environmental conservation, two of this year’s Marshalls Scholars. L. Yong-Hwa Lee ’05 and to a long history of working with student information and says it has said that when she found out she Javed K. Samuel G (front, left to right) are two 2004 MIT Rhodes never been forced to share such data with law enforcement or other won the scholarship, she was Scholars. Not present are Marshall winner Brian A. Mazzeo ’05 and Rhodes winner Elizabeth Masiello G. Tracking, Page 14 Scholars, Page 11

ARTS Comics OPINION “Alexander” is not worth the film The comic superhero history of World & Nation ...... 2 it was developed on. The the Middle East. Opinion ...... 4 soundtrack, though, wasn’t so Arts ...... 9 bad. Sports ...... 16 Page 9 Page 6 Page 5 Page 2 THE TECH November 30, 2004 WORLD & NATION Stress and Distress May Federal Appeals Court Rules Give Your Genes Gray Hair By Benedict Carey THE NEW YORK TIMES Colleges May Bar Recruiters Some stressful events seem to turn a person’s hair gray overnight. Now a team of researchers has found that severe emotional dis- By Adam Liptak medical school, if any of its units, appeals court to review the decision tress — like that caused by divorce, the loss of a job, or caring for an THE NEW YORK TIMES like its law school, make military by the three-judge panel or ask the ill child or parent — may speed up the aging of the body’s cells at the Universities may bar military recruiting even a little more diffi- Supreme Court to hear the case. In genetic level. The findings, being reported Tuesday, are the first to recruiters from their campuses with- cult. either event, the government may link psychological stress so directly to biological age. out risking the loss of federal Billions of dollars are at stake, also ask for a stay of the decision. The researchers found that blood cells from women who had spent money, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court and no university has been willing In the meantime, colleges and many years caring for a disabled child were, genetically, about a of Appeals, in Philadelphia, ruled to defy the government. Indeed, universities are free to limit military decade older than those from peers who had much less caretaking Monday. several law schools that are mem- recruiters’ access to their campuses, experience. The study, which appears in Proceedings of the National The court ruled that educational bers of one of the groups that sued said E. Joshua Rosenkranz, who Academy of Sciences, also suggests that the perception of being institutions have a First Amendment to block the law, the Forum for Aca- represents the law schools in the stressed can add years to a person’s biological age. right to keep military recruiters off demic and Institutional Rights, have suit. Though doctors have linked chronic psychological stress to weak- their campuses to protest the not been publicly identified. Among “Now every academic institution ened immune function and an increased risk of catching colds, among Defense Department policy of the institutions willing to be named in the country is free to follow their other things, they are still trying to understand how tension damages excluding gays from military ser- are the law schools of New York consciences and their nondiscrimi- or weakens tissue. The new research suggests a new way that such vice. University and George Washington nation policies,” Rosenkranz said. damage may occur and opens the possibility that the process can be The 2–1 decision relied in large University. The law faculties of “Enlightened institutions have a reversed. part on a decision in 2000 by the Stanford, Georgetown and several First Amendment right to exclude U.S. Supreme Court to allow the other law schools are also in the bigots. In a free society, the govern- Boy Scouts to exclude gay scout- group. ment cannot co-opt private institu- Suicide Bomber Kills 12 in Iraq masters. Just as the Scouts have a A spokesman for the Justice tions to issue the government’s mes- By Robert F. Worth First Amendment right to bar homo- Department, Mark Corallo, said no sage.” THE NEW YORK TIMES BAGHDAD, IRAQ sexuals, the appeals court said, law decision had been made on an He noted, though, that most law A suicide bomber rammed his car into a group of police officers schools may prohibit groups that appeal. schools’ policies had never com- waiting to collect their salaries on Monday morning west of Ramadi, they consider discriminatory. “The United States continues to pletely barred recruiters on campus. killing 12 people and wounding many others in the latest attack on The 1995 law at issue in the believe that the Solomon Amend- Most simply withheld some forms Iraq’s security forces, officials at the Interior Ministry said. decision, the Solomon Amendment, ment is constitutional,” he said. of assistance, like arranging inter- In Baghdad, two American soldiers with the 1st Cavalry Division barred the federal government from “We believe that Congress may views and posting notices. were killed and three were wounded when a roadside bomb detonated disbursing money to colleges and deny federal funds to universities The law schools’ antidiscrimina- near their convoy, military officials said. South of the capital, near the universities that obstruct campus which discriminate and may act to tion policies do not specifically Euphrates River, a volley of mortar fire struck a Marine base on recruiting by the military. As protect the men and women of our focus on the military. They apply to Monday afternoon, wounding 13 Marines and two civilians, military amended and interpreted over the armed forces in their ability to all potential employers with an officials said. years, the law prohibits disburse- recruit Americans who wish to join announced policy of discrimination In Najaf, the Shiite holy city south of Baghdad, American and ments to all parts of a university, them in protecting their country.” on the basis of, among other factors, Iraqi forces arrested the deputy governor of the province along with including its physics department and The government can ask the full race, sex and sexual orientation. 30 other Iraqis and charged them with plotting to kill the American- installed governor, police officials said. The deputy governor, Ali Shaibani, was also charged with having tried to kill the city’s police chief, Ghalab Jazari, officials said. Gap Appearing Between Jobs, China Making Major Economic And Diplomatic Effort in Southeast Innovation in Local Businesses By Jane Perlez By Robert Weisman nately,” it says, “in today’s global lost more than 94,000 jobs since THE NEW YORK TIMES VIENTIANE, LAOS THE BOSTON GLOBE economy, innovations are pieces of 2000 in technology sectors such as China moved a step closer to cementing its economic and diplo- A gap is emerging in Massachu- intellectual property that are traded computer hardware, software, and matic relationships with Southeast Asia on Monday when Prime Min- setts between innovation and job cre- in an international market much like communications. Fewer than a quar- ister Wen Jiabao signed a trade accord at a regional summit meeting ation, as the state’s high-tech work- any other set of goods.” ter of state workers are employed in that calls for eliminating tariffs on a range of agricultural and manu- force continues to shrink despite the Federally funded research grew what the collaborative calls the factured goods by 2010. growth of a robust technology infra- to $4.6 billion in 2002, the most “innovation economy,” and the He also signed a strategic declaration that commits China to good structure, according to a report being recent year for which figures were decline of jobs in high-tech sectors behavior in the Southeast Asian region, including in the contentious released Monday by the Massachu- available, up 10 percent from 1999. contributed to a 3.2 percent drop in area of the South China Sea. setts Technology Collaborative. Patent awards to Massachusetts median household income in Massa- Wen’s presence at the annual meeting of the Association of Its eighth annual Index of the inventors, meanwhile, climbed 8.3 chusetts last year. Southeast Asian Nations has come to dominate the event as the 10 Massachusetts Innovation Economy percent in 2003, compared to an 1.1 Governor Mitt Romney called on member nations wrestle with how to adjust their varying and often says the state’s infrastructure of percent increase for the nation as a businesses to take advantage of heavily protected economies with a surging China. entrepreneurs, research and devel- whole. And the Massachusetts share innovations to create jobs and said Wen, in his speech here, outlined his grand concept for an East opment labs, inventors, and venture of venture capital investments state government needs to create a Asian community that he said China wanted to play a leading role in capital firms may be stronger than reached 14 percent in the first half more entrepreneurial climate. “We developing. Deeper cooperation among these nations that would cul- ever. But the state has lagged in of this year, one of the highest per- need to continue to work aggres- minate in such a community was a “strategic choice made in the converting innovation into jobs. centages in the nation, up from 11 sively to develop new incentives, interests of China’s own development and in the common interests of One factor may be difficulty in percent in 2003. lower costs, and remove barriers for the region,” he said. capitalizing on the globalization But the report also documents businesses across all industry sec- trend, the report suggests. “Unfortu- disturbing trends: Massachusetts has tors,” he said. WEATHER Damp December Situation for Noon Eastern Standard Time, Tuesday, November 30, 2004

By Nikki Prive 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

“This is what I have heard at last the wind in December lashing the old trees with rain unseen rain racing along the tiles 35°N under the moon wind rising and falling wind with many clouds trees in the night wind” — W. S. Merwin 30°N

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◗ ◗ A low pressure system currently located over the Tennesee Valley will bring clouds to Boston today and a soggy start to December tomorrow. As ▲

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the low moves rapidly out to sea, conditions will improve considerably, ▲

with sunny skies for Thursday. Temperatures will remain in the mid 40s°F ▲ 25°N

during the day for the duration of the week. ▲

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Extended Forecast: ▲

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Today: Increasing clouds, high near 45°F (8°C). Weather Systems Weather Fronts Precipitation Symbols Other Symbols Tonight: Cloudy, low in the upper 30s°F (3°C). Snow Rain Fog Wednesday: Rain developing, high around 45°F (8°C), showers dimin- High Pressure Trough - - - Showers Thunderstorm

ishing overnight with lows in the upper 30s°F (3°C). ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ Warm Front Light Low Pressure Haze Thursday: Clearing skies, high in the mid 40s°F (8°C), low near 30°F ▲▲▲▲▲ Cold Front Moderate Compiled by MIT (-1°C). Hurricane ◗ ◗ Meteorology Staff ▲ ▲ Stationary Front Heavy and The Tech November 30, 2004 WORLD & NATION THE TECH Page 3

Bush Nominates Kellogg CEO President Proposes New Elections To Break Political Stalemate By Steven Lee Myers As New Secretary of Commerce THE NEW YORK TIMES KIEV, UKRAINE By Richard W. Stevenson grow and to create jobs.” subject to Senate confirmation, President Leonid D. Kuchma on Monday proposed holding a new THE NEW YORK TIMES In announcing his choice, Bush would replace Donald L. Evans, a election to end the political crisis threatening to tear the country WASHINGTON continued a comprehensive reshap- close friend and political counselor apart, while Ukraine’s Supreme Court heard complaints of electoral President Bush on Monday nom- ing of his team as he prepares for to Bush. Evans announced this fraud over last week’s presidential election. inated Carlos M. Gutierrez, among his second term. Six Cabinet secre- month that he was leaving Washing- Kuchma’s remarks represented the collapse of what had been a the most prominent Hispanic busi- taries have already resigned, and ton to return home to Texas. united government position that Prime Minister Viktor F. ness executives in the United States, one person with close ties to the Assuming he is confirmed, tak- Yanukovich won the Nov. 21 presidential election, despite evidence to be his new commerce secretary, White House said that Republicans ing his new job will entail a signifi- of fraud and falsification involving perhaps millions of ballots. as the president continued with what had been told to expect as many as cant pay cut for Gutierrez. Last year “If we really want to maintain peace and accord and we really Republicans said would be a broad half a dozen additional departures. he was paid $7.4 million by Kellogg want to build a law-governed democratic society, of which we have overhaul of his Cabinet. Tom Ridge, the homeland secu- in total compensation, including been speaking so much, then let us hold new elections,” Kuchma said Gutierrez, 51, has been chief rity secretary, is likely to step aside, salary, bonus and incentive pay- in televised remarks, after a meeting with city and regional leaders at executive of the Kellogg Co., the but not until the White House lines ments. He owns or has option rights his residence outside Kiev. cereal maker, for more than five up a successor, associates of Ridge to 2 million shares of company Much remained unclear, including whether Kuchma intended to years, and has built a reputation as said. At a time when the administra- stock. Cabinet secretaries earned an hold a new runoff between Yanukovich and his challenger, Viktor A. an innovative and forceful business tion is preparing big pushes on annual salary of $175,700 this year. Yushchenko, which the law does not permit, or a whole new election. leader with broad international Bush’s plans to remake Social Secu- The change at the Commerce Yushchenko’s campaign immediately ruled out the latter. experience. But he has little back- rity and the tax code, there has been Department is just one of many Heading off speculation long dogging him that he intended to ground in public policy, leaving him growing talk in Republican circles among the president’s economic somehow remain in power himself, Kuchma said he did not intend to largely unknown in political circles that the senior member of the eco- team. N. Gregory Mankiw, the run for what would be a third term. “It must be clear,” he said. “I and untested by the demands of a nomic team, Treasury Secretary chairman of the White House’s have had enough.” high-profile job in Washington. John W. Snow, might leave in the Council of Economic Advisers, is “He understands the world of first half of next year, if not sooner. expected to leave within months to business, from the first rung on the White House officials have made no return to his professorship at Har- In The Tough Provinces, ladder to the very top,” Bush said, effort to discourage speculation that vard. Stephen Friedman, the former with Gutierrez at his side in the Norman Y. Mineta, the transporta- Wall Street executive who has been Iraqi Police Have Tough Going Roosevelt Room at the White tion secretary and the Cabinet’s director of the National Economic By Richard A. Oppel Jr. and James Glanz House. “He knows exactly what it only Democrat, will resign soon. Council for two years, announced THE NEW YORK TIMES MOSUL, IRAQ takes to help American businesses Gutierrez, whose nomination is last week that he would resign. Iraqi police and national guard forces, whose performance is cru- cial to securing January elections, are foundering in the face of coor- dinated efforts to murder and intimidate them and their families, say Supreme Court Declines to Hear American officials in the provinces facing the most violent insur- gency. For months, Iraqi recruits for both forces have been the targets of assassinations and car bombs aimed at lines of applicants as well as Challenge of Same-Sex Marriage police stations. On Monday morning, a suicide bomber rammed a car By Yvonne Abraham “There are lots of reasons the same-sex marriage, and we will into a group of police officers waiting to collect their salaries west of THE BOSTON GLOBE Supreme Court could refuse to continue to defend traditional mar- Ramadi, killing 12 people, Interior Ministry officials said. The U.S. Supreme Court hear a case,” said Volokh, who riage in those cases. The decision While Bush administration officials say the training is progressing declined Monday to hear a chal- specializes in constitutional law. today underscores the need for a and there have been instances in which the Iraqis have proved tacti- lenge to same-sex marriages in “However, in this case, it’s pretty federal marriage amendment to cally useful and fought bravely, local American commanders and Massachusetts, dealing a second clear: The Massachusetts Supreme define marriage as between one man security officials say both Iraqi forces are riddled with problems. setback to a group that has been Judicial Court decided that the and one woman.” In the most violent provinces, they say, the Iraqis are so intimidat- trying to put a stop to those mar- Massachusetts Constitution man- The federal marriage amend- ed that many are reluctant to show up and do not tell their families riages since before they began in dates recognition of same-sex mar- ment, as currently worded, would where they work, have yet to receive adequate training or weapons, the state on May 17. riage, and the Massachusetts Con- nullify the Massachusetts SJC deci- present a danger to American troops they fight alongside, and are The justices were asked to over- stitution is the business of the sion, said Volokh, though it is unreliable either because of corruption, desertion, or infiltration. turn the Massachusetts Supreme Massachusetts courts. The U.S. unclear what the effect of the Given the weak performance of Iraqi forces, any major withdraw- Judicial Court ruling legalizing Supreme Court will not intervene amendment would be on those cou- al of American troops for at least a decade would invite chaos, a same-sex marriage, on the grounds on matters that have only to do ples who have already married. senior official at the Interior Ministry, whose name could not be used, that the seven justices of the state’s with state law.” Earlier this year, President Bush said in an interview last week. highest court had exceeded their The court hears only about 80 of urged passage of the federal authority under the U.S. Constitu- the more than 5,000 cases put amendment, and since winning tion and violated the principle of before it each year. reelection he has vowed to help Defense of Medical Marijuana separation of powers. The case was brought by the push it forward. The U.S. Supreme Court Florida-based Liberty Counsel, a Monday, in response to the U.S. Appears to Falter declined to consider the case, with- nonprofit group that fights for con- Supreme Court action, White By Linda Greenhouse out comment. Lawyers on both servative causes around the country, House spokesman Scott McLellan THE NEW YORK TIMES WASHINGTON sides said the court’s refusal to on behalf of Robert Largess, vice said “the president remains firmly The effort by advocates of the medical use of marijuana to link take the case is no indicator of president of the Catholic Action committed to moving forward on a their cause to the Supreme Court’s federalism revolution appeared where judges in the nation’s high- League, and 11 Massachusetts law- constitutional amendment that headed for failure at the court on Monday. est court stand on the issue of makers who oppose same-sex mar- would allow the voice of the people During a lively argument, the justices expressed little inclination same-sex marriage. riage. The chief counsel for that to be heard and involve states in to view drug policy as an issue of states’ rights by which California Rather, legal specialists said, it group vowed to fight on Monday, this process.” and other states that have adopted “compassionate use” marijuana reflects the court’s reluctance to not just in the courts, but also for a Advocates of same-sex mar- measures can displace federal regulation of homegrown marijuana wade into the matter while it is federal constitutional amendment to riage were pleased by Monday’s distributed to patients without charge and without crossing state lines. still such a fresh source of contro- ban same-sex marriage. development, said Gary Buseck, The closely watched case, which drew a crowd to the court, is an versy nationally. It also indicates “This case is a minor skirmish in legal director of Gay & Lesbian appeal by the Bush administration of a ruling last December by the that the arguments used in this the overall issue of same-sex mar- Advocates & Defenders, which federal appeals court in California that the federal Controlled Sub- case were weak, said Eugene riage,” said Erik Stanley, the represented the seven gay and les- stances Act was “likely unconstitutional” as applied to two women Volokh, a professor of law at the group’s lawyer. “The Liberty Coun- bian couples who won the right to who used marijuana under their doctors’ care within the terms of University of California at Los sel is involved in more than two marry in Massachusetts in the Proposition 215, California’s Compassionate Use Act, adopted by the Angeles. dozen cases across the country on November 2003 SJC ruling. voters in 1996. Nine other states have adopted similar measures that permit peo- ple with chronic pain or illnesses like cancer and AIDS to use mari- Male Barn Swallows Become Sexier juana under a doctor’s supervision. Reeling Merck Offers Through Notable Evolutionary Shift Executives a Bonus Deal By Carl Zimmer outer feathers, the researchers say. spread of the Sahara. The barn swal- By Alex Berenson THE NEW YORK TIMES Moller, who has been document- lows they are examining migrate THE NEW YORK TIMES Swallows are getting sexier. ing this preference for more than from Denmark to South Africa for With its stock plunging and its ability to thrive as an independent Male barn swallows that have two decades, found that the outer the winter, and then return by way company uncertain, the drug giant Merck has adopted a plan that will long tail feathers attract females, feathers had lengthened by almost of Algeria in the spring. The reduc- give its top executives for big bonuses if the company is taken over. and European researchers have half an inch (11.4 millimeters), an tion of vegetation around the desert Merck has been reeling since it withdrew its arthritis treatment observed that over the last 20 years increase of 10 percent, one of the may mean fewer insects for the hun- Vioxx from the market on Sept. 30 after acknowledging that the drug those feathers have become much biggest evolutionary shifts ever doc- gry swallows. can cause heart attacks. On Monday, Merck said in a federal securi- longer. umented in a living population of “If they get across the Sahara ties filing that its board had decided to give its 230 most senior man- “We’ve demonstrated quite a wild animals. By contrast, the cen- and there’s nothing to eat, it’s agers the opportunity for a one-time payment of up to three years of dramatic change in a short period of tral tail feathers, which do not pro- tough,” Moller said. Weaker male salary and bonus if another company bought Merck — or merely time,” said Dr. Anders Pape Moller, duce a reaction in females, have not swallows starve; the stronger ones bought more than 20 percent of its shares. Any executive who was an evolutionary biologist at Pierre changed. reach Denmark. There they pass on fired or resigned for good cause would receive the payment. and Marie Curie University in Paris, Over the last 30 years, their genes to the next generation, Merck has said that it is committed to remaining independent, and a who conducted the research with researchers have made more than including genes for longer tails. spokeswoman repeated that position on Monday. But the plan, which Dr. Tibor Szep of the College of 1,500 measurements of natural But that explanation has prompt- the board adopted last Tuesday, is the first formal acknowledgment that Nyiregyhaza in Hungary. The find- selection in wild populations of ani- ed some skepticism. Merck is now so weakened that it may be vulnerable to a takeover. ings are to be published in The Jour- mals and plants. Droughts on the “I am prepared to believe that Many other big companies have so-called golden parachute plans nal of Evolutionary Biology. Galapagos Islands, for example, the birds are probably evolving, but to protect top tiers of executives in the event of takeovers and to keep Experiments suggest that the have favored larger beaks in finches not that climate change is the cause, them from leaving if a takeover is looming. But experts on corporate males’ tails act as advertising for because the surviving seeds are simply because there can be so governance said Merck’s decision to adopt such a plan was particu- good genes because males must be harder to crack. But the shift mea- much else going on,” said Dr. David larly ill timed. The board is rewarding its top executives for its prob- in good health to spend the energy sured by Moller and Szep is greater. Reznick, an evolutionary biologist lems with Vioxx and the company’s inability to bring new drugs to growing them. The females are par- Moller and Szep suspect that the at the University of California at market, critics said. ticularly attracted by the tail’s two agent for this is the long-term Riverside. Page 4 THE TECH November 30, 2004 OPINION

Chairman Hangyul Chung ’05

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NEWS STAFF News Editors: Kathy Lin ’06, Jenny Zhang ’06, Waseem S. Daher ’07, Tongyan Lin ’07; Associ- ate Editors: Kathy Dobson G, Kelley Rivoire ’06, Ray C. He ’07; Staff: Michael E. Rolish G, Tiffany Chen ’08, Marie Y. Thibault ’08, Jiao Wang ’08, Tatyana Lugovskaya; Meteorologists: Cegeon Chan G, David Flagg G, Samantha L. H. Hess G, Vikram Khade G, Robert Lindsay Korty G, Greg Lawson G, Nikki Privé G, William Ram- strom G, Michael J. Ring G.

PRODUCTION STAFF Editor: Sie Hendrata Dharmawan ’05; Associate Editors: Austin Chu ’08, Michael McGraw- Herdeg ’08; Staff: Joy Forsythe G, Wanda W. Lau G, John Cassady ’06, Jennifer Huang ’07, Y. Grace Lin ’07, EunMee Yang ’07, Sylvia Yang ’07, Evan Chan ’08, James R. Peacock IV ’08, Shreyes Seshasai ’08.

OPINION STAFF Editors: Vivek Rao ’05, Ruth Miller ’07; Staff: Basil Enwegbara SM ’01, Ken Nesmith ’04, W. Victoria Lee ’06, Daniel Barclay ’07, Josh Levinger ’07, Chen Zhao ’07, Julian Villarreal ’07.

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Entire contents © 2004 The Tech. or condense letters; shorter letters will be http://the-tech.mit.edu. development, not research development. Printed on recycled paper by Charles River Publishing. November 30, 2004 OPINION THE TECH Page 5 Captain America and The War on Terror Wolverine was introduced to the X-Men.) Iraqi oil. The two nations did a fair amount of Ruth Miller Unable to withdraw armed forces from the trade. All the while, Hussein’s suspicions of mire of Vietnam, the U.S. decided to continue the U.S. grew, as well as, with U.S. aid, his Comic books have been examined, psy- its reliance on proxies to police the region. military capabilities. cho-analyzed, and dissected for years. It was What nations did the U.S. look to for coopera- With the threat of Iran addressed, other only a matter of time before someone used tion? Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran and Saudi nations in the region began to get uncomfort- comic books to examine the War on Terror. Arabia even got a superhero team name: the able. One virulent speech in April of 1990 This past weekend, I settled down for a long “Twin Pillars.” They were given special confirmed people’s worst suspicions, as Hus- winter’s tool and ended up reading for my for- access to U.S. planes and missiles, as well as sein called for the Arab world to band togeth- eign policy class. The patience in political er to defend itself from America and Israel. tryptophan must have misdeeds, in exchange Driven by jealousy, or madness, Hussein had been working, because for three goals, as set grown tired of American-Israeli alliances, and I started making the Iran and Saudi Arabia even got down by the U.S. Joint was determined to undermine Israel. The first connection between Chiefs of Staff: step in his evil plan: invade Kuwait, Iraq’s comic books and the a superhero team name: To assure continu- wealthy neighbor country. War on Terror. I real- ous access to petrole- Today, that invasion is referred to as part ize this sounds ridicu- the “Twin Pillars.”They were um resources. of the first Gulf War. The U.S. and its league lous, but bear with me. given special access to U.S. To preserve the bal- of allies defended Kuwait, as Hussein was One common ance of power in the forced to withdraw his forces to defend his theme in comic books planes and missiles, as well as Middle East. own power in Iraq. The allies were successful, is the notion of a hero To support Israel. but a new enemy had been cemented in the creating a villain, or patience in political misdeeds, The Twin Pillars Middle East — one that would have to be vice versa. The Joker in exchange for oil, security satisfied the U.S. until addressed eventually. killed Bruce Wayne’s 1980, as revolution in The purpose of our comparison was to parents, driving him to and supporting Israel. Iran toppled the pro- analyze, and analyze we must. The same a life of crime-fighting, Western government. questions we ask ourselves about comic books while Batman dropped Desperate to retain the characters, we must ask ourselves here. the Joker in a vat of balance of power, the In this context, is the U.S. a true hero or an chemicals, driving him further into a life of U.S. turned to a new political leader in the anti-hero? The classic illustration of a hero, unrestrained villainy. Wolverine, murderous Middle East — Saddam Hussein. Hussein, Superman hands the bad guys over to the even before gaining his adamantium claws, fearing revolution in his own country, and police for their day in court. An anti-hero, turned his rage against his creators. For more lured by the spoils of Wolverine has been examples, look at the Punisher, Daredevil, or Iran, attempted an known to murder crim- the soon to be released Elektra feature film. invasion of Iran. The inals; serving as his The second part of this comparison con- attempt was so pitiful, Was the U.S. just in its actions own judge, jury, and sists of a brief history of U.S. engagement in and the threat of an executioner. the Middle East. For the sake of continuity, I Iranian victory was so during the 80s that led to the Was the U.S. just in will present this history in the spirit of a seri- dire, that the U.S. its actions during the alized comic adventure. intervened on behalf villainization of Hussein? Was 80s that led to the vil- In the shadows of the second great World of Iraq. Paris, which lainization of Hussein? War, the Allies and the Soviets were vying for was already heavily Batman just for throwing the Was Batman just for trade rights in the Middle East. Efforts esca- immersed in trade Joker in chemicals? throwing the Joker in lated when oil, the precious resource so cru- with Iraq, was more chemicals? Or was this cial to powering modern warfare, was discov- than happy to oblige the result of good ered in the region. Eager to exert control on the U.S. request for intentions, such as Spi- the area, the U.S. aided in a number of coups support of Iraq. The U.S. also turned a blind der-man keeping secret the identity of the against Socialist governments and played a eye to many of Iraq’s wrongdoings, including Green Goblin Harry Osborne? powerful, if discrete, role in the stabilization the poorly defended removal of Iraq from the Regardless of the history, today Hussein is of the region, while European allies supplied list of terrorism-supporting states. Iraq and the behind bars. The defenders of truth, justice, the ground forces to maintain peace. U.S. were victorious in defeating Iran, and the and the American way have succeeded… at Oil flowed freely and there was peace, remainder of the decade was spent in a toler- least until next week. until Britain declared it was withdrawing its ant alliance. Hussein was a vocal supporter of On a side note, Captain America was troops from the area in 1971 (the same year Israel. The U.S. received a deep discount on copied from Pep Comic’s The Shield. America’s Public Morality Play Fundamentally, moral values are a private and no doubt, our country is better than most), the Vivek Rao personal concept, and judging the values of public nature of our holier-than-thou procla- others as insignificant or misplaced is foolish, mations on moral issues often serves to mar- Heathens are hijacking the moral direction at best. ginalize people from minority camps on a of the United States. Don’t believe me? Well, Sadly, we Americans don’t seem to care. local, regional, or national level. let’s take a look at the evidence. Our intentions are in the right place. We care Second and more importantly, there is the The NFL’s premier wide receiver, Terrell about future generations, and certainly, rais- matter of effectiveness. We hear and see evi- Owens of the Philadelphia Eagles, shameless- ing children fundamentally involves moral dence that moral values are an important pri- ly participated in an ABC-made promotional values, but there is a growing reliance on ority for most Americans. We vote for politi- clip that featured an apparently nude Nicolette politicians, celebrities, and other public fig- cians who share our values and demand other Sheridan leaping into Owens’s arms, all in a ures to set the moral course of our nation. public figures to uphold fairly stringent moral weaselly attempt to hype up the hit show Des- This is a dangerous trend for two key rea- standards that coincide with our own. But at perate Housewives. sons. the same time, there are numerous studies Meanwhile, in rural Texas, the Liberty First, there is the issue of marginalization that show that parents often fail to devote Legal Institute, an impressively vigilant Chris- and trivialization. Realistically, a functional enough time and energy to discussing moral tian legal group, discovered an unseemly tra- society will always witness some morality- issues with their children. The only reason- dition. Apparently, students in a small town of based decisions by public organizations such able conclusion to be drawn is that people, Spurger have long been participating in as the FCC or the parents in partic- “TWIRP Day,” the acronym standing for town officials in ular, are becom- “The Woman is Requested to Pay.” Cross- Spurger, Texas. ing increasingly dressing lies at the heart of the tradition, rais- But by bringing Bringing specific moral values, no matter reliant on the per- ing a red flag to some who fear it might pro- moral issues into vasive moral cli- mote homosexuality. the public what they may be, into public mate of the day To make matters worse, poker is rising in domain, there is to dictate the popularity, boosted immensely by televised an inherent polar- and political arenas is a dangerous moral upbringing professional tournaments and celebrity ization effect. of the nation’s matchups. Such games of chance could cer- Any issue worth practice, especially in a country youth. tainly turn into a national menace. its salt leads to that claims to ensure individual Maybe it’s But fear not, steps are being taken to pre- the development time that people vent such devilish developments. Public out- of factions on freedoms. Fundamentally,moral values stopped worrying rage, media scrutiny, and NFL pressure con- alternate sides of about society’s vinced both Owens and ABC to offer a debate. Think of are a private and personal concept. moral values and apologies. TWIRP Day in Spurger, Texas has abortion, or gay started paying been replaced by Camo Day, on which stu- marriage, or cen- more attention to dents dress up in military camouflage to reaf- sorship, or just about any other moral issue. their own homes. Strong moral values are firm not only their patriotism but also their Now, if various censorship and morality fostered in children not by politicians or ath- heterosexuality. Numerous watchdog organi- issues are important enough to merit a public letes or musicians or actresses, but by par- zations are taking a deep look at the poker resolution or decisions, then they also merit ents. We’re fortunate enough to live in a craze. And for general censoring purposes, we reasonable debate. Unfortunately, more often nation that allows us a significant degree of have the honorable Michael Powell heading than not, most people are too wedded to their individual freedom. Rather than trying to up the now vicious FCC. moral values to be able to partake in any sort dictate a public moral climate that gels with The purpose here is not to elevate one set of productive discourse on the subject. their own while inevitably alienating others’, of moral values over another, nor to trivialize Instead, we generate situations where people parents should try to focus their attentions on the concerns of one segment of the population start to believe that their point of view is developing in their children the tools requi- while emphasizing those of another. But absolutely superior to the opposing one, lead- site for evaluating and understanding com- bringing specific moral values, no matter what ing to a level of disdain for fellow citizens plex moral issues. Maybe then future genera- they may be, into public and political arenas is that is as unproductive as it is unwarranted. tions will be better equipped to handle a dangerous practice, especially in a country While we believe that we live in a country differences of opinion on issues of morality that claims to ensure individual freedoms. that fosters freedoms and individuality (and than we are today. November 30, 2004

Page 6

Tr io by Emezie Okorafor

Red (states) vs. Bloux III Assault on the Control Room by Brian Loux

F Plus By Dan P. Corson Splatform by James Biggs Solution, page 12 ACROSS 21 Actor Reagan 42 Spruced 1Canadian pop artist DOWN 25 Dipper analogue in 44 Wicked witch Gryner 1View constellation names direction 4Flirt with 2Sister to Stheno and 26 ___ite glutamate 46 Moved rapidly 8Dispersal unit Euryale receptor 47 Gentoo apt-get 13 BSO Trombonist 3Timid 27 Sabre and foil 49 Carving implement Douglas 4Great in quantity alternative 50 I swear! 14 Greek halls 5 Lily family plant 29 Ceremonial 51 Ready for Animal 15 Applet tag 6Many clowns garments House reenactment 16 Hostname suffix quantity 30 National agent 56 One for whom a suit 17 Derision 7 Obi-Wan of Star 31 ___craft of pop is vicariously 18 Make tabula rasae Wars punk brought, in legalese 19 Take the good with 8Meas. transmittance 33 Mode off scale 57 Traditional belief the bad? 9 Meet the ___ degree two 58 At some time 22 Bargain books 10 Mouths 35 Barks 59 Hostname suffix 23 Hip-hop portal 11 FSILG GRTs 36 No bueno 60 MIT cops website co. 12 Tax finish 37 Two hydroxyl 61 100 bani, in 24 Start WWIII 14 Juneau clock std. compound Romania 28 Lamina 20 Paradise 39 Abet 62 Female sheep 30 Michigan tourism 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 spot? 32 Vertex 13 14 15 34 Kidman or Gibson, e.g. 16 17 18 35 Intel competitor 38 Physique 19 20 21 39 ``Million Bucks’’ band 22 23 24 25 26 27 40 Saturated suffix 41 Hell ender 28 29 30 31 43 Shiftless 45 Went with 32 33 34 Waterworld? 48 Big boat 35 36 37 38 39 40 52 Single-voice songs 53 AIM-9 Sidewinder, 41 42 43 44 e.g. 54 Tell a dog to leave 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 55 Breezy breakups? 52 53 54 60 G and C, e.g. 63 Booty hiding-place 55 56 57 58 59 64 ___biscuit 65 Insect-eating bird 60 61 62 63 64 66 Long-necked wading bird 65 66 67 67 Jargon suffix 68 Napped fabric 68 69 70 69 Dasher and pals 70 Protected co. November 30, 2004 The Tech Page 7

Dilbert ® by Scott Adams

ACROSS 31 Shout to 67 Vegetable oil 12 Unrestrained group 1 __ mater surprise spread outbreaks 43 Civil Rights 5 Ready and 33 Fates 68 Sharpened 13 African nation movement willing partner 37 Left at sea 69 Fencer's tool 21 Craze town 9Singer Petula 41 Standard 70 Skating area 22 Taxi 47 Hampton Inn 14 __ off (angry) precautions 71 Rho-tau link 26 Actor West rival 15 Diving bird with 44 Nothing more 72 Exploit 27 Actress 48 __ Darya a laughlike cry than 73 European Campbell 51 Delhi nannies 16 Eagles' home 45 Cone-shaped defense assn. 28 Belgian river 52 Capital of 17 Roundish paper hat 30 Fibbed Vietnam shape 46 Mexicali Mrs. DOWN 32 Numbered 53 Cutting down 18 Joe Orton play 49 650 1Particle musical piece 55 Fix firmly 19 Spoke and 50 Promos 2Son of Leah 34 Very 56 Purview spoke 51 So that's it! 3 Stingy pronounced 58 Contempt 20 Like "country 54 Iowa State city 4Improvise French? 60 List element

Solution, page 12 club" prisons 57 Mammal's 5Attractive 35 Outback runner 61 On the quiet 23 Saloon triplets? 6Floating barrier 36 Transmit side 24 Remarkable 59 Weight 7 Not tight 38 Black-and- 62 Pieces of times restriction 8Computer key white whale pelvises 25 NASA partner 65 Singer Baker 9 Tenor Enrico 39 Enjoy a book 63 Revivalist's 26 Even one 66 Take off 10 Goneril's father 40 Dosage amts. workplace 29 Nothing at all quickly 11 Golfer Palmer 42 Admitted to a 64 Lennon's Ono KRT Crossword KRT Page 8 THE TECH November 30, 2004 November 30, 2004 THE TECH Page 9 ARTS FILM REVIEW ★ ‘Alexander’ the Appalling Elision Through Exposition Takes Away All The Fun By Philip Burrowes sion to have him tutored by Aristotle (Christo- pher Plummer). Under this interpretation, Alexander Alexander was a manifestation of Plato’s Written by Oliver Stone, Christopher Kyle, philosopher-king. The film takes an entirely Laeta Kalogridis different bent, however. Philip is depicted as a Directed by Oliver Stone drunken brute and Aristotle a Hellenocentric Starring Colin Farrell, Val Kilmer, Angelina racist, successfully undoing our superficial Jolie, Christopher Plummer, Jared Leto, understanding. Rosario Dawson But the movie’s explanation for Alexan- Warner Brothers der’s megalomania is just as simple: he’s a Rated R momma’s boy. Philip thinks glory comes from suffering while his wife Olympias lexander” is more than an unenter- (Angelina Jolie) believes Alexander is des- taining movie. The sheer degree of its tined for it. The ideologies of king and queen WARNER BROS. PICTURES impotence makes a mockery out of are openly contrasted enough times that we Colin Farrell is Alexander the Great in the movie flop “Alexander.” A everyone involved. If it were simply wish they’d just stop arguing. Using movie poorly shot, shoddily produced, amateurishly magic, the story skips ahead and Alexander is his Indian campaign, an attempt is made to Keep rambling instead of ending at his death. acted, or ineloquently written, we could pro- king, but even then dead Philip’s legacy connect Hephaistion’s death to Alexander’s Ptolemy does something worse than leave nounce it one in a long line of low-quality lingers on. Alexander’s trek through Asia eventual, early demise. This is undermined, all the best parts of the story. He periodically Hollywood bombs and move on with our becomes a quest to best the mythological however, by a parallel juxtaposition of his ruptures the plot’s progression, putting the lives. Somehow, it is none of these, and yet heroes who his father told him achieved only hallucinations to bacchanal-fostered alco- focus on himself. Even if you understand the watching it is to subject yourself to a worse tragedy in the end. Alexander defends his holism and an explanation of his death as a historical significance of the Ptolemaic fate than a film which contained all of them. ambition continuously by saying he is greater poisoning by his weary inner circle. Rather dynasty to the Alexandrian legacy, you will That Alexander is a box-office flop is no than his father. Surely there is something than attempt to tie in his distorted sense of not care. To understand how unwanted his surprise. Earlier this year, “Troy” and “King more intriguing about his character than fear reality to his imperial designs, whether as intrusions are, imagine a very bad movie. Arthur” similarly failed to capture the imagi- of living in the shadow of history. affecter or effect, the former is thus painted Now imagine someone describing this movie nation of the general public. What differenti- During production, much ado was made of as exogenous. Such is a cheap plot device, to you verbatim, without any irony or criti- ates Alexander is the pretense of its creation. the homoerotic element of the film, leading not drama. cism. You will have imagined the agony of Alexander is not a war film; there are only Farrell to deny that the picture was “gay.” Ultimately, this is the greatest fault of the Ptolemy. two battles in the movie’s three-plus hours. Alexander and his best friend Hephaistion story, not the tedium of talking heads nor the Once he’s done eulogizing Alexander and At times it looked like a throwback to the (Jared Leto) have an ambiguously romantic excessive presence of ancillary characters. the film cuts to some aquiline imagery that spectacle-driven drama of “Cleopatra,” but it relationship. They compare themselves to None of these would be possible without the you forgot was important two hours ago, is too earnest to maintain that level of pomp Achilles and Patroclus, but we never see any presence of an omniscient narrator. It is the you’ll want to tell yourself there was a point, for too long. Rather, Alexander is a character consummation. In total there are only two framing device of Ptolemy (Anthony Hopkins) that there was a grander meaning that you study, an attempt to unravel just what could man-on-man kisses in the whole movie, and retelling the story of Alexander that enables were just too simple to grasp. Maybe it was a have motivated a man of heralded but ulti- one is really the kiss of death. Even when the writers to pick and choose what to show. metaphor of America’s advance into Iraq. Per- mately marginalized Macedonian stock not Alexander takes the Bactrian Roxane (Rosario Don’t want to shoot Alexander consolidating haps it’s telling us not to aspire for greatness, only to conquer those far greater regarded Dawson) as a bride — openly stealing yet his power base after his father’s death? Just because there is always a price. If it’s really than he, but to do so with such relative another well-known Greek plot: it’s because say he did it. How about the expansion of the an action-starved exploration of history’s benevolence. she reminds him of his mother — the conflict empire following the failure of Alexander’s greatest military strategist, an attempt at Schoolchildren are taught that Alexander’s between his betrothed and his love flares up military plan against the Persians? Tell us the “JFK”-style revisionism of an uncontroversial (Colin Farrell) rare constitution is a byproduct occasionally but never achieves anything. Persian army was defeated and we’ll believe period of ancient history, then you just wasted of his father King Philip’s (Val Kilmer) deci- By the time Alexander reaches the end of you. Can’t think of a way to finish the film? three hours of your life. CD REVIEW CD REVIEW Too Bad the Movie Sucked Classic ‘Star Wars’ Vangelis’ ‘Alexander’ Film Score Unjustly Doomed to Irrelevence Repackaged By Kevin Der are two tracks from that soundtrack which use ASSOCIATE ARTS EDITOR synth almost entirely, with a gorgeous result. Another Way to Hear John Williams Alexander Original Motion Picture Sound- The use of electronics for Alexander is By Kevin Der to CD, apparently maintaining the quality of track largely successful, surprisingly. Vangelis’ use ASSOCIATE ARTS EDITOR the music. Composed by Vangelis of synth is primarily for the creation of sus- Star Wars Trilogy Original Soundtracks This release of the scores is actually a Sony Classical tained, singing harmonies in situations of Composed by John Williams near duplicate of RCA’s release of the exact Released Nov. 9 majesty or beauty. He does not employ synth Re-released by Sony Classical same music, which came out in 1997 in par- for the purpose of generating rhythmic, action- allel with the theatrical release of the Spe- he epic film set in ancient times has driven underscore. The score for Alexander is he last of the “Star Wars” prequel cial Edition version of the trilogy. In fact, always been an opportunity for a grand not heavily thematic, but the musical statement films will be released next May, to the the track titles and durations are identical to and memorable film score. An example for Alexander’s character uses synth exten- disappointment of some and the relief those on RCA release, so exactly the same T of film music that has both stood the test sively. It is first heard in “Young Alexander,” T of others. Hardcore Star Wars fans musical content can be found on both releas- of time as great music and provided grand pro- which scores child Alexander’s successful ride have been divided ever since the first prequel es. There are no new alternate cues to offer portions to a large-scale motion picture is Miklos of a wild horse across a grassy plain. It begins film was released, some hailing it as worthy of soundtrack collectors. While I personally Rosza’s composition for “Ben-Hur.” In the last a few synthed notes recalling the titles from the original trilogy, and others finding it like the sound of this newer set, the differ- several years, the scores for epics have been gen- “Blade Runner,” followed by strings and absolutely unwatchable. The latter group has ence is hardly noticeable, and I am not even erally lackluster — Hans Zimmer’s popular wordless choir in moderate tempo, constantly cited the title of Episode II as “Attack of the sure that the quality is any better than that of “Gladiator” is the most overrated score in the last leaping intervals upward. The theme then Clowns” and noted that the title of Episode III prior releases. five years, and James Horner’s “Troy” proved swells in grandeur as synth resembling a blend is abbreviated R.O.T.S. — as in the decay of a The difference between the albums, then, yet again that the man cannot compose without of keyboard and winds augments the sound in formerly glorious saga. is the packaging and assorted extra features of reusing entire motifs and passages from his own a marvelous cadential fashion. It is quite a There is undoubtedly something that all of this release. This six CD set, two for each film work. With “Alexander,” composer Vangelis good cue, which is heard a number of times them agree upon, however, which is the score, has attractive new artwork in the style attempts to restore some glory to the epic score. accompanying moments of victory. power and necessity of John Williams’ scores of the DVD’s and some other minor extras Directed by Oliver Stone, Alexander exam- Electronics are also well used in “Rox- for the Star Wars movies. As an exercise, try such as screen savers. A most glaring omis- ines the life of Alexander the Great, showing ane’s Veil,” during Alexander’s wedding cer- to watch the opening title crawl of “Episode sion of this re-release, however, is the com- us his victories and defeats, both on and off the emony. Throaty synthed winds establish har- IV: A New Hope” with the volume muted. plete lack of liner notes. The RCA set had battlefield. Unfortunately, the film is easily the monies while low sliding bass notes punctuate The difference is staggering. Without music, wonderful in-depth score analyses and assort- worst this year — a three-hour convoluted the rhythm and violins execute a lovely every single moment in these films would be ed facts about the recording and production of mess of plotless, poorly acted garbage that is melody in harmonic minor. Later in the track, lackluster, from Luke’s swing across the the original soundtracks, but no description of less watchable than a randomly assembled a wordless male choir answers the winds, cre- Death Star chasm to the Millennium Falcon’s the scores or the composer can be found on montage of “Battlefield Earth” clips played ating a sense of holiness and gravity until the swerving forays into the asteroid field. this release. backwards. That this is from the same director high strings return for a beautiful restatement. Sony Classical, which released Williams’ I believe that any music collection must who made “Platoon” is shocking. None of this Though Vangelis offers a fresh sound by scores for the first two prequel films, recently include these scores, so if you do not already is the fault of the music, though. these cues and others, much of the music recalls re-released the complete scores for the origi- own them, this re-release is a good choice. For Stone chose Vangelis (aka Evangelos Pap- his past work, and even sounds generic at times. nal trilogy films. The albums represent all the those who already own the RCA set, though, athanassiou), a Greek composer, for the film A listener may recall any number of cues from music that is heard on the newest versions of this set does not offer anything substantial score. Vangelis, best known for his 1981 “Lord of the Rings,” a far superior score, when the movies which came out on DVD not long except completeness from a collector’s point Oscar-winning score for “Chariots of Fire,” hearing the underscore for the battle scenes. ago. Described as “remastered” discs, this set of view. Had Sony released the set on Super accepted the project because he considered it While Vangelis is able to capture the hypno- used Sony’s Direct Stream Digital technology Audio CD format (SACD), then it would have a part of his heritage. Vangelis regularly com- sis of a seductive dance or the powerful impli- to transfer the audio from the mastered tapes been a completely different story. poses with a combination of electronic instru- cation of a young boy’s first gallop on his future ments and symphony orchestra. warhorse in musical terms, he does not fully Vangelis’ style of using synth has been hit- convey the martial grandeur of Alexander’s bat- Know Art? or-miss in the past. It is distracting in “1492 — tlefield victories. Given the utter failure that this Conquest of Paradise,” a film that chronicles film is, Vangelis’ score is unlikely to be widely the journey of Columbus. On the other hand, it heard. This is unfortunate, because it is a valid Write about it for The Tech. works incredibly well in “Blade Runner,” demonstration of the composer’s abilities. The Email which I consider to be Vangelis’ most beauti- soundtrack has some beautiful cues written for ful work. “Rachel’s Song” and “Love Theme” an unfortunately truly terrible movie. Page 10 THE TECH November 30, 2004

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Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to workforce diversity. (M/F/D/V) © 2004 Morgan Stanley November 30, 2004 THE TECH Page 11 Studying in UK Offers Change We are The Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, whose mission is to achieve international impact through world class research and education in In Culture for Graduate Degree fundamental Computer Science and Information Technology. Scholars, from Page 1 such as Kenya and Thailand. She our country, ambassadors to the plans to study either cerebral malar- U.K.,” said Professor Lin Hobbs, We are now accepting applications for programs leading to Master’s and “shocked, really, because I didn’t ia, or type II HIV, which would chair of the MIT Foreign Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science. Programs begin Fall Quarter 2005. Located on the University of Chicago campus, students are able to cross- think I had a chance.” combine her two majors, Course IX Scholarships Committee, who was a register for University courses. Tuition assistance/stipends for living expenses Lee has been an active member (Brain and Cognitive Sciences) and Marshall Scholar from 1966 to are available in the Master’s program. Ph.D. students receive full support of environmental groups at MIT, Course VII (Biology). 1969. without teaching requirements. The Ph.D. program is highly selective — only and she said she hopes her studies Lee became interested in dis- a small number of positions are available. Our On-Line Student Application is available at: http://www.tti-c.org/apps/student/student.htm overseas will help her “better eases in the developing world during U.K. offers diversity, culture understand how to protect the envi- an IAP trip to Honduras her sopho- Many of the scholars are excited We are also accepting applications for summer interns at the ronment.” She eventually hopes to more year. “Infectious diseases are to experience a new culture and undergraduate and graduate levels for summer 2005. Email your resume for get a Ph.D. in marine science, probably the most important issues pursue their extra-curricular activi- summer intern positions to: [email protected]. microbiology, or biochemistry. there,” she said, since “they can ties in the U.K. As a small institution, we offer students and summer interns the opportunity Mazzeo said he was “bouncing affect a large population in a short “I’m excited to see something to interact closely with faculty renowned in their field. off the walls” when he heard he amount of time.” After spending two new, to live in a new place,” said won a Marshall scholarship. “It is years at Oxford, Lee plans to come Jessica Lee. For our On-Line Student Application, further information, or to contact us please refer to our website: one of those things that doesn’t back to the U.S. to go to medical “Opera is one of my favorites,” http://tti-c.org quite hit you for a while,” he said. school. said Yong-Hwa Lee, and she is Mazzeo plans to study thin-film Masiello, a graduate student in excited to visit the Royal Opera TTI-C is an equal opportunity institute. electro-materials. His current Engineering Systems Division, House. undergraduate research with plans to study information technol- “I’m also very excited about Professor Akintunde I. Akinwande ogy at the Oxford Internet Institute. rowing at Oxford,” Lee added. in the Electrical Engineering She is interested in privacy on the Samuel is also excited about the Department involves modeling of Internet and the societal implica- U.K. culture. “My entire education organic based semi-conducting tions of technology and the before MIT was based on a British devices. Internet. She said that Oxford’s pro- system,” said Samuel, who is from Mazzeo said that his eventual gram takes a “more sociological St. Lucia in the Caribbean. In addi- goal is to become a professional approach” and she hopes to learn tion to his studies, Samuel looks researcher in academia or industry. from a different perspective. forward to following some U.K. Samuel, who will use his “Oxford has got so much diver- sports. “It will be great to have Rhodes scholarship to pursue a sity,” she said. There is “a lot to be more people to discuss cricket M.S. in mathematical modeling and learned by just being there.” with.” scientific computing at Oxford, Though Masiello does not know “We would love more students said he was surprised, but “happy I what she wants to do directly after to apply for these,” said Hobbs. The was able to achieve that.” her studies in the U.K., she said she application processes for Marshall L. Yong-Hwa Lee, who plans to eventually wants to go into public and Rhodes include four and eight study tropical medicine and infec- service. recommendations, one and two tious diseases, said that the Oxford In addition to pursuing their interviews, and one and two essays, program will allow her to interact studies, the Rhodes and Marshall respectively. The minimum GPA is with patients from tropical countries scholars act as ”representatives of 4.7. Brainwash your friends Write for The Tech

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Applicants must be upperclassmen or graduate students, with course experiences in Finances, Marketing, and/or Operations. Time commitment of at least 15 hours aweek is necessary. Please email [email protected] for more information. Page 12 THE TECH November 30, 2004

Solution to KRT Crossword from page 7

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This space donated by The Tech November 30, 2004 THE TECH Page 13 Apps Okay After MyMIT Bug MyMIT, from Page 1 considering it’s MIT.” ted applications and potentially “The portal was set up in early could have been affected. Letters hardware configuration problem that September,” said Redwine. “As I were mailed to the remaining 600 may have allowed other registrants understand it, a number of steps in on Monday to try to confirm all access to your account and the optimization and testing of the por- their information. “We want to be information in it,” the e-mail sent to tal occurred prior to it going live. In sure everything’s okay before mak- applicants stated. “MIT wants to be the process of doing that, a configu- ing [admissions] decisions,” 100% confident that all information ration was set up in one hardware Redwine said. collected by the MyMIT platform is device to try to increase the speed of “In almost all cases, [the stu- intact and correct.” the system” in handling traffic. It dents] have said their information HALL The e-mail asked all users to log was this configuration that allowed looks fine. In a few percentage of into their account and make sure the duplicate session IDs to occur, the cases, they said they’d like to HANDEL their information was correct. The he said. correct some minor things,” which e-mail also noted that credit card were probably there in the first information was not stored on No major damage reported place, Redwine said. “In no case MyMIT’s servers and could not MIT examined a few logs from have we heard from anyone that have been accessed by others. users’ sessions in which another stu- there’s a real problem.” Messiah “I just got an e-mail telling me to dent’s information had been visible. “Currently it looks as though $15 STUDENT TICKETS! double-check everything in my The system would “pop up someone there probably was no damage done application… I had to fill out a very else’s session,” Redwine said, but in but we’re sorry it happened,” brief form online on whether my the logs that were checked, “every- Redwine said. “We tried to do the ENJOY Boston’s favorite holiday tradition! stuff was okay or not,” said appli- one we saw just closed it.” responsible and fair thing. In the YMPHONY SAT, DEC 4 at 3.00pm FRI, DEC 10 at 7.30pm cant Katie J. Rahlin. “Nothing hap- As of Monday afternoon, MIT end it will work out okay, and we’re

S at 3.00pm at 3.00pm pened to my application,” Rahlin had heard back from about 1,800 of very happy that we haven’t had SUN, DEC 5 SAT, DEC 11 said, “but I was kind of surprised, the 2,400 students who had submit- reports that people are upset.” ORDER TODAY! 617 266 3605 • www.handelandhaydn.org/student/ Free Tickets for MIT Students! AT made possible by the Council for the Arts at MIT sm THE PROVOK'D WIFE

by John Vanbrugh directed by Mark Wing-Davey Tuesday, December 7 at 7:30pm American Repertory Theater 64 Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge

The Brutes have a terrible relationship. Lady Brute married for money, Sir John for sex - and now he has been driven to drink and she to dreams of adultery. Flanked by a squadron of drunken rakes, debauched aristocrats, and lascivious French maids, the Brutes turn London into a battlefield of love and infidelity, armed to the teeth with their dazzling, sharp-honed wit.

First staged in 1697, The Provok'd Wife is the crowning glory of the English Restoration - the explosive era that banished the Puritans, reopened the theaters, and prized outra- geous comedies of social mayhem and sexual license. John Vanbrugh - playwright, politician, soldier, spy, and the architect of Blenheim Palace - was languishing in the Bastille when he drafted The Provok'd Wife, an immorality tale of the very rich behaving very badly.

One ticket per valid MIT student ID Pick up tickets IN PERSON ONLY at E15-205 Box Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 10:00am - 4:00pm No phone calls please

http://web.mit.edu/arts/see/freetickets/index.html

We know how you feel.

[email protected] 617-253-1541 W20-483 This space donated by The Tech Page 14 THE TECH November 30, 2004 Proposal May Reduce Privacy Rules on Reservations Tracking, from Page 1 interest had been shifting. said. “But any time you’re compil- “We’re in a different time now, a ing a list of millions and millions of agencies. The proposal, first report- very different climate,” Harris said. students, as they go through college, At Thirsty to Change ed by The Chronicle of Higher “There’s the huge possibility that the move and have Social Security num- Thirsty from Page 1 also use a new method for determin- Education, is supported by the database could be misused, and bers, we get concerns from a privacy ing the cost of reserving the pub, American Council on Education, the there are no protections for student perspective.” improved by “trimming off some of shifting from an hourly charge to a American Association of State privacy.” For colleges and universities to the dead shifts and getting a model flat rate based on expected income Colleges and Universities, and the She pointed to the National hand over information on individual that’s a little bit more flexible but from the event. State Higher Education Executive Directory of New Hires, a register students, Congress would have to should yield greater profits.” He said that the fixed rental fee Officers Association, but opposed of people who re-enter the work create an exemption to existing fed- “I’m hoping that this event- would rise from 40 to 50 dollars, but by other higher education organiza- force, which began as an effort to eral privacy laws, said Sarah based program will develop,” Berlin that no charge would be added if the tions, like the National Association track employment trends. Since its Flanagan, vice president for govern- said, “and I think the nice thing pub did at least 60 dollars of busi- of Independent Colleges and creation, however, the database has ment relations at the National about it is that… everybody is inter- ness an hour. Universities. also been used to track parents who Association of Independent ested in its success.” The earliest time an event may A department overview of the fail to pay child support or who owe Colleges and Universities. MIT and the Thirsty have been be scheduled has also changed to proposal insisted that the data the federal government non-tax “The concept that you enter a “trying to find the right mix of give first preference to student would not be shared with other debt, she said. “The door is wide federal registry by the act of things that it can do” between on- groups, Pollock said. Student groups agencies and that outsiders could open,” Harris said. enrolling in a college in this country campus events and catering, he will now be able to make a reserva- not gain access. By law, the sum- Luke Swarthout, higher educa- is frightening to us,” Flanagan said. said. tion as early as four months in mary notes in capital letters, tion associate at the State PIRGs for She said that officials from some advance, MIT departments two “Information about individuals Higher Education, said his civic states had already announced they Reservation fees restructured months in advance, and individuals may NEVER leave NCES,” the group, which has always monitored would like to match the data against Pollock said that the Thirsty will one month in advance. National Center for Education consumer issues and privacy rights, prison records. In states where such Statistics. was of two minds about the plan. data is already collected from public But Jasmine L. Harris, legisla- Improving the available data was universities, she added, there has tive director at the U.S. Student important for Congress, policy mak- been pressure to check the school Association, said that since the Sept. ers and the public, who finance data on students against housing 11, 2001, attacks, the balance higher education through govern- records, driver’s licenses and between privacy and the public ment loans and grants, Swarthout employment records. Solution to F Plus fromFP pagelus 6 E M M M A C K S P O R E Y E O A U L A E P A R A M E D U S C O R N E R A S E F U S E T H E F O R C E U S E D U B O N U K E L A Y E R F L I N T T R A P N O D E A U S S I E

A M D B O D A L L A N E R A I S E R I D L E F L O P S I D E D Y A C H T S O L I A A M S H O O

F U N R E L E N T I N G C L E F S T R O V E S E A P E W E E E G R E T E S E S U E D E D E E R L T D

OMARI STEPHENS—THE TECH Ed Lyons of Lyons Concrete Cutting drills a fencepost hole for a new fence around the liquid nitrogen tanks attached to Building 18 on Friday, Nov. 19. According to Lyons, the new fence, which is considerably taller, should deter people from climbing over.

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This space donated by The Tech Like movies? We’ll send you to press screenings. [email protected] November 30, 2004 THE TECH Page 15

Combat tested.

[email protected] W20-483, x3-1541 Page 16 THE TECH November 30, 2004 SPORTS Schmeckpeper Places Women’s B-Ball Improves on ’03 By Caitlin Murray recovery, allowing the Amcats just and racking up 17 rebounds, four 8th in National Meet STAFF WRITER three points in the remaining five assists, and two steals. The MIT women’s basketball minutes to the Engineers twelve Kinnaman was a thorn in the By Imran Hendley next two miles, Schmeckpeper ran team improved their record to 2–1 points, taking a 42–24 lead into Amcats’ side, with a steal, two TEAM MEMBER in third place, attempting to close Tuesday with a 65–50 win over the halftime. blocks, and four defensive On November 20th, Ben A. the gap between himself and the Anna Maria Amcats. The Engineers relaxed their rebounds, racking up 15 points over Schmeckpeper ’05 finished his MIT leaders, Moen and sophomore Four Engineers guard in the beginning of the second the course of the game. Cross Country career with an eighth Macharia Yuot of Widener Univer- reached the double half, allowing the Amcats a run that Prange, MIT’s center, had a place finish at the sity. digits for MIT: cut MIT’s lead down to ten, but yet good game, grabbing ten rebounds, NCAA National After the three mile mark, how- Christa M. Margoss- again Soo Hoo came to the rescue twelve points, and also shooting a Championships, host- ever; the strain of chasing the lead- ian ’07, Karen A. Kin- with a three pointer, stopping the 50 percent field goal percentage. ed by the University of ers began to take its toll and naman ’06, Kimberly Eri Soo Hoo run and reviving the Engineers. This victory brings the women’s Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Schmeckpeper fell back to tenth ’08, and Sharon M. Prange ’07 With six minutes left in the basketball team’s all time record Schmeckpeper, place. scored a combined total of 54 points game, the Amcats trailed 59–48. At against Anna Maria up to 10–8. The MIT’s lone representative at the As the field entered the final over the course of the game. that point they seemed to concede Amcats were one of only three meet, tied the second highest finish mile, Moen retained the lead, Yuot The Engineers took the lead the game, going the rest of the teams the Engineers managed to by an MIT runner at nationals and had began to fall back to the chase immediately, beginning the game match without a field goal while the defeat last year. earned his second cross country All pack and places three through ten with a six point run from the tip-off. Engineers scored six points in as The 2003-2004 season was dis- America award. were tightly bunched. Moen would The Amcats managed to tie it up, many minutes. appointing for MIT, as they ended After finishing 32nd and 38th his continue on to win by thirteen sec- but the Engineers regained control Soo Hoo, a five-foot freshman the season with their lowest confer- sophomore and junior years, onds, but Yuot fell back more than of the game and took a permanent from California, baffled the Amcats ence record ever (0–13) and their Schmeckpeper came to au Claire twenty places in the last kilometer, lead on a three-pointer by Soo Hoo. despite their extra inches, racking worst overall record in 16 years, confident in his ability to beat the finishing in 24th place. Neal Shortly before the end of the up three 3-pointers, 11 points, three going 3–20 for the season. best runners in the country. But for Holtschulte from William’s College half, the Engineers went on a 15- assists, and a steal, deftly control- The team hosts Wentworth Insti- Schmeckpeper to win, he would and Mike Sawicki from Otterbein point run, building a 28–12 lead. ling the game in her role as point tute of Technology on Tuesday, have to defeat the defending cham- College then proceeded to take The Amcats retaliated, scoring nine guard. against whom they lost last year pion, senior Josh Moen of Wartburg Yuot’s place up top. points while shutting out the Engi- Margossian also had a career 54–65 but have an all time record of College in Iowa. With 1,000 meters left in the neers. MIT quickly quashed this night, putting 16 points on the board 15–3. From the start Moen dictated race Schmeckpeper had established the pace, and jumped to a small himself in eighth place. Unable to lead after the first mile mark. kick any faster than his opponents, Schmeckpeper came through the Schmeckpeper could not move up in first mile in 4:53 and found himself the final half mile, finishing just one leading the chase pack. Over the second behind fifth place. UPCOMING HOME EVENTS Tuesday, November 30 Varsity Men’s Basketball vs. Tufts, Rockwell Cage, 7:30 p.m.

KENNETH YAN—THE TECH Mikala P. Streeter ’08 avoids a defender in the game against Anna Maria college last Tuesday. MIT This space donated by The Tech defeated Anna Maria with a score of 65–50.

MIT Washington Summer Internship Program Free dinner Information Session on Wednesday, Dec. 1st 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm 8-302 Sunday MIT Undergraduates! nights. Apply your scientific and technical training to public policy issues. If you're selected to participate in this program you'll receive a paid policy internship in the offices of government agencies, the private sector and advocacy groups. Complementing the summer internship are a trip to DC during spring break and a 12 unit HASS seminar on policymaking that meets before and after the summer internship.

Past summer interns have worked in the White House Office of Science & Technology, the House of Representatives Science Committee, the US Department of Energy, the American Electronics Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, NASA, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the American Association for World Health, the American Enterprise Institute, the American Public Health Association, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Congressional Research Service, the Brookings Institution, the Economic Policy Institute, the InterAmerican Development Bank, the World Bank Group, USAID, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Institutes of Health, the Climate Institute and the MIT Washington Office.

APPLICATION DEADLINE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4th, 2005

For more information call 253-3649, send email to [email protected], or check out our web site at [email protected] http://web.mit.edu/summerwash/www/ W20-483 617-253-1541