Good Luck on Finals!

MIT’s The Weather Oldest and Largest Today: Hot, partly cloudy, 89°F (32°C) Tonight: Partly cloudy, 55°F (13°C) Newspaper Tomorrow: Partly sunny, 68°F (20°C) Details, Page 2

Volume 124, Number 26 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Tuesday, May 11, 2004 Grad Student Bhuwan Singh Found Dead Graduate By Beckett W. Sterner incredible generosity and support that Bhuwan was fundamental to the memorial. EDITOR IN CHIEF that Bhuwan gave to everyone he the happiness and sense of com- “He was probably a better Admission Graduate student Bhuwan met. munity of the dormitory. brother than I could ever have Singh was found dead on Friday He was involved with both the Bhuwan “would do anything asked for,” and “you would want afternoon, said MIT Police Chief GSC and the dormitory govern- for anybody else,” to make their everyone remembering him being John DiFava. ment at Ashdown, where he lived. lives better, no matter what the happy… cheering people up” as he Rate Falls Singh’s body was found in a Housemaster Terry P. Orlando said sacrifice to himself, Barun said at always did, Barun said. storage room near his lab and International Student office in Building 13 said Seth Horowitz, press officer for the Admit Rate Also Drops Middlesex District Attorney’s office. He died from asphyxiation, By Kathy Dobson Horowitz said. STAFF REPORTER “We don't believe that there The admission rate for the MIT was foul play,” and “we’re not graduate program dropped by about operating under the circumstances” 16 percent this year, as fewer inter- that the death was suspicious, he national students were accepted and said. some departments attempted to “There isn't any indication of reduce their size. violence or foul play,” DiFava Of the 14,191 students that said. applied to MIT’s graduate programs The DA does not typically this year, 2,430 were admitted and as release the full medical examiner’s of May 6, and 1,212 had accepted report on the death when there are their offers for a yield rate of 50 per- no signs of crime, such as death by cent, said Associate Director of natural causes, accident, or sui- Admissions Elizabeth S. Johnson. cide. Last year, 2,905 students were admitted out of 15,742 applicants Academics, friends key to Singh and 1,567 of the admitted students Chandra Singh, Bhuwan’s accepted their offers, which repre- father, said at the memorial service sents a yield of 43 percent. yesterday that Bhuwan admired The deadline for accepting Mother Theresa the most, even admission varies by department, and more than Albert Einstein. some departments may still be mak- However, both Bhuwan and his ing admissions offers, Johnson said. younger brother Barun Singh G, DANIEL BERSAK—THE TECH These numbers include the Sloan current Graduate Student Council A memorial commemorating the death of Bhuwan Singh G sits in the lobby of Ashdown House Monday president, excelled in academics. night. Grad Admits, Page 20 Bhuwan enrolled in Auburn Uni- versity after finishing 10th grade and entered the PhD program at Thirsty May Close If No Dept. Accepts Account MIT at age 21, according to the biography given at his memorial. By Marissa Vogt that they would not be willing to the MIT administration. agreement that will end on June 1. Barun followed a similar path. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR have either of their offices take on The pub, which is located in the Gregory S. Pollock G, volunteer “I never imagined that there The Thirsty Ear Pub will close the responsibility of the pub. basement of Ashdown House, has manager of the Thirsty Ear, said an would be a day I would doubt that on June 1 unless it can find an office Because the Thirsty Ear is on been under the control of the gradu- agreement was reached in February I didn’t understand something very within the MIT administration that MIT property, it is required to have ate student office for the past six basic” about my son, Bhuwan’s is willing to host the pub’s accounts, its accounts held by an office within months as part of a temporary Thirsty, Page 17 father said at the memorial service. said John P. Lock G, the representa- It was not clear that Bhuwan tive from the Graduate Student wanted “to continue to be the best Council on the Pub Oversight Com- at something that didn’t give him mittee. happiness,” he said, referring to Dean for Student Life Larry G. academics. Benedict and Dean for Graduate Each person who spoke at the Students Isaac M. Colbert told the memorial service stressed the Pub Oversight Committee last week Nicholas J. Grant

Professor Emeritus of Metallurgy Nicholas J. Grant ScD ’44 died on May 1, 2004 at the age of 88, after a battle with Alzheimer’s dis- ease. After graduating from MIT in 1944, Grant became an instructor here. He became a full professor in 1956, and then served as the director of the Center for Materials Science and Engineering from 1968 to 1977. Grant “was an early researcher in the development of alloys,” including high temperature and metallic alloys, said Samuel M. Allen PhD ’75, professor of physical metallurgy and current depart- ment head. Grant published over 500 papers and held over 130 patents, Allen said. In addition, he worked with many government committees and

Grant, Page 18 DANIEL BERSAK—THE TECH Bartender Kristen E. Landino G pours a pint at the Thirsty Ear Monday night.

This is the last issue of The Tech Comics NEWS this term. We will publish during 66 percent of prefrosh select MIT World & Nation ...... 2 the summer on June 4, June 11, Page 21 Opinion ...... 4 July 7, and Aug. 4. Arts ...... 9 Results from fraternity initiation Sports ...... 24 Have a great summer! Page 14 Page 16 Page 2 THE TECH May 11, 2004 WORLD & NATION Massachusetts Town Defies Bush Firmly Backs Rumsfeld Governor’s Gay Marriage Directive THE NEW YORK TIMES BOSTON Erasing Resignation Rumors One week before same-sex marriage becomes legal in Massachu- setts, the Cape Cod town of Provincetown voted Monday to issue By Richard W. Stevenson sought to create a tableau of a people shown in the images, some marriage licenses to out-of-state same-sex couples even if they have THE NEW YORK TIMES national security team that, however of which, government officials said, no intention of moving to Massachusetts. The move contradicts a WASHINGTON fractured it has been over Iraq, was show American soldiers having sex directive by Gov. Mitt Romney, who has said that no same-sex cou- President Bush made a robust now united in its determination to with one another. ples residing out of state will be allowed to get married here. show of support on Monday for deal with the repercussions of the Separately, the Pentagon and Romney, who opposes same-sex marriage, has invoked a 1913 Defense Secretary Donald Rums- abuse cases, quell the insurgency in Congressional leaders continued to law that says that the state will not marry couples if their marriage feld, as the White House, the Penta- Iraq and transfer governance to the negotiate over ways to allow law- would be “void” in their home state. The governor has interpreted gon and Congress grappled with Iraqi people. makers to view the images in the that to mean that since no other state performs same-sex marriages, whether and how to release more Bush later went to Rumsfeld’s absence of a public release. only Massachusetts same-sex couples are eligible to be married here. pictures of Iraqi prisoners being office, where he was shown more The Senate, by a vote of 92-0, Couples applying for marriage licenses in Massachusetts are abused by U.S. soldiers. than a dozen images of the abuse, adopted a resolution condemning required to fill out a form asking where they reside and where they After meeting at the Pentagon most of which have not been publi- the prisoner abuse. The resolution intend to reside, and to sign the form under penalty of perjury. Town with his war council, Bush emerged cized, White House and Pentagon also included language sought by and city clerks have been instructed by the governor’s office to issue to face reporters and television cam- officials said. Bush’s spokesman, Democrats that called for the Senate licenses to out-of-state couples if they intend to move to the state, but eras, flanked by Vice President Dick Scott McClellan, characterized the to “conduct a full investigation of not to those who plan to return to their home states. Cheney on his right and Rumsfeld president’s reaction as “one of deep the abuses alleged to have occurred on his left, and delivered an unqual- disgust and disbelief that anyone at Abu Ghraib” and hold those ified endorsement of his defense who wears our uniform would responsible accountable. Al-Sadr’s Baghdad Headquarters secretary. engage in such shameful and Bush’s Democratic rival in the “You are courageously leading appalling acts.” presidential race, Sen. John Kerry of Demolished by U.S. Military our nation in the war against terror,” Administration officials debated Massachusetts, continued to criti- THE NEW YORK TIMES he said to Rumsfeld. “You are doing whether to release publicly all the cize the administration’s handling of BAGHDAD, IRAQ a superb job. You are a strong secre- pictures in the government’s posses- the abuse cases. Suggesting that he The American military said on Monday that it killed as many as 18 tary of defense, and our nation owes sion, with many of the president’s did not want to see punishment lim- supporters of the rebel Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, as it you a debt of gratitude.” political and communications advis- ited to courts-martial of those demolished his Baghdad headquarters during a heavy nighttime firefight. In doing so, Bush sought to ers advocating moving quickly to directly involved in the abuse of the In clashes on Sunday, the military said, it had killed another 18 of quash speculation that he would get the images out and avoid the Iraqi detainees, he told a local tele- his militiamen, part of a mounting death toll of al-Sadr’s followers seek Rumsfeld’s resignation. By prospect of weeks or months in vision reporter in Pennsylvania that that included some 41 dead in a battle last week in Najaf, south of the arraying some of his other senior which they leak out piecemeal. he opposed a total focus on “people capital. The director of a hospital in Sadr City, the poor Shiite neigh- aides around him as he made the But no decision was made, offi- at the low end of the totem pole, and borhood here where al-Sadr draws most of his support, said it had statement — including Secretary of cials said, adding that they contin- we’re not going up the chain for real received nine bodies since Sunday, including that of a woman. State Colin L. Powell and Gen. ued to weigh issues including the accountability,” adding: “It clearly In southern Iraq on Monday, fires continued to rage from Satur- Richard B. Myers, the chairman of effect of any release on pending goes beyond a corporal and a day’s pipeline bombing, which has reportedly slowed the flow of Iraqi the Joint Chiefs of Staff — Bush criminal inquiries and the privacy of sergeant.” oil for export by as much as 25 percent. Attacks on the southern pipeline, which accounts for most of Iraq’s oil exports, have been rare. While U.S. troops have battled often with al-Sadr’s supporters since he led an uprising against the occupation last month, clashes are Citigroup To Pay $2.65 Billion now erupting daily in the southern cities of Najaf, Kufa, Karbala and Basra amid heightened threats to kill and kidnap foreigners in Iraq. New Rules Aim To Reduce In WorldCom Fraud Settlement By Gretchen Morgenson must be approved by the court, and Monday’s settlement is the first Pollution From Diesel Emissions THE NEW YORK TIMES came just hours before an appellate indication of how much money may THE NEW YORK TIMES NEW YORK court was to hear arguments yet be paid by the people and firms WASHINGTON Hoping to close the books on its addressing among other things, the that helped the company sell its The Bush administration on Monday announced new regulations role as lead banker to WorldCom, conflicts between the firm’s stock securities to investors. In 1999, that will significantly reduce emissions from tractors, bulldozers, Citigroup agreed Monday to pay analysis and the investment banking when the stock was at its peak, locomotives, barges and other nonroad vehicles propelled by diesel $2.65 billion to investors who fees generated by WorldCom. The WorldCom had a market value of fuel that, altogether, spew more soot than the nation’s entire fleet of bought stock and bonds in the Securities and Exchange Commis- more than $150 billion. cars, trucks and buses. telecommunications giant before its sion had filed a friend of the court “This settlement, while historic, Michael O. Leavitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection bankruptcy filing two years ago. brief supporting the investors’ is only the first step,” Hevesi said. Agency, said after a meeting with President Bush that the regulations The payment is the largest ever claims. “We will continue to pursue our would be made official on Tuesday, setting in motion a plan for full by a bank, brokerage firm or auditor Litigation continues against the claims against the others who bear compliance by 2012. The new regulations require refineries to produce to settle a fraud case brought by defendants: WorldCom’s former responsibility for the debacle at cleaner-burning diesel fuel and engine makers to cut diesel emissions investors who bought securities officers and directors, other banks WorldCom. The investing public by over 90 percent, a reduction that health experts say could prevent as issued by a corporation that was and brokerage firms that sold depends on the gatekeepers, and the many as 12,000 premature deaths and 15,000 heart attacks every year. advised by the one of those firms. It WorldCom securities, and Arthur gatekeepers have to be diligent in “This is a big deal,” Leavitt told reporters after the meeting at the is the second-largest amount ever Andersen, the company’s auditor at making sure investors get accurate White House, comparing the importance of the new diesel standards paid to settle a securities class the time. and truthful information. They with regulations decades ago that took lead out of gasoline. “The result action, trailing Cendant Corp.’s pay- Tens of billions of dollars in should understand that this settle- of this is that people will live longer, live better and live healthier lives.” ment of $2.85 billion in 2000. investor wealth vanished when ment conveys a message that rein- The Citigroup settlement, which WorldCom collapsed in July 2002, forces their obligation.” WEATHER A Final Reward Situation for Noon Eastern Daylight Time, Tuesday, May 11, 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 It was only four months ago that temperatures plunged to Arctic levels for three weeks. The temperature at Logan airport dropped to a low of -7°F (-22°C), and temperatures across the interior of New England fell even fur- 1024 ther. Spring often feels slow to arrive in Boston, as rare warm days are iso- lated by cool easterly winds. 35°N However, as southwesterly winds push hot air all the way to the coast

this afternoon; temperature may reach 90°F (32°C) for the first time this 996 year. While easterly winds will carry temperatures 20°F (11°C) cooler ▼ 1023 30°N tomorrow, it will still be warmer than last weekend. With high pressure ▼ ▼ anchoring offshore, the pattern is set for a mild week. It's a nice reward for ▼ enduring a long, hard winter and a long, hard semester.

Extended Forecast 25°N Today: Partly cloudy and hot. High 88–90°F (31–32°C). Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 54–56°F (12–13°C). Wednesday: Partly sunny, high 66–70°F (19–21°C). Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 68–73°F (20–23°C), low 50–55°F (10–13°C).

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

◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ Warm Front Light Low Pressure Haze ▲▲▲▲▲ Cold Front Moderate Compiled by MIT Hurricane ◗ ◗ Meteorology Staff ▲ ▲ Stationary Front Heavy and The Tech May 11, 2004 WORLD & NATION THE TECH Page 3

Justice Department To Reopen Boston Labor Union Denies Benefits for Married Gays 50-Year Old Racist Murder Case THE BOSTON GLOBE A Boston labor union representing some 6,000 members has By Eric Lichtblau “We owe it to Emmett Till, we case is being reopened, but it is sad amended its benefit plans to exclude gay married couples from and Andrew Jacobs owe it to his mother and to his fam- that it has taken so long,” said receiving health and pension benefits, evoking fear in some labor THE NEW YORK TIMES ily, and we owe it to ourselves to Kweisi Mfume, president of the unions in Massachusetts that the move will set a dangerous precedent WASHINGTON see if, after all these years, any National Association for the for other unions and employers throughout the state. Nearly a half-century after the additional measure of justice is still Advancement of Colored People. Anticipating the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachu- brutal killing of a 14-year-old black possible,” said R. Alexander Acos- Emmett Till of Chicago was setts next week, trustees and administrators of the International youth in Mississippi became a ta, assistant attorney general for visiting relatives in Money, Miss., Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103, issued a “clarification” flashpoint in the civil rights move- civil rights. that August in 1955, when he was of the words “dependent spouse” to mean “a person of the opposite ment, the Justice Department said Black leaders consider the dragged from his bed, beaten, shot sex.” The clarification was announced in a letter, a copy of which was Monday that it was opening a crim- killing one of the last unsolved and dropped in the Tallahatchie obtained by The Boston Globe, sent Friday to union members inal investigation into the case of murders of the early civil rights era, River after he supposedly whistled throughout eastern Massachusetts. Emmett Till in light of new evi- and a campaign has been building at a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, “In light of all the changes that are coming, we just wanted to be dence. for months to push federal officials in her family’s store. ahead of the curve and make the clarification,” administrator Russell In a surprise announcement, to examine the case. The new infor- The image of Emmett’s battered F. Sheehan explained in an interview yesterday. prosecutors said information mation gathered by the filmmakers body in an open casket at his funer- Lawyers say the union’s move effectively denying married cou- uncovered in the filming of two suggests that as many as 10 people al in Chicago became a galvanizing ples of the same sex the same benefits as married couples of the documentaries on the 1955 killing took part in or observed the killing. moment in the civil rights move- opposite sex is legal. All employers and unions whose benefit plans suggested that people besides the The re-examination of the case ment, particularly for many north- are covered under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security two original suspects may have is a bittersweet victory for civil erners removed from the brutalities Act of 1974 can choose whether to extend benefits to spouses of the been involved. rights advocates. “I am glad the of the Jim Crow era. same sex, said Matt Giuliani, a Boston lawyer specializing in employee benefits. Palestine To Hold Local Elections Marine Convoy Enters Fallujah THE NEW YORK TIMES FALLUJAH, IRAQ In a tiny, carefully choreographed convoy, and with not a shot In Summer To Curb Public Anger fired, U.S. Marines on Monday made their way into the embattled By James Bennet ership was bent on improving its well in them. city of Fallujah, where a two-star general met for 25 minutes with his THE NEW YORK TIMES governance. Elections are likely to Hamas did not take part in the anointed local leaders on sullenly quiet streets. JERUSALEM be held first in the relatively tran- presidential or legislative elections, Whether the meeting was a historic breakthrough, as the Marines The Palestinian Authority said quil West Bank city of Jericho in regarding them as more connected claimed afterward, or just another step in the American effort to bring Monday that it would begin hold- August, to be followed by elections to Oslo, which the group rejected. some sort of order to a country they have conquered but not fully ing its first municipal elections late in the Gaza Strip and elsewhere, Yasser Arafat was overwhelmingly subdued, remained to be seen. this summer, in a bid to stem public officials said. chosen as president in those elec- But what was clear was that it was another shift in the American anger over corruption and misman- “We cannot talk about reform at tions, which were held under close effort to get control of the situation — this time, perhaps, by attach- agement. a time there are appointments to the international supervision. ing itself to whatever local authority might be seen as legitimate, Under the plan, elected repre- municipal councils,” said Jamal Hamas has grown stronger dur- even if it was a holdover from Saddam Hussein’s rule. Similar efforts sentatives will replace mayors and Shobaki, the Palestinian minister of ing the present conflict with Israel. appeared to be under way with the Shiite tribal leadership in the south members of municipal councils local government. “We need Hamas leaders have said in recent in an attempt to undermine the insurgency led by the rebel cleric who were appointed by the Pales- reform, and we need to respect the interviews that they are interested Muqtada al-Sadr. tinian Authority and who are, in desire of the people.” in competing in municipal elec- The foray into the city, the product of intensive and frequently many towns and cities, regarded as In 1996, the Palestinian Author- tions. revised planning, was in stark contrast to the American approach incompetent or crooked. ity held elections for president and Shobaki acknowledged that through the past month. The decision, by the Palestinian legislative posts, as part of the Oslo Hamas might fare well in the elec- The rebellious city had been under military siege since April 5, Cabinet, also appeared to be peace plan. But it postponed tions, but said, “Whatever the after four American contractors were brutally slain in an ambush and intended to demonstrate to the out- municipal elections, fearing that the results are, the elections are an their bodies defiled by a mob. side world that the Palestinian lead- militant group Hamas would do important mechanism.”

Sunday May 16th Page 4 THE TECH May 11, 2004 OPINION

Chairman Institutional Hangyul Chung ’05 Editor in Chief Beckett W. Sterner ’06 Wisdom Watch Business Manager by The Tech editorial board Roy K. Esaki ’04 RingComm: Phi Theta frat receives five pre- Stata Center: EArthQuakE pROof, but noT frosh pledges, is suspended by IFC for illegal for THe RigHT rEASonS. Managing Editor rush activities. David Carpenter ’05 Vest resigning: Change is good. NEWS STAFF Counterpoint: Finds out about derecognition

News Editors: Kathy Lin ’06, , Jenny Zhang ’06, from The Tech, later rerecognized by ASA.

Waseem S. Daher ’07, Tongyan Lin ’07; Associate Power outage: Students leave Athena clusters UU Editors: Ray C. He ’07, Gireeja V. Ranade ’07, Julián E. Villarreal ’07; Staff: Kathy Dobson G, r in best community building event in years. Harvard’s nude magazine: We’re glad Eun J. Lee ’04, Michael E. Rolish ’04, Jay K. they’re proud of their large endowment, but Cameron ’05, Issel Anne L. Lim ’05, Kelley really. Rivoire ’06; Meteorologists: Cegeon Chan G, Szuminski’s ERA: Going up like a rocket. David Flagg G, Samantha L. H. Hess G, Vikram Sigh. Khade G, Robert Lindsay Korty G, Greg Lawson G, Nikki Privé G, William Ramstrom G, Michael J. Ghetto party: Forum on race relations some- Ring G. Elections: UA, local, national, still not sure what ghetto, only serves cheese pizza for din- who to vote for. ner. PRODUCTION STAFF Reimbursing hacks: Abelson and Sussman World affairs: Some things are good. Some Editors: Andrew Mamo ’04, Sie Hendrata Dhar- do the Wright thing, but UA’s plan never mawan ’05, Tiffany Dohzen ’06; Associate Editor: things are bad. We’re just college students. Nicholas R. Hoff ’05; Staff: Joel C. Corbo ’04, Joy makes it off the ground. 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, EunMee Yang ’07, Sylvia Yang ’07.

OPINION STAFF Editors: Vivek Rao ’05, Ruth Miller ’07; Colum- nist: Andrew C. Thomas ’04; Staff: Basil Enweg- bara 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 Editors: Phil Janowicz ’05, Brian Chase ’06; Staff: Yong-yi Zhu ’06, Alisha R. Scher ’07.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF Editors: Peter R. Russo ’02, Brian Hemond ’04, Jina Kim ’06; Associate Editor: Daniel Bersak ’02; Staff: Frank Dabek G, 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 Roberts ’06, Rene Chen ’07. FEATURES STAFF Letters To The Editor Editor: Akshay Patil ’04; Associate Editor: Tiffany Kosolcharoen ’06; Columnists: Bruce Wu Reality Check many of whom are innocent civilians. So what There is nothing “realistic” about advocat- G, Kailas Narendran ’01, Ian Ybarra ’04, Mark In a May 7 opinion piece [“A Realist Cri- are we getting in return? ing the benefits of a wider war in the Middle Liao ’06, Rose Grabowski ’05, Danchai Mekade- tique of U.S. Iraq Policy,” May 7], Adam Kolasinski claims we’re getting a strategic East. The only sane path is de-escalation. naumporn ’05, Alex Nelson ’06, Zach Ozer ’07, Kolasinski attempts to justify the Iraq war base useful for “pressuring” Saudi Arabia, Edward A. Faulkner ’03 Dan Scolnic ’07; Cartoonists: Jason Burns G, “based on geopolitical strategy.” His reason- “coercing” Syria, and “conducting operations” Jumaane Jeffries ’02, Sergei R. Guma ’04, Sean Liu Letters, ’04, Brian Loux ’04, Jennifer Peng ’05, Nancy Phan ing is both naive and dangerous. in Iran. This is naked imperialism, and it is Page 6 ’05, Qian Wang ’05. Implicit in his argument is the assumption precisely what Osama Bin Laden has been that we can take control of Iraq. That is not at accusing us of for years. We’re playing right BUSINESS STAFF all clear, given our present course. According into his hands. Advertising Manager: Chis Ruggiero ’07; Oper- to an April 28 Gallup poll, the tide of Iraqi Here’s a simple formula: the danger of opinion has swung strongly against us. We radical Islamic terrorism is directly propor- Errata ations Manager: Lauren W. Leung ’07; Staff: Jyoti R. Tibrewala ’04, Lynn K. Kamimoto ’05. face guerilla war against a popular uprising. tional to the level of anger, humiliation, and Our military is over-committed throughout the despair in the Muslim world. It is patently A caption on page 18 of the May 7 TECHNOLOGY STAFF world, and re-enlistment rates are falling. Iraq obvious that the war in Iraq has only increased issue neglected to mention Tina Hu ’07, Director: Jonathan T. Wang ’05; Staff: Daniel is starting to look a lot like occupied Pales- this danger, as so grotesquely summarized in the dancer fourth from the right. Leeds ’05, Lisa Wray ’07. tine, and that is not a good model to follow. the current prisoner-abuse scandal. Such A caption on page 11 of the May 7 Winning the battle in Iraq would probably behavior is not an abberation, it is the logical issue incorrectly referred to members of EDITORS AT LARGE require hundreds of billions of dollars, the outcome of the “might makes right” philoso- MIT Video Productions as “AV special- Senior Editors: Satwiksai Seshasai G, Keith J. reinstatement of the draft, thousands of Amer- phy advocated by Kolasinski and the rest of ists.” Winstein G, Jennifer Krishnan ’04; Contributing ican lives, and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives, the neocons. Editors: Jeremy Baskin ’04, Devdoot Majumdar ’04, Marissa Vogt ’06. The Tech reserves the right to edit or condense letters; shorter letters ADVISORY BOARD Opinion Policy will be given higher priority. Once submitted, all letters become Peter Peckarsky ’72, Paul E. Schindler, Jr. ’74, V. Editorials are the official opinion of The Tech. They are written property of The Tech, and will not be returned. The Tech makes no Michael Bove ’83, Barry Surman ’84, Robert E. by the editorial board, which consists of the chairman, editor in commitment to publish all the letters received. Malchman ’85, Deborah A. Levinson ’91, chief, managing editor, opinion editor, a senior editor, and an opin- Guest columns are opinion articles submited by members of the Jonathan Richmond PhD ’91, Saul Blumenthal ion staffer. MIT or local community and have the author’s name in italics. ’98, Joseph Dieckhans ’00, Ryan Ochylski ’01, Dissents are the opinions of signed members of the editorial Columns without italics are written by Tech staff. Rima Arnaout ’02, Eric J. Cholankeril ’02, Ian Lai board choosing to publish their disagreement with the editorial. ’02, Nathan Collins SM ’03, 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- To Reach Us PRODUCTION STAFF FOR THIS ISSUE essarily that of the newspaper. Electronic submissions are encour- The Tech’s telephone number is (617) 253-1541. E-mail is the Editors: Joel C. Corbo, Andrew Mamo ’04; Asso- aged and should be sent to [email protected]. Hard copy easiest way to reach any member of our staff. If you are unsure ciate Editor: Jennifer Huang ’07; Staff: Jyoti submissions should be addressed to The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, whom to contact, send mail to [email protected], and it will Tibrewala ’04, Tiffany Dohzen ’06. Cambridge, Mass. 02139-7029, or sent by interdepartmental mail to be directed to the appropriate person. Please send press releases,

The Tech (ISSN 0148-9607) is published on Tuesdays and Fridays during the academic year Room W20-483. All submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. two days requests for coverage, and information about errors that call for cor- (except during MIT vacations), Wednesdays during January and monthly during the summer for $45.00 per year Third Class by The Tech, Room W20-483, 84 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, before the date of publication. rection to [email protected]. Letters to the editor should be Mass. 02139. Third Class postage paid at Boston, Mass. Permit No. 1. POSTMASTER: Please send all address changes to our mailing address: The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, Cambridge, Mass. Letters, columns, and cartoons must bear the authors’ signatures, sent to [email protected]. The Tech can be found on the 02139-7029. Telephone: (617) 253-1541, editorial; (617) 258-8329, business; (617) 258-8226, addresses, and phone numbers. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. 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. May 11, 2004 OPINION THE TECH Page 5 Must-See BBC Time to Act ‘teach and delight.’” Entertainment is “a struc- ten dramas like The Sopranos, and so forth. Ken Nesmith ture of learning” that lets us “feel and know Entertainment, so important to society, would in Sudan pleasure” via exchange with a person, an be safe from harsh market forces, and could Critics say that HBO produces some of the antique text, a new life-form, or an unfamiliar remain independent and objective. best television shows made today. Amidst or troubling idea, and ultimately teaches us Admittedly, the idea of forcing everyone to Aram Harrow more and more cries about the decline of quali- about the “pleasures and anxieties of exchange subscribe to HBO is completely absurd. But if ty television programming, traditional net- itself.” you haven’t caught the joke yet, here it is: this is You wouldn’t know it from the news, but works struggle to keep pace with cable net- Entertainment, then, is a vital part of society, precisely how the British Broadcasting Corpo- the world’s most serious humanitarian crisis works like HBO to produce top-notch and not one we’d want to leave in untrustwor- ration operates. Everyone who owns a televi- is occurring right now in Western Sudan. programming, Networks like NBC, ABC, and thy hands. Some would say that the profit sion in the United Kingdom has to pay a licens- Furthermore, it threatens to get much worse CBS have struggled with inconsistent viewer- motive could corrupt those who bring us our ing fee of just over £100 (nearly $200) annually unless we devote a lot more attention and ship and increased competition from the entertainment. Perhaps removing the profit to fund the BBC. Enforcement regimes are resources to it. A small rebellion has panoply of cable and satellite offerings, and are motive from the production of entertainment remarkably harsh, and resemble those I sparked a genocidal campaign by govern- suffering for it. could ensure its integrity. Since, according to described, including the ominous vans with ment-backed Arab Janjaweed militias Let me quickly set aside my personal pref- the critics, HBO excels at delivering such enter- detection equipment. Actually, they’re harsher against black non-Arab Muslims that has erences; I don’t like tainment, what if we than I described; since licensing enforcement killed at least 10,000 civilians and displaced Friends, Seinfeld, Sur- removed their profit agents are paid per violation cited, their over a million. Refugees who have escaped vivor, or most other motive, and decided that enforcement falls most harshly on groups like to Chad have told of entire villages being shows that have been The BBC and other foreign everyone had to subscribe lone parents, those who don’t speak English, the massacred, women being raped and then popular and critically to HBO? It wouldn’t be mentally retarded, and the elderly. acclaimed in the last ten media are granted an elitist hard; we could just say that The idea is that because news is a vital years, enough to watch halo of excellence that they anyone who owned a tele- social service, it should not be subject to market them. I’m not excessive- vision had to pay, say, $150 forces. But the BBC’s objectivity is not ly scornful of them; do not really deserve. a year in fees to HBO. absolute. Some say that it’s great, some that it’s Almost 60 years ago, the good friends, people Then we could ensure that hopelessly politically slanted. Network anchors world’s solemn reaction to the whose tastes and opin- the production of valuable certainly had a hard time hiding their disdain for ions I otherwise respect, entertainment programming President Bush when he visited London last Holocaust was “Never again.” do enjoy some of those shows. I enjoy South was not left to the vagaries and vacillations of fall. The network also got into a lot of trouble Park and The Simpsons, and with the advent of the market. In one sense, HBO provides a pub- for dishonest reporting on British Prime Minis- Now the phrase is starting to fraternity-based central entertainment servers, lic good that the public should fund. ter Tony Blair’s government during the lead up become a cliche. have turned saved episodes into an occasional Enforcement would be manageable by to the Iraq war, and has since admitted their study break tool. (I think their satirical acumen employing multiple approaches to ensuring deception. Its competitors provide objective and social insights can be uniquely defended compliance. Substantial fines for owning a tele- news coverage without government funding. — that’s a story for another day.) None of us at vision without paying the fees would comprise In certain crowds, a surefire way to induce branded to stigmatize them forever, wells MIT have time to watch much television, but I a deterrence regime, making citizens wary of sympathetic head nodding is to lament how bad poisoned by dumping corpses in them, and appreciate the entertainment value such shows the risk of not paying. However, because televi- the American media is, and to bash Fox News homes burned down so that the villagers will offer, and I appreciate that others get it from sion can be enjoyed so privately, some citizens while doing so. Ultimately, American media never return. According to Human Rights other sources. might still attempt to avoid the fees, thinking stand up quite well alongside foreign media Watch, an 18-year-old woman was assaulted Indeed, entertainment is of vital importance that no one would ever catch them. Thanks to including the BBC, and American print media, by Janjaweed who inserted a knife in her to society itself. It fills a key social role in a modern technology, vans with television detec- especially the daily papers, set an international vagina, saying, “You get this because you well-functioning, modern society, and is impor- tion equipment can be deployed to detect opera- standard for excellence. The BBC and other for- are black.” tant to the entire public. It links us together: tion of a TV from a significant distance. If such eign media are granted an elitist halo of excel- The attacks cannot be brushed off as ran- society revolves around entertainment, and a TV was found to be operating and no license lence that they do not really deserve. But then, dom collateral damage of a civil war; Jan- relies on it to shape common beliefs, norms, was on record, investigation could be made, and plenty of products from the UK and the rest of jaweed militia leaders are open about their and trends. A University of California Santa appropriate fines imposed. Europe are given the same treatment, so per- ultimate goal of making Western Sudan Barbara conference on entertainment reports Such a funding system would ensure that haps this isn’t that surprising. Really, it doesn’t “Zurga-free” (Zurga is a derogatory word that entertainment “has long been part of the society would always have a high quality source matter how good the BBC is, nor does it matter for blacks). For example, they commonly heritage of the humanities, which seek—as of entertainment, including the latest box office how good HBO is. Everyone who owns a tele- Horace long ago said about poetry—at once to films, quality comedy programming, well-writ- vision should not be forced to fund them. Sudan, Page 6 The Endowment Effect at MIT

have been scrutinized? Can we really afford to cutbacks in Figure 2: MIT endowment returns vs. stock market returns William J. Hartnett lose in the stock market amounts that we can’t programmed afford to distribute to our budget? I suggest we budget out- This article is the first of two parts, the sec- establish a target for portfolio volatility which is lays. I believe ond of which will run in the June 5th Com- only modestly above low risk bonds, coupled this could be mencement issue. with a distribution strategy which prioritizes an important What is the purpose of the endowment? smoothing out the budget. first compo- Most people answer: to smooth out fluctuations Big gains in the stock market year-to-date nent of mak- in the budget and be a source of funding. How- provide a golden opportunity to take the ing the ever, investment swings in the MIT endow- money off the table. “Speculation” could be endowment ment over the past five years have dwarfed dis- used to refer to investments with so much better support tributions (see Figure 1). Furthermore, these volatility as to affect consumption standards MIT’s mis- investment swings have been used to justify in the relatively near term. From my point of sion of social- painful cuts in budget and staff, so that the view, many donors could be disinclined to pay ly beneficial endowment has been a cause of fluctuations in for (or see their contributions exposed to) research and the budget instead of smoothing them out. speculative losses. “Gambling” might be used education. During the current process of renewal at to describe speculation with a negative William J. the Institute, we need transparency while expected return, which might well apply to the Hartnett PhD reformulating the endowment strategy — post-election stock market. ’96 is a for- defined as the development, investment and In finance, the “endowment effect” means mer Visiting distribution strategies taken together. Trans- having a reference, and that relative to that ref- Scholar at the parency promotes support from current mem- erence losses are felt more strongly than gains. Sloan School bers of the Institute community and future Our endowment reference should be a conserv- Of Manage- DATA SOURCES: REPORT OF THE TREASURER; WWW.FINANCE.YAHOO.COM donors as well. ative investment strategy, coupled with a distri- ment’s Fin- In that spirit, I suggest that we have been bution strategy whose first priority is to avoid ance Group. overexposed to the volatile stock market (see Figure 2). Figure 1: Overview of MIT Endowment Figure 3: Portfolio returns vs. volatility, 1999-2003 Coupled with a distribution strategy which transmits some of those fluctuations of the market to the budget, this has led to problems despite signifi- cantly outperforming the mar- ket over time. In other words, the problem has been excess volatility, rather than cumula- tive returns. If combinations of more return and less volatility “domi- nate”, then over five years MIT endowment performance has been ex-post dominated by a simple bond portfolio (see Fig- ure 3). While it has also been dominated by select peers, they are not as useful as a reference. Might we benefit from reconceptualizing our endow- DATA SOURCE: REPORT OF THE TREASURER, FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2003 ment strategy as aggressively as (ALL DATA IS FOR FISCAL YEARS) DATA SOURCES: REPORT OF THE TREASURER; YALE, STANFORD WEB SITES; HARVARD MANAGEMENT COMPANY; WWW.FINANCE.YAHOO.COM other aspects of the Institute [email protected] Page 6 THE TECH OPINION May 11, 2004 Sudan, a Place Where Aid Can Make a Difference

Sudan, from Page 5 Fortunately, there is plenty we can do drawn. were still present, as Hutu militias were still about this, even from MIT. There has been a Human Rights Watch has appealed for a testing international will. The world’s steal livestock, the primary form of wealth tenuous ceasefire since April 8, and even mere $300,000 to send a monitoring team to response was unambiguous to both the killers there, and also destroy schools, wells, clin- though it has been repeatedly violated, aid Western Sudan; their findings will then fuel and the victims: France withdrew troops; ics, and irrigation pumps in order to perma- agencies and human rights monitoring teams an aggressive worldwide lobbying campaign some U.N. peacekeepers were so eager to nently drive people away. These crimes are are now beginning to enter the region. They so that no government will be able to plead leave that their officers rushed onto the trans- starting to become so widespread that we need our help, both financially and political- ignorance. We can also lobby our own gov- port planes and left their troops behind; can only imagine them in terms of numbers ly. The World Food Programme (WFP) has ernment to take stronger actions. President America airlifted out its civilians and spon- and statistics. A U.N. news service reported appealed for $98 million to feed 1.2 million Bush is to be commended for calling the sored a U.N. resolution to cut the number of a single attack in which “30 villages were people from now until December, when they Sudanese president and asking him to peacekeepers to a token level. One memo burned to the ground, over 200 people will be able to harvest crops planted in May. restrain the militias, but this needs to be fol- even discouraged using the word “genocide” killed, and over 200 girls and women raped The WFP appeal amounts to just over $80 lowed up by firmer pressure. Handwritten because lawyers at the State Department — some by up to 14 assailants and in front per recipient. This opportunity to save lives letters to your representative urging them to worried that a “genocide finding could com- of their fathers who were later killed. A fur- so easily is one that we are not likely to see pass House Congressional Resolution 403 mit [the US government] to actually ‘do ther 150 women and 200 children were again for a long time. At MIT, we often feel (described by Amnesty International as “a something.’” Everyone in power at the time, abducted.” isolated from political events and powerless resolution condemning the violence in Dar- from President Clinton on down, has since Even worse, though seemingly more to change anything, but this time things are fur and calling for immediate action by the expressed shame and regret at their inaction; abstract, the fighting has disrupted what oth- different. If you have the financial power to Sudanese government to end the violence, unfortunately it is easier to look back with erwise would have been very productive buy, say, a $250 iPod Mini, then you have protect its citizens and facilitate the unhin- regret than to take action at the time. planting and harvest seasons. As a result, 1.2 the power to save three human beings. dered delivery of humanitarian assistance”) Ten years from now, how will we look million risk dying of starvation and disease Human rights groups can also use our would be a good start. back at this time in our lives? Will we remem- if food assistance doesn’t reach them before assistance in exposing crimes against Almost 60 years ago, the world’s solemn ber the problem sets and the parties? Will we the heavy rains start in June. The 110,000 humanity and pressuring governments reaction to the Holocaust was “Never wonder how we, along with the rest of the refugees who have crossed the border into around the world to take action. One lesson again.” Now the phrase is starting to become world, managed again to look away from such Chad are in camps run by the United from the 1994 Rwandan genocide is that it a cliche. easily preventable human suffering? Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, often doesn’t take very much to stop geno- Ten years ago, 800,000 civilians were For more information please visit but the million or so internally displaced cide. For example, 30,000 Tutsi were pro- murdered in Rwanda while the world’s great http://sudan.mit.edu. persons in Western Sudan are only now tected in Rwanda’s capital by a handful of powers did their best to look away. The Aram Harrow is a graduate student in starting to be reached by relief agencies. UN peacekeepers before they were with- killings started slowly while foreign troops the Department of Physics. Letters To The Editor, Continued Letters, from Page 4 complained about the length of the overture in Because we were not arts editors prior to this the next week. We also offer off-campus MITG&SP’s production of “Pirates of Pen- term, we can’t speak for on-campus arts cover- events, but these aren’t emphasized as much Lack of Theater zance.” If she had ever seen an opera or even a age in the past. However, this term, there have as the on-campus events. If there is a major musical, she would realize that the overture of been six major theatre productions on campus, on-campus event that we haven’t assigned, Attention “Pirates” is no longer than other overtures. In and we have had reviews for five of them. It is we send multiple e-mails and sometimes fall 2003, a reviewer for Shakespeare Ensem- true that the one production that we did not even personal e-mails to writers until some- I would like to express my dismay over the ble’s production of “Antigone” failed to real- cover in the arts section was the Gilbert and one volunteers. We do miss on-campus lack of Tech reviews for theater productions. ize in advance that the group was producing Sullivan Players production of “Thespis.” This events, not just theatre, but in most cases we Having been a member of the MIT Gilbert & the Anouhil version and ripped the production was not the result of a devious plan hatched by have tried diligently to find reviewers. We Sullivan Players for the past two years, I have apart because she thought she was watching the arts editors. We had a reviewer assigned to apologize for not providing a review of kept track of the number of reviews that have the Sophocles version. This irresponsibility led the play, but he had to cancel at the last minute “Thespis” this term, and we will continue to been published in the Tech. Of the past seven to many readers to write angry letters to the because of an unforeseen commitment. We try to provide equal coverage of on-campus shows, only three productions have been given newspaper. In spring 2003, the reviewer for did, however, run a half-page photo spread events. a review. The four shows that were not MTG’s “Clue” made the outrageous claim that while the production was still open. Christine Fry and Amy Lee reviewed included a world premiere of new all singers at MIT can hardly hold a tune, to We have a very small core of regular, Arts Editors music, an extremely rare event at MIT, and a which I had written a letter to the newspaper to enthusiastic writers. Because The Tech is a production of grand opera, a type of theater show that MIT can boast of fine vocal musi- volunteer organization, we let our writers production that has not been done at MIT for cians who participate in music departmental choose what assignments to take based on Returning Possessions several decades. One would think that the Tech groups and in outside professional groups. their interests, which often correspond to Upon finishing Ken Nesmith’s recent reviewers would have been more than eager to There are only handful of theater groups on areas that they are knowledgeable in. But if column [“‘Realities on the Ground,’” May review such exciting events, especially when MIT and it should not be a difficult task for The there is a writer with little theatre experience 4], I was confident that he would not steal local newspapers such as The Boston Metro Tech to assign experienced reviewers to every who wants to see and write about a theatre his roommate’s possessions. In fact, I am have published articles on these shows. production on campus. The Tech should make production, we won’t deny them the privi- sure he will soon be returning his residence I would not be as angry over this matter if MIT theater groups a priority and forbid lege. The only way to gain knowledge of to the Native American tribe from which it, all theater groups on campus received the reviewers from writing about outside events theatre and experience writing about it is to or the ground upon which it sits, was seized. same lack of attention. However, while until all MIT productions are assigned a go to shows and write about it. If we I am sure he will do likewise with his house MITG&SP has had a 45 percent track record, reviewer. As a student with little money and restricted reviews to people who are well- and any other real estate he might possess in the Musical Theatre Guild can boast to have limited means of transportation, going to shows versed in the subject matter, then we would this country, or indeed in this hemisphere. had five out of their past six shows reviewed. on campus is much more practical than seeing not have any arts reviews. Inexperience isn’t He will not, I know, return to the country Since all theater groups use the theater reviews a concert in FleetBoston Pavilion, for which the fault of the writers; it’s simply part of from which his ancestors came to this one, as a means of publicity, it is unfair that The tickets can cost over $100. Besides, what use is the territory when dealing with a student which, based on his last name, I would guess Tech has shown bias towards certain groups, it to me to read a review about a concert that’s newspaper at an engineering school. We was England. After all, England will soon be especially when all groups put on productions already passed through Boston. Whether or not would gladly welcome members of the MIT returned by the Anglo-Saxons to the Celts, of equal caliber. it was good, I can’t go back in time. community who are knowledgeable in the- who will return it to the prehistoric people In addition to the problem of lacking Sonya Tang ’04 atre to join our staff and review theatre pro- from whom they conquered it during the last reviews, there is also the issue that many of the Arts Editors’ Note: ductions. Ice Age. After all, it is not as though there is reviewers have little or no experience in seeing As arts editors, this term we have made it Each week we send our writers a run any such thing as a statute of limitations. theater productions. In fall 2002, a reviewer our priority to cover on-campus arts events. down of the events occurring at MIT during Richard Kraus G May 11, 2004 THE TECH Page 7 Page 8 THE TECH May 11, 2004

Student Leader Awards Luncheon Join us as we recognize outstanding groups and leaders in Public Service, Residential Life & Student Activities. May 14th, 12-1:30pm in La Sala LUNCH will be provided. http://web.mit.edu/slp/leader-awards/ Individuals and Groups Nominated:

Advocates for Awareness Kimberly Kempadoo Afiya Whisby Krishnan Sriram Alexis DeSieno LaRuth McAfee Andrew Brooks Lebanese Club Angelica Osorno Ling Wong Asian American Association Lowery Duvall Associaion of Taiwanese Students M. Kate Thompson ATO MacGregor house Council Audrey Schaffer McCormick House Government Bassel Younan Mes Latino Becky Romatoski Michael Pihulic Best Buddies Michelle Page Bharthwaj Anantharaman Mike Folkert Biomedical Engineering Society Mike Stevens Carribean Club MIT Buddhist Community Christina Laskowski MIT Career Fair Class Council 2004 (Career Fair 2003) MIT Casino Rueda group Colombian Association MIT Gilbert & Sullivan Players Comedy Event MIT Hawaii Club Cort and Corey Johnson MIT Mentor Connection David Ostlund MIT Mystery Hunt David Pritchard MIT Relay for Life David Wang MIT TechLink Deepti Mehta MIT/Wellesley Toons Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity Monique Johnson Dormitory Council Movements in Time Dramashop Muhammad J. Noor East Campus House Government Neha Bhooshan Eastgate Executive Committee Nirupama Rao EC - Bad Ideas Competition Noelle Kanaga Elena Smith NSBE Elizabeth Greenwood Parmesh Shahani European Club Patrick Menard Fahad Kajani Phi Delta Theta Family Housing Committee R. Erich Caulfield French Armada (Mystery Hunt) Ralph Rabbat GAME Rohit Gupta Grains of Rice Sand Mandala May 11, 2004 THE TECH Page 9 ARTS CONCERT REVIEW MITSO Finishes Year With Noble Mahler’s Ninth Long Concert Weighed Down by Dull Pieces Before Intermission By Jeremy Baskin CONTRIBUTING EDITOR two movements, though more brisk, are only it’s just because they put so much of their Brazilian composer. According to the pro- MIT Symphony Orchestra slightly shorter. In sum, it is a piece, as they last gasps of life into them. Beethoven and gram notes, this piece was Op. 630, which Dante Anzolini, conductor say, of epic proportions, even for a composer Schubert took the heroic ending route, while means that Villa-Lobos had plenty of other Arshan J. Gailus ’06, tenor saxophone like Mahler. Mahler took the quiet, searching ending opportunities to demonstrate his composi- Kresge Auditorium The orchestra, bolstered by alums and approach. tional talents. May 7, 8 p.m. hired extras in certain key sections, was up to Anzolini’s players may not have displayed It doesn’t seem, however, that Villa-Lobos ometimes good things have to come the task. Strings sang, trumpets and horns the musical subtlety required to convey 90 actually got dressed and went into the office to an end, even if they were too long blared, and woodwinds poked their heads minutes of late Mahler to an MIT audience. the day he wrote this piece. It has few memo- to start out with. On Friday night, the through. Anzolini did a good job keeping his But can they be blamed? This kind of music rable melodies and is almost completely S MIT Symphony Orchestra presented a forces on the same page, and except for a few took a lifetime for Mahler to compose, so to devoid of any interesting rhythms or har- program whose second half alone was ninety runaway string section episodes, the orchestra be fully understood and internalized, one must monies that imbue his good works. minutes, featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. played together. Particularly noteworthy were look beyond the notes and into the soul of the That said, soloist Arshan J. Gailus ’06, co- The first half consisted of a tenor saxophone the singing trumpet of Rahul B. Sarathy ’03 composer. So who could blame an orchestra winner of last year’s concerto competition, concerto by Villa-Lobos and a world premiere and the brilliant flute playing of Ole M. of 20-year-olds if the performance was mostly played wonderfully. His tenor saxophone was by Mary C. Wright. Nielsen G. correct but emotionally a bit incoherent? Cer- surprisingly — and pleasantly — under- The last of Mahler’s monumental sym- There is something about ninth sym- tainly not me. At least they were taking a whelming. Gailus explored the lyrical reaches phonies, the ninth is subdued, especially by phonies, perhaps it is supernatural, that good stab at great music — after the intermis- of the instrument and at the same time was up Mahlerian standards. The first and last move- makes them supremely difficult. Maybe it’s sion, at least. to the task during the technically challenging ments, each about a half-hour long, are because so many great composers died The first half of the concert, however, was parts of the piece. marked “Andante comodo” and “Adagio” — before completing a tenth — Beethoven, another story: two bland, forgettable pieces. It just troubles me to sit in the audience essentially slow and slower — and the middle Schubert, and Mahler himself — or maybe The program began with the world premiere and listen to a third-rate saxophone concerto of “Lux Domesticus,” a thankfully short but when it could instead be a great piano or vio- nonetheless uninteresting orchestral vignette lin concerto. As I prepare to leave this noble by Mary C. Wright. The piece described in institution of higher learning after four years, musical terms the mundane realities of life — it is barely two months before my graduation a vacuum cleaner was even on stage. But its that the MIT concerto competition has chosen conception and performance did not live up to its first pianist, Percy S. Liang G, among the lofty program notes, a manifesto which about a half-dozen winners in the last four read as follows: years. “To obtain domestic discipline, one must To think I have been deprived of MITSO uphold a daily rigor. Start a pace (almost mili- performances of some of my favorite piano tant, if necessary) with the intent of reaching a concertos by undoubtedly very accomplished steady momentum. Distractions will occur, student soloists so I could hear such unin- but don’t fret — keep the goal in sight. Hold spired pieces as this Villa-Lobos Fantasia and off vacuuming until the end for this is the joy- the Glazunov Violin Concerto, just to name ous moment or “aurora vacuualis,” the revela- two, well, it just makes me a little red in the tion of a universal shag carpet truth and face. order.” But those issues are for another day. Now, I don’t think very many people in the audi- the players of MITSO will take the summer ence experienced any revelations due to off knowing that there is no task too chal- Wright’s music, though I did vacuum my lenging for them; if they can successfully room after the concert, so maybe the piece tackle a difficult masterpiece like Mahler’s wasn’t a total waste. Ninth, then they will no doubt succeed at EDWARD PLATT—THE TECH The other piece on the first half was whatever demanding (and rewarding) reper- Arshan J. Gailus ’06 performs with the MIT Symphony orchestra in Heitor Villa-Lobos’s “Fantasia,” for tenor saxophone and orches- toire that Anzolini throws their way next saxophone concerto “Fantasia” Friday evening in Kresge. tra, by Heitor Villa-Lobos, a 20th-century year.

SUGAR & SPICE staple of bakeries and cafes in Vancouver Island, and in Victoria, you can even get Nanaimo bar ice cream (you haven’t lived until you’ve tried it). A Canadian Delicacy The origins of the bars are unclear. It may have been adapted from various recipes in the Nanaimo Bars Are Layered Chocolate and Custard Vancouver Sun, the “Nanaimo Hospital Cook Book,” or the “Brechin United Church.” By Marissa Cheng the gift consisted of one of my favorite According to the city of Nanaimo, a house- STAFF WRITER foods. wife entered a recipe for the bars into a maga- ne of the best birthday gifts I’ve Nanaimo bars are a Canadian confection, zine contest, and called them “Nanaimo ever received was a plate of specific to Nanaimo, a city in Vancouver Bars.” Shortly thereafter, the recipe won the Nanaimo bars, two months after my Island, British Columbia, as well as the sur- contest, and established the connection O actual birthday. Belated birthday rounding area. The bars have three layers: a between the city and the dessert. gifts, especially surprise belated birthday bottom layer of crushed graham crackers, In 1986, the mayor of Nanaimo held a con- gifts, are always great; but my Nanaimo bar- chocolate, and coconut; a middle layer of cus- test to find the best recipe. The recipe below is addicted self was even happier to see that tard; and a top layer of chocolate. They’re a that of the winner, Joyce Hardcastle. Nanaimo Bars

Bottom Layer second layer and chill in refrigerator. Chill 15 minutes. vanilla. Add graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup unsalted butter Glaze coconut and almonds. Pat firmly and evenly 1/4 cup sugar Variations 4-5 oz. semisweet chocolate into greased 9" square pan. Refrigerate until 5 tbsp cocoa Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars (from Van- 1 Tbsp butter firm, about 1 hour. 1 egg beaten couver’s Lazy Gourmet catering shop) Melt over hot water and spread over layer Filling 1 1/4 cups graham wafer crumbs Bottom layer: two chill. Score chocolate with sharp paring 2 cup sifted icing sugar 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds 1/2 cup butter knife, then cut into squares. 1/4 cup butter, softened 1 cup coconut 1/4 cup sugar 2 tbsp maraschino cherry juice Melt first 3 ingredients in top of double boil- 1 egg Cherry-Almond Nanaimo Bars (from 1/4 tsp almond extract er. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. 1 tsp vanilla Canadian Living, September 1988) 1/3 cup chopped maraschino cherries Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut, 1 tbsp cocoa Bottom layer: In bowl, using electric mixer, beat together and nuts. Press firmly into an ungreased 8" x Mix together and set over boiling water until 1/2 cup butter icing sugar, butter, cherry juice and almond 8" pan. slightly thickened. Stir occasionally. 1/3 cup cocoa extract until smooth. Stir in cherries. Spread Second Layer 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/4 cup sugar over bottom layer. Cover and refrigerate 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 cup shredded coconut 1 egg, beaten until firm, about 1 hour. 2 tbsp plus 2 tsp cream 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped 1 tsp vanilla Glaze 2 tbsp vanilla custard powder Mix and add to above. Press into buttered 9" 1 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate 2 cups powdered sugar square pan so that base is evenly spread. 1 cup shredded coconut 2 tbsp butter Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and Chill 15 minutes. 1/2 cup chopped almonds, toasted In top of double boiler over hot, not-boiling powdered sugar. Beat until light. Spread Filling In heavy saucepan over low heat, cook but- water, melt chocolate with butter, stirring over bottom layer. 1/2 cup peanut butter ter, sugar and egg until thickened and until smooth. (Or melt chocolate with butter Third Layer 2 tbsp soft butter smooth, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. in microwave at 50 percent power for 3 min- 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate 2 tbsp custard powder (Or in microwave-safe bowl, cook same utes, stirring once.) Spread over filling. 2 tbsp unsalted butter 2 cups powdered sugar ingredients, whisking every 30 seconds, at Cover and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. 4 tbsp milk 50 percent until thickened and smooth, Bars can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks or Cool. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over Mix well together and spread over layer one. about 3 minutes) Remove from heat. Stir in frozen several months if well wrapped.

Help out with The Tech! Page 10 THE TECH ARTS May 11, 2004 JAZZ REVIEW Marsalis’ Magic Hour Wynton Marsalis Quartet Celebrates First Blue Note Recording

By Jorge Padilla, Jr. Marsalis was up and down the horn effortless- the concert, all for the better of course. “You For parents, the one hour after the kids go to ly at lightning speeds. Mr. Lewis, who got and Me,” another Marsalis original, was a sleep.” Wynton Marsalis Quartet hotter as the show progressed, was full of Spanish influenced, two-beat, flamenco style The extended piece was four sections long. Symphony Hall melodic, technical, and harmonic surprises. tune. Marsalis introduces new colors that The first, featuring Marsalis, was an intense April 28, 8 p.m. He definitely kept the audience on the edge of included handclaps and arco bass. The tune 4/4 swing representing the time that the kids he Wynton Marsalis Quartet blew the their seats. His playing was meditative and opened with Marsalis and drummer Jackson are “running around and acting crazy.” The roof off Symphony Hall in a spectacu- captivating. He enveloped you in his musical trading clap rhythms, adding flavor to the second section, which featured Heyward, was lar two-hour performance at the end of ideas so much it was as if you were experienc- evening. a medium blues used “to calm the kids down” T April. The group was on that night as ing his musical world right with him. Closing The New Orleans style samba, “Big Fat and a time when the parents share mutual they celebrated the premier of their first album your eyes, you could wrap yourself in his Hen” followed, introducing Boston local and recognition. The third section, which featured under the Blue Note label, “The Magic Hour,” statement to the point that you could walk Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra affiliate, trom- Henriquez and Jackson, was an easy swing and believe me it was. almost every way of the solo with him. bonist Andre Heyward. Heyward, who is also representing “realization” for the parents and Mr. Marsalis makes his label debut with After the tasty opener, Marsalis introduced a winner of the Monk Competition, was an the “quiet bedtime story to put the kids to his remarkable quartet — drummer Ali Jack- his group and quickly proceeded to play excellent addition to the group. His gorgeous sleep.” The final section was the “ballad for son, bassist Carlos Henriquez, and piano phe- another Magic Hour original, “Baby, I Love tone commanded in Symphony Hall, and his reflection” played by Eric Lewis. The most nomenon Eric Lewis. This concert, presented You.” This playful, bouncy ditty was written personality added to the musical diversity of emphatic moment in the concert occurred dur- by FleetBoston Celebrity Series, was part of a by Marsalis in collaboration with Bobby the quartet. This piece also featured Jackson’s ing Lewis’s ballad. It wasn’t the typical, loud, nationwide tour promoting Marsalis’ first jazz McFerrin, who sings on the recording. “That rhythmic prowess. shout-chorus type ending to an exciting con- ensemble studio recording in five years. The song has a two-beat groove kind of swing,” The first half was concluded with a burn- cert. Lewis played the ballad mostly in the talented quartet was nothing less than excep- Marsalis said. ing rendition of Ray Noble’s “Cherokee.” mezzo piano dynamic range with such a beau- tional on that evening as they took Boston The tune was reminiscent of the old Henriquez handled the bass beautifully, walk- tiful sensitivity to music that it truly was a from Kansas City jazz to the hard-bop 1950s Kansas City style as it opened with a stride ing through the changes effortlessly. Jackson time for reflection. to modern jazz in two moving sets. style piano solo. Marsalis was incomparable never relinquished the groove. And then there As expected, the Wynton Marsalis Quartet The mood for the concert was established on this tune. After showing off his dexterity in was Mr. Marsalis who just completely received a standing ovation. They came back from the moment the quartet took the stage. the opener, he showed his beautiful lyrical scorched the hall with his incredible solo. out and performed the beautiful ballad Marsalis, without introductions, acknowledge- side. Also featured on this tune was Carlos The second half was mostly dedicated to “Embraceable You” as an encore. All one ments, or hesitation, kicked the group off with Henriquez, who has been in collaboration the album title track, “The Magic Hour.” could do was close one’s eyes and be taken an original, “Free to Be.” The piece was an with Wynton Marsalis since he was 14. Hen- According to Marsalis, the extended piece away by the music. easy, medium swing, perfect for opening a riquez showed off his skills at the bass, main- “covers the four basic attitudes of jazz: 4/4 One couldn’t help but admire the concern great concert. “Free to Be” featured Marsalis taining the bouncy groove and flying through swing, Afro-Hispanic rhythm, blues, and the and appreciation these men had for jazz and the Monk Competition — an international the changes with fluid ease. By now, as you ballad” and is characterized by “the juxtaposi- music. Marsalis says, “I always try to affirm music competition — winner, Eric Lewis. can imagine, the group was swinging hard… I tion of augmented and diminishing sounds.” jazz — blues and swing, written and impro- Both soloists wasted no time showing off their mean hard! When asked what the magic hour is, he says, vised music.” Yeah, I think you’ve affirmed it, virtuosic technical and musical capabilities. The third tune changed the entire mood of “For kids, the one hour before they go to bed. Mr. Marsalis. RESTAURANT REVIEW The Classy West Side West Side Lounge Cambridge’s West Side Lounge Offers Ambience and Amazing Fried Squid Environment: Lounge By Yao-Chung King toes with Melted Manchego Cheese ($7), before a polite inquiry of our satisfaction thus Service: Attentive yet unimposing Sesame Encrusted Seared Tuna ($19), and Pan far. The tuna, ordered medium rare, was ten- Size: Medium West Side Lounge Seared Scallops on Buckwheat Soba Noodles der and came apart easily, and the firm wasabi Travel: 15 minute walk from Harvard 1680 Massachusetts Ave. ($18), running a total tab of about $70. potatoes provided a sushi feel to the dish. Square Cambridge, MA 02138-1803 As we sat talking across the candlelit table, My companion’s scallops were seared with Dress: Nice (617) 441-5566 a waiter pushed a plate of baguette halves and a sauce perhaps too salty for some. The soba Food (Out of five): Sun.-Wed., 5-10 p.m.; Thurs-Sat, 5-11 p.m. olive oil our way that struck me with its pleas- noodles gave a milder, contrasting taste, Presentation: ★★★ Bar open daily until 1 a.m., except Sunday ant taste and simplicity. Expect the bread here though the noodles couldn’t cut the saltiness Quality: ★★★★ he West Side Lounge is what its name to be good, as the chef and owner previously as well as, say, white rice could. The bland- Value: ★★★ purports it to be: a lounge. Slightly ran a bistro. ness soon overpowered the dish, resulting in Menu Listing: dimmed with a classy yet relaxed feel, The squid came out soon afterwards, fol- tastebud ennui and a small regret in an overall Crazy Spicy Fried Squid, Rhode Island T West Side Lounge lines cushy booths lowed by the tomatoes five minutes later. The good experience. Style ($7) on one side of its narrow restaurant and a full chef prepared the squid perfectly, with a The bottom line: Candlelit for the Fried Green Tomatoes with Melted service bar and banquette on the other. With crispy salty outside and chewy (but not rub- amorously inclined but with an openness to Manchego Cheese on Baby Aragula the main emphasis on the drinks menu (as bery) inside. Served with watercress and aioli ease the pressure of conversation, the West with a Red Onion and Orange Salsa opposed to the food menu), the restaurant (garlic mayo), the overall feel of the appetizer Side Lounge is ideal for a first date. The other ($7) caters better to those looking to sit comfort- was flavorful but surprisingly light. The toma- patrons exhibited no drunkenness and seemed Sesame Encrusted Pan Seared Tuna on ably and drink with friends without the smell toes tasted like one would expect: warm, of the polite and friendly sort, from my limit- Wasabi Mashed Potatoes with a Pouzu of Buffalo wings and disruptive roars from unflavored green tomato with cheese. ed interactions with them. The waitstaff Sauce ($19) Red Sox fans. As we munched on the appetizers and lis- attended to our needs without interruption of Pan Seared Scallops on Buckwheat My companion and I waited a modest five tened to some jazzy rhythms, the waitstaff conversation, and our water glasses never Soba Noodles with Julienne Vegetables minutes to be seated in the packed room and went about unimposingly in the background stayed empty for long. Expect a well spent and a Lobster Mango Sauce ($18) were gently asked for our order after we had bringing food and dishes back and forth while $50-70 for your evening. closed our menus. We decided to splurge, subtly keeping an eye on each table. Note: The fried squid is obligatory for ordering two appetizers and two entrees: Our entrees came minutes after our empty fried squid fans. It’s by far the best I’ve ever Spicy Fried Squid ($7), Fried Green Toma- appetizer dishes were taken away and seconds had, even better than Chau Chau City’s. MCAT 6725(<285678))29(5%5($. Taking the VW0RQWK

August MCAT? 5 0XVWSUHVHQWDG&HUWDLQUHVWULFWLRQVDSSO\6XEMHFWWRDYDLODHQW)5((ELOLW\0$040,7

)($785(6 35,&(6$6 Study with Kaplan this summer! /2:$6 5HVLGHQW0DQDJHU &OLPDWH&RQWUROOHG8QLWV +59LGHR6XUYHLOODQFH 'D\$FFHVV  Classes starting soon 1R6HFXULW\'HSRVLW 0RYH,Q7UXFN$YDLODEOH $0217+ at the Cambridge Kaplan Center! 0RQWK7R0RQWK/HDVHV %R[HV 3DFNLQJ6XSSOLHV

0DVVDFKXVHWWV$YH &RPPHUFLDO6W $5($/2&$7,216 %RVWRQ0$ 0HGIRUG0$ $200 discount for MIT students     who enroll in the Cambridge Kaplan Center’s summer classes! 1HDU6RXWK%D\6KRSSLQJ&HQWHU $FURVVIURP0HDGRZ*OHQ0DOO

*MCAT is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges. **Certain restrictions apply. This space donated by The Tech /2&$7,2161$7,21:,'(86725(,7:::86725(,7&20 May 11, 2004 ARTS THE TECH Page 11

FILM REVIEW ★★ 1/2 ‘Troy’ Falls Dead Peterson Condenses Ancient Mythology into a Long Feature Film

By Kevin Der which makes sense from a ASSOCIATE ARTS EDITOR screenwriter’s point of Troy view since there are far too Screenplay by David Benioff many characters from Directed by Wolfgang Peterson mythology to include and Starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom still have any kind of char- Rated R acter development. Opens May 14 Unlike Hector and saw this movie because I love mythology Paris, who remain honor- and I was interested in the special effects. able and despicable respec- I didn’t realize I would have to look at the tively, Achilles does actu- I unclothed bodies of Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, ally change throughout this or Orlando Bloom in virtually every frame of film, a transformation the movie. Why Wolfgang Peterson did this is which apparently occurs a mystery to me, especially since the swarms over the span of several of thirteen-year-old girls who want to watch days rather than nine or ten that will have to sneak in to do so. That makes years. His two most signif- me laugh. It’s very ironic. icant moments from the lit- Indeed, the abundance of male nudity, erature in my mind were whether it be in a sex scene or a battle scene both included in the movie, — the two categories of scenes in this film — to my shock and approval. in relation to the lack of female nudity (we’re The first is Achilles’ sea- talking about Helen of Troy here) is disturb- goddess mother telling him ing. What is not quite as disturbing, but much that he will either fight in funnier, is watching Orlando Bloom trying to the war and gain immortal deliver a serious line away from the tutelage glory but die, or live a long of Peter Jackson. The entire theater cracked and peaceful life and be up every time he opened his mouth. forgotten. The second I won’t bash the screenplay because I real- moment is when Priam ize how difficult it must have been to translate (Peter O’Toole) visits The Iliad (and parts of The Odyssey) into a Achilles in the Greek camp two hour and forty-five minute script. Parts of to beg for a proper burial the story were omitted or redone, but the for his son Hector. skeletal structure is there. Paris (Orlando In general, I enjoyed the WARNER BROTHERS Bloom), a prince of Troy who happens to be a battle scenes from Troy Brad Pitt as Achilles in “Troy.” cowardly weasel, steals Helen from Menalaus, more than those from similar epics, particular- tles or you won’t. Either you’ll go to see king of Sparta, a Greek state which had been ly Gladiator. The climactic Achilles-Hector male actors’ bodies or you won’t. They drop at war with Troy in the past. As a result, fight is laudable. These smaller, non-computer in a bunch of heroes’ names just for people Menelaus grabs his power-hungry brother graphics fights were a lot more convincing who are listening for them, but it would Agamemnon along with all the soldiers in than shots with tens of thousands of soldiers. probably be more satisfying to play a Star- Greece, and they sail to Troy to get Helen When they rush each other, it just looks like craft use-map-settings game. For those of back. With them is Achilles (Brad Pitt), the two blobs mixing. I don’t know whether these you who end up being disappointed and most deadly Greek warrior, who is arrogant, scenes were made with Massive (animation think it’s Wolfgang Peterson’s fault, just has no loyalties to anyone, and boasts an software used in “Return of the King” to gen- realize that in May 2006, his vision of impressive leap attack. His nemesis is Hector erate realistic scenes involving huge crowds of “Ender’s Game” will hit theaters, and Orson (Eric Bana), brother to Paris and the most people) but it didn’t look very good. Scott Card actually collaborated on the skilled Trojan fighter. No major gods or god- I don’t think much more needs to be said screenplay. Think about that and it’ll be desses makes an appearance in this movie, about this movie. Either you’ll like the bat- okay. This space donated by The Tech

gbmm 3115 BSUT DSPTT SFHJTUSBUJPO bu Nbttbdivtfuut Dpmmfhf pg Bsu boe uif Tdippm pg uif Nvtfvn pg Gjof Bsut

sfhjtufs evsjoh po.mjof qsf.sfhjtusbujpo BQQSPWFE DPVSTF MJTUT ' TDIFEVMF ;

MIT wbq/nju/fev0ysfh

DMBTTFT TUBSU ; uvftebz- tfqufncfs 8- 3115

EFBEMJOF ; gsjebz- tfqufnfs 28- 3115

JOGP ; wbqAnju/fev UNDERGRADUATES

Fospmm jo tfmfdufe dpvstft bu fjuifs pg uiftf obujpobmmz sfdphoj{fe jotujuvujpot gps NJU dsfeju/ Bmm dpvstft bsf qbtt0gbjm/

Tqpotpsfe cz uif Tuvefou Tfswjdft Dfoufs- Efqbsunfou pg Bsdijufduvsf- Wjtvbm Bsut Qsphsbn- Sfhjtusbs”t Pggjdf boe uif Bttpdjbuf Qspwptu gps uif Bsut/ Page 12 THE TECH ARTS May 11, 2004 DANCE REVIEW No Booty in the Pants Dancetroupe’s Spring Show Fails Expectations By Devdoot Majumdar ably uncoordinated girls dressing themselves CONTRIBUTING EDITOR up to a beat. Even worse was a dance to “Vel- his being my last term at MIT, I decid- vet Pants” by Propellerheads. Though it’s an ed that is was high time to discover open question as to what choreographer Bevin the full fury of the on-campus arts Barberich G was trying to achieve, the solos T scene. So, aside from exposing myself in this dance wouldn’t even cut it at a lame to a capella and culture shows, I thought I frat party. might hit up a show that nobody seems to At the very sight of a dance of Metallica’s hate: Dancetroupe. “Enter Sandman,” I was nervous. But, they Now, this only happens to me once or twice didn’t fail me on this one either — ghastly a year. I’ll go to some performance on a whim, doesn’t even begin to describe it. Their cre- and it touches me so that I end up reviewing it. ative epiphany was that they should dance to By the fifth act of Dancetroupe’s performance, Metallica just as they would dance to hip hop, I realized that this was one of those “once in a only with lots of head banging. In all, amount- lifetime” chances that I couldn’t pass up. ed to little more than atavistic twitches in the In short, the Dancetroupe performance last dark, combined with facial expressions that Friday was a disaster of Titanic proportions. read, “I’m about to vomit.” With some exceptions, the dances were uno- In perhaps the most painfully long pieces of riginal, horrendously performed, and numbing- the evening, Yungmoon Chang and Garrett D. ly repetitive. One only wonders why the prolif- Peavy ’04 took Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and ic number of memorably awful dances weren’t brought to it a slow, deliberate, and muddled rooted out in the auditions process. After the performance that, though technically sound, fifth dance, I grabbed a pen from a friend, and were artistically vapid. In a similarly empty about a hopeful smile that rings with: “Please worst of dances, they managed to provide a this article was born. dance, “Devotion” by Monica W. Ho ’04, we like my dance, I know it’s not perfect, but I touching sillhouette or a heavenly halo, for There is a certain motion one can make find another heaping attempt at stirring emotion have problem sets.” what little it was worth. with an arm and an elbow. It’s very similar to gone terribly wrong. Perhaps the corniest On the bright side, however, the few All in all, the take home message is this: if the motion you might make when asking a moment was the choreographer herself stuck in exceptional acts seemed all the more extraor- you’re organizing an on-campus arts event, passing truckdriver to blow his horn. Thinking a pose and sillhouetted, garnering stifled laughs dinary in light of the evening’s more unin- and it’s so long that there’s an intermission, it would be fun to tally the number of elbow rather than the pathos she was going for. spired moments. Seniors William F. Merrick reconsider. This is the last of my reviews for flaps, I was quickly exhausted by the 30 that I I’m not a student of dance here. And I and Vanessa A. Nadal choreographed a dance The Tech, and if I leave this campus with one counted in “Too Much Booty in the Pants!” appreciate it when people can be limber, and that had the genuine feel of a Missy Elliot message, it’s that the hopeful smile is not alone, chorographed by Christina Huang ’06. I realize that it can be very hard. But here’s video. Extremely stylized, the dance was char- worth a damn cent. It appears that the creative diarrhea was my problem — bad is when you watch a per- acterized by constant epidemic for this Dancetroupe performance. formance and there’s a big difference motion that transcend- Enid Choi’s “Esaetpirts” (that would be between what you’re actually seeing and ed the McCormick striptease backwards) gave the audience an what the dancers intend to perform. The prob- elbow flap, named unfashionably corny song and 11 unfashion- lem in many of Dancetroupe’s performances after the dorm from went far beyond which so much trite “bad” — I simply dancing emanates. had no idea what the Justin Timberlake dancers really also managed to intended to perform. escape the evening With 19 acts, unscathed. Though Dancetroupe includ- “Cry Me a River” and ed at least ten too “Rock Your Body” many. One crucial were butchered, “Like problem is just that I Love You” got a too many girls were tribute from some Phi in more than one Kappa Theta boys, dance. One performer among others. They spent some time just even managed to standing in center throw in a visor flip. stage after she had Managing to capture apparently forgotten the dramatic and sud- her part of the dance. den Timberlake signa- Even apart from ture moves, they rep- creativity, the level of resented the very coordination on stage pinnacle of what that night made hop- Asian men are capable scotch look lumber- of on the dance floor. ous. Dances were Another valiant blatantly unsynchro- effort came from nized, and the only Michelle S. Machon consistent element ’04 and perhaps the was the indelible only dance of the smile on almost night that involved every dancer’s face, only women, “Cele- during good bration.” However, moments and bad. perhaps the most pro- And so it dawns on fessional job of the me — more often evening came from than not, you pay that Jonathan Gonda, $6 to see some neigh- Christopher C. Wurts bor or friend of yours ’04, and John C. Head smile. It’s not about ’05, who handled the dancing at all, it’s lighting. For even the

MIT Dance Troupe performed its spring show, Verve, in Little Kresge this past weekend.

Garrett D. Peavy ’04 holds Yungmoon Chang at the end of their dance called “Rock On,” choreographed by Chang.

Shaundra L. Bryant G prances in “Cele- bration,” a dance choreographed by Michelle S. Machon ’04.

Kelvin Chan ’05 and Derek H. Chu ’07 look good in “Really...Ridiculously Good Looking,” which Chu choreographed.

Christina Huang ’06 and Vanessa A. Nadal ’04 (right) show some attitude William F. Merrick’s ’04 dance.

Photography by Wan Yusof Wan Morshidi May 11, 2004 THE TECH Page 13

Call SIPB with Drop by our office questions at x3-7788!. Ask SIPB in W20-557!

Want to work on a group project and have everyone edit a To check files in and out, you use the ci (check-in) and co changes. common set of files? Heard of RCS and CVS, but don’t know (check-out) commands. For example: what they are? This week, we discuss version control systems athena% rcsdiff -r1.1 -r1.2 -u intro.html and explain how to use RCS. co -l filename ci -u filename ======What is version control and why should I use it? RCS file: RCS/intro.html,v Version control systems allow groups of people to work retrieving revision 1.1 on the same set of files. Each person’s changes are logged, so What other RCS commands can I use? retrieving revision 1.2 that other group members can see who has modified the files The command rlog allows you to view the RCS log and diff -u -r1.1 -r1.2 and how they were changed. In addition, files can be locked see the list of changes that have been made. For example: --- intro.html 2004/01/02 03:27:57 1.1 to ensure that group members do not overwrite one another’s +++ intro.html 2004/01/04 05:03:34 1.2 changes. athena% rlog intro.html @@ -1,3 +1,3 @@ The logging of changes also allows changes to be “rolled Deluged with spam? In this column, we back” to previously stable versions, so you can modify a RCS file: RCS/intro.html,v revisit the topic of spam filtering with Spa- working set of files without having to worry about keeping Working file: intro.html mAssassin, and discuss the new changes made to manual backups. Keeping track of different people’s modifi- head: 1.3 -SpamAssassin’s configuration. cations to a collaborative piece of work is almost impossible branch: +MIT’s SpamAssassin configuration. without automatic versioning, so it can be invaluable for any locks: strict group project, including software development, Web design access list: Here, rcsdiff shows the change made between ver- and column writing. symbolic names: sions 1.1 and 1.2 of the file. The line “SpamAssassin’s con- keyword substitution: kv figuration” was removed, and “MIT’s SpamAssassin configu- What version control systems are there, and what are the total revisions: 3; selected revisions: 3 ration” was added. differences between them? description: The two most common version control systems in use ------How can I use RCS with Emacs? now are Revision Control System and Concurrent Versions revision 1.3 After creating the RCS directory as described above, you System. RCS is simpler and provides basic tools for version date: 2004/01/04 21:14:02; author: aerynne; can check in and check out files in Emacs with the keystrokes control, and is often used for simple projects such as the Ask state: Exp; lines: +1 -1 C-x v v. When checking in a file after the first time, Emacs SIPB column. CVS is usually used for larger, more complex Guillotined an erroneous comma. will open a buffer prompting you to enter a change comment. projects, like software development. ------After entering your comment, C-c C-c will end your com- When editing a file stored in RCS, a lock file is created to revision 1.2 ment and check the file back into RCS. prevent others from modifying the file at the same time and date: 2004/01/04 05:03:34; author: kchen; overwriting the edits made. In CVS, on the other hand, many state: Exp; lines: +1 -1 What information and services might be useful to me over people can edit a file at the same time, and they can all merge added MIT’s the summer or upon graduating? their changes into the file when they finish editing. When ------Our May 13, 2003 column at http://www.mit.edu/ conflicting edits are made, they must then decide which edits revision 1.1 ~asksipb/2003columns/2003-05-13-endofterm/ discusses to keep and which to discard. date: 2003/12/29 04:37:46; author: kchen; checking e-mail, sending e-mail, forwarding your MIT mail state: Exp; elsewhere, setting up an autoresponder for your mail, deacti- How can I use basic RCS? Initial revision vation of Athena accounts, alum.mit.edu accounts, and To start using RCS, make a directory named RCS in each ======accessing and backing up your Athena account. directory you wish to use RCS in. Good luck on your final projects and exams! RCS works by the concept of checking out and checking You can see here that the file intro.html has been checked in files. When you first create a file, you check it in to add it in 3 times, twice by user kchen, and once by user aerynne. To ask us a question, send e-mail to [email protected]. to the RCS controlled system. When you want to edit the file, The comments summarizing the changes that they typed upon We’ll try to answer you quickly, and we might address your you can check it out and lock it. This prevents other people check-in are shown as well. question in our next column. You can also stop by our from checking out the same file and overwriting any changes You can also use rcsdiff to see what changed between office in W20-557 or call us at x3-7788 if you need help. you’re making. When you’re done editing the file, you check two versions of the file. The -u option is often useful, as it Copies of each column and pointers to additional it in and unlock it, and only at that point can anyone else displays not only the lines that were changed but also the information will be posted on our Web site: check it out to add their own modifications. lines surrounding those lines to provide context for the http://www.mit.edu/~asksipb/

YOU’RE HIRED?

Let us share in your adventure by being part of our: MIT Graduating Student Survey 2004 http://web.mit.edu/career/www/infostats/graduationsubmit.html

Win 1 of 3 $100 Gift Certificates! May 11, 2004

Page 14

Tr io by Emezie Okorafor

by Brian Loux

by Qian Wang and Jennifer Peng

QED by Brian Lewis May 11, 2004 The Tech Page 15

Dilbert ® by Scott Adams

ACROSS 43 Brought to a close 3 Belt walk? 1 Bonny girl 45 Any time now 4 Adam’s third 33 Stylishly out-of- 5 Tender places 46 Calamitous 5 Ancient period date 10 Listen to 47 Take out the pips 6 Legendary Bruin 34 Plus feature 14 __ of Man 49 Balderdash 7 Equips 37 Beach Boys hit, 15 Threefold 51 Greatest 8 Pass into law “__ John B” 16 Turkey-label Olympian 9 Leon lady 41 Snares letters 53 Green legume 10 Barrel organ 44 Buck or hart 17 Harmonica 54 Beneath the 11 Morales of 48 Squabble 19 Liquid weather waves “N.Y.P.D Blue” 50 Burkina Faso 20 Crocheted coverlet 58 Santa’s ride 12 Point after deuce, neighbor 21 Dressing-down 63 Volvo rival perhaps 52 River of Rouen 23 Floral neckwear 64 Fipple flute 13 Called 54 Mil. wing 25 TV-dinner holder 66 Height: pref. 18 Cease 55 Sodium chloride 26 Put wrongly 67 Disunite 22 Real estate 56 Be gutsy 31 Type of cat or goat 68 Layer of impurities 24 Particulars 57 Picnic pests 35 Contemporary 69 Pose like Charles 26 Acted silently 59 Exxon, once Solution, page 21 Babylonia Atlas 27 Dunne of 60 “The Seven-Year 36 Do goos 70 Nuisances Hollywood __” 38 Sand hills 71 Units of resistance 28 Uses emery 61 Down at the 39 List of dishes 29 Accordion mouth 40 Durkheim or Zola DOWN 30 T.S. from St. 62 Skirt edges 42 Charlie Brown 1 Succotash bean Louis 65 Emma Thompson expletive 2Starting from 32 Where lovers film Crossword Puzzle Crossword

Financing for your venture. Serious business plans wanted. Search 24 stores Contact Greenwich Sterling Group, with 1 click! Box 294, Hull, Mass. 02045 Save up to 70% www.bookhq.com Page 16 THE TECH May 11, 2004 Ninety Percent of Fall Fraternity Pledges Initiated

By Ray C. He consistent with percentages from before 2002, said Frank S. Council, http://rush.mit.edu. beds is still relatively high com- ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR the past four years, he said. coordinator of Fraternities, Sorori- The empty bed number was cal- pared to numbers before 2002. Out of 296 pledges received by No freshmen initiates were able ties, and Independent Living culated assuming graduating fraternities in the fall, 265 have to move into their fraternities in Groups, in March. seniors move out, all juniors and Sanctioned fraternities rush later been initiated and approximately 2002, the first year that all fresh- The estimated number of empty seniors live in the fraternities, an Sanctioned fraternities must 80 percent of these initiates are men were required to live in dormi- beds for the 2004 to 2005 year is inward flux of 80 percent of the find alternate recruitment methods moving into fraternities this fall, tories. As a consequence, the num- 340 among all the fraternities, initiated freshmen class, and con- to sustain themselves. These frater- said David N. Rogers, assistant ber of empty beds in fraternities based on initiation numbers from sistent numbers from the two fra- nities include Delta Kappa Epsilon, dean and director of Fraternities, increased from 190 last year to 260 the office of FSILGs, upperclass- ternities that did not report upper- whose rush privileges were Sororities, and Independent Living this year. men numbers given by individual classmen numbers. revoked for one year, and Lambda Groups. FSILGs received about 290 fraternities, and house capacities Chi Alpha and Theta Delta Chi, The percentage of fraternity ini- pledges in 2002, compared with an from the Interfraternity Council’s Empty beds not consistent each of whom were suspended tiates moving into their houses is average of about 344 for the years rush Web site, available at While there will be an estimated from the next two IFC rushes. 340 empty beds in the entire frater- The revocation of rush privi- nity system, some houses have leges will not necessarily put an filled most of their beds, shown by end to the sanctioned fraternities, the fact that they received no Rogers said. The fraternities will, Fraternity Membership money from MIT’s financial transi- however, “have to be creative,” he tion subsidy. said. DKE, LCA, and TDC must Fraternity House Capacity 2004 2005 2006 2007 Total Undergrad “Some got no money because of rush after the other fraternities. Alpha Delta Phi 42 N/A N/A N/A 6 N/A how well they did,” Rogers said. “I Rogers would not comment on Alpha Epsilon Pi 44 12 10 13 6 41 think fraternities are doing very whether or not the magnitude of Alpha Tau Omega 49 13 11 18 12 54 well adapting to the new recruit- the sanctions were fair during a Beta Theta Pi 45 14 10 5 10 39 ment style.” time when fraternities have had Chi Phi 48 9 10 14 13 46 Other fraternities did not do increasingly more empty beds. Delta Kappa Epsilon 40 8 12 1 9 30 nearly as well filling their beds and “It’s not my job to comment on Delta Tau Delta 48 11 13 14 16 54 will consequently require more judicial cases,” he said. “We have Delta Upsilon 42 11 9 13 13 46 support from the financial transi- an extremely well-framed and Kappa Sigma 55 16 16 4 14 50 tion subsidy, which ends after next appropriate judicial committee. We Lambda Chi Alpha 40 N/A N/A N/A 8 N/A year. The overall number of empty support their decisions.” No. 6 Club 45 13 18 10 17 58 Nu Delta 30 7 9 3 4 23 Phi Beta Epsilon 45 17 21 20 11 69 Phi Delta Theta 40 12 12 16 13 53 Phi Kappa Sigma 44 5 8 7 15 35 Phi Kappa Theta 35 13 12 13 12 50 Phi Sigma Kappa 56 13 17 21 7 58 Pi Lambda Phi 38 9 5 14 7 35 Sigma Chi 31 11 7 9 12 39 Sigma Nu 42 13 10 9 7 39 Sigma Phi Epsilon 45 10 6 6 3 25 Tau Epsilon Phi 36 5 7 1 3 16 Theta Chi 33 10 8 12 13 43 Theta Delta Chi 45 10 5 10 2 27 Theta Xi 38 11 10 7 7 35 Zeta Beta Tau 47 15 14 16 15 60 Zeta Psi 54 9 18 11 12 50 Average 42.9 11.1 11.1 10.7 9.9 43 N/A - numbers not available from fraternity Web sites and not given by fraternities when contacted *averages do not take into account columns with N/A values

This space donated by The Tech

May 11, 2004 THE TECH Page 17 Supporters Plan Campaign To Help Keep Pub Open

Thirsty, from Page 1 the logical ones are under Dean Col- being willing to take on another place besides the special program- Mohan said that compared to the bert or Dean Benedict,” he said. pub, Lock said. ming,” said Pollock. “We provide a Thirsty, other bars fall short in which William J. Mckinney, “A lot of the offices have been The Muddy Charles is not in service that goes much beyond because, aside from the Muddy, manager of the Muddy Charles Pub reluctant to take on the Thirsty danger of closing because it is for- that.” they are off-campus, expensive, and in Walker Memorial, would oversee because of issues about oversight,” mally a part of the GSC and has a “there are no MIT people.” Mean- Thirsty Ear operations for the Lock said. “No one wants to be half-time manager, Pollock said. Customers would miss Thirsty while, he said, the Muddy appeals to remainder of the term. liable.” “There is a perceived stability Jason R. Brown G, who lives at an “older crowd” and feels “a little “If no home for the Thirsty Ear The pub is currently managed by there,” Pollock said. “The Thirsty Tang Hall, said he visits the Thirsty bit more official.” Pub can be found somewhere within an executive committee composed Ear is willing to go that structure, “maybe once a month or so.” Smithnosky said he appreciates the administration, it’s set to close of graduate students that is a subset and we believe we can support that Brown, who is graduating in June, the informal atmosphere of the pub. its doors when the temporary agree- of the Ashdown House executive kind of manager, but we don’t have said, “I like the place,” and if he “You can just kind of show up and ment that was set up in February committee, Pollock said. one currently.” were to stay at MIT and the Thirsty it doesn’t matter,” he said, referring expires” on June 1, Pollock said. The pub has been managed by However, Pollock said that even were to close, he “would miss the to his t-shirt and wind pants. “It’s a Benedict, Colbert, and Mckinney the off-campus housing office in the if Mckinney were to agree to take atmosphere and the camaraderie that place where you come with your could not be reached for comment. past, and the housemasters of Ash- on the Thirsty Ear, it would still can be developed here.” friends and don’t spend $40 when down House also used to hold the only be open for special events and “Since I live in Boston, I don’t you go out.” Pub committee reviews Thirsty administrative account. Until recent- not for normal daily functions. come as much,” said Jesse M. “There’s something to be said The Pub Oversight Committee ly, all the money had been managed “The effort required to keep this Smithnosky ’04. He said if he lived for being surrounded by MIT stu- was formed in January to evaluate in an outside checking account. running may not be wise if it’s only on campus, he might be more upset dents,” Smithnosky said. the “presence and future roles of available for special events and pro- about the prospect of the Thirsty The Thirsty is “a nice on-campus pubs on campus” and find “a way Pub is still ‘self-sustainable’ grams,” Pollock said. “As a grad closing. “I’d be sad if they closed,” venue for people looking to go out for the pubs to operate in a way Pollock stressed that the possi- student volunteer, I wouldn’t want he said, but “I wouldn’t stand up with friends,” Pollock said. that’s legally responsible and safe bility of closing the pub is not the to put in the hours I do helping out and fight for it.” “The Thirsty has a very informal for MIT,” Lock said. result of any “irresponsibility” or at the administration of the pub if it Much of the Thirsty’s following feel,” Mohan said. It’s like “this pub “All of the pubs on campus were financial difficulties, but instead the were only open for special programs comes from Monday trivia nights. is the home, and that pub [the being reviewed as a result of the result of the “administration’s and events.” “Two-thirds of the times I come here, Muddy] is the workplace.” new pub being installed in the Stata unwillingness to support the pub “It’s not known if it’s a workable it’s for trivia night,” Smithnosky said. Pollock said the Thirsty “offers Center,” Pollock said. with a permanent home.” solution,” Lock said. “It does retain “It’s the only excuse I can think of to completely different hours” from Since then, “the graduate student Lock said that the Thirsty Ear is the most attended features of the go out drinking on a school night.” the Muddy Charles and possibly the office has been handling the “completely self-sustainable” and is pub, it retains the most important “I come here with my girlfriend soon-to-open pub in the Stata Cen- accounts and providing a manager” not losing money. “They generally student life benefits.” to play darts,” Akshay Mohan G ter. The Thirsty “appeals to graduate for the Thirsty Ear so that MIT price the drinks to where they can said. “It’s the only place where they students and older undergraduates,” would have more oversight of its operate a reserve account in case Grassroots campaign planned have free darts.” who often visit pubs at later hours. operations, Lock said. equipment breaks,” and so they can Lock said that poster campaigns Mohan said he only visits the The Muddy closes at 11 p.m. on “The structure has worked very pay the staff, said Lock. and a petition drive are being Thirsty “rarely,” but “I think it’s the weeknights; the Thirsty stays open well, but it is not being considered “Even under closer scrutiny, we planned, and that the pub’s execu- one place I have for hanging out until 1 a.m. or later. as an option that could be renewed,” are covering all of our expenses, even tive committee will be having an with my friends… when I have to Jennifer Krishnan contributed to Pollock said. the cost of a manager,” said Pollock. emergency meeting today. discuss stuff.” the reporting of this article. Lock said that Benedict and Col- “The pub has shown that it can exist “What we want to do is really bert told the oversight committee with greater oversight, but that option raise a grassroots effort so that the that in addition to not being willing isn’t even being considered.” community has a chance to show to host the pub’s accounts, “they Lock said that Colbert would Deans Colbert and Benedict how don’t want the pub to be under any like to see the Thirsty Ear become important the pub is and get them to of their umbrellas,” eliminating the part of the Muddy Charles and reconsider,” Lock said. Free tickets for housing and dining offices and the “wants to see the pub remain open “The real purpose of the Thirsty Graduate Student Council as possi- for quiz night, for live music events, Ear is to provide a place where ble administrative account hosts for and for departmental or private members of the community can go MIT Students! the pub. events,” but he doesn’t want it to be after work, hang out with their made possible by “We don’t care too strongly open at its current level. friends, have a drink, and not be where we end up in the administra- Even keeping the pub open for paying the general Boston prices,” The Council for the Arts at MIT tion, so long as our doors remain special events would depend on the Pollock said. open,” Pollock said. However, “all manager of the Muddy Charles “There’s so much value to the Boston Modern Orchestra Project presents the next generation of prominent American composers and brings to light the energy and Have a fabulous summer! creativity of those finding their niche Next

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

ELENA RUEHR Sky Above Clouds ()

DAVID RAKOWSKI Persistent Memory ()

AUGUSTA READ THOMAS Aurora () Ursula Oppens piano

STEPHEN HARTKE Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra “Landscapes with Blues” () Graduating Seniors Richard Stoltzman clarinet EVAN ZIPORYN TBA () Consolidate World Premiere Your Commissioned by the Catherine and Paul Student Loans Today Buttenwieser Foundation and save more each month! Program Notes :pm with the evening’s composers Did you know you will pay more in interest when you consolidate eligible student hosted by MIT faculty member Elena Ruehr loans through the Federal Direct Consolidation Program compared to when you BMOP composerinresidence consolidate with the Student Loan Consolidation Center (SLCC)?

It’s true. You don’t have to pay more in interest because SLCC offers some of the best borrower benefits in the industry. Tickets may be picked up (in person only) By consolidating with SLCC you can keep more of your money at the MIT Office of the Arts (E) each month and reduce your interest rate at the same time. If you are graduating this year please call the SLCC Monday Friday am pm toll-free number today at 800-864-7053 and we will help you PAY LESS now. One ticket per valid MIT student ID www.slccloans.com Page 18 THE TECH May 11, 2004 Grant Made Leaders, 2 CENT COPY DAY Stood Up for Students Grant, from Page 1 ple in situations very actively” and May 12, 2004 “was among my more colorful col- agencies, including NASA, NATO, leagues,” he said. the Atomic Energy Commission, Many of Grant’s colleagues also and the Department of Defense. found his physical condition “So many of his graduates... remarkable, Sadoway said. Grant went on to very high positions of was accepted to Carnegie Mellon leadership in industry,” said Donald University on a football scholarship R. Sadoway, professor of materials for his undergraduate education, “THANKS” science and engineering. Grant and he later remained active enough “had a unique ability to foster lead- to beat most of his students at foot- ership,” he said. ball, even after he retired, Allen Grant was also “someone who said. To ALL Students for would stick up for his students,” Grant is survived by four chil- a GREAT semester! Allen said. “He engaged with peo- dren. All self-service copying Eat your bacon! 2 Cents per side (8.5x11/20 lb white paper/B&W copies) There will be lots of help to assist with any last minute reports or theses!

All Day Wednesday 11-004 W20 E52-045 8am-7pm 10am-11pm 8am-5pm

COPYTECH COPYTECH COPYTECH May 11, 2004 THE TECH Page 19

Fair Trade Coffee Sodexho will sell only fair trade certified Green Mountain brand coffee beginning this fall, following the recent fair trade campaign by the Students for Labor Justice, said Jean Walsh G, a member of the group. Join The Tech, Sodexho provides food service at several loca- News tions on the MIT campus, including the Building 4 Cafe, Lobdell Food Court, and Dome Cafe. Briefs Walsh said that a percentage of the coffee offered by Green Mountain is fair trade coffee, and before the man-eating Sodexho has agreed to purchase only that coffee for its MIT ser- vices. Fair trade “is a certification system that guarantees that farmers were paid a fair price for their product,” Walsh wrote in an e-mail. pineapples come after The current fair trade price of coffee is $1.26 per pound, compared with the commodities market price of $0.50 to $0.60 per pound, she wrote. Walsh said that Sodexho felt encouraged to increase its fair you. trade coffee offerings after a representative attended a teach-in ses- sion and saw strong student support for the initiative. Sodexho Manager James Gubata could not be reached for comment. The increase in cost because of the switch to exclusively fair trade Green Mountain coffee would be about one or two cents per cup, Walsh said. She said she was unsure if Sodexho would absorb that cost. E-mail [email protected] “We’re really happy about this,” she said. —Jenny Zhang

Library Fees The MIT libraries will be raising its late fines, effective July 1, 2004. The late fines for 28-day loan items will increase from 25 cents per day to 50 cents per day, while the late fines for reserve materials will increase from $1 per hour to $3 per hour. The changes are being made “to provide a greater incentive for patrons to return their books on time,” said Heather M. Denny, communications coordinator for MIT Libraries. “We’ve discovered that the current rates aren’t enough of an incentive.” “Some of the materials are being held onto longer than they should be,” Denny said, and “we just want to make sure the materi- als are available for other patrons.” There hasn’t been any noticeable recent increase in late returns, she said. Only about fifteen percent of books are returned late, she said. The four-day grace period for 28-day loan items and the 15-minute grace period for reserve items will not change, she said. —Kathy Lin The Tech This space donated by

BMW 3 Series FrCeomrt ified$27,635* Pre-Owned Certified mover bmwusa.com The Ultimate 1-800-334-4BMW Driving Machine® Certified shaker

Certified no more mac & cheese

Certified acceleration

Certified rush

Certified freedom

Certified bring it on

Certified Pre-Owned BMW

Certified only at an authorized BMW center. Get warranty protection* up to 6 years or 100,000 miles. Get flexible leasing and financing options. Get pure BMW.

search up-to-date, extensive inventory at bmwusa.com *Protection Plan provides coverage for up to 2 years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first) from the date of the expiration of the 4 year/50,000 mile BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty. See participating BMW passenger car center for details. For more information, call 1-800-334-4BMW, or visit bmwusa.com ©2004 BMW of North America, LLC.The BMW name and logo are registered trademarks. Page 20 THE TECH May 11, 2004 Fewer Int’l Students Apply, Are Admitted for nearly all of the students that end Grad Admits, from Page 1 up attending MIT for mechanical engineering, she said. School of Management and PhD stu- “We’ll see how the funding dents in the Department of Electrical goes before we decide” whether to Engineering and Computer Science, reduce the number of students the but do not include EECS Master of department admits next year, Engineering students. Regan said. Thirty-three percent of admitted The Department of Aeronautics students are women, and five percent and Astronautics admitted 131 peo- are under-represented minorities. ple this year, and 130 last year, said These percentages do not represent a Barbara Lechner, academic adminis- change from last year’s numbers. trator in the department, in an e-mail. However, this year saw a decline Admission varies by department in the number of Aero/Astro accept- The Department of Electrical ed offers. Last year, 83 students THOMAS MAXISCH Libby Larsen’s “The Nothing That Is” with Thomas Jones, baritone, premiered at the chamber cho- Engineering and Computer Science accepted offers whereas this year rus concert on Saturday, May 8th. admitted 39 fewer students this year, only 77 did. a reduction of 17 percent from last A reduction in the number of year. Institute fellowships as a result of the Arthur C. Smith, professor of budget cuts has caused other depart- electrical engineering and computer ments to reduce the number of stu- science, said that the department — dents they admit, Provost Robert A. which has grown by a couple hun- Brown said at the State of the Insti- dred students over the last few tute address last week. years — is now trying to reduce its size. International admits also decline “Our real problem is that we have The number of international stu- too many graduate students for the dents admitted this year declined by number of faculty” in the EECS 20 percent. department, and students are not able The decline is partially a result of to find advisors, he said. a thirteen percent drop in the number Other departments admitted about of international students applying for the same number of students as last admission, Johnson said. year, despite the reduced number of In addition, this decline in appli- applicants. cants and offers is consistent with a The Department of Mechanical national trend. Sixty percent of Engineering admitted 212 students American research universities this year, a negligible difference reported a decline in applications from the 211 admitted last year. from international students from The number of offers remains the 2003 to 2004, according to The same despite a 17 percent decline in Economist. the number of departmental appli- Delays in visa processing and cants this year. stricter immigration laws have also Mechanical engineering adminis- led to this decline in foreign students BEN GALLUP—THE TECH trator Leslie Regan said that the studying in the United States, The Tux, the Linux penguin, and the GNU gnu greet visitors to Friday’s Stata Center dedication. The for- number of students that applied last Economist noted. merly Windows-based public terminals in the Stata Center Gates Lobby had been hacked to run Linux. year, 834, was “extraordinarily high” Despite the drop in applications and that this year’s number, 689, was from international students this year, closer to previous years. Johnson is optimistic about MIT’s The department has not had to reputation abroad. MIT is still decrease the number of students it “looked on in the world as the place admits because funding is available to come,” Johnson said. This space donated by The Tech May 11, 2004 THE TECH Page 21 Admissions Waitlist Cancelled By Kathy Lin Jones wrote. “higher yield to account for this” NEWS EDITOR “Basically, we’re hot this year, and thought that the projection was The Class of 2008 is currently which is an excellent place to be in “generous,” though apparently it over-enrolled, and Dean of Admis- the long run,” she wrote. was “not as high as we needed,” sions Marilee Jones predicts that the Jones wrote. actual class size will exceed the Policy changes create higher yield A second possible reason for the enrollment target of 1,030 by about Jones attributed the high yield to higher yield is that this year 54 per- 60 students. changes in the early action policy of cent of the admitted students were Yesterday, the admissions other schools, a lower percentage of male, up from 51 percent for the office decided that they would not admitted women, and a higher Cam- class of 2007, and in general, “men accept any students from the wait- pus Preview Weekend yield. yield higher than women,” Jones list, and “those admitted prefrosh This year, Harvard, Stanford, and wrote. we have not yet heard from” can no Yale all adopted a new policy, Finally, a record 80 percent of longer accept their offers of admis- known as single-choice early action. pre-frosh who came to CPW accept- sion, Jones wrote in an e-mail. Under this system, students that ed their admissions offers, compared Admitted students were supposed apply early action to those schools with a previous record yield of 75 to mail their enrollment decisions are not allowed to apply to any other percent. by May 1. schools early, though the application In March, Jones told The Tech remains non-binding. Class size expected to change that the admissions office anticipated As a result, students had to The size of the class is expected tapping into the waiting list. “We choose among schools that they to change depending on financial aid made a calculated decision that we wanted to apply to early, and only extensions and admittees changing wanted to go to the waitlist this students for whom MIT was their their minds about enrolling at MIT year,” she said. top choice among early action over the summer, Jones wrote. The Tech Out of 10,464 applicants, a total schools applied to MIT, she wrote. “With any luck,” over the sum- of 1,664 were offered admission, “When we calculated the original mer, more than the typical 20 stu- and the yield was projected to be 61 yield expectation, we had no way of dents will change their minds and percent in March. knowing how many of those schools’ decide not to come to MIT, Jones Instead, the admissions office [early action] admits would be in our wrote. saw “an unprecedented 66% yield of regular action pool,” she wrote. Marissa Vogt contributed to the admits, up from 59% last year,” The admissions office projected a reporting of this story. This space donated by Smile!

Solution to Crossword from page 15 P ostbaccalaureate Premedical Program

You want to go to medical school, you have your B.A., but the only science course you’ve taken has been Physics for Poets. We have a program The Sloan Subject Prioritization System for you. Bidding Dates for Fall, 2004 Classes

http://sloanbid.mit.edu Leave password field blank, create new password under 'Personal Information'

Institute-wide bidding for Sloan subjects: Columbia University’s Opens 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 12 Postbaccalaureate Closes 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 21 Premedical Program is America’s oldest and best. Waitlist-Only Round for closed Sloan subjects: Discover why our Opens 9:00 a.m., Friday, July 30 graduates have an 85% Closes 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 7 placement rate in American medical schools. Call: Waitlists for closed Sloan classes are part of the Course Bidding System, beginning May 12. Please contact Tara Walor, [email protected], if you have any questions (800) 890-4127 regarding Sloan Course Bidding.

[email protected] Successful bids appear on your Registration Form on September 7 and www.columbia.edu/cu/gs/postbacc will be posted on the bidding website as of July 14 -- write down your password to check results! COLUMBIA School of General Studies Page 22 THE TECH SPORTS May 11, 2004

Red Sox Win, Put Royals To Shame

The Red Sox won the series this past weekend against the Kansas City Royals 2–1.

(left) Boston Red Sox shortstop Pokey Reese rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park last Saturday. Reese, known better for his glove than his bat, also hit an inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning. The Red Sox beat the Royals 9–1.

(below) Manny Ramirez celebrates after scoring the game-winning run from first base in the bottom of the ninth inning after the Kansas City Royals catcher failed to tag him. The Boston team came back from a huge deficit in the 8th and 9th innings to win the first game, 7–6.

PETER R. RUSSO—THE TECH DMITRY PORTNYAGIN—THE TECH May 11, 2004 SPORTS THE TECH Page 23 Men’s Crew Races into Rough Winds, Competition

Crew, from Page 24 ’06 (stroke), Michael Whitaker race of the day, followed by ’06, Adam S. Kaczmarek ’06, Ian Boston University, and MIT last. mouth at 6:24.7 and MIT (Craig J. H. Whitehead CMI, Harry J. Head Coach Gordon Hamilton Rothman ’05 (coxswain), John J. Lichter ’06, Matthew G. Richards remarked on Sunday after the last Cooley ’05 (stroke), Robert A. ’04, Benjamin R. Howell ’07, and race that “the last three opponents Figueiredo ’05, R. Andrew Hill Brendan J. Smith ’06 (bow)), we have faced have been ranked” ’05, John B. Miller ’05, Christo- which finished with a time of very high nationally. “It would pher P. Wodzicki G, John J. 7:34.8. have been nice to be able to stay Bergin ’06, Alexander C. Ince- On Sunday, the same crews with these excellent crews a little Cushman G, and Patrick R. Buck- raced Wisconsin again and Boston longer, but, I believe that we ley G (bow)) at 6:45.0. University in the Jablonic Cup. showed some improvement, espe- The results for the 2nd Varsity With rough conditions for the first cially on Sunday against Wiscon- were similar, Wisconsin won by a 1000 meters, and a gusting head- sin and BU. “ fair margin ahead of Dartmouth wind howling across the Basin, all “We are looking forward to our and MIT (Marcos I. Flores ’05 Crews gave a valiant performance. league championships on May (coxswain), Christopher R. Rhodes Wisconsin once again won every 16th,” he said.

The men’s and women’s crew teams competed in their final home races of the season on Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2. The men’s teams rowed in the Cochrane Cup on Saturday against Dartmouth College and the University of Wisconsin, and on Sunday against Wisconsin and Boston University. The women’s teams rowed on Saturday against Radcliffe and BU.

(above) Go Tech — Four paddles of the women’s varsity light- weight eight line up during a race Saturday, May 1.

(left) Women’s varsity lightweight eight team member Shutsu K. Chai ’06 rows during a race against Radcliffe.

(above) Marika Page, assistant women’s varsity lightweight coach, yells instructions to her team during warmups, Saturday, May 1.

(above right) Two Canadian geese fly past a Boston Univer- sity shell waiting at the starting line.

(right) Martin E. Harrysson ’07 (center) and teammates on the freshman heavyweight crew team wrap up a race Sunday, May 2. The boat finished behind teams from Wisconsin and BU.

Photography by Peter R. Russo Page 24 THE TECH May 11, 2004 SPORTS Crew Teams Improve, But Can’t Win Despite Efforts By Annemarie N. Grandke ends ago at the Knecht Cup, in TEAM MEMBER New Jersey. This past weekend was a busy After having raced the Radliffe one for MIT Crew. 8, the MIT Varsity 8 immediately All four teams participated in split into fours, to compete against races either at home Radcliffe’s A and B 4s. This race or on the road. The proved to be one of the most excit- Womens’ Teams and ing of the entire day, with all four the Men’s Heavy- crews very close for the first 500 weight Squad com- meters. By the 1000 meter mark, peted at home on Sat- the MIT A four (Laura C. Harris urday against opponents from ’07 (stroke), Kimberly L. Harrison universities including Radcliffe, ’07, Annemarie N. Grandke ’04, Boston University, Wisconsin and Elina Groberman ’04 (bow), and Dartmouth. The Lightweight Jeanna Q. Liu ’07 (coxswain)) was Women and the Openweight close on Radcliffe’s stern, and Women also competed at home continued to close the gap as they against crews from Radcliffe, and raced past the boathouse. The MIT the Openweights additionally also four put on an aggressive sprint for raced Boston University. last few hundred meters, but in the The Women’s Lightweight end narrowly lost the race by 2.5 Team raced a First Eight (Jeanna seconds. Q. Liu ’07 (coxswain), Laura C. The Openweight Women also Harris ’07 (stroke), Kimberly L. raced against Radcliffe and BU. Harrison ’07, Shutsu Chai, ’06, Varsity fielded two boats, eight Elina Groberman ’04, Annemarie and four person. Competing N. Grandke ’04, Kathleen Yeh ’07, against some of the best crews in Cynthia Lin ’07, and Sarah F. the nation, the eight (Ruth C. Newman ’06 (bow)) against Rad- Catallo ’05, Lauren A. Jones ’06, cliffe’s First Eight, which is cur- Kathy E. Hufford ’05, Erin PETER R. RUSSO—THE TECH rently ranked 1st in the nation. Matthewson ’05, Teresa W. Shyr The men’s varsity heavyweight rowers emerge from beneath the Harvard Bridge during a Cochrane Cup Radcliffe won the race with a time ’05, Kavitha S. Ramaswamy ’04, race on the Charles River, Saturday, May 1. The team finished behind Dartmouth College and the Uni- of 7:52.51, while MIT finished Melissa W. Gregson ’06, and versity of Wisconsin. second with a time of 8:20.51, Kelsey Y. Vandermeulen ’06 with ended up coming third to Rad- ty Four (Jaryn E. Finch ’04, said, “we have continued to push which was an improvement over a coxswain Jessica E. Chiafair ’05) cliffe (7:06.72) and BU (7:17.09) Jeanette C. Fershtman ’04, Akua closer to them and narrow the huge race against Radcliffe two week- had a good performance, but with a time of 8:01.80. The Varsi- A. Nti ’06 and Veena G. gap that existed in the fall.” Ramaswamy ’06 with coxswain Senior Rower Groberman, a Maria E. Tanner ’04) also had a member of both the Varsity Eight good race, but came in last with a and A Four, was similarly pleased: time of 9:17.24. “It seems that just as with the While neither team recorded Four’s race, we’re running out of any wins, team members and room. With consistent summer coaches from all Crews were training and new blood on the team nonetheless excited about the next year, the potential should get results of this weekend’s races. converted into results.” Lightweight Coach Buzz Congram Both women’s teams will trav- said after the races on Saturday el on Saturday to participate in the that “I continue to be impressed annual Easter Sprints Champi- with the character of the Light- onships on the Cooper River in weight Women’s Crew in my first NJ. year of coaching them. Their determination to row better and to Men’s Crews Fare No Better race harder each week is inspiring On Saturday, the Heavyweight to me.” Men’s Crews faced tough competi- Congram noted that MIT was tion at home against Dartmouth handcapped racing a school like and the University of Wisconsin Radcliffe, where most of the row- for the Crochane Cup. Both the ers are recruited straight out of first and second varsity boats had high school: “This is a young, solid races, but ended up losing to inexperienced crew comprised pre- these nationally ranked crews. dominantly of freshmen and In the first Varsity Eight race, PETER R. RUSSO—THE TECH sophomores who had never rowed Wisconsin won with a very fast The women’s varsity lightweight rowers try to catch up to a Radcliffe boat during a race on Saturday, before they came to MIT.” time of 6:17.3, followed by Dart- May 1. The team lost, finishing the 2000m course 28 seconds behind Radcliffe in 8:20.51. “In each of our four meetings with Radcliffe since the fall,” she Crew, Page 23 The Royals Choke and the Sox Regain Momentum By Brian Chase and Yong-Yi Zhu horn, of all people, homer to right field and tie change, as a huge sixth inning by the Red skills while replacing the injured Nomar SPORTS EDITOR AND COLUMNIST the game 6–6. As if that wasn’t enough, he Sox broke open the game and netted Curt Garciaparra. Nomar, who was at batting The Red Sox had a series of games walked Manny Ramirez with only one out (the Schilling his fourth win of the season and practice, said that he is with the team just to against the Kansas City Royals over the one out was David Ortiz, who had a horrible Jimmy Gobble his first loss. David McCarty be back on the field with his teammates. He weekend which turned out to be much closer night, striking out at least three times.) also added a two-run home run in the eighth. wants to let them know that things are pro- and more entertain- At this point, MacDougal was mercifully The Sox batted around in the bottom of the gressing well as he works out for 4 hours a ing than anyone yanked, but the Red Sox weren’t finished yet. sixth, earning themselves five runs and a six- day in the gym. Nomar says that he will Column might have The next pitcher, Scott Sullivan, faced Jason run lead. The inning was highlighted by return to the lineup when he can carry out thought, given that KC came into the series Varitek, who Sox Manager Terry Francona Pokey Reese’s second home run of the game, routine tasks without causing further injury. in last place in the American League Cen- pinch hit for Gabe Kapler. On the very first a shot over the Green Monster in left field. On the pitching side of the ball, Sox starter tral, and the Red Sox led the AL East. pitch from Sullivan, Varitk popped a double This was by far the easier of Reese’s two Schilling was spectacular. Curt kept the Sox down the right field base line. Ramirez, who home runs on the day. In the previous inning, in the game early and pitched all nine innings Friday: Sox come back to beat the Royals had moved to second on a loose pitch from Reese hit a ball sharply into right field, bounc- for his first complete game of the season. In Friday’s game, in fact, the Royals MacDougal, made it to home without even ing towards the stands. Juan Gonzalez, the Varitek, who was catcher for the Red seemed to Have the Red Sox well in hand. sliding, and the Sox had pulled off the mirac- Royals’ right fielder, charged the ball, only to Sox, said that Schilling was “in the zone Jeremy Affeldt, the Royals pitcher, went seven ulous comeback, winning 7–6. The Royals have it slip by and hop deeper into right field. with all of his pitches.” Varitek also said innings into the game allowing only two Red had blown a game yet again. By the time Gonzalez had fielded the that Schilling’s performance was “his best Sox runs, both in the third. And the top of the It it encouraging for the Red Sox this ball, Reese had already rounded third base altogether outing,” and his brilliance “came Royals order tagged Sox pitcher Wakefield for season to see themselves in a position where and was coming home. He slid just past the at the right time” as he “kept [the Red Sox] 4 runs in the 5th. Together with two unearned their bullpen held up and won the game over tag of catcher Benito Santiago. This was in it long enough to win the game for us.” runs earlier in the game, the Royals took a another team’s. Timlin’s efforts looked a far Reese’s first inside-the-park home run and It was a surprise to see Schilling trot out comfortable 6–2 lead into the eighth inning. cry from the travesties of the bullpen-by- the first two home run game of his career. to finish the game in the ninth, as he threw a Then it all fell apart for the Royals, committee that the Sox tried last year. Asked afterwards if he was now considered total of 120 pitches, 85 of which were strikes. though. Affeldt, showing obvious signs of one of the bigger Sox hitters because of Satur- But then, at that point, the game was 9-1. exhaustion, let two more runs score in the Saturday: Sox earn solid win over Royals day’s performance, Reese responded, “No, I’m Schilling said he simply wanted to eat up eighth before he was yanked for reliever On Saturday, the arms of Curt Schilling not a power hitter by no means. I leave that to enough innings. After the sixth, he was count- Jason Grimsley. That set up the following and the legs of Pokey Reese helped to spark Millar and Ortiz and Manny and those guys.” ing the number of outs he needed to get scenario: ninth inning, Royals lead 6–4, the the Boston Red Sox to their second win Despite his two home runs, Pokey stated, through the entire game, and he said that he top of the order batting for both teams, and against the Kansas City Royals this time by “I hate day games. But I just got up and merely “worked backwards from nine.” He Red Sox closer Mike Timlin and Royals the score of 9-1. came here.” And when asked about any rou- also mentioned that the weather was kind to closer Mike MacDougal coming in. The game Saturday between the Sox and tines he will employ in the future, he simply him, as it was cool enough outside to allow Timlin did his job, and retired the first three the Royals looked like it would come down responded that “I just got an energy bar and him to stay strong throughout the entire game. Royals batters 1–2–3. When MacDougal came to the final innings, as the night before. The a Gatorade and I just went out and played.” The Sox hope to continue their offensive up, however, he wasn’t nearly as effective. He Sox were only leading by one run coming Pokey Reese is known for his defense, dominance this week against the Cleveland walked Johnny Damon, and the let Mark Bell- into the sixth. But that would quickly but Saturday he flashed a bit of his offensive Indians and Toronto Blue Jays.