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Volume 120, Number 49 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Friday, October 13, 2000 Humanities School Receives $75 Million Most of Sahin’s $100 Million Goes to HASS
By Laura McGrath Moulton Sahin Fund can be transformatory NEWS EDITOR for the SHASS,” Khoury said. The School for Humanities, Describing the establishment of Arts, and Social Sciences got a the fund as “monumental,” Khoury huge birthday present when Presi- said that although he knew of the dent Charles M. Vest announced decision in advance, “I had as many the establishment of the $75 mil- goose bumps as the 400 guests in lion Kenan Sahin Fund for the attendance who had no idea what school at a gala dinner celebrating was coming.” the fiftieth anniversary of their The Fund is subdivided into founding. five main parts: $21 million for Kenan E. Sahin ’63, founder of distinguished professorships on the Kenan Systems, Inc., group presi- Humanities, Arts, and Social Sci- dent for software technologies at ences on a school-wide basis; $24 Lucent Technologies, as well as million for the Kenan Sahin Presi- vice president of software technolo- dential Graduate Fellowship Fund, gy at Bell Labs, gave a surprise for graduate students in both the GARRY R. MASKALY—THE TECH donation of $100 million last spring HASS school and the Sloan School PARADE OF PACHYDERMS — Elephants from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus passed with no stipulations as to how the of Management; $20 million to through MIT’s campus on their way to the FleetCenter. The circus will be performing in Boston money should be spent. pay for space for the Economics from October 13th to the 22nd. With former presidents Paul E. department within the new Sloan Gray and Howard W. Johnson and School building; $5 million for the Chairman of the MIT Corporation Kenan Sahin Deanship of the Alex d’Arbeloff, Vest decided to SHASS; and $5 million for the create the SHASS fund. The other Kenan Sahin Endowment for Edu- Local Citizens Discuss Profiling $25 million will be used to create cational Initiatives. the Kenan Sahin Presidential Initia- Cantabrigians Voice Concern about City’s Racial Profiling Policy tives Fund. Fund may have national impact Dean of the School for Humani- The establishment of the fund By Michael J. Ring ing at the meeting. Barnes recounted Cambridge’s political circles said ties, Arts, and Social Sciences may change not only the status of CONTRIBUTING EDITOR one incident in the town of Brook- they have been victims of racial pro- Philip S. Khoury said he believed SHASS within MIT but also the sta- About 100 Cambridge residents line, where he said he was stopped filing. Councillor Kenneth E. that the choice of his school as the tus of the humanities generally in and city officials, including over one while driving for no apparent reason Reeves told the board that he and an recipient of much of Sahin’s gift American higher education, accord- dozen Cambridge police officers, and subjected to racial epithets. African-American friend were will allow the gift “to have a maxi- ing to HASS faculty members. gathered last night to discuss the “You feel there are no reprisals. stopped by police cruisers in the mum impact on an area of MIT that Professor of Literature John issue of racial profiling in Cambridge. What is the next step?” asked Brattle Street area when searching is already strong but that can go to Hildebidle said that the establish- The primary purpose of the meet- Barnes about how to end profiling for an address. Reeves listed about the highest level with such an ment of the fund adds meaning to ing was to gather testimony from practices. investment. residents about their experiences The Cambridge Police Review Profiling, Page 23 “In other words, the Kenan Gift, Page 28 with both the Cambridge Police and Advisory Board, a citizens’ Department and other police forces group which investigates complaints with regard to racial profiling. and reviews the policies and proce- Middle East Clashes Spark Activism Speakers at the meeting agreed dures of the Cambridge Police that racial profiling is a serious Department, organized the meeting. By Rima Arnaout problem in both Cambridge and the The meeting was the first of a series NEWS EDITOR nation as a whole, though some of forums to be coordinated by the The two weeks of unrestrained were careful to caution that most board to discern the extent of racial violence in the Middle East has officers do not engage in profiling. profiling in the Cambridge and to been followed closely here at MIT “There is fear and apprehension find ways to halt profiling. with students taking part in local out there,” said Frank Barnes, a vigils, e-mail campaigns, and Cambridge resident who spoke about Political leaders speak on profiling protests. his personal experiences with profil- Several minorities active in MIT students participated in a protest that took place yesterday afternoon in front of the Israeli con- Homeruns.com Gets Permit sulate in Park Plaza in Boston. The crowd of about 75-100 people then marched to the Park Street MBTA To Sell Alcohol in Boston station and continued waving signs. By Brian Loux universities and officials concerned The protest also included students STAFF REPORTER about campus drinking, from Harvard, Tufts, and Boston The city of Somerville has per- Homeruns.com should have been University. mitted Homeruns.com, a grocery prepared for local protest, at least. “It’s just important for people to and convenience delivery site, to Instead, Homeruns.com got the know what’s happening,” said Ibi El distribute alcohol from their alcohol license without a hitch. Tatawy ’03, a participant in the Somerville warehouse. No university lodged a com- demonstration. “A lot of people at At present, the company is in the plaint against Homeruns.com from MIT aren’t really aware” of the situ- planning stages and has not yet application for a license to approval. ation in the Middle East, he said. added alcohol purchases to their Other local universities, including The group chanted slogans such website. So far, Homeruns.com has MIT, said they were not familiar as “Sticks and Stones will Break not announced whether or not they with the issue, nor could they con- Your Bones but Israeli Weapons will deliver alcohol to campus firm that they had received any Will Kill You.” The group listed addresses. information about the pending alco- names of Palestinians who have MAX PLANCK—THE TECH Many students at MIT and sur- hol license from authorities. recently been killed in the West Ibi Tatawy ’03 protests the Israeli army’s use of force against rounding colleges use Homeruns to Dean of Students Larry G. Bene- Bank and Gaza as well as in Israel. Palestinians and Israeli Arabs. buy their groceries. After the failure dict was also unaware that Home- A police detail and State Depart- Department official. She said that it’s important MIT stu- of rival e-grocery company runs.com has obtained the alcohol ment security officials awaited Ola Ayaso, a graduate student in dents be aware and active in global Kozmo.com to obtain an alcohol them, but the protest was well- Electrical Engineering and Comput- license due to protest from local Homeruns.com, Page 24 behaved, according to one State er Science, also was at the protest. Middle East, Page 33
Harvard Comics Students give perspectives on World & Nation ...... 2 hosts the Ig coming out for Coming Out week. Opinion ...... 4 Nobel cere- Arts ...... 7 monies. On The Town ...... 12 Features ...... 17 Page 18 Page 13 Page 20 Sports ...... 35 Page 2 THE TECH October 13, 2000 WORLD & NATION U.S. Sanctions on Belgrade Lifted To Avenge Mob Kills, Israel THE WASHINGTON POST BELGRADE President Clinton on Thursday lifted key economic sanctions against Serbia, the dominant republic of Yugoslavia, and promised to Bombs Palestinian Targets work closely with the new Yugoslav government to foster democracy and economic recovery. By Lee Hockstader tinians seemed on the brink of sis, the worst sustained violence in The announcement in Washington came the same day as a senior and Keith B. Richburg something akin to a war, albeit a the Middle East since the Gulf War. Clinton administration emissary called on the new president, Vojislav THE WASHINGTON POST lopsided one — a cycle of fury, Indeed, the action of the ground, Kostunica, in Belgrade and was told that Washington can establish a JERUSALEM death and revenge that neither and the emotions on the street, small diplomatic office at a Belgrade hotel. In a sudden escalation of the seemed fully able to control. The seemed to be moving at a tempo “We hope our relations will normalize,” Kostunica said after the Mideast crisis, Israeli attack heli- deepening crisis, coupled with what that could outstrip diplomacy. meeting with James O’Brien, special envoy for the Balkans. “It’s copters fired missiles at Palestinian U.S. officials described as a terrorist Palestinians officials called the now different.” The U.S. Embassy withdrew from Belgrade in 1999 targets in Gaza and the West Bank attack on a U.S. Navy warship at helicopter attacks a declaration of before the NATO bombing campaign began; Kostunica has warned Thursday after an enraged mob of port in the southern Yemeni city of war. Some vowed to strike back. that memories of those bombs might make it hard to restore full rela- Palestinians set upon at least two Aden, had immediate regional and Others called for an urgent session tions quickly. Israeli reserve soldiers and beat global repurcussions. of the U.N. Security Council and for The sanctions that Clinton ended Thursday had barred oil ship- them to death. A third body, possi- President Clinton, who called on international action along the lines ments and commercial flights. The 15 countries of the European bly also an Israeli soldier, was both sides to silence their guns, was of NATO’s intervention in Serbia Union removed similar measures on Monday to show support for the found charred beyond recognition. on the telephone with Israeli Prime on behalf of Kosovo. new government. The Israeli Cobra gunships Minister Ehud Barak and Arafat, “It’s a criminal action against struck Palestinian police and securi- seeking again to convene a summit our citizens here in Gaza, there in ty stations, a radio broadcasting conference and press for a return to Ramallah, now in Jericho and Thousands Rally in New York facility in the West Bank city of peace negotiations. Here in the Nablus, everywhere,” said Arafat. Ramallah and a Coast Guard station region, U.N. Secretary General Kofi He called on Palestinians to “contin- Against Palestinian Violence 150 yards from the Gaza City head- Annan cut short a round of talks in ue the march to Jerusalem, the capi- LOS ANGELES TIMES quarters of Yasser Arafat, the Pales- Beirut, the Lebanese capital, and tal of the Palestinian state.” Israeli NEW YORK tinian leader. Arafat, who was rushed back to Israel in hopes of officials characterized the helicopter In an angry and emotional show of support for Israel, more than unhurt, was in his office awaiting a brokering a ceasefire. attacks as a measured response to 15,000 people filled six blocks of midtown Manhattan on Thursday scheduled meeting with CIA direc- Reflecting alarm over the surge what they termed a lynching of the for a noon rally protesting Palestinian violence and the lynching of tor George Tenet when the first mis- in violence, oil prices soared to near two Jewish soldiers. Israeli soldiers. siles hit in Gaza — three or four 10-year highs. Stock prices on Wall Israeli helicopter gunships were The noisy gathering, which featured some of the biggest names in deafening explosions that shook his Street and other major world reported in action near several West New York politics — including Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. beachfront compound in what exchanges plummeted. The main Bank towns, firing their 50 caliber Rick Lazio, who are battling for a U.S. Senate seat — was one of appeared to be a direct, personal index of the Tel Aviv stock machine guns. In Ramallah, a nor- about 30 rallies that had been previously scheduled for other Ameri- warning by the Israelis. exchange nosedived by more than 7 mally bustling commercial town just can cities. No Palestinians were reported percent, one of its worst one-day north of Jerusalem, Palestinian “Those of us who reject hatred and fanaticism … finally recognize killed in the Israeli strikes, but at performances ever. snipers were said to be positioned Yasser Arafat for what he is — ignorant, devious and unworthy of least 43 were reported injured. The events defied diplomatic on rooftops in the unlikely event of trust,” said Nobel Prize-winning author Elie Wiesel. “It is with a By day’s end, Israelis and Pales- efforts to end the two-week-old cri- an Israeli ground attack. heavy heart that we say our dreams of peace have gone up in the smoke of ransacked synagogues, in the lynching of Israeli prisoners, and (in) bloodthirsty mobs shouting their vision of a Jerusalem with- out Jews.” Deadly Ship Explosion Could Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani set the tone for the event when he urged the White House to “redirect” its policy in the Middle East, saying: “The peace process is vital, but it will never work if you engage in the fiction that there is a moral equivalent between the Be Terrorist Act, Experts Say Palestine Liberation Organization and the state of Israel.” By David A. Vise Yemen, which the State Department “We are moving a serious num- and Vernon Loeb considers a “safe haven for terrorist ber of law enforcement and diplo- Congress Accelerates Spending THE WASHINGTON POST groups.” matic assets to Yemen, in addition LOS ANGELES TIMES The attack that killed at least six A number of those groups have to military security and medical WASHINGTON sailors aboard a U.S. Navy warship links to Saudi terrorist Osama bin units,” a U.S. official said. “It is Even as the presidential candidates continue to spar over what to refueling in a Yemeni port was Laden, who emerged Thursday as a way too soon to start pointing fin- do with the burgeoning federal budget surplus, Congress already is apparently a carefully planned ter- prime suspect in the blast. U.S. offi- gers at who might have done it. It spending it with seeming abandon. rorist act carried out by suicide cials repeatedly emphasized, how- could have been indigenous, it could The Senate on Thursday approved $83 billion for housing, veter- bombers operating with inside infor- ever, that it is too early to say who be related to what is going on in ans and space and environmental programs — a 7 percent increase. mation, Clinton administration offi- perpetrated the deadly explosion Israel or the work of any one of a That is just the latest in a parade of bills that have been passed with cials and outside intelligence aboard the USS Cole. number of groups.” hefty spending hikes — in many cases even more than President experts said Thursday. The powerful explosives that The Middle Eastern terrorist Clinton wanted. The FBI formally opened a ter- blew a hole in the warship were det- groups Hamas and Palestinian The pace of spending is so brisk that it raises questions about rorism investigation, dispatching onated from a 20-foot harbor vessel Islamic Jihad have official represen- whether Congress will make it impossible for either Al Gore or agents from the region as well as a that aroused no suspicion because it tatives in Yemen, along with mem- George W. Bush — whoever wins the White House — to make good specially-trained rapid deployment was helping the warship approach a bers of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, on promises based on optimistic budget surplus projections. team based in Washington and labo- refueling facility in the harbor at the Islamic Group, Libyan opposition The Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan analysis group, estimates ratory experts to Yemen, Clinton Yemeni port of Aden, law enforce- groups and the Algerian Armed that, if lawmakers keep spending at the current rate, the projected sur- administration officials said. ment officials said. That is one indi- Islamic Group, according to the plus over the next 10 years would drop to about $700 billion. A long list of terrorist organiza- cation the bombers had inside help, State Department. Others consid- tions have a substantial presence in sources said. ered Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. WEATHER Sunny Weekend Situation for Noon Eastern Daylight Time, Friday, October 13, 2000 By Bill Ramstrom STAFF METEOROLOGIST
The weather this weekend will be picture-perfect. Temperatures will be in the low 70s during the days with plenty of sunshine. A large high pressure system covers the eastern half of the country, and will move only slowly southeastward. This will keep the inclement weather cur- rently in the Midwest far from us for the whole weekend. Light westerly winds, dry air, and sunny conditions will make this a perfect weekend for apple-picking or leaf viewing.
Weekend Outlook
Today: Sunny and pleasant. High 74ºF (22ºC). Tonight: Clear and chilly. Low 52ºF (11ºC). Saturday: Continued warm. High 73ºF (22ºC). Sunday: A few clouds. High 73ºF (22ºC). October 13, 2000 WORLD & NATION THE TECH Page 3
Large GOP Health, Education U.S. Takes Steps to Improve Relations with North Korea
LOS ANGELES TIMES Spending Bill Gets Final Push WASHINGTON By Eric Planin and Dan Morgan House Majority Whip Tom priations Committee Chairman The Clinton administration and North Korea on Thursday took THE WASHINGTON POST DeLay, R-Texas, the chief architect C.W. Bill Young, R-Fla., and others one of the biggest steps in nearly 50 years toward ending their bitter WASHINGTON of the strategy, has argued that Clin- have argued in private meetings that hostilities, issuing a historic joint communique asserting that they had After weeks of trying to accom- ton is “addicted to spending” and it would be politically risky to con- decided to “fundamentally improve” their relations. modate the White House on key that Republicans must draw the line front Clinton over education spend- They also announced that President Clinton is likely to make a budget issues, House Republican if they hope to bring the budget ing policy only weeks before the ground-breaking visit to North Korea before he leaves office in Janu- leaders are pushing for a more con- negotiations to a conclusion next election. Those Republicans are ary. frontational strategy over a giant week. House Speaker J. Dennis worried about appearing to resist “The U.S. and the (North Korean) sides stated that they are pre- health and education spending bill, Hastert, R-Ill., agrees that Republi- spending for education, even as pared to undertake a new direction in their relations … free from past the largest piece of unfinished busi- cans already have made ample con- Vice President Gore and Gov. enmity,” the two governments said in the communique, issued at the ness in the final days of the session. cessions, according to an aide. George. W. Bush have made educa- end of a visit here by a senior North Korean military leader. Such a Unable to resolve their differ- “If it’s considered confrontation- tion a top priority in the presidential written communique carries weight and enduring importance well ences over spending for new school al to reject the idea we should just campaign. beyond that of routine presidential utterances. construction and for hiring new write the White House a blank “I’ve never been an advocate of North Korea did not, for now, win its objective of being taken off teachers to reduce class sizes, GOP check, I guess we’re being con- a veto strategy,” Lott said Thursday. the U.S. list of states that support terrorism. That designation pre- leaders are prepared to challenge frontational,” Jonathan Baron, a “I don’t understand the wisdom of vents the North from getting international loans for its hard-pressed President Clinton to either sign or spokesman for DeLay, said Thurs- running a bill down to be vetoed economy. veto a GOP-crafted labor, health day. and then bringing it back and doing The United States did not win a permanent commitment from and education bill rather than mak- But Senate Majority Leader it over. For one thing, it usually North Korea to stop its missile-development program, only a continu- ing further concessions. Trent Lott, R-Miss., House Appro- grows.” ation of the qualified, temporary freeze on launches. Negotiator Helps China Join WTO Gore, Bush Respond to Mideast NEWSDAY BEIJING Just two days after President Clinton signed legislation normaliz- ing China’s trading relations with the United States, chief U.S. trade Crisis During Campaign Events negotiator Charlene Barshefsky arrived here Thursday to try to keep By Ceci Connolly and Mike Allen At the beginning of his rally in sulting advisers, Bush jotted notes on track China’s effort to join the 138-nation World Trade Organiza- THE WASHINGTON POST Cathedral Square in downtown Mil- on the back of a photocopied clip- tion. MILWAUKEE waukee, Gore asked for a moment ping from the morning papers, and China, which repeatedly has said it wants to join the WTO by A day that the presidential candi- of silence in honor of the sailors lost met with reporters before leaving year’s end, is still some distance away from that goal as it remains dates had expected to devote to or injured in the terrorist attack on for the airport. Bush called the ram- immersed in negotiations in Geneva over final terms of its member- post-debate bragging took on a the USS Cole in the Arabian Sea. ming incident “cowardly,” and said ship. The WTO sets and enforces the rules of global trade. solemn note as Vice President Al “If it is determined to be the the United States should retaliate if The consequences of China’s joining the world body are destined Gore and Texas Gov. George W. result of a terrorist operation, those the culprit can be located. “There to have profound effects on this nation of 1.3 billion people. The Bush broke with campaign plans to responsible should know that the must be a consequence,” he said. WTO is built on a foundation of transparent rules subject to impartial respond to twin crises in the Middle United States will not rest until the Referring to the other crisis in judicial review and administrative independence. China, by contrast, East. perpetrators are held accountable,” the region, Bush too called for has a government that operates secretly, a politically controlled legal Gore, who cut short events in he told reporters earlier. “This is a Arafat to help end the violence. system and a Communist-controlled bureaucracy rife with corruption. Milwaukee Thursday to return to situation that will bring a response.” Arafat, he said, “must stand up and Because membership will require China to comply with global Washington for White House meet- Bush, in Greensboro, N.C., call on his people to put down their rules, elements of China’s government have sought to undermine the ings, called on Palestinian Leader Thursday morning voiced support rocks and arms.” march toward the WTO. Barshefsky, however, said she was reassured Yasser Arafat “to issue instructions for steps being taken by the admin- Dick Cheney, while condemning by Prime Minister Zhu Rongji that China was firmly committed to to those who have been perpetrating istration, saying, “It is time for our the tragedies, used news about the membership. this violence to cease and desist,” so nation to speak with one voice” on terrorist attack and the worsening “He indicated that the accession is very, very important to China,” that “the search for peace and secu- bringing peace to the region. crisis in the Middle East to criticize Barshefsky said at a news conference. rity and stability” can be restarted. Shortly after 9 a.m., after con- the Clinton-Gore administration. Page 4 THE TECH October 13, 2000 OPINION Campus Dining Reaches New Low A couple weeks ago, Aramark opened what was heralded to is in the midst of the second year of a three-year exclusive deal be a revolution in campus dining. Instead, the first floor of the with the Institute. When the deal was made, MIT cited a reluc- Chairman Student Center is now graced with a pale imitation of Networks. tance to take the risk of a major dining transition as the reason Satwiksai Seshasai ’01 The opening of Courses (the restau- to stay with Aramark. rant formerly known as Networks) Presumably, Courses is Aramark’s attempt to prove to the Editor in Chief Editorial brings up questions that have MIT community that it is worthy of the position dubiously Naveen Sunkavally ’01 plagued campus dining for years. bestowed upon it. The Tech would approve if Courses had truly Business Manager Years of recommendations from the MIT community, met the needs of students. Initial student response appears chilly Huanne T. Thomas ’02 including The Tech, have gone ignored by Aramark. As recently so far. Networks peak times are Courses dead times. Perhaps as 1997, an Institute dining review work group strongly students recoil at entrée sticker shock. Maybe they turn away Managing Editor endorsed the idea of splitting campus into two distinct food ser- when they walk in and cannot figure out where to place a order. Ryan Ochylski ’01 vice zones with competing providers. Possibly after giving Courses a try or two, students return, real- Executive Editor Also included in the plan was the idea of decentralized din- ize that they’ve tried both regular items on the menu, and were Gregory F. Kuhnen ’00 ing. By 1999, the plan would have seen McCormick residents impressed by neither. exercising the option of eating at McCormick nearly every night, Moreover, the attempt to create an open and inviting atmos- NEWS STAFF and Ashdown residents being able to partake in catered meals phere is foiled by the removal of booths and televisions favored Director: Dana Levine ’02; Editors: Laura from the McCormick kitchen. By the end of this year, both Mac- by former Networks patrons. McGrath Moulton ’01, Rima Arnaout ’02, Mike Hall ’03; Associate Editors: Sanjay Gregor and Burton-Conner residents are supposed to have the This latest Aramark incarnation greets students with high Basu ’02, Matthew Palmer ’03; Staff: Daniel option to dine on catered food provided by Next and Baker din- prices, confusing layout, and a small menu. The Tech believes C. Stevenson G, Kevin R. Lang ’02, Karen E. ing, respectively. Yet the current choices for campus dining still that while Courses-style cuisine has a place somewhere on cam- Robinson ’02, Efren Gutierrez ’03, Vicky bear an uncanny resemblance to the system that just three years pus, its place is not that of the primary evening dining spot on Hsu ’04, Pey-Hua Hwang ’04, Jennifer Krishnan ’04, Brian Loux ’04, Shankar ago was rated the lowest ever with respect to to student satisfac- campus. Aramark has dropped the ball again, and deserves to Mukherji ’04, W.S. Wang ’04, Jennifer tion. pay for it in 2002 when the campus dining contract comes up Young ’04; Meteorologists: Véronique It seems to be a yearly ritual of late for MIT to declare the for renegotiation. Until then, The Tech encourages Aramark to Bugnion G, Rob Korby G, Peter Huybers G, need for competition, only to stock with Aramark in the end. do whatever it can to make quick and lasting changes to its din- Greg Lawson G, Bill Ramstrom G. This year will be sadly lacking this annual renewal as Aramark ing options, taking student input into consideration. PRODUCTION STAFF Editors: Mary Obelnicki G, Eric J. Cholank- eril ’02, Ian Lai ’02, Jordan Rubin ’02; Associate Editor: Stacia Swanson ’03; Staff: Letters To The Editor Gayani Tillekeratne ’03, Joy Forsythe ’04, now. But before you complain too much about in Boston because we are entrenched in MIT Andy Leiserson ’04, Eric Tung ’04, Tao The Benefits of these exorbitant prices, just take a moment to life, but you should never forget that we Yue ’04. think about what you are paying for. have these opportunities. And, when you get OPINION STAFF Expensive Housing Boston is a very beautiful, very safe, a free moment to take a break and enjoy Editors: Eric J. Plosky ’99, Kris Schnee ’02; People are always complaining about how wonderful city. There are sports games, yourself, you can do almost anything. Columnist: Veena Thomas ’02; Staff: expensive it is to live in Boston or Cambridge, musicals, plays, concerts, clubs, parks, an Like New York City or San Francisco, Matthew L. McGann ’00, Michael Borucke and I agree. If I were going almost anywhere Esplanade, presidential debates, lots of his- Boston is really frickin’ expensive, but there is a ’01, Philippe C. Larochelle ’03, Philip else for graduate school and living in an apart- tory, and tons crazy college students like us. reason why. Boston is amazing and people love Burrowes ’04, Roy Esaki ’04. ment, I’d be spending about $300 a month for Sadly, most of us don’t take full advantage living here. I think we get what we pay for. SPORTS STAFF rent instead of the $800 a month I’m spending of all the wonderful opportunities available Andy Stein ’00 Associate Editors: Jeffrey Colton ’02, Brian K. Richter ’02; Staff: Alvan Eric P. Loreto ’01, Jennifer C. Lee ’03. ARTS STAFF Editors: Rebecca Loh ’01, Annie S. Choi; Associate Editor: Fred Choi ’02; Staff: Erik Blankinship G, Karen Feigenbaum G, Bence P. Olveczky G, Roy Rodenstein G, Vladimir V. Zelevinsky ’95, Zarminae Ansari ’97, Lianne Habinek ’02, Jumaane Jeffries ’02, Jacob Beniflah ’03, Daniel J. Katz ’03, Amy Meadows ’03, Ryan Klimczak ’04. PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF Editor: James Camp G; Associate Editor: Nathan Collins G; Staff: Erika Brown G, Krzysztof Gajos G, Sephir Hamilton G, Garry Maskaly G, Karlene R. Maskaly G, Wan Yusof Wan Morshidi G, Michelle Povinelli G, Bob Sumner G, Samudra Vijay G, T. Luke Young G, Nii Dodoo ’01, Ying Lee ’01, James Snyder ’01, Minnan Xu ’01, Yi Xie ’02, Roshan Baliga ’03, Leonid Drozhinin ’03, Wendy Gu ’03, Pedro L. Arrechea ’04, Max Planck ’04, Jaqueline T. Yen ’04. FEATURES STAFF Editor: Katie Jeffreys ’01; Associate Editor: Aaron D. Mihalik ’02; Cartoonists: Aaron Isaksen G, Solar Olugebefola G, Jennifer Dimase ’01, Grace H. Wang ’01, Bao-Yi Chang ’02, David Ngo ’02, Baris Yüksel ’02, Lara Kirkham ’03, Alison Wong ’03, Guan- Jong Chen ’04; Staff: Katherine H. Allen ’03, Bushra B. Makiya ’03, Sonali Mukherjee ’03, Melissa S. Cain ’04. BUSINESS STAFF Operations Manager: Jasmine Richards ’02; Associate Advertising Manager: Rachael Johnson ’02; Staff: Erica Pfister ’00, Kiwah Kendrick ’02, Dashonn Graves ’03, Kedra Newsom ’03, Joey Plum ’03. TECHNOLOGY STAFF Staff: Chris McEniry G, Shantonu Sen ’02. EDITORS AT LARGE Senior Editor: Frank Dabek G; Contributing Editors: Brett Altschul G, Gábor Csányi G, Michael J. Ring ’01. ADVISORY BOARD Paul E. Schindler, Jr. ’74, V. Michael Letters and cartoons must bear the authors’ signatures, address- Bove ’83, Barry Surman ’84, Robert E. Opinion Policy es, and phone numbers. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. No let- Malchman ’85, Thomas T. Huang ’86, Simson Editorials are the official opinion of The Tech. They are written Garfinkel ’87, Jonathan Richmond PhD ’91, ter or cartoon will be printed anonymously without the express prior Josh Hartmann ’93, Jeremy Hylton ’94, by the editorial board, which consists of the chairman, editor in approval of The Tech. The Tech reserves the right to edit or condense Thomas R. Karlo ’97, Saul Blumenthal ’98, chief, managing editor, news editors, and opinion editors. letters; shorter letters will be given higher priority. Once submitted, Indranath Neogy ’98, Joel Rosenberg ’99, Dissents are the opinions of the signed members of the editorial all letters become property of The Tech, and will not be returned. The B. D. Colen. board choosing to publish their disagreement with the editorial. Tech makes no commitment to publish all the letters received. PRODUCTION STAFF FOR THIS ISSUE Columns and editorial cartoons are written by individuals and Night Editors: Eric J. Cholankeril ’02, Jordan represent the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of the news- Rubin ’02; Staff: Satwiksai Seshasai ’01, paper. To Reach Us Kasetta Coleman ’04, Uriel Kligger ’04, Andy Letters to the editor are welcome. Electronic submissions are Leiserson ’04. encouraged and may be sent to [email protected]. 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Advertising, subscription, and typesetting rates available. Entire contents © 2000 The Tech. Printed on recycled paper by Charles River Publishing. before the date of publication. World-Wide Web at http://the-tech.mit.edu. October 13, 2000 OPINION THE TECH Page 5 A Night of Fun at UMass Globalization’s First Presidential Debate Reveals Little; Gore, Bush Fail to Pitch Themselves Clearly Other Side Kris Schnee which seems like a good idea, but will the The Supreme Court exists to interpret the Guest Column amount be enough to make private school Constitution as objectively as possible, free Last week’s presidential debate was fun affordable for anyone? from political bickering and even the elec- Kenneth Nesmith and exciting, with plenty of hand gestures, Both candidates danced around the issue tion-year whims of the American people. one-line zingers, and verbal gaffes. (Bush of abortion, trying to avoid saying what their Now, if some Americans vote for Gore or Harvardites can’t count, and MIT students wins the booby prize for his statement that actual positions were. Gore, when pressed Bush because of the flavor of judges one can’t read, goes the joke that has undergone a the term “disadvantaged” for students “basi- on the point, said that he would appoint will appoint, expecting that the outcome will bloody death by repetition. cally means they can’t learn.”) But surpris- Supreme Court justices who would “proba- determine the constitutionality of abortion, There is, however, some truth behind that ingly, there was some substance at the bly” uphold Roe v. Wade, the famous deci- then this election will turn into a spur-of- hyperbole. It seems that we MIT students do Boston battle too — enough to frustrate and sion upholding first-trimester abortions. the-moment referendum on whether to tend to think in rather ruthless, efficient terms, confuse anyone looking for a halfway- Bush said that if elected, he would appoint revise the Constitution! Again, this is a dis- as often we are encouraged to do by the decent leader. “strict constructionist” judges who would turbing trend, and we can only hope that the demands placed upon us within our lives here at One of Gore’s recurring themes was class not use their position to make social policy. older Supreme Court judges will hold on a MIT. It’s probably safe to say that the school is warfare (his and Bush’s). Gore repeatedly “Strict constructionists” are a species few years longer than expected. better known for producing students who go on stated that, of Bush’s proposed tax cut, much Even the FDA was dragged into the realm in life to found or run financially successful of the money would go to the wealthiest 1 of federal politics. Gore challenged that if enterprises than, say, students who live a life percent of Americans, with a large share elected, Bush would try to ban the new abor- more similar to that of Mother Teresa. Again, I going to taxpayers making $1 million or One might note that George W. tion pill RU-486 by having the FDA with- present an extreme, but caring and compassion more per year. He also said that the amount draw its approval of the drug. Bush respond- are perhaps not very well-integrated parts of the of the tax cut outweighed Bush’s proposed Bush is a strict constructionist in ed that he didn’t have the authority to do training of us little scientists. spending on health care and national defense. that; it was the proper response for a candi- Thinking in such harshly efficient terms can Bush did not defend himself. He did not the same sense that Mussolini date who knows the limits of federal power. be very dangerous when applied to a scale as deny Gore’s accusation, nor explain that the But then he indicated that he would appoint macroscopic as that of the entire earth, as it can richest Americans are also the ones paying was a libertarian. Both Gore and people to the FDA who would “review” RU- lead very quickly to a disregard for our humani- not only the most money per person, but Bush plan to use the Supreme 486 for its safety, even though it has already ty and an unsafe devaluation of the world we also the highest share of their income. been deemed safe. Maybe NASA or NOAA live in. When we view the world as a purely Instead, he only said — every time Gore Court to make social policy,only will be the next organization used in some economic system rather than a humanitarian attacked — that Gore’s math was “fuzzy.” creative way to write the “social policy” one, we can lose sight of what makes us human. Not wrong, just fuzzy. in different directions.Whichever which is, almost by definition, not the gov- In order to avoid such a perversion, it is nec- Gore continued the grand Clinton tradi- way the election goes, that fact is ernment’s business. essary to view ourselves as real people, rather tions of bringing out the most downtrodden It would have been a lot of fun for journal- than as mere economic agents. This is why a individuals he could find to present as typi- a bad thing for all of us. ists if Ralph Nader had gotten into the debate discussion of globalization that does not even cal Americans, using them as “proof” of the hall. Supposedly, he came to UMass on the T touch upon “the whole issue of preservation of need for more federal legislation, and of rather than the traditional limo, and had to ask culture,” such as Josiah Seale’s from the Oct. 6 stretching the truth. The most absurd exam- for directions to the auditorium. Even though Tech, is an unacceptably incomplete one. MIT ple of both at the Boston debate was Gore’s hunted to extinction in the nineteenth centu- a sympathetic student gave him a ticket to the students, who come from so many radically dif- story of a Florida schoolgirl who had to ry, whose distinguishing feature was that debate, he wasn’t allowed inside. ferent backgrounds and cultures, should readily stand because there was no space in the they paid attention to the Tenth Amendment Their exclusion of Nader was only one of see that the global cornucopia of cultures, each classroom for another desk. (The truth was rule that “any powers not delegated to the many ways in which Gore and Bush tried to embodying the values and traditions of different that this happened on one day only.) Instead United States by the Constitution, nor pro- look identical. Both candidates have already groups of people, comprise the core elements of of Gore talking about the evidence on hibited by it to the states, are reserved to the promised to spend a hypothetical govern- humanity; they are not fringe elements sec- whether reducing class sizes will improve states respectively, or to the people.” ment surplus. Both support the death penalty ondary to the facilitation of uninhibited eco- education, or (better yet) demanding higher One might note that George W. Bush is a and NAFTA, and both have promised a nomic exchange. standards and better scientific literacy, we strict constructionist in the same sense that national prescription-drug plan which is a Historically, the exchange of thoughts, cul- got a sob story. Mussolini was a libertarian. Both Gore and step towards a federal health-care system tural institutions, and ideas on a worldwide Bush and Gore displayed some interest- Bush plan to use the Supreme Court to make which decides who has the right to receive level has generally respected the cultural preser- ing and worthwhile differences on educa- social policy, only in different directions. medicine. Bush and Gore’s similarities are vation of the participants in the global dialogue. tion. Both said they support national testing Whichever way the election goes, that fact is not necessarily bad, but they leave some The massive globalization of commerce is a of students. Gore wants to offer a tax break a bad thing for all of us. people without much choice on election day. more recent and troublesome development. It for college tuition, to those families which Whoever becomes President this time is By now Bush and Gore will have gone at has had several decidedly negative effects, he deems worthy (i.e., not yours) of keeping going to have major power over the Consti- it again, loaded with new quips and sound including but not limited to destructive harm their money. tution, because it’s expected that three bites. Debates are fun to watch, but we’re done to cultures and habitats around the world. Bush, unlike Gore, supports school Supreme Court judges will retire in the next still waiting to hear a clear statement of why The policies of the World Bank and the choice (vouchers for private school tuition), four or eight years. either of these men deserves our vote. IMF, long questioned by groups perceived as leftist radicals, have recently received severe rebuke from the venerable United Nations. A report adopted by the UN Subcommission on Regression and Election the Protection of Human Rights states that not exactly a cross-section of the voting popu- possess an educational value that is sorely “Indeed, the assumptions on which the rules [of Philip Burrowes lace. Nor was the voting method the most effi- lacking from “adult” programming. This is the WTO] are based are grossly unfair and even cient; I think I never actually got past a busy because Nick programmers have to assume prejudiced. Those rules also reflect an agenda While I was reading Loren King’s review signal, although I imagine Nick will use that that kids know nothing about the electoral that serves only to promote dominant corpo- of “Digimon: The Movie” (in the Oct. 6 new-fangled Internet doohickey this time process, something which very likely holds ratist interests …” According to the report, eco- Boston Globe) I started thinking about all pro- around. In fact, I think the reason this initia- true for the general voting population as well. nomic globalization “has caused … inequality fessional journalists who have to cover chil- tive has been at all successful is because the What’s to be lost if the major networks tried and discrimination to worsen.” dren’s matters. I don’t mean people like Linda past elections have not been very close at this that with adults? This multinational economic quest has vic- Ellerbee, who seem to genuinely care about stage in the game. I myself am still kind of lost on how there timized the environment as well. Recent reports their place as part of the juvenile media. The It could be worse, however. It could’ve could be a Social Security surplus unless the that the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica people I’m thinking of are the poor souls been run by people who didn’t care about federal government was just taking the wrong has formed earlier and and larger than at any forced to review the latest, cheap, child- treating it as fairly as possible for the impres- amount of money out of people’s checks. other observed time, so that it now extends over exploiting movie or write the fall cartoon pre- Don’t expect me to even fathom how money Chile in South America, is only the latest view in TV Guide. from a New Deal program could be put into unnerving news to emerge from the stream of As I recall, one of the few groups that gave the stock market. (I’d also like to know how anecdotal evidence of significant environmental children anything near a fair shake was Eller- They were liable to confuse the son of the former head of the CIA/US damage that worldwide corporations and, some- bee’s current network, Nickelodeon. While ambassador to the UN/President could not be times, governments so eagerly ignore because most other members of the media let their Democrats for Republicans if a “Washington insider”; I imagine it’s a of the economic costs associated with curbing bruised pride affect the quality of their work, they couldn’t even understand noveau-George Clinton thing.) environmentally destructive practices. the relative amateurism of Nickelodeon pro- Yesterday at 8 was the latest installment of While the war between industry and envi- ductions seemed to lend to the entertaining the firmly delineated faction lines “Nick News Special Edition: Kids Pick the ronment has been waged for some time, there nature of performances. Usually, this meant President.” I’m writing this on Wednesday, always remains the unavoidable fact that if we Nickelodeon productions did not merit extra- between Autobots and but that open minded child-panel surely gave destroy the environment we live in for econom- adolescent attention, but there was one event Decepticons. If only they could’ve Gore and Bush a grilling the likes of which ye ic gain, we cannot enjoy that economic gain. that fell under the proverbial radar of the out- haven’t seen (not counting Clinton Rocking Again, we risk blinding ourselves by grasping side world that deserves special attention now: gotten over their own enormous the Vote in ’92 on MTV, Nick’s parent net- too tightly a purely economic perspective. Kids Pick the President. work; maybe MTV is regressing?). Don’t While some might argue that these distress- Perhaps some of you remember Kids Pick egos and enjoyed the space-age worry, you can still vote on line starting Oct. ing realities are merely painful stepping stones the President; perhaps some of you even par- rock-opera epic that was 16 (polls close Oct. 20; winner declared Oct. on the path to worldwide economic glory, histo- ticipated. When the presidential elections 23). Then there’s the adults’ election, if ry suggests that this is probably not the case. rolled around, Nick would air some bipartisan Transformers, but I regress. you’re into that sort of thing. The current push to realize on a global level segments designed to encapsulate the two In honor of the aforementioned award- Adam Smith’s vision of an unfettered free mar- main candidates’ platforms in manageable winning program’s format, I present a highly ket will lead to more unpleasantness in line with way for a generation saddled with a collective uninspired, derivative, and anticlimactic sum- that already mentioned. However, as human attention span shorter than “The More You sionable young mind who will just ask his mation of the above: beings, we must remember that we are not sub- Know …” ads. parents anyway. Not to say everyone at Nick Who (besides me) thinks “Kids Pick the jects of an economic system; but, rather, we cre- Then they would give two phone numbers is the most selfless pedagogue in the world; President” holds any real political merit? ate it, employ it, and make use of it. — one for each candidate — and the candi- we all know how desperately Mike O’Malley What was George Clinton (Father of Our By no means must humanity subject itself to date with the most call-in votes won. Luckily wanted out of G.U.T.S. to move onto bigger State Should That State be New York) doing the painful and dehumanizing artifacts of an enough, the candidate that Kids Picked always and better things at NBC. Even he, however, when he twice ran for President of the U.S. unchecked free market economy, in which wealth went on to win the November election. I can is not as bad as the heartless monsters who even though he didn’t approve of the exis- tends to concentrate unnaturally in the hands of a only imagine the chaos that would’ve ensued ripped apart Transformers: The Movie. They tence of the Executive Branch? few, in which the basic condition of being human had Dukakis carried the children’s vote and were liable to confuse Democrats for Republi- When will the pundits see the irony in is secondary to economic drives, and in which the still managed to lose to Bush on the technical- cans if they couldn’t even understand the investing Social Security funds in the stock environmental consequences of any action are not ity of the “electoral college” (Princeton, no firmly delineated faction lines between Auto- market? considered. We can and must determine our own doubt, but I digress). It would’ve been Tilden bots and Decepticons. If only they could’ve Why can’t most adults tell the difference fate, and we have a responsibility to do so with a and Hayes all over again, only with a smaller gotten over their own enormous egos and between Reptile and Scorpion (let alone healthy respect for ourselves as people and the army withdrawal. enjoyed the space-age rock-opera epic that Smoke and Sub-Zero)? worldwide environment we live in. True, this is not the best indicator of popu- was Transformers, but I regress. Where is Michael Dukakis now? Kenneth Nesmith is a member of the Class lar opinion. The people subscribed to Nick are The Kids Pick the President segments still Answers below. of 2004. Page 6 THE TECH THE ARTS October 13, 2000 October 13, 2000 THE TECH Page 7 THE ARTS CONCERT REVIEW 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert
Commemorating 50 Years of Excellence bration. This was the first time I’d heard the MIT Symphony Orchestra with its adrenal By Jonathan Richmond have to smile at the use of such computational new Argentine conductor Dante Anzolini at ADVISORY BOARD formality to create art for an MIT institution! the helm. Revered as the most admired of 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert Childs’ piece is striking, with its colorful slave masters, he doesn’t accept anything but MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and play of dynamics and imaginative scoring, and the best from his charges. Anzolini drew out Social Sciences it was given a stellar performance by the MIT a performance of great brilliance as well as MIT Wind Ensemble Wind Ensemble, conducted by Frederick Har- polished style. The strings played with impos- MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble ris. Clear, focused playing produced a sound of sible discipline, yet there was nothing staid MIT Chamber Music Society both richness and purity. The vivid interplay of about their attack: the many passages of subtle MIT Symphony Orchestra orchestral voices pro- MIT Concert Choir duced effects of great October 6, 8pm delight in addition to Kresge Auditorium moments of astonishing power. Intense brass, ower! Majesty! Fun! Triumph! What sweet winds, and magnifi- a feeling of exhilaration as the MIT cent percussion– a display Symphony Orchestra, conducted by of flawless virtuosity P Dante Anzolini, brought Beethoven's would be hard to match by Choral Fantasy to a conclusion not only con- any other ensemble. cluding a concert celebrating fifty years of Frederick Harris also MIT’s School of the Humanities, Arts, and conducted the MIT Festi- Social Sciences but cementing MIT’s place as val Jazz Ensemble, in one of the great centers for the arts in Boston. Remember Mingus by After a prelude of Balinese music per- John La Porta. Given a formed by MIT’s Gamelan Galak Tika in a laid-back performance, it SAMUDRA VIJAY—THE TECH tent on Kresge Oval, the Kresge Auditorium was played with much Presenting the exotic gamelan music of Bali, Gamelan Galak concert began with Adrian Childs’ ’94 Time inventiveness. Well-articu- Tika performed a free concert on Kresge Oval, preceding the into Gold. After graduating from MIT, Childs lated rhythms brought out MIT HASS 50th Anniversary concert inside Kresge. The event went on to study composition at the Universi- the complexities of this featured a traditional Gong Kebyar piece, a recent composition ty of Chicago, and now teaches at the Univer- rich and pleasing piece. by Dan Schmidt ’91, the gentle sounds of the gender wayang, sity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His Chamber Music has and the raucous and playful instruments of Banyuwangi. composition marks fifty years of the MIT long been one of the high spots of the arts at suggestiveness illuminated the joy in this Concert Band with fifty chimes. The chimes MIT, and the MIT Chamber Music Society work. The wind section contributed some ROSHAN BALIGA—THE TECH are delivered in three sets, on pitches of C, D, gave a recital as classy as it comes. The only magic solo work, while horns, trumpets, trom- Dante Anzolini conducts the MIT Sym- and C in an allusion to the band’s longtime shame is that we heard only the last two move- bones, and tuba were clearly top brass. Their phony Orchestra's performance of Fanta- conductor, John Corley. Corley’s initials — ments of Dohnányi’s Sextet in C, Opus 37, for colors were varied in their hues and unlimited sia in C Minor for piano, chorus, and JDC —are transformed to C, D, and C when piano, clarinet, horn and string trio, for the in their imagination. This is not to leave out orchestra, “Choral Fantasy,” Op. 80. spelled out on a piano keyboard. You just performance was so revealing that everyone the percussion players, who clearly knew just was left demanding more. It was easy to dwell what Beethoven wanted from a crescendo. on the beautiful melodic clarinet playing of William Cutter was one of the vocal Eran Egozy ‘95 which opened the piece, but soloists as well as director of the MIT Concert the fluidity and natural balance of the ensemble Choir, which was also very much together and when musically conversing together evoked the animated, if at times slightly drowned out by essence of what chamber playing should be the super-energized members of the orchestra. about. The lyrical, gentle exchanges between The overall performance seemed so end- instruments were sublime, while the dance-like lessly interesting and full of discovery. At the strings — rising in mock elegance to take us to climactic conclusion, the audience was sim- the floor of the mildly inebriated final move- ply breathless. An ecstatic Anzolini was ment — brought many a smile. Should one afterwards spotted in the tent pitched on dwell on the sublime tone of Marcus Thomp- Kresge Oval for the continuation of the son’s viola, the easy eloquence of cello of Peter evening’s party spirit. While students all Jung ‘01, the violin of Dawn Perlner ‘01, or the around feasted on superb apple crêpes with well-balanced companionship of Jean Rife’s cinnamon ice cream, Anzolini was busy horn? Should one bask in the pleasure of the singing his performers’ praises. clarinet of Eran Egozy or marvel at the ability “They're great. Very smart. The focus in to explore tensions in the piano playing of rehearsal cannot even be compared to profes- Jonathan Lee ‘02? Why not? But above all, this sional orchestras. …The phrasing … the bal- was a display of an ensemble working together ance. … They are very smart, and extremely effectively, and one of the very best. intelligent.” Lucky students. Lucky Anzolini And then came the grand finale — as if all and lucky MIT. Happy half-century to the this splendor had not been grand enough. Institute’s extraordinary creative endeavors in Beethoven’s charmingly insane Choral Fanta- the humanities, arts and social sciences, and sy, precursor to the great concluding move- long may MIT show that it is one of the ROSHAN BALIGA—THE TECH ment of the Ninth, is a work of just the energy world's great universities, and not the narrow Pianist David Deveau plays Beethoven's Fantasia in C Minor. and color to consummate an evening of cele- enclave of uncultured nerds of popular belief.
FILM REVIEW ★★★ Disney riding it — corporate spon- sorship does run rampant here), Adventures in Wild California but just about all of them are truly This is, Like, Cool, Dude! an eye-full. More than that: By Vladimir Zelevinsky drawing parallels between Walt Disney and they provide the continuity that the STAFF WRITER Maverick Beach surfers (and the Academy film’s ostensible topic fails to, and An OmniMax documentary Awards sequence is totally expendable), it also this continuity is purely visual, with Directed by Greg MacGillivray manages to over-explain its simple thesis. one scene smoothly segueing into At the Boston Museum of Science Despite this, Adventures in Wild California another. Especially remarkable is the is still wildly exciting and flows along rather editing: when the shot of a swaying here are two distinct kinds of OmniMax well even with all the lurches in the story. The underwater forest of algae is followed movie: one has a distinct story (for reason behind this is that the movie is really by the shot of evergreen trees, simi- example, Everest); the other, merely a not about California, or its people, or nature, larly swaying in the wind, the effect T setting (for example, The Living Sea). or anything as highbrow. It is merely about is instantly gripping. Even the rough Both movies mentioned above were directed one thing: making every single shot on the transitions (from the Disneyland by Greg MacGillivray, whose latest film gigantic, high-resolution OmniMax screen as scene to snowboarding) are smoothed Adventures in Wild California is a curious case, preternaturally cool as possible. by creative editing, when the point- being squarely between these two categories. In this it succeeds in spades. According to of-view shot of a rollercoaster rider is Whatever serves as the film’s theme (Cali- Hartman, the sky surfing segment is the best switched to that of a snowboarder, fornia’s wild nature as the direct inspiration for way to experience this extreme sport without careening down the slope. the spirit of adventure, exploration, and inno- actually being up there. Allow me to respect- Toward the end of the movie, vation) is not hefty enough to provide any nar- fully disagree: experiencing this glorious the literal theme does rally up and, rative drive. The film jumps almost randomly vertigo from the comfort of one’s armchair for the final scene, matches the between settings and time periods. From the is, in all honesty, better than risking one’s power of the visuals: the segment opening segment on sky surfer Troy Hartman neck in the sky. of a helicopter ride to re-introduce (whom I met, and who sounds exactly like an Equally breathtaking are the shots of peo- a baby bald eagle into the nest has archetypical California surfer, with a laid back ple climbing giant sequoia trees or riding the both visual power and the point attitude, self-depreciating sense of humor, and big wave on surfboards. The sheer technical about the interplay of humanity frequent usage of the word “dude”) to portions virtuosity of capturing these images with an and nature. The rest of the movie MACGILLIVRAY FREEMAN FILMS about sequoia specialists, the founder of unwieldy OmniMax camera simply boggles does not provide as much to think Skydiver Troy Hartman demonstrates sky-surfing Hewlett-Packard, and the bald eagle zoolo- the mind. Some decisions are questionable about; but it provides more than above Mission Bay, San Diego in Adventures in Wild gists, Adventures feels largely like a narrative (such as intercutting the forward-moving shot enough jawdropping visuals to California. Adventures can now be seen in the mess. Not only can one hardly rationalize of a rollercoaster with the reverse shot of Roy pick up the slack. Mugar Omni Theater at the Museum of Science. Page 8 THE TECH THE ARTS October 13, 2000 FILM REVIEW ★★★ MUSIC REVIEW and if the music is as slick as their newest video, it’ll be something special. Like words that start with S? Slash’s band, Slash’s Billy Elliot Snakepit, released a new disc (Ain’t Life Grand?) Tues- State of the Airwaves day, as did Spineshank (a friendly little CD called The Ballet Conduit Height Of Callousness). From the Bands-You’ve-Proba- Hynes, Holland, and hed (p.e.) bly-Forgotten-About department come Brainwasher from By Karen Feigenbaum Bare Jr., the alternative-rock/country quartet responsible STAFF WRITER By Dan Katz for the excellent single “You Blew Me Off,” and Soul Caddy by the Directed by Stephen Daldry STAFF WRITER Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, who will have a great time trying to sell Written by Lee Hall es, I know it’s Friday. Yes, I know it’s been eleven whole records now that swing music no longer gets played on mainstream Starring Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Gary Lewis days since you’ve been able to read Airwaves. Just calm radio. The Beastie Boys’ original accompanist, DJ Hurricane, has a (III), Jamie Draven, and Nicola Blackwell down and breathe deeply. In. Out. In. Out. There you go, new disc out (Don’t Sleep) featuring cameos by Billie Joe Arm- Rated R Y everything will be all right. Just read on and the withdrawal strong and Scott Weiland, who sings on a slightly disturbing cover symptoms should gradually subside. of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Finally, the record industry has oung Brit Billy Elliot has got the As I’ve got another column on tap for Tuesday, I’ve only got a unleashed (and these were four words I never thought I’d hear) new music in him: He’s about to lose con- weekend’s worth of concerts to promote this week, and one of them music from Tiffany. It’s such a strange concept that it’s almost trol and he just can’t hide it! His heart features almost as much music as all the other shows combined.On intriguing. Y throbs in time to a boogie rhythm, Saturday and Sunday, Hynes Convention Center hosts its annual Col- My favorite song at the moment is undoubtedly hed (p.e.)’s and he just has to dance! The result is a sweet, legeFest, a gigantic walk- “Bartender.” It has a spirited, and enjoyable (albeit at times clumsi- around event where you simple if discomforting ly rendered) movie experience. can get lots of free stuff story to it (the singer’s In the film’s slow beginning we learn that that you would never sitting in a bar worried Billy’s mother has died; he presently lives with actually want. More about where he’ll end up his older brother, father, and senile grandmoth- importantly, if you stick when he leaves) with a er. Then, while training and being humiliated in around long enough, you great sing-along chorus a boxing ring at the town gym, Billy’s attention can see quite a bit of live and verses that fall is captured by a ballet class. Thereafter he music. The big attraction somewhere between begins sneaking to the dance rehearsals (classes this year is Kittie, the Korn and the Insane must be attended covertly, as his father does grrl-rock band of the Clown Posse (the band not approve of “such activities” for lads). And moment; they play late somehow manages to thus begins young Elliot’s passionate love Saturday afternoon, pre- sift out the few good affair with his forbidden dance: Ballet. ceded by local rockers qualities of these two Unfortunately, for both the members of the Seventeen (who’ll be groups). The result is an cast and the audience, the screenplay writer warming up tonight at easily accessible hard insists on inserting an obligatory political back- Bill’s Bar) and The Sheila rock song that has a drop (are such plot devices mandatory in the Divine, as well as a few stronger message than British film community?). In the case of this new artists. Sunday’s most of today’s metal movie, there’s a coal miners’ strike that lineup is a bit less impres- bands, who toss around requires all sorts of police brutality, including sive, providing sets from rebel yells and depreca- on Billy’s father and brother. The juxtaposition Waltham and C60. tion without actually See Seventeen tonight at Bill’s Bar and Saturday at the Hynes Convention Cen- between the story of Billy’s desire to dance set But perhaps you pre- bothering to tell a story. ter CollegeFest. The band’s album Bikini Pie Fight came out earlier this week. against the town’s political climate is awkward fer music in traditional Let me go on record and unnecessary. Enough conflict is created venues, such as nightclubs. Then there’s stuff for you too; kicking that I enjoyed Wally’s “Tech In One Column,” despite his subtle through the tension of the family dynamic to off tonight at Axis is a poppy punk bill headlined by Fenix TX shot at my musical taste. I suppose it could be debated that a lot incite Billy’s inner turmoil without requiring (“All My Fault”) and Good Charlotte, composers of the very catchy of the music I listen to is similar …. Either way, it’s not particu- the seemingly perfunctory, often annoying, and track “Little Things.” For the quieter tastes, one of Cambridge’s larly painful to be called a conformist by somebody who lives in ultimately useless subplot about the miners. finest folk-rock artists, Mary Lou Lord plays a gig at the Middle a fraternity. Enough said. (I think I hear the rumble of incoming Despite the fact that the story line has a num- East tomorrow night. And for you youngsters with lots of energy hate mail.) ber of tangential themes woven concurrently, the who just want an excuse to hurl yourselves at other people, I recom- It just so happens that I have an e-mail address. It’s
1 FILM REVIEW ★ /2 caused some of the serious moments to become less grave and more laughable. Also, of course, the credible, mystifying, and emo- tionally inspiring power of Schindler’s List Lost Souls and Saving Private Ryan go unrealized throughout this movie. A Lost Cause In many ways, the underlying intention of this movie is to provide a more modern repre- By Ryan Klimczak sentation of the familiar horror classics The STAFF WRITER Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby. The screen- Directed by Janusz Kaminski play resembles a sampling of ideas from both Produced by Nina R. Sadowsky and Meg Ray films, though its attempt to augment the Written by Pierce Gardner & Betsy Stahl frightening power of these two films failed in Starring Winona Ryder, Ben Chaplin, Philip a large part due to the writers’ presumption Baker Hall, Elias Koteas, Sarah Wynter that special effects can be replace an original Rated R script, and more importantly, a cogent screen- play. Films like The Exorcist worked because rom Janus Kaminski, the acclaimed they depicted ideas and notions which were cinematographer of Schindler’s List unspoken of and internally feared — ideas and Saving Private Ryan, comes Lost that have never been presented to a viewing F Souls, a generic and tasteless addition audience before. to the over-played apocalyptic genre. Maya Essentially, it is the shock of the unexpect- Larkin (Winona Ryder) is a young woman ed — the terror, not of a looming suspense, who has to convince Peter Kelson (Ben but of a gradual climactic crescendo — that DARREN MICHAELS—NEW LINE CINEMA Chaplin) that he’s destined to be the living makes a film become etched within one’s Ben Chaplin plays Peter Kelson, a man who has trouble accepting the fact that embodiment of the Devil come his 33rd mind. The power of most horror films comes he’s destined to be possessed by the Devil come his 33rd birthday in New Line birthday. Unsuspecting, intransigent, and from how closely the audience associates the Cinema’s Lost Souls. skeptical, Peter must be convinced that his film with the truth, and how closely the film sage is etched on a bathroom wall in a manner including Lost Souls, require actors with a soul will soon be staked by Lucifer himself, resembles the real world. Lost Souls is an reminiscent of The Shining. Through the use of substantial talent for expressing intense and he must do something about it. If he unsuccessful rehash of an idea that has been Maya’s flashbacks and hallucinations, the film emotions of fear and anguish. The acting in fails, he will be transformed into the anti- replayed time and again by such films as End almost inspires a sense of ambiguous reality, Lost Souls comes in somewhere between christ and destroy civilization. of Days, Stigmata, and Bless the Child. The where illusion meets reality in an undifferen- The Exorcist and a third-rate porno. With textured images of jagged shadows, idea, projected to audiences for more than tiable atmosphere which successfully adds to By far the greatest disappointment in this crisp lighting, and omnipresent darkness, the twenty years, has become overdone, and now the cryptic mystery of the film. film is the ending. As the scenes progress, unconventional — but successful — color- it is virtually impossible to resurrect the pro- Ben Chaplin’s character, Peter Kelson, is the tension mounts, only to be resolved by drained visual style of director Janus Kamins- found feeling once aroused by classics like uni-dimensional, undeveloped, predictable, the most uneventful conclusion. One is left ki reflects his previous cinemagraphic works Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist. and dull. At one point Ryder shoots his wondering, “Was that it?” only to be in Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan. Winona Ryder plays Maya, a character long-time fiancée after a struggle between answered by the rolling credits. The entire It’s an almost raw approach to filming. With a who suffers from evocative hallucinations and them ensues, and no questions are asked; film escalates from scene to scene, with stunning and coarse representation of reality, is possessed of a disturbingly calm voice. The Peter does not even reveal a single emotion jagged pitfalls and sudden climaxes, only to it provides a great supplement to the film’s hallucination sequences are among the film’s about the incident. The main problem with conclude on a dull and anticlimactic plateau. serious and grave subject matter. Though, creepiest visual effects. This is clearly the case many horror films is that the acting comes Clearly, Lost Souls’s attempt to revive the similar to Sleepy Hollow, such an emphasis on in the scene where Maya recoils from a flood out as unprofessional when compared to next-generation spin-off of The Exorcist the dismal reality of the scenes, in effect, of sewage in a washroom, and a cryptic mes- standard dramatic acting. Horror films, proved to be a lost cause.
★★★ FILM REVIEW phony orchestra playing a gradual, mysterious melody of the songs performed in the film. It is in “Cvalda,” the second song in the Dancer in musical, where Björk’s musical style shines. During the number, Selma forms a song out of the sounds of the factory. A bang from a machine, a click from a lever, and a swish of a the Dark broom all form a complex and fun cacophony to which she sings, er screams, “Clutter! Crash! Bang! Racket! Bang! Thump!” Björk Tragic Musical incorporates metallic sounds from the factory By Annie S. Choi and then some, to create a song that is the ARTS EDITOR most enjoyable on the screen and on the Directed and Written by Lars von Trier album. In “I’ve Seen it All” Björk sings a duet Starring Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David with Peter Stormare and his weak voice is lost Morse, Peter Stormare, Udo Kier, Joel Grey, in Björk’s seasoned vocal chords. Interesting- Cara Seymour, and Vladan Kostic ly, on the soundtrack Thom Yorke of Radio- head sings in the duet, but “I’ve Seen it All” ndeed it is a strange recipe: Take the still remains as one of the weakest on the director of the emotionally taxing Break- soundtrack. However, the lyrics are perhaps ing the Waves. Add the effervescent Ice- the most touching, as a blind Selma explains, I landic queen of electronic pop and a cele- “I’ve seen what I chose and I’ve seen what I brated French actress. Put in some music and need,/And that is enough, to want more would campy dance numbers. Shake well. Result? be greed.” While Björk wrote the music, Dancer in the Dark. D. KOSKAS Björk and von Trier wrote the lyrics together Dancer in the Dark is a gut-wrenching David Morse and nymph-like Björk star in Lars von Trier’s intensely tragic musical, (which are something that Björk would write tragedy and, believe it or not, a musical. Björk Dancer in the Dark. herself, only more depressing). The final, plays Selma, a Czech immigrant who toils in a ated movements and facial expressions. The the dramatic scenes, she is Selma, the desper- heart-breaking song in the film, “New World,” sink factory alongside her caring companion cinematography is quite interesting, and ate and dreamy Czech immigrant. Björk takes is sung in a desperate a capella. Luckily, on Kathy (Catherine Deneuve). Due to a genetic writer/director Lars von Trier operates the cam- the role of Selma and makes it hers. the CD, listeners aren’t subjected to re-live the disease, Selma goes blind and desperately era himself. Instead of panning back to include French ice queen Catherine Deneuve also same gut-tossing experience of the climactic struggles to earn enough money for her son’s both speakers in a frame, the camera swishes gives an excellent performance as Selma’s conclusion of the film. The soundtrack offers eye operation so that he will not be destined to quickly from face to face. The handheld-cam- loyal confidant. She even sings her brief vers- a softer version, with a lullaby melody and her darkness. She finally earns enough money corder-shakiness and erratic camera angles do es well. In fact, Björk and Deneuve may be more soothing vocals. to save Gene’s (Vladan Kostic) vision, only to offer a more voyeuristic (though dizzying) the only good singers in the film. It is clear The music is not Björk’s best. It’s not as be robbed blind by a suicidal friend. And glimpse into each scene, but they also push the that von Trier chose the actors based on their experimental or ambitious. It’s not Björk. It’s that’s only the happy part. film to the border of amateur filming. I was acting prowess, not their singing skills. Lucki- Björk and von Trier. The music is a compro- Selma escapes her drab world into one full briefly reminded of The Blair Witch Project. ly Björk does most of the singing in the film, mise and it shows. The creative conflict of dance and song. During moments of high Björk’s performance is impressive. So but the few verses that David Morse (remem- between the musician and the director pulled emotions or stress she enters a dreamland impressive, in fact, that she earned Best ber St. Elsewhere?) and Peter Stormare croon the music in different directions, and that is where factory workers tap dance with brooms Female Performance and the Palm d’Or at are blindingly painful. Their singing is forced, exactly how the soundtrack feels. and train workers happily spin her around. “In Cannes Film Festival. She plays the role of crude, and unconfident, void of any warmth Overall, Dancer in the Dark is an untradi- a musical,” Selma explains, “nothing dreadful Selma skillfully, melting easily between the and credibility. It is for this reason that tional musical with a stifling plot that can ever happens.” The irony is, of course, that struggling single-mother and the absentmind- Dancer in the Dark is a good film but a terri- drive any well-adjusted person to suicide. Dancer in the Dark is a musical and dreadful ed daydreamer. However, she is still unmis- ble, terrible musical. After releasing the intensely emotional and things do happen. Very, very dreadful things, takably Björk — with her trademark scratchy, Most of the music in Dancer in the Dark is heart-slinging tragedy Breaking the Waves, like injustice and death. squeaky voice and funny Icelandic accent — quintessential Björk, complete with strange von Trier continues his examination of The film is an ambitious one. It’s a thick and she tightly fuses herself with Selma. In rhythms and experimental sounds with strong tragedy, tragedy, and more tragedy in the and grave drama, with dance numbers that are the musical numbers, she is Björk, with her vocals. The overture during the opening cred- form of a musical. Let’s hope this one doesn’t filled with ensemble dancers making exagger- remarkable vocal range and unique style. In its is traditional musical fare, with a rich sym- hit Broadway.
TODAY 11am - 5pm La Sala De Puerto Rico - Student Center See
FOOD REVIEW spinach and garlic. It was an interesting dish, but perhaps not such a diverse experience as Tsel Gyathuk Ngopa (a noodle dish with veg- etables, $6.95) or the Tsel Phing (fresh vegeta- The Essential Vegetarian bles with clear bean thread, a thin Tibetan noo- dle, at $6.75). By Katie Jeffreys Overall, the service was friendly. A little assistance is always wel- FEATURES EDITOR come when sampling a new ethnicity of cuisine. The atmosphere, Fall has definitely arrived. For me, the rich colors of the season with the pictures of yaks and Lamas, was enhanced (if such a theme is invoke thoughts of the related foods, such as the yellow of squash, your cup of tea) by the traditional music in the background. orange of sweet potatoes, red of cranberries, and brown of grains. Included this week is a recipe for a Tibetan dish which combines Sampling fine restaurants’ Fall menus is always a treat. Taking the my idea of fall fare with the flavors I recently experienced at House time away from studies to relax in an elegant setting always is a nice of Tibet Kitchen. reminder that there is life outside MIT. Of course, I don’t mean drop- We all know that Dan Katz is a great guy, and I don’t mean in any ping huge sums of money on small quantities of food in a place where way to suggest that he should go out to Tibet, but I would suggest that you go to see and be seen, but rather going to one of the restaurants he (and all you readers) go to the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival around Boston that is cozy and inviting, or even fun and funky. this Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center, 1350 Tremont Some great Fall fare I discovered last year includes the butternut Street, Boston. squash ravioli at Vinny Testa’s (867 Boylston St., Boston). A special Visit
The following movies are playing this week- neurotic Nurse Betty, a small-town soap opera end at local theaters. The Tech suggests using aficionado traumatized into an alternate per-
restored 15th-century stained glass window from Hampton Court, 14th- and 15th-century Clubs stone, alabaster, and polychrome wood sculptures from France and Axis the Netherlands; “Mummy Mask 13 Lansdowne St., 617-262-2437 Gallery,” a newly renovated Egypt- ian gallery, features primitive Sundays: See Avalon below. masks dating from as far back as Mondays: Static. Gay, casual 2500 B.C.; “European Decorative dress. $5, 18+. Arts from 1950 to the Present”; Thursdays: Chrome/Skybar. Pro- “John Singer Sargent: Studies for gressive house, soul, disco; MFA and Boston Public Library dress code. $10, 19+; $8, Murals.” 21+. Fridays: Spin Cycle. Progressive Gallery lectures are free with house, 80's. $12, 19+; $10, museum admission. 21+. Museum of Our National Heritage Avalon 15 Lansdowne St., 617-262-2424 33 Marrett Rd., Lexington, 02421. (781-861-6559). Mon.-Sat. 10 Sundays: Gay Night with Axis. A weekly guide to the arts in Boston a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Three different dance floors fea- On The Town Admission and parking free. turing hardcore house and tech- October 13 – 20
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TechCalendar appears in each issue of The Tech and features events for members of the MIT community. The Tech makes no guarantees as to the accuracy of this information, and The Tech shall not be held liable for any loss- es, including, but not limited to, damages resulting from attendance of an event. TechCalendar Contact information for all events is available from the TechCalendar web page. Visit and add events to TechCalendar online at http://tech-calendar.mit.edu Friday, October 13 7:00 p.m. – LSC Presents U-571. Saturday, October 14 at 7 & 10 pm, and Sunday, Octo- ber 15 at 10 pm. 26-100. Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton. Itís 1942, and the Nazis 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Mary A. Harman: Breaking the Mold. A series of images using mul- have started to gain the upper hand in World War II, thanks in part to Germanyís use of a tiple print processes to explore issues of women’s individuality and saneness. free. Room: new kind of code that the Allied Powersí best experts canít decipher without a German Enig- Rm E52-466 . Sponsor: Sloan School of Management. ma machine. An American submarine is sent to raid a stranded German U-boat that has 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Peace Through Humor: Visions of Peace from the Hands of Chil- one of the devices. The raid goes horribly wrong, and the American crew is stranded on the dren. Exhibition of paintings, hosted by MIT Hillel. Curated by Maureen Kushner. free. disabled German sub, trying to stay alive in the face of German attackers. Action. Rated PG- Room: W11, Religious Activities Ctr, 40 Amherst St. Sponsor: Hillel, MIT. 13 for war violence. 115 minutes. $2.50. Room: MIT Room 26-100. Sponsor: LSC. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Flashes of Inspiration: The Work of Harold Edgerton. An interac- 10:00 p.m. – LSC Presents U-571. Saturday, October 14 at 7 & 10 pm, and Sunday, Octo- tive exhibition celebrating the life and work of MIT legend Harold . $5; $2 students/seniors; ber 15 at 10 pm. 26-100. Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton. Itís 1942, and the Nazis $1 children 5-18; free with MIT ID. Room: MIT Museum, N52 2nd floor. Sponsor: MIT Muse- have started to gain the upper hand in World War II, thanks in part to Germanyís use of a um. new kind of code that the Allied Powersí best experts canít decipher without a German Enig- 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Blood Drive. Donate blood to the American Red Cross and help ma machine. An American submarine is sent to raid a stranded German U-boat that has save lives. free. Room: La Sala on the second floor of the Student Center (W20). Sponsor: one of the devices. The raid goes horribly wrong, and the American crew is stranded on the American Red Cross Team and Network, Blood Drives. disabled German sub, trying to stay alive in the face of German attackers. Action. Rated PG- 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Orientation to Computing at MIT. This seminar provides basic, 13 for war violence. 115 minutes. $2.50. Room: MIT Room 26-100. Sponsor: LSC. non-technical information about the MIT computing environment. Topics include: telephones and voice mail, operating systems, supported software and recommended hardware, the Sunday, October 15 campus network, security, computer-related health issues. free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Information Systems. 10:00 a.m. – Women’s Tennis vs. Bates College. free. Room: Briggs Tennis Courts. Spon- 3:00 p.m. – Baseball vs. Massassoit Community College. free. Sponsor: Department of sor: Department of Athletics. Athletics. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. – Shotokan Karate Open Seminar. See 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – “Biotechnology in the New Millennium”. The second of a new lec- http://web.mit.edu/shotokan/open-workouts.html for more information. free. Room: Du ture series concerning biotechnology, made possible by Dr. Noubar Afeyan of Newcogen Pont Wrestling Room. Sponsor: Shotokan Karate Club. Other Martial Arts clubs. Group and former student in MIT Chemical Engineering. free. Room: 66-110. Sponsor: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Flashes of Inspiration: The Work of Harold Edgerton. An interac- Chemical Engineering. tive exhibition celebrating the life and work of MIT legend Harold (. $5; $2 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – “Bigger Isn’t Always Better: Opportunities in mesoscale fluid, students/seniors; $1 children 5-18; free with MIT ID. Room: MIT Museum. Sponsor: MIT chemical, and heat transfer systems”. free. Room: Rm 3-133, refreshments following in 1- Museum. 114. Sponsor: ME Seminar Series. 6:00 p.m. 00 a.m. – Tech Songs, 1903. Institute Archives and Special Collections: Object 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. – Discrepancy of Hypergraphs and Geometry. Refreshments will be of the Month illustrates how MIT students of 100 years ago found a common bond and an served at 3:30 PM i room 2-349. free. Room: 2-338. Sponsor: Combinatorics Seminar. outlet for frustration in songs about undergraduate life. free. Room: Hallway exhibit case Department of Mathematics. across from Rm 14N-118. Sponsor: Institute Archives and Special Collections. 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. – MITSFS weekly ‘meetings’. While these are, technically, meetings, 7:00 p.m. – LSC Presents American Psycho. Friday, October 13 at 7 & 10 pm, and Sun- it is nigh-forbidden to conduct Real Business at them, as they’re really social events. Imagi- day, October 15 at 7 pm. 26-100. Christian Bale, Reese Witherspoon, Jared Leto. Patrick nary Business, however, is allowed. Usually a dinner trip follows. free. Room: MITSFS Bateman (Bale) is a Wall Street nobody by day and a homicidal maniac by night. With no Library, W20-473. Sponsor: Science Fiction Society, MIT. motive whatsoever, he kills girlfriends, coworkers, prostitutesójust about any woman. In the 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. – Halloween Potluck Party. All MIT families are welcome to join the vein of Wall Street or In the Company of Men, this brilliant film exposes the essential mean- party. Please bring a dish to share (~8 servings). Everyone is encouraged to come in cos- inglessness behind the 1980s and the greed it entailed. Horror, drama. Rated R for strong tume. There will be trick-or-treat for the children and pumpkin carving for the adults. free. violence, sexuality, drug use and language. 101 minutes. $2.50. Room: MIT Room 26-100. Room: 10-105. Sponsor: spouses&partners@mit, MIT Medical. MIT Japanese Wives Group. Sponsor: LSC. 6:00 p.m. 00 a.m. – Tech Songs, 1903. Institute Archives and Special Collections: Object 10:00 p.m. – LSC Presents U-571. Saturday, October 14 at 7 & 10 pm, and Sunday, Octo- of the Month illustrates how MIT students of 100 years ago found a common bond and an ber 15 at 10 pm. 26-100. Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton. Itís 1942, and the Nazis outlet for frustration in songs about undergraduate life. free. Room: Hallway exhibit case have started to gain the upper hand in World War II, thanks in part to Germanyís use of a across from Rm 14N-118. Sponsor: Institute Archives and Special Collections. new kind of code that the Allied Powersí best experts canít decipher without a German Enig- 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. – GCF International Potluck. The Graduate Christian fellowship is ma machine. An American submarine is sent to raid a stranded German U-boat that has sponsoring an international potluck. Bring a dish from your state/country of origin, or come one of the devices. The raid goes horribly wrong, and the American crew is stranded on the even if you can’t bring a dish. There will be lots of food, skits, games, prizes, and live disabled German sub, trying to stay alive in the face of German attackers. Action. Rated PG- music. free. Room: Student Center West Lounge (W20-201). Sponsor: Graduate Christian 13 for war violence. 115 minutes. $2.50. Room: MIT Room 26-100. Sponsor: LSC. Fellowship. 7:00 p.m. – LSC Presents American Psycho. Friday, October 13 at 7 & 10 pm, and Sun- Monday, October 16 day, October 15 at 7 pm. 26-100. Christian Bale, Reese Witherspoon, Jared Leto. Patrick Bateman (Bale) is a Wall Street nobody by day and a homicidal maniac by night. With no 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. – Materials Day. A celebration of research in the materials communi- motive whatsoever, he kills girlfriends, coworkers, prostitutesójust about any woman. In the ty at MIT. Materials Day centers around a full-day workshop, this year entitled “Growing vein of Wall Street or In the Company of Men, this brilliant film exposes the essential mean- Opportunities: Where Materials and Biology Converge.” Six talks will explore recent inglessness behind the 1980s and the greed it entailed. Horror, drama. Rated R for strong advances in biomaterials research at MIT. A poster session, open to UROPs, grad students, violence, sexuality, drug use and language. 101 minutes. $2.50. Room: MIT Room 26-100. and postdocs, will be held at 3:30-5:30 p.m. See our web page for a detailled agenda and Sponsor: LSC. registration information. free. Room: Kresge Little Theatre, Stratton Student Center (see 7:30 p.m. – LSC Classics Presents Cool Hand Luke. Luke (Paul Newman) is sent to a web site). Sponsor: Materials Processing Center. prison camp, where he gets a reputation as a hard man. The head of the gang hates him, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Mary A. Harman: Breaking the Mold. A series of images using mul- and tries to break him by beating him up. It doesn’t work, and he gains respect. His mother tiple print processes to explore issues of women’s individuality and saneness. free. Room: dies, and he escapes, but is caught, escapes again, and is caught again. Will the camp Rm E52-466 . Sponsor: Sloan School of Management. bosses ever break him? . $2.50. Room: MIT Room 10-250. Sponsor: LSC. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Peace Through Humor: Visions of Peace from the Hands of Chil- 10:00 p.m. – LSC Presents American Psycho. Friday, October 13 at 7 & 10 pm, and Sun- dren. Exhibition of paintings, hosted by MIT Hillel. Curated by Maureen Kushner. free. day, October 15 at 7 pm. 26-100. Christian Bale, Reese Witherspoon, Jared Leto. Patrick Room: W11, Religious Activities Ctr, 40 Amherst St. Sponsor: Hillel, MIT. Bateman (Bale) is a Wall Street nobody by day and a homicidal maniac by night. With no 12:10 p.m. – GABLES Lunch with a Woman’s Focus. The lunch is an opportunity for gay, motive whatsoever, he kills girlfriends, coworkers, prostitutesójust about any woman. In the lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgendered MIT staff and faculty to gather in a social environ- vein of Wall Street or In the Company of Men, this brilliant film exposes the essential mean- ment to meet and greet one another. It is also a venue for us to talk about issues of inter- inglessness behind the 1980s and the greed it entailed. Horror, drama. Rated R for strong est to the MIT and the larger glbt community. Our colleagues and friends from the wider violence, sexuality, drug use and language. 101 minutes. $2.50. Room: MIT Room 26-100. community are invited to join us. Room: TBA. Sponsor: GABLES. Sponsor: LSC. 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – Web Publishing Overview (formerly HTML Demo). This three-hour – Women’s Crew - MIT INVITATIONAL. free. Room: B.U. Bridge. Sponsor: Department of lecture/demonstration session gives an overview of the electronic publishing process as it Athletics. works at MIT, focusing on:how to code files using HTML tags (HTML is the HyperText – Men’s Cross Country - NEIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS. free. Room: Franklin Park. Sponsor: Markup Language, the standard for publishing on the Web), and how to upload files to the Department of Athletics. Athena system for delivery through MITís primary Web server, web.mit.edu. free. Room: – Women’s Cross Country - NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. free. Room: Franklin Park. N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Information Systems. Sponsor: Department of Athletics. 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – “Gauge-bundle basics”. free. Room: Room 2-146 (starting time changed this week only). Sponsor: Differential Geometry Seminar. M.I.T. Department of Saturday, October 14 Mathematics. 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. – Digital Hype and Digital Divide: Lessons from India. STS Colloqui- 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Flashes of Inspiration: The Work of Harold Edgerton. An interac- um. free. Room: E51-095. Sponsor: STS. tive exhibition celebrating the life and work of MIT legend Harold (. $5; $2 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Soft, Smooth and Under Control: The Promise of Low Impedance students/seniors; $1 children 5-18; free with MIT ID. Room: MIT Museum. Sponsor: MIT Robotics. free. Room: Edgerton Hall, 34-101. Sponsor: EECS, 10.978 Seminar. Museum. 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. – The Technology Base for the 21st Century. NASA Administrator 1:00 p.m. – Women’s Soccer vs. Mount Holyoke College. free. Room: Steinbrenner. Spon- Daniel Goldin appears in the System Design and Management Program’s Distinguished Lec- sor: Department of Athletics. ture Series. The title of his presentation is The Technology Base for the 21st Century. Free. 1:00 p.m. – Women’s Tennis - Mount Holyoke College. free. Room: Briggs Tennis Courts. Room: E51 Wong Auditorium. Sponsor: Engineering Systems Division. System Design and Sponsor: Department of Athletics. Management Program. 4:30 p.m. – Women’s Soccer Alumnae Game. free. Sponsor: Department of Athletics. 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. – Car Design: The Creation of Everlasting Beauty. Ferrari Designer 6:00 p.m. 00 a.m. – Tech Songs, 1903. Institute Archives and Special Collections: Object to Speak:Sergio Pininfarina Reception to follow: 6pm Media Lab Atrium Ferrari cars on of the Month illustrates how MIT students of 100 years ago found a common bond and an Diplay. free. Room: BLD 10 RM 250. Sponsor: CC++(the Car Research Group). Society of outlet for frustration in songs about undergraduate life. free. Room: Hallway exhibit case Automative Engineers, Ferrari of New England. across from Rm 14N-118. Sponsor: Institute Archives and Special Collections. 6:00 p.m. 00 a.m. – Tech Songs, 1903. Institute Archives and Special Collections: Object 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. – MIT-Harvard Coming Out Week Barbecue. Is the MIT community a of the Month illustrates how MIT students of 100 years ago found a common bond and an little too small? Come on out and meet the family from the other side of town. Enjoy a nice outlet for frustration in songs about undergraduate life. free. Room: Hallway exhibit case fall evening with food and the opportunity to meet members of the Harvard undergraduate across from Rm 14N-118. Sponsor: Institute Archives and Special Collections. and graduate lbgt community. free. Room: Johnson Barbecue Pits. Sponsor: Friendly 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. – BENILDE, THE VIRGIN MOTHER. The story of an 18-year old girl Alliance of Queers and Straights, GaMIT, Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Graduate Student Coffee- brought up in isolation, who claims her pregnancy is due to divine intervention. J. Hoberman house, LBGT Issues Group. SLoan LGBT. writes that taken at face value, Benilde is a film about society’s response to a miracle. 7:00 p.m. – MITHAS Concert. Sunil Kumar Mungi, Hindustani vocalist. With Hemendra Based on the play of the same name by one of Portugal’s most noted writers, Jose Regio. Mahavar, tabla and Kapil Trivedi, harmonium. Presented by MITHAS (MIT Heritage of South Directed by Manoel de Oliveira. With Maria Amelia Aranda, Jorge Rolla, Varela Silva and Glo- Asia). $15; $12 students/srs/MITHAS/NE Hindu Temple members. Room: Wong Auditori- ria de Matos. free. Room: 10-250. Sponsor: Portuguese Student Association, International um. Sponsor: MITHAS. Film Club. Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University. October 13, 2000 THE TECH Page 17 FEATURES 77 Mass Ave. nd th u e
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n Crosswalk Chirp r
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• bee-boop is a more sophisticated sound than the chirp-
t u e t ing,” said Rome Portlock ’01. “I started MIT with the bee-boop and I’m glad I’m going to end it with the bee- By Helen Lee boop.” Grant Kristofek ’02 also prefers the cuckoo noise. What is small and yellow and chirps like a bird? “The chirping noise could be confused with a bird,” That’s right: it’s the rectangular box that produces the Kristofek said. beeping sound that signals when pedestrians can cross at According to Danielle Smith ’02, a Bexley resident, 77 Massachusetts Ave. It plays a small but definite part “It sounds more like some space laser gun than a chirp. in MIT’s culture, from students counting the number of Or maybe a bird with a prosthetic voicebox.” beeps per crossing; to arguing over which chirp they Although the signal is a topic to make lighthearted prefer; to keeping Bexley residents awake when they comments about for many, it also serves a serious pur- sleep with the window open. pose. Paul Parravano, co-director of the office of gov- The crossing signal was installed at the crosswalk ernment and community relations, is blind and depends over ten years ago, according to David Ryan, traffic on the signal to let him know when it is safe to cross. “It engineer of the City of Cambridge. The sound was origi- adds a level of independence and safety for me,” Parra- nally bells and buzzes, but was changed to the current vano said. chirping sound in order to be less disruptive to Bexley For blind individuals, getting around in a busy city residents. The type of sound at the crosswalk has can be difficult and dangerous. Other major crossings in changed twice in the past year. Last spring the cuckoo Cambridge have these signals as well, along with differ- sound was replaced by a chirping sound, and it returned ent chirps for north-south and east-west crossings at to the cuckoo sound a few weeks ago. intersections.The city has also worked to modify and ROSHAN BALIGA—THE TECH The chirping boxes at the 77 Mass Ave. crossing pro- When discussing the sound, students give comments lessen the impact of the sounds so as not to disturb resi- vide a valuable signal for the blind in addition to being from the bored to the overly enthusiastic. “I think the dents near those intersections. a source of amusement for many MIT students. Volunteerism on Campus THE BIG RACE 2000 Perspective of Eric Schlemann The Future of Social Security By Amal Dorai ny than their grades in college.” Academics will always be first and fore- By Derrick Carpenter The streams of problem sets and papers most at MIT, a philosophy that has been key STAFF REPORTER seem infinite at times. Everyone at MIT has a in building the reputation we have. Yet the Much of the presidential debate nearly a week ago across the river attempted to display the lot of work to do, and few people have loads Institute can definitely take steps to encourage wide variances of opinion between Vice President Gore and Governor Bush, specifically in the of spare time. The intense environment is a lot students to pursue volunteer activities outside areas of spending for Social Security. However, since both candidates support the further devel- of what makes MIT, MIT. As a result, students of class, whether they are Institute-affiliated or opment of the program, they share many common ideas to achieve that goal. As a result of the do not always have the time to pursue things not. One thing that is important to preserve, differences among party lines, a few subtle distinctions do exist, but it is doubtful that any gain they might be interested in. however, is the idea that students should be or loss of support for either candidate will be achieved by further debate on the subject. Students who take large chunks of their involved in activities because they want to Both Bush and Gore support the partial privatization of Social Security, which time to do significant activities may not do contribute their ideas and efforts to a cause, would allow people participating in the program to invest a small portion of their as well in their classes as others who devote not because they want to bulk up their resume. income taxes in the stock market. However, Governor Bush does oppose the ability of all their free time to studying. However, stu- Students who feel that they have to do the government to directly invest Social Security in the market. The two nominees dents who contribute to their community extracurricular activities often wind up both support the elimination of the Social Security earnings limit, which the president through volunteer work often have a far grumpy about what they’re doing and take no signed into law on April 7, 2000, a bill designed to allow employed seniors to continue more rewarding experience than another 0.2 special joy in it. to work without losing any of their Social Security benefits. points on their GPA. A simple solution to the small participa- Although Gore supports an increase in benefits for widows and the elimination of Until this fall, Eric Schlemann was the tion in volunteer activities is to make them the “motherhood penalty,” a cutback in benefits for women who stop working tem- Office Manager of the Undergraduate Associ- mandatory in some way. Schlemann’s first vol- porarily to raise children, both of the candidates otherwise support the current system ation. He frequently interacted with students unteer experience was as part of his senior of conditions of benefits for widows, widowers and the disabled. Furthermore, Gore involved in student government, from the UA project at a Jesuit high school, where he vol- and Bush support placing a “lock box” on payroll taxes in order to prevent borrowing and ASA to the IFC and European Club, thus unteered in a day care for underprivileged against the trust fund of the Social Security program. developing a strong feel for the MIT student children. Vice President Gore supports using part of the Social Security surplus, $2.2 trillion of body. He recently offered his opinions on the “If I hadn’t been made to do this, I don’t it, to maintain the program and further pay off the debt, which would save billions of dol- state of volunteerism at MIT. know if I would have ever gotten drawn into lars in interest. If this were in effect, Gore asserts that this saved money could be spent to “If everyone volunteered and contributed volunteering,” says Schlemann, who works ensure the extension of the current program until at least 2050. Gore additionally supports to the community at large, everyone would seven days a week yet still manages to fit in a pension portability and the formation of “Retirement Savings Plus Accounts,” upheld by benefit from the collective efforts,” said Schle- few hours here and there to volunteer work. private financial institutions. These accounts would operate much like traditional IRAs mann. “But the academic curve tends to favor Yet on the flip side, if students are forced and 401K’s, but would permit tax-deductible contributions of up to $2,000 a year. those who study harder than their classmates, to undertake some sort of community ser- Bush is focusing his Social Security arguments toward younger voters, claiming to since grades are determined on an relative vice project, the activity loses all meaning provide more privacy and therefore the possibility of greater output of the program. Gore rather than absolute scale.” for them and descends to the level of the speaks to the more general, retirement-concerned public, claiming that his program In his role with his new employer, Brass- GIR, yet one more requirement for gradua- would best ensure the overall safety and best extend the lifetime of the system. Ring Systems, Schlemann interviews candi- tion. At that point, students who may have However, the foundations of their views arise from the same set of ideals. The debates to dates for employment. “Students should volunteered by themselves and loved it tend come, existing in a format of less formality than the first, will be decisive events for each never worry about risking tiny losses in GPA to become grumpy about their work since it candidate to clearly site the differences in his program and prove that his is superior. Other- to pursue activities they care about. In fact, is mandatory. wise, the very debatable topic will not provide any serious help for still undecided voters. when I’m hiring someone, I’d much rather The fact remains that students who gradu- see someone who has taken the time to pur- ate only having paid attention to their grades sue something outside their classes, even if and coursework have not received a very full their GPA is half a point lower,” said Schle- experience from their undergraduate years. mann. “When I’m looking for an employee, MIT can let this continue as it has, or it can a well-rounded candidate with experience find creative ways to bridge the gap between working with a team toward a common goal its world-class academics and activities for is far more relevant to their role in a compa- students to get involved in. Page 18 THE TECH October 13, 2000 October 13, 2000 THE TECH Page 19 (clockwise from far left) • Dean Kamen, inventor of the IBOT, wordlessly trounces three Nobel Laure- ates in an intelligence debate. • An obnoxious Harvard student, Naomi Stephen, is wheeled from the stage. • Three Nobel Laureates order pizza as the ceremonies drag on. • Three performing scientists fire ping pong balls into the crowd during a “Moment of Science.” • The stage is swept clean with a blast of nitrogen. • The annoying, Miss Sweetie-Poo, Natasha Rosenberg, announces her bore- dom to a bothered Professor Pek van Andel. • Attorney William J. Maloney interrupts a demonstration of Professor Andel’s study of sexual arousal using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. • The British Royal Navy is awarded the Peace Prize for replacing live ammuni- tion with sailors who shout “Bang!” • Jim Bredt, the human spotlight, illuminates a prize winner. • Margot Button sings of the health merits of eating brains. IgNobel By Pey-Hua Hwang and Sagara Wickramasekara asleep, and on a Saturday afternoon as well. In addition to the talks, the Great Intelligence Debate Nobel celebrations from from the ceremonies continued. This time the audience Thursday continued as the Ig kept score rather than the Nobel Laureates. The Nobels moved from Sanders Smartest Harvard Undergraduate, Paul Berman, had Theatre at Harvard Universi- speaking skills which seemed to have matured from his ty to MIT’s 26-100 lecture appearance on Thursday in his match against Mensa. hall for Saturday’s Ig Nobel The Smartest MIT Undergraduate Osman M. Bakr Lectures. The event was not ’01 trounced MIT Professor Jerome Lettvin by giving a as packed as the ceremonies rousing rendition, complete with imitation voice, of but still managed to capture President Clinton’s speech on how he did not have rela- the feel of Thursday’s spectacle. From acclaimed pianist tions with Monica Lewinsky. However, the crowning Leonid Hambro to Ambient Zebra in their low-tech Dig- moment for MIT was when the Smartest MIT Under- gery-Doo and high-tech Thermin duet, the range of graduate defeated the Smartest Harvard Undergraduate musical styles echoed the range of subject matter. by creating his own language of noise which obviously Five of this year’s winners came to discuss their flabbergasted the Harvard Undergraduate into speaking work in greater detail than Thursday night’s time limit Spanish as well as commenting “This debate was allowed. The topics ranged from “Quantum Computers rigged.” Intelligence does not necessarily mean that from Flying Frogs” to a translation of a Dutch narrative Harvard students are good sports. of sex in an MRI tube, which led to a discussion of how The afternoon ended with a flourish of musical human sexual anatomy has been misrepresented in mod- humour as Leonid Hambro proceeded to teach the audi- ern textbooks for hundreds of years. ence about how a performer’s bow is a good indication of Though the lectures, unlike the awards ceremony, their playing style, how conductors get their nicknames were not filled with random interruptions and “demon- such as “flycatcher,” and how “Happy Birthday” and the strations” by Ig Actors, they weren’t overloaded with Navy Anthem “Anchors Away” could be made to sound technical jargon either. like Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and even Ragtime. Andre Geim had some Physics Theorem transparen- The amount of sound the small upright piano put out cies but he pulled them away before they could ruin a was no match for the applause Hambro garnered for student’s weekend by reminding them of problem sets. mixing America and Russia’s national anthems and told On a lighter note, the lecture on a program designed to how that an attempt at integration and desire to bring stop cats from sending e-mail provoked a surprisingly peace to the world got him expelled from high school. involved question answer session that mentioned topics In the same vein as his analysis of other performer’s By Vladimir Zelevinsky as far reaching as ultrasonic sound and animal rights. bows, Hambro’s final Ig Nobel bow reflected the ability STAFF WRITER The 2000 Ig Nobel Prize Winners Overall, an amazing feat was accomplished. There for science to be transmogrified from the cold data of he Ig Nobel prizes (for research that can not or should not ======were five whole lectures without a single student falling the laboratory to the warm laughter of the Ig Nobels. be reproduced) for the year 2000 were awarded on the PSYCHOLOGY: David Dunning of Cornell University and evening of October 5 at the Saunders Theatre (Harvard Uni- Justin Kreuger of the University of Illinois, for their modest report, Tversity) in an atmosphere of glamour and refinement. The “Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing plethora of glittering literati was surpassed only by the littering glit- One’s Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments.” terati. The fashions alone would put to shame the most swanky design- LITERATURE: Jasmuheen (formerly Ellen Greve) of Australia, ers, including such tasteful and appropriate outfits as a young lady for her book “Living on Light,” which explains that although some dressed in a bear skin, a gentleman wearing a chemical model of people do eat food, they don’t ever really need to. C2H5OH on his head, a couple wearing a shapely (here defined as “possessing some kind of a shape, but for the life of me I have no BIOLOGY: Richard Wassersug of Dalhousie University, for his idea what shape that is”) silvery dress. One dress for two of them, first-hand report, “On the Comparative Palatability of Some Dry- that is. The high point of the evening fashion was certainly provided Season Tadpoles from Costa Rica.” by a lady and a gentleman, each wearing not much in the way of clothing but several coats of body paint (gold and silver, respective- PHYSICS: Andre Geim of the University of Nijmegen (the ly). In contrast, the cloak made of bubble wrap looked positively Netherlands) and Sir Michael Berry of Bristol University (UK), for sedate, even when tastefully accessorized by a plastic lawn flamingo. using magnets to levitate a frog and a sumo wrestler. Photography by Speaking of bubble wrap: the Duck brand bubble wrap was declared the Official Substance of the ceremony, and each guest was CHEMISTRY: Donatella Marazziti, Alessandra Rossi, and Gio- Pedro Arrechea thoughtfully provided with a free square foot of said substance. vanni B. Cassano of the University of Pisa, and Hagop S. Akiskal of Resulting popping sound, echoing, resonating, and reverberating the University of California (San Diego), for their discovery that, through the Saunders Theatre throughout the evening, did bring forth biochemically, romantic love may be indistinguishable from having Greg Kuhnen a feeling of closeness and camaraderie, which would also benefit severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. such bubblewrapless occasions as the sessions of Supreme Court and 8.01 lectures. ECONOMICS: The Reverend Sun Myung Moon, for bringing The evening did not limit itself to the awards only. The other spir- efficiency and steady growth to the mass-marriage industry, with a itually refreshing and mentally nourishing items on the day’s palate 36-couple wedding in 1960, a 430-couple wedding in 1968, an 1800- included: the Gala Entrance Parade of the Audience Delegations; the couple wedding in 1975, a 6000-couple wedding in 1982, a 30,000- Win-a-Date-With-a-Nobel-Laureate Contest; and last, and most cer- couple wedding in 1992, a 360,000-couple wedding in 1995, and a tainly least, The Great Intelligence Debate, which pitted against each 36,000,000-couple wedding in 1997. other such disparately desperate (or desperately disparate) parties as the Smartest MIT Undergraduate (Osman Bakr ‘03, selected as such MEDICINE: Willibrord Weijmar Schultz, Pek van Andel, and in a random drawing), a joint team of three real genuine honest-to- Eduard Mooyaart of Groningen, The Netherlands, and Ida Sabelis of goodness Nobel Prize laureates, and the ex-president of Equador, Amsterdam, for their illuminating report, “Magnetic Resonance who all competed against each other and were finally bested by a Imaging of Male and Female Genitals During Coitus and Female nine year old Natasha Rosenberg (a.k.a. Miss Sweetie Poo), in a Sexual Arousal.” series of debates that went on and on and on, very much like this sen- tence. COMPUTER SCIENCE: Chris Niswander of Tucson, Arizona, The evening also included the world premiere of a three act for inventing PawSense, software opera, “The Brain Food Opera”, which was, in the case you didn’t that detects when a cat is walking quite get it, an opera, and that dealt with, of all the things, brain food. across your computer keyboard. Touching upon such disparate subjects as nutrition, intelligence, and family matters, the libretto also proved to be innovative in the stale PEACE: The British Royal field of poetry by employing such effective and original rhymes as Navy, for ordering its sailors to stop “Barracuda / would make me shrewda” and “Medula Oblongata / using live cannon shells, and to would make me smarta”. instead just shout “Bang!” After the awards (see the full list below) were announced (to the bewilderment and shock of the audience, many of the awardees were PUBLIC HEALTH: Jonathan actually physically present to receive them), the evening drew to a Wyatt, Gordon McNaughton, and close, during the rousing third act of “The Brain Food Opera”, when William Tullet of Glasgow, for their the audience was cheerfully pelted by (fake) fish brains. We under- alarming report, “The Collapse of stand this is the latest custom in the most refined houses of Europe. Toilets in Glasgow.” Page 20 THE TECH FEATURES October 13, 2000 GAMIT Presents Coming Out Week 2000
By Melissa Cain Gresh said that there are definitely STAFF REPORTER prejudiced people in the MIT commu- National Coming Out Day, on nity, “but there are also a lot of October 11, is an annual event to allies.” encourage gay, lesbian, bisexual and During Coming Out Week, transgendered people to be open GaMIT has had a Coming Out Sup- about their sexuality. This week is port Group Meeting, a Study Break, Coming Out Week at MIT and there and a booth in Lobby 10 all week. are several programs that have been The Coming Out Support Group is a organized to encourage more discus- regular event which takes on special sion about sexuality. emphasis this week. Jason Parris, general coordinator In addition, lbgt@mit hosted a of the Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Rainbow Reception for faculty and Transgenders, and Friends at MIT students to give them an opportunity (GaMIT), said that the purpose of to meet LBGT and friendly members Coming Out Week is two-fold. of the MIT community. “First, and foremost, [the purpose Parris judges the success of the is] to try to create an environment week simply: “If we succeed at all in where people feel safe and secure making the campus a bit more queer enough to come out of the closet. friendly … that is a great success.” Second, a major goal of the week is to Gresh agrees, saying that, “If not a educate people, both gay and straight, lot of people come to events, that about the importance of being able to does not mean there isn’t enormous feel comfortable being oneself.” value in being visible and publicizing Parris sees GaMIT’s job during the events.” week as sending “one message loud If you have been in a closet all and clear, ‘It’s okay to be gay, and it’s week and did not realize what was okay to be open about it.’” going on, it is not too late to get “People that aren’t out already involved. The last event of this year’s tend to have a hard time coming out Coming Out Week is the Harvard- at MIT,” Parris said. “MIT has a tol- MIT barbeque in the Johnson Bar- erant, but not necessarily accepting beque Pits on Saturday from 6-9 p.m., student body.” so come out (and join the fun). Ricky A. Gresh, program adminis- Coming out week was organized trator for residence life and student by: GaMIT, MIT-FAQS (The MIT life programs (RLSLP) at MIT says Friendly Alliance of Queers and that one of the most important rea- Straights), the MIT Rainbow Coffee- sons for Coming Out Week is that house, GABLES (Gay, Bisexual and “there is a lot of value in knowing that Lesbian Employees and Supporters), EKATERINA OSSIKINE Chair of the LBGT Issues Group Carol Orme-Johnson (far right) presents queer and queer-friendly fac- MIT supports such events, whether or lbgt@MIT, and Residential Life and ulty and staff. Looking on from left to right: James Collins from Counciling and Support Services, and not one actually goes.” Student Life Programs. Dean for Student Life Larry G. Benedict. Queer Resources Queers on Campus Not an Underrepresented Minority Around Boston By Fred Choi MIT it’s likely the largest minority behind STAFF REPORTER Asians. A recent issue of Rolling Stone was lying If you consider the math it should be around the dining room of TEP last week. In obvious that the chance that one of your it was an article about a student at the Uni- close friends must be queer are high. It LBGT and LBGT-friendly places versity of Wyoming who was faced with the should also be obvious that if you’re living ordeal of coming out to his fraternity broth- in a place where you never hear about some- 1. Diesel Cafe (Davis Square) ers. Later on one of the guys in my house one talking about his boyfriend or her girl- 2. Someday Cafe (Davis Square) mentioned it to me and we had a good laugh friend or you never see two girls or two guys 3. Club Cafe about it because TEP is so queer-friendly holding hands or you never see couples of 4. Garden of Eden (open-air tables) that it made the article seem outdated and the same gender at a dance together, then 5. Francesca’s Cafe Wyoming seem ridiculously provincial in you’re living in a place in which people feel 6. Kendall Square Cinema comparison. unwelcome and that they have to hide their 7. Lava Bar (Kenmore) I had to stop and remind myself that the true nature. Such places are restricting and 8. Grand Opening! (Coolidge Corner, near Coolidge Corner Theatre) sad truth of it is that TEP is part of only a suffocating and there are a substantial num- 9. The Theater Offensive (BCA — Tremont Street) small group of queer- ber of people who are 10. New Words Women’s Bookstore (Inman Square) friendly places on campus. being deprived of their Even though we live in basic human rights of Cambridge, Boston, and If you’re straight, I ask completeness, openness, MIT, places that are far and lack of shame. away from the stereotypi- that you demonstrate One of the reasons that Best Club Nights cally homophobic Midwest compassion by being I value the current hous- or Southern parts of the ing system so highly is 1. Manray (near Central Square) on Thursday nights United States, such issues open-minded enough that if I hadn’t had the 2. Avalon Sundays, are still highly relevant. opportunity to find a place 3. Mondays at Axis: ‘Static’ (18+ gay dance night. Drag show.) There are certainly some to be accepting of non- that I felt completely at places on campus which home, I wouldn’t have felt are queer-friendly, but I heterosexuals. At the that I could “come out” believe that the majority of very least, be tolerant and finally become a com- places on campus are either plete person. Granted, the Suggested LBGT-themed books openly homophobic or and acknowledge the particular living group I merely silent on the issue, chose made this task even For a complete list, see
The Tech’s Features department is looking for writers to help produce spreads on special events at MIT.
Contact Katie Jeffreys at
TECH FILE PHOTO Ricardo Ramirez ’02 and Jason Parris ’02, members of GAMIT, participate in a symbolic marriage to honor National Freedom To Marry Day. Page 22 THE TECH October 13, 2000 October 13, 2000 THE TECH Page 23 Victims of Racial Profiling Relate Their Experiences
Profiling, from Page 1 ten other incidents of racial profiling and called for an end to these prac- tices. “Every Cantabrigian should be able to walk the streets unmolest- ed if he or she has done nothing wrong,” Reeves said. Dennis Benzan, a former aide in the Mayor’s Office and candidate for state representative in 1998, told the panel how he was arrested for having an unleashed dog and sub- jected to a humiliating traffic stop by the State Police. “All of these incidents make you feel, unless you’re somehow able to battle it psychologically, that you’re inferi- or,” Benzan said. Incidents anger residents Several speakers at the meeting referred to two particular incidents in Cambridge last year to show the extent of racial profiling in the city. One speaker, the mother of a boy charged with assault and bat- tery against a police officer after reports of a fight at Jefferson Park last year, argued that Cambridge police do not care about minority concerns. “I hope one day the city of Cambridge will have a police commissioner who is sensitive to the community,” said Valerie Con- ward. Conward’s son and the others charged were found not guilty, and Conward said she will sue the city of Cambridge. PEDRO ARRECHEA—THE TECH PEDRO ARRECHEA—THE TECH Other speakers complained Cambridge resident Dennis Benzan talks about racial profiling as Cam- City Councillor Marjorie Decker addresses last night’s forum on about the decision by the Cam- bridge Police Review and Advisory Board chair Alan Price looks on. racial profiling in Cambridge. bridge School Department to search a group of minority students for evi- instructions last year. is also required to prepare educa- escort at the time. beliefs might still be an element of dence of gang activity. One parent tional material instructing motorists Racial profiling is an important the criminal justice system itself,” said she no longer sends her chil- State to gather data on profiling how to behave during a traffic stop, issue for the American Civil Liber- Buchman said. dren to Cambridge public schools Massachusetts has joined a and what to do if motorists believe ties Union, who are working to end However, Buchman cautioned because of the shock the searches growing number of states studying they are victims of racial or gender the practice around the country. that not all officers engage in profil- have caused her. the racial profiling issue. Under a profiling. Susan M. Buchman ’01, founder of ing tactics. “It’s easy to demonize The Cambridge Police Depart- new state law, sponsored by State the MIT campus chapter of the law enforcement as a whole, but I ment was rocked last year by revela- Senator Dianne Wilkerson (D- Profiling an issue at the Institute ACLU, believes that the nation think that’s very unfair. For the tions that some officers were taught Boston), police forces in Massachu- In the past some members of the must work hard to eradicate profil- most part, the issue has progressed that pepper spray has less of an setts will record information on a MIT community questioned ing practices from police depart- to the point where police officials effect on certain minority groups driver’s race and gender when mak- whether racial profiling was ments. are no longer denying racial profil- whose cultures feature spicy foods. ing a traffic stop. The information involved in the arrest of Theodore “This issue is important because ing occurs, and have begun tackling Cambridge Police Commissioner will be used by the state to study Bell for trespass in the Student Cen- although we have to acknowledge the problem of how to correct it,” Ronnie Watson promptly apolo- whether police departments in the ter. Bell, a former Toscanini’s that many individuals still hold Buchman said. gized after the Cambridge Chroni- state engage in racial profiling. employee who is African-American, racist beliefs, it’s really horrifying Melissa S. Cain contributed to cle reported on the pepper spray The Registry of Motor Vehicles was arrested despite having an MIT that even in the 21st century, such the reporting of this story. Page 24 THE TECH October 13, 2000 Colleges Worried About Their Drinking Reputations
Homeruns.com, from Page 1 local universities will continue to get the message across that under- license. “I could see some potential age drinking won’t be allowed.” problems with a delivery service to Many students, however, do not campus,” he said. think the new delivery service will Daniel F. Pokaski, chairman of have major implications. “I think the Boston Licensing Board, stated this will change very little,” said many of the universities that spoke Victoria K. Anderson ’02. “Those out against who wish to illegal- Kozmo.com ly obtain alcohol acted on their “Most of the universities will get it by some own volition, means. [Homeruns] then cooperat- are very sensitive about may be a new ed with the option, but it would Boston Police whether or not they are not add to the prob- when asked. perceived as not strict lem of underage “Most of drinking.” the universi- on underage drinking.” ties are very Kozmo.com failed sensitive – Daniel F. Pokaski, to get permit about whether Chairman of the Boston Kozmo.com or not they are planned last year to perceived as Licensing Board obtain a permit to not strict on sell alcohol from its underage Allston-Brighton drinking,” Pokaski commented. area warehouse, which is owned by Similarly, Boston Police did not Harvard University. SAMUDRA VIJAY—THE TECH notify universities about Home- After a number of protests from Homeruns.com, a web-based grocery delivery service, has a license to deliver alcohol in some local towns. runs.com. Harvard, Boston University, Boston “I was surprised Somerville let College, concerned citizens and Harvard’s main reason “was the no action was taken against Home- tant, it is far from unconnected. [Homeruns get their license],” said police, Kozmo.com decided not to significant number of college stu- runs.com’s alcohol license because, Homeruns.com delivers all through- Pokaski. “We are going to discuss go forward with its bid for a dents in the Allston-Brighton area. unlike Kozmo.com and the Allston- out Boston via its Somerville ware- with the [Alcoholic Beverage Con- license. “It was operated out of a Our neighbors and especially our Brighton warehouse, Somerville house, thereby doing business in trol Commission] whether or not building we own, so we took partic- police captain were very worried was not one of the surrounding Boston without actually being based Homeruns will be allowed to deliver ular interest in Kozmo.com selling about the implications of alcohol neighborhoods. “There is not a there. It is because the company is into Boston … The Boston Police, alcohol,” said Kevin McCluskey, being distributed in the neighbor- direct connection with Somerville,” not directly in the city of Boston Licensing Board, Alcoholic Bever- Harvard University’s director of hoods,” McCluskey said. McCluskey said. that Homeruns dodged most of the age Control Commission, and the community relations. Both Harvard and BU said that Though Somerville may be dis- concerns that foiled their rival Kozmo. Kozmo.com declined to com- ment on the recent actions of Homeruns.com. “We have always been committed to customer feed- back, which was the reason we chose to add alcohol to our menu in the first place,” said Matt Higgins, a Kozmo.com representative. Kozmo does offer alcohol in the Seattle area, where according to Higgins “[business] has been very successful and it has worked well with the community.” Kozmo also has plans to add alcohol to its menu in other areas of the country as well.” Kozmo has always had a strict policy on alcohol sales,” said Hig- gins. “We never deliver to campus addresses, which is the policy in Seattle and would have been the policy in Boston.” Higgins added that even without an alcohol license, Kozmo has continued to grow both nationally and in the Boston area. Outcome yet to be seen Arguably, what protesters feared would come from Kozmo.com may come from Homeruns.com. Howev- er, this will not allow beer to be available come each collegiate whim. Homeruns.com delivers the day after the order is placed, and could not serve impromptu parties. Although Homeruns.com has yet to say whether or not it will deliver alcohol to campus, it does promise strict carding. While the Boston Police has not taken any action against Home- runs.com as of yet, they do plan to take legal action before any delivery is made. “I think that it is not legal for Homeruns.com to sell alcohol anywhere but Somerville, but that is just my opinion,” Pokaski said. “We will have to litigate.”
Solution to Crossword Puzzle from page 14 October 13, 2000 THE TECH Page 25
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All experience levels are welcome. Page 26 THE TECH October 13, 2000 Boston Herald Buys Cambridge Chronicle Strategic Move Gives Herald a Foothold To Compete Against Globe in Cambridge
By Sagara Wickramasekara The Herald isn’t the only news- paper trying to extend its reach. A Last Wednesday, the Boston few weeks ago, the Globe West Herald officially bought Community made its debut, extending the Boston Newspaper Co., putting it in posses- Globe’s reach outside of Boston into sion of more than 100 additional the suburbs. A similar purchase was newspapers including the Cam- made last year by the New York bridge Chronicle. Times Co. (owner of the Globe) for The deal is believed to have the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. cost $150 mil- The Herald-CNC lion and expands combination gives the readership of the Herald more the Herald-CNC “As we looked at the of a foothold and pair to 2.1 mil- opportunity … we felt allows it to try to lion. compete with the “We want to for the benefit of the Globe by expand- get in there and ing on CNC’s ter- understand the communities, the adver- ritory. business better,” tisers, the employee and “It certainly said Herald will extend the spokesperson Pat the business, this was battle, and it Purcell at a press makes the Herald conference last the best news at the a much more Thursday. The effective competi- CNC extends far time.” – Steve P. Atkin, tor,” Purcell said. beyond Boston President of Fidelity Richard Gilman, and makes a per- publisher of The fect complement Capital, former owner Boston Globe, to the Herald’s said he’s “not sur- inner-city read- of Cambridge Commu- prised by this; ership. Though nity News, Inc. they had to do Fidelity Capital, something, and former owner of neither of the CNC, wasn’t actively trying to sell companies was in a particularly the newspaper chain, they were favorable competitive position.” more than willing when Purcell In a memo, however, Gilman came to to them. said, “This is not a defensive move “As we looked at the opportunity to protect the Herald’s interests. It’s … we felt for the benefit of the an offensive move designed to communities, the advertisers, the attack ours,” the memo said. employees and the business, this For the time being, the CNC will was the best news at the time,” said operate independently. “Herald offi- Steven P. Akin, president of Fidelity cials need to look at the company Capital. before making any decisions,” Pur- cell said. There are worries that perhaps local newspapers with overlapping circulation under CNC may be com- bined or that the community feel of each newspaper will be lost under the new ownership, but the joining of the two doesn’t mean that the individuality of the newspapers has to be forsaken. There are other promising new possibilities such as merging the production facilities to offer more cost-effective and effi- cient publishing for all under the Herald-CNC umbrella that will ben- efit future growth while keeping the feel of the different publications. Both CNC and the Herald now are looking forward to the future. Kirk Davis, President of the CNC, called this merger “an unbeatable media combination,” and said “I’d be happy to be involved” with the new owners. Purcell is confident in the new competitive edge gained by the merger. “Let the battle be joined,” he said. Community Newspaper Co. pub- lishes four dailies, 88 weeklies, 15 shopping, eight specialty and one Internet publication.
This space donated by The Tech October 13, 2000 THE TECH Page 27 Page 28 THE TECH October 13, 2000 HASS Hopes Fund Will Improve Morale
Gift, from Page 1 need at this point.” In addition to graduate fellow- the celebration of the school’s ships, the Fund will provide for a anniversary. “It’s nice to throw a variety of educational initiatives, party, but it doesn’t make [the including the master’s degree pro- school] feel any less marginal. gram in Comparative Media Studies, [The establishment of the fund] a new master’s degree program in does, in a very substantive way, Science Writing, and increased sup- and I think [Vest] was sensitive to port of the MIT International Science that.” and Technology Initiatives (MISTI), Khoury suggested that through among others, Khoury said. this gift Sahin and MIT may be set- Hildebidle said that faculty ting a larger example. “[I believe] members had been brainstorming the committee believed that the other uses for the fund as well. world of the humanities in general Douglas L. Kriner ’01, a major needs a major shot in the arm in SHASS, suggested that some of nationally and by establishing the the fund be used to bring the MIT Kenan Sahin Fund in SHASS the Libraries’ collection of humanities world of higher education and the and social science books up to a public will stand up and take notice. similar level as its science and engi- Nowhere else has such a gift been neering collection. He said he was deployed for the humanities in quite frustrated by having to rely so the same way and the fact that it is heavily on Harvard’s libraries, happening at MIT makes it all the which can only be accessed by more visible.” cross-registered students, for his Olivier J. Blanchard, professor senior thesis. of economics and the head of the Economics department, said that his Sloan will house economics initial reaction to the announcement Blanchard said that the new eco- was “extreme happiness.” nomics space is still in the planning “The initial Sahin gift was stages. It’s “much too early to tell” incredibly generous. The fact that what the final space will look like, $75 million goes to the [HASS} Blanchard said. “But we have been school, and some portion of it goes short of space for a while, and this to economics, shows the commit- will solve our problems.” ment of MIT to the school in gener- Khoury said that the design and al, and to the department in particu- site for the proposed new Sloan lar,” Blanchard said. School buildings will be decided “in the next few months.” SHASS had real need for money “The Sahin Fund will enable Hildebidle said that the SHASS Economics to acquire either new needs the money. “It’s our turn and space in close proximity to the new it’s our birthday,” he joked, explain- Sloan building or in the the new ing more seriously that SHASS fac- Sloan building,” Khoury said. ulty members lack amenities other Khoury emphasized that the MIT professors take for granted. Economics department will remain “We suffer as a faculty from within the SHASS and will not salaries at the low end of the scale merge with Sloan. However, he and a lack of support staff,” Hilde- said, “this will mean even closer ties bidle said, noting that full professors between MIT Economics and Sloan having a secretary was the norm in which will give MIT a certain com- other departments. petitive advantage and new syner- Hildebidle also noted that “we gies in the areas of economics and have lots of computer technology management.” and no one to help us when it Khoury said the project should breaks.” be completed in three to five years. Just under one-third of the fund The HASS school employs 156 is earmarked for faculty, though the full-time faculty and 105 senior details have yet to be work out, lecturers and lecturers. There are Khoury said. “We have not yet 221 undergraduate majors and 323 determined whether the new chairs graduate students enrolled at the will be used to hire new faculty or school, which also boasts three to reward and retain our best faculty Nobel Prize winners and two who are already here. Of course, it Pulitzer Prize winners. is possible to imagine a mixed strat- The remaining $25 million in the egy here.” Kenan Sahin Presidential Strategic Blanchard noted that “the addi- Fund will be used by the president tional professorships and graduate of MIT for one or more major initia- fellowships are exactly what we tives important for the Institute. October 13, 2000 THE TECH Page 29
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Middle East, from Page 1 riots. can serve a purpose,” Ternin said, MIT’s Hillel and Israeli Students “but protests tend to alienate.” issues, not just MIT issues. “We are Club did not sponsor any similar “Members of our community know people who can make a difference events. One Hillel officer said that people who have died and they in the world around us. When it the group may decide to plan an wanted to share their grief,” Ternin comes to the Middle East, the USA event in the near future. said. has invested time, effort, and money “In between the world of prob- People from a diverse range of in peace in the region. So Ameri- lem sets and labs, we’re trying to backgrounds attended the vigil; not cans in par- force people to take only Jews and Arabs but also people ticular have notice” of the violence, with no personal connection to the to be con- said Omar T. Abdala Middle East attended. cerned with “If people in the Middle ’03, an organizer of yes- When asked what students here and know East would have terday’s booth, entitled can do about the violence in Israel, what role “Stop the Killing in Ternin said that “the main thing is their coun- peaceful demonstra- Palestine.” We were def- to be aware of what’s going on.” try is play- initely trying to focus at After being informed, Ternin urges ing and tions rather than vio- the issue at hand: that people to get a second opinion. what it is lence, it would be a there are people out in “Before doing anything, they should doing or not the streets [in Israel, try to find views that are not their doing to step in the right direc- Gaza, and the West own,” Ternin said. Then, people promote a Bank] that are being shot should try and attend rallies, and let real, last- tion.” – Andy Tarsy, at.” their voice be heard. “Finally, they ing, and When asked whether have to be respectful of other peo- just peace.” Anti-Defamation information booths serve ple’s opinions.” “By League a useful purpose to MIT Allegra Pacheco, an Israeli protesting, I students, Kishore V. human rights lawyer and fellow at hope to Kuchibhotla ’02 said Harvard, spoke at the vigil. “The maybe draw people’s attention to that “what it does do is spark people way to end the violence is to provide what is going on. Palestinians and to start talking, and that’s good.” equality in Israel,” she said. Pacheco Israeli Arabs are being killed by Kuchibhotla suggested that a next will speak at MIT on October 25. Israeli bullets … and the death toll step could be to sponsor an event Maya, a woman who attended is still rising. That is unacceptable, where speakers on both sides of the the vigil said that what is happening it is an outrage, and should stop,” issue could talk. in the Middle East is “an appalling Ayaso said. The booths generated hours of cycle of violence that really needs Andy Tarsy, Civil Rights Direc- heated discussion about the violence the international community to take tor for the Anti-Defamation League, in Israel and the West Bank, as stu- a very firm stand.” The violence was also present at the protest, dents stopped by to see what was against Palestinians “is a massacre although he disagreed with the pro- going on. Most armies put down … not just a moral problem but testers. “If people in the Middle riots by wearing shields and armor, something that will lead to full- East would have peaceful demon- and maybe use clubs and teargas, fledged war.” strations rather than violence, it said Esosa O. Amayo ’02. “Where “I urge everyone to follow the would be a step in the right direc- else in the world do you have car news, not just the American news tion,” Tarsy said. patrols with live bullets?” JACQUELINE T. YEN—THE TECH but European and Middle Eastern “Arafat cannot remain silent in Some students viewed the Harvard junior Ambika Patni holds a candle at a Tuesday night vigil … this is not an issue that concerns the face of the murder that happened booth’s message as aggressive. “I organized to commemorate those who died in recent violence in Pales- only the Middle East; this is really a in the Palestinian police station this think this whole thing is provoking tine. The vigil was sponsored by Harvard’s Society of Arab Students. human issue,” Maya said. Further- morning,” Tarsy said, referring to more conflict between Muslims and more, people who stand silent the most recent escalation of ten- Jews at MIT,” said David G. Seif Ternin mentioned that he was a the dead and injured, and to express against Israel’s policies “are really sions in Israel in which two Israeli ’04. “The focus of this booth should Jewish member of the SAS, and that solidarity with their family and digging the grave of Israel” by not soldiers were killed by Palestinians. not be to make Israel look bad, but the vigil was intended to be apoliti- friends,” he said. questioning current practices there, One protester said that she was to point out on both sides what is cal. “This is to express sorrow for This was not a protest. “Protests Maya said. there because “the media is misrep- wrong.” resenting what’s happening in “It’s a very good thing for stu- Israel, and Israel is occupied land. dents here to try and educate each So there’s a lot of confusion for the other,” said Michael B. Krypel ’01. American people about what’s “But I think they need to be aware going on there.” of disseminating just as much pro- Tensions in Israel and the West paganda as the media does.” Bank exploded on September 28, “As an American, we are unbe- when Likud party leader Ariel lievably naïve about these world Sharon visited to Haram al-Sharif issues … I’m pro-Israel, but there’s and the Temple Mount, sites holy to no excuse for subjugating other peo- Muslims and Jews, accompanied by ples,” said MIT campus minister 1000 armed Israeli policemen. Brian Diver. The media and politi- Palestinians began throwing rocks, cians “may have cleaned it up, but which were met by Israeli tanks, it’s a flat out war between two rockets, and live bullets. nations,” he said. The violence has claimed the These last two weeks of protests lives of almost 100 people — most and information booths about a non- of them Palestinians and Israeli MIT issue has been unusual for MIT Arabs, according to students. CNN. Victims include Some wonder the twelve-year-old “I think most of us do whether MIT Rami Aldura, who was students are hiding when shot to have a social con- as active on death with an Israeli global issues bullet, and two Israeli science; a lot of the as they should soldiers, who were be, or stabbed to death by a problem is practical. whether mob at a Palestinian Most of us are too protests here police station. on campus The United Nations hosed to care. … We have any passed a resolution con- effect at all. demning excessive and are denied that [inter- “I think lethal use of force by national] outlook most of us do Israel; the United States have a social was the only country to because of the work- conscience; a abstain from the vote. lot of the Israeli and Palestinian load here.” problem is leaders Ehud Barak and – Iqbal Shamsul ’01 practical. Yasser Arafat expect Most of us each other to tell their are too hosed people to stop the vio- to care,” said lence, and intervention by US and Iqbal Shamsul ’01. In fact, Shamsul UN peacemakers has so far been said, because of its large interna- fruitless. tional student population, MIT has a unique outlook on global issues. Student activism at MIT is tested “We are denied that outlook The recent escalation of violence because of the workload here,” in the Middle East has motivated Shamsul said. some students at MIT to act. Aside from participating in local protests, Vigil was a show of solidarity members of MIT’s Arab Student A vigil was held at Harvard on Organization and Muslim Student Tuesday, sponsored by Harvard’s Association set up booths in Lobby Society of Arab Students. About 10 and the Student Center Wednes- 200 people attended. Sam Ternin, day and yesterday, providing infor- an organizer of the event, explained mation and asking students to sign a that the event was “to commemorate petition condemning the Israeli the deaths of all the civilians due to army’s use of lethal force to control the violence in the Middle East. Page 34 THE TECH October 13, 2000 October 13, 2000 SPORTS THE TECH Page 35 Beavers Nearly Upset Division III Champions X-Country By Alvie Loreto to wideout Robert R. Owsley ’02. trating the Bear option attack. mance of Richardson and the rest STAFF REPORTER Following the recovery of a Berry Yet no defensive player for of the Beaver defensive unit, After enduring a crushing 33-7 fumble by Tech defensive lineman either team shone brighter than Bridgewater still managed to find Third At loss at the hands of UMass-Dart- Thomas J. Hynes ’02, the MIT MIT defensive back Kevin R. its way into the end zone with 44 mouth two weekends ago to drop offense drove 29 yards in 6 plays Richardson ’01. The hard-hitting seconds left in the third, thanks to to 0-4, it seemed as before Deutsch hit a slanting safety from Owings Mills, MD a 42-yard reception by Carr. The though the last thing Owsley for the 16-yard score. The was named the NEFC Defensive big play set up a 4-yard Carr Wellesley the young, ailing MIT extra point failed, leaving the score Player of the Week for his spec- touchdown catch on a perfectly football team needed at 14-6 heading into halftime. tacular all-around effort against thrown ball into the corner of the By Melanie Harris was a follow-up exam the defending champs. Richardson end zone by Callahan. Carr’s sec- TEAM MEMBER at the hands of 1999 New England Richardson leads Tech defense was everywhere on the field, mak- ond touchdown of the day stretched The women’s cross country team Division III Champion Bridgewa- The third quarter showcased the ing play after play to keep the the lead to 21-6 at the outset of the travelled to Wellesley to race on one ter State. Victory escaped their strength of each team’s defense, as Bears from settling into their fourth quarter. of the area’s most gorgeous courses. grasp again but this check-up may six consecutive drives failed to put rhythm. In keeping with the week- With the course begin- be just what the doctor ordered. more points on the scoreboard. For ly plan of the Beavers, Richardson 4th quarter fireworks not enough ning on a field and then Against the Bears, the MIT BSC, the playmakers were line- confused the opponents by blitzing In the final period, the Beaver heading into a slightly offense delivered a breakthrough backers Dave Dungan and Mike on some plays, dropping into cov- offense exploded, while the Bears up and down path performance that brought hope Higgins, who finished with 10 and erage on others, and playing like a hung on for dear life. Deutsch through the woods col- and inspiration to the struggling 9 tackles respectively. linebacker on others. His mind- opened the quarter with his second ored with the rainbow leaves of New team as it moves into the second Instrumental in slowing the boggling game statistics were TD pass to Owsley, this one a 28- England autumn, tracing the edge of half of the season. In the end, Bears down was MIT outside line- reflection of his amazing versatili- yarder. Facing a two-point conver- a beautiful lake, and then ending with however, Bridgewater’s trademark backer James C. Jorgensen ’01, ty and athleticism: a fumble recov- sion situation, MIT punched it in on an uphill back onto the field, the team big-play capability allowed them who registered 9 tackles and ery, a pass breakup, 2 kickoff a shifty outside run by Deutsch, could not help but agree with their to squeak by the Beavers with a caused numerous play disruptions returns for 33 yards, and 11 tack- bringing the score to 21-14. coach as they ran through the crisp, 28-24 victory. with his speed into the backfield. les, 9 of which were unassisted Just three plays later, Tech line- misty air that “This is cross country.” Led by young quarterback Defensive lineman Brian C. and 3 of which came in the back- backer Daniel J. Bush ’01 recov- The race started out fast, but the Philip M. Deutsch ’04 and a solid Alvarez ’03, who notched 6 solo field for losses. ered a fumble deep in Bear territo- Lady Engineers ran smart and were performance by their offensive tackles, was another key in frus- Yet despite the strong perfor- ry. The Beavers could not move the quick to position themselves before line, MIT (0-5, 0-3 NEFC Boyd) ball closer, but kicker Kevin M. the course narrowed. Martha Buckley rallied from an early 14-0 deficit to Ferguson ’02 connected on a 29-yard ’04 and Katie Huffman ’04 continued take a 24-21 lead with under 8 Nichols College Next for Beavers field goal to bring the team to to work well together for strong races minutes to play in the game. But a within four. with places of 7th and 8th, and times 45-yard touchdown run by Bridge- By Alvie Loreto Sensing hesitation in their oppo- of 20:17 and 20:21. Marissa Yates ’03 water’s Jason Imlach saved the STAFF REPORTER nents, the MIT defense roared to was on pace with several Wellesley home team from the upset. MIT’s next foe is Nichols College (4-1, 3-1 NEFC Boyd), who is life, stopping the Bridgewater and Tufts runners at the beginning of enjoying a solid season under second-year coach Bill Carven. The offense cold on the next series to the race but left them behind around Beavers stay close in first half Bison are loaded with returning talent, which helped them notch a force a punt. On the first play of the two-mile mark to make her move The Bears (4-1, 4-0 NEFC season-opening victory over heavily favored Bridgewater. next series, MIT grabbed the lead on other unsuspecting competitors to Boyd) jumped to a 14-0 lead at the The win over BSC was the first of four straight until they were on a sparkling 65-yard touchdown finish 16th with a time of 20:56. end of the first quarter, thanks to upset last week by UMass-Dartmouth. Nichols looks to atone for last scamper by Deutsch up the oppos- Melanie Harris ’01 tried to keep touchdowns by 1999 All-NEFC week’s performance, as well as avenge a 1999 18-14 upset loss at the ing team’s sideline. The long run Marissa and in sight as long as possi- selections Chris Carr and Seto hands of MIT that shattered their NEFC title hopes. was the crown jewel of Deutsch’s ble, which aided her in placing 21st Berry. Carr caught a 74-yard touch- Running back Matt Fox, arguably the best running back in the shining performance, which earned with a time of 21:27. And Christina down pass from quarterback Patrick NEFC, leads the run-oriented Bison offense. Fox, who rushed for him a spot on the NEFC Weekly Cosman ’01 competed after sleeping Callahan at 7:43, while Berry 2,287 yards the past two years, has continued his spectacular ways Honor Roll. He finished the day 13 very little the night before to place rushed for an 8-yard score at 2:05. this year by averaging 147.0 yards in the first five games. of 24 for 127 yards, with 99 more 26th with a time of 21:53. Carr proved to be the biggest The line Fox runs behind is big but slow, but the Nichols passing yards gained rushing. Chi-An Wang ’01, Caitlin Gaffey thorn in MIT’s side, hauling in 3 attack is above par. Bolstered by the addition of junior Division I More importantly, the steadily ’02, Crystal Russell ’03, and Sarah receptions for 120 yards despite transfer Jarrod Rouanzoin at quarterback, the Bison go to the air often improving freshman restored self- Cotton ’04 used the pack attack to suffocating coverage by Beaver in long yardage situations. The primary target in the passing attack confidence in his ability, which will their full advantage to finish within 9 cornerbacks Angus Huang G and this year has been senior tight end Steve Malcolm. undoubtedly pay dividends for the seconds of each other. Their respec- Alvan Eric P. Loreto ’01, while For the second straight year the Nichols defense hovers near the Beavers in the upcoming weeks. tive times were 22:17, 22:14, 22:23, Berry made his presence felt by top of the conference in every team category. The defense is led in Nevertheless, MIT’s storybook end- and 22:16. Julie Pinkston ’04 and rushing for 104 yards on 25 carries. the middle by fifth-year senior linebacker Chris Burun. Burun, who is ing was foiled by Imlach on the Helen Huang ’01 also worked For their first few offensive dri- a team captain, led the team with 77 tackles in 1999. Bears’ next offensive opportunity. together to finish close to each other ves the Beavers looked as though Big defensive lineman Myles Fayle is an excellent athlete up After BSC converted on a with times of 22:51 and 23:01. they would endure another frus- front (62 tackles last year), and cornerbacks Courtenay Jackson fourth-down situation, Imlach took The team placed 3rd overall, trating game. Their first four series and Lavar Gary have made it tough for an opposing offense to go a pitch left and cut back through a behind Wellesley and Tufts, but combined to produce four total to the air. sea of bodies, eluding the pursuing achieved their goal by doing better yards, and on the fifth MIT squan- This week the MIT run defense faces its toughest test of the year, Tech linebackers. The junior back than the team did at the meet last year. dered a golden opportunity to and its ability to bottle up Fox and force Nichols to the air will deter- then shook three tacklers, including score by losing a fumbled snap mine the outcome of the game. The Beaver offense made significant one at the goal line, to give the exchange at the BSC 1-yard line. strides last week and should carry a higher level of confidence into Bears the lead back. The fired-up Displaying resilience, however, this week’s matchup. If Deutsch continues to display an accelerated BSC defense then remained strong the Beavers struck at 3:52 of the learning curve, MIT has an excellent shot at notching the upset that for the rest of the game, keeping the second quarter on the first of barely eluded them last week. Beavers out of the end zone and Deutsch’s two touchdown passes winless for another week. Page 36 THE TECH October 13, 2000 SPORTS Volleyball Captures Tournament By Paul Dill (15-1, 15-10, 15-8) led by Barb finish winning 3-0 (15-2, 15-9, 15- TEAM COACH Schultze ’02 with 11 digs and Lau- 5). Martens earned a spot on the all- The women’s varsity volleyball ren Frick ’03 with 9 kills and a 50 tournament team while Almodovar team did not drop a single game percent hitting percentage. earned the tournament MVP award. this past weekend on its way to In their final match of pool play, On Tuesday night, MIT contin- winning the Eastern MIT took on formerly highly ranked ued their strong roll by beating CT State Univ. Tour- Plymouth State College. MIT sent a Smith College on the road 3-0 (15- nament for the first strong statement to the ranking 2, 15-9, 15-10). Nydia Clayton ’04 time since 1994. committee by again winning 3-0 led the way with 20 kills while In pool play, MIT (15-4, 15-9, 15-13). Martens again Almodovar dished out 42 assists. first faced a conference rival, the led the way with 14 kills, while This victory brought the Engi- U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The Amy Mok ’02 and Jill Kaup ’03 neers to a 5-1 record in conference Engineers took the match 3-0 (15-11, added 8 and 7 kills respectively to and an overall record of 17-6. MIT 15-12, 15-8) led by Kelly Martens the effort. is currently ranked #9 in the New ’03 with 17 kills, Christina Almod- The finals saw the Engineers face England Region out of 64 teams. YI XIE—THE TECH ovar ’02 with 43 assists, and Sau- conference rivals Wheaton College The next home match for MIT is on Nick Nestle ’04 passes a Springfield defender on his way to the jin Yi ’01 with 15 digs. for the third time this season. The Tuesday, October 17th, vs. the U.S. net. Nestle contributed a goal, and MIT pulled away with a close The Engineers then continued to result was the same again as MIT Coast Guard Academy at 7 p.m. in 3–2 victory. roll right over Endicott College 3-0 dominated the match from start to Du Pont Gymnasium.