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Volume 121, Number 29 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Wednesday, July 11, 2001 License Commission Suspends Alpha Tau Omega for 20 Days Punishment for Underage Drinking, Spring Weekend Disturbance By Jennifer Krishnan underage people on ATO’s roofdeck ‘Positive actions’ lighten sentence NEWS EDITOR that afternoon were drinking. Alpha Tau Omega will be sus- Jeffrey J. Billing, ATO summer Billing, Pheiffer, and Associate pended for 20 days by the Cam- house manager, had originally testi- Dean for Students Robert M. Ran- bridge License Commission (CLC) fied that there was a case of beer on dolph argued that ATO took steps to as punishment for underage drink- the roofdeck and that a only a few deal with the racial implications ing and causing a public disturbance people were drinking. incident on its own, adding that during Spring Weekend. The sus- CLC Chairman Benjamin C. punitive measures would detract pension period will not coincide Barnes said he could see “hard from the utility of the constructive with rush. liquor … and some 40 oz. bottles of measures already in place. The CLC, which made its deci- alcoholic beverages” in the pho- “The positive actions ATO took sion at last night’s hearing, was tographs. [are] the only reason I’m not recom- investigating a complaint of racial Additionally, CLC Executive mending 30 days,” Barnes said. remarks allegedly shouted from Officer Richard V. Scali hinted that Cambridge Police Department ATO’s roof, an ensuing altercation Interfraternity Council President Captain Henry W. Breen said that with The Roots band, and the sup- Rory P. Pheiffer ’02 withheld the the racial slurs that were allegedly posed presence of alcohol on the “most disturbing” photographs from shouted from ATO’s roofdeck were roofdeck. the Commission. The CLC original- wrong, but that, as a first offense, ROSHAN BALIGA—THE TECH Photographs provided voluntari- ly received only 12 of 16 pho- they merited “positive discipline” in Fireworks explode over the Charles River as part of Boston’s ly by a member of ATO led com- tographs mentioned in the police Independence Day celebrations. More photos, page 15. missioners to believe that many report. ATO Decision, Page 25 Wellesley Sophomore, OpenCourseWare Receives Funding Boarder, Dies at ATO From Mellon, Hewlett Foundations By Joy Forsythe MIT material such as course out- more access to information about By Jennifer Krishnan is pending, said Charles McDonald, STAFF REPORTER lines, lecture notes, assignments, courses they are considering. And it NEWS EDITOR Director of Communications at the The first phase of OpenCourse- and handouts available on the Inter- may be easier for faculty to get their A Wellesley sophomore was Suffolk County Executive Office of Ware is underway. With financial net. It is designed to benefit both the material out to their students and see found dead at Alpha Tau Omega, Public Safety. contributions from two foundations MIT community and people around what other professors are doing in her summer residence, on July 2. Thompson was from out of state totaling $11 million, an interim the world. related subjects. Cambridge police said the death and had a summer job in Boston. management committee is setting up “We’re obviously pleased that The project’s offerings are not appeared to be a suicide. Randolph said she was living in a an infrastructure for the online ini- [the foundations] are enlightened intended as a replacement for class- The student, 18-year-old Molly triple at ATO with two other tiative. and interested in the benefits such a es, and no credit or degrees will be Thompson, was found by a room- Wellesley students. The Andrew W. Mellon and project can bring,” Dean for Under- granted through OpenCourseWare. mate at approximately 11 p.m. She was last seen in the early William and Flora Hewlett Founda- graduate Education Robert P. Red- Associate Dean of Engineering Dick Associate Dean for Students evening by friends, Randolph said. tions have each donated $5.5 mil- wine said of the foundations. K. P. Yue ‘74 describes the project Robert M. Randolph said the “We at ATO are truly saddened lion for the pilot phase of the pro- Greater access to course material as “not a door; more like a window” deceased had apparently ingested by the unexpected death of one of gram, a project that intends to place may aid students and faculty. Stu- for those outside MIT. something and that a note was also our summer boarders,” said ATO 500 courses online in 27 months at a dents will be able to access all of the Yue was instrumental in the cre- found. cost of $12 million. material associated with the course The cause of Thompson’s death ATO Death, Page 25 OpenCourseWare will make they are taking at any time and have OpenCourseWare, Page 25 Institute Examines Dining, Rooming for New Dorms
By Jeffrey Greenbaum has been financially organized to host STAFF REPORTER conference guests during the summer. The Office of Residential Life and The other graduate dormitory, 70 Student Life Programs (RLSLP) will Pacific Street, is located on the corner add one new undergraduate and two of Pacific Street and Sydney Street. new graduate dormitories within the The building will house a maximum next two years to guarantee on-cam- of 750 graduate students next fall. pus housing for more students. After its completion, MIT will house The Simmons Founders Group nearly half of its graduate students. projects that Simmons Hall, the new “We are very excited about these undergraduate dormitory, will open new dorms,” said Karen Nilsson, in time for Orientation 2002. To Director of Housing Operations. develop a Simmons community, the “They are architecturally unique.” Founders Group will be meeting with prospective Simmons residents to Innovative Dining organize the dorm life. The Founders The Simmons Founders Group, Group will discuss issues, such as a led by its future housemaster, Profes- mandatory meal plan for its dining sor Anne E. C. McCants, has estab- hall, with the prospective residents. lished the framework for Simmons Graduate students will begin liv- by including a two-level fitness cen- ing in 224 Albany Street (Building ter, a music practice room, a game MING-TAI HUH—THE TECH NW30) on August 16. Only first-year room, a multi-purpose room, five Fuel rocked Cape Cod residents at the Melody Tent in Hyannis on June 28. See review in Arts, graduate students can occupy NW30 laundry rooms, an Athena cluster, a page 14. for a period of nine months, as gov- erned by the lease, because the dorm Simmons Hall, Page 23
ARTS Comics The Tech interviews new MIT World & Nation ...... 2 Forget their Chancellor Phillip M. Clay PhD Opinion ...... 4 CDs — Fuel ’75, who shares his views on Arts ...... 7 rocks live. graduate students, undergrads, On the Town ...... 10 and everything in between. Events Calendar ...... 20 Page 14 Page 11 Page 26 Science & Technology ...... 21 Page 2 THE TECH July 11, 2001 WORLD & NATION Singapore Acknowledges Second Terrorist Receives Onset of Recession By Mark Magnier LOS ANGELES TIMES Life Sentence for Bombing TOKYO — Singapore said Tuesday it had slipped into recession, the first Southeast Asian nation to do so since the 1997-98 Asian eco- By John J. Goldman believed to be under the protection about the people he killed.” nomic crisis. But economists say it won’t be the last. LOS ANGELES TIMES of the Taliban regime in Fitzgerald said that when “We’re going to see a string of these, either extremely poor or NEW YORK — Again stating Afghanistan. Mohamed was caught, “he threat- negative numbers in the near future,” said Song Seng Wun, Singa- that execution might turn a terrorist On June 12, the jurors decided ened to do it again.” pore-based regional economist with G.K. Goh Research. “They’re all into a martyr, a federal court jury against sentencing Mohamed “What he has is ice in his veins, getting hammered.” Tuesday spared the life of a second Rashed Daoud al-‘Owhali, a 23- that’s what makes him more danger- Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said the economy fell man convicted in the 1998 bomb- year-old Saudi Arabian, to death for ous because he coldly, coolly decid- by a seasonally adjusted 0.8 percent in the second quarter over a year ings of two U.S. embassies in East the Nairobi bombing. He too ed, ‘I’ll kill,’” the prosecutor said. earlier. This is the second consecutive decline in its gross domestic Africa that killed 224 people. received a life sentence. The two “Zero remorse.” product, which meets the definition of a recession. At the start of their third day of other men convicted of conspiracy Government lawyers argued dur- Singapore is the first country to report its second quarter results, penalty-phase deliberations, the in the case, 40-year-old Wadih El- ing the penalty phase that Mohamed but Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines, which also reported nega- jurors announced that they could not Hage, a naturalized U.S. citizen would create a constant threat to tive first quarter growth in its gross domestic product, could also turn reach agreement on whether Khal- born in Lebanon, and Mohamed guards and other correctional per- out to be in recession when they reveal their second-quarter results in fan Khamis Mohamed, a 27-year- Sadeek Odeh, a 35-year-old Jordan- sonnel if he were sentenced to life the next few weeks. old native of Tanzania, should be ian, face automatic life sentences. in prison. Singapore has been among the hardest hit by the U.S. slowdown, executed. That deadlock means an Mohamed had been convicted of They alleged that he had helped given that foreign trade accounts for three times its GDP. This com- automatic sentence of life in prison murdering the 11 people who died Mamdouh Mahmud Salim, another pares with about twice GDP for Malaysia and 0.75 percent for the without the possibility of parole. in the Dar es Salaam explosion. defendant awaiting trial in the Philippines. Furthermore, a huge percentage of Singapore’s foreign Mohamed showed no emotion Prosecutors charged that he had pur- embassy bombings, to attack a trade and manufacturing involves in particular electronic goods, upon hearing that the jury had saved chased a vehicle used to transport guard at the Metropolitan Correc- which have seen demand fall off the retail shelf as consumers every- him from a lethal injection. bomb components, rented the house tional Center in November. where grow more cautious. He was one of four followers of used as the bomb factory and helped Guard Louis Pepe, 43, was Islamic militant Osama bin Laden grind the TNT used in the device. stabbed in the eye with a sharpened whom the same jury in May found He was captured a year later, comb, a wound that penetrated 2-1/2 Federal Mediator Says California guilty of bombing the embassies in after fleeing to South Africa, where inches into his brain, after being Nairobi, Kenya, and in Dar es he worked in a fast food restaurant. sprayed in the face with hot sauce. Might Not Get Power Refund Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. “This man decided on Aug. 7, He was also stabbed in the skull By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Megan Garvey Prosecutors said that the almost 1998, that people could die in an with a sharpened hairbrush. LOS ANGELES TIMES simultaneous attacks, which also embassy with a bomb he helped After the near-fatal attack, the WASHINGTON — A federal mediator said Monday that electric- injured more than 4,500 people, build, lined with TNT and made guard — who lost the use of his eye ity suppliers overcharged California by only a fraction of the nearly were part of a worldwide plot to kill sure the truck got there,” Assistant — suffered a stroke that left him $9 billion claimed by Gov. Gray Davis, and suggested the state might Americans. Bin Laden was indicted U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald with partial paralysis and severely receive no refund at all because its utilities’ unpaid bills exceed the in connection with the embassy told the jury during the penalty damaged his ability to speak and overcharges. bombings. He is a fugitive and phase of the trial. “He didn’t (care) understand language. The mediator, Curtis L. Wagner, said after two weeks of hearings that refunds of up to $1 billion probably were justified — a fraction of California’s claim. But in an indication that California might come away from the proceeding empty-handed. Wagner added: “Can a Faith-Based Plan Draws Fire refund be required when overcharges are less than the outstanding bill? The case judge thinks not.” Salvation Army fight for its right could be used by faith-based Wagner said he would present his conclusions to the Federal Bush Seeks to Let to discriminate against homosexu- employers to veto potential hires Energy Regulatory Commission, which had given him 15 days to try als. or dismiss employees. to engineer a settlement between California and the energy suppliers. Religious Groups But even without that provi- Courts have affirmed the right Monday was the 15th day. sion, under legislation working its of a Catholic school to fire a Hire As They Please way through the House, faith- teacher for marrying a divorced By Jonathan Peterson based employers would still retain man, the right of a Christian retire- FDA to Regulate Certain and Edwin Chen broad, legal rights to discriminate ment home to fire a Muslim recep- LOS ANGELES TIMES on religious grounds when hiring tionist who insisted on wearing a Fertilization Procedures WASHINGTON — From — rights they were granted in the head covering, the right of a Bap- By Rick Weiss Catholic Charities in San Francisco Civil Rights Act of 1964. tist nursing school to fire an THE WASHINGTON POST to a Baptist home in Kentucky to The bill will “ensure that reli- employee who became the minister WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration has Salvation Army posts around the gious organizations have the right of a gay-oriented church, and the informed doctors that a controversial class of fertility treatments that country, faith-based groups have to hire individuals who share their right of a Catholic school to dis- until now has been performed without government oversight can only long defended personnel practices religious faith,” said White House miss a teacher who remarried with- be performed with the agency’s approval, marking the federal gov- that collide with public laws. spokesman Ari Fleischer. out getting her first marriage ernment’s first significant foray into regulating the fertility field. Now, as President Bush pushes The dispute over discrimination annulled under Catholic doctrine. The FDA has long maintained that it has the authority to regu- his plan to increase the role of reli- is only partly about the right of The broad exemption to the late fertility practices — a claim that some in the field doubt is gious groups in providing social ser- faith-based groups to exclude civil rights law reflects the legally assured — and has been edging toward doing so for many vices, many are clamoring to keep staffers based on the clear-cut mat- demands of many religious institu- years. Until now, however, that oversight has been essentially limit- their special exemption to discrimi- ter of religious affiliation. In addi- tions to retain their ability to hire ed to fertility doctors’ use of drugs and medical devices, a level of nate in hiring. tion, critics argue that such traits those who fit in with their spiritual regulation that has not raised alarms within the specialty since the In a political firestorm Tues- as sexual preference, pregnancy vision — but also has prompted agency regulates those areas in medicine generally. day, White House officials backed status, whether someone has been calls for more rigid limits on possi- away from a proposal to help the divorced and possibly gender ble bias in hiring. WEATHER Situation for Noon Eastern Daylight Time, Wednesday, July 11, 2001 Cool Wave By Efren Gutierrez Jr. STAFF METEOROLOGIST A cold front that passed last night will bring in cooler temperatures compared to yesterday’s hot and humid afternoon. However, moisture from last night’s thunderstorm will give rise to more showers, which should last until Thursday morning. On a brighter note, this coming weekend will be very much cloud-free, since the next cold front is fore- cast to arrive early next week. Cooler temperatures are forecast for the following week.
Today: Mostly cloudy, with increasing chance of rain showers. High 75ºF (24ºC). Tonight: High possibility for light to moderate rain. Low 59ºF (15ºC). Thursday: Clouds will part for clearer skies. High in the upper 70s. Low in the lower 60s. Friday: Mostly clear. High in the upper 70s. Saturday: Sunny. High in the lower 70s. Sunday: Sunny. High in the mid 70s. July 11, 2001 WORLD & NATION THE TECH Page 3 House Republicans Campaign Putin Takes Strong Stand Against Capital Punishment To Approve Energy Measures By Maura Reynolds LOS ANGELES TIMES By Peter Behr priority issues, including many in of new power lines, transmission MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir V. Putin’s words were THE WASHINGTON POST President Bush’s energy plan, are network reliability and the future of uncharacteristically strong and unequivocal — “I am against the House Republican leaders Tues- stalled or tangled by divisions with- retail electricity deregulation. White restoration of capital punishment in Russia” — and they set off a day began a hurried campaign to in the energy industry or between House aides say the complexity of fresh wave of controversy Tuesday in Russia over whether the coun- pass a package of energy measures the industry and environmental crit- these energy problems takes time to try needs the death penalty. before Congress’s summer recess ics. The delay could threaten action resolve. The statement late Monday ended months of fence-sitting by the begins in three weeks, but left many on the energy production and trans- “If we were to rush through Russian president, torn between overwhelming support for the death key issues on the sidelines because mission problems cited by the these things, you’d be asking, penalty by his countrymen and overwhelming opposition to it in of differences with Democrats and a administration eight weeks ago ‘Don’t these issues require more Western Europe. lack of clear policy signals from the when it unveiled its program to deliberation?”’ said Dan Bartlett, In order to retain membership in European organizations, Russia Bush administration. address what it said was a looming deputy assistant to the president. has been halfheartedly observing a moratorium on capital punishment A House Energy and Commerce national energy crisis. The test for the president is since 1996, but the statute permitting its use remains on the books. subcommittee is scheduled to begin “Whatever momentum there is whether the window of opportunity Russian opinion polls show about 80 percent of respondents favor voting this week on a scaled-back (for comprehensive energy legisla- for enacting major energy legisla- the death penalty. legislative proposal that would tion) is dissipating by the day,” said tion will close this summer or fall increase federal subsidies for clean- Randall Davis, a Washington attor- before the administration can weigh er coal-burning technology, help ney who was a White House energy in — and how much leverage Bush Condit Offers to Let Police more low-income households win- policy adviser under Reagan. can exert. terize homes and pay energy bills Bush administration officials are “If you don’t have the White Search His D.C. Apartment and call for more energy efficient finishing legislative proposals to House exerting leadership, I don’t By Allan Lengel and Arthur Santana television sets. deal with challenges to the nation’s see where it comes from,” Davis THE WASHINGTON POST But a much longer list of high- electricity system, including siting said. WASHINGTON — Rep. Gary A. Condit will provide “whatever additional information or material” is needed by police searching for missing intern Chandra Levy, his attorney said Monday, including Virginia Redistricting Challenged giving investigators access to his apartment, his telephone records and his staff. ACLU, Republicans account for population growth. American population to 34 percent in Abbe Lowell, emphasizing what he called Condit’s full coopera- Complaints focused on the 4th a revision, but black leaders said the tion in the Levy case, said at a news conference Monday night that Accuse Each Other Congressional District, which was updated plan still dilutes the voting the congressman would be willing to provide a DNA sample and won in a racially divided special power of African Americans. would “listen” to police if they asked for a lie detector test. Of Gerrymandering election last month by J. Randy “My assessment is that’s ille- Forbes, a white Republican, over a gal,” said Rep. Robert C. Scott (D), By Craig Timberg black candidate. Virginia is among Virginia’s only African American in Mars Launches New M&M’s THE WASHINGTON POST the first states to begin the once-a- Congress. “What happens to the RICHMOND, Va. — African- decade redistricting process. ability of minority voters to elect a Variety Aimed at Latino Buyers American lawmakers and the Amer- Under the original Republican candidate of their choice?” LOS ANGELES TIMES ican Civil Liberties Union warned plan submitted by Del. Jeannemarie State Sen. Yvonne B. Miller, D- Hoping to tap into the collective sweet tooth of the growing Lati- Monday that Republican plans for Devolites, R-Fairfax, the 4th District, Norfolk, said of the Devolites plan, no market, candy maker Mars Inc. will launch a “dulce de leche” redrawing Virginia’s congressional stretching from the Richmond sub- “It’s also making Virginia look like caramel variety of its popular M&M’s candy in five markets the com- districts may violate the Voting urbs to Hampton Roads, would have a state that’s going through a second pany said Tuesday. Rights Act of 1965 by lessening the gone from 39 percent black popula- Reconstruction period, when we’re The Hackettstown, N.J.-based company, the nation’s third-largest influence of black voters. tion to 32 percent, making it poten- rolling back the rights of African confectioner, follows in the footsteps of such well-known food pur- The charge threatened to throw a tially easier for Forbes — or any Americans.” veyors as McDonald’s in trying to convert the popular taste — simi- wrench into what Republicans, who other Republican — to win. African Virginia is one of several south- lar to caramelized or sweetened milk — into a retail hit. rule both houses of the General Americans are among the most reli- ern states with a history of segrega- The candy will feature a swirl of dulce de leche caramel and Assembly, hoped would be a smooth able supporters of Democrats. tion that are monitored closely by chocolate inside the traditional candy shell. two-day special session to adopt new Devolites, who defended her plan the U.S. Justice Department under congressional boundary lines to as legal Monday, raised the African the Voting Rights Act. Page 4 THE TECH July 11, 2001 OPINION Letters To The Editor Upgrades to By comparison, AT&T Broadband’s basic to MIT” is not correct. AT&T Broadband has Chairman service for MIT consists of 19 channels. In the never made a proposal like this to MIT. Jordan Rubin ’02 ‘Cable Upgrades’ time since the article appeared, AT&T Broad- Rather, it has been stated by several AT&T band has increased the monthly price of the Broadband representatives over the past sev- Editor in Chief I am writing in response to the article MIT basic 19-channel service to $16.15. The eral years that billing individual customers Dana Levine ’02 “Cable Upgrades to Digital” in the June 15 article states that Falls Earth Station was would be discontinued and that MIT would be Business Manager edition, which I feel requires clarification. selected to provide the service mainly because sent a “bulk” bill based on the number of con- Huanne T. Thomas ’02 MIT Cable Television presently carries 48 it “would cost MIT nothing up front.” nections our system provides. Connections Managing Editor channels. MIT provides 22 of these channels Although my quote is correct, the emphasis that are available but not used are also billed, Eric J. Cholankeril ’02 free of charge to all campus residents and to added by the Tech article is misleading. Falls creating a situation where people who do not many offices, classrooms and other areas. This Earth Station was selected because their pro- use the service subsidize it for those who do. I NEWS/FEATURES STAFF free service will continue to be offered and posal addressed our concerns by greatly and others working with me have taken this Director: Rima Arnaout ’02; News Editors: those who do not subscribe to pay services expanding the channel lineup and improving seriously considering that AT&T Broadband Kevin R. Lang ’02, Matthew Palmer ’03, Jennifer will still receive the same channels that they service. The MIT Cable Television Discovery currently uses this model at other colleges and Krishnan ’04; Features Editor: Mike Hall ’03; do now, although the channel numbering will Project at
Jyoti Tibrewala affirmative action. Today, blacks and other vide the opportunity to sharpen his or her minorities are being accepted into the skills in English, complemented by its being MIT to The issue of affirmative action has nation’s top schools and making their way to spoken at home. The native English speaker returned to center stage. On June 25, the the top of major corporations. will have a better grasp on the language Supreme Court let stand the ruling in the case However, this is only due in part to affir- than the foreign speaker, as it is the former Africa Texas v. Hopwood. This ruling led the state of mative action. Yes, affirmative action may student’s first language, and he or she may Texas to end its affirmative action policies at have acted as a starting push to get minori- have had more time to master it for that its public colleges and universities. The state’s ties on the way to success. But achievement very reason. And English might prove more Basil Enwegabra education officials feel that this has left the comes from a desire to succeed. One needs useful attending school in an English-speak- state’s public education system at a disadvan- ing country. MIT has shown through its extensive tech- tage compared to states with affirmative Affirma- nological breakthroughs and expansive pro- action policies. tive action grams that it has no competitor anywhere in Two cases involving the University of In “past economic and social wrongs to minorities,”the may have the field of innovative technology and scien- Michigan are on their way to the high court; been needed tific research. With its recent high-tech initia- one of these involves undergraduate admis- primary economic wrong being referred to is slavery,and to get the ball tives around the world, from the MIT-Ger- sions, which rates its applicants on a 150- rolling, but many program, MIT-Japan program, point scale, giving Blacks, Hispanics, and the primary minority is the African-American the ball is MIT-France program, MIT-Italy program, Native Americans 20 extra points for their population. But we as a nation are far past the days of rolling MIT-China program, and MIT-India program, race. already, and to the Cambridge University-MIT alliance and The University of California recently slavery. it’s picking up MIT-Singapore alliance, the Massachusetts decided to give more weight to the SAT-II speed as it Institute of Technology has finally monopo- exam — which test such specific subject rolls along. lized technological innovation and scientific areas as history, biology, and foreign lan- Affirmative research. guages — than the SAT-I exam in evaluat- to set goals, and he or she must be devoted action has done its job, and as such it should In Germany, for example, MIT students, ing applicants. This decision coincided with to that cause, accepting only excellence, be retired. The Supreme Court should take researchers, and engineers have brainstormed a new freshman class in which the percent- never mediocrity; only then can goals be advantage of cases, such as those cited a new strategy that could make Lufthansa the age of Hispanic and Asian-American stu- achieved. above, that are heading its way and are chal- leading airline of the 21st century. In India, dents increased. Many suspect that the for- Society has changed as well. Much of the lenging the doctrine of affirmative action, MIT is building a technologically advanced eign language test may have provided an racism present as late as the 1950s and ’60s is and it should use the opportunity to help the media laboratory (Media Lab) that could unexpected opportunity to students taking nonexistent nowadays. This is basically due to nation take another step forward. One major transform and give India a competitive edge the exams in Spanish, Korean, or Chinese, a general increased tolerance. Attributing it to argument for affirmative action is that it in the ongoing global race for technological as these languages may be spoken in the the workings of affirmative action would be a aims to level the playing field so that innovations. At Cambridge University, MIT home. stretch. minorities and the majority are on equal scientists and students are working hand in Affirmative action programs were put in It should also be noted that the case footing. Eliminating affirmative action, hand with their Cambridge counterparts to place to make up for past economic and social involving the University of California though, would encourage everyone to stand share the benefits of cutting-edge technologi- wrongs to minorities. However, these pro- should not qualify as affirmative action at on their own two feet. That’s not to imply cal and scientific research. grams need to be dropped if the nation is to all. Mastery of a language is an important that some use affirmative action as a plateau Although MIT has led the world of tech- move forward. thing to have, whether it is learned at home from which the finish line is clearer. The nological innovation for decades now, In “past economic and social wrongs to or in school. For native English speakers goal is to eliminate the haunting question recently the speed with which it is advanc- minorities,” the primary economic wrong who may feel cheated, take as an example a from a job or college acceptee of whether ing and modernizing has become incredibly being referred to is slavery, and the primary native speaker of Chinese. He or she proba- affirmative action or solid achievement is to high and beyond the grasp of other rivals. minority is the African-American popula- bly learned the language as a child. Then, thank. This in turn would challenge all of us From human-centered computing, biotech- tion. But we as a nation are far past the days when school began, he or she had to learn to work our very hardest in everything we nology, and nanotechnology, to neuro- of slavery. We have also come out of the English. A native English speaker will have do, since we will be evaluated solely on the science and microphotonics, MIT has dra- civil rights movement and the street riots of been introduced to English as a youngster. basis of our credentials. Only then will we matized the current race to technological the 1960s which led to the establishment of Elementary and secondary schooling pro- all be on equal footing. innovation and breakthroughs. Cutting-edge technological transformational vision and challenges have made this top technical uni- versity a technological icon. Or how could these innovations in biotechnology, Laws Cloned from Hollywood microphotonics, and nanotechnology be explained to the scientific and technological decide what medical procedures are safe. natural advantages of health and intelligence world? What about the ongoing translation Kris Schnee We have the Food and Drug Administration through some future genetic process, these of knowledge into dramatic advances in and other regulatory agencies for that; it is children are only “manufactured” goods, and medicine, energy, and materials, all leading In the recent movie The Sixth Day, the job of experienced physicians and scien- can never rise above their biological destiny. to new ways of treating heart attacks, cystic Arnold Schwarzenegger tackles the complex tists to evaluate the safety of new treat- The opponents of cloning show a lack of fibrosis, and cancer? ethical issues of human cloning. Clones in ments, just as they do for less controversial respect for human life, for people’s ability These ongoing discoveries and inventions The Sixth Day are slave beings grown in the medicine. Safety is no justification for a fed- to be more than the products of their genes. at MIT are changing the face of future tech- glass tanks of mad scientists and used to eral cloning ban. Advances in biological technology will be nology forever. For example, nanotechnology bring back the dead with full memory of Nor is the other line of argument Wel- used benevolently to improve people’s advancement has already led to the creation of how Arnold killed them last time. When he don-Stupak advances: a complex of fear of lives, yet some want to ban them (thus unique materials and structures that now trig- discovers that he too is a clone, Arnold turns the unknown and desire to control people for denying them to all but the super-rich) ger the race to microscopic nanomachines and to the cam- because they fear that a cloned human microphotonics innovations, optical devices era and would be enslaved or treated as less than and circuits on the same size scale of comput- pines, “Do I human. But if this happens, will the culprits er chips. Microphotonics alone has revolution- have a It is not Congress’ business at all to decide what be the parents who love their child, or the ized telecommunications, data communica- soul?” lobbyists who despise his existence? Pre- tions, and computing. Bad medical procedures are safe.We have the Food and serving our cultural notions of parental duty This cutting-edge university also already movies are is not the government’s job; nor do we need researches in neuroscience, creating new easier to for- Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies protection at the expense of our freedom as understanding of brain and mind as well as get when for that; it is the job of experienced physicians and parents and children. potentially offering hope for new therapies your gov- If you oppose cloning as a means of and cures for illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, ernment scientists to evaluate the safety of new treatments, reproduction so strongly that you would schizophrenia and manic depression. The doesn’t start deny it by force to everyone, reject the Wel- amazement and surprises developed by its using them just as they do for less controversial medicine. don-Stupak bill in favor of the milder high-tech researchers and scientists have led as inspira- Greenwood one. Greenwood realizes that the Institute to believe that within the next 25 tion for law. the use of embryonic cloning for medicine years the development of more sophisticated On June 20, the Bush administration their own good. “Efforts to create human is a research pathway well worth pursuing. devices for diagnosis and therapy, such as endorsed HR 1644, the harshest of several beings by cloning,” the bill states, “mark a Technology Review estimates that 48,000 imaging and virtual surgery, will not only be bills pending in Congress to ban human new and decisive step toward turning human people in America alone are waiting for possible, but also readily and cheaply avail- cloning. The bill, endorsed by Reps. Dave reproduction into a manufacturing process in replacement kidneys. Hundreds of thou- able to hospitals and medical centers around Weldon (R-Fla.) and Bart Stupak (R-Mich.), which children are made in laboratories to sands die of heart failure each year in the world. prohibits any creation of cloned human preordained specifications and, potentially, America; an estimated 2,100 were on wait- With these revolutionary expectations embryos, in contrast to the milder HR 2172 in multiple copies.” Elsewhere it expresses ing lists for hearts last year and didn’t get high, MIT’s biomedical engineering is equally sponsored by Rep. Jim Greenwood them. Human embryo undergoing a major ideological change — that (R-Pa.). research and cloning is, from the fusion of engineering with molec- Greenwood’s bill allows the cre- are a promising line of ular cell biology to pushing the evolution of a ation of cloned embryos so long as research which could new engineering discipline that should be there is no intent to bring them to term Human embryo research and cloning are a save countless lives, appropriate to tackling the challenges of mole- — it allows cloning for research, but promising line of research which could save and we need to protect cular and genomic medical changes. Also not reproduction. the freedom of scien- undergoing advanced modernization are The Weldon-Stupak bill is a gov- countless lives, and we need to protect the freedom tific research to maxi- MIT’s school of Architecture and Planning, ernment power grab made in the mize the chance that, the Sloan School of Management, and School name of legislating morality. The of scientific research to maximize the chance that, when someone we of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. The prime reason given in the bill for the care about is in danger changes have become inevitable, to make cloning ban is that cloning poses when someone we care about is in danger from from organ failure, we them fully ready to play the new role these “massive risks” to children. Does it? organ failure, we can save them. can save them. A vote technological revolutions are expected to The first mammalian cloning attempt, to preserve human impose on MIT. Dolly, produced only one birth, a cloning as a legal How to make Africa and Africans benefit healthy lamb. Not stillborn, option is a vote to pro- from the ongoing revolutions at MIT remains deformed, or otherwise “mutated,” just an worry that cloning “threatens to weaken mote human life. the greatest challenge facing MIT and ordinary animal. The other embryos never existing notions regarding who bears which The proposed cloning ban is in its early Africans alike. While some believe that the came to term, just as a large percentage of parental duties and responsibilities for chil- stages in Congress; there is still time to let way to begin making MIT’s technological human pregnancies end in natural termina- dren.” The implication of the bill’s language our representatives know that cloning tech- impact felt in Africa is through distance learn- tion. Years of research since Dolly have is clear: in the mindset of the anti-cloning nology, far from threatening our “culture,” ing and teaching, others view the creation of refined the technique, and it will only (and also the anti-genetics) crowd, biology is an expansion of human freedom and will an African technological window at MIT the become safer and more successful in the is destiny. If two children are genetically save human lives. Keep cloning legal, and most creative way the ongoing technological future. equal, they are “copies,” not distinct people prevent a bad action movie from coming and scientific innovations taking place at MIT It is not Congress’ business at all to (ignore identical twins). If children are given true. could also benefit Africa. Page 6 THE TECH OPINION July 11, 2001 No Limit to Limits and their husbands prior to the 19th Amend- The collective bargaining agreement Philip Burrowes ment. between the National Basketball Association Where is the age minimum for members and the players’ union actually does set a It could be said that this nation is fond of of the Electoral College, however? At first it minimum “age” for the athletes, under age limits. There are little to no merit-based might seem that Article II is deferring power which they cannot be signed if their high For those who think such requirements (depending on one’s definition to the states in some sort of appointment school class has not graduated. Primarily, it seemingly arbitrary provisions of “merit”) for Congress, for example, but quid pro quo. Upon further inspection, that seeks to ensure a modicum of physical and minimum ages of 25 and 30 are needed to join seems dubious, as even the pre-17th Amend- emotional maturity because presumably are relegated to obscure federal the House and Senate, respectively. Under- ment Constitution spends the entire first arti- teams could bully prodigies into joining graduates probably care most about, that’s cle telling the same states exactly how Con- their organizations. Either that or, akin the laws and Constitutional clauses, right, being over 18 so they can vote and join gress is to be run. Presumably an elector’s voter and his congressman, teams would be take a look at the world of the military. A few adolescents passing stature is validated because he is appointed, better off with older players. through these hallowed halls right around now but that mandate does not render moot the Like the ages required for federal office, professional basketball. may even be glad that they’re past the various neither contention is supported by evidence. ages protected in the Fair Labor Standards Act Young athletes are far more likely to fall vic- of 1938 (or corresponding state ordinances). tim to agents, economic pressure, or their own Some may want to rush to the defense of The fact, however depressing it inflated egos than a general manager, and a yet some of the most memorable officials the discriminated by denouncing such provi- player’s actual ability does not seem to map have been young ones. The clincher for for- sions as “age-ist” and unconstitutional. People may be, is that there are people conclusively to age (take Tracy McGrady, 22, eigners is the difference between drinking age like that are stupid, considering age limits and Nick Anderson, 33). and voting age, a byproduct of the 26th show up in the third sentence of the Constitu- who will be smarter yet younger People who complain about this tend to Amendment. It’s irrational, it’s unwanted, and tion, not counting the delusional preamble. than you, and you will be more favor an increase in the minimum age, consid- it’s without good intention. They do, however, realize that there is often ering the glut of NBA players without college MIT has it right. Here, it is not out of the little concrete evidence to back up established capable than many older than degrees. Where are these people to decry the question to have proctors or even TAs who age limits besides the fact that, hey, they’ve absence of experience or education in poli- are your junior. The fact, however depressing been established. you. tics? Granted, the ramifications on basketball it may be, is that there are people who will be To underscore this, simply observe the seem to be more pronounced than the current smarter yet younger than you, and you will be rationale behind the voting age. Twenty-one state of government, but the train of logic is more capable than many older than you. It is was originally chosen because the prevalent minimums for Congress. Nor does it hold the same. not so much that admissions evaluates on a social notions dictated that maturity was that age doesn’t matter, because obviously if Basketball also displays perhaps the main case-by-case basis, but that it maintains some achieved by that time. Only adults would be younger voters could be bullied, younger problem with age standards, and that’s their sort of identifiable standard — in the Insti- generally responsible enough to vote deliber- electors would be just as — if not more so — disjunctive nature. Lobbyists seek a return to tute’s case hopefully intellect. Age in and of ately and of their own accord. Children susceptible. the pre-American Basketball Association days itself, to paraphrase the lyrics of the once might not only lack the mental faculties to For those who think such seemingly arbi- of early entry lockouts while teams become ambiguously-aged Aaliyah, is nothing but a properly choose candidates, but could also be trary provisions are relegated to obscure fed- all the more willing to draft “youngsters.” number. Nobody should suggest a test to vote heavily influenced by their parents; a similar eral laws and Constitutional clauses, take a Going back to the government, the higher the and the like, but it couldn’t hurt to know argument was advanced concerning women look at the world of professional basketball. political office, the higher the required age, where you stand and why. July 11, 2001 THE TECH Page 7 THE ARTS FILM REVIEW★★★★ At the end of the film, the role of god-like creator is taken from Geppetto, and assumed by the machines, which now create human lives to love robots. It should be an eerie, Pinocchio: A Spielberg Odyssey unnerving future where only echoes of humanity reverberate. But Spielberg plays Fairy Tale-like ‘A.I.’ Questions Boundaries of Humanity with Robot Child down the haunting sci-fi aspects, focusing on what the machines were programmed to By Erik Blankinship David enters the world wary of his father drop from the Green building, a spectacle of acquire: the love of humans. We have to STAFF WRITER (Sam Robards), addressing him only by first exploding machinery. remind ourselves that this is a horrifying Directed by Steven Spielberg name. He is ever eager to love his mother, But Spielberg implores us to reconsider the future, one where David completes his Oedi- Written by Ian Watson and Brian Aldiss “mommy” (Frances O’Connor), to have her innocence and importance of a child. Similar pal quest to take his father’s place in his Starring Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, David constant affection. He does everything he can to how Oskar Schindler is guided by the mother’s bed. But it is told lovingly, as a fairy Swinton, Frances O'Connor, Sam Robards, to reach that state. Even disobeying his pro- unknown red-coated little girl to become a tale, an ever-after ending. Jake Thomas, Brendan Gleeson, Daveigh gramming. savior of humankind, Spielberg uses a robot The tale is told from a child’s perspective, Chase, William Hurt, and Jack Angel Helping David differentiate between right child to make us reconsider how we treat without knowledge of the bizarre humanless Rated PG-13 and wrong is his very own Jiminy Cricket, in machinery. Even if we cannot make this leap nature of the character’s motivations. The the form of robo-stuffed bear Teddy (voiced ourselves, within Spielberg’s fable the chasm fears of abandonment play on emotional n endearing movie A.I. is not. It is a by Jack Angel). Teddy is so cool in the movie, is crossed. chords I recall as a child. The future movie about robots, narrated by he should be up for best supporting actor in This loveless environment is the stage for “mechas” (as opposed to “orgas” — living robots. Even though the star of the the Academy Awards this year. Or better yet, this sci-fairy tale, where technological props beings) appear as creatures that Spielberg’s A movie, little robo-boy David, might get his own Teddy movie. stand in for the traditional folk story elements. imagination was haunted by as a child at look like the cute little actor Haley Joel Overhearing the story of Pinocchio, and Future pleasure palace Rogue City (a shared night. Osment, he brings awkward to a new level. noting their similar real-boy aspirations, neon set from Moulin Rouge?) appears as The suspension of disbelief required to Let’s imagine what David’s programming David decides he must find the blue fairy. For A.I.’s answer to Pinocchio’s “Temptation accept the motivations of the fairy tale A.I. are might look like: if he can become a real boy, then maybe Island.” Instead of misbehaving men turning far more than many adult film goers have been mommy would truly love him. into donkeys, the boundaries between human willing to make. I found myself repeatedly 10 print “Mom, do you love me?” But hardly anybody feels love across the and artificial are further blurred; love and sex- reminding myself of my own childhood fears 20 get A$ mechanic-organic chasm. Mommy is often ual servicing are conflated. and strange beliefs, and letting the film play 30 if A$ == “n” then goto 10 haunted by her doppelganger of a child. Daddy The consequences for our illicit, abusive upon these lingering frames of mind. Spiel- 40 if A$ == “y” then end wants to have David dismantled at the factory. relationships with our creations are hauntingly berg suggests that this is the mindset of the David’s creator, the Geppetto-vest-wearing Pro- dire in A.I. Our devices are left to blankly love sentient machine, a mind we have created Now, if you are a robot like David, you fol- fessor Hobby (William Hurt), is primarily inter- us in return, iterating endlessly on the mean- which cannot separate reality from fantasy. It low these instructions pretty closely without ested in marketing more Davids to families. ing and process of love, while emptily trying is an interesting proposition and a cruel much room for interpretation. If your mom Rogue gatherings of humans collect and muti- to solve the puzzle of humanity. predicament. isn’t around or threw you away, you might get late robots in retal- stuck in this routine for, say, a few millennia. iation for their But why wouldn’t Mom just love David infiltration of our back? That is the central question raised early human lifestyles. on in A.I. Can we love our machines? Can we To save David really love them? from this technoci- Here at MIT, where we cheer for our 6.270 dal fate, Spielberg lego robot creations more than we do for any once again appeals sporting event, it seems plausible to love our to our instinctual robots. If they asked to us to love them back, programming; the we might. Maybe. Might check the source premise that some- code first. where in our STS Professor Sherry Turkle’s research super-ego is a fail- shows how children’s perceptions of what is safe which pro- “alive” have been challenged over the last hibits the destruc- century. A hundred years ago, things that tion of children. could roll were considered “alive.” More This is where the recently, responsive games like Simon were movie stumbles. considered quasi-sentient, while Tamagotchis Putting ourselves puzzle children of today. into the mindset of Spielberg’s leap in this film is that adults an angry anti-tech- will not be able to make the distinction no mob, intent on between machine and man; that the Turing the destruction of Test will not be solvable in the near future. machines, why not And what will make this distinction impossi- kill them all? Who ble is putting A.I. into the form of children, cares how they are playing upon Freudian archetypes we are packaged? It’s a unable to resist. Mothers are especially prone televised robot DAVID JAMES to this belief in Spielberg’s film. war, a monitor A child-bot, David (Haley Joel Osment), finds himself facing technocide in Spielberg’s A.I.
RESTAURANT REVIEW The presentation of the entrées was most priate amount of coriander and cumin. This impressive. The artistry of the paneer ravioli may have been the best fusion dish, as it was evident by the use of four or five colors in effectively balanced the old world with new- Saffron — Indian Jewel creating a well-balanced work of art. The world flavors. Cooked perfectly, it had a nice sweet aroma and juxtaposition of the ravioli gelatinous center that melted deliciously. The beneath a crisp and dry, deep-fried leek, creat- tomatoes accentuated the dish with a tartness Indian Fusion that Lives Up To Its Name ed a successful entrée. that complemented the beans and fish. The vindaloo pork chop was another dish The tandoori at Saffron was relatively By Scott Lee extra spices created a dish with zing, more that was presented skillfully. When I think of standard. There were no surprises here. The STAFF WRITER zing than the simple creation of a traditional vindaloo, however, I think of burn-your- quality of the dishes was up to par and the Saffron acidic base. The shrimp maseladar was flavor- tongue-off spiciness. This was a mild rendi- meat was neither overly juicy nor dry. The 279A Newbury St. ful and well prepared. Though the garlic and tion of a vindaloo dish, using maybe a pinch portions were large and were more than suffi- Back Bay, Boston ginger were not prominent, the crunch of the of the spice, which only required maybe one cient for a person’s weekly dose of tandoori. 617-536-9766 poori bread and the oiled vegetables created a glass of wine to clear my palate. Of the breads, the aloo paratha and garlic nice gustatory texture. The halibut was very fresh, with the appro- naan were fresh and made well. The aroma of affron is a spice derived from the fall- the garlic wafting to New- flowering plant of the same name that bury Street was enough to is native to Asia minor. For centuries it turn the heads of many S has been prized as one of the most pre- Gucci-clad pedestrians. cious ingredients of cooking in the old world. It These delicious breads were is estimated that the stigmas of 4,000 flowers nice accompaniments to the are required to make one ounce of saffron pow- meal. der. Such a name for a restaurant lends itself to Dessert concluded with high expectations of the cuisine to come. the kulfi (a type of pistachio I visited Saffron in the middle of the day, ice cream), which was beau- during the hustle and bustle of a Newbury tifully prepared. Many fruits Street crowd. The open patio seating on this were puréed to create a rain- street makes for some interesting people- bow of flavor and color that watching, and, during the summer months, it was placed beneath a base is particularly pleasant. That is, of course, if of noodles and cardamon- you bring your own sunblock. Some of the infused scoops of kulfi. It tables are without parasols, and if you prefer tasted fine, but the vermicel- not to get skin cancer from Saffron, you might li was mysterious — is it a want to move inside or get a shaded seat. garnish or not? Once comfortably seated at one of the Saffron’s decor is many shiny metallic tables surrounded by a thoughtful and tasteful and hedge of protective shrubbery, a menu of both the dishes were exquisite traditional Indian and Western fusion cuisines creations of taste and pre- is brought out. I tried a variety of appetizers, sentation. The dessert alone soup, and entrées from both the American and was an outstanding and Indian sides of the menu. addictive fare. Saffron’s Of the appetizers, the chicken chaat was excellent service, atmos- the standout. It was an atypical preparation of phere, and food is a wel- chaat, a light meat salad dish mixed with a WAN YUSOF WAN MORSHIDI—THE TECH come jewel on Newbury cucumber and yogurt sauce. The addition of Diners at Newbury Street’s Saffron enjoy the atmosphere and delicious food. Street. Page 8 THE TECH THE ARTS July 11, 2001 VIDEO GAME REVIEW VIDEO GAME REVIEW Sonic Adventure 2 Arrives Super Mario Advance Celebrating a Tenth Anniversary In Style Before There Were Goombas
By Jumaane Jeffries lenge can be unwelcoming when the size of the By Chad Serrant player. With one cartridge, you can play with STAFF WRITER stage exceeds “freakin’ huge.” The going gets STAFF WRITER up to four people, either cooperatively or ‘Sonic Adventure 2’ even tougher with the inclusion of time limits in ‘Super Mario Advance’ competitively. Either mode will keep you on Published by Sega later stages. Made for Gameboy Advance your toes as you try to beat your friends to the Made for Dreamcast The feeling of improved overall control can Published by Nintendo points. $39.99 be attributed to the fact that the graphics are $29.95 As I said before, Super Mario Advance is exquisite, and is possibly this game’s biggest supposed to demonstrate the power of the ery few people can forget how Sega set improvement over the original. They’re pol- hen Nintendo releases a new con- Game Boy Advance, and it does. In Super the world ablaze ten years ago with the ished nearly as well as graphical Dreamcast sole system, a Mario game is Mario Bros. 2, when you throw things, they furiously fast, gravity-defying game gems like Dead or Alive 2 or Phantasy Star always released. Its mission is rotate. You can also notice rotational effects V play of Sonic the Hedgehog. Set in fan- Online. And the characters are actually fun to Wsimple: show what the system is when you enter the magical pots. The back- tastically colorful and elaborate worlds, the watch in the cinematic scenes, much more capa- capable of, and provide some fun, too. Usu- ground features a lot of rotating gears and a quest to save the world from Dr. Robotnik ble of facial expression than ever before. It’s ally, the fun part appears in the form of an strange ferris wheel. Many enemies are huge allowed players to either stop and explore, or run just like a 3-D version of the Sonic the Hedge- all-new, exciting adven- and will scrunch under your like the wind and never look back. Now Sega hog cartoons (remember those?). ture that will open your weight if you jump on them. This pays tribute to the legacy in Sonic Adventure 2, The sound effects haven’t changed much eyes to the future of game shows a lot of rotation and the sequel to the Dreamcast’s flagship title. from Sonic Adventure (like they’ve changed video gaming. Super scaling. This time around, as the heroic trio of Sonic, much from Sonic 1?), and still include the stan- Mario World on the There is also a musical Tails, and Knuckles again faces off against dard boings, screeches, and explosions. The SNES showed how large improvement. The background Robotnik, two mysterious new villains join the music, while really good, sometimes drowns a world could fit on a music sounds as good as it did fray. The nature of good and evil is embodied in out the voices with its own lyrics, which is tiny cartridge. And Super in the Super NES version. And Shadow, a black hedgehog whose own legacy is unfortunate for those who prefer the more suit- Mario 64 taught players the characters have voices. Peo- tied to Robotnik’s family, and is on an able Japanese voices. That’s right, there’s a full- to explore and backtrack ple have various opinions on the unknown quest for redemption and revenge. fledged soundtrack, where some bleepy, boingy to previous worlds. Super voices. You see, they seem to Shadow and the Doc are assisted by Rouge the music plays alongside Sonic’s rockin’, upbeat Mario Advance, howev- have a phrase for every possible Bat, a relentless female Emerald hunter and a tunes. Others, such as Knuckles’s various er, uses some of the older maneuver: jumping, getting “vamp” in every sense of the word. themes, kick some mad flavor. (Or at least they Mario games to demonstrate its power. energy, taking damage, losing a life, com- In a new twist to the series, you can take on really try.) Rouge’s sexy jazz tunes are decent Basically, Super Mario Advance contains pleting a stage, walking, eating, sleeping, two particular quests: that of either the Hero as well. It makes spending 45 minutes trying to Super Mario Bros. 2 and Mario Brothers writing essays … sorry, I trailed off. The Side or Dark Side. As such, each character has a finish their respective stages almost worthwhile. (not to be confused with Super Mario Broth- point is, they won’t shut up. That, and Toad nearly identical counterpart. As Sonic or Shad- Almost. ers, by the way). These two games are … has a very shrill voice. Very. The voice he ow, you play the light-speed stages that have Did I try to conclude this piece without well, they aren’t anything like the other had in Mario Kart 64 was a lot more enjoy- defined Sonic for a decade. Tails grows up a bit mentioning SA2’s billions of extras? At the risk Mario games. able than this. In the end, you will find the in taking on Dr. Robotnik as they each battle in of writing another article, I must say that the Super Mario Bros. 2 is the most irregular voices charming yet annoying or obnoxious. Mechwarrior-style robot walkers, similar to the mini-games will make you want to relive this Mario game of the bunch. Mario and his Take your pick. “shoot-em-up” stages of E-102 in Sonic Adven- Adventure over and over again. Each and every friends stumble upon the dream world of sub- I’m a little concerned about the game ture. Knuckles reprieves his role as guardian of stage offers rewards for missions involving ring con, where the evil Wart has taken control. selection for this launch title. I don’t know the Emeralds, while Rouge serves as his foil in collecting, Chao searching, and other tasks. And Two things that make this game different why, but I was hoping for more than Super each of their own seek-and-find stages. when you’re done with that you can grab a from the other Mario games is that you can Mario Bros. 2 and Mario Bros. Maybe I The Sonic/Shadow stages flow crisply and friend and engage in some two-player action. choose between four characters (Mario, Luigi, expected a new adventure. Or maybe I hoped smoothly, with no hint of slowdown, and none Sonic and Knuckles battle Shadow and Rouge, Toad, and the Princess, Peach), each with dif- that they would put all of the old Mario games of the weird collision-detect problems of the respectively, in their two player race-to-the-fin- ferent strengths and skills. Mario is average, on one cartridge, like they did in Mario All- original Adventure remaining. The wizards at ish vertically split-screen stages. Or you can Luigi jumps high, Toad can grab things faster, Stars. Or maybe it’s because I like Super Sonic Team even attempted to alleviate the phe- have a mech-war between Tails and the and Peach can float. There are some stages that Mario Bros. 3 more. For newbies, this will be nomena where the game seems to play itself Eggman. There’s even competitive cart racing, are easier for some characters to handle than a great game that shows how varied platform (the up-button phenomena) by adding more though the handling on the cart is a little askew. others. games can be. But for those who have played suddenly appearing pitfalls and obstacles. Sure- When you tire of incessant speed, you can raise The other big difference is that you attack these games already, this is not worth the pur- ly these action stages will take a lot longer to a Chao with the animals and “Chaos Drives” enemies by throwing things at them. Stomp- chase. master, especially with all the hidden tricks for you collect. This time, in addition to racing and ing does nothing. This game takes the most which you can get bonus points, but it adds to feeding, you can do such things as modify its fundamental attack in platform games, and IMAGES COURTESY NINTENDO the replay value, so it’s all good. As Tails or Dr. nature and even put it in Chao World’s kinder- throws it out the window. It is a great game, Robotnik, you just pretty much blast everything garten, in order to prepare it for Chao Adven- but was it really the best title to use for a in sight, but it’s a good little action shooter ture 2. launch title? that’s fun to play once you get accustomed to All of those extras aside, Sonic Adventure 2 Also included on this is Mario Brothers, your aiming mechanism. is an outstanding new addition to the slowly the first Mario Brothers game, before there Most of the game’s ire comes from the growing Dreamcast lineup, and practically a was a Bowser, before there were goombas. It Knuckles/Rouge stages, which are a true test of steal with a $40 price tag. It has improved was the day when Mario and his brother Luigi patience. The goal is to find three objects of graphics, stunning gameplay, and even an enter- were Italian-Americans living in Brooklyn some kind — usually pieces of the Master taining, if still primitive storyline. You’ll have a working as plumbers. There aren’t any alliga- Emerald — and there is a tracking indicator to lot of new adventures to undertake, and a lot of tors in the sewers, but there are a lot of weird guide you along the way. Unfortunately, the treacherous rails to grind. lookin’ creatures in it. You have to knock tracker only has three distinguishable degrees of them from below to turn them over, then kick proximity (green, yellow, red), which is actually Graphics 9.5 Gameplay 9.0 them. With a large variation of enemies and a Graphics 8.0 Gameplay 7.5 less reliable than what Knuckles had in the pre- frenzied pace, this game is great for people vious Adventure. Furthermore, the camera faux Sound 9.0 Replay Value 9.5 who want to run around for a small amount of Sound 8.5 Replay Value 7.0 pas that sometimes detracts from the 3-D Sonic all scores time. all scores experience occur most often here. The chal- Overall Rating 9.5 out of 10 The frenzied pace is also great for multi- Overall Rating 7.0 out of 10
MUSIC REVIEW thermore the sitarists make exquisite use the onetime and highly ornamented nature the 5-5-4 division of the beat cycle in their rapid next, clearly the result of the highly impro- runs, especially in conjunction with the cre- visatory nature of the art form. Shankar Thrills Carnegie ative mixture of on and off beat notes. The The slow section features the bass tanpura end effect is one that keeps the music, based prominently, played by Ajay Sharma, adding a on an ancient melodic line, fresh and exciting. highly effective contrast to the melody of the Captures Essence of Indian Classical Music This idea of grounding the melodic line sitar; the elder statesman of Indian classical in a particular rhythm while keeping the music then effectively closes the slow section By Shankar Mukherji absence of the tabla. music from being predictable is best wit- with a highly intricate melodic run, showing STAFF WRITER The next section, the Gat, is performed in nessed at the end of the section. The that even at age 80 his fingers are still nimble alled by many the “doyen of Indian the 14 beat cycle dhamar taal. The entrance extremely effective crescendo and enough to race up and down the instrument. classical music,” Pandit Ravi of the tabla allows Shankar to dance around accelerando up until the raga’s conclusion The transition to the fast section of the Gat Shankar performed to critical the rhythm, interleaving short trill sections is met with enthusiastic applause. is extremely smooth as the tabla is able to Cacclaim last October in New York within the main melodic line of the raga. Fur- The second raga presented, Raga Mishra seamlessly translate the rhythm to the new, City’s Carnegie Hall. The concert, recorded Gara, according to Shankar accelerated beat. The COURTESY ANGEL RECORDS and released by Angel Records, featured himself, “is played in the new section is built both newly composed pieces by Shankar as contemporary Khyal and around a simple refrain which is repeated well as his family’s next generation of artis- Thumri forms.” As he fur- throughout the remainder of the raga. Flirting tic talents as daughter Anoushka Shankar ther explains, he changes about the refrain, Ravi Shankar is allowed to accompanied on the sitar. For Shankar the from the raga’s tonic note, display his full brilliance as a master of concert marked a return to Carnegie, where Sa, to the fourth, Ma. improvisation, using the full tonal range of his he first performed as a dancer and instru- Described as a light, roman- instrument as well as the full scale of his mentalist in 1938. tic raga, Ravi Shankar and extraordinary sense of rhythm. Although ostensibly composed in a very daughter play the piece in a The final, frenetic moments of the raga traditional form, Shankar does not blindly technically precise manner, bring to culmination all the emotion evoked in follow the style of his musical forebears. In again exemplifying the Indi- the melodic lines. It leads to a moment of the Alap, or opening, section of the Raga an classical emphasis on catharsis in which the audience can lose itself Kaushi Kanhara, a night raga, the sitarist rhythm and melody. in the musical storm. Despite the furious pace clearly is attuned to the harmonic blends of In this raga the tabla of the conclusion there is remarkable unity his notes with those of the tanpura, a enters soon after the opening between the various instrumentalists, held stringed instrument used for its drone which again allows the main together by an impressive display by tabla effects, in a manner reminiscient of the voices to develop the players Bikram Ghosh and Tanmoy Bose. Western musical tradition. At the same time, melody from one of simple The concert clearly marks a triumphal however, the composition remains grounded to complex lines. The 19th performance at Carnegie for Indian in its Indian classical roots as Shankar melody of the slow section classical music’s greatest ambassador. repeatedly intersperses expressive, slurred of the Gat, in fact, can be Shankar will be appearing at Carnegie again phrases with highly rhythmic, nearly stacca- described as almost song- on the November 18 and will be coming to to notes thus driving the beat even in the like in its simple beauty at Boston on May 5, 2002. July 11, 2001 THE ARTS THE TECH Page 9
VIDEO GAME REVIEW VIDEO GAME REVIEW Around the Track Again Fire Pro Wrestling Game Boy Advance ‘F Zero’ Is as Fast as Ever Burning with Desire By Chad Serrant By Chad Serrant STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER F Zero: Maximum Velocity ‘Fire Pro Wrestling’ Made for Gameboy Advance Published by Bam! Entertainment Published by Nintendo $39.99 $39.99 ighting games are one of those genres of video games that concentrates on one of n the early SNES days, there was a racing the smallest, least significant events in our lives: one-on-one battle. It is a very rare game called F-Zero. Using the rotation of event indeed to walk down a street and be challenged to a duel. Most tournament the SNES, F-Zero simulated driving from fighting games concentrate on controller manipulation and good timing. Platform
IMAGES COURTESY NINTENDO F Ian over-the-shoulder perspective. It was a fighting games (like Super Smash Brothers) depend on using the right move at the right wonderful pseudo-3D effect. And there was a time. Wrestling games tend to combine both forms, allowing free movement around the great racing game behind it, too. ring, but still forcing you to time your attacks correctly. Fire Pro Wrestling is an excellent F Zero: Maximum Velocity is the reincar- example of a wrestling game. nation of the SNES version. It has different There is no story behind Fire Pro Wrestling. Your reason for fighting is to beat your courses, and the game physics are slightly opponents silly. Fire Pro Wrestling lets you wrestle the way you want to. Do you like to readjusted. All in all, this is a very decent rac- overpower your opponent with brute force? OK, that can be done. Do you like to move ing game that shows what the Game Boy around the ring like a scared chicken, then lash out at the first sight of your opponent’s Advance can do. weakness? That’s fine. Fire Pro Wrestling lets you play the way you want to. This is a racing game, and you have one hem, as well. If your friends only have one But no button mashing. The only place pressing random buttons repeatedly will get mission: get to the finish line before everyone game, you can still play. But be warned: this you is on the mat. Fire Pro Wrestling requires skill. When you begin a grapple with an else does. You have five laps to do so, and if is a very limited feature. You cannot choose a opponent, you have to press the correct sequence first. If you try to mash buttons, you will you’re not ahead of a certain ranking after vehicle to race, and your choice of courses is always lose the grapple. Also, if you use heavy grappling maneuvers early in the match, each lap, you lose. Of course, you can also very limited. When I tried this feature, my you will be countered. The grapple system for this game is perfect. No longer can people lose if your car explodes. Oh yes. This game friend and I could only play on one course. If win by pressing the grapple button faster than their opponent. They need skill to win. takes place in the future, where humanity your friends have their own copies, then you Fire Pro Wrestling also uses fatigue to force you to use a variety of moves. If you just gains violent tendencies. Running into walls can play on many more courses and you can punch throughout a match, your character will tire out and won’t be able to move for a choose many more cars while. And you will tire out every time you punch. Either hold the L button to regain sta- to play with. mina, or use a different move. Either way, you cannot depend on one move to get you The graphics are on through a match. Also, your fatigue levels can change depending on whether or not you par with the SNES ver- are bleeding. Too many face rakes and a woman will scream, indicating that you have sion, since it is using a bled. Your recovery rates will change at this point, to your benefit or disadvantage. similar technique. The There is no WWF or WCW or (insert favorite wrestling organization here) license, so thing is, you aren’t Fire Pro Wrestling simply “made up” wrestlers who “coincidentally” have similar moves moving. The racetrack to the popular wrestlers. My favorite is The Cremator. He’s tall with medium build, he is being rotated and wears gloves, and he likes choke holds. Also, the crowd always boos whenever he taunts. moved underneath your All of the imitation wrestlers look and operate exactly like their real-life counterparts, so car. It’s a wonderful you can unofficially set up your “dream team” of wrestling. technique that gives an However, you’ll have a lot more fun in the Create-a-Wrestler mode. One word: cus- illusion of depth. The tomization. There are options to edit every single part of the wrestler’s body. There are cars have more anima- 341 faces alone. You can also edit the colors of the costume (4096 ways for each piece of tion, so they are more clothing, by the way). The moves your character can execute, his strengths, his weakness- fluid when they turn es, his style of fighting — all of these can be edited to your liking. And you can save it to and slide. But nothing one of the 77 save slots on the cartridge. Or you could trade it to another cartridge if you too spectacular. felt like it. causes damage, and there are in-road hazards The sound is a slight improvement over The wrestling matches you can have are also customizable. You can choose the dura- that can damage your vehicle. the SNES version. The music is new. It is tion of the match, where you are wrestling, and which rules are legal. You can even The driving is simple. The A button fast-paced enough to keep you on your toes. employ UFC rules and have a “hardcore” battle. accelerates, the B button brakes, the top The sounds of cars, boosts, and explosions The graphics quality is mixed for this game. The wrestlers show an incredible amount buttons can slide your vehicle and hitting sound the same, though. of animation. If you’ve seen the wrestling move in real life, you will recognize it in the them simultaneously will use a turbo boost. F Zero: Maximum Velocity is a great rac- game. Everything else, however, is pretty static. The referee has three to four frames of The entire key to turning is tapping the ing game. But anyone who has played the animation at the most, and there is no reason to change which ring you are fighting in; they accelerator. You can handle any turn by tap- SNES version may want to avoid it. It’s noth- all look the same once the match begins. ping A at the right time. With this skill, you ing really new. You’ve done it already. The sound is worse. It sounds like it was ported from the Game Boy Color, and will remind can easily cruise past Beginner level. Stan- many of the NES game, Pro Wrestling. dard and Expert levels will require more Make no mistake. This is an excel- Graphics 7.0 Gameplay 9.0 racing skill. You will have to memorize the Graphics 7.0 Gameplay 8.0 lent game that will test you timing and tracks and know the best way through them moving skills, instead of relying on Sound 5.0 Replay Value 9.0 to succeed. When you do survive, you will Sound 6.5 Replay Value 8.0 button mashing. And, you can finally all scores get five more courses to endure. all scores make the fighter of your dreams. Overall Rating 7.5 out of 10 This game is capable of multiplayer may- Overall Rating 6.5 out of 10 MUSIC REVIEW Life After ‘Kid A’ Radiohead’s Haunting New Release, ‘Amnesiac’ By Sandra Chung waiting nothing came/As your life flashed STAFF WRITER before your eyes/You realize/I’m a reasonable veryone’s favorite five-piece band man/Get off, get off, get off my case.” Green- from Oxford continues pioneering in wood’s rewired guitar shrieks faintly in the modern musical art with a variety of background. Synthesized drums, a tin can drum, E innovative sounds and introspective and various unidentifiable electronic sounds lyrics on Amnesiac. Lead vocalist Thom either sustain long, smeared notes or ricochet Yorke’s keyboard taps atmospheric chord off each other in a complex mixture of synco- sequences, while Jonny Greenwood rewires pated and non-syncopated rhythms similar to his guitar and plays around with the synthe- Caribbean oil drum music. Three voices accom- sizer to create original sounds. Lanky eye- pany Yorke’s soft vocals — one an echo of his candy Ed O’Brien backs up Yorke’s vocals own voice, another a speaking woman, and the with his subdued pipes and a wry rhythm gui- last a distorted male voice. tar. Bassist Colin Greenwood and drummer Yorke speaks of peaceful drowning in the Phil Selway strum and drum with musical “Pyramid Song,” the album’s slowest, simplest finesse. track, which is best described as musical water. Many of the acoustic and electronic sounds Off-beat piano chords begin their upwards have improvised or irregular rhythms. The climb in half-steps and increase their jumps to songs themselves are uniquely structured, whole steps, then fall in half-steps, evoking the often lacking conventional harmony and rhythmic heaving of waves. Each line of melody lines. Though Kid A and Amnesiac Yorke’s lead vocals begins with one of several were recorded at the same time and share the patterns of ascending and descending pitches, same moody, experimental flavor, each album echoing the wave motif. has a distinct character. Kid A embraces futur- In addition to claustrophobia and drown- istic and political ideas; Amnesiac is loaded ing, other tracks contribute to the album’s COURTESY NLM with personal, aching images of human imper- eerie feel with ghost and witchcraft themes. electronic whines. The most listener-friendly deeply introverted man. The CD book consists fections and secret dreams. Casual Radiohead Radiohead returns to the world of the living song, however, is “Life In a Glasshouse,” of 14 pages of tortured sketches and scribbled fans beware; this is heavy stuff. with the lush “Dollars and Cents,” which which pleasantly surprises with a no-nonsense snatches of lyrics superimposed over each “Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box” comments on cutthroat capitalism and high- jazz band. The mixture of piano, clarinet, other in ghostly collages with as much morose is a strange, multi-layered study in claustropho- lights Selway’s excellent drum work. trumpet, trombone, drums, and Yorke’s voice complexity as the songs on the album. Radio- bia and a prime example of the weirdness of The album version of “I Might Be Wrong” is what the blues would be like had they been head taps a vast realm of cynical creativity for recent Radiohead. Vowels plucked from the is the logical choice for a radio single. Stan- invented in a London lounge. the waves of indecipherable percussive and title leave the consonant sounds overlapping dard electronic and bass guitar lines establish The other U.S.-released Radiohead albums electronic sound that make this album unlike each other like crowded fish. The piece a recognizable rock sound. Aspects that stand have a distinct unity to their tracks. In contrast, any you’ve ever heard. describes a person who is all too aware of the out are Yorke’s haunting voice, layers of syn- the pieces on Amnesiac seem to be pages Radiohead plays Suffolk Downs on oppressive confines of reality: “After years of thesized bass and percussion, and distorted ripped randomly from the threadbare diary of a August 14. Page 10 THE TECH THE ARTS July 11, 2001 Keith Lockhart unless other- wise noted. The Pops per- forms most days during the Clubs summer, generally at 7:30 p.m. on Sundays and Mon- Axis days and at 8 p.m. other 13 Lansdowne St., 617-262- days of the week. Check 2437
Twelfth Night K
E Jul. 20-21, 24-27, 28, 31 at 8 p.m., Jul. 22, 29 E
W at 7 p.m., Jul. 28 at
E 3 p.m. Boston Common, Parkman Bandstand
H (Off Beacon St., Boston, MA). Traditional sum- T mer Shakespeare under the stars. After Viola is F shipwrecked on Illyria, she disguises herself as O a male page named Cesario for her own safety. K
C While she searches for her lost twin brother, I
P Sebastian, she falls in love with Orsino, the
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PAUL BROWN D beloved, Olivia, falls for Viola,
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The Vans Warped Tour hits Suffolk Downs on Thursday, August 9. Of the many artists in the all-day lineup are R
F arrival can solve the plot snarls and let love tri- Crazytown, Papa Roach (above), Disturbed, Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson, Spineshank, Drowning Pool, Taproot, umph. Free. Slipknot, and Black Sabbath. July 11, 2001 THE ARTS THE TECH Page 11 and parody songs in the Wed. after 4 p.m. night. You need not be 1950s and '60s has earned Roman Catholic to partici- him a permanent place in Mon.–Fri.: introductory walks pate, however only Roman American offbeat culture. In through all collections begin Catholics in a "state of this cabaret-style show, an at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; grace" should receive the ensemble cast of vocalists “Asian, Egyptian, and Classi- Eucharist during communion perform some of Lehrer's cal Walks” begin at 11:30 in mass. While you're there, riotously rude tunes, such as a.m.; “American Painting and be sure to check out Mike's "Poisoning Pigeons in the Decorative Arts Walks” begin Pastries (280 Hanover St.), a Park," "The Vatican Rag" and at 12:30 p.m.; “European popular hangout and a great the pro-pornography anthem Painting and Decorative Arts place to get desserts. For "Smut." $15, $12 seniors Walks” begin at 2:30 p.m.; more information and a com- and students; call 617-470- Introductory tours are also plete schedule, visit 5329. offered Sat. at 11 a.m. and
ROD SPICER “I DON’T THINK THEY CAN HANDLE IT” Destiny’s Child (above) are touring with teenagers 3LW, “Must be the” Nelly, Dream, and Eve. They all come to Boston on August 10th. This space donated by The Tech Page 12 THE TECH THE ARTS July 11, 2001 ON THE SCREEN — BY THE TECH ARTS STAFF —
The following movies are playing this weekend bad movie. But for anyone interested in char- devices involving overly elaborate and exotic effects are overly abundant and without them, at local theaters. The Tech suggests using acter development or a plot without holes as deaths. — VZ there would be nothing left of this production.
1 ★ FILM REVIEW ⁄2 RESTAURANT REVIEW Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Raising the Marché Bar An entombment of art Caveau: Something New Under the Pru By Bogdan Fedeles or watch the movie — it’s the same experi- STAFF WRITER ence. By Erika Brown & James Camp waitress for a wine recommendation, she basi- Directed by Simon West As you might expect, the story is pathetic. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS cally pointed to the menu and said that they Written by John Zinman, Michael Werb, There is no twist, no tension, and almost no Caveau Wine Bistro and Bar were all good. We say “our first waitress” Patrick Massett, and Michael Colleary logic. Lara Croft incessantly fights the bad Part of Marché Boston, Prudential Center because one of the real oddities of Caveau is its Starring Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Daniel guys, and after a linear, totally predictable 800 Boylston St., Suite 001 tag-team waiting service. We had four different Craig, Iain Glen stream of events, wins the game in the end. (617) 578-9700 servers over the course of the evening, and were PG-13 Although at times the plot is reminiscent of the automatically charged a 12% gratuity. Indiana Jones franchise, Tomb Raider is so aveau Wine Bistro and Bar, the new The meal arrived fairly promptly, and the lthough it has been called a movie, Lara bad that no action sequence can be enjoyed. kid on the Prudential Marché block, plates were nicely presented with just a subtle Croft: Tomb Raider is very far from There is no comedy, no drama, and no emo- has really entered the market in a nice bit of artistry. No awards, but nice. The Prince having anything to do with the art of tion. It is just a video game. Cway, adding a table service option to Edward Island mussels were very tender, and Acinematography. At best, this motion Angelina Jolie’s acting is almost nonexis- the traditional eclectic buffet of Marché. The the flavor was enhanced by a nice light cream picture may be considered a random exercise tent. Besides boasting her ample breasts, she place actually looks like the dining room of a sauce with carrot pieces. of computer-generated special effects, or a conveys very little emotion and her character nice French château, complete with a warm The grilled Atlantic salmon scored high very expensive advertisement for a computer is as cold and emotionless as the video game fireplace, high vaulted ceiling, and artistic marks for freshness and flavor, but the game. From an artistic point of view, this character. Lara follows a pre-programmed path black-and-white photographs all over the mélange of beans and spices that topped the movie is a total fiasco — one of the worst to where she shoots all the monsters, robots, and walls. Also a nice addition were the long dish clashed with the fish. The beans’ flavors hit the silver screen in the last few years. bad guys for 90% of the movie. In the rest, she wooden tables and bench seating that made up better suited the salad. People must learn to Inspired by the video-game series, Tomb executes demanding stunts that are in fact use- most of the dining area. leave seafood alone. Raider features Lara Croft, a young British less re-creations of arcade game sequences. The The meal started off with a nice loaf of Though the desserts were almost unneces- archaeologist on a dangerous mission. Given extremely few scenes that show some trace of French bread, complete with a boulangerie- sary after the large portions, the cheesecake the success of the game series, the producers humanity of the character are sketchy and style paper bag. Though the bag was a bit with strawberries was enjoyable, and the of the movie thought that they could make unconvincing. gimmicky, the bread tasted fresh and had a chocolate mousse cake was decadent — additional revenue by bringing the character to Lara Croft’s father is played by Jon Voight, pleasant rustic aroma to it. The menu is most- chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate, the screen. Any expectation of character devel- but his part is so small that it almost goes unob- ly seafood, running the gamut from $7 shrimp with a lovely garnish of chocolate chips. opment goes unfulfilled; the movie is just a served. He is on screen for a mere two minutes. cocktail appetizers to a $25-per-person The tag-team waitstaff definitely left replay of the video game with empty action Again, there is nothing we can learn about the seafood extravaganza (two-person minimum). something to be desired at the end of the sequences. Watch someone play Tomb Raider character, he is merely a voice that does not There is also an odd assortment of sandwich- night. But all in all, Caveau has raised the stand out in the context of the es, steaks, salads, and soups. Marché bar quite a bit with a friendly open movie. Caveau is reasonably priced for a wine bar, atmosphere, well-chosen wine list, and a solid The negative characters and with wines available by the glass, the sweet menu. The reasonable prices make Caveau are presented in the same man- Vouvray white is a nice way to open an friendly to college students and is worth a hop ner: emotionless and uncon- evening. Unfortunately, when we asked the first across the river. vincing. We don’t even hate them, because although they are Lara’s foes, their lack of emotion makes us be indiffer- ent. They are against Lara, so they are probably the bad guys. As in any stupid bedtime story, they want to conquer and rule the world, and Lara is going to stop them. Nothing interesting here. The visual effects are the only highlights of the film. However, there are too many special effects, and after some time they get very annoying and uninteresting. All the non-human foes of Lara (stone monsters, six- handed giants, armored robots, etc.) are very accurate animations of their video- game counterparts. Their design is nice, and the anima- tions are well-rendered, but because of their abundance, the movie feels more like a video game. As a result, Tomb Raider ceases to be a
ALEX BAILEY movie and is a complete JASON LAPENTA—THE TECH Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) stars in Tomb Raider. waste of time. Isabelle serves up some wine at the Prudential Building’s Caveau. MUSIC REVIEW which aches to be reworked into a country single, and the bitter and homicidal yet still relaxing “Last Train.” The Emotionally-Inclined, Invisible Man The two bonus tracks, lumped together with “The Humpty Dumpty Love Song” in a Bright and Cheerful, Travis Carries on Britpop Tradition monstrous 15-minute track, are the best on the album. “Ring Out the Bell” is a ballad By Sandra Chung Radiohead. from the point of view of — you guessed it STAFF WRITER If Radiohead’s Thom Yorke’s voice were a — an angel without wings. The 6/8 meter here exists a vast contingent of double espresso, Healy’s would be a hot makes me think he’s sitting on a playground American Britpop fans who aren’t chocolate with whipped cream. Dido’s would swing as he sings to himself. “I’m so lone- content with just the Beatles Anthol- be a vanilla drowsy. ly/God won’t know me/ I can hardly get up/I T ogy. They are the people who can’t Their latest album, The Invisible Band, is COURTESY ARISTA sold my halo.” Healy’s voice is the star on get enough of the acoustic, Dave Matthewsy coasting along on The Man Who’s momen- this one-take song; it has more raw, real Coldplay; the quirky, trendy Badly Drawn tum. If you're going to buy a Travis CD, you'd energy than it does on the other tracks. The Boy; or the liquid, sometimes Foo Fighterish better start with The Man Who. Travis may be electric guitar contrasts well with light xylo- Doves. They clamor for obscure imported even hotter now than they were in the U.K. in phone and snare work. Portishead and Spacehog EPs and loudly 1999, but my feelings about The Invisible Travis’ laid-back instrumental work mesh- lament the disbanding of Massive Attack Band are lukewarm. My biggest beef with this es perfectly with the fun, ironic, old-school and The Verve. I am one of them. I can’t edgeless album is that it threatens to play like country sound of “You Don’t Know What I’m bloody well eat my porridge without my a single hour-long song. They stray very little Like.” Healy is great on this one, too; he sings longtime staples and reigning British music from the standard guitar pop sound and none low and full with an accent like a twangy royalty, The Cure and Radiohead. So I leapt of the instrumental work is particularly inspir- Michael Stipe (R.E.M.). onto the Travis bandwagon when The Man ing. You’ll hear some windchimes, everyday I have to give Travis a lot of credit for Who, which outsold even Radiohead in percussion instruments, an organ, some recording a remarkable number of consis- 1999, was busy spawning four hit singles strings, and some keyboard work, but general- rhyme: “For the love you bring won’t mean a tently catchy and pleasant (though “Safe” and the band looked to be the next big thing ly they stick to an acoustic or tame electric thing unless you sing.” Yes, that’s a deftly and stuck in “The Cage”) songs with “hit in Britpop. guitar and unremarkable bass and drums. Pro- plucked banjo in place of the rhythm guitar — single” written all over them. Certainly, The key to Travis’ appeal? Their music ducer and mixer Nigel Goodrich does a my first reason why Travis should take over music does not have to be negative to be calls out to everyone’s inner child. The band straightforward and astonishingly consistent the underappreciated (read: nonexistent) Scot- good. The Invisible Band is a lovely, solid members are young, with a happy-go-lucky job, which unfortunately makes the band tish country music niche. album, and it’s perfectly acceptable to image and hairstyles that range from Donald sound excessively one-dimensional and About half the songs on the album are swoon to Fran Healy’s creamy voice. Secret- Duck to Bart Simpson. Singer Fran Healy’s monotonous. “happy” songs. “Follow the Light,” “Side,” ly, I predict they will someday grow old and lyrics, with tidy refrains, constant apostro- “Sing,” the first single, is a textbook exam- “Pipe Dreams,” and “Safe” reflect a self- cynical and change their name to Trav- phe, and guileless musings on love and life, ple of what I call the Guitarist’s Girlfriend assured, “Let it Be” attitude toward life. ishead. But for now, the members of Travis combine with the band’s glowing instrumen- Song. Healy wrote it to help his fiancée over- “Flowers in the Window” is such a blatant are quite comfortable being their positive tal work for a deliciously mellow sound, come her reluctance to sing in front of him. Beatles rip-off it should be considered a copy- selves, and all their songs have that infec- reminiscent of Radiohead circa Pablo Repetition and rhyme are his key persuasive right violation. To spice things up a little, tious Britpop quality that irresistibly tempts Honey. Nearly everything about Travis techniques. Healy sings the word “sing” 43 Travis also throws in some vaguely melan- one to sing along. That’s right, sing, sing, smacks of a softer, happier, more carefree times and makes his point with this neat choly songs like the antisocial “Indefinitely,” sing. Page 14 THE TECH THE ARTS July 11, 2001
CONCERT REVIEW own f—kin’ people.” After playing “Scar” they played the title track of their first album, “Sunburn.” This piece Fuel Sweats to Success really showed off Bell, as it began with a guitar riff and was more lyrical. Out came the lighters for “Innocent.” This song was the first one The Band’s Latest Concert Spree Through Massachusetts Doesn’t Let Fans Down where you got to really hear Bell’s voice, which had a deeper timbre than Scallions’s. The two By Pey-Hua Hwang rock as Fuel played to a sold out crowd. They the original opening band, Saliva), the stage traded off vocals while armed with guitars. This STAFF WRITER played songs from both their newest CD, darkened, a thunderous drumroll ensued, and piece which was also more melodic and again Fuel, Jenifer Listen Something Like Human, and their previous hit, out strode Fuel. Clad in a red leather and featured Bell in a guitar solo. Cape Cod Melody Tent Sunburn. Many bands encounter the sopho- black denim jacket and matching cowboy Fuel then kicked the pace back up as Brett June 27, 2001 more slump, but if there is such thing as a style jeans and boots, Brett Scallions, the lead put away his guitar and put all his efforts into sophomore spike Fuel has achieved it. Many singer, started up with the high energy wielding the microphone for “Down.” He n between a Tuesday and Thursday show of the new songs are more lyrical but have “Ozone,” throwing the crowd into a frenzy. spent a lot of time at the edge of the stage with Aerosmith, the band Fuel managed to lost none of the power or drive of the first When the song concluded all the band mem- shaking hands with the fans. Bell’s lyrical gui- squeeze in a one-night headliner in Hyan- album. bers were dripping with sweat, Scallions tar solos were exchanged for ear piercing Inis. The big blue “Melody Tent” housed After the energy started to build with tossed his jacket backstage and called out, highnotes that indicated both skill and enthu- hundreds of cheering fans and high energy opening band, Jenifer Listen (who replaced “Welcome to the Party! Ready to have some siasm. With three more songs, they finished fun?” the show to an audience roaring for an encore. They then launched Fuel would not disappoint. Out they came into the similarly up- again, and kicked off the encore with the hit tempo “Mary Pretends,” single “Bad Day.” They followed up with a but then gave themselves cover of Nirvana’s “Breed,” doing full justice a breather with the slight- to the posthumous band, and finally finished ly more mellow but no with their chart topper “Hemorrhage,” which less intense “Knives.” had the audience singing along with more Next, they attacked energy than the rest of the concert. The band “Bittersweet.” Lead gui- tossed out guitar picks and drum sticks. tarist Carl Bell’s fingers flew over the frets on his Backstage with Fuel and “Fuelies” electric guitar and Scal- A Fuel CD is amazing, but a Fuel concert is lions took out a guitar an experience not to be missed. After the con- himself. Then it was time cert there was an opportunity to talk to the band for “Shimmer,” one of and some of their biggest fans backstage. The the band’s hit singles. “Fuelies” had each been to approximately 15 Here they milked the Fuel concerts, knew all the band members on a crowd for all it was first name basis, and even knew their favorite worth. Scallions put his backstage foods. guitar away and threw his The band members I was able to talk to body into a crucifixion were also quite personable. The lead singer was pose. He worked the unavailable for comment, but bassist Jeff Aber- crowd, used the micro- crombie was quite happy to talk about how the phone stand as a prop, band got together, and about growing up with and danced like a true lead guitarist Bell. Bell, who writes most of “rock star.” Then he Fuel’s songs, commented on success. commented on how it “It’s like off the radar; you don’t actually was nice playing for think it’s possible,” he said. As for the inspira- Aerosmith but it was tion for his songs, he cited “life MING-TAI HUH—THE TECH Fuel front man Brett Scallions works up a sweat while rocking Cape Cod Melody Tent on June 27. even better “to see our experience…livin’ it.”
CONCERT REVIEW shark entered the screen as well. Ooh, themat- Once upon a high-school eve, Depeche ic! Swim away little virgin goldfish! Mode’s lyrics did seem to hold some impor- Martin Gore did do a small acoustic guitar tance, but seeing the old guy up there spewing Depeche Mode In Concert set of some country-sounding songs. No one out the same agonized words was just silly seemed to know what they were, but they this time around. Especially when Gahan were nice. It was especially nice to know seemed to be having so much fun. “I Feel You Music for Molasses where the music was coming from. Walking In My Shoes” had the same sense of But my heart has not entirely hardened. l hollow importance. At one point Gahan actu- By Erik Blankinship required. There was a drummer at the show — admit it — the twinkling instrumentation of ally picked up the microphone stand and used STAFF WRITER although it didn’t look like he played every “Waiting For The Night” struck a sentimental it as a phallic extension. Depeche Mode Exciter Tour song. It seemed as though everyone was side. Some of the fun was just knowing how Still, the show was entertaining. Every Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts accompanying a cued tape. the songs would sound, even down to synthe- mid-twenties geezer should go see a “best of July 1st Adding to the McConcert feeling of the sized voice echoes. Depeche Mode” show, if only to find that you show were cued films that played on a giant “Clean” was also fun to hear again, espe- still know nearly all of the lyrics to “Enjoy epeche Mode sounded pretty avant- screen. The most ridiculous sequence was a cially with Gahan’s low, groveling voice. The Silence” and “Black Celebration.” You garde back in ninth grade. Music for goldfish swimming alone, and with the Songs like “Halo” had Gahan reminding us might even get a chance, since Gahan ended the Masses was techno enough not to accompaniment of a heavy bass chord, a giant that we all wear guilt like shackles on our feet. with a “see you next time … Boston!” Dbe mistaken for mainstream pop, and the British accents were strong enough to be cool. But some combination of the band’s weak live performances, limited thematic range (biblical guilt, statutory lust, greed), and being older than fifteen ended my love affair with Depeche Mode. I remember from high school the unwritten rule that you wear as much black as you can to a Depeche Mode concert. Of course, other requisite wear are Cure and Morrissey shirts. Low and behold, arriving at the July 1st show at the Tweeter Center were all of the expected costumes. When I heard about the tour for their latest album Exciter, I was baffled — they’re still around? Wasn’t Violator the end of them? Oh yeah, there was Ultra, but who listened to that? The show at the Tweeter Center began pretty strongly with some of their new tracks. Lead singer David Gahan has learned to do more than spin in circles. Now he shakes his ass at the audience — a lot — and runs around the stage with the microphone stand. It’s as if someone let him in on the secret that he’s a rock star, allowing him to perform as such. But despite Gahan’s stronger stage pres- ence, the show wasn’t at all personable. The audience received a mere “How are you doing Boston?” and a “Thank you Boston!” — despite the fact that the Tweeter Center is somewhere off of Interstate 95, closer to Prov- idence than to Faneuil Hall. It was like listen- ing to someone do Mad Libs. How about a lit- tle conversation with the crowd, David? Something a little more than just following the script? But Depeche Mode can’t do that. They did not even play instruments for most of the show. Sound effects, like the sampled breath- ing in “Personal Jesus,” would just begin, and NATHAN COLLINS—THE TECH David Gahan (above) joined fellow band members Andy Fletcher and Martin Gore July 1 at Tweeter Center in Mansfield for a night Gahan would just sing along. Guitarist Martin of Depeche Mode favorites old and new. Gore would strum a chord repeatedly when July 11, 2001 THE ARTS THE TECH Page 15
Revelers on both sides of the Charles River were witness to spectacular fireworks July 4; those watching from the Edward Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade were also treated to a concert featuring Arlo Guthrie (middle right), Cyndi Lauper (bottom left), and a fair amount of exuberant flag- waving.
—MATTHEW T. YOURST
—JASON LAPENTA —JASON LAPENTA
—JASON LAPENTA —JASON LAPENTA Page 16 THE TECH THE ARTS July 11, 2001 FILM REVIEW for profit. He stands out as the only character Fonda, as the girl who just turned down whose motives are clear. the wrong path, keeps her part marginally Much more could have been done with believable. Kiss of the Dragon Tcheky Karyo’s super villain who always gets Kiss of the Dragon, if watched in the spir- away clean. For the part he is given, though, it of “let’s see Jet Li kick ass and laugh at Karyo pulls off the part of smooth diplomat this movie’s sad attempts to be serious,” is Kiss Believability Goodbye when speaking to government officials, sym- not a bad movie. For anyone interested in By Pey-Hua Hwang point, Johnny goes to find the “emergency pathetic friend when speaking to Jessica’s character development or a plot without STAFF WRITER phone” as he is playing fugitive from the daughter, and mob leader as he orders his enormous holes, Kiss of the Dragon is a Directed by Chris Nahon French police. At this point, he also stumbles goons about with polish. waste of time. Written by Jet Li and Luc Besson upon a large stash of auto- Starring Jet Li, Bridget Fonda, Tcheky Karyo, matic firearms which are and Max Ryan employed in quelling some Rated R security guards but are thereafter never again iss of the Dragon is a highly con- noted. trived, entirely action sequence-dri- Yet, even with a thread- ven, summer action movie. Generally bare plot, when Li is fight- K speaking, there is a certain suspension ing, the film almost does jus- of disbelief when one goes to see a movie, but tice to his martial arts skill. Kiss of the Dragon can’t seem to decide Fast, brutal, and at times between just maintaining a completely over- comical, Li finds ways to the-top plot or the reality of a drama leaving use steam irons, a red bil- the viewer merely laughing at the inconsisten- liard ball, chopsticks, and cy. various blunt objects that This film finds Johnny (Jet Li), a Chinese Richard’s thugs attack him intelligence officer in Paris, as he is supposed- with. Single-handedly dis- ly going to help in a drug bust but ends up arming, dislocating, and being framed for two murders by the crooked occasionally dismembering head of the French Police force Jean-Pierre his opponents, Li’s character Richard (Tcheky Karyo). is the one redeeming feature The murder has only one witness, Jessica of this movie. His final face- (Bridget Fonda), an “ex-junkie hooker” whose off with Richard, though it daughter is being held hostage by Richard. explains the movie’s title, is Not surprisingly, Jessica and Johnny end up almost anti-climatic after teaming up to take Richard down. seeing the fight scene before. However, the motivations and character As far as acting, Max dynamics are never clearly resolved in Kiss of Ryan manages to steal a the Dragon. Richard never seems to have a scene as the sleazy Lupo, motive for his malevolence. There are also Jessica’s pimp, who cares P. CAMBOULIVE plenty of loose ends: for example, at one nothing for flesh but much Jet Li both writes and stars in Kiss of the Dragon — for now, he should stick with the acting.
SHORT TAKES Singer Scott Weiland adjusts is everything that I believe in/Can’t you see that his voice perfectly to the she and me/Are the way things should be?” changing music, and his I- “So Precious” is a distinctly indie mix don’t-give-a-hoot attitude between rock and Latin dance music, with its Keys to Success that saturated the other Stone jaded, Cake-like vocals, tropical drum set and By Huanne Thomas Temple Pilots albums horn complement. Deep Blue Something con- STAFF WRITER appears in this song. Unfor- tinues to show off its versatility with songs he album Songs in tunately, it is one of a few varying in character from the acoustic, A Minor is every songs with that attitude. orchestrated “Enough to Get By” to “Who bit as vibrant as the The fifth track, “Wonder- Wants It,” which walks the line between rock T 20-year-old New ful,” is where the Stone and metal. Some pieces start in one genre and York native who penned it. Temple Pilots’ new style end in another, or mix eclectic choices such Yet it is only a hint of the first emerges. An incredibly as Vapors and Metallica. eclectic cornucopia of her slow song, “Wonderful” has “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” was a departure talents still to come. a decent melody, but Wei- from the distinctly alternative album Home. Alicia Keys demands land’s voice is improperly The new album strays closer to mainstream your attention with her used. As a result, the track is pop without losing the band’s roots. Deep jazzy ballads and breathy- awkward, especially after the more up-tempo “Hollywood Blue Something starts with a solid rock guitar base and yet-powerful voice, often Bitch.” adds the indie rock touch with intelligent lyrics, nimble reminiscent of so many Luckily, the album takes a turn for the better with electronic work, and excellent artistic choice in guest popular gospel greats. This “Regeneration.” Weiland’s voice magically flows through instruments and percussion. Though it would be tough for freshman effort is a collec- the song and the hard-hitting rock sound is amazing. “Trans- any single to top the success of “Breakfast at tion of tunes she composed missions from a Long Room” shows the greatness of the Tiffany’s,”Deep Blue Something has enough intelligent and and produced, mostly by Stone Temple Pilots’ musical talent. The bass and guitar talent behind its generally well-crafted songs to help put herself, while in high playing are superb. the band back on the charts. school. Shangri-La Dee Da is an honorable attempt to redirect Some might be tempted to place her in the same bucket the Stone Temple Pilots’ musical talent and compose an with other recent R&B divas like Erykah Badu, India Arie, entirely new sound. However, Shangri-La Dee Da is and Jill Scott. But don’t box her in just yet. Alicia’s youth plagued with mediocrity and lacks flow and direction. With Trance-Inducer and breadth of talent brings something fresh and exciting their latest endeavor, the Stone Temple Pilots attempt to take that other artists haven’t touched yet. And she is just getting us through a spiritual journey; they attempt to show us that By Joseph Graham started. they have matured musically. They no longer need to spell- STAFF WRITER “Fallin’” is her first track to hit the radio waves, and it bind listeners with their grunge, or so they want us to ontaining some of the most creative and disturbed has topped R&B and pop charts alike. She manages to trans- believe. interludes ever recorded, Lateralus is 70 minutes of port the listener to a smoky New York jazz club as she tells brutally aggressive, clear, tight, and at times trance- a familiar story of a young woman uncontrollably in love. Cinducing, progressive metal. Although the album She shows off the stunning range of her voice with poignant lacks most of the sardonic and contemptuous lyrical styling high-notes that add to complex rhythms. “Fallin’” has full Breakfast Again fans may be used to hearing from front man Maynard harmonies that keep you swaying while you enjoy the sin- Keenan, Lateralus still contains haunting vocals, calming cerity in her voice. By Sandra Chung musical lulls, and violent distorted guitar busts that fans In every track, Alicia drops subtle hints of her classical- STAFF WRITER enjoy. ly-trained voice among hip-hop threads. In “Girlfriend,” we emember “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” the ubiquitous song One of the disc’s highlights comes near the end with a get that street symphony mixture of Alicia’s jazz with Jer- about the irresistible Audrey Hepburn flick being the 10-minute piece that is unexpected and soothing. With its maine Dupri’s rap skills. The keyboard patterns draw you in only common thread between a troubled couple? Even Eastern influences, “Reflection” feels like the calm after the and the catchy lyrics keep you there. And the keyboardist R way back in 1996, when the tune was no. 3 on the U.S. storm. Although the track sounds a bit out of place (strange consistently adding the danceable melodies is none other charts and in the top five everywhere else, many more people to say that something actually sounds out of place on a Tool than Alicia herself. could sing the chorus than could name the band. It didn’t help album but it’s true), drummer Danny Carey truly steals this Final recommendation: definitely get the album. Let her that Deep Blue Something essentially dropped out of sight for number. His skill is also evident in Lateralus’s second sin- voice accompany you on a rainy weekend afternoon. And a the next few years. gle, “Ticks & Leeches.” year or two from now when a more experienced, mature Ali- Recently the Texas band re-emerged onto the music scene As the disc changes tracks, so does the attention and focus cia drops an earth-shattering album, you will honestly say with a self-titled album and a new label, Aezra Records. Broth- of the music. Each member seems to have their say, which is you saw it coming. ers Todd and Toby Pipes take turns on lead vocals, which have evident in the instrumental tracks “Eon Blue Apocalypse,” either a young John Lennon or “Mantra,” and “Triad.” While the first sin- Jon Bon Jovi character, depend- gle from the disc “Schism” rings clear as a ing on which brother is singing. total group effort and is arguably their most Shangri-La Di Da Todd plays bass, while Toby and polished effort to date, the more experimen- By Freddy Funes Kirk Tatom share guitar duty tal tracks show that the band is always pro- and John Kirtland mans the gressing and taking musical chances. he Stone Temple Pilots’ latest release is Shangri-La drums. All in all, Tool’s new album will not dis- Dee Da. If you are expecting anything revolutionary or “She Is,” the first single off appoint. Lateralus blends the visceral power stunning, then you will be disappointed. If you are the CD, nails the pop/rock hit of their earlier recordings with experimental Texpecting “Wicked Garden” or “Plush,” you will be dis- formula. The track features an tracks. Tool triumphs again with a combina- appointed again. You will not find much hard rock on Shangri- electric guitar/drum base in the tion of dense and loud artistry over anger. La Dee Da; rather, you will find melodic and slow songs. style of Weezer, complete with With most of the tracks reaching epic The first four songs that start the album are great rock stylish guitar solo. Pipes’ pipes lengths, it is clear that Maynard and compa- songs that are reminiscent of the Stone Temple Pilots’ bril- lean toward the Bon Jovi end of ny may not score the widespread commer- liance. The bass and guitar sounds on “Dumb Love” are crisp the spectrum as he sings about cial appeal that most bands covet, but this and elegant, while “Days of the Week” is incredibly catchy. jealousy in his relationship with seems to never have been their intention in “Hollywood Bitch” is probably the best track on the album. a girl he puts on a pedestal: “She the first place.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: COURTESY BIG HASSLE PR, JENSEN COMM., J RECORDS July 11, 2001
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Crossword Puzzle Solution, page 25 Page 18 The Tech July 11, 2001 July 11, 2001 The Tech Page 19
Dilbert® by Scott Adams Page 20 The Tech July 11, 2001
Dilbert® by Scott Adams
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
Wednesday, July 11 will resume on July 24. Experience over 400 years of history and culture at a Japanese tea cere- mony. Mrs. Kyoko Wada will share the “happiness of the tea ceremony” with you. Drop in any- 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Eudora Quick Start. This session shows how to configure Eudora, cre- time between 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.. $3 for students, $5 for others. Room: McCormick Hall. Sponsor: ate messages and address lists, send and receive attachments, and sort incoming e-mail. free. spouses&partners@mit, MIT Women’s League. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Information Systems. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Excel Quick Start. This course presents an overview of Excel’s basic 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. – Blood Drive. free. Room: La Sala (Student Cener 2nd Floor). Sponsor: functions, as well as some of its more powerful features and capabilities. free. Room: N42 American Red Cross Team and Network, Blood Drives. Demo Center. Sponsor: Information Systems. 12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – “Mixing and Circulation in the Deep Brazil Basin”. free. Room: 54- 915. Sponsor: Physical Oceanography. Wednesday, July 18 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – spouses&partners@mit-Summer Meetings. Join us for conversation on the steps of the Student Center during the summer months. free. Room: Steps outside of Stu- 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Element K Hands-On Workshop. Is web-based training for me? Spend dent Center. Sponsor: spouses&partners@mit, MIT Medical. an hour in an instructor-led workshop. Learn how to get started using web-based training, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. – Rollerhockey. Pickup rollerhockey. See the URL for directions and more explore what is offered and ask questions. For more information, go to: information.. free. Room: Kennedy Elementary School, Cambridge. Sponsor: Pickup Rollerhockey http://web.mit.edu/is/training/wbt. free. Room: W89-125. Sponsor: Information Systems. Group. 12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. “Mixing and Circulation in the Deep Brazil Basin”. free. Room: 54-915. 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. – Renaissance Dancing. There are many forms of Renaissance Dancing Sponsor: Physical Oceanography. that we practice. From Italian balli to courtly pavans to English country. We dance them all with 4:30 p.m. Interactive Machine Art Kal Spelletich, Artistic Director of SEEMEN, will describe flair and fun. Dress is common street clothing. No experience necessary; instruction is provided. and demonstrate participative robotic art. free. Room: Bartos Theater. Sponsor: Media Lab. free. Room: 31-161. Sponsor: Society for Creative Anachronism. 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Rollerhockey. Pickup rollerhockey. See the URL for directions and more information. free. Room: Kennedy Elementary School, Cambridge. Sponsor: Pickup Thursday, July 12 Rollerhockey Group. 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Renaissance Dancing. There are many forms of Renaissance Dancing 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Web at MIT Quick Start. Learn how to explore the Web using that we practice. From Italian balli to courtly pavans to English country. We dance them all with Netscape, and get an introduction to the Web at MIT. free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: flair and fun. Dress is common street clothing. No experience necessary; instruction is provided. Information Systems. free. Room: 31-161. Sponsor: Society for Creative Anachronism. 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Blood Drive. free. Room: La Sala (Student Cener 2nd Floor). Sponsor: American Red Cross Team and Network, Blood Drives. Thursday, July 19 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Rollerhockey. Pickup rollerhockey. See the URL for directions and more information.. free. Room: Kennedy Elementary School, Cambridge. Sponsor: Pickup Rollerhockey 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. WINPartners User Group. (Recently renamed from NT Partners) Group. WINPartners is a group of Windows NT workstation users and administrators who have banded together to support each other in the use of Windows NT. NT Partners share their Friday, July 13 NT experiences, ask and answer questions, solve problems, discuss hot topics, and warn each other of pitfalls. Any NT user at any level of expertise and experience is welcome to 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. FileMaker Pro Quick Start. This session introduces database terms, join the group and attend meetings. free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Information shows how to create a simple database, and covers the six modes of FileMaker Pro. free. Systems. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Information Systems. 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Rollerhockey. Pickup rollerhockey. See the URL for directions and more information.. free. Room: Kennedy Elementary School, Cambridge. Sponsor: Pickup Rollerhockey Sunday, July 15 Group.
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. MIT Swapfest. Buy/Sell/Swap All Things High Tech. $5. Room: Albany Friday, July 20 St. Garage. Sponsor: MIT Radio Society. 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Orientation to Computing at MIT. This seminar provides basic, non- Monday, July 16 technical information about the MIT computing environment. Topics include: telephones and voice mail operating systems supported software and recommended hardware the campus net- 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. PowerPoint Quick Start. PowerPoint makes it easy to jazz up your pre- work security computer-related health issues. free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Sponsor: Informa- sentations. Get an introduction to what PowerPoint can do. Find out how to create shows. Learn tion Systems. how to use drawing tools, graphics, and create handouts. free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Spon- sor: Information Systems. Monday, July 23 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Rollerhockey. Pickup rollerhockey. See the URL for directions and more infor- mation.. free. Room: Kennedy Elementary School, Cambridge. Sponsor: Pickup Rollerhockey Group. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Mac Tech Partners User Group. free. Room: N42 Demo Center. Spon- 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. MIT Summer Philharmonic Orchestra Rehearsals. George Ogata ’92, sor: Information Systems. founder, music director and conductor. Membership by audition only. Concert on Aug. 4 of 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Rollerhockey. Pickup rollerhockey. See the URL for directions and more Tchaikovskyís Capriccio Italien, Rimsky-Korsakovís Capriccio Espagnol, and Tchaikovskyís Sym- information.. free. Room: Kennedy Elementary School, Cambridge. Sponsor: Pickup Rollerhockey phony No. 4 in F minor. George Ogata is on the faculty of the Longy School of Music in Cam- Group. bridge where he is conductor of the Young Performers Chamber Orchestra, a senior youth 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. MIT Summer Philharmonic Orchestra Rehearsals. George Ogata ‘92, orchestra program of the Preparatory Division. Last summer, the MIT Summer Philharmonic founder, music director and conductor. Membership by audition only. Concert on Aug 4 of Orchestra received a standing ovation for our most memorable performance of Mahler’s Sym- Tchaikovskyís Capriccio Italien, Rimsky-Korsakovís Capriccio Espagnol, and Tchaikovskyís Sym- phony No. 9. free. Room: Kresge Auditorium. Sponsor: MIT Summer Philharmonic Orchestra. phony No. 4 in F minor. George Ogata is on the faculty of the Longy School of Music in Cam- 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Ballroom Dance Workshop. Beginner Ballroom Dance Workshops. $1 for bridge where he is conductor of the Young Performers Chamber Orchestra, a senior youth members, $2 for non-members. Room: visit our website at http://web.mit.edu/bdclub for orchestra program of the Preparatory Division. Last summer, the MIT Summer Philharmonic schedule and location. Sponsor: Ballroom Dance Club. Orchestra received a standing ovation for our most memorable performance of Mahler’s Sym- phony No. 9. free. Room: Kresge Auditorium. Sponsor: MIT Summer Philharmonic Orchestra. Tuesday, July 17 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Ballroom Dance Workshop. Beginner Ballroom Dance Workshops. $1 for members, $2 for non-members. Room: visit our website at http://web.mit.edu/bdclub for 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Learn Chado - The Way of Tea. No class on July 3, 10, or 17. Classes schedule and location. Sponsor: Ballroom Dance Club. July 11, 2001 THE TECH Page 21 SCIENCE &TECHNOLOGY PROFILE he great physicist Isidor Isaac Bob Langer: Quest of Curiosity Rabi once said that, “Science 700 Papers … 13 Books … 80 Academic Honors … One Man is a great game. It is inspiring Life in Langer’s Lab T By James Camp mers “just happened.” He was work- and refreshing. The playing field is CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ing with Dr. Judah Folkman at Har- Langer maintains an “open book Robert Langer is one of those vard on trying to find a new way to policy” (just put your name in his the universe itself.” rare people who seems to do exactly stop blood vessels from growing appointment book and he will see In an effort to bring the MIT community news from the what he wants to. (angiogenesis) in a tumor and hit you), a system which provides each front lines of current research, as well as reports on the His lab is dubbed the “Langer upon the idea of using a porous plas- of his students and researchers equal Corporation” for its success in the tic to release anti-angiogenic factors. opportunity to reach him (and he newest gadgets to hit the market, The Tech presents its new fledgling biotech industry. He tack- This idea has led to a variety of prod- answers his e-mail almost as prompt- Science and Technology section. les problems ranging from finding ucts both inside the Langer group and ly as undergrads). The following pages contain stories on the people and new ways to deliver drugs and bio- in the medical world at large, from Langer is a joint faculty member ideas that expand humankind’s understanding of the world molecules to building tissues in the anti-cancer brain chemotherapy in three MIT graduate programs: lab, and his research staff comes wafers (used to treat TV’s Dr. Green Chemical Engineering (Course 10), as well as analyses of the figures and issues that shape it. from such diverse fields as solid on ER) to implant materials that Health Science and Technology From developments in the realm of particle physics to the state physics, clinical medicine, and secrete factors encouraging tissue (HST) and Bioengineering (BEH). pioneers of the biotechnology revolution, the section will chemical engineering. According to regeneration. Even so, Langer draws students cover the gamut of discoveries and innovations that the Langer, “whatever it takes to solve Langer did not stop there, how- from an even greater variety of world’s scientists think up. the problem, that’s what we’ll do.” ever. Together with Dr. Joseph departments, with ten different dis- And solve problems he has. Vacanti at Massachusetts General ciplines represented in his lab. In addition to spreading the news, the section will also Langer holds around 380 patents, Hospital, Langer started working to When asked which of his three offer a forum for discussion on the science policy issues licensed to almost 80 companies. He combine living cells and biodegrad- departments he feels most at home that affect the nation as well as the planet as a whole. The estimates 30 products, either on the able polymers in an effort to build in, Langer responded “all of them.” current issue, for example, includes a perspective piece on market or in the FDA-approval tissues in the lab. These structures “The role of a graduate student is the controversial energy policy put forward by the current pipeline, have come from technolo- could then be implanted in a patient, to learn,” he said, pointing out that gies developed in his the main difference presidential administration in Washington. Future pieces lab. between a graduate will discuss issues such as federal funding for stem cell Many of these student and an research, the causes and impacts of global warming, as well products involve new undergraduate is as future of science education in schools across the country. types of biomaterials, that grad students As we try to provide a Science and Technology section beginning with have to learn to ask porous plastic their own questions geared toward those with the literacy of “MIT Freshman,” implants for drug before they can go we grapple with the problem of writing for what probably is release, and working about answering among the most scientifically diverse communities in exis- their way into diverse them. “My goal for tence. fields such as DNA a graduate student Along the way, we hope to bring you lectures and inter- delivery for gene is to make that therapy (designing a transition,” he said, views by people who spark our curiosity. In this endeavor, polymer that acts like noting that we welcome your comments, suggestions, and contributions. a virus), “intelligent” successful drug release (a sili- researchers are con-chip system that “able to ask impor- releases precise quan- tant questions.” PERSPECTIVE tities of drugs on pre- Langer wants programmed sched- his graduate stu- ules), and cellular dents to enjoy Fossil Fuels Forever systems (integrating research and to get cells with his new exposed to differ- By Leigh Outten mendations made involve promo- materials to build tis- ent ideas, and tion of nuclear power plant license sues or bioreactor thinks that his lab The problems have all moved to renewal and increased generation at systems). Along the is an excellent the forefront of an emerging public existing facilities. In eager anticipa- way, Langer helped environment for debate. Environmentally friendly tion of deregulation, the nuclear to invent the twin both purposes. He drilling techniques? Soaring energy industry has become amazingly fields of controlled also believes that costs for the American family? competitive in recent years. drug delivery and tis- JAMES CAMP — THE TECH grad students Industrial productivity? California’s The attention nuclear power Professor Robert Langer’s lab is called the “Langer Corporation.” sue engineering. should have the absurd costs for pumping water? receives in the policy is pleasing, While best known for these and after the plastic backbone had opportunity to train and supervise They all seek resolution in Presi- but there’s nothing new to it. highly marketable engineering suc- dissolved away, what would remain other students, and so he encourages dent George W. Bush’s energy poli- Nuclear power has been holding its cesses, Langer insists on a commit- would be living, functional tissue. them to take on undergraduate cy, which takes the “we’ve got own for the past several years, and ment to academia as well. Langer Thus the new field of tissue engi- research assistants. The net result is problems and they should be fixed” this policy recognizes that fact. began his academic life as a chemi- neering began to emerge; and today, a very functional laboratory that approach. Bush’s policy also addresses the cal engineering student at Cornell, scores of research labs and startup produces professors at top-notch Bush’s policy addresses our issue of energy efficiency. The US then went on to do his doctoral companies across the country are engineering schools, engineers at ever-increasing dependence on for- has severely increased energy effi- research in the same field here at currently in a race to produce mar- biotechnology companies, and a eign fuel supplies. In suit with the ciency over the past several MIT. After doing postdoctoral work ketable tissue-engineered products. good number of startup biotech “can-do” nature of the policy, Bush decades. I’m not seeing any new in a medical research lab at Har- Another recent Langer lab inno- firms. has come to the conclusion that we insights from the policy in this area, vard, Langer returned to MIT as a vation, designed by researcher John Undergraduates in the Langer lab can deal with hemorrhaging foreign more of a restatement of our status professor and has spent most of his Santini in collaboration with Profes- always report to a supervising grad oil imports. As well, the probability and small promotions of energy- career blurring the lines between sor Michael Cima, is a chip with student or postdoc, usually on a sub- of more drilling on our home turf friendly equipment. After all, we engineering and medicine. microscopic wells containing mea- project of their supervisor’s research. seems dubious. One thing is clear live in a capitalist society — if ener- Langer sees himself as a dedicat- sured doses of drugs, biomolecules, Some work as many as three or four — home turf drilling won’t happen. gy efficiency saves money, then ed undergraduate educator as well. or even perfumes that can be years in the lab and “hopefully get a In the areas of electricity produc- energy efficiency is what happens. Together with chemistry professor released by applying very small cur- paper or a patent out of it.” Perhaps tion, improved coal-burning tech- I cannot say I am overly pleased John Essigmann, he created the rents. While initial experiments unusual for an MIT professor, nologies are promoted. This is rea- with this new president’s policy, but “Biotechnology and Engineering” have used small numbers of wells Langer’s open-book policy extends sonable in light of the fact that the then I cannot say I am overly unsat- course (5.22J/10.02J), and himself and simple release patterns, Langer even to his undergraduate policy identifies SO2, NOX, and isfied. Realistically speaking, I think created and taught two Integrated and his collaborators predict that researchers. While he encourages mercury as major pollutants. our energy policy is a true reflection Chemical Engineering (10.491) these devices could someday be them to discuss most issues with New technologies would result of our times. modules on drug delivery. His rat- used to run complex drug-release their supervising graduate student, he in reductions of those toxins, but A promotion of coal use will ings don’t let his reputation down programs that are difficult with pills is willing to sit down and talk about have we left out CO2? In order to only cause our finite coal supplies to either, with consistent student eval- and impossible with passive-release research with just about anyone. promote fossil fuels, as this policy dwindle even sooner and perhaps uations in the high 6s. systems like porous plastics. They Perhaps the one drawback of the does, one must ignore the controver- thrust us toward other electrical gen- could even incorporate biosensors to Langer lab is that its success has sial CO2. Of course, in my opinion, eration technologies. Perhaps The Man and His Research respond to biological changes with made it very popular. “We get a huge Americans have been ignoring it for increases in the use of fossil fuel will Three decades ago, before different release patterns. number of applicants,” says Langer, years, but now it’s officially on help us to face our CO2 problem. Langer began work on developing This kind of dreaming seems citing around two thousand requests paper. Due to finite coal supplies We are certainly not ready for large new materials, physicians would use typical of Robert Langer. When a year for graduate and postdoctoral and the reality of CO2’s threat, coal changes in electrical generation, and any material on hand that would asked where his research is going, research positions in his lab. With is not the answer for the future, so this policy reflects that reality. seem to fit the bill: mattress stuffing he rattles off a list of possible pro- that kind of competition to get in, it’s why dwell on it? Leigh Outten is a graduate stu- for breast implants and ladies’ gir- jects. Intelligent drug delivery that really no surprise that so much inno- The policy is also very encour- dent in the School of Nuclear Engi- dle fabric for artificial hearts were would control both amount and vation happens in Langer’s lab. aging of nuclear power. The recom- neering. two of the more ridiculous exam- location of a drug; noninvasive glu- ples. Langer’s first major insight cose testing using ultrasound; gene was that materials science and poly- therapy by designing artificial virus- mer chemistry could be used to es that deliver healthy genes to stem design materials suited exactly to cells; control of cell diffusion in Some people come to MIT for Course 21. the purpose at hand: “We ask the medical implants — and on and on. question, what do you want in a bio- He even mentions a possible col- material?” laboration with the Department of For the rest of us, there’s Science. The first application was to build Earth and Planetary Sciences to polymers that would allow con- control the weather. His only criteri- trolled release of “essentially any- on for a project, he says, is that it be [email protected] thing” in a biological environment. done in a reasonable amount of time But according to Langer, poly- and have a reasonable impact. Page 22 THE TECH SCIENCE &TECHNOLOGY July 11, 2001 BOOK REVIEW Engaging Economic Adventures By Dan Bergstresser their own account. Because Modigliani and the other European STAFF WRITER investors can costlessly undo a faculty were forced from the eco- In almost any economics text- firm’s leverage decisions, these nomics department in a purge led by book, a reader will encounter the decisions do not affect the firm’s none other than the famous football work of MIT Institute Professor and total market valuation. These player Red ‘The Galloping Ghost’ Nobel Laureate Franco Modigliani. Modigliani-Miller papers represent- Grange, who at the time was a Developing and testing powerful ed a leap forward, incorporating trustee of the University. theories of personal saving behavior more solid economic reasoning into Modigliani was the last of the and corporate financial policy, the analysis of corporate financial purged economists to leave Illinois, Modigliani played a large role in behavior. and he left with a blast that was moving economic science from ad- In addition to these three seminal published in the local newspaper: hoc models to firmer foundations. research papers, Modigliani played “Now there will be peace in the Equally striking is the enduring a large role in the development of Department of Economics: The respect and affection that one of the first large-scale macro- peace of death!” That Franco COURTESY BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABS Modigliani has earned from col- economic models. This model was Modigliani does not seem ever to Dr. John H. Marburger III, Bush’s chosen Science Adviser, sits aside leagues and students. In Adventures developed in the 1960s by have been one to mince words is his prized Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. of an Economist, Modigliani dis- Modigliani and other academic part of his charm. plays his considerable economic researchers under the auspices of From Illinois, Modigliani went SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ROUNDUP insight and shows the wit and com- the Federal Reserve Board, and was to the Carnegie Institute of Technol- passion that have earned him the the most important macroeconomic ogy, where he spent eight years in a Bush Names Democrat Science Adviser love of fellow economists in Ameri- model in use at the Fed until the department led by future Nobel ca, Italy, and the world. This book is mid-1990s. In his role as a teacher Laureate Herb Simon. It was during After months without leadership, the U.S. Office of Science and Tech- delightful reading for anybody with at MIT, Modigliani also trained a this period that Modigliani and Mer- nology Policy under President George W. Bush finally has its head, John H. an interest in economic theory or long list of prominent economists, ton Miller developed their theories Marburger III. His appointment as National Science Adviser comes at a policymaking. including MIT’s own Institute Pro- that would revolutionize corporate time when the heated issues of environmental policy and stem cell research Potential readers should be fessor Peter A. Diamond. finance. He paints a memorable pic- are in debate. warned, however, that this book is Adventures of an Economist ture of the Carnegie department dur- The delay in choosing an adviser has been attrib- not quite a traditional ing this period: Science uted to the lukewarm reception received by many in autobiography. Herb Simon eat- the scientific community to invitations by Bush. It is Modigliani moves ing the same Briefs even rumored that MIT President Charles M. Vest was quickly back and lunch of Ameri- considered for the position. forth across standard can cheese on Marburger, a physicist with degrees from Princeton and Stanford, carries autobiographical white bread on the tradition of having a physicist in the post since the days of Eisenhow- material, economic every day in er. What sets Marburger aside from his predecessors is his unabashed dis- theory, and analysis order to save the closure of his political affiliation. Immediately after Bush’s nomination, of postwar economic time spent decid- Marburger introduced himself as a lifelong Democrat. policy in Europe and ing what to have. The nomination now awaits confirmation by the Senate and a month-long the US, and closes Modigliani came background check, neither of which are expected to delay the appointment. with a proposal for to MIT in 1960, Marburger is an adamant supporter of nuclear energy, though his views Social Security where he has on stem-cell research are as yet unknown. reform. Those who been a central What remains unclear is Marburger’s relationship with the White House. prefer to read autobi- figure in an eco- The White House has indicated that the National Science Adviser’s role ographies that have nomics depart- with the President will be mediated through White House Chief of Staff no equations may find ment that Andrew Card. Though that situation isn’t ideal for Marburger, he remains some parts of the includes fellow optimistic that his views will be heard. book tough sailing, Nobelists Paul Marburger, currently the Director of Brookhaven National Laboratory, but for the rest, A. Samuelson achieved national prominence for his role in ameliorating Brookhaven’s Adventures of an and Robert M. safety record and relations with the lab’s neighbors. He also pioneered the Economist makes for Solow. From effort to bring the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider to Brookhaven. rewarding reading. MIT, Modigliani It is useful to start has served as an -Devdoot Majumdar with a summary of advisor to the Modigliani’s contri- Federal Reserve, butions to economic the Treasury, and sciences. The 1985 the Italian Cen- Abnormalities In Stem Cell Clones Nobel award tral Bank, and Scientists at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and the announcement made the second sec- University of Hawaii have determined that cloned genes are often improper- particular mention of tion of the book, ly expressed, even when using embryonic stem (ES) cells, leading to serious three of his contribu- a history of abnormalities later in life. The finding comes at a time when federal funding tions. First came exchange rate for stem cell research is being fiercely debated in Washington. Modigliani’s work on policy starting “These data imply,” the scientists write in their paper, published in Sci- personal saving with the collapse ence, “that even apparently normal cloned animals may have subtle abnor- behavior. Starting of the Bretton malities in gene expression.” with the intuition that Woods era, According to the findings, there is no reason to believe that the genes saving during the reflects his themselves were altered in any way during the cloning process. Instead, working life is moti- wealth of knowl- they found, the manner in which the cloned genetic code was translated into vated by the goal of edge. At this proteins was both unstable and flawed. maintaining a compa- point Modigliani The nuclei ES cells are favored for reproductive cloning over differentiated rable standard of liv- makes the first of adult cells because it is thought that the egg can more readily bring ES cell ing during retirement, Modigliani gives a picture of the man behind his policy prescriptions, that the per- nuclei to the correct developmental stage compatible with embryonic growth. and fellow economist Richard these contributions, and the picture sistently high rates of unemploy- In an interview with Reuters, lead author David G. Humphreys G said, Brumberg developed a well-speci- that emerges is one of a witty, car- ment in Europe must be relieved by “Throughout pregnancy, you find if you use embryonic stem cells as nuclear fied life-cycle model of individual ing man whose dedication to truth old-fashioned Keynesian monetary donors that you have a higher percentage of mice at least making it to birth.” consumption and saving behavior. and to his friends is inspiring. His stimulus. “It’s also easy to imagine that using embryonic stem cells as donors might This model of microeconomic dedication to economics is also The third section of the book, be easier to reprogram back to a state compatible with a fertilized egg.” behavior had important implications awe-inspiring; pages 20 through 43 entitled ‘Italy and Me,’ is primarily for the aggregate economy, and in a of the book are a discussion of Key- a reflection on Italian economic pol- -Shankar Mukherji later series of papers Modigliani nesian economics that would not icy since the 1960s, peppered with outlined and tested these aggregate seem out of place in a traditional reflections on differences between implications. This link from a well- macroeconomics textbook. his adopted and his native lands. specified microeconomic model to The book is divided into three The most striking part of the section B Meson Found to Violate macroeconomic implications was an sections, and the first of these sec- comes when Modigliani relates important leap forward for econom- tions comes closest to traditional how, while being interviewed for Charge-Parity Symmetry ic practice. autobiography. This section Italian TV in 1979, he learned of the A team of over 600 researchers from 75 institutions around the world has The Nobel committee also cited describes his upbringing in Rome, politically-motivated jailing of a found a fundamental difference between the behavior of matter and antimatter. two joint works with Merton Miller where he was born in 1918 and deputy at the Bank of Italy. Working out of the United States Department of Energy’s Stanford Linear in the field of corporate finance. where his father was a prominent Modigliani immediately stopped the Accelerator Center (SLAC), the scientists studied the subatomic particle Taken together, these papers moved pediatrician. After studying law in interview, saying on TV that he known as the B meson and its corresponding anti-particle, the anti-B meson. In corporate finance from the testing of college, Modigliani was forced by would refuse to work further in Italy their series of experiments, the researchers observed that as the two particles ad-hoc models onto firm economic the Fascist persecution of Jews to until the deputy was released and decayed, more matter was left than antimatter. It has been theorized that such a foundations. Prior to the leave Italy for France and then the cleared. phenomenon could explain the prevalence of matter in today’s universe. Modigliani-Merton papers, corpo- United States prior to the Second Particularly striking are his The phenomenon, known as charge-parity violation, has only been rate finance focused on assessing World War. Arriving in New York thoughts on the nature of citizen- observed once before, when Dr. Val L. Fitch of Princeton University and the ‘optimal’ financial policies for City in 1939 with his wife Serena ship; some are deeply moving: Dr. James W. Cronin of the University of Chicago discovered it while firms to follow. Researchers paid and her father’s family, “When a state goes against the con- studying the neutral K meson, or kaon. They later went on to share the 1980 particular attention to assessing how Modigliani’s first job was as a science of one of its citizens, she or Nobel Prize in physics for their work. much firms should pay out as divi- wholesale dealer of Spanish and he has the right to protest and must The B and anti-B mesons were generated by high-energy collisions of dends, and what mix of equity and Italian-language books. At the same have the right to fight against its electrons and positrons, or anti-electrons, in the 1.3-mile particle accelerator debt firms should use to finance time, Modigliani studied economics decisions. Our Fatherland is human- in California. A 1200-ton detector, known as BABAR, recorded how the their operations. under Jacob Marschak at the New ity, friendship, fair play — values particles in question decayed. The Modigliani-Miller theorems School for Social Research, which that stem from deep within the con- According to the researchers, the magnitude of the CP-violation is gener- showed that, given perfect markets, at that time was a haven for intellec- science of each of us and that the ally in line with the Standard Model of particle physics, the general frame- investors are indifferent about both tuals forced by fascism and war to state must respect.” Indeed, for all work which is used to describe the fundamental constituents and forces in types of corporate financial deci- flee Europe. the economic theory, policy, and the universe. sions. For instance, if investors can After completing his PhD in eco- equations, the reader will come Despite the new evidence, most theorists still believe that the degree of borrow and lend at the same interest nomics at the New School, away from Franco Modigliani’s the CP-violation is not great enough to account for all the matter that inhab- rate as the firm, they can undo any Modigliani taught at Bard and at the Adventures of an Economist moved its today’s universe. change in the firm’s mix of debt and University of Illinois. At Illinois most by his human qualities of com- – Shankar Mukherji equity by borrowing and lending on during the McCarthy era, passion, honesty, and wit. July 11, 2001 THE TECH Page 23 As Opening of Simmons Nears, Meals Not an Option By Jeffrey Greenbaum Many Decisions Still Pending STAFF REPORTER Simmons Hall will open with a dining hall and coffeehouse, which Simmons Hall, from Page 1 to find upperclassmen to live in 65% inar rooms can be used for classes the Founders Group believes will enhance the residential dining sys- of Simmons Hall. They believe that during the year, and the multi-pur- tem. After Simmons dining opens, the Dining Office hopes to renovate coffee house, and a dining hall. students will want to contribute to the pose room can be used to host parties. its existing residential dining halls to further develop the MIT under- Although the Founders Group has left history of Simmons and will enjoy Nevertheless, RLSLP designed graduate community. To add diversity to undergraduate dining many of the details of the coffee- the living arrangements of the dormi- the building primarily for students options, the Simmons Founders Group has decided to establish a house and dining hall for Simmons tory. and then for guests. “We have always mandatory meal plan for Simmons residents. residents to decide, it wants to man- Simmons will provide only sin- looked for graduate students’ need Berlin has been discussing several new dining options for residen- date a meal plan for all Simmons res- gles and doubles to its residents. “I first. We looked at other graduate tial dining with the Founders Group. Under consideration are seven or idents. anticipate that we will receive dormitory facilities and duplicated nine meals per week for Simmons, provided that it is financially Simmons Hall has run up an $88 requests from people who will try to the best features of each,” Nilsson viable. “I support the notion of weekend dining, since it is hard to find million construction bill despite an get a single instead of a crowded said. “Our secondary priority is our food at MIT on the weekends,” said Director of Campus Dining initial donation of $20 million from room,” said Manager of Undergradu- summer guests, and we did not make Richard D. Berlin. Richard Simmons ’53. “I am really ate Residential Services Phillip M. any compromises for them.” The Founders Group aims to create a meal plan for Simmons in surprised that it is so expensive and Bernard. Nonetheless, the summer guests order to satisfy a growing demand for meal-based dining. The does not even have air conditioning. “I cannot tell at this point exactly have affected some of The Founders Founders Group and Berlin do not yet know the type of meal plan or 70 Pacific houses twice as many stu- who will want to move into Sim- Group’s decisions. “I feel that if the level of commitment they would like for the plan. Although they have dents and costs only $2 million mons,” Roberts said. “Although Sim- dorm were to be built again for grad- discussed one in which students could pay for a fixed number of meals more,” said former GSC President mons will be on the west side of cam- uate students on a twelve-month per week, the group has concerns that this plan may discourage those Soulaymane Kachani G. pus, I hope that people from east lease, then the present model would without a large subscription to the meal plan from entering the dining “The Simmons Founders Group campus dorms will be interested in not be that model,” Farver said. hall. [therefore] wants a commitment to bringing east campus culture into The Founders Group felt that “I think that MIT students are going to be resistant to any sort of Simmons’ community as well as its Simmons.” they had to make the dorm as com- forced dining plan, even if localized to the residents of particular dining… for financial and social rea- “More people from Next House, fortable as possible for the summer dorms,” said UA Dining Committee Chair LeeAnn L. Henn ’02. “Sim- sons,” said Richard D. Berlin III, New House, and MacGregor might guests even though some graduate mons residents will be just like any other MIT students, and will be Director of Campus Dining. To sup- move to Simmons Hall because they students will appreciate the dorm’s just as busy … so there will be conflicts because of time and distance port the dining hall financially, each are already used to the west campus features as well. “For example, we issues.” resident will be entitled to subscribe walk,” Bernard added. could have made rooms of doubles In fact, neither Berlin nor the Founders Group knows if Aramark to a meal plan that will be added to Nonetheless, RLSLP does not or had people share kitchens,” Farv- will work in Simmons Hall. The dining service’s contract ends after the house bill. believe that fraternity pledging will er said. “Those are less comfortable next year. “It is [therefore] perfectly possible that another food vendor The Founders Group has not yet be negatively affected by the creation options, but they could have lowered will work at Simmons,” Simmons Founders Group member Jeffrey C. decided upon a specific meal plan or of Simmons. “Freshmen will still the rent and made the dorm more Roberts ’02 said. minimum subscription to the meal want to eventually move into the cost-effective.” After completion of Simmons, Berlin believes that the residential plan because they want to see what FSILGs because of the appeal of Although this limits the type of dining halls need to immediately begin renovating in order to help type of meal plans residents would brotherhood,” Bernard said. “People student who can live in the dormito- build the MIT community. “We need to support freshmen moving to prefer. It does believe, however, that will still realize how great the MIT ry, students who participate in some campus,” Berlin said. “I would like to see everybody who lives on- since students will be serving them- FSILGs are.” of the nine month programs or campus have the opportunity to eat at a dorm that’s within a reason- selves and that there is a demand for MBA students will not be affected able geographic proximity.” more meal-based, rather than à la Unique Simmons Design by the summer guests. “MBA stu- “Simmons will serve as a catalyst for a lot of changes that we hope carte dining, then a meal plan is the Simmons will house 350 under- dents intern in their summer and not to make in MIT dining,” Berlin said. After Simmons, Berlin hopes to best solution for Simmons. graduates, the average number of necessarily in Boston,” said develop Next House, Baker, and McCormick and complete renovation Simmons dining will offer an out- freshmen living in FSILGs over the Kachani. of Next House dining by the fall of 2002. door dining section as well as a large past few years. 75% of the rooms will In addition, NW30 will be an “Next House Dining is small for its number of residents,” Berlin menu variety. It will include a grill, a be singles, and the remaining rooms expensive graduate dormitory for said. “The food is pretty good considering what it works with, but it deli, burners, hot entrees, a salad bar, will be doubles. Architect Steven first-years. “The summer guests, who can be doing better.” a bakery, and a beverage section. “I Holl has designed the rooms in will pay a nightly rent for the dorm, Next House has been exploring the option of adding outside dining would like to see numerous food assorted clusters to span the ten floors will help finance the dorm,” Farver- to give its residents a view of the river. In addition, according to Next options, particularly healthy food and of Simmons; each cluster will have said. House President Daniel P Riordan ’02, Next House has been dis- vegetarian food,” Berlin said. “I its own bathroom. As a result, the GSC has sought cussing hiring outside chefs from Boston and local restaurants on an would really like to see residents of Each Simmons cluster will ways to reduce the rent for graduate occasional basis. Riordan feels that if hiring these chefs is financially other living groups eating at Sim- include two to three rooms, a bath- students to $800 per month. “Tang, viable, then it will add a substantial variety of food. mons.” room, and a vestibule entryway. “It the other dorm for first-years, is fairly This year, Riordan was excited to see that Next House dining Simmons’ unique coffeehouse is different from the design of the low in rent, but 224 Albany is more added a means of making stir-fry food and welcomes these changes will be located by the dining hall other dorms,” Roberts said. private and offers more amenities. because “having dining in your dorms where dorm residents can and multi-purpose room. The “The Simmons singles will not be 224 Albany might attract more stu- socialize over all meals contributes to building a residential communi- Founders Group believes that the much larger than those of other dor- dents in progressional programs ty.” coffeehouse will most likely open at mitories,” Roberts said. The ceiling, because they might have more In fact, Next House’s kitchen will be used to prepare Simmons din- the end of dinner and close at 2 AM. however, is expected to measure 9.5 resources and might want the extra ing. “This will lead to a great synergy between Next House and Sim- “We want to supplement the options feet. As a result, the Founders Group comfort,” Farver said. mons dining if they will be working and opening together,” Berlin to nighttime dining at MIT,” said has been exploring various furniture Although the nine-month lease said. “We want to offer these features to these two dorms because of Founders Group member Jeffrey options to take advantage of the high and the costly rent may dissuade their geographic separation from other dining options.” Roberts ’02. ceilings. some who would otherwise live at Renovations to Baker and McCormick dining are in the works to The Founders Group has also cre- In fact, Progressive Architecture NW30, the graduate students are include a greater variety of food options and more frequent dining. ated the coffeehouse as a supplement has already recognized Holl for Sim- excited to see another graduate dorm. Berlin is exploring the idea of reopening Burton-Conner’s dining to the dining hall and multi-purpose mons Hall’s blueprints. These “We prefer a building to nothing,” hall and Walker Memorial for dinner. By opening Burton-Conner and room. “If somebody misses Simmons designs include 8 atria and terraces. said Kachani. “We understand that Walker Memorial dining halls for dinner, “every dorm on west cam- dining, then he can go to the coffee- “There are not many floors which conference guests will bring much pus and east campus will be in close proximity to another [residential] house to buy a prewrapped sub. If a resemble another floor in Simmons in money to MIT and alleviate the great dining hall,” Berlin said. group saw a play in the multi-purpose the designs,” Nilsson said. “Simmons demand for conference housing,” The Dining Office hopes to see a greater sense of community at room, then they could get coffee at is being designed to be a different Kachani said. MIT. “I would like to see students eating at dorms at which they are the coffeehouse,” Berlin said. and unique dorm.” In addition, “undergraduates not residents,” Berlin said. should benefit because they will have With the potential of an intricate residential dining system, Berlin Simmons solicits 2002 residents NW30 hosts confrence guests more summer housing on-campus,” feels that the evening demand for Student Center dining may decrease. The RLSLP office will open Sim- 120 first-year graduate students Farver said. The only current multi-purpose room in the student center is La Sala mons to undergraduate residents this will be living in NW30 on August 16 de Puerto Rico. Therefore, “if the Dining Services closes Lobdell for year on a voluntary basis. “We hope for the start of graduate orientation. 70 Pacific Update dinner, then another multi-purpose room could exist in the Student to keep the same proportion of upper- Each room is a studio single that will RLSLP expects that 70 Pacific Center,” Berlin said. classmen to freshmen which will be furnished. “By adding another will open next year for a maximum of become 65% to 35% in 2002,” dorm to campus, we will be integrat- 750 graduate students living in most- 70 Pacific will also include two because of its sense of community,” Roberts explained. “We also hope to ing more graduate students into the ly singles and some doubles. When retail spaces that will be open to the Kachani said. see an even mix of each class.” campus community,” said Capital 70 Pacific opens, almost half of grad- community as well as to 70 Pacific The Founders Group is currently To foster a community within Projects Communications Manager uate students will receive on- campus residents. “I would like to see one of exploring the idea of housing married Simmons, the Founders Group will Teri F. Weidner. housing. the retail spaces offer food because I students. “Having children will create solicit potential Simmons residents in To ensure that social activities Analogous to Simmons Hall, the know that will please graduate stu- a difficult environment and spouses the fall for house meetings. “We are will occur at NW30, future House- 70 Pacific Street Founders Group dents. The other space can be used will take away from the 750 maxi- trying to promote the idea of starting master Steven R. Lerman ’72 has has designed several unique features as a dry cleaner or a barber shop that mum,” Farver said. However, “if a new community and shaping a selected a few continuing students to to develop a graduate community. both the community and residents there will be two new graduate dorms dorm,” Roberts said. “We are hoping serve on the house government. They include a courtyard, common would appreciate,” Kachani said. then anybody should have the option to find people who are legitimately These students will be paid for the rooms, a multi-purpose room, a Other special features to 70 Pacif- to live in either of them.” interested in creating a dorm charac- position. kitchen, an administrative office, a ic include its large park and parking ter.” NW30 residents will sign a nine- music practice room, a game room, lot. The Founders Group hopes that In these house meetings, the month lease and cannot live in the and a fitness center. “Unlike 224 residents will make full use of the Solution to Crossword Founders Group would like to dis- dormitory during the summer, when Albany, everything about 70 Pacific park to further develop a sense of cuss issues such as dining, ordering the Conference Committee will be is for building a graduate communi- community. It also foresees that its from page 17 furniture, rooming assignments, and using the dormitory for conferences ty,” said Farver, who also serves on residents will greatly appreciate the forming a house government. The and guests. “Twelve-month housing the 70 Pacific Founders Group. parking lot, which will accommodate members of the Founding Group would be ideal, but there is always According to Kachani, because the over 200 residents. Although the have been debating all of the feasible some extra housing in the grad dorms Founders Group hired Senior Real dorm rent has not yet been deter- options for the dorm in preparation during the summer,” said NW30 Estate Officer Treasurer Michael K. mined, “we feel that this dorm will for these house meetings. “We want Founders Group member Jenny Farv- Owu, they were able to add these appeal to many graduate students to run our ideas by the people who er G. features to the dorm and not make will actually be affected by them “We wanted to design the dorm the dormitory expensive. before making decisions,” Roberts so that it would suit the graduate stu- In an effort to open 70 Pacific to said. dents need and be adaptable for the the graduate community, all MIT summer guests,” Nilsson said. As a graduate students will be granted Finding Simmons Residents result, NW30 will have seminar access to its first floor multi-purpose RLSLP and The Founders Group rooms on every floor and a multi-pur- room without having access to the do not foresee that it will be difficult pose room on the first floor. The sem- living space. Page 24 THE TECH July 11, 2001 Media Lab Soldiers Lori Berenson Convicted in Peru By Shankar Mukherji “We can only hope that the process, remain areas of concern.” On With Expansion ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Appeals Court will look carefully at Former MIT student and New what has occurred in this trial and Berenson holds ties to MIT By Rima Arnaout since MIT has been in collabora- York native Lori Berenson has been will reverse the verdict. Meanwhile, Berenson, who was an MIT NEWS DIRECTOR tion with that company for over convicted on charges of terrorism by we will continue our efforts at the undergraduate in the late 1980s, first Despite a snag in negotiations two years. a civilian court in Peru. Berenson, Inter-American Commission for became acquainted with the people with Korea caused by an apparent- who has served five years in the Peru- Human Rights.” and culture of Latin American ly premature Korean newspaper Digital village sees funding cuts vian prison system, could face an The Berensons, who attended the through her work with late anthropol- article, and recent criticism in the Along with the opening of additional fifteen if the conviction is court proceedings in Lima, have been ogy professor Martin Diskin. press over the slow progress of Media Lab Europe earlier this upheld in the appellate proceedings. outspoken advocates for their daugh- Soon after Berenson dropped out Media Lab Europe, MIT will con- year, the Irish government has also A three-judge panel found Beren- ter throughout the six-year saga. In of the Institute, she moved to Latin tinue efforts to create Media Labs launched a $100 million initiative son guilty of collaborating with addition to waging a fierce public America, eventually settling in the in many countries, according to to develop the surrounding area Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Move- relations campaign on her behalf, Peruvian capital Lima in November Media Lab Senior Research Scien- into a digital village. While Irish ment (MRTA) forces with the intent they have created the Committee to of 1994. There she rented a four-story tist Walter R. Bender. funding of Media Lab Europe has to take the entire Peruvian Congress Free Lori Berenson, a non-profit house, which was also inhabited by With its most recent agreement stayed at its original level, the Irish hostage. organization that lobbies lawmakers more than 15 members of the MRTA. to establish a research center in government halved investment in The tribunal, which was careful and disseminates information regard- In November 1995, Berenson was India, the MIT Media Lab is con- the digital village in May, accord- not to brand Berenson an outright ing her case. arrested on charges of treason and tinuing to export its research pro- ing to The Irish Times. “militant,” concluded that she rented was convicted by a military court six jects and personnel around the “In addition to establishing a house in Lima to harbor the Marxist Activist groups drum up support weeks later. The hooded judges who world. Media Lab Europe, the Irish gov- group, purchased computer and com- Human-rights groups and activists presided over the trial subsequently “Things in Korea are at a more ernment set aside some funds to munications devices for the group, worldwide expected the guilty verdict sentenced Berenson to lifetime advanced stage in terms of discus- establish a big technology center and used her press credentials to sur- and have rallied around her cause. imprisonment without the possibility sion than they are at any other around the neighborhood where vey the halls of Congress and help “Some of the facts of her case are of parole. place,” Bender said. However, Media Lab Europe has been built, plan the imminent attack. questionable, but what is beyond Having spent most of the past five Bender also said that the June 21 to use it as a cornerstone to breathe In addition to the 20-year sen- doubt is the unfairness of her original years in an Andean prison cell, article in the Korean Internet pub- new life into that part of town,” tence imposed by the court, which and new trial, which is reflective of a Berenson was granted a new trial last lication Donga.com, announcing Bender said. “The funding for the was the minimum requested by the general denial of civil rights in Peru,” August by a military tribunal in what that Media Lab Asia would be technology center has been cut prosecution, Berenson will be fined said David J. Strozzi G, former presi- appeared to be an effort by an embat- established in Seoul, was “very back somewhat.” roughly $28,000. dent of MIT’s Amnesty International tled President Alberto K. Fujimori to premature … an internal lobbying Media Lab Europe was the first Following the sentencing, Beren- chapter. better relations with the United effort more than anything else.” fruit of MIT’s yearning to create son maintained her innocence. “Lori’s case is symbolic of the States. “We are open to discussing an entrepreneurial research labora- “I’ve been classified as a terror- lack of justice throughout the world. Since then, Fujimori has fled the pretty much everything with every- tory abroad. “Six years ago, we got ist,” Berenson said. “I am not a ter- The U.S. government is supposed to country amidst a corruption scandal, body,” Bender said. The MIT it in our heads to see if the Media rorist. I condemn terrorism, and I protect all of its citizens who are and his adversary Alejandro Toledo Media Lab is already involved in Lab model of combining academia want to reiterate that.” treated unjustly abroad, but instead, it will assume the presidency on July research collaborations with many and research could work at a place In an interview with Reuters, protects those that have a political 28. All throughout, however, Peru- labs around the world, in countries other than MIT. So we began talk- Berenson remained optimistic about pay-off and ignores the rest,” said vian public opinion has consistently like Korea, Mexico, Costa Rica, ing ... people at all levels of gov- being freed before 2015. Aimee L. Smith G, a member of the weighed against Berenson. Thailand, Brazil, Denmark, and ernment, academia, and industry in “This was not a fair trial. It’s all Social Justice Cooperative. Still, her supporters continue to Senegal. In certain countries, MIT different parts of the world,” Ben- based on hearsay, and I think that’s According to the United States fight on. may decide to unify its research der said. insane,” Berenson said. State Department, “There have been “I think the appeals process could collaborations under the Media “We had a few false starts, but “I’m not the monster they make numerous accusations of human bring a change if the US government Lab name. the first, Media Lab Europe in Ire- me out to be. That has to come out rights infractions. Reports of torture, takes an active interest in the case,” Right now, MIT involvement in land, had its grand opening a bit and it may take a while but it will and the lack of accountability and due Smith said. Korea is “more of a research pro- less than a year ago,” Bender said. come out before 2015,” she added. ject rather than anything more than MIT entered into a 10-year con- Meanwhile, human rights groups that, and we’ll see where it goes,” tract with the Irish government to have begun exploring other avenues Timeline Bender said. start and run Media Lab Europe. In by which to free Berenson. Among addition to funding Media Lab the more promising is the possibility 1988 Lori leaves MIT to live and work in Latin America MIT launches Media Lab Asia Europe, Ireland gave $40 million of a presidential pardon from newly- 1995 November 30: Berenson is arrested on charges of terrorism While talks with Korea have to the MIT Media Lab. elected Alejandro Toledo as a gesture 1996 January 8: Berenson is presented as a “gringa terrorista” and been temporarily confused by inac- of goodwill toward the United States. convicted in military court; she appeals the decision curate news reports, the Media Lab Media arts and sciences spreads Toledo, however, has reportedly February–March: Berenson’s subsequent appeals are all has continued its expansion by With the launch of the Open- ruled out any special favors for the rejected by Peru’s Supreme Military Court entering into a one-year explorato- CourseWare initiative, the MIT- American-born Berenson, saying to December 7: Mark and Rhoda Berenson visit their daughter in ry agreement with the Indian gov- Cambridge alliance last year, and reporters in New York that, “[The prison for the first time ernment to establish a 10-year long numerous MIT-industry partner- trial] was open. I’m not a judge, nor 1997 December 5, 10: 52 senators and 175 representatives Media Lab Asia project. ships, one may wonder whether the am I a lawyer, and I am respectful of pledge their official support for Berenson’s quest for a As part of the year-long con- expansion of research labs within the independence of the institutions.” new trial tract, the Indian government has the Media Lab is part of a trend to 1998 October 7: Berenson is moved out of Yanamayo prison for pledged $12 million, $1.7 million franchise that which makes MIT Parents speak out medical tests; she is subsequently transferred to of which goes to MIT. Media Lab unique. Bender, however, thinks Berenson’s parents, Mark and Socabaya where she is held in solitary confinement Asia is “really more of a research that expanding the Media Lab Rhoda, issued a press release imme- December 23: Amnesty International issues an “Urgent project than a lab,” Bender said. abroad is positive for both the col- diately following the court proceed- Action” on Berenson’s behalf “We’re trying to act as a catalyst laborating nations and MIT. ings, blasting what they considered 1999 February 2: Berenson’s period of solitary confinement ends for a lot of activity in India.” “The idea behind Media Lab an unfair decision. after 115 days After Media Lab Europe’s Europe was to see whether we “Even before this trial began we October 14: The Committee to Free Lori Berenson opens its opening earlier this year, MIT can’t infect Europe with the same knew that, as responsible and experi- headquarters in Washington, D.C. received calls from around the spirit of exploring, risk-taking, and enced observers worldwide uniform- 2000 August 28: Berenson’s sentence is nullified and her case is world hoping to recreate the Media fun that the Media Lab repre- ly recognized, a fair trial in Peru on removed from military court jurisdiction Lab in their countries, but MIT sents,” Bender said. terrorism charges in its special civil- 2001 March 20: Peru opens a public, civilian trial against Berenson wasn’t interested, Bender said. Bender also noted the impor- ian court … would not be possible,” June 20: The civilian tribunal convicts Berenson and sen- “But then we got a call from tance of increasing awareness and they wrote. tences her to 20 years imprisonment India. We got seduced by the participation in media arts and sci- scale, the complexity, the chal- ences. MIT created the Media Arts lenge of what we might be able to and Sciences program when it do in India. The idea is not so started the Media Lab and is the Gast Named as New VP for Research much to put together a replica of only university that offers it. what we did in Dublin but instead “We think that media arts and By Nancy L. Keuss “That’s an important focus. The University. Gast’s research involves to think and explore what ... how sciences is bigger than just the ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR job is rather complicated and has sev- exploration of the chemical physics we might get together to structure Media Lab and bigger than just Professor Alice P. Gast, Associate eral important aspects,” Litster said. of colloidal and polymer solutions a research program in India,” Ben- MIT,” Bender said. “To some Chair of the Department of Chemical The vice president and dean for and polymer adsorption. More der said. degree, part of our interest in Engineering at Stanford University, research also deals with academic recently, she has focused her The Media Lab is especially engaging in these sorts of pro- will assume the positions of vice misconduct. research on proteins, using experi- interested in applying new tech- grams” is to spark development of president for research and associate Litster has advised the Provost mental scattering methods and statis- nologies to the developing world. media arts and sciences elsewhere, provost, effective in the fall. that there should be some changes in tical mechanics. “I think the lab tries to find a nice Bender said. “Alice is a renowned researcher, the responsibilities of the vice presi- The co-author of a classic text- balance between short term and “That being said, MIT remains scholar and educator and a tremen- dent and dean for research, as well as book on colloid and surface phenom- long term problems,” Bender said. a special place, and our relation- dous advocate for research,” said in the position of associate provost. ena, Dr. Gast been recognized with “Right now we think there’s a real ship to MIT is really central to Provost Robert A. Brown in “I wouldn't be surprised if those an array of honors, including a need and a real opportunity to how the Media Lab works,” Ben- announcing the appointment. “She two offices will have somewhat dif- Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher focus on the impact of technology der said. will add a wonderful perspective to ferent and increased responsibilities Scholar Award and the Allan P. Col- on the third world.” While the MIT Media Lab the leadership of MIT in these and than they have had in the past,” Lit- burn Award of the American Institute India and MIT have not yet received funding to help start both other important areas.” ster said. of Chemical Engineers. specified a location for Media Lab Media Lab Europe and Media Lab Dr. Gast will be the Robert T. Gast will supervise the Institute’s The valedictorian of her class at India, although Bender said they Asia, both research laboratories are Haslam Professor of Chemical Engi- sizeable inter-school laboratories and the University of Southern Califor- may choose the region in southeast classified as non-profit organiza- neering in addition to her administra- coordinate policy regarding research nia, Gast earned the BSc in chemi- India where ITT India is based, tions independent of MIT. tive positions. and graduate education. Working cal engineering in 1980, and went Professor J. David Litster PhD with Provost Brown on these areas, on to receive an MA (1981) and ’65 will continue to serve as vice she will deal with the budgeting PhD (1984) from Princeton Univer- president and dean for research until process and planning, assignment and sity. Professor Gast arrives on campus. utilization of space at the Institute. A member of The American The Tech News Hotline Financially, about one-third of On matters of graduate education pol- Association for the Advancement of MIT’s research takes place in inter- icy, she will report to Chancellor Science, the American Chemical disciplinary labs and centers that Phillip L. Clay PhD ’75. Society, the American Institute of report to the vice president for Professor Gast, an expert on Chemical Engineers and the Ameri- 617-253-1541 research office. Thus, MIT policies complex fluids and colloids, joined can Physical Society, Professor Gast on research and intellectual property the Stanford faculty in 1985 after was elected to the National Academy are a main focus of the position. earning the PhD from Princeton of Engineering this spring. July 11, 2001 THE TECH Page 25 OpenCourseWare Gets Funded Barnes Recommends OpenCourseWare, from Page 1 Other responsibilities of the that sort of material. The truth is I interim committee include coordi- don’t think anyone knows how posi- More ‘Adult’ Manager ation of OpenCourseWare, together nating communication, both inter- tive of an effect that will have.” with Professor of Civil and Environ- nally and externally, and exploring He also acknowledges that facul- ATO Decision, from Page 1 “Just because you live in a mental Engineering Steven R. Ler- possible partnerships or relation- ty time is a concern. diverse community, it doesn’t mean man ‘72 and Professor of Electrical ships. “I think that is the most impor- the form of instruction. On the other racism doesn’t exist” there, Barnes Engineering and Computer Science “Since the announcement of tant thing in terms of making it hand, he said, since the underage told Billing at the end of last night’s Harold Abelson PhD ‘73. OpenCourseWare, there has been work is to help the faculty put this drinking was a direct violation of hearing. “OpenCourseWare, in some lots of interest in working with us,” on the Web and keep it updated. In the law, and not a first offense, ATO Billing agreed that by living in a sense, is a way for MIT in particu- Yue said. many ways the most precious quali- deserved “negative discipline” in diverse community, “maybe at lar, but the modern higher education Reactions within the MIT com- ty here is faculty time, and there are the form of a suspension. times we become too comfortable, [in general], not to fall into this area munity have been mostly positive, only 24 hours in a day.” Billing spoke about the Speak and we say things we wouldn’t oth- where educational content is viewed despite reservations about the effect The Mellon Foundation, formed Out community forum, which ATO erwise say.” in a monetary way,” Yue said. on the education of students at MIT. in 1969 by consolidating two foun- co-sponsored, as well as the diversi- Victoria K. Anderson ‘02, outgo- Some questioned whether it would dations started by the children of ty symposium and sensitivity train- CLC to watch for improvement ing chair of the Student Committee devalue the MIT education and take Andrew W. Mellon, is known for its ing planned for next year. An additional 10-day suspension on Educational Policies, expressed faculty and staff time away from support of higher education. Other Randolph called events immedi- must be served if the CLC fails to see support for OpenCourseWare. students. areas of funding include cultural ately following the Spring Weekend the fraternity taking “positive steps.” “Our consensus from this past “I think it’s a really good idea,” and performing arts, population, incident “the most educational Barnes recommended that the semester is that if MIT is going to Kelly N. Zimmerman ‘04 said. “It’s conservation, and the environment moment” in the time he had been at suspension not coincide with rush spend time and money on this, it with good intentions, but I’m also and public affairs. MIT. He added that alcohol is “an based on testimony from Billing should benefit students in some curious as to what is going to hap- “There are quite a few grants issue we’re grappling with” and detailing the importance of rush to way,” Anderson said. “We believe pen to the current MIT students. we’ve made in recent history that asked the CLC to “give us a chance the fraternity. that in the current proposed for- Why bother to pay the $30,000 have to do with higher education and to continue that process.” Additionally, Barnes recom- mat, OpenCourseWare will benefit when you can get it for free?” Zim- technology,” Associate Program “That’s what we did the first mended that ATO and the Office of the students, as we will have merman is the new chair of the Stu- Officer of the Mellon Foundation time,” Barnes said. the Dean for Student Life look into increased access to information, dent Committee on Educational Saul Fisher said. “OpenCourseWare finding a “more adult [house] man- the ability to better ‘shop’ classes Policies. is the latest and greatest in this line.” Commission discusses racism ager.” Billing is 22 years old. before the semester starts, and a Redwine fends off suggestions The Hewlett Foundation, found- Billing contended that no racial George S. Gluck ‘02 said ATO chance to remain part of the schol- that the MIT education will in any ed in 1966 by William R. Hewlett slurs were shouted from the also retains an older resident advis- arly community at MIT after we way be devalued. and family, also funds many educa- roofdeck. er, Thomas J. Klemas ’92. graduate.” “The essence of [an MIT educa- tional ventures. Its funding empha- “There were four or five African MIT is expected to follow the tion] is what happens on campus, sis is on performing arts, population Americans of the 24 or 25 people on “Expecting far worse” key recommendations that a task working together with faculty and issues, the environment, conflict res- the roofdeck” that day, Billing said. Randolph called the CLC’s sanc- force recently submitted. Headed by each other. What would people olution, family and community “If something had been said, they tion “a reasonable outcome.” Yue, the task force suggests that a think if we charged them our tuition development, and US-Latin Ameri- would not have stood by” and done “I’m grateful it wasn’t more seri- professional, centralized organiza- and sent them a large box of books? can relations. nothing. ous,” Gluck said. “I was expecting tion administer OpenCourseWare. In some ways, OpenCourseWare is “We think it’s an important Billing added that one person far worse.” An executive director, ideally an analogous to that box of books,” he experiment with the way universi- who used the word “black” had “I’m content,” Billing said. “I outside professional with manage- said. ties deal with their intellectual prop- apologized immediately and been feared the worst, even though I feel ment and administration back- Many look to the introductory erty,” President of the Hewlett reprimanded. we deserved the best. Now I’m ground, would head the project, and computer science class, Structure Foundation Paul Brest said. “What Racism is “not a problem I’d ready to move on and to do all the report to a faculty director, like an and Interpretation of Computer Pro- this will look like ten or twenty imagine us having,” Billing said, things we said we were going to do, Associate Provost. grams (6.001), to see what Open- years from now ... who knows? But pointing out that minorities com- to prove that they’re not just Another task force recommenda- CourseWare will be like. The course we think this is a very promising prise about 40 percent of the chap- words.” tion involves making OpenCourse- Web page features lectures, lecture direction.” ter. Ware centralized but with “strong slides, problem sets, projects, the Many find that benefits to those relationships” to departments and textbook, and all course informa- outside MIT are the true reason for schools. Liaisons would be assigned tion. the project. Yue believes that many to each but will not be independent Meredith L. Gerber ‘04, a 6.001 faculty support the project in part MIT Sues Over Magazine of the central organization. student this past semester, believes because it “appeals to the moral An interim management com- putting material for more classes higher ground” by forgoing any mittee, responsible for the search online “would be really helpful. I attempts to commercialize on the Trademark Infringement and hire of the executive director wouldn’t have to carry around x- information. and other top managers, is in place. pounds of books. I could just find an “If MIT sets a good standard and The committee, which is eyeing top Athena terminal.” model of how to do it, other people Suit Names AOL Time Warner Company information technology executives, Redwine agrees, saying, “We will follow,” Yue said. “Then we By Eric J. Cholankeril alumni subscriptions. should complete its hiring within hope and expect this will make it will have truly changed the land- MANAGING EDITOR “Technology Review is trying to several months. possible for all or almost all to have scape.” MIT has filed a lawsuit against stand on its own as an independent an AOL Time Warner company in enterprise,” said R. Bruce Journey, U.S. District Court in Boston over CEO and publisher of the MIT the use of its Technology Review magazine. “Our objective is not Leading Private Colleges trademark in a new magazine. monetary damages at all but rather Wellesley The complaint names Time Inc. to protect our trademark and pre- and CNET Networks, Inc. as vent confusion in the market- Adopt New Guidelines for defendants, charging them with place.” Sophomore “trademark infringement, famous After informal discussions with mark dilution, unfair competition, executives at Fortune, a cease and Dies at ATO Awarding Financial Aid and violation of desist letter was sent to Time Inc., FROM UNIVERSITY WIRE dents of divorced parents who have Massachusetts Gen- the publishing division of AOL ATO Death, from Page 1 MIT joined with 27 of the remarried. Schools that previously eral Law.” Time Warner. When Time nation's most prestigious private considered the assets and incomes In January, For- Inc. refused to President George S. Gluck ’02. colleges and universities in of both parents and stepparents will tune magazine and change “Our hearts go out to her friends announcing an agreement last Fri- now only consider the financial sta- CNET announced the and family as well as to all others day on new financial aid guide- tus of two adults. the joint publica- title, affected by this tragedy.” lines aimed at better calculating The new guidelines are expect- tion of the For- MIT In an e-mail addressed to the and fulfilling students' financial ed to take effect within a year. tune/CNET reacted by MIT community, President Charles need. The agreement comes in Technology filing a M. Vest urged community mem- The agreement comes after two response to a belief that commit- Review, a lawsuit in bers to be “caring and alert. We years of discussion among the 28 ment to need-based aid has been biannual spe- June. Nixon must be willing not only to provide college presidents on ways to con- threatened by competition between cial issue of Peabody or seek support for other members trol "bidding wars" between peer top-tier schools to attract the most Fortune LLP is the of our community but also to recog- institutions for the most talented desirable students with merit-based magazine law firm rep- nize when we ourselves need help students. scholarships, said John Burness, which first resenting MIT in handling the complexities of Schools committing to the new senior vice president of Duke Uni- hit news- in the case. life.” guidelines include Stanford, Yale, versity. stands in “We feel we The resources of MIT Medical Cornell, Columbia, and Wellesley. "The principle is that aid should June. have a very are available to everyone, including "In all too many instances, aid be awarded based on the student's For- strong case,” summer boarders, in a “crisis situa- is going to the squeakiest wheel, need more than any other factor," merly Journey said. tion,” according to Randolph. rather than to the neediest stu- Burness said. pub- “We’re just a small MIT fraternities commonly rent dents," said President Charles M. The new guidelines are expect- lished business trying to rooms in their houses to summer Vest in an interview with The New ed to decrease the amount of as the Fortune do its thing, but boarders, including students from York Times. "By adopting a con- money families are asked to con- Technology Guide, the we’re going up nearby colleges. There are currently sensus approach to need analysis tribute in most cases and increase Review has a circulation of against a four-hun- about 25 people staying at ATO, … we will assist families in under- the amount of grant money as well 1,200,000, including all of For- dred-pound gorilla.” including ten members of the fra- standing and comparing our institu- as need-based aid awarded, Bur- tune’s North American subscribers “MIT believes that the com- ternity and five other Wellesley stu- tions." ness said. and CNET’s registered users. plaint speaks for itself,” Karin dents. Under the new guidelines, the Two notable absences from the MIT has owned the trademark Rivard, counsel for the Technolo- Randolph said that the Insti- method used to calculate a student's agreement are Harvard and Prince- “Technology Review” since Octo- gy Licensing Office, said. tute’s relationship to summer family contribution would take into ton, both need-blind schools. ber 1958, when it was registered Bill Stephen, publisher of the boarders is one that will have to consideration factors like cost of "They felt that some of the pro- with the US Patent and Trademark Fortune/CNET Technology be re-evaluated, as it is currently living and rising property values. visions of the consensus would be Office by the Alumni Association Review, declined to comment on “virtually nonexistent.” According to a report released by less advantageous for their students of MIT. The trademark was last the lawsuit. Regardless of whether MIT is the 28 schools' presidents, only than what they already do," said renewed by MIT’s Technology Technology Review publishes responsible for individuals renting home equity that does not exceed Henrik Dullea, Cornell's vice presi- Licensing Office in April of 1999, ten times a year. While it focuses rooms in private residences affiliat- 2.4 times a family's income should dent for university relations. "For for a 10-year period. on “promoting understanding of ed with the Institute, Randolph said be considered in calculating need. instance, Princeton is no longer Technology Review has been in emerging technologies and their that at MIT, “we ask what needs to The agreement also has provi- considering home equity at all." publication since 1899 and by next impact,” the magazine also be done before we ask what we’re sions for parents who are not cov- (By Elizabeth Taylor – The January will have a circulation of includes a section containing MIT responsible for.” ered by retirement plans and stu- Daily Texan, 07/09/01) 300,000, of which 80,000 are news and alumni class notes. Page 26 THE TECH July 11, 2001 New Chancellor Discusses His Vision for Institute By Pey-Hua Hwang doors and hand out the keys and do that by moving them on campus. feel that this is an intrusion. How with the increasing percentage of STAFF REPORTER expect everything to just be there. The Tech: How will the chan- do you plan to get over this hurdle graduate students in the population, Phillip M. Clay PhD ’75 has The Tech: Have you worked cellorship differ from other posi- of some initial antagonism? and that more and more of them are assumed the MIT chancellorship, with former Chancellor Bacow on tions you’ve held in the adminis- Clay: I think it’s important to married. More are masters students following the July 1 departure of past issues? tration? listen to students to see what the as opposed to PhD students, and Lawrence Clay: Well, Larry and I joined Clay: This position is more concerns are. I think many stu- more and more of them are viewing S. Bacow faculty at about the same time in student-centered. When I was dents view the dormitory and the their graduate education as more Interview ’72 to the same department, so we’ve Associate Provost and department area across Massachusetts Avenue than grinding deeper and deeper become known each other for many years, head [of the Department of Urban as a different world. That side of into some narrow subject. That’s a president of Tufts University. The long before either of us came to Studies and Planning], I dealt Massachusetts Avenue is faculty cultural change. There are changes Tech sat down with Clay to dis- the administration. We go way mostly with faculty. I was the control, and this side is student and there will be others. The ques- cuss his vision for the MIT com- back. head of a masters degree pro- control. And I’d like to break that tion is whether we take some munity. The Tech: Do you view any gram, so my dealings there were up a little bit. I think there has to responsibility in taking advantage The Tech: What first interested certain issue as a main focus under predominantly with graduate stu- be a way for students to learn from of societal changes or whether we you about this position? your chancellorship? dents. The biggest change for me faculty, and getting together is not sort of sit back and let the hidden Clay: I guess the thing to say is Clay: My main job is to contin- personally is more work with an invasion, and it’s not an imposi- hand shape the changes — whether that I’ve always valued the oppor- ue the implemenations of the Task undergraduates. tion. The faculty feel comfortable we manage change or become tunity for service. I didn’t really Force on Student Life and Learn- The Tech: Associate Dean for making themselves available for hostage to it. campaign for the job, but I was ing. I’ve reread the mission princi- Students Robert Randolph has said student activities, and students feel The Tech: I assume you’re a very honored by the opportunity ples recommendations that have that he believes every student comfortable inviting faculty in. proponent of managing change. and am taking it with great excite- now been out there for three or should leave MIT having truly This is all about invitations. The Clay: Well, of course, other- ment. four years, and I still think that gotten to know at least one profes- trick is engineering the invitation wise MIT is wasting its money The Tech: Bacow was highly that’s the game plan for those of us sor. What are your thoughts on and faculty flexibility. We have to paying me. The same goes for involved in restructuring the resi- who work in campus life. I would this? work at it. It’s not going to happen deans. We can’t just have someone dential system. Will you continue add that the same kind of attention Clay: I would say it ought to be spontaneously. I have to figure out who just sits back and makes sure this involvement? the task force has given undergrad- two or three. These lifelong rela- how to get it to happen apparently the bills are paid and doesn’t get Clay: There’s a plan in place uates should extend to graduate tionships are important, and they spontaneously... food helps. too deeply engaged in task forces for the physical changes in the sys- students. I want to make it very are real. Over the course of their The Tech: Do you see the and committees and just lets things tem. All of that will continue. The clear that student life means gradu- time here every student will have freshmen physics program expand- happen. challenge in the next year is to ate students as well. at least forty professors, and you ing into other programs? The Tech: How would you develop the programs to build up The Tech: How do you plan to would think that you would know Clay: We have a number of encourage graduate-undergraduate the support for the softer side of keep graduate rent low? at least one of them, even four or grants looking for other ways to interactions? the system. Clay: The whole purpose of five, relatively well — well promote student learning. There are Clay: That’s one of the areas The Tech: What do you mean developing housing for graduate enough to remember you after the going to be lots of experiments. where we really do need to manage by the softer side of the system? students is to provide some relief class is over. Some will get to Some will work, and some won’t. it because we have the case of the Clay: By softer side I’m distin- — to provide affordable, depend- know you well enough to write an They will be similar only in the fact MEng program where there has guishing from bricks and mortar able housing. I cannot say that rents intelligent two paragraphs, to help that they will be experiments, inno- been some question of whether the and focusing on the programs in are going to be cheap, but what I with jobs, or to give career advice. vative, creative. The emphasis ought fifth-year student is a graduate or the implementation of the system. can say is that they will be under One of the saddest things I read in to be on experimentation. We’re undergradute. I think we need to The Tech: So you’re referring our control and not under the con- The Tech was a student who I encouraging experimentation. take a look at that. We can proba- to dealing with more of the people trol of the market. I wish I could knew… he wrote a column in The Tech: So, in the long term bly take a lesson from programs issues? say that they were going to be which he basically said that he did- what do you see as the MIT of the that have had lots of masters stu- Clay: That’s right. That’s what cheap, but I can’t. We will set the n’t know a single faculty member future? dents in the past. I mean by the softer side of the rent with a full understanding of well enough to count on a very Clay: If you asked me about The Tech: Is there anything system. Bricks and mortar have a what resources the graduate stu- good letter. In practice, we need some feature of MIT ten years ago, else that you would like to let the very limited role in shaping the dents have. And the rent is only one ways to get more informal interac- I would have said, “Naw, that MIT community know? community. part of the picture. We have, for tion between students and faculty, would never happen,” but the task Clay: I think I’ll hold off on The Tech: In regards to the example, increased graduate especially in the Institute environ- force really monitors cultural that. I’ve had a number of conver- new Simmons Hall, do you plan to stipends. We want to make sure that ment, where both students and fac- change and issues under pressure. sations with Larry [Bacow], but hold meetings with students? they aren’t at the mercy of the mar- ulty are overscheduled and over- One of these would be the graduate I’ve yet to talk with much of the Clay: Basically, I have to plan ket. Another aim of graduate hous- burdened. student. Before, when I was gradu- faculty and regular students or stu- for next year when the residence ing is to provide graduate students The Tech: This informal inter- ate student, being a graduate stu- dent leaders. I’ll be getting quite hall opens. I know we have a with a basis for student life on cam- action was one of the goals of dent was like a job. We’ve gone an education before orientation, house master in place. I’m excited pus. I want to support student life putting faculty in residence halls, well beyond that, and I believe and I’ll probably have something about it, but we can’t just open the for graduate students, and we can but there are many students who we’ll go farther. This has to do more to say then The Other Cambridge: A Reporter’s First Impressions
By Kevin R. Lang not for economic or political rea- system, fridge, toolboxes, and every- before. A college as small as Corpus night is unheard of at MIT (at least NEWS EDITOR sons, but just to get a break from thing else that fills my MacGregor is more family than community, with my circle of friends and where I never planned on going to the weather. Still, during the bus single to the gills — my new 15’ by albeit dysfunctional at times. Within I live). My choices at MIT were Cambridge — it just sort of hap- ride up to Cambridge I started to 18’ room with 12’ ceilings felt days I knew every face, if not every always between work, UROP, and pened. How I got there is not terri- appreciate the beauty of the Eng- absolutely empty. Even the location name, and England began to feel like The Tech. At Cambridge, work was bly rel- lish countryside, once I got over was almost surreal, with a postcard- home. I would always be “the Amer- a given, so choices fell to which evant, the novelty of driving on the left perfect view of the courtyard and ican” to those who didn’t know me drink, which club, and which party. Reporter’s but the (i.e. wrong) side of the road. college chapel. I could only laugh very well, but my friends often for- I wouldn’t go so far as to call Cam- fact Rain or shine, Cambridge is later on when friends complained got that I was only there for a year. bridge a party school, but com- that I truly a beautiful city. The River about getting “small” rooms, since pared to MIT, Cambridge looks Notebook had Cam runs beneath centuries-old the smallest room in college still A different sort of firehose like Mardi Gras all year long. never bridges, past fields of daffodils, dwarfed my room at MIT. I was disappointed with my first (Except during exam term, of considered the possibility of going and manicured lawns of colleges As I explored town the next week of lectures — where was all course, but that’s another matter before I was invited is. I had no founded by kings. The architecture day, I tried not to let myself be the work? Where were the killer entirely.) I made up for two years idea what to expect, and thus my blew me away, especially when I overwhelmed by history — my problem sets? Not to mention that of lost time very, very quickly. first week in Cambridge gave me first set eyes on King's College college’s 14th century courtyard the problem sets weren’t even My first impressions of Cam- true first impressions. This is my Chapel. Any one of the magnifi- was once home to Christopher graded! Fortunately, just when I bridge were somewhat contradicto- first attempt at putting them into cent Gothic or Anglo-Saxon col- Marlowe, and still houses under- began to wonder if I had made the ry, but nothing seems out of place in writing, some nine months after lege courts or chapels in Cam- graduates today. I felt like a wrong decision, I started to row. retrospect. I found myself in one of first setting foot in England. bridge would be a renowned tourist, possibly because my col- And hit the clubs. And have fun — the greatest universities the world landmark if it stood alone, but lege predated the Declaration of in the middle of the week, let alone has ever known, walking amongst English weather sucks King's is the Eiffel Tower of Cam- Independence by a good 400 years. the middle of the term! This was a beautiful chapels and quaint court- This was my first thought as I bridge. It's the first image that English students are much better at revelation to me. I could scarcely yards, studying with the best and flew into Heathrow through heavy comes to mind for tourists or coping with history. My second believe that I had time for five brightest from England and every clouds and light rain, leaving would-be tourists, but those who day in Cambridge I went out drink- classes, crew, and two, three, corner of the globe. I was just too behind a week of sunny New Eng- live there see much, much more. ing with a bunch of math majors sometimes four nights of pubs and busy having fun to really notice. land skies. Though I rarely and they certainly didn’t prattle on clubs each week. All without punt- Author’s note: This is the first in encountered torrential rain, and Settling in about Newton, although they did ing a single lecture or problem set. a series of Reporter’s Notebooks on snow was almost nonexistent, I'd After a lunch of fish and chips in introduce me to the beauty of a I think I actually put more time into the Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI). estimate that 80 to 90 percent of a nearby pub, I unpacked until jet warm pint of proper English beer. my problem sets and labs than most Future articles will address issues my days in Cambridge were rainy lag set in. My room was almost too Yet as more and more students Cambridge students, out of MIT- such as academics, housing, student or at least overcast. I'm convinced big. Lacking my normal MIT fur- arrived, I found myself welcoming induced habit if nothing else. But life, athletics, alcohol, and other that England established colonies nishings – computer, home theater back old friends I had never met to go out drinking on a Wednesday topics relevant to MIT life.
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This space donated by The Tech July 11, 2001 THE TECH Page 27 Image and Meaning: POLICE LOG A New Context for The following incidents were reported to the MIT May 19: Sailing Pavilion, wallet containing credit Campus Police between May 11–31, 2001. This sum- cards stolen; New House, annoying phone calls; Hay- mary contains most incidents reported to Campus ward Lot, male taken into custody on an outstanding Police but does not include incidents such as medical warrant; two other males arrested for trespassing; Communication shuttles, ambulance transfers, false alarms, and gen- Purrington Street, individuals issued trespass warning. eral service calls. May 20: Ashdown House, noise complaint; West- By Joel Rosenberg ferent approach. May 11: Bldg. E56, stolen computer, $3,500; gate Lot, car stereo stolen $300, larceny; Student Cen- Advisory Board Sally Duensing, a director at Bldg. E23, various items stolen, $135; Bldg. E51, ter, $300 cash stolen; Albany lot, two-way radio Sir Roger Penrose, renowned The Exploratorium in San Francis- stolen laptop, backpack and other items, $2,700; out- stolen from swap fest; Bldg. 50, suspicious individu- physicist and mathematician, took co, showed images of science side of Bldg. N52, assist Cambridge Police with an als; Bldg. NW61, report of two homeless people. the first turn at responding to six museums from around the world to altercation. West Garage, motor cycle helmet stolen, May 21: Student Center, 1) suspicious activity; 2) images illustrate how the physical layout $280 and vandalism to motorcycles, Pacific Lot, sus- stolen wallet, $10; 3) backpack stolen $300; 3) stolen present- and design of a space provides the picious individual. backpack; Bldg. 13, suspicious person; Stata Center, Reporter’s ed to the context for how people perceive it. May 12: Kresge Oval, suspicious activity. suspicious activity; Bldg. 54, breaking and entering; panel The theme of The Exploratorium: May 13: Boston, 1) Sigma Phi Epsilon, noise Bldg. E40, stolen bicycle, $500; Audrey Street, ’90 for dis- perception itself. complaint; 2) 518 Beacon Street, noise complaint; Toyota stolen later recovered in Boston; Bldg. E17, Notebook cussion And Cindy Faber-Smith, design Bldg. 14, bicycle stolen, $180; Cambridge, Phi Beta vacuum stolen, $296; Westgate lot, vehicle broken at last director for the journal Science, Epsilon, noise complaint; West Lot, report of a suspi- into and stereo stolen. month’s Image and Meaning Con- even began to explain how the cious person, individual was gone on arrival of offi- May 22: Bldg. NW61, suspicious activity; Bldg. ference. He interpreted the pictures context in which we perceive our- cers; McCormick Hall, loitering person sent on their 10, hack — sign put on dome; West Garage, motorcy- of a mushroom cloud, a fetus, and selves can influence what we way; Ashdown, person entered room and looked cle helmet stolen, $150; Bldg. 7, stolen wallet, $50. Watson and Crick as reminders of believe we’re capable of. She said around while victim was victim was in suite; Green May 23: Bldg. 64, suspicious activity; Bldg. W32, the social issues raised by science. that scientists call her daily regard- Hall, vandalized motor vehicle; Student Center., bicy- 1) jacket stolen, $60; 2) jacket, wallet and watch He said that a photo of the Earth ing their images for the magazine, cle stolen, $140. stolen $220; Bldg. 18, suspicious person; Bldg. W32, over the lunar horizon, while a saying, “I’m not a creative per- May 14: Bldg. E51, laptop stolen, $3,570; Bldg. larceny. great technical achievement, son.” Since they tend to be open to 35, vacuum stolen, $298; Bldg. E52, audio visual May 24: Boston, Lambda Chi Alpha, Boston Fire reminds us that the basic scientific experimentation, she often gets equipment stolen, $50,000; Bldg. 1, laptop stolen, Department requests residents playing with fire extin- research that got us to the moon in them to iterate drawings from a $1,700; MacGregor, bicycle stolen, $400; Bldg. 9, guishers cease activity; McCormick, report of annoy- the first place must not be over- scribble into a full illustration. stolen computer, $4,000; Student Center, jeans jacket ing phone calls; Westgate Lot, CD/stereo player shadowed. And he took an illustra- This problem of self-limiting per- stolen $60; Bldg. W92, suspicious activity; Bldg. stolen $200; Bldg. W32, $150 cash stolen; Bldg. tion of the evolution of man and an ception, she explained, begins W31, suspicious activity; Bldg. W32, disturbance; NW16, suspicious person; Bldg. 9, $85 bike stolen. image of brain activity as when we share our drawings as Bldg. 26, suspicious person. May 25: McCormick, stolen box of t-shirts, $550; reminders that given how little we kids and get asked, “What is this?” May 15: Bldg. NE43, stolen bicycle valued at East Garage, suspicious activity; Student Center, sus- understand of ourselves, we can’t When what we draw begins to not $600; Bldg. 36, small fire in trash barrel; Bldg. 54, picious person; Bldg. 18, laptop stolen $2,600; believe that we’re the pinnacle of look like what we want, we start suspicious activity; Bldg. E15, suspicious person. May 26: Cambridge, Theta Delta Chi, noise com- life. believing that since we’re not May 16: Kresge auditorium, suspicious activity; plaint; Baker, malicious destruction of property; Stu- Susan Sontag, renowned essay- artists, we shouldn’t be drawing. Bldg E15, stolen digital camera, $456; Student Cen- dent Center, purse stolen, $500; Random Hall, Clif- ist and novelist, went next, and And our beliefs can be a pretty ter, tools stolen approximately $2,100 worth; Edger- ford Bonvie arrested for possession of narcotics. interpreted Sir Roger’s “shallow” limiting context. ton House, stolen bicycle, $150; Westgate Lot, car May 27: Bldg. E55, suspicious activity; Pacific interpretations as a “very normal Susan Sontag, it turns out, fit broken into and attempted larceny of same, Amherst Annex Lot, suspicious activity. response” to the “celebrity” into the conference perfectly. She St., vehicle plate stolen. May 28: Student Center, bike bag stolen $30, lar- images, which she called “the was the educated intellectual who May 17: Bldg. W13, noise complaint; Bldg. 10, 1) ceny; Bldg. E56, suspicious activity. visual equivalent of sound bites.” proudly professed scientific igno- suspicious activity; 2) hack of a banner across roof; May 29: Boston, Delta Upsilon, noise complaint; It was an interesting point. rance, a huge problem, as pointed Kresge Lot, attendants’ booth window broken; Chapel Student Center, larceny; Bldg. 13, person sleeping in Sontag, a self-proclaimed “sci- out by Cornelia Dean, science edi- moat hack, a sailboat and shark were in moat; Bldg. basement; Bldg. 18, plywood stolen, $960 and past entific ignorant,” was criticizing tor for The New York Times. But 32, suspicious activity; Bldg. 37, suspicious person; larceny of plywood valued at $1,500; Albany Garage, the selection of these famous she was also the perceptive critic, Bldg. E52, bicycle stolen, $400; Edgerton House, suspicious person; Bldg. E52, suspicious activity; images that even she recognized. arguing for new images, new report of homeless person; Purrington Street, report of Bldg. 14, stolen bicycle, $950; Bldg. E20, refrigerator And in doing so, she was challeng- thinking, and more meaningful two homeless people; Stata Center, suspicious activi- and insulation stolen $350. ing the purpose of the conference context than the “false pretense” of ty; Pacific Lot, syringes found. May 30: Bldg. 1, suspicious activity; Bldg. 10, itself, which Boyce Rensberger, the panel discussion. At a gather- May 18: Bldg. 35, suspicious activity; Brookline, malicious destruction of property; Bldg. W51, larce- one of its co-chairs, explained was ing of preachers and the choir, she Zeta Beta Tau, noise complaint; Boston, Delta ny of jewelry, $700. “to stimulate thinking on the part was the heretic. And that’s the Upsilon, noise complaint; Sloan Lot, hubcap stolen; May 31: Bldg. E17, suspicious person; Bldg. of scientists, photographers, illus- image whose meaning remains to Random Hall, suspicious activity. NW61, hypodermic needles found. trators and writers on how to make be seen. more use of the powerful new imagery coming out of science.” The images were powerful, but certainly not new. And Sontag did- n’t think they stimulated much in Penrose, or in herself for that mat- ter. But the images shown to the panel were an anomaly at the con- ference, most of which Sontag did- congratulates n’t attend. The presentations over the three days in Kresge did stimu- late thinking among a diverse group of people who make their Gregory Kuhnen and Camelia Turcu living either doing or communicat- ing science; much of the imagery shown was powerful and new. From microscopy to mathematics, molecular modeling to the movies, and museums to the mass media, people shared their latest experi- ence with images in their work, and how it is helping their under- standing. Sontag just saw the con- ference out of context. And con- text was the real point of the conference. By having images as the focus, journalists and scientists were freed from their usual topic of how Cãsãtoriile the former can make the work of the latter understandable to the public, and scientists were able to sunt talk across disciplines about how they can borrow imaging tech- niques from each other to use in scrise interesting new ways. With an unusual context for the meeting, there was an unusual setting for în cer. new associations to be made. Within the presentations of the conference, context was often an important theme. Benoit Mandel- brot, the Yale mathematician for which the most famous fractal set is named, claimed that he dislikes legends for his images because having them “spoils the whole story.” But Philip Campbell, editor of the journal Nature, stated his belief that some visualizations “do GABOR CSANYI—THE TECH’ well with a caption.” Different Camelia Mariana Turcu ’01 and former Tech photography editor Gregory Farrell Kuhnen ’01 married audience, different context — dif- amongst friends and family at the North Congregational Church in Woburn, Mass., June 16. Page 28 THE TECH July 11, 2001 SPORTS Revolution Fall to Wizards, Break Unbeaten Streak By Ming-Tai Huh Wizards score first CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Wizards’ Chris Klein scored in The visiting Kansas City Wiz- the 66th minute for his second goal of ards snapped the New England the season. The unmarked St. Louis Revolution’s five-game unbeaten native received a pass from double- streak with a 2–1 victory at guarded forward Gary Glasgow on Foxboro Stadium last Saturday, the right side of the Revolution’s goal July 7. box. Klein beat Revs goalkeeper Fer- Midfielder Chris Brown scored nandez one-on-one with a shot over in the 91st minute to put the Wiz- the head of the kneeling Bolivian. ards safely up 2–0 with only four Kansas City coach Bob Gansler minutes left. Revolution’s Jay was very pleasant about the win, Heaps slid between the goal and especially coming back from an Brown on the breakaway. Charging embarrasing 7–0 loss to Chicago out of the net, Revs last week. “It was goalkeeper Jose good that we got Fernandez con- back in the saddle fronted Brown with ‘The ball is not here.” Gansler a dive on the right bouncing our way.’ commented on side of the goal Brown’s goal from box. Brown fell to —Revolution coach the ground, “It’s the ground from the way the ball the Heap’s tackle Fernando Clavijo rolls.” The Wiz- at the place of the ards (7–9–1) will loose bouncing face the Dallas ball. Fernandez, out of reach and Burn next Saturday back at home at outside the net, gave way for Arrowhead Stadium. Brown to push the ball into the empty net. Revolution 0–1 on homestand Revs captain and defender The Revs are 3–2–2 at Foxboro Mauricio Wright had no intention Stadium and 1–6–2 on the road. The of being shut out by the Wizards. loss to the Wizards starts a three- The Costa Rican native moved up game homestand on a slow note. to forward and scored just two min- Next Saturday’s game is against the utes after Brown’s garbage goal to D.C. United (5–10–1), who are make the score 2–1. Revs midfield- coming into Foxboro with a two- er Johnny Torres, substituted for game losing streak. Shaker Asad in the 80th minute, played the ball to Wright nine yards “Gato” Fernandez making stops out on the right side of the Wizards’ The Revolution added Jose Car- net. Wright wasted no time and los “Gato” Fernandez of Bolivia to one-timed the ball to left side of their roster on June 27. Since Juer- Wizards’ goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi. gen Sommer ruptured his left “The ball is not bouncing our achilles tendon, the Revolution have way,” said Revolution coach Fer- been looking to deepen their goal- nando Clavijo (4–8–4). “The keeper position. Fernandez last defense played well, nothing to do played with Cordoba of Spain with the goals.” The game ended before coming to MLS. The Boli- with a loss for the Revs, but Coach vian goalkeeper made his starting Clavijo was not upset. “We did debut against Dallas on July 4 in a extremely well as a team, except 1–1 tie, making 9 saves. Fernandez MING-TAI HUH—THE TECH for putting the ball in the back of added 8 saves to his total against New England Revolution defender Mauricio Wright jumps over Kansas City Wizards forward Roy Lassiter the net,” said Clavijo. Kansas City. for a header on Saturday, July 7.
Hispanic Heritage Night at Foxboro Stadium
The New England Revolution announced July 9 that it will host the team’s first-ever Hispanic Heritage Night on Tuesday, July 17 when the Revs take on the Los Angeles Galaxy at 7:30 p.m. at Foxboro Stadium. The Revolution will help celebrate the diversity and culture of the New England Hispanic community with an evening full of events. Fifty local Latino community members will be honored with a half-time presentation as well as a pre-game reception. The Revs Soccer Celebration area will open two hours prior to kick-off as Latino music groups “Centro Latino de Chelsea,” the “Colombian American Cultural Society,” the “Tango Society of Boston,” and “Mistura de Raza” will perform. Hispanic Heritage Night will feature vocalist Veronica Robles singing the National Anthem and a Youth Recognition Ceremony before kickoff. Fans will be able to enjoy Latino food and Spanish announcements before and during the match. Complimentary Soccer Video Fans attending Hispanic Heritage Night will receive a free MLS “Golazo,” a video highlight tape of Hispan- ic MLS players.
MING-TAI HUH—THE TECH Kansas City Wizards Kerry Zavagnin, left, and Mike Burns, right, battle the New England Revolution’s Shaker Asad, center, for the ball on Saturday, July 7.
MING-TAI HUH—THE TECH New England Revolution goalkeeper Jose ‘Gato’ Fernandez punts the ball during Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Wizards on July 7.