MIT’s The Weather Oldest and Largest Today: Partly cloudy, 68°F (20°C) Tonight: Chance of rain, 41°F (5°C) Newspaper Wednesday: Afternoon showers, 60°F (16°C) Details, Page 2
Volume 125, Number 22 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Tuesday, April 26, 2005 UA Senate Concert Causes Disputes, Still Entertains By Brian Loux forming Breathe and Baby off his Leadership STAFF REPORTER newest album Real Talk, in addition Despite a number of concerns to some songs off his earlier two regarding the tardiness of both fea- albums. Lloyd Banks spent much ture performers that occasionally more of his time dialoguing with the Bill Passed spilled over into disputes, the Spring crowd, but performed G-Unit hits Weekend Concert featuring such as Stunt 101 and Soldier. By Marissa Vogt Fabolous and Lloyd Banks was able The crowd filled approximately NEWS EDITOR to entertain and enthrall the modest- one-quarter of the Johnson Athletic The Undergraduate Association sized crowd this weekend. Center, including the seats. While Senate approved a bill last night to According to Chris Barber of final tallies of ticket sales have not establish and fund the Student Gov- Pretty Polly Productions, the event been completed, Spring Weekend ernment Leadership Conference Ini- planners for Spring Weekend, Committee Chair Cindy X. Yuan tiative. The bill will make available Fabolous was scheduled to perform ’06 said that an estimated 1,400 $20,000 for sponsoring UA atten- at 9:15 p.m. Friday night but did not tickets were sold for the concert. dance at national leadership confer- go onstage around 9:40 p.m. Lloyd This number is on par with the ences, $5,000 of which will come Banks was scheduled to perform at results from the concerts of the past from the UA Reserve Account and 10:40 p.m., but appeared onstage two years, though concerts three $15,000 of which is a donation from around 11:20 p.m., about ten min- years ago and earlier occasionally the Office of the Dean for Student utes before the anticipated closing attracted crowds as large as 3,000. Life and the Chancellor’s Office. time for the concert. UA Senator from Fraternities The crowd occasionally booed in Lateness, behavior causes stir John R. Velasco ’05 sponsored the disapproval as the waits between the The late arrival of Banks raised BRIAN HEMOND—THE TECH bill. He said the funds will be avail- acts sometimes stretched past half concerns, as it appeared unlikely Encouraging the audience to respond to his music, hip-hop artist able for a period of two years for an hour. Some people left before that the group would be able to Lloyd Banks holds his microphone in the air while the crowd echoes members of the UA to attend Banks appeared as midnight drew complete its contract to perform a his lyrics back during the annual Spring Weekend concert, held last national conferences, which can closer. 50 minute set. However, tardiness Friday, April 22, in Johnson Athletic Center. See photos, pages 8–9. cost up to $1,000 per person. Still, the frustrations of the was not the only issue to cause con- of G-Unit arrived after 11:00 p.m. ately let in, and this angered Banks Velasco attended such a confer- crowd seemed to melt away once cern backstage. with three girls the sources believed and his group to the point that they the two headliners appeared on According to sources close to the to be “underage.” According to the UA, Page 12 stage. Fabolous opened first, per- concert, Banks and other members sources, the girls were not immedi- Concert, Page 15
Newly Elected Undergraduate Association Senate Officers Nearly All Senior Segue Applicants Are Accepted and Representatives By Jenny Zhang offered to graduate students and the Dean for Student Life Larry G. Anthony E. Gray, project direc- Speaker NEWS EDITOR three students who were not assigned Benedict said that although Senior tor for the graduate assignment Andrew T. Lukmann ’07 Eighty-one juniors entered the to their original preferences. Segue will eventually be phased out, process, said that although the grad- Senior Segue housing lottery for the the schedule has not been deter- uate community understands that Vice Chair 2005–2006 school year, and 78 Timeline for phaseout uncertain mined. He said it would be run for the Senior Segue program is part of Ali S. Wyne ’08 were assigned graduate housing, The Senior Segue program, at least one more year, but beyond a broader goal “which helps to sup- said Denise A. Gray, assistant direc- which gives undergraduates the that, its existence is uncertain. port the Institute’s goals,” there is Representative to the tor for undergraduate housing. opportunity to live in graduate hous- The issue, Benedict said, is that the universal understanding that Coordinating Committee As in previous years, the numbers ing for their senior year and guaran- although Senior Segue participants graduate housing is for graduate stu- Andrew S. Clare ’08 of available rooms were determined tees them graduate housing the fol- have generally been very satisfied dents, and Senior Segue is going to before the lottery. All available Sid- lowing year, was first implemented with the experience, graduate stu- be phased out. Representative to the ney-Pacific and Warehouse slots in the 2002–2003 academic year. dents feel that it takes already limit- He said that graduate student Finance Board were filled, but many from Tang The original intention was to use it ed housing away from them. demand for MIT housing is higher Hans E. Anderson ’08 Residence Hall and Ashdown House as a temporary solution to crowding “Senior Segue is not going to be were not. These open rooms will be in the undergraduate dormitories. here forever,” he said. Senior Segue, Page 13 Philip Morrison MIT NEWS OFFICE MIT Institute Professor Emeritus Philip Morrison, a distinguished theoretical astrophysicist and interpreter of science and technology for the general public, died Friday, April 22, at his home. He was 89. A member of the Manhattan Project who went on to become a vocal critic of the nuclear arms race, Morrison was widely known for his research and professional contributions in quantum electrodynam- ics, nuclear theory, radiology, isotope geology, and, since the 1950s, in cosmic-ray origins and propagation, gamma-ray astronomy, and other topics in high-energy astrophysics and in cosmology. “The world has lost one of the major voices of social conscience in science. For more than 50 years, since his involvement in the develop- ment of the first atomic bomb, Philip Morrison has been a leading par- ticipant in the efforts to control and eliminate nuclear weapons,” said Charles Weiner, MIT Professor Emeritus of the History of Science. “He was a dear, dear person whose impact was not just on MIT, but on the world,” said Weiner, who has been working to document Morrison’s life through archival materials and oral-history interviews. A member of the MIT faculty since 1964, Morrison has held the rank of Institute Professor, the highest honor awarded by the MIT fac- ulty and administration, since 1973. The title is reserved for those who have demonstrated exceptional distinction by a combination of leader- ship, accomplishment, and service in the scholarly, educational, and general intellectual life of the Institute or wider community. OMARI STEPHENS—THE TECH He was among the first scientists (in 1959) to call upon the professional Nirav B. Shah G poses a question to Kevin A. McComber ’05, chair of the Student Advisory Com- community to begin a coordinated search for interstellar communications using mittee to the Task Force on the Undergraduate Educational Commons, about the committee’s a microwave search. His many publications and speeches, beyond research and preliminary report. Last Friday, McComber and Christopher A. Suarez ’06 discussed the report at the Experimental Study Group’s Friday lunch. Morrison, Page 10
SPORTS Comics MIT Hosts Coed Invitational World & Nation ...... 2 Opinion ...... 4
Page 16 Page 6 Page 2 THE TECH April 26, 2005 WORLD & NATION Oil Output is Main Topic as Bush Deadly Japanese Train Crash Meets with Saudi Leader By Richard W. Stevenson THE NEW YORK TIMES CRAWFORD, TEXAS. May Be Due to Excess Speed President Bush discussed the surge in oil prices with Crown By Norimitsu Onishi a train car and rushed her to a hospi- apartment buildings often stand sev- Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Monday, but focused on an exist- THE NEW YORK TIMES tal. eral feet away from railroad tracks, ing plan by the Saudis to increase their oil-pumping capability over TOKYO The condition of the driver of the the same way elevated subway the next decade rather than on any short-term efforts to bring prices The packed commuter train that train, which was carrying about 580 tracks and apartment buildings stand down immediately. crashed into an apartment building passengers, could not be confirmed. only several feet apart in certain The two leaders talked for three hours here at Bush’s ranch, trying in western Japan on Monday morn- Officials at West Japan Railway neighborhoods in New York City. to restore some normalcy to a relationship that has been tense since ing, killing at least 71 passengers Co., which operates the line, said at Trains usually run with such pre- the emergence of Saudi terrorists’ role in the Sept. 11 attacks. Bush and injuring well over 400 more, a news conference that they had yet cision that riders can plot complex and the crown prince discussed a variety of issues, including the may have been speeding to make up to determine the cause of the acci- itineraries on Web sites, secure in Arab-Israeli conflict, fighting terrorism, a trade deal, and Bush’s call for a brief delay, survivors said. The dent. Investigators, however, were the knowledge that they will not for more democracy in the Middle East, and the men made every authorities here described the train focusing on the driver, an inexperi- miss connections because of delays. effort to portray the relationship as back on track. accident as the deadliest in four enced 23-year-old man who had Survivors of Monday morning’s Bush even held the crown prince’s hand, a traditional Saudi sign decades. been reprimanded once during his crash and witnesses told television of friendship, as he guided Abdullah up the steps through a bed of The train had been running 90 11 months on the job. networks that the train’s driver, bluebonnets to his office, the very picture of Saudi-American interde- seconds behind schedule. Five of its The officials said that the speed Ryujiro Takami, appeared to be pendence. seven cars derailed at about 9:20 limit at the curve was 44 miles per speeding just before the accident. a.m. at a curve in Amagasaki, a sub- hour, and that derailments could At a station called Itami, on the urb of Osaka. The survivors said the occur at speeds over 83 miles per way to the site of the accident, the Russia is Following Its Own Path train seemed to have been speeding hour. But they said they did not driver overran the platform by 26 as it approached the curve. know exactly how fast the train was feet and was forced to back up. Last To Democracy, Putin Declares The first two cars slammed into a running and surmised that other fac- June, Takami had been reprimanded By C. J. Chivers nine-story apartment building just tors, including pebbles on the for overshooting a platform by 328 THE NEW YORK TIMES 20 feet from the tracks, with the tracks, might have contributed to the feet. MOSCOW front car hurtling into a first-floor accident. On Monday, he apparently failed After facing months of criticism for Russia’s crackdown on free- parking garage and the second car “They must respond to this firm- to negotiate the curve and braked doms and its concentration of presidential power, President Vladimir twisting itself around a corner of the ly in order to prevent future acci- suddenly, tossing passengers around V. Putin said on Monday that encouraging democracy was the main building. dents,” Prime Minister Junichiro inside the cars. The first two cars task before the nation and that human rights, freedom and a secure Rescue workers continued to Koizumi said. jumped the tracks about 200 feet business climate were essential for the health of the state. comb through the crumpled wreck- The accident shook Japan, which from the building, struck a passen- In his annual address to parliament, Putin offered a vision that at age, trying to extricate four passen- has one of the world’s most compre- ger vehicle in the way, and eventu- times, and on the surface, appeared to embrace the language of some gers trapped inside the first car and hensive railway networks; most ally hit the building, though injuries of his most prominent critics. believed to be alive. Early Tuesday, people in urban areas commute by inside the building appeared limited “The main political and ideological task is the development of they rescued one — a seriously train. In Japan’s densely built urban by the fact that the first car crashed Russia as a free and democratic state,” he said. injured 46-year-old woman — from and suburban areas, houses and into the parking garage. He seemed to try to calm the uneasy private sector by saying that “tax agencies have no right to terrorize business,” a reference to the effort to collect vast sums in back taxes from companies, which has caused consternation abroad and a flight of capital from On His First Official Day, Pope the country. Afghan Tribal Leader Arrested, Expresses Support for Muslims Linked to Vast Heroin Ring By Elisabeth Rosenthal gions. A man who previously talked the Lord: ‘Don’t do this to me! You By Julia Preston THE NEW YORK TIMES about creating a purer, smaller have younger and better men, who THE NEW YORK TIMES ROME Roman Catholic Church was talking can do this work with different An Afghan tribal leader designated by the Bush administration as On his first official full day as about offering Catholicism to the verve and strength.’” one of the world’s most wanted narcotics dealers was arrested this pope, Benedict XVI on Monday world. A man whose previous pub- Then he said, with a sigh, “This past weekend in New York, federal authorities announced on Mon- reached out for the first time to lic face was stern and remote turned time he didn’t listen to me.” day. Muslims, saying he was “grateful” funny, personal — physical even. Benedict, formerly Cardinal The leader, Haji Bashir Noorzai, is accused of building a multi- for their presence at his investiture Comparing being elected pope to Joseph Ratzinger, has been a con- million-dollar heroin trade through an “unholy alliance” with the Tal- ceremony and hoped for a “growth being beheaded by a guillotine, he servative fixture of Vatican life for iban, the former fundamentalist Islamic regime in Afghanistan, of dialogue between Muslims and said he had prayed during last more than two decades as chief of according to an indictment unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Christians” at local and international week’s conclave of cardinals that he the church’s office for doctrine, the Manhattan. levels. would not win the job. Congregation for the Doctrine of He is charged with importing more than $50 million in heroin There were many such surprises “As slowly the balloting showed the Faith. Many liberal-leaning from Afghanistan and Pakistan to the United States and other coun- during Benedict’s public appear- me that, so to speak, the guillotine Catholics have worried about what tries. In 2004 the administration added him to its roster of internation- ances on Monday, giving the world would fall on me, I got quite dizzy,” his reign would be like. But as has al narcotics kingpins. At a press conference on Monday, John P. its first glimpse perhaps of the prior- he told an audience of 5,000 Ger- become increasingly clear in the Gilbride, the special agent in charge in New York for the Drug ities and style that will define his man pilgrims Monday morning. “I days since his election last Tues- Enforcement Administration, called Noorzai the “Pablo Escobar of papacy. had thought I had done my life’s day, his priorities as pope are likely heroin trafficking in Asia,” comparing him to the Colombian cocaine A man who had been widely work and could now hope for a to be broader and more outward lord who was killed in 1993. criticized as a narrow-minded the- peaceful end of my days. looking than those of the cardinal ologian reached out to other reli- “So with deep conviction, I told he was. WEATHER Rainy Roller-Coaster Situation for Noon Eastern Daylight Time, Tuesday, April 26, 2005
By Nikki Prive 130°W 125°W 120°W 115°W 110°W 105°W 100°W 95°W 90°W 85°W 80°W 75°W 70°W 65°W 60°W STAFF METEOROLOGIST 40°N April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
◗ Memory and desire, stirring ◗ ◗ Dull roots with spring rain. ◗ ▲ 35°N —T. S. Eliot ▲
▲
▲
Today will offer a brief respite before another period of rainy weather ▲
▲ midweek. Any lingering showers should clear out this morning, with partly ▲
cloudy skies in the afternoon. Temperatures will approach 70°F, except ▲ along the immediate coast, where the sea breeze will keep things chilly. On 30°N Wednesday, a low pressure system will bring showers and possibly a few
thunderstorms during the evening, with potential for as much as an inch of ▼ ▼ rain. Skies will clear out later in the week, with daytime temperatures near ▼ 60°F. ▼ ▼ 25°N ▼ ▼ Forecast ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Today: Slight chance of showers in the early morning, partly cloudy. High ▼ ▼▼▼ near 68°F (20°C). Tonight: Chance of rain late. Low near 41°F (5°C). Wednesday: Showers likely during the afternoon, cloudy and breezy. High Weather Systems Weather Fronts Precipitation Symbols Other Symbols near 60°F (16°C). Rain tapering off after midnight with a chance of an Snow Rain Fog evening thunderstorm. Low near 45°F (7°C). High Pressure Trough - - - Showers Thunderstorm
Thursday: Partly cloudy and breezy with highs in the lower 60s°F (16°C). ◗ ◗ ◗ ◗ Warm Front Light Low Pressure Haze Overnight low near 45°F (7°C). ▲▲▲▲▲ Cold Front Moderate Compiled by MIT Friday: High in the upper 50s°F (14°C). Hurricane ◗ ◗ Meteorology Staff ▲ ▲ Stationary Front Heavy and The Tech April 26, 2005 WORLD & NATION THE TECH Page 3
Chicago Police Arrest Fourteen San Diego Mayor Resigns By John M. Broder THE NEW YORK TIMES On Connections with Murders SAN DIEGO The mayor of San Diego, Dick Murphy, caught up in federal By Monica Davey ment, “After so many years, it lifts brother, Michael, who were buried investigations into the city’s finances and questions about his political THE NEW YORK TIMES the veil of secrecy and exposes the alive in an Indiana cornfield. (Joe legitimacy, announced Monday that he was resigning, effective July CHICAGO violent underworld of organized Pesci portrayed a character based 15. The names read like a who’s crime.” on Tony Spilotro in the 1995 movie Murphy, 62, is less than five months into his second term, which who from some faded blotter left While arrests of organized crime “Casino.”) he won in a disputed election last fall over a largely self-educated behind at the Chicago Police figures are hardly unique in a city The authorities here say the environmental activist and self-described “surfer chick,” Donna Frye, Department’s old State Street head- where Al Capone once worked, indictment, which was returned by a member of the San Diego City Council, who ran a last-minute quarters: Joey “the Clown” Lom- rarely have so many of its reputed a federal grand jury on Thursday write-in campaign. Within minutes of Murphy’s statement, Frye bardo, Frank “the German” high-level leaders been charged all and unsealed on Monday, was years announced her intention to run again. Schweihs, Frank “Gumba” Saladi- at once or has the entire “Chicago in the making. The FBI called its The City Council can appoint someone to serve all or part of the no, and on and on. Outfit” been officially deemed a inquiry “Operation Family Secrets,” rest of Murphy’s term, which runs through 2008, or set a special elec- But on Monday, 14 of these criminal enterprise under federal and agents from the FBI and the tion for November. In the meantime, the interim mayor will be accused Chicago mobsters, includ- racketeering laws. Internal Revenue Service began Deputy Mayor Michael Zucchet, a member of the City Council who ing several who have for years been “This really lays out the whole arresting the accused in Illinois, is under federal indictment on charges that he received payments reputed to be in the city’s top level continuing criminal enterprise that Florida and Arizona on Monday from a Las Vegas strip-club owner in exchange for a vote to relax the of organized crime leaders, were is still going on,” said Thomas morning. no-touching rule at San Diego’s topless clubs. being rounded up in connection Kirkpatrick, president of the Chica- The indictment reads like a Zucchet’s trial is scheduled to begin next week. He said he with 18 murders that stretch back go Crime Commission, a nonprofit grade school textbook on Chicago’s expected to be cleared of all charges. over four decades and had gone anticrime group created in 1919 by organized crime web, laying out its “I’m confident that there will be a recognition that this was mad- unsolved and, in some cases, had Chicago business leaders who were command structure (a boss, an ness by the U.S. attorney,” Zucchet said. been nearly forgotten. increasingly worried that it could underboss and crew bosses), its Several of the accused are in become too dangerous to conduct business endeavors (absurdly high their mid-70s now, and one, though legitimate commerce in this town. interest loans, sports bookmaking Mysterious Viruses, only 59, was found dead, apparent- “People tend to forget what and video gambling enterprises), ly of natural causes, when the these guys are about,” Kirkpatrick and its methods of avoiding the As Bad as They Get authorities arrived on Monday to said. “They watch ’The Sopranos’ police (listening to police radios, By Denise Grady arrest him in the hotel room where or some of these movies about the talking on pay phones and using THE NEW YORK TIMES he lived. A few of the others mob, and they think it’s just some remote control devices to keep UIGE, ANGOLA accused, meanwhile, had moved colorful characters. The thing is, away from actual murder scenes). Traditional healers here say their grandmothers knew of a bleed- away, to places like Florida and they’re still doing this. These char- Among those indicted were men ing disease similar to the current epidemic of hemorrhagic fever that Arizona, better known for retire- acters are still doing this.” the authorities say guided three of has killed 244 of the 266 people who have contracted it. The grand- ment. Among the most notorious mur- the city’s crucial neighborhood mothers even had a treatment for the sickness, the healers told Dr. Describing the 9-count, 41-page ders the authorities say they have “crews”: James Marcello, 63, of the Boris I. Pavlin of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But racketeering conspiracy indictment solved with Monday’s announce- Melrose Park crew; Frank Cal- the remedy has been lost. The old disease was called kifumbe (pro- as putting a “hit on the mob,” ment: the 1986 death of Tony “The abrese Sr., 68, of the South nounced key-FOOM-bay), the word in the Kikongo language for Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the U.S. attor- Ant” Spilotro, the organization’s Side/26th Street crew; and Lombar- murder. ney here, said in a written state- chief enforcer in Las Vegas, and his do, 75, of the Grand Avenue crew. But kifumbe did not seem to be contagious. And so, Pavlin said, though he did not doubt it was real, it was probably not the same as the disease in Uige today. The current disease, caused by the Mar- burg virus, is contagious. Like the Ebola virus, to which it is closely Some U.S. Security Agents Chafe related, it is spread by bodily fluids like blood, vomit and saliva. No one can say for sure what kifumbe was, and in some ways the Marburg virus is almost as mysterious. More than a month has passed Under Imposed Speech Limitations since it was identified as the cause of the deadly outbreak here — the largest Marburg epidemic on record — but some of the most basic By Eric Lipton Department of Homeland Security. The case may end up serving as questions about the epidemic have yet to be answered. How and THE NEW YORK TIMES Terreri, who was suspended a test of restrictions imposed on when did this rare virus get here? Why have so many victims been WASHINGTON from active duty in October after workers throughout the Department children? And how could so many have become infected before the It would be natural to expect sending a personal e-mail message of Homeland Security, whose rights disease was recognized? that, as president of an employee to another air marshal that was criti- to speak out publicly are often com- association that represents more cal of a colleague, picked up his promised, employee leaders say, than 1,000 federal air marshals, badge and gun Monday after being because of excessive concern over Andersen Proposes $65 Million Frank Terreri would be a reasonably told that he would soon be back the possibility that their comments outspoken guy. patrolling the skies. might compromise public safety. Worldcom Settlement But since Terreri became associ- Four days earlier, the American “They are abusing the power By Jonathan D. Glater ation president two years ago, he Civil Liberties Union, filed a lawsuit they have under the guise of nation- THE NEW YORK TIMES has been effectively prohibited by on Terreri’s behalf in U.S. District al security,” said Shawn Moran, Arthur Andersen, the once-venerable accounting firm, has agreed the rules of the Federal Air Marshal Court in Riverside, Calif., claiming vice president of National Border to pay $65 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit brought by Service from speaking in public that the department was violating Patrol Council local in San Diego. investors who bought WorldCom stocks and bonds before the compa- about airline safety matters. That his free-speech rights and jeopardiz- The rules given to air marshals ny filed for bankruptcy protection in 2002. means he has never been quoted in a ing public safety by preventing are quite explicit. A 2002 employee According to the terms of the proposed settlement, Andersen, in newspaper article or written letters agents from serving as a whistle- policy statement says they may not addition to the cash payment, would give the investors 20 percent of to the editor or to members of Con- blowers. “criticize or ridicule” the agency any amount it paid to distribute its remaining capital to its present and gress outside his district. “He has serious concerns about “by speech, writing or other expres- former partners. These limitations — based on a policies that he believes threaten the sion,” and they may not “address Andersen, whose 2002 conviction on obstructing the Enron inves- ban imposed on all federal air mar- effectiveness of the federal Air Mar- public gatherings, appear on radio tigation led to its demise as an accounting firm, would also pay the shals to keep them from speaking shal Service that make us more vul- or television, prepare any articles difference between the $65 million and any larger settlement in any about their work without explicit nerable to another 9/11-type attack,” for publication” or release any other lawsuit it may settle in the future — in essence guaranteeing permission — set off a feud last said Peter J. Eliasberg, a civil liber- information about it unless explicit- that members of the WorldCom class would receive as much down year between Terreri and the mar- ties lawyer representing Terreri, 38, ly authorized to do so by manage- the road as other claimants. shal service, a division of the who lives in the Riverside area. ment. This provision, which lawyers called a “most favored nation clause,” is unusual in these kinds of settlements and suggests that the plaintiffs were not sure how much money Andersen had available. Senate Finance Committee is Divided “What this says to me is they pleaded poverty; they pleaded that they have all these other liabilities out there,” said Dan L. Goldwass- er, a lawyer in the New York office of Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz. “It seems like a reasonably small settlement, considering On Social Security Overhauling Plans the size of the losses in WorldCom, which were monumental.” By Robin Toner personal friendships across party vate accounts, would have to and David E. Rosenbaum lines and a membership that include lower benefits, higher taxes THE NEW YORK TIMES includes some of the last remaining or both. General Motors Issues Recalls WASHINGTON centrists in the Senate. Over the Three of the four plans include After months of political maneu- years, on issues from revamping the individual or private accounts. For More Than Two Million Cars vering, presidential campaigning, tax code to restructuring Medicare, Robert Pozen, an investment com- By Jeremy W. Peters advertising and ultimatums, the 20- “they’ve always been able to go into pany executive from Boston and a THE NEW YORK TIMES member Senate Finance Committee a back room and get things done,” supporter of private accounts, is DETROIT plans to start grappling this week said former Democratic Sen. John scheduled to testify about his pro- General Motors issued several wide-ranging recalls on Monday with overhauling the Social Security Breaux of Louisiana, who was a posal, viewed with interest by the involving more than 2 million vehicles, including some of its most system. longtime member of the panel. Bush administration, to improve the popular and profitable sport utility vehicles, the Cadillac Escalade, So far, the committee has proven But Bush’s private accounts may program’s solvency by focusing GMC Yukon and Hummer H2. to be just about as divided — and be the ultimate test for a committee benefit reductions on wealthier The largest recall covers 1.5 million pickups and SUVs with stalled — as the Senate at large. that prides itself on being above the retirees. defective second-row center seat belts. GM told the National High- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa., partisan wars. Even as the panel prepared for way Traffic Safety Administration last week that the belts fasten too the chairman of the committee, says In a hearing on Tuesday, the its hearings, Democratic leaders high above a passenger’s hips and increase the risk of injury in a somewhat ruefully that most of his committee plans to showcase the were holding rallies in New York crash, particularly to smaller passengers. In a letter to the safety committee members simply wish political arguments of both sides. on Monday and planning another administration, GM said the defect could expose passengers “to more the issue would go away. Instead, Four experts on Social Security outside the Capitol on Tuesday to risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.” with the Senate expected to go from outside Congress were invited highlight their opposition. While The recall was voluntary, and GM said it knew of no injuries before the House on Social Security, to present their plans for achieving Democrats were planning staunch resulting from the defective belts. The safety administration is not Grassley’s committee could play a “sustainable solvency,” which opposition on Social Security, Sen. investigating the matter. decisive role in President Bush’s means that the system would remain Harry Reid, D-Nev., was thought to The recall, GM’s largest this year, involves 2003 through 2005 drive to create private investment in balance after 75 years. Grassley be readying a proposal to allow models of the Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab, Suburban, Tahoe and accounts in the government pension called the hearing, a member of his votes on some judicial nominees if Avalanche; the Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT; program. staff said, to illustrate that any Republicans pull back from plans the GMC Sierra Crew Cab, Yukon XL and Yukon; and the Hummer The committee has a long tradi- changes to strengthen Social Securi- to change rules to prevent fili- H2. tion of bipartisan deals, with close ty financially, with or without pri- busters. Page 4 THE TECH April 26, 2005 OPINION Letter To The Editor young people vote for the wrong causes, so that don’t line up with economic realities,” I Chairman Baldasaro’s Circular they must be confused, and that younger vot- think Mr. Baldasaro suffers from shaping his Jina Kim ’06 ers are ignorant, so their causes must be opinions to justify a misperceived social reali- Logic Flawed wrong? ty. Editor in Chief Nick Baldasaro’s opinion piece [“If If the rest of us suffer from “ideologies Katherine Rorschach ’05 Kathy Lin ’06 You’re Over 40, And You’re Not Conserva- tive …,” April 22] is complete nonsense, Business Manager because it is based on the equation of political Lucy Li ’06 experience with political interests. Creating policy requires the former, but voting only Errata Managing Editor requires the latter. The 18–25-year-old popu- Tiffany Dohzen ’06 lation has legitimately different political inter- ests than the 45–50 year old population, which A headline and article printed on Friday [“RIAA Sues 22 Dorm Residents For is part of why it votes differently. Sharing Copyrighted Songs”] referred incorrectly to the 22 MIT IP addresses listed by NEWS STAFF In addition, I was impressed by Mr. Bal- the record industry in a copyright infringement lawsuit. One of the 22 addresses — News Editors: Beckett W. Sterner ’06, Kelley dasaro’s refusal to let logic prevent him from from MIT's “virtual private network” remote access service — may not belong to a Rivoire ’06, Marissa Vogt ’06, Jenny Zhang ’06; making any argument he likes. According to dormitory resident. Associate Editors: Kathy Dobson G; Staff: him, the younger population is ignorant both Michael E. Rolish G, Waseem S. Daher ’07, Ray because they don’t vote and because they are The article “With Memories of Victory, Fenway Is Festive and Fun” [April 22] C. He ’07, Tongyan Lin ’07, Tiffany Chen ’08, politically active in support of causes of misstated the number of children Jason Varitek has. He has two, not three, children. Michael Snella ’08, Marie Y. Thibault ’08, Jiao which he doesn’t approve. And who wouldn’t Wang ’08; Meteorologists: Cegeon Chan G, be charmed by the circular argument that David Flagg G, Robert Lindsay Korty G, Jon Moskaitis G, Nikki Privé G, Michael J. Ring G, Roberto Rondanelli G, Brian Tang G.
PRODUCTION STAFF Editors: Austin Chu ’08, Michael McGraw- Herdeg ’08; Staff: Joy Forsythe G, Wanda W. Lau G, Sie Hendrata Dharmawan ’05, Jennifer Huang ’07, Sylvia Yang ’07, Evan Chan ’08, James R. Peacock IV ’08.
OPINION STAFF Editor: Ruth Miller ’07; Staff: Ken Nesmith ’04, Nick Baldasaro ’05, W. Victoria Lee ’06, Josh Levinger ’07, Chen Zhao ’07, Julián Villarreal ’07, Ali S. Wyne ’08.
SPORTS STAFF Editors: Vivek Rao ’05, Brian Chase ’06; Staff: Caitlin Murray ’06, Yong-yi Zhu ’06, Travis Johnson ’08.
ARTS STAFF Editor: Kevin G. Der ’06; Staff: Bogdan Fedeles G, Jorge Padilla, Jr. ’05, Jacqueline O’Connor ’06, Jessica O. Young ’06, Nivair H. Gabriel ’08.
PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF Editor: Brian Hemond G; Staff: Jimmy Cheung G, Frank Dabek G, Dmitry Portnyagin G, Stanley Hu ’00, Andrew W. Yip ’02, Scott Johnston ’03, John M. Cloutier ’06, Grant Jordan ’06, Stephanie Lee ’06, Edward Platt ’06, Yun Wu ’06, Batya Fellman ’08, Scot Frank ’08, Tiffany Iaconis ’08, Christina Kang ’08, Nicole Koulisis ’08, Erqi Liu ’08, Omari Stephens ’08, Kenneth Yan ’08.
CAMPUS LIFE STAFF Editor: Zach Ozer ’07; Columnists: Emily Kagan G, Kailas Narendran ’01, Bill Andrews ’05, Daniel Corson ’05, Mark Liao ’06; Car- toonists: Jason Burns G, Brian Loux G, Emezie Okorafor ’03, Josie Sung ’06, Ash Turza ’08, James Biggs.
BUSINESS STAFF Advertising Manager: Jeffrey Chang ’08; Operations Manager: Jennifer Wong ’07; Staff: Melissa Chu ’08, Daniel Ding ’08, Yi Wang ’08.
TECHNOLOGY STAFF Director: Jonathan T. Wang ’05; Staff: Lisa Wray ’07, Shreyes Seshasai ’08, Connie Yee ’08.
EDITORS AT LARGE Senior Editors: Akshay Patil G, Satwiksai Seshasai G, Keith J. Winstein G, Jennifer Krish- nan ’04, Christine R. Fry ’05.
ADVISORY BOARD Peter Peckarsky ’72, Paul E. Schindler, Jr. ’74, V. Michael Bove ’83, Barry Surman ’84, Robert E. The Tech reserves the right to edit or condense letters; shorter letters Malchman ’85, Deborah A. Levinson ’91, Opinion Policy will be given higher priority. Once submitted, all letters become Jonathan Richmond PhD ’91, Saul Blumenthal Editorials are the official opinion of The Tech. They are written property of The Tech, and will not be returned. The Tech makes no ’98, Ryan Ochylski ’01, Rima Arnaout ’02, Eric by the editorial board, which consists of the chairman, editor in commitment to publish all the letters received. J. Cholankeril ’02, Ian Lai ’02, Nathan Collins chief, managing editor, opinion editors, a senior editor, and an opin- Guest columns are opinion articles submited by members of the SM ’03, Jyoti Tibrewala ’04, B. D. Colen. ion staffer. MIT or local community and have the author’s name in italics. Dissents are the opinions of signed members of the editorial Columns without italics are written by Tech staff. PRODUCTION STAFF FOR THIS ISSUE board choosing to publish their disagreement with the editorial. Editors: Tiffany Dohzen ’06; Staff: Austin Chu Letters to the editor, columns, and editorial cartoons are writ- To Reach Us ’08. ten by individuals and represent the opinion of the author, not nec- essarily that of the newspaper. Electronic submissions are encour- The Tech’s telephone number is (617) 253-1541. E-mail is the The Tech (ISSN 0148-9607) is published on Tuesdays and Fridays during the aged and should be sent to [email protected]. Hard copy easiest way to reach any member of our staff. If you are unsure academic year (except during MIT vacations), Wednesdays during January and monthly during the summer for $45.00 per year Third Class by The Tech, submissions should be addressed to The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, whom to contact, send mail to [email protected], and it will Room W20-483, 84 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, Mass. 02139. Third Cambridge, Mass. 02139-7029, or sent by interdepartmental mail to be directed to the appropriate person. Please send press releases, Class postage paid at Boston, Mass. Permit No. 1. POSTMASTER: Please Room W20-483. All submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. two days requests for coverage, and information about errors that call for cor- send all address changes to our mailing address: The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, before the date of publication. rection to [email protected]. Letters to the editor should be Cambridge, Mass. 02139-7029. Telephone: (617) 253-1541, editorial; (617) 258-8329, business; (617) 258-8226, facsimile. Advertising, subscription, and Letters, columns, and cartoons must bear the authors’ signatures, sent to [email protected]. The Tech can be found on the typesetting rates available. Entire contents © 2005 The Tech. Printed on addresses, and phone numbers. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. World Wide Web at http://the-tech.mit.edu. recycled paper by Charles River Publishing. April 26, 2005 OPINION THE TECH Page 5 Privileges, Not Rights eration is increasingly rich, yet no closer to not necessary for fulfillment. Furthermore, as the idea that a woman has a “right” to total Nick Baldasaro satisfaction. How does this harmful cycle per- if claims of relative poverty weren’t enough control over her own body, because this is the petuate? If you allow me that absolute, rather nonsense, many citizens have taken it to their inherent right of all citizens. I, like half the As a state becomes better endowed with than relative, standards of wealth control well- heads that rights arise out of the wealth of oth- country, have a draft card that says otherwise. riches, older, more self-reliant citizens pass being, then I will demonstrate how the belief ers, i.e. that the relatively less wealthy have a My draft card says, in fact, that if the national away, and new generations are born without in rights rather than the appreciation of privi- right to the wealth of the better off. What silli- legislature and the president say so, my body knowledge of earlier, harder times. These leges dooms some Americans to a cycle of ness. Behind every single rich person that ever can be sent to exotic locales in order to stop younger citizens, lacking perspective from unfulfillment. existed on planet Earth, if one goes back far fast-moving lead. Not exactly what you’d call earlier times, mistakenly come to regard their First off, it should be defined that rights do enough, is a poor person who spent his or her privacy. And it is definitely not control over predecessors’ hard-won privileges as inherent not change in time, whereas privileges adapt to life working hard so that his or her children my own body; that control is a privilege of rights. By way of example, America’s Depres- reflect absolute wealth levels. This is the criti- might avoid hardship. If a citizen wishes to relative peacetime, which my fellow citizens sion generation endured a yearly income of cal thinking that so eludes the “right to health vote for legislators who pass bills reallocating and I work to uphold. $7,500 with a per gross domestic product gov- care” crowd. Two hundred years ago, an wealth in the name of Believing in rights ernment spending of five percent. Most Amer- American farmer would have had no idea what public good, that is a rather than privileges icans today could not fathom this hardship; you were talking about with free health care. citizen’s privilege. But is naïve, dangerous, our GDP is currently $33,000 with a per GDP Nor would a contemporary resident of a third no one has any right to My draft card says, in fact, that if and depressing, and it spending of 20 percent (all figures adjusted to world country. How can a right change in time any other’s self-pro- saps one’s ability to year 2000 dollars). Amazingly, though, many and place? If it can, then we today in 2005 are duced or self-main- the national legislature and the both comprehend real Americans believe that ours is a country necessarily denied many of the rights of the tained wealth. president say so, my body can be problems and enact where poverty and want are widespread. poorest Americans in 2200, just as the farmers So many things change for the better. Compared to what? of 1800 were denied a right to health care, that we take for grant- sent to exotic locales in order to It should be under- More amazing still is the call by major education, and the living wage. We are indeed ed fall under this rea- stood and embraced by political forces for yet more “rights” (govern- suffering hardship relative to our descendants. soning. Good exam- stop fast-moving lead. every citizen that there ment spending) in the name of escaping Yet interestingly, I never hear people complain ples abound in what exist no rights, only “poorness.” We are told we have a right to seriously about their lack of futuristic rights. are commonly deemed privileges. Each per- clean air, a right to education, a right to free Why is that? How important can these future civil liberties (rights). I will discuss only one son in this government can feel entitled to health care, and that if we don’t get them, then rights be if we don’t even care about them of them, the woman’s “right” to abortion. I, three things only: his or her life, freedom from we are being persecuted. What nonsense. The today? By the same turn, how much of a right like many others, am in favor of choice (I the mischief of fellow citizens, and the ability fact that these “rights” did not always exist can free health care (free housing, etc.) be if love that euphemism for abortion.) However, to work towards personal fulfillment. If the clearly designates them as privileges, which our ancestors did not consider the absence of it is a privilege bestowed by the hard work of three goals from the preceding sentence sound can be won or lost depending on the industry these things from their lives? a generation of activists, and not a right. It radical to anyone, I suggest they check out a and cleverness of the populace. What a lack of The only way to reconcile attitudes across can be taken away, and talking about it as if it publication known as the Declaration of Inde- appreciation, what an insult to those who the centuries is with the obvious conclusion is invulnerable is unhelpful and arrogant and pendence. It is an old but charming document came before. It is clear that as riches and priv- that all these so-called universal rights are in actually makes it more likely to be lost due to with a stirring preamble containing the ideals ileges increase, so too do relative expecta- fact extra privileges that can exist only if suffi- a lack of proper vigilance. What is most of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” tions, with the end result being that each gen- cient wealth arises and which additionally are annoying to me, and I suspect other males, is there for all to see. Don’t Call Me Bruce Lee cal contact and accidents are inevitable. Some- just a little racist. It didn’t bother me at first, as few months. Has this recently become accept- Albert Huang times players feel wronged and voice their frus- I just shrugged it off the same way I’ve learned able? tration; other times, they hide their anger and to disregard the other racial epithets that have Something inside tells me that the answer is I recently had the pleasure of playing in a unleash it when the referee isn’t looking. Dur- been tossed my way in the past. But later on, I still no. I sure as hell don’t see anyone going unihoc game against a group of fraternity ing our match, there were certainly a number of thought, “I am not walking through the streets around tossing “Mike Tyson” around as a nick- brothers. For the unini- questionable collisions of Boston, I am immersed in an institute of name for people they’ve never met. So let me tiated, unihoc is a and falls, but nothing higher education. What the hell is wrong with be explicit. I don’t care if your cute little ethnic Swedish game much extraordinary. A few this place?” nickname is supposed to be pejorative, descrip- like floor hockey but I admit that I’ve been holed up tense moments passed, Am I being hypersensitive? Perhaps. I did tive, or honorific. If I don’t know you, don’t with shorter sticks, but the game ended do my undergraduate years at Brown, where call me Bruce Lee. Don’t call me Jet Li. In fact, smaller goals, and a in my lab and dorm for a while amicably, and, in MIT there are maybe three Republicans on campus if you’re going to refer to me at all, either call wiffle ball. Players run intramural tradition, and the entire student body rose up in arms me the guy-who-keeps-tripping-over-himself, around the court in tooling away on my coursework both sides gave the rit- when a university officer (seemingly) randomly or ask for my name. And along the way, take sneakers, batting the and master’s thesis, so I may ual “rah! rah! rah!” asked a black student for proof of identifica- some cultural enrichment classes. ball back and forth, try- chant in support of the tion. Maybe I do bear more than the superficial In all fairness, I don’t know if this was a ing to score as many have missed a few cultural shifts opposing team. Asian resemblance to Bruce Lee. He was 5'7", group decision on their part or the harebrained goals as possible. Hav- What struck me 140 lbs, I’m 5'8", 140 lbs. He had abs of steel idea of one unfortunate soul who, caught up in ing played ice hockey in the past few months. Has this most was that some- and could perform amazing feats of strength the moment of the game, didn’t really think for 19 years now, I time in the middle of and agility. I have … maybe a 3-pack and can about what he was saying. But I’d hope that found it endearing and recently become acceptable? the game, the opposing only dream about performing amazing feats of one of his brothers would at least have the quaint. Naturally, I was team decided to name strength and agility. Brown eyes, black hair. courtesy to steer him in the right direction, quite terrible at unihoc me Bruce Lee. “Watch Close enough. I admit that I’ve been holed up which did not happen. Either way, it was poor and ended up tripping over myself at least out for Bruce Lee!” “Bruce Lee’s in front of in my lab and dorm for a while tooling away on form. twice. the net!” “Don’t let Bruce Lee get by!” To be my coursework and master’s thesis, so I may Albert Huang is a graduate student in Elec- As with most fast-paced team games, physi- blunt, I found this distasteful, disrespectful, and have missed a few cultural shifts in the past trical Engineering and Computer Science.
Check one: Stick it to the Man Apply gingerly to the non-gender-specific Authority Figure Write Opinion for The Tech [email protected]
Do you have something to say? We can’t hear you. Write opinion for The Tech! [email protected] or ask for Ruth x3-1541, W20-483 April 26, 2005
Page 6
Tr io by Emezie Okorafor
Biztoons by Jennifer López
Dilbert ® by Scott Adams April 26, 2005 The Tech Page 7
ACROSS 39 Enjoy 3 The Swedish 36 Public disturbances 1 Peal 41 Archipelago Nightingale 37 Take on or take 5 Pedro's house member 4 More long-shanked down 9 Jack who ate no fat 42 Advil rival 5French port 40 Send forth 14 Ron Howard role 44 Bridge coup 6 Thickening agents 43 Final line of seats 15 Many years 45 CIA forerunner 7E-mail button 46 Like some nuts 16 Use a scale 46 Terrified 8Inquire 48 Native American 17 Criminals' policy 47 Dapper 9 Take an oath dwelling platform? 49 5th Avenue store 10 Supported from 49 Become established 19 Boredom 50 Enlaces above 50 Neat and tidy 20 Party conservatives 52 Poe story, "The __ 11 Mafia don? 51 Existed 21 Emblems Heart" 12 Chills and fever 52 Ocean motion 22 Nile bird 56 Chart anew 13 "__ Gun for Hire" 53 Competent 23 Muslim women's 57 Flea on kittens? 18 Open to all 54 Sport sled quarters 58 Seething 21 Wetlands passage 55 Mild oath 24 Wards off 59 Adams or Brickell 23 From this place 57 Allow to Solution, page 11 27 You there! 60 Gymnast Korbut 24 Lunar valleys 28 "Peter Pan" pet 61 Fracas 25 Messages by 31 Japanese porcelain 62 See after computer 32 Gram or rail lead-in 63 Uninvited plant 26 Wolf? 33 Old ruler 27 Cries loudly 34 Varnish ingredient DOWN 29 Gullible 35 Rowers' reduction? 1African nation 30 Bowed 38 Spasm 2 October stone 32 Disorderly Crossword Puzzle Crossword
The Tech is in your future
[email protected] Page 8 THE TECH
LIANG HONG—THE TECH
LIANG HONG—THE TEC
BRIAN HEMOND—THE TECH
BRIAN HEMOND—THE TECH BRIAN HEMOND—THE TECH April 26, 2005
The annual Spring Weekend concert was held Friday, April 22, in Johnson Athletic Center. The concert featured local artist Nemiss, MIT’s RiDONKulous, and hip-hop artists Fabolous and Lloyd Banks. Clockwise from top left:
Following Nemiss’ performance, MIT’s RiDONKulous takes the stage and struts its stuff.
Nemiss stirs up the crowd before Fabolous and Lloyd Banks take the stage.
Fabolous and his group blast out some heavy lyrics.
A member of MIT’s RiDONKulous strikes a pose.
Fabolous gets the crowd up and moving with the music.
Fabolous’ DJ lays down a beat.
Lloyd Banks’ backup singer leans back with the mic.
Lloyd Banks throws bottled water over the audience.
(center) Lloyd Banks speaks his words of wisdom regarding MIT, the police, and illegal substances, to the crowd.
LIANG HONG—THE TECH sspprriinngg wweeeekkeenndd
BRIAN HEMOND—THE TECH
LIANG HONG—THE TECH BRIAN HEMOND—THE TECH Page 10 THE TECH April 26, 2005 Morrison Worked On Manhattan Project Bring these back and Bring these back and ‘An Inspiration,’ He Received Many Awards Morrison, from Page 1 core from Los Alamos to the New Mexico desert site for the first test. get pennies get $250 in discounts astronomy, center on two large issues: He also was at the island air base of on the dollar. nuclear and conventional war and Amer- Tinian, from which two bombs were on travel, DVD movies, software, and more! ican policy; and the teaching and public launched against Japan. He later understanding of physics and science in witnessed the aftermath of the general. He has authored or co-authored explosion at Hiroshima in a visit many books on these subjects, including immediately following the war. “The Price of Defense,” which he co- In 1984, Morrison’s faculty col- authored with five other students of the leagues named him the James R. arms issue. The book, published in 1979, Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement was the first to propose a detailed alterna- Award Lecturer for the academic tive defense posture for the United States. year 1984-85. The citation read, in A regular reviewer of books on part, “Philip Morrison is more than science for Scientific American a distinguished scholar. He repre- since 1965, Morrison had also nar- sents an attitude, a way of life, a rated and helped script films on sci- symbol for what one might call ‘joy ence for Charles and Ray Eames. of insight’ or ‘thirst for knowledge.’ He appeared widely on radio and on No one has better demonstrated, or British, Canadian, and American rather embodied, what it means to television in a number of science the human soul to perceive or recog- programs and series, most visibly as nize a new scientific discovery or a author-presenter (with his wife, the new theoretical insight. Scientific late Phylis Morrison) of a six-part knowledge and understanding is not national Public Broadcasting Sys- a purely cerebral affair; it is soaked Here's all you need to do: tem series, “The Ring of Truth,” with emotion, excitement, and ner- which first aired in 1987. He and his vous tension, as everyone knows wife co-authored a book, “The Ring who has heard Philip Morrison talk. > Return your Comcast cable box, remote, and/or Comcast-provided modem to of Truth: An Inquiry Into How We He has a gift for language and a your local Comcast Payment Center (visit www.comcast.com to find the Payment Know What We Know” (Random wide-ranging intellect which allow House, 1987) as a companion to the him to draw upon insights from dif- Center near you). series. ferent fields to help illuminate a “He was an inspiration not as a subject.” scientist who also did other things, His memberships included the but as someone who defined his role American Physical Society (fellow), > Go to www.comcast-ne.com/students and register for your $250 rewards card. as a scientist by being involved in the Federation of American Scien- these other things,” Weiner said. tists (chairman, 1973-76) the Amer- Philip Morrison was born in ican Astronomical Society (council, > When you receive your rewards card via mail, you'll have exclusive access to a Somerville, NJ, in 1915. He attend- 1977-79), the International Astro- ed Pittsburgh public schools and nomical Union, the National Acade- website marketplace with tons of deals, including travel, DVD movies, magazines, received the BS degree from the my of Sciences, the American Asso- Carnegie Institute for Technology in ciation of Physics Teachers, the software, and more! It's that simple! 1936. In 1940 he received the PhD American Academy of Arts and Sci- in theoretical physics from the Uni- ences, and the American Philosoph- versity of California at Berkeley, ical Society at Philadelphia. under the supervision of J. Robert Among his many awards are the Oppenheimer. Pregel Prize of the New York Acad- For the next two years he taught emy of Sciences, the Babson Prize physics at San Francisco State Col- of the Gravity Foundation, the lege and at the University of Illinois American Association for the before joining the Manhattan Pro- Advancement of Science Westing- ject. In 1946, Morrison joined the house Science Writing Award, the physics faculty at Cornell Universi- Oersted Medal of the American ty, where he remained until he came Association of Physics Teachers, to MIT in 1964. the Priestly Medallion of Dickinson Offer expires 6/15/05. One rewards card per customer account, while supplies From 1943 to 1946, Morrison College, the Presidential Award of last. Please allow 8-10 weeks for delivery of rewards card. Rewards card:The was associated with the Manhattan the New York Academy of Sci- balance loaded on the card will provide instant point of sale savings for each of the suppliers of the designated website, the level of savings Project, which was responsible for ences, 1980; the Public Science varies between product and supplier. Please visit www.comcast.com-ne/students for complete details. © 2005 the development of the first atomic Medal of the Minnesota Museum of Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. bomb. He joined the Metallurgical Science, the American Institute of A22P-042505V1-A1NE Laboratory of the Manhattan Project Physics’ Andrew Gemant Award at the University of Chicago toward and the Wheeler Prize (with Phylis the end of 1942. He was a physicist Morrison) of the Boston Museum of and group leader there and later at Science. Los Alamos from 1942 to 1946. He is survived by his stepson, In 1945, it was Morrison, riding Bert Singer, and by Singer’s wife, in the back seat of an automobile, Angela Kimberk. who brought the bomb’s plutonium Funeral services will be private.
JEWISH EGG DONOR $50,000+ (Plus All Expenses) Loving, caring couple is seeking a highly intelligent, attractive woman who is under the age of 29. If you have a desire to help and would like more information please contact us. Email: [email protected] www.aperfectmatch.com 1-800-264-8828 April 26, 2005 THE TECH Page 11 MIT Walks in the Relay for Life
On Saturday, April 23, groups of students from many local institutes, including two groups from MIT, participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of All Cambridge All-University. One member from each team was on the track from the beginning to the end of the event, which lasted from 8 p.m. on Friday until 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Gordon Indoor Track at Harvard Uni- versity and raised a total of $108,790. (above) Cancer survivors start the relay by taking the first lap around the track. (right) Nathan P. Wang ’08 and Leah A. Bogsted ’08 walk a lap. Luminarias (bags filled with sand and a small source of light) bearing cancer survivors’ names are lined up around the track. Photography by Christina Kang
Solution to Crossword from page 7
[email protected] Page 12 THE TECH April 26, 2005 Initiative Funds Limited To UA UA, from Page 1
ence in November along with UA Senate Speaker Rose A. Grabowski ’05 and said the experience was “absolutely” useful. “It gives us perspective,” said Velasco. He said the conferences are beneficial because the student leaders have the opportunity to dis- cuss common problems such as working with the administration and student apathy with student leaders from other schools. Velasco said that the conference in November was paid for by the Student Activities Office. Initiative funds only for UA The donation from Dean for Stu- dent Life Larry G. Benedict has not yet been finalized, Velasco said. Benedict said that he plans to meet with members of the UA to determine whether the conferences attended so far have been helpful. “We’re trying to be more systemat- ic” by creating well-defined leader- ship programs, Benedict said. The bill states that “student lead- ers from the UA Senate and Cabinet should have the opportunity for pro- PASSOVER fessional development outside of the typical MIT opportunities,” and Velasco said that the funds will be reserved for UA use. However, Benedict said that there will be other opportunities for student lead- 2005/5765@mit ers from other organizations. Grabowski said that there was some debate at the meeting over whether the conferences would only benefit those in attendance. Howev- er, the Senate ultimately decided that was not the case and passed the SEDER bill with a 17–2 vote. {äÇPASSOVER “Clearly we’re looking at other student leaders as well,” Benedict OPTIONS ETC. said, citing opportunities for leaders such as the Chancellor’s Summit in ALL-HILLELSEDER-1stNight the fall, which was open to all stu- 6DWXUGD\$SULO SP 35(3$6629(53,==$ dent government leaders. Benedict $WUDGLWLRQDOSDUWLFLSDWRU\VHGHU 6DWXUGD\$SULO SP called the $20,000 a “good invest- 0,7VWXGHQWV RWKHUV 5DEEL'RYLG6KDSLURRIWKH0DLPRQLGHV6FKRROLQ%URRNOLQHZLOOEH ment in student leaders.” 5HVHUYDWLRQPDQGDWRU\ZLWKNRVKHU#PLWHGX VSHDNLQJDERXWWKHLPSRUWDQFHRI UHHQDFWLQJ WKHVWRU\RIWKH([RGXV While conferences or meetings IURP(J\SWRQ3DVVRYHULQOLJKWRIWKHGDLO\FRPPDQGPHQWRI UHPHP with nearby colleges and universi- SEDER-HOMEHOSPITALITY EHULQJ WKH([RGXV ties would be less expensive, they 0,7IDFXOW\VWDIIDQGDOXPQLDHZHOFRPHVWXGHQWV also do not have the same benefits WRWKHLUKRPHVHGHUVÀUVWDQGVHFRQGQLJKWV 63,&(83<2856('(5 as the national conferences, Bene- dict said. Most meetings of Boston &RQWDFW+LOOHOE\7KXUVGD\$SULO 7KXUVGD\$SULO SP &KDQJHWKLQJVXSWKLV\HDU&RPHWRDZRUNVKRSWR¿QGQHZ GLIIHU area student leaders focus on crisis BBQSEDER HQWZD\VWRPDNH\RXUVHGHUH[FLWLQJ and government issues, he said, 6DWXUGD\$SULOSP 5DEEL%HQ/DQFNWRQLQVWUXFWRU while national conferences are well- +RVWHGE\WKH5HIRUP&KDYXUDK established and provide specific &RQWDFW0LFKDHO6LPRQ PDVLPRQ#0,7('8! 3$6629(57+528*+7+($*(6 workshops and broad participation. AEPiSEDER-2ndNight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³PDW]DKKRXVH´ The Tech 7XH$SUSP)ULGD\$SUSP &RQWDFW/L].DWFRII NDWFRII#PLWHGX! :HG$SUSP6DWXUGD\$SULOSP 7KXUV$SU SP 3$6629(53,&1,& VWXGHQWV RWKHUV 7KXUVGD\$SULOWK.LOOLDQ&RXUW LUNCHES 0HHWXVRQ.LOOLDQ&RXUWDQGPDNH\RXUVHOID0DW]DK 3UHSDFNDJHG/XQFKHVRI.RVKHUIRU3DVVRYHU7XQD 6DQGZLFK KDYH VRPH VDODG DQG HQMR\ WKH JORULRXV 6DODGGHVVHUWDQGVDODGZLOOEHDYDLODEOHQLJKWO\DW 6SULQJZHDWKHU GLQQHUIRU &RQWDFW6RSKLH5DSRSRUW UDSRSRUW#PLWHGX!
6DW$SU SP This space donated by 6XQ0D\ SP VWXGHQWV RWKHUV 0,7+,//(/ 5(6(59$7,2132/,&< 0DVVDFKXVHWWV$YHQXH 0,7%OGJ: $OO3DVVRYHUPHDOVDQGWKH¿UVWVHGHU &DPEULGJH0$ KLOOHO#PLWHGX! PXVWEHUHVHUYHGE\0RQGD\$SULOWKZLWK KWWS ZHEPLWHGXKLOOHOZZZ .RVKHU#PLWHGX3D\PHQWFDQEHZLWK 0,70HDO&DUGRUFKHFNWR%RQ$SSHWLW April 26, 2005 THE TECH Page 13 Most Segue Applicants Accepted Senior Segue, from Page 1 Senior Segue Lottery Results than what can currently be provided, but the chances of getting housing Housing Number of Seniors Assigned to: Seniors Not “vary widely depending on prefer- Year Ashdown Sid-Pac Warehouse Tang Assigned ence.” A student willing to live with ’05-’06 4 48 15 11 3 a roommate, for example, has a ’04-’05 4 48 15 8 39 much better chance of being ’03-’04 14 48 15 12 17 assigned MIT graduate housing than ’02-’03 6 28 15 15 4 one who does not. Available 15 48 15 25 — In addition, graduate students, unlike undergraduate students, are The number of rooms available per graduate dormitory remained con- not guaranteed housing the subse- stant over the four years. quent year through squatting. In SOURCE: DENISE A. GRAY fact, graduate housing is more diffi- cult to obtain if a student is “contin- Tony Gray, who designed the ple, it is ideal for those who plan to uing,” or has been an MIT student lottery, said that the goal, unlike for remain at MIT for five years and the previous year, rather than undergraduate housing, is to maxi- earn a Masters degree, Tony Gray “new.” mize the number of people assigned said. However, last year, less than For the last three years, Tony to housing rather than maximize the two-thirds of senior segue partici- Gray said, about 90 to 95 percent of number of people placed into their pants remained for the following new MIT graduate students request- top choices, since supply is lower year, he said. ing housing have received it. How- than demand. Tony Gray said he is aware that ever, continuing students, or any some juniors apply to Senior Segue students who has previously attend- Less than 2/3 stay in grad housing with the intent of just getting a nice ed MIT, have an overall 30 to 50 A main incentive of Senior room for their senior year, but also percent chance of getting MIT hous- Segue is to guarantee first-year grad- that there are “lots of extenuating ing, although their chance is heavily uate housing for MIT undergradu- circumstances” that are unpre- influenced by their individual flexi- ates who anticipate going into an dictable and affect whether students bility, because of the lottery design. MIT graduate program. For exam- can or will stay the next year. 2005–2006 Housing Rates
Graduate Dormitory Senior Segue Rate Per Semester Graduate Semester Rate Estimate (4.5*monthly rate) Ashdown House Double $2,309 $2,309 NW30 (The Warehouse) Single $2,926 $4,316 Sidney-Pacific 2-Bedroom Double $2,926 $3,834 Sidney-Pacific 2-Bedroom Quad $2,561 $2,561 Tang Residence Hall $2,926 $2,745–$2,921
SOURCE: HOUSING WEB SITE
LIANG HONG—THE TECH Fortunately, “Fifi” was on a chain.
EGG DONORS NEEDED $20,000 (PLUS ALL EXPENSES) We are seeking women who are attractive, under the age of 29, non-smoker, SAT 1300+, physically fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you have a desire to help an infertile family and would like more information please contact us. Email: [email protected] www.aperfectmatch.com 1-800-264-8828 The Production Department’s Word of the Day Ennui: Listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; boredom [email protected] Laugh. Page 14 THE TECH April 26, 2005 Royal Bengal 7HFK0RGHO5DLOURDG&OXERI0,7 Boston’s only authentic Bengali Cuisine restaurant 313 Mass. Ave., Cambridge Open Daily Except Monday (617) 491-1988 11:30 am – 11:30 pm T: Red Line, Bus #1 – Central Square 6SULQJ2SHQ+RXVH Lunch Buffet $6.95 Unique Bengali fish dishes include Reasonably Priced Dinners Paabda maachher jhol,Rui maachher 6DWXUGD\$SULODQGSP kalia,Moehar gauto,Shorshe Ilish AD?TECH?XA?BWPDF 0- Take-out, platters, and catering available. Delivery with minimum order. 5RRP1 )LUVWIORRURIWKH0,70XVHXP%XLOGLQJ 10% Discount on $30 (or more) order with MIT ID.
)UHH $GPLVVLRQ 7KH0,7*LOEHUW 6XOOLYDQ3OD\HUVSUHVHQW 0,76WXGHQWV 2WKHU6WXGHQWV 6HQLRUV&KLOGUHQ 0,7&RPPXQLW\ *HQHUDO3XEOLF JVS $SULO #SP 0D\#SP LWHGX 0D\DQG#SP HEP Z Positions Available Graduate Housing Opportunity Positions Available for live-in Resident Advisors for MIT's Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Groups. Applications are due by April 29, 2005, and 0HHWLQJV 5RRP1:HG6DW are available online at: http://web.mit.edu/slp/fsilgs/ra-application.html WPUF KWWS WPUFPLWHGXWPUFRIILFHUV#PLWHGX Description: A Resident Advisor is expected to serve as a mentor, guide, and resource for students and to serve as a liaison between the chapter and the Dean's Office. The RA is expected to know and educate FSILG students about MIT policies, applicable Chapter and/or Fraternity/Sorority headquarters policies, and common sense safety practices. Training is provided. Remuneration: All Resident Assistants receive free room and board. In addition, some organizations may include a small stipend. Each Resident Advisor is furnished with a single room in the chapter facility. Qualifications: A BA or BS and/or graduate enrollment at an accredited institution are required. Graduating Seniors— Considering Law School? Paralegal Boot Camp—June 1–15, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. This intensive paralegal class is designed for recent college graduates considering law school. Upon completion of this two-week course you will receive a certificate in paralegal studies from Boston University. BY WORKING AS A PARALEGAL, YOU CAN: • Enhance your credentials for law school •Gain exposure to the legal work environment •Confirm your decision to pursue a legal career LEARN MORE AT AN OPEN HOUSE: MAY 3, 4–6 P.M. SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 595 COMMONWEALTH AVE., ROOM 315 RSVP: Call: 617-353-4497 E-mail: [email protected] Visit: www.bu.edu/professional April 26, 2005 THE TECH Page 15 Lloyd Banks Arrived Late and With Guests Crowd Pleased With Spring Concert Despite Delays, Long Waits Between Performers Concert, from Page 1 onstage and watched the perfor- mance from the right rear of the got into an argument with an MIT stage. student serving as a security guard. Banks continued to perform until The Tech overheard an argument between 11:45 p.m and 11:50 p.m., during this time but could not iden- slightly shy of his 50-minute con- tify the parties involved. tract. Yuan confirmed that there were Despite the troubles, all audience guests of Lloyd Banks that the com- members and nonintegral concert mittee “didn’t know were coming,” staff had left the concert premeses but said that the issue was soon set- by the designated time of midnight, tled. according to Barber. The sources close to the concert While Fabolous also ran late, the also claimed that Lloyd Banks and consequences were not nearly as the members of G-Unit were “visi- severe. Once Fabolous and his team bly high and drunk” as they entered did arrive, “he rushed to get on the building. Yuan and other mem- stage and was very compliant in bers of the planning committee had doing so,” according to Barber. no comment on the allegations. Additionally, Barber said the 25- At 11:15 p.m., MIT event staff minute delay “would not have informed everyone in the backstage affected the ability of the show to area that they needed to leave the run as scheduled,” given the short area immediately. Three members amount of time needed to perform of The Tech, including the author of the set changes between Fabolous’ this article, were backstage and and Banks’ acts. BRIAN HEMOND—THE TECH forced to leave at that time. G-G-G-ROUPIES? The three allegedly underage girls accompanying G- While sources close to the con- Most pleased with concert overall Unit stand on the back right-hand side of the stage behind Lloyd cert said the clearing may have been Despite the waits and disputes, Banks during his performance. a “safety concern,” Yuan said that it most concertgoers still loved the was more an issue of clearing the concert. the dance group RiDONKulous but taining and amusing,” but found area “to be sure Lloyd Banks could Many of the students took arrived too late to watch the perfor- Banks’ set to be “15 minutes of get on and perform as quickly as Banks’ “Fuck MIT” attitude to be mance (the schedule had hatred harvesting.” possible.” These comments were G-Unit’s version of “IHTFP” and RiDONKulous performing before As of publication time, the echoed by Barber. eagerly chanted along with him. both headline acts, but Kshetry and Spring Weekend Committee had not While the situation did appear Nina Kshetry G said she had her friends had heard otherwise.) made plans to pursue the matter of tense to some degree, Deputy Chief originally attended to see a friend in She called both headline acts “enter- the contract fulfillment. John Driscoll, who oversaw the event for the MIT police, said that the incident was “uneventful from our standpoint.” Driscoll declined to confirm or deny details regarding the incidents backstage. Banks to MIT: Fuck you Within five minutes after the backstage area was cleared, Banks and his crew went onstage to per- form. The source close to the con- cert described Banks as “very ener- gized, probably because he was angry.” “They’re tellin’ me I have to get off at 11:30 … you all want me to leave?” Banks asked the crowd. After a resounding no, Banks told the crowd he would “stay here as long as I want.” Banks went on to start a “Fuck MIT” chant at least twice and called on Spring Weekend organizers to come onstage and explain the situa- tion to the crowd. Yuan declined to comment on Banks’ actions onstage. The three girls who had arrived with the performers later got The Tech This space donated by http://web.mit.edu/medlinks/www/ Page 16 THE TECH April 26, 2005 SPORTS Markov Processes, Applied to Bellhorn’s Strikeouts By Christopher Bettinger But Red Sox second baseman Mark Sox fan, I’ll admit, it’s frustrating to are: 1) Men on first and third with costs his team 0.284 runs per out. COLUMNIST Bellhorn is on a strong campaign to watch Bellhorn struggle at the dish, two outs (ERV: 0.524) or 2) Men on This difference (0.006 runs per out) The title of “Strikeout King” is claim that title for himself, albeit in especially when the bases are first with two outs with the man on is negligible over the course of a typically reserved for dominant a more dubious context. loaded or the game is on the line. third base tagging and scoring season. In conclusion, the effect of a pitchers such as Nolan Ryan, Roger Bellhorn is on pace to obliterate His ridiculous strikeout rate raises (ERV: 0.2271, one run scored.) This strikeout is just about equal to other Clemens, the current single-season record for an important question: “How is analysis could be repeated for every types of outs. or Randy strikeouts by a batter (set at 195 by offensive production impacted by a possible result. This result explains a lot about Column Johnson. Adam Dunn last year.) As a Red strikeout relative to other types of For our analysis, we are only why Bellhorn is still in the major outs such as groundouts, popouts, concerned with the relative run dif- leagues. Although he does strike out and flyouts?” ferential as a function of the type of a lot, Bellhorn supporters such as It is useful to apply the concept out. This analysis can be repeated his immediate family are quick to of Markov processes in answering for different types of outs (strikeout, point out that his batting average of this question. In other words, the groundout, popout, and flyout) balls put in play is somewhere number of runs scored in an at-bat across all the possible states to around 0.400. This simply means depends on the state of the ballgame attain a total run differential. This that Mark gets a disproportionate immediately before the at-bat. aggregate run differential is normal- amount of his outs via the “K,” In baseball, there are 24 possi- ized both by the frequency of each because what balls he does put in ble, discrete states in an inning initial state as well as an estimated play rarely turn into outs. I’m pretty (eight ways to distribute baserun- probability of the three most likely sure that if his batting average on ners and either zero, one, or two resulting states. balls in play were any lower, his on- outs.) Each of these states has an The final results are that each base percentage would be in the cel- expected run value (ERV) associat- type of out results in an amount of lar, and he’d be in the minors faster ed with it. For example, if there are lost runs (both realized and expect- than the Yankees could lose four no men on and zero outs, the ed.) The respective costs of a strike- ALCS games in a row. expected value of runs scored for out, groundout, popout, and flyout With this knowledge in hand, I that inning is approximately 0.51 are -0.290, -0.308, -0.290, -0.254. encourage each of you to wear that (These are well-documented empiri- This actually means that the worst Mark Bellhorn jersey to Fenway cal values.) The result of each bat- kind of out is a groundout, mainly Park with pride and show your sup- ter’s plate appearance (hit, ground- because of the chance for double port. Cheer him on when he’s bat- out, homerun, etc.) results in a plays. ting and fear not the absurdly high number of runs scored as well as a This result can be used to deter- chance that he’ll strike out, for an change in the state of the inning, mine the effect of a batter who gets out is an out is an out. If your faith and, as a result, the ERV for the rest out via strikeouts frequently in him ever waivers, simply ask of the inning. ( STANLEY HU—THE TECH Erika M. Erickson ’08 rounds the corner ahead of teammates Andrea Staid ’07 and Alisa P. Lehman ’05, clocking 2:24.38 to win the 800-meter run at the MIT Coed Invitational on Sat- urday, April 23. The non-scoring meet served as a tune-up before heading into the championship season, which begins this Saturday at the NEWMAC Championships at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. UPCOMING HOME EVENTS Tuesday, April 26 Varsity Men’s Lacrosse vs. UMass-Dartmouth, Steinbrenner Sta- dium, 4 p.m. Thursday, April 28 Varsity Men’s Lacrosse vs. UMass-Boston, Steinbrenner Stadium, 4 p.m. On Saturday, April 23, the MIT Coed Invitational was held in Steinbrenner Stadium. The men’s track team heads into its championship season on Saturday, starting with the NEWMAC Champi- onships at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (top) Omari Stephens ’08 (right) clears a hurdle just ahead of Robert Allen of Emmanuel College STANLEY HU—THE TECH before winning the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.09 seconds. Uzoma A. Orji ’06 looks downfield as he spins during the ham- mer throw competition before winning with a toss of 173' 7" (bottom) Nestor F. Hernandez ’05 makes a splash as he lands in the long jump pit to win the on Saturday, April 23, 2005, at the MIT Coed Invitational. event with a jump of 20' 2.5". Orji, the 2004 NCAA Indoor National Champion in the weight throw, was ranked sixth in the nation in the hammer at the Photography by Stanley Hu start of the day.