MIT's The Weather Today: Warm, cloudy, 61°F (16°C) Oldest and Largest Tonight: Late rain, windy, 43°F (6°C) Newspaper Tomorrow: Rain, possible snow, 50°F ( 10°C) Details, Page 2 Volume 122, Number 7 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Tuesday, February 26, 2002 Wolfensohn to Deliver Brass Rat Sparks Controversy Address to Graduates Some Question Committee's Decision to Include Female Figure By Dan Cho Serna was also angry that the By Kevin R. Lang ment committee, chaired by W. Eric STAFF REPORTER Ring Committee seemed to disregard EDITOR INCH/EF Grimson, a professor in electrical Controversy over the Class of the results of their own e-mail survey The annual tuition riot is nothing engineering and computer science. 2004 brass rat design has prompted on the gender issue. Serna sent an e- new to MIT, but this year could "We talked about the list that we the Ring Committee to call for a mail to Dean for Student Life Larry potentially see a Commencement riot. as students had generated, and class-wide vote. G. Benedict and began an online dis- World Bank Group President James based on those we then finalized to Ring Committee chair Douglas J. cussion on a Web site maintained by D. Wolfensohn will address the Class a list of about ten people total," Quattrochi '04 announced yesterday classmate Jacob W. Faber '04. of 2002 at commence- Dalai said. This list that members of the Class of 2004 On Sunday evening, Serna draft- ment this year. was then presented to will decide whether their class ring ed a petition to change the seal on "Jim Wolfensohn Vest, who made the should incorporate the traditional the ring back to a traditional ver- is deeply. and final selection. Institute Mens et Manus seal depict- sion featuring two males. Serna thoughtfully engaged However, Dalai ing two men, or a seal which depicts hopes to gather 500 signatures from in important core said that Wolfensohn one man and one woman. COURTESY the Class of 2004 and "force the issues of our times - was not one of those Last night, Ring Committee 2004 RING COMMITTEE Ring Committee to respect the deci- fighting poverty, pro- recommended to Vest. member and Class of 2004 Presi- sion of the class." moting inclusion, "He was not on dent Patrick Y. Kim said he would This past fall, the Ring Commit- enhancing education, that list," Dalai said. send out an e-mail with an image of tee sent out an e-mail survey to the Committee waffles on choice and shaping global- "I don't think we the current seal design, which fea- Class of 2004 requesting input on At first, Quattrochi would neither ization," said Presi- chose anybody from tures a man and woman, and features to be included in the ring confirm nor deny the presence of a dent Charles M. Vest the World Bank." instructions for voting to members design. One of the survey questions woman on the Class of 2004 ring. in a statement yester- Dalai did say that of Class of 2004. The responses will specifically addressed the gender He stressed that the fall survey was day. "He occupies a COURTESYMITNEWSOFFICE the committee consid- determine whether the current issue on the Institute seal. Of the 115 not meant as a class-wide referen- unique position at the James D. Wolfensohn, ered a number of pos- design is kept or the woman will be responses to this particular question, dum, but simply as a source of input intersection of the president of the World sible speakers replaced with a second male. Stu- 62 preferred to have two men on the for the Ring Committee to consider. private and public Bank, will speak at com- involved in interna- dents are to cast their votes via e- seal, according to statement Quat- "The decision is not directly sectors. His concerns mencement this year. tional affairs, especial- mail by Wednesday. evening. trochi posted in an online forum. dependent on anything in the sur- have particular relevance to the ly related to world peace. In the event of an extremely vey," Quattrochi said. "The survey world of 2002." "Once we submit our condensed close vote, two different versions of Leak leads to controversy is not the decision." list to President Vest, we're kind of the ring could be made available for Controversy began this year Quattrochi added that, while the Wolfensobn selected by Vest hands off," Dalai.said. "I didn't purchase. when Daniel J. Serna '04 said he had committee would possibly change an Last fall, Class of 2002 President know that [Wolfensohn] was even learned of the planned modification extremely unpopular ring design, Sudeb C. Dalai and Graduate Student being considered." Gender a recent controversy to the seal in the middle of January such matters would not be addressed Council Pr~sident Dilan f!... Senevi- Vest said that he considered not The issue of gender representa- from a member of the Ring Commit- until after the Ring Premier on ratne each generated a l!st of 10 to 15 only the recommendations of the tion on the MIT class ring has been. tee. While Serna understood the March 17. possible Commencement speakers. hotly debated in recent years. Two desire of some classmates to repre- "They have to see it first before They then met with t4e~Comme~ce- ~ ~om .....e-:t~ement, Page 19 years ago, the Class of 2002 Ring sent women at the Institute, he felt they can legitimately petition to Committee modified the traditional that no alteration to the ring's seal have it changed," Quattrochi said. seal to include a man and a woman should be made while the official Quattrochi and the committee, in modern clothing. The Class of Institute seal remained unchanged. however, changed their minds after a 2003 Ring Committee returned to a "The class ring should not be used phone conversation with Serna on more traditional, all-male version of as a form of political statement," yesterday afternoon, the day Serna the seal, though they did alter small- Serna said. "A school ring should er details of the seal, as per custom. have the official school seal on it." Brass Rat, Page 12 Only One UAPIVP TIcket Spring Rush Meets Petition Deadline Off to Slow Election Committee to Continue Accepting Petitions Startfor IF'e By Vicky Hsu said. "People want to put their ener- By Tom Kilpatrick gies into specific areas where they STAFF REPORTER When Undergraduate Associa- can be more effective. They may Spring rush typically lacks the tion election campaigns began last run for committee chairs within the fanfare and excitement of fall rush night, only one ticket had submitted UA or other committees in MIT and Killian Court, with only a hand- a petition for such as faculty committees. " ful of freshmen participating each Jaime E. Devereaux '02, the cur- year. This year proved to be no ~n~ v1::s~~ees~~ rent UA president, suggested that exception, as roughly 21 freshmen, dent. more petitions for the position may more than half female, came to La The 2005 emerge in the next couple of days. Sala de Puerto Rico last night for UElectionsA Clas.s Council "The Elections Commission has the Interfraternity Council's spring ------ electIons attract- accepted late petitions for UA presi- kickoff event. ed the most candidates, with at least dent and vice president before. It is Posters for the event promised a two candidates for each position. In up to the discretion of the Elections relaxed atmosphere, with represen- contrast, for the Class of 2004 there Commission as to how late the peti- tatives from all participating frater- is only one person or no one at all tions would be accepted. We may nities and independent living groups running for each position besides expect to get a better picture of the present, along with a live comedian, president and vice president. The election competitions in the next a raffle, and food. Class of 2003 also appears to be couple of days," she said. According to IFC rush chair able to white ballot three positions, Joshua S. Yardley '04, just under including president. Seale expected to run for UAP 100 affiliated members represented Current UA officials, however, As it stands, the only candidates their groups at the event. Three' are not worried. "As long as there for UAP and VP are Jennifer S. goals were to "get freshmen out, are qualified candidates, the number Yoon '03 and Miquela C. Vigil '03. build momentum for years to come, ANNIE DING-THE TECH of candidates doesn't matter," said "This news is a total surprise to and bring lots of houses together," The Chinese Students Club sponsored festivities In honor of Helen Lee '02, UA Election Com- me," Yo on said. "I was under the Yardley said. the Chinese New Year last Saturday. Above, the Mil Lion missioner. impression that there are four other In an amusing twist, the event's Dance Troupe, In the final act of the Chinese Students Club Victoria K. Anderson '02, speak- people running. I would have liked organizers underestimated the num- New Year Banquet, wished every one a "'Happy New Year." er of the UA Council, agreed. "It is not necessarily a bad thing," she UA Elections, Page 18 Spring Rush, Page 16 Noam Chom- Comics NEWS sky led a talk Professor Roger G. Mark will be World & Nation 2 on Haiti last the first housemaster of the Sid- Opinion 4 Friday. ney-Pacific graduate dormitory. Arts 6 Events Calendar .11 Page 15 Page 9 Page 12 Page 2 THE TECH WORLD & NATION Annan to Press Baghdad u.s.