Volume 128, Number 12

The Weather MIT’s Today: Mostly cloudy, High 51°F (11°C) Tonight: Light rain, Low 37°F (3°C) Oldest and Largest Tomorrow: Light rain in the morning, Newspaper High 43°F (6°C) Details, Page 2

Volume 128, Number 12 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Friday, March 14, 2008 Most Undergrads Pay Less Tuition Despite Increases, MIT Says By Elijah Jordan Turner ratory space. Staff Reporter According to the report, 90 per- What should you make of MIT’s cent of students received some form voluminous response to the Senate of financial aid, either from MIT Finance Committee, which asked it or from other sources, in 2006–7. to explain exorbitant tuition costs Barkowitz said that 42 percent of in light of a sixth-in-the-nation en- students did not receive grants from dowment? MIT last year. MIT’s response makes three The Institute’s endowment, things very clear: first, the endow- which totaled nearly $10 billion in ment has tripled in the past ten the past fiscal year, is ranked sixth years; second, tuition has increased in the country, behind Harvard, by nearly 50 percent; and finally, the Yale, Stanford, the University of average student pays less to attend Texas system, and Princeton. The Shreyes Seshasai—The Tech MIT than he did ten years ago. endowment’s value has nearly tri- Upperclassmen help freshmen explore their options at the Choice of Major Study Break in Next Over the past ten years, tuition pled in ten years; it was just under Dining on Thursday night. The event, organized by Next House RBA (Residence-Based Advising), has increased by an average of just $3.7 billion in 1998. allowed freshmen to talk with upperclassmen from departments in which they were interested. For over four percent each year. Tuition Some of the rapid increase in the more information, visit http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/2011/choiceofmajor/. for the 1998–9 term cost $24,050; endowment comes from donations for 2008–9, it will be $36,390. — over the past ten years, MIT has Even though tuition has in- received about $650 million in do- creased by each year, in recent nations to the endowment, accord- UROP Proposal System Moves to years, students have paid less to at- ing to the report. The rest comes tend MIT. The average amount paid from investment returns and other has decreased by 15 percent over sources. Web for All Students by Summer ten years when adjusted for infla- Senator Charles E. Grassley, R- tion, according to the report, which Iowa, the ranking member of the By Angeline Wang UROP coordinators. her contact with her faculty supervi- is available online at http://tech.mit. Senate Finance Committee, sug- Contributing Editor Because the approval process sor but that “really depends on the edu/V128/N12/senate/. gested in January that the Senate In many departments, UROP can now be done remotely, it will be student.” “One of the reasons why a But tuition does not complete- might require universities to spend research proposals can now be especially helpful for students and lot of students want to do a UROP is ly cover the cost of MIT: Daniel a minimum amount of their endow- submitted online by students faculty who may be unable to meet to get that exposure to a professor,” Barkowitz, director of student fi- ments each year in order to reduce and approved online by fac- in person, Associate Dean Michael Sher said. nancial aid, said that educating an students’ financial burdens. MIT ulty and UROP coordinators. Bergren said. The new online system is being undergraduate costs about twice as has spent about five percent of its This change to an online system Christina J. Sher ’08, who has rolled out in phases and should be much as tuition. endowment each year since 1998. from a paper process, which has been a Course XVI UROP, used the new in place for all departments by the “The true cost of providing an used since UROP began in 1969, is system this semester and said it was summer, according to UROP Pro- MIT education to our students - The Senate’s request intended to make the proposal pro- “much more efficient.” “Usually, it’s gram Coordinator Melissa J. Martin- 85% of whom study science or In January, the Senate Finance cess easier. Previously, undergradu- really inconvenient for me to try to Greene. The system was piloted in engineering - significantly exceeds Committee sent terse letters to ates applying for UROPs had to schedule a time for the signature,” January for several departments and the tuition revenue we receive,” America’s 136 richest colleges ask- submit hard copy cover sheets and Sher said. was expanded to additional depart- says the report to the Senate. For ing eleven questions about the ris- proposals and obtain signatures from Sher said she was not worried example, science and engineering faculty supervisors and departmental that the new system would lessen UROP, Page 11 educations require expensive labo- Senate, Page 11 Report Urges New Focus Joseph Weizenbaum MIT News Office On Math, Problem Solving Joseph Weizenbaum, professor emeritus of computer science at MIT who grew skeptical of artificial intelligence after creating a program that made many users feel like they were speaking with an empathic psychologist, died March 5 in Berlin. He was 85. In U.S. Education System Weizenbaum, who was Jewish, fled Nazi Germany with his parents and arrived in the United States in the mid- By Tamar Lewin work begins,” said the report of the 1930s. At the beginning of his career with computers, in the early 1950s, he worked on analog computers; later, he The New York Times National Mathematics Advisory helped design and build a digital computer at Wayne University in Detroit, Mich. American students’ math Panel, appointed two years ago by In 1955, Weizenbaum became a member of the General Electric team that designed and built the first computer achievement is “at a mediocre President Bush. “Students who system dedicated to banking operations. Among his early technical contributions were the list processing system level” compared with that of their complete Algebra II are more than peers worldwide, according to a twice as likely to graduate from col- Weizenbaum, Page 11 new report by a federal panel, which lege compared to students with less recommended that schools focus on mathematical preparation.” key skills that prepare students to The report, adopted unanimous- learn algebra. ly by the panel on Thursday and “The sharp falloff in math- presented to Education Secretary ematics achievement in the United Margaret Spellings, said that pre- States begins as students reach late kindergarten-to-eighth-grade math middle school, where, for more and more students, algebra course Math Education, Page 12 In Short ¶¶A memorial service for Robert is currently being piloted on the M. Wells ’08 will be held tomor- Boston Daytime Shuttle and can row at 2 p.m. in the MIT Chapel. be viewed at http://www.nextbus. com/. ¶¶The ShuttleTrack system will be replaced by a service provid- Send news information and tips to ed by NextBus. Shuttle tracking [email protected].

Ne w s World & Nation ��2 A bloodless diabetes Opinion ��4 monitor passes a key test Campus Life ��5 Page 14 Fun ��6 Eric Schmiedl—The Tech Shaunalynn M. Duffy ’09 and Samuel E. Kronick ’10 lurch down the Infinite Corridor as part of a Arts ��8 group of zombies on the last leg of a campus tour they were giving to Center for Advanced Visual Sports ��16 Studies artist Jenny Romaine. Page 2 The Tech March 14, 2008 Wo r l d & Na t i o n Trader Tells Prosecutors Policymakers Propose Boss Saw Illicit Deal By Nicola Clark The New York Times PARIS Stronger Mortgage Rules Jerome Kerviel, the former trader at the bank Societe Generale, has told French investigators that an assistant on his desk conducted By Edmund L. Andrews secretary, the chairman of the Fed- investors around the world. at least one large fictitious transaction last spring on their boss’ com- The New York Times eral Reserve and the government’s Paulson took particular aim puter — as the boss looked on, according to a court document obtained WASHINGTON top financial regulators. at credit-rating agencies, such as Thursday by The International Herald Tribune. The nation’s top economic poli- Paulson said the government was Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and The testimony was an indication that Kerviel was continuing to cymakers, hoping to prevent a repeat going to demand greater “transpar- Fitch, which gave Triple-A ratings press his claim that his superiors knew that he was amassing trades that of the excesses that led to the mort- ency” from banks and Wall Street to billions of dollars in mortgage- the bank later blamed for losses of nearly 5 billion euros ($7.1 billion). gage bubble and bust, on Thursday firms, stronger risk management backed securities that turned out to But according to the document, the supervisor, Eric Cordelle, proposed a broad series of reforms and capital management and a better be filled with delinquent loans. denied Kerviel’s assertions in a hearing with investigating judges on aimed at tightening oversight of fi- trading system for complex finan- Paulson said the rating agencies March 6, saying that he did not even have the necessary software on nancial institutions. cial derivatives, such as collateral- would have enforce policies about his computer, the document shows. The changes include tougher ized debt obligations, that managed disclosing their conflicts of inter- On a second occasion, however, Cordelle admitted that he had wit- disclosure requirements for banks to transform risky subprime mort- est, an allusion to criticisms that nessed Kerviel entering trades on the computer of a trainee and even and Wall Street firms, a nationwide gages into securities with Triple-A the agencies were typically paid confronted him. There was no indication that he ever followed up. licensing system for mortgage bro- ratings. for their ratings by the investment kers and new rules for credit rating Echoing measures that congres- banks who only paid once they had agencies, which have been widely sional Democrats have been draft- sold their securities to investors. For Spitzer, Lawyers criticized for failing to recognize ing, the presidential group called In addition, Paulson said the major problems with mortgage- for tougher state and federal regu- president’s group would push the Prepare to Do Battle backed securities and for having po- lation of mortgage lenders and a rating agencies to “clearly differ- By Alan Feuer tential conflicts of interest. nationwide set of licensing and entiate” between the ratings for and Benjamin Weiser “This effort is not about finding registration standards for mortgage complicated structured investment The New York Times NEW YORK excuses or scapegoats,” said Trea- brokers. products, which investors may not As Gov. Eliot Spitzer begins the delicate dance of fending off crimi- sury Secretary Henry M. Paulson That reflects a widespread criti- have understood, and the ratings for nal charges in the federal prostitution case that led to his resignation on Jr., who outlined the proposals in a cism by many experts and policy- more conventional corporate bonds Wednesday morning, he is being helped by an august legal team that speech here on Thursday morning. makers, who have argued that mil- and municipal securities. blends the comforts of the familiar with an insider’s understanding of “But poor judgment and poor mar- lions of mortgages were originated Issuers of mortgage-backed se- power politics. ket practices led to mistakes by all by independent mortgage brokers curities, in turn, would be required Spitzer, whose own law license could become a casualty of the participants.” who often had no concern about to disclose “more granular informa- case, has enlisted three partners from the distinguished Manhattan law The recommendations were de- credit quality because they simply tion” about the quality of the under- firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, renowned for white- veloped by the President’s Work- passed the mortgages to finance lying loans and their procedures for collar criminal defense work. He has not been charged with any crime, ing Group on Financial Markets, companies that in turn resold them verifying the information in those but has been identified as one of the clients of the Emperor’s Club VIP, a group that includes the Treasury to Wall Street firms and ultimately loans. a high-priced online escort ring, who were caught on tape through a federal wiretap that resulted in four arrests last week. Michele Hirshman, 49, a former top aide to Spitzer from his days as state attorney general and a friend, is in charge of the team, a spokes- Politics and Fiscal Agendas woman for the law firm said Thursday. She will be assisted, as the matter goes forward, by two of the firm’s heaviest legal hitters, Theodore V. Wells Jr., 57, co-chairman of the litigation department, and Mark F. Mix in Voting on Capitol Hill Pomerantz, 56, a former chief of the criminal division for the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, the very agency By Carl Hulse energy technology, while allowing ham Clinton of New York and Barack that was considering Spitzer’s fate. and Robert Pear some tax cuts pushed by President Obama of Illinois. Those two, who The New York Times Bush to expire in two years. also back the earmark restriction, WASHINGTON The House defeated a Republican took time for a private conversation As Dollar Falls, Prices Rise The House passed a $3 trillion alternative that would have slowed on the floor as they and their col- By Vikas Bajaj Democratic spending plan on Thurs- spending on Medicare and other en- leagues milled about for hours while The New York Times day as Congress engaged in a day of titlement programs, permanently ex- dozens of votes were taken. Almost everything seems to be going wrong for the American budget theater that had as much to do tended the tax cuts, invested more in The two budgets, which must be economy at once. People are buying less, but most things are costing with the political bottom line as fed- military spending and put a one-year reconciled for a final vote later, are non- more. Mortgage rates are rising, the dollar is falling and prices of key eral fiscal policy. freeze on the congressional pet proj- binding and represent no formal action commodities like oil are leaping from one record high to the next. With three presidential candidates ects known as earmarks. on either spending or taxes. But a final On Thursday, the dollar plumbed new lows against the Japanese on hand, the Senate headed toward a House members agreed to convene budget serves as the framework for later yen and several other major currencies; the price of an ounce of gold final budget vote as well. Both parties in a rare closed session to privately dis- spending and tax decisions and as a pol- jumped above $1,000 for the first time; and lenders raised home loan seized on the annual debate over the cuss the administration’s terrorist sur- icy manifesto for the majority party. rates once again. Government figures showed retail sales fell in Febru- spending blueprint as a way to shape veillance program before a vote on Fri- Senate Democrats sought to quick- ary as consumers cut back on cars, furniture and electronics. the 2008 campaign dialogue and try day on a Democratic version of the spy ly take the topic of tax cuts off the table. Stocks fell sharply after the retail sales report was released early in to force the White House contenders program that President Bush opposes. By a 99-1 vote, the Senate extended el- the day, and a large investment fund said it was nearing collapse. The into embarrassing votes or build op- In the Senate, Sen. John McCain ements of Bush’s cuts that apply mainly volatility that has defined the market lately continued unabated. The position to their policy ideas. of Arizona, the presumptive Repub- to the middle class like the $1,000 child Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index fell 2 percent in the morning, then The House voted 212-207 to ap- lican presidential nominee, hoped to tax credit. But a Republican proposal rebounded partly in reaction to a report that said banks were nearing the prove the plan developed by Demo- cast a symbolic vote against earmarks to make a similar pledge on lower rates end of subprime mortgage losses. It was up nearly 1 percent in the after- crats that would increase spending and swooped in for the all-day budget for capital gains and stock dividends noon before paring that gain to close up 0.5 percent, to 1,315.48 points. on domestic programs like education, vote-a-thon. So did the Democratic was defeated, with Clinton and Obama health care, veterans benefits and new presidential rivals, Sens. Hillary Rod- among those opposing it. We a t h e r Marching Storms Situation for Noon Eastern Standard Time, Friday, March 14, 2008

By Brian H. Tang 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 As if stepping to a drumbeat, storms keep catching us on the weekend. 1004 The jet stream is currently situated like a welcome mat from sea to shining sea allowing storms to quickly traverse across the country. This flow, which is 997

known as a progressive pattern, is characterized by quick hitting but frequent 1009 storms. The first in a series of storms will come through Saturday morning 35°N giving us a light bout of rain, which will quickly clear out in the afternoon. The second storm is actually a bigger storm, but not for us. It will pass well south of us and head out to sea where it is forecasted to blow up into quite a powerful cyclone. Earlier in the week, a couple of the forecast models were instead projecting the storm to make a pass much closer to New Eng- 30°N

land bringing us perilously close to an all out raging blizzard, but to the snow 1001 weary’s relief, reality is looking much more benign. At worst, we’d see a few light snow showers Sunday with strong winds Sunday night and Monday as 1002 the ocean cyclone spins up offshore. 1005 25°N

Extended Forecast 1000 Today: Mostly cloudy. High 51°F (11°C). Tonight: Light rain. Low 37°F (3°C). Tomorrow: Light rain in the morning then mostly cloudy. High 43°F (6°C). 1015 Tomorrow night: Mostly cloudy. Low 32°F (0°C). Sunday: Cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers. Windy late. High 40°F (4°C). Weather Systems Weather Fronts Precipitation Symbols Other Symbols Snow Rain Fog High Pressure Trough - - - Showers Thunderstorm

Q Q Q Q Warm Front Light Low Pressure Haze LLLLL Cold Front Moderate Compiled by MIT Hurricane Q Q Meteorology Staff L L Stationary Front Heavy and The Tech March 14, 2008 Wo r l d & Na t i o n The Tech Page 3

China Tightens Security on Paterson Sets Wheels Into Motion By Nicholas Confessore The New York Times Tibetan Monks After Protest With sorrow, seriousness and a dollop of humor, Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson opened his first full day as governor-in-waiting on Thursday, By Jim Yardley in Lhasa is unusual. Security there to ease rules on “patriotic education” pledging his continued commitment to Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s agenda but The New York Times is heavy, and the penalty for protest- in which monks are required to study breaking markedly with the governor’s style. BEIJING ing is harsh. News of the protests has government propaganda and write In a flurry of meetings with legislative leaders, news conferences Chinese security forces were been censored in the Chinese news denunciations of the Dalai Lama. and briefings, Paterson began aggressively laying the groundwork for reportedly surrounding three mon- media, and Beijing does not allow On Tuesday morning, the Drepung when he is formally sworn in as governor on Monday. asteries outside Lhasa, the Tibetan foreign journalists to travel to Lhasa monks apparently agreed to return to At a news conference on Thursday morning, Paterson said he would capital, on Thursday after hundreds without permission. But accounts the monastery. try to govern through consensus, declined to rule out an income tax of monks took to the streets this week from Tibetan advocacy groups, from But another protest was under increase and then took questions from an overflow crowd of reporters. in what are believed to be the largest the U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia and way in the heart of the city, outside When asked whether he, like Spitzer, had ever patronized a prosti- Tibetan protests against Chinese rule from tourists’ postings on the Inter- the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred tute, Paterson could not suppress his trademark dagger wit. in two decades. net suggest that protests emerged temple in Tibet. About a dozen monks He paused, gave a sly smile, and answered, “Only the lobbyists.” The turmoil in Lhasa occurred at from three of the most famous mon- from the Sera monastery staged a The tone Paterson set in his appearances was the most marked shift a politically delicate time for China, asteries in Tibetan Buddhism. pro-independence protest, waving from Spitzer, who favored stern and high-flying oratory over self-dep- which is facing increasing criticism Robert Barnett, a Tibet special- a Tibetan flag in front of onlookers recating humor. over its human rights record as it pre- ist at Columbia University who has in the crowded square outside the “I kind of feel like the student who’s getting ready for the final pares to be host to the Olympic Games communicated with Tibetan exiles, temple. Police officers arrested the exam but they didn’t attend any classes,” Paterson conceded Thursday in August and is seeking to appear said the initial incident occurred monks. Foreign tourists posted video morning in a radio interview broadcast from the Capitol. harmonious to the outside world. Monday afternoon when about 400 on the Internet of officers shooing In his remarks to reporters, Paterson signaled that he would remain Beijing has kept a tight lid on dis- monks left Drepung Loseling Mon- away people. committed to most of Spitzer’s priorities, including the broad outlines sent before the Games. But people astery intending to march five miles The arrests sparked another protest of the governor’s budget plan, a push for more restrictions on campaign with grievances against the govern- west to the city center. Police officers on Tuesday. Witnesses told Radio Free donations and a $1 billion public investment fund to invigorate the ing Communist Party have tried to stopped the march at the halfway Asia that 500 or 600 monks poured upstate economy. promote their causes when top offi- point and arrested 50 or 60 monks. out of the Sera Monastery, about two “I promised the governor yesterday that I would commit myself to cials may be wary of cracking down But Barnett said the remaining miles north of the Jokhang Temple. the people of this great state, that we would have stability and continu- using force. monks held the equivalent of a sit- They shouted slogans and demanded ity in those challenges that lie ahead,” said Paterson, a Democrat, at the Qin Gang, a spokesman for Chi- down strike and were joined by an ad- the release of their fellow monks. news conference. na’s Foreign Ministry, confirmed ditional 100 monks from Drepung. Witnesses said that police fired Unlike Spitzer, Paterson, who has favored tax increases on the wealthy Thursday that protests had erupted in The monks “were demanding tear gas to disperse the crowd. in the past, did not rule out raising taxes to balance the budget for the next Lhasa, but declined to provide details. specific changes on religious restric- A protest was reported Wednes- fiscal year, which begins April 1. The Assembly is pushing for a measure He described the situation as stable. tions in the monastery,” said Barnett. day at Ganden Monastery, about 35 that would increase taxes on those earning more than $1 million to 7.7 The defiance reported this week He said monks want the authorities miles east of Lhasa. percent from 6.85 percent. Briefly addressing Spitzer’s future, Paterson, 53, said he considered the governor a close friend, adding, “In my heart I feel he has suffered enough.” He acknowledged that some people might Kidnapped Iraqi Chaldean feel that prosecutors should pursue criminal charges against Spitzer. The Dollar Reaches New Lows Catholic Archbishop Found Buried By Steven R. Weisman The New York Times WASHINGTON By Erica Goode of a car, the church officials said. In in Mosul, was kidnapped and later How low can the dollar go? The New York Times the darkness, he managed to pull out released. In October 2006, an Ortho- Battered by bad news and mounting fears over the U.S. economy, BAGHDAD his cell phone and call the church, dox priest, Polis Iskander, was be- the dollar plumbed new depths on Thursday, helping drive oil prices The body of a Chaldean Catholic telling them not to pay a ransom for headed after he was kidnapped and up to record levels. archbishop who was kidnapped in the his release, they said. attempts to ransom him failed. The greenback traded at a new low of $1.56 against the euro, while northern city of Mosul last month as “He believed that this money The number of Chaldeans in Iraq oil prices closed at $110 a barrel. Early in the day, the dollar sank be- he drove home after afternoon Mass would not be paid for good works has dropped by at least a million low 100 Japanese yen for the first time since 1995, but it ended the day was discovered Thursday buried in a and would be used for killing and since the end of Saddam Hussein’s slightly above that milestone. southeastern area of the city. more evil actions,” the officials said. dictatorship, though the Chaldeans The dollar has been declining in value against the euro and several The death of Archbishop Paulos The archbishop’s church is known are still the largest Christian group other currencies since 2002, slamming travelers to Europe and Ameri- Faraj Rahho, leader of the Chaldean in Mosul as Safina, or The Ship, but in the country. Priests have estimated can consumers purchasing European goods. Politicians are deploring Catholic Church in Mosul, evoked parishioners called it the Holy Spirit that fewer than 500,000 Chaldean the weak dollar as a sign of American economic decline and influence. expressions of grief and anger from Church. Christians remain in Iraq. To make matters worse, many economists say that the problems of a the Vatican and from world leaders, In Baghdad, Cardinal Emman- The Chaldean Church is an East- sagging dollar are feeding off each other. As the dollar weakens, hold- including Iraq’s president, Jalal Tala- uel III Delly, the patriarch of the ern Rite church affiliated with the ers of dollars, especially those overseas, are aiming for better returns bani. Chaldean Church in Iraq, said he Roman Catholic Church but retain- on their assets by diversifying their portfolios toward other currencies, Officials of the Chaldean Church was too overcome with grief to talk ing its own customs and rites. Most sending the dollar into further decline. in Iraq said they had received a call about the archbishop’s death. But he Chaldeans live in the Middle East. telling them where the body was bur- said that the morgue had released the Other Christian sects in Iraq in- ied. The cause of death was not clear. archbishop’s body to his relatives clude Assyrian Christians, Armenian AOL Buys No. 3 An official of the morgue in Mosul and that a funeral would be held Fri- Christians and Sabeans, an ancient said that the archbishop, who was 65 day near Mosul. sect. Social Networking Site and had health problems, including In the last few years, Mosul has Talabani sent condolences to the By Brian Stelter high blood pressure and diabetes, been a difficult place for Christians. pope and to Cardinal Delly, saying The New York Times might have died of natural causes. The archbishop’s kidnapping fol- he learned of the archbishop’s death Bebo lacks the hundred million friends of MySpace and the Church officials said Thursday, lowed a series of attacks in January “with a heart filled with sadness.” charmed social status of Facebook. But it is the third most popular however, that Rahho was shot in the on Christian churches. Last June, a He added, “The noble Iraqi Chris- social networking Web site in the United States and, to the besieged leg when he was abducted on Feb. priest and three companions were tians will keep working with their Internet company AOL, it is worth $850 million. 29. Gunmen sprayed his car with shot and killed in the archbishop’s brothers from all the sects to end AOL, a subsidiary of Time Warner, said Thursday that it would ac- bullets, killed two bodyguards and church. In January 2005, Archbishop sectarianism and to build brother- quire Bebo and integrate the site with its popular AOL Instant Messen- shoved the archbishop into the trunk George Yasilious, of another church hood and peace.” ger (AIM), jump-starting AOL’s social networking strategy. The chief executive of AOL, Randy Falco, called the deal a game- changer for the company, which has struggled to move from an Inter- Small Businesses Struggle With Cut net access business to an advertising-supported model. AOL has spent more than $1 billion to acquire the pieces for an advertising division called Platform A that would probably be used on Bebo. Social networking sites — enabling online connections between In Immigrant Work Force friends, family and colleagues — are seen as a growing source of rev- By Katie Zezima legislation that would allow employ- Congress passed the Save Our Small enue for media companies, although making money has not been easy. The New York Times ers to rehire foreign seasonal nonag- and Seasonal Businesses Act, and The News Corp. purchased MySpace in 2005 for $580 million. Micro- HYANNIS, Mass. ricultural workers independent of a President Bush signed it into law. soft paid $240 million for 1.6 percent of Facebook in October. For years, William Zammer Jr. 1991 quota. The act expired in 2007, and Con- has relied on 100 seasonal foreign As a result, the government is gress passed a one-year extension employees to turn down beds, boil limited to issuing the 66,000 seasonal that was attached to the National De- In Lagging Haiti, First Lady lobsters and serve cocktails at the work visas set when the visa program, fense Authorization Act. The exten- restaurants, golf course and inn he known as H-2B, became law — sion expired on Sept. 30, 2007, the Finds Optimism owns on Cape Cod and in nearby 33,000 for winter workers and 33,000 end of the 2007 fiscal year. By Marc Lacey Plymouth. for summer workers. Last year, more Employers say that unless Con- The New York Times PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti This summer, however, the for- than 120,000 foreign workers entered gress acts soon, they will have to Most Haitians are unemployed, but the first lady, Laura Bush, spoke eign workers will not be returning, the country on H-2B visas. scale back operations, because the to some of the fortunate few who do have jobs here in the poorest coun- and Zammer, like other seasonal em- For Cape Cod, the impact has labor pool in many resort areas is not try in the hemisphere during her visit Thursday. ployers across the nation, is scram- been devastating: Employers will re- deep enough to provide new workers, The trip was aimed at putting a positive face on some of the coun- bling to find replacements. “It’s a ceive only 15 of the 5,000 visas they and many do not want seasonal jobs. try’s social ills and highlighting what the Bush administration consid- major crisis,” he said. “We’re very had requested, according to the Cape “It’s kind of sad that those who ers its success in helping to jump-start Haiti. short on work force. We’ll be look- Cod Chamber of Commerce. have followed the law, paid an inor- A young man who had dropped out of school told Bush how he ing at opening a little later, closing “It’s just ruthless for the His- dinate amount of money to follow the had learned to repair automobile fuel systems through an American- a little earlier, looking at how we do panic caucus to do this, use it as a law by paying attorney’s fees, pre- supported jobs program and now earned a living wage. Several women our menus.” bargaining chip,” said Zammer, vailing wage and following the rules, who have received microloans talked about the small businesses that Zammer is caught up in a con- whose foreign workers — mostly are those who are getting hurt,” said they had managed to build. Along the motorcade route, however, were gressional standoff over immigration from Jamaica and Eastern Europe Don Mooers, an immigration lawyer thousands of jobless Haitians. reform that is punishing employers — normally make up 25 percent of working with Save Small Business- The first lady heard a classroom of barely literate teenagers in one who play by the rules and that, ad- his staff. “We’re working at finding es, a group of small business owners of the capital’s poor neighborhoods reciting a Creole phrase meaning vocates say, could cost small compa- new people. We have to. But it’s ex- lobbying for the cap to be lifted. “I can read and write.” But that is true for only about half of Haiti’s nies billions in lost business. tremely difficult, because you end up “I get that question every day, population. In an effort to win support for stealing from other people who are ‘Why are we following the law when Bush, who stopped briefly in Haiti on her way to Mexico, also met comprehensive immigration reform, also trying to get help.” the guy down the street isn’t, and I’m with youngsters who had been infected with HIV, the virus that causes the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Returning workers became ex- the one who may face going out of AIDS, but were receiving treatment and training. and its allies have blocked voting on empt from the cap in 2005, when business,’” Mooers said. Page 4 The Tech March 14, 2008 Op i n i o n Letters To The Editor

have already suffered enough. Our thoughts and prayers are with the fami- Chairman Suicide Implications Rebecca Blevins Faery lies who have suffered loss. Members of the Del- Benjamin P. Gleitzman ’09 Insensitive Director of First Year Writing ta Upsilon fraternity traveled to be with Robert’s Editor in Chief Editor’s Note: The Tech stands by its re- family at a service in New York. Later this week Nick Semenkovich ’09 This letter is in response to The Tech’s March porting. and next month we will celebrate their lives. This 4 article on the death of Robert M. Wells ’08: is as it should be. Business Manager In the article reporting Rob Wells’s death, As the same time, our community is also Austin Chu ’08 The Tech quoted from an essay Rob wrote in Letter to the blessed. On March 6, Prof. David Mindell and my Writing and Experience class during his his wife Pamela, Housemasters in Edgerton Hall Managing Editor freshman year on his having suffered from Community welcomed Lucia Flora Mindell to their family Jessica Witchley ’10 bipolar disorder and depression. While the es- Over the past weeks we have lost several and we welcome her to ours; we celebrate with Executive Editor say is posted in the online magazine Culture members of the MIT family. Robert Wells died them. Michael McGraw-Herdeg ’08 Shock!, which was the class project and thus is in a fall from his place of residence. J. Mark Sunday morning our clocks turned forward, available for anyone to read, your quoting it in Schuster Professor of urban studies and plan- the sun stays with us later in the day, and pros- News Staff the first column of your news report impressed ning lost a valiant battle with cancer. We said pects of spring seem more real. Let us all find Editor: Nick Bushak ’10; Associate Editors: me as having been motivated by the desire to good-bye to emeritus faculty Louis Menand of new energy for our work together, and for the ties JiHye Kim ’10, Arkajit Dey ’11, Jeff Guo ’11, raise the possibility that Rob’s death was not political science and Frances Reintjes of electri- of friendship and family that knit our community Ryan Ko ’11, Natasha Plotkin ’11, Emily Prentice accidental. I found it to be an egregious and cal engineering. ever tighter. With time healing will come, but as ’11; Staff: Waseem S. Daher G, Curt Fischer unfortunate example of sensationalist journal- At one level this is the natural order of things. the days pass let us resolve to be better friends, G, Ray C. He G, John A. Hawkinson ’98, Jiao ism — prevalent in the newspapers of today, At another, death always comes too soon. What colleagues, workers and companions. The ties Wang ’08, Daniela Cako ’09, Mei-Hsin Cheng yes, but I would like to think MIT students are we are reminded of, however, is that we are that bind us are wonderfully strong and should ’09, Diana Jue ’09, Ji Qi ’09, Kirtana Raja ’09, above the fray in such delicate matters. Read- bound together in a shared enterprise. We are be celebrated each day. Yiwei Zhang ’09, Yi Zhou ’09, Yuri Hanada ’10, Joyce Kwan ’10, Manisha Padi ’10, Joanne Y. ing the article made me feel more intense sym- all touched by loss no matter whom, no matter Robert M. Randolph Shih ’10, Yan Huang ’11, Elijah Jordan Turner pathy for Rob’s family, who, it seems to me, when, and no matter why. Chaplain to the Institute ’11, Lulu Wang ’11; Meteorologists: Cegeon Chan G, Jon Moskaitis G, Michael J. Ring G, Roberto Rondanelli G, Scott Stransky G, Brian H. Tang G, John K. Williams G, Angela Zalucha G, Garrett P. Marino ’08, Mike Yee ’08.

Production Staff Editor: Steve Howland ’11; Staff: K. Nichole Treadway ’10, Yue Li ’11, Mark Thompson ’11, Mark Yen ’11.

Opinion Staff Editor: Aditya Kohli ’09; Staff: Josh Levinger ’07, Ali S. Wyne ’08, Krishna Gupta ’09.

Sports Staff Editor: Shreyes Seshasai ’08; Staff: James Zorich ’08, Albert Ni ’09.

Arts Staff Editors: Sarah Dupuis ’10, Praveen Rathinavelu ’10; Staff: Bogdan Fedeles G, Andrew Lee ’07, Alice Macdonald ’08, Tyson C. McNulty ’08, S. Balaji Mani ’10, Tina Ro ’10, Kevin Wang ’10.

Photography Staff Editors: Perry Hung ’08, David M. Templeton ’08, Ricardo Ramirez ’09, Andrea Robles ’10; Staff: Alex H. Chan G, David Da He G, Dmitry Kashlev G, Andrew T. Lukmann G, Ramya Sankar G, Martin Segado G, Scott Johnston ’03, Christina Kang ’08, Arthur Petron ’08, David Reshef ’08, Martha Angela Wilcox ’08, Ana Malagon ’09, Peter H. Rigano ’09, Eric D. Schmiedl ’09, Jerzy Szablowski ’09, Diana Ye ’09, Daniel P. Beauboeuf ’10, Mindy Eng ’10, Helen Hou ’10, Monica Kahn ’10, Samuel E. Kronick ’10, Diane Rak ’10, Aaron Sampson ’10, Jongu Shin ’10, William Yee ’10, Kari Williams ’11, Sherry Yan ’11.

Campus Life Staff Editor: Charles Lin G; Staff: David Shirokoff G, Bruce Wu G, Kailas Narendran ’01, Elizabeth Zakszewski ’06, James Scott Berdahl ’08, Sarah C. Proehl ’09, Michael T. Lin ’11; Cartoonists: Scott Burdick G, Daniel Klein-Marcuschamer G, Roberto Perez-Franco G, Emezie Okorafor ’03, Nancy Hua ’07, Jia Lou ’07, Ash Turza ’08, Danbee Kim ’09, Roxana G. Safipour ’09.

Business Staff Operations Manager: Michael Kuo ’10; Staff: Jeffrey Chang ’08, Cokie Hu ’08, Tai Ho Kang ’08, Neeharika Bhartiya ’10, Jennifer Chu ’10, Ritu Tandon ’10, Heymian Wong ’10.

Technology Staff Staff: Quentin Smith ’10.

Editors at Large Contributing Editors: Rosa Cao G, Brian Hemond G, Valery K. Brobbey ’08, Angeline Wang ’09, Caroline Huang ’10; Senior Editors: Satwiksai Seshasai G, Jillian A. Berry ’08, Omari Stephens ’08.

Advisory Board Paul E. Schindler, Jr. ’74, V. Michael Bove ’83, Barry S. Surman ’84, Robert E. Malchman property of The Tech, and will not be returned. Letters, columns, and ’85, Deborah A. Levinson ’91, Jonathan E. D. Opinion Policy cartoons may also be posted on The Tech’s Web site and/or printed Richmond PhD ’91, Karen Kaplan ’93, Saul Editorials are the official opinion of The Tech. They are written by or published in any other format or medium now known or later that Blumenthal ’98, Frank Dabek ’00, Daniel Ryan the editorial board, which consists of Chairman Benjamin P. Gleitzman, becomes known. The Tech makes no commitment to publish all the Bersak ’02, Eric J. Cholankeril ’02, Jordan Editor in Chief Nick Semenkovich, Managing Editor Jessica Witchley, letters received. Rubin ’02, Nathan Collins SM ’03, Keith J. Winstein ’03, Akshay R. Patil ’04, Tiffany Opinion Editor Aditya Kohli, and Contributing Editor Rosa Cao. Guest columns are opinion articles submitted by members of the Dohzen ’06, Beckett W. Sterner ’06, Marissa Dissents are the opinions of signed members of the editorial MIT or local community and have the author’s name in italics. Col- Vogt ’06, Zachary Ozer ’07, B. D. Colen. board choosing to publish their disagreement with the editorial. umns without italics are written by Tech staff. Letters to the editor, columns, and editorial cartoons are writ- Production Staff for This Issue ten by individuals and represent the opinion of the author, not neces- Editors: Austin Chu ’08, Jessica Witchley ’10, sarily that of the newspaper. Electronic submissions are encouraged To Reach Us Staff: Michael McGraw-Herdeg ’08, Steve and should be sent to [email protected]. Hard copy submis- The Tech’s telephone number is (617) 253-1541. E-mail is the eas- Howland ’11. sions should be addressed to The Tech, P.O. Box 397029, Cambridge, iest way to reach any member of our staff. If you are unsure whom

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Back to Basics Figuring Out Fashion Ask A TA By Manisha Padi and Ying Yang this staple. This week features a fairly serious clear. Remember that we the teaching With all the shopping we’ve done for Figuring Out 4) A scarf question that I think many of us have staff also use your grades to evaluate Fashion, we found ourselves with a new trouble — This is a basic Boston accessory both because of had to contemplate before. While nor- our own performances. If we rushed waking up in the morning, staggering in a daze to get warmth and versatility. Guys should stick to traditional mally we pride ourselves on answering through material during lecture and dressed, and finding so many choices, colors, and styles colors with patterns added for interest. Go for colors questions we’re absolutely unqualified did a bad job of preparing for recita- that we would just throw on the first thing we could see. matching your outerwear. Girls, try playing around with to handle, this week actually features tion, and then everybody gets an A We quickly realized we needed to simplify our morning interesting fabrics (silky, sheer) and colors (brights, pas- knowledgeable answers from experi- on the test, we will assume that our routine by building a base of, well, basics. Comfortable tels, and patterns) to add pop to an outfit. enced TAs. As always, if you have any own sloppy jobs were sufficient, even clothes that always look put together without much ef- 5) A sexy pair of jeans that’s comfortable questions, e-mail us at AskaTA@tech. outstanding, and we will probably fort. Here’s the list we came up with: With jeans, fit is everything. Look for styles that mit.edu. do an even worse job next year. So 1) White button-down shirt don’t pinch in odd places or sag, well, anywhere. Super —AskaTA by cheating, you would be helping to Ladies, look for a more feminine fit, cinched at extra incredible low-rises don’t look good on anyone, so ensure that next year’s kids don’t learn the waist. Guys, find the right fit by making sure that make sure you can bend over with no worries (this goes To [email protected]: anything either. shoulder seams are actually lying on the shoulders. Both for guys too). Guys should look for the exact length of Dear AskaTA, You are not responsible for the genders should absolutely experiment with unobtrusive their leg, while girls can go a bit longer for versatility in Situation: conduct of your classmates, but you details and textures. Embroidered embellishment or un- shoe height. Dark styles are more slimming. It’s the worst academic week ever. A are responsible for your own. MIT has obtrusive stripes add interest while different material 6) Bright but comfy T-shirts million things are due plus tests. You’re a lot of resources for students who are weights add versatility. Thin materials mean a casual This means not having to sacrifice comfort, conve- stressed, broke, and hungry. You’re having trouble, and my experience as a look, while heavy fabrics are structured to hide flaws nience, and cash in order to look good. T-shirts are al- scrambling for change to get an energy TA tells me that the drop date is among and look professional. Wear it buttoned under a suit or ways cheaper than more elaborate shirts and are always drink. You’re checking out of LaVerde’s the most underutilized. If you are over- fitted sweater for a professional look, or unbuttoned suitable for class. Just look for the right fit and find in- and someone takes the opportunity that worked, consider taking a lighter course with dark jeans, over a colorful top. teresting screen prints and colors so that you won’t look the cashier is distracted to walk out load. If the class is just really hard, 2) Dark neutral sweater boring even if you layer it under a bunch of neutrals. with a red bull. You look at them and then use all of the resources that are Go for a soft, touchable fabric that keeps you warm 7) Comfy pair of good looking shoes you can see them looking at you from available to you to focus your efforts on (though cashmere is ideal, acrylic and wool are better Ladies, this means flats. Look for a bow or buckle the corner of their eye. Next: After stay- the areas that you are having difficulty. fits for college student budgets). Ladies, experiment for detailing. Guys, think loafers or lace up shoes in ei- ing up all night finishing all the work These include tests, psets, lectures, with buttoned cardigans as a layering option, but be ther brown or black. Choose by matching your coat. due that day, you have two hours to recitations, tutorials, office hours, labs, careful to find the right fit. Guys, again, watch the shoul- 8) A big bag for girls and a wallet for guys study for the test you have in the after- psets and practice tests from previous der seams. Buying ill-fitting clothes just make you look For men who carry wallets in their pockets, three- noon. You’re not ready for the test. You years when available, tutors, and in disproportional, not bigger or smaller. and five-fold wallets are often too bulky. A tip: if you get to the test late and sit in the back some situations, psychological services 3) A formal outfit put a full, 3-5 fold wallet in your pocket and it doesn’t and during the test you keep hearing like from MIT medical (http://web.mit. Guys, this means investing in a great pair of slacks show, your pants are too loose. Try a two fold wallet or people whisper back and forth. edu/medical/services/s-mentalhealth. and a collared shirt. Get the slacks tailored if their a card case/money clip combo for a sleaker look. Girls, Do you join in on the trend? html) or Nightline. But remember that length isn’t perfect — both socks and trailing hems are a take a textbook or two to the store when shopping for But seriously, what do you do in a you are here to learn, and that the re- turnoff. Ladies, find a great dress for all occasions. This a bag and make sure they fit easily inside and the bag situations like this? quirements of your classes are designed doesn’t just mean a black dress: contrary to popular doesn’t seem to be straining from the weight. Even if —Not The Best Person Either to facilitate that. Don’t reduce their thought, any color you never choose to carry your books to class in a purse, efficacy by tampering with their results. will do as long being able to fit them is a plus if you’ll ever have to wait Dear Not The Best Person Either, —TA Dr. Graham Ruby as the length in line or take a laptop or files to an interview or other You should not join in. Ultimately, and bust cov- backpack-free function. the purpose of a test is to give you Dear Not The Best Person Either, erage are 9) A good scent accurate feedback on your mastery of In general, you propose a difficult fairly mod- All of us who have overslept for an exam understand the material, and getting information problem — what does one do when est and the fit the importance of this item … from others will make it impossible witnessing a violation of ethics such as is flattering. 10) Your signature outfit for you or us to accurately gauge your an infringement of school policy or one This means Have fun with this. Think somewhat semiformal/ understanding. The purpose of taking that flat out breaks the law. Here the di- that for those of nice dinner to get the most versatile look. The most the class is to learn, and if the reason lemma is somewhat analogous to “whis- us who have any important part in choosing this piece, however, is peer that you are not doing well is that you tle blowing” in an industrial setting. bodily flaws, review. No matter how much you like an outfit, if ev- have no time to dedicate to the class, Specifically, one holds private informa- stay away eryone around you thinks it’s ugly, it won’t really do its then it defeats the purpose to spend tion pertaining to a problem within f r o m job. Ask for a lot of opinions in the dressing room, and time going to lectures and sitting in at their company, and is unsure whether silky go for expressing your personal style. When you find tests; the best plan would be to drop or not to make this information public. fab- it, take great care of it (dry clean if necessary) so that it the class and take it next semester. In For an engineer, one should explore all r i c s doesn’t loose its color or fit, and reach for it every time terms of the en masse cheating that you avenues to settle the problem internally. f o r you’re in a pinch. describe, my guess is that not everyone However, in some cases, the company by chance didn’t have time will ignore the engineer. In these cases, to study. It seems more the engineer’s duty to society overrides likely to me that the their company loyalty. In the event that class is improp- the company’s choices lead to public WMBR Top Five 5th Symphonies erly paced, or endangerment, the engineer is required 1. Jean Sibelius’s Symphony no. 5 that the to blow their hypothetical whistle. The 2. Glenn Branca’s Symphony no. 5 (Describing Planes of an Expanding lectures real difficulty arises when the ethi- aren’t cal choice is not cut-and-dry or when Hypersphere there is undue stress such as a rough 3. Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no. 5 academic week. As a result, engineers 4. Hans Werner Henze’s Symphony no. 5 have adopted a general set of guidelines 5. Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5 routed in the philosophy of ethics. Honorable Mentions: Carl Nielsen’s Symphony no. 5, Charles Ives’s Universe Do you join in on the trend? Symphony (in theory), and Olivier Messaien’s Turangalîla Symphony played Most of these ethical guidelines, five times in a row. especially the views by Kant, scream, “do not join in.” Wake up Friday mornings and turn on WMBR 88.1 FM to hear classical What do you do in a situation like music from the last 100 or so years. It’s a respectable and enjoyable hobby, this? Here the ethical conduct is not obvi- and listening to long-form music (which is by no means limited to classical ous and can vary depending on ones music) can encourage you to become more patient and thoughtful. Make personal morals. From an engineering some oatmeal, look out the window, and consider how many years of life perspective, the events witnessed do you have in front of you. You will be old soon. Why not get a head start at not threaten the civilian population and listening to old people’s music? Then you’ll be 50 years ahead of the game therefore it’s probably not wise to pull and establish clear primacy over your latecomer friends. In the far future out the foghorns and call campus police they’ll say, “hey, Maude and Walter and I are going over to the opera tonight, or the dean. after bingo,” and you’ll just be all like, “whatever, posers.” —TA Dave Shirokoff G

DJ name: Chris M. Show name: The Land of Sand and Birds Overheard at MIT Show description: 20th century classical music and other related ethnic music “Caffeine’s like radiation: in small of Western civilization doses, it’s good for you. I bet there’s a parabola of benefits versus con- Time slot: Friday mornings from 6–8 a.m. sumption…” —Unknown

“Are you doing anything for Smoot’s birthday?” Evan Chan ’08 is wearing a white “Duh.” button-down shirt and jeans from —Overheard conversation Express ($40 and $60 respec- about Smoot tively), shoes from Ecco ($80), and watch from Kenneth Cole ($90). “Today was a good day.” Why we like his look: Chan is “Yeah?” wearing four things from our list “Yeah. I went outside.” of basics, and his comfortable “Nice.” look is definitely something that —Overheard in the student center

Campus Stylewatch YING YANG can be worn to class or to dinner. March 14, 2008

Page 6

The Daily Blunderbuss by Ben Peters

Steal My Comic by Michael Ciuffo

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that each column, row, and 3 by 3 grid contains exactly one of each of the digits 1 through 9. Solution, tips, and computer program at http://www.sudoku.com; see also solution, page 14.

ACROSS concern DOWN lobby 1 Donkey call 42 Luminous trail in 1 Voting group 33 __ the thought! 5 Sailed through the sky 2 Money of Iran 35 Jason’s craft 9 Holland sights 43 Even one 3 Body or knock 36 Stick-shift 14 Bit of dialogue 44 Boastful talk lead-in selection 15 Curly cabbage 45 Indicates the way 4 Toady 37 Bridge hand 16 Gothic arch 47 Stop a rocket 5 Japanese dog 39 Zip 17 Filly feed shot 6 Marchers’ beats 40 Turnips or beets, 18 __ of March 49 Hurler’s stat 7 Part of G.E. e.g. 19 Montgomerie of 52 Half a fly? 8 1539 Florida 41 Like some chips the PGA 53 Swiss stream visitor 46 __-Marcus 20 Temperature 55 Winter index 9 Statement of 47 Coach regulators figure policy Parseghian 23 Islands off 61 Samantha of 10 “Prince __” 48 Tranquilize Galway “The Collector” 11 Metric weights, 49 Pitchers

Solution, page 14 24 Black goo 62 Conductor briefly 50 Correct 25 Vane dir. Riccardo 12 Bad deeds 51 Rolling Stones hit 26 Premarital 63 Bohemian 13 Intuit 54 Burning posting 64 Horned charger 21 “__ Poetica” 56 Laertes or 29 Polish-born 65 Bosox or Chisox 22 Table linen Hamlet, e.g. French composer player 26 __ of Gilead 57 Real lollapalooza 32 Pub quaff 66 Dieter’s word 27 __ vera 58 Small singing 33 Tiny veggie 67 Much inclined 28 Salamander group 34 Madden 68 Stark naked 30 Attacks 59 Bart’s bus driver Crossword Puzzle Crossword 38 Meteorologist’s 69 Cattle calls 31 Gun owners’ 60 Deli loaves March 14, 2008 The Tech Page 7

Dilbert® by Scott Adams

91 Soleful object? running game “Words, Words, Words” 92 Angry 125 Old dagger 93 Despite this 126 Kinsman, for 95 Cross inscription short Cre8ive Spellings 97 Charges 129 Aircraft by Philip Engel 98 River down manufacturer below 131 Tie Donuts and 62 Not coarse 122 Type of moss 51 Restaurant with 70 Beachside shack 99 Trick 132 Clump of like 63 Owns 124 Corn wrappers booths 71 Marrow 101 Actor Johnny cells Coffee Cups 66 First Reich 126 Penny 53 Japan or Taiwan 72 Party 103 A pop 133 Stance (abbr.) 127 Measure of ending 73 Doors anagram 105 Norma _____ 134 Samus ______Across 67 Raisin _____ country’s wealth 55 Persona _____ 74 Acting parts 106 Rhythm 135 Charge in CGS 1 Believe 68 Reverberate 128 French lake grata 75 Parted body of 107 High-IQ society 136 Military org. 2 Arises 69 Region 130 Place upright 57 Niels and Harald water 108 Fish eggs 138 Dijon fat 4 Is no longer 70 Ten-foot-high 132 Small child 58 Flax cloth 76 Beginning of a 110 Pope name 139 Cleric Tutu, 5 Took over, as a goals 133 Mexican money 62 Cone location circular story 112 Blame briefly test 72 Cologne woman 135 Kind of vector or 63 Easily available 77 Anger 113 Rage 140 Modern 6 Opposite of apex 73 Actor Sharif value 64 Nile snakes 78 See 83 Across 115 Reused Mesopotamia 7 Mexican girl 74 Beginning of a 137 Invigorate 65 Reggae 83 Finish parchment 142 Resident of 10 Ms. Q. circular novel 139 Shoe-box project precursor 84 “_____ the 117 From Mexico City (suffix) 12 Malaria 79 Sign 141 Beam bender 67 Intertwine season…” to Yucatan 144 Used to be medicine 80 They justify 143 Old saying 68 Electronic 86 Furry garbage 119 Falling rocks 147 Lambda, upside 14 H means 145 Letter starters communication eater 121 Ruins near down 15 _____ Gay 81 Term of 146 Voice-_____ 69 Victoria Falls 87 Tokyo, long ago Vesuvius 17 Consume endearment country 90 Indulgent revel 123 Children’s Solution on page 14. 18 Gene inhibition 82 Internet phone Down mechanism 83 78 Down garde 3 Mac _____ (abbr.) 84 It can be black 8 119 Across 19 Sprint or green prefix 21 Persian 85 Effaced (with 9 “Oh well.” 23 Trim and chic out) 11 Electrocute 26 “Ed, _____, and 86 Sagan or Jung 13 Where to find Eddy” 87 Island of exile paneer 28 Marx’s ending 88 American Big 16 “____ 29 Nuclear material Brother org. partridge…” 32 Operating 89 Far prefix 19 Circle system 91 All men but 20 Between E and 34 Legally petition Adam S in ESL 35 Gupta’s MIT 92 Thought 22 Jot 37 Tired 94 Where one finds 24 Apply friction 39 Building block a hero 25 Product of 41 Hitler’s big 96 What one does lachrymation mistake with a hero 27 Shape of this 44 Indian sea bird 98 1.5 fluid ounces puzzle 45 Massless (?) 99 Singer Bing 29 Tabor, e.g. particle 99 Get hitched 30 Type of joke 47 Throat clearing 102 Steak sauce 31 Taj Majal locale noise 104 MIT 33 London district 49 South American photographer 36 . . . _ _ _ . . . city 106 Feathery apparel 37 Nerd 51 Carpe _____ 109 Envelop 38 Poisonous 52 Un-dead? 111 First mate’s lizard, with 54 Neighbor of response monster Saudi Arabia 112 Sonnet’s rhythm 40 Lipids can form 56 One-sided strip 114 Soda one 58 Thrash 116 Less friendly 42 Edge 59 Stone and Iron, 118 Gender 43 Military training e.g. 119 Not present 45 Kind 60 Male friend, (abbr.) 46 Supervise slangily 120 Double bond 48 Pillage 61 Throw suffix 50 Therm beginner Page 8 The Tech March 14, 2008 Ar t s interview MIT, Vegas, Hollywood A Conversation With Ben Mezrich and Jeffrey Ma By Jillian A. Berry it; you wrote it. Senior Editor BM: The idea was to compress a time pe- n 2002, Ben Mezrich released Bringing riod into sort of a readable narrative thriller, Down the House, the story of how a group and was also to compress certain characters to of MIT students counted cards to win mil- protect them — at the time, none of these guys I lions playing blackjack. Later this month, wanted anybody to know who they were. 21, the movie based on the book, will be re- TT: Ben, if Jeff was so intent on keeping his leased. Recently, The Tech sat down with Mez- anonymity, how did you find out about him? rich and Jeffrey Ma ’94, who is the real life BM: I was at a party [with] the Jill character basis for Ben Campbell in the film. Below is an in the book, who is played by Kate Bosworth in excerpt from the conversation. the movie, [who] unbeknownst to me played on the MIT Blackjack team — she was actually a The Tech: Did you ever think the book was Harvard girl … She invited me to a party and said going to be this successful? you got to meet this guy Jeff. I met Jeff and he Ben Mezrich: I would definitely say no. basically had these great stories, and as a writer When I handed this book in it was like a you hear that a lot. But Jeff immediately started 12,000 first printing; it was this little book. telling me stories, and he had all this money in Peter Iovino—Columbia Pictures Jeffrey Ma ’94 is the real-life basis for the character Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), Cards weren’t really on TV yet and people said, hundred dollar bills and you never see hundred pictured here, in the upcoming movie 21 about the MIT blackjack team. 21 is based on “No one’s going to read a book about cards,” dollar bills in Boston, ever. I mean, when was the the book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. … And then the book took off. And then this is last time you saw a hundred dollar bill? on a whole other level now with the movie and JM: When I open my wallet (laughs). JM: I think it can be done really well still, on “Can I just go and hang out? ‘Cause that sounds everything. It’s pretty crazy. BM: Why would he have hundred dollar a small scale. But on the scale we were doing it like fun.” They’re like, “You can if you learn this Jeff Ma: Yeah, I would say that I had no idea bills if this stuff isn’t real? I actually ended up at, I don’t think it can really be done. You just system.” I felt weird about it because it seemed it was going to do so well. When Ben and I going to Vegas with him and I saw the whole need to bet so much money and they immedi- like a weird thing to do at first. You know the actually talked about it he said, “Oh, it’ll kind thing in action. It was spectacular … Then we ately notice you. Things have changed a lot. But whole scene where Ben Campbell’s like, “No, of be an interesting book.” just started sitting down and talking about it. I do think people will watch this and want to try I’m not interested”? That really happened. I was BM: Then about two months before the book JM: My recollection was a little bit differ- it. I think it will spur a big interest in blackjack like, “No, this isn’t for me.” The idea of being a came out I was sitting at home, and I had writ- ent in that I think that I thought this would be a again which will be cool because poker has defi- professional gambler just didn’t seem right. ten an article for Wired magazine, and the phone great story and wanted Ben to write it and Ben nitely become the more dominant Vegas thing. TT: How did your parents feel about finding rang and it was a guy named Dana Brunetti, who was like whatever … But then when I took him TT: How long did it take you to master the out about all of this? said, “I have Kevin Spacey on the line, he wants to Vegas it all kind of changed. art of card counting? JM: They’re having so much fun with it to talk to you.” And I said “No you don’t really,” BM: Yeah, when I saw Jeff in Vegas — JM: I’d say like 6 months. now. They really are. It took them a while to and he said, “Yeah, I do.” So I took his phone ’cause in Boston I always like to call him the TT: Was Kevin Spacey’s character as con- get used to the idea. number and I hung up on him and I called my geeky MIT kid, [but] in Vegas they’re like rock niving in real life as he was in the movie? BM: I remember when I sat down with Jeff mom, and I said, “Kevin Spacey’s trying to call stars. It was really amazing to see that kind of JM: No. I mean, I don’t think so. He’s a com- to write the book he hadn’t really told his par- me.” And she said, “No, it’s MIT kids prank call- transformation. That’s what really turned me posite of a couple people, but the actual people ents. And he’s like, “Before the book comes ing.” I Googled the name Dana Brunetti and it on to this story. that were involved that he was sort of based on out, can I show it to my parents?” And that’s turned out he really did work with Kevin Spacey TT: How did you both feel about the movie? were sort of more like the Kevin Spacey at the what he did. He let them read it. and actually they found me by Googling me af- BM: I really enjoyed it and I think when peo- beginning of the movie, and less like the Kevin JM: I actually tried to tell my parents the ter reading my article in Wired. And Kevin said, ple see it it captures such a feel from the book. that sort of turns on [Ben Campbell]. You defi- whole story, but it’s really hard to tell some- “I want to make this into a movie.” That was And obviously it goes off and it’s more Holly- nitely see some bits of him. All the characters in one the story unless they’re there. It’s kind of sort of the first inkling I got that we were on to wood. You’ve got Laurence Fishburne in it, and the movie you see little bits of the actual person, unbelievable. something that was kind of cool. And then I got Kate Bosworth and it’s not a group of MIT guys, and it’s kind of eerie when you do. TT: Were you upset that the main character The Today Show [where] you’re on for 5 minutes but I think they did a really good job. TT: Jeff, how did you get into the whole wasn’t Asian? [but] after that it just went crazy. JM: Yeah, I think the movie’s awesome. I blackjack thing? Were you approached by a JM: I think that part of it is being overblown TT: Jeff, how much of the book is true to think what it does is it really captures the sort professor, or another student, like in movie? a little bit, just because the reality is that if you your story? of spirit of what we did and the way we felt. I JM: Actually, for me it was my friends, to be had a movie made about you, what would be JM: I always tell people about 75 percent be- think you leave the movie thinking, “Yeah, we honest. You know how the whole MIT [blackjack the most important thing? It wouldn’t necessar- cause the reality is Ben and I sat down for three beat Vegas and we can beat Vegas.” Everyone team] is around, it’s like a legend and you kind ily be that it was incredibly accurate to life; It weeks everyday for about two or three hours loves that story. of hear about it. And it was friends of friends of would be that it be a good movie. I wanted a and I told him every story I remembered from TT: Do you think the movie’s going to spark friends that were doing it first, then it became great actor to portray me, and Jim [Sturgess] is the times in Vegas. He took that and turned it a big blackjack trend, or do you think Laurence friends of friends, then friends, then actually an unbelievable actor. into a book … so there are little things that he Fishburne’s character is going to scare people my roommates were doing it. They were leav- did take some liberties with. But in general, the away? ing every weekend and I was like, “Where the Next week will feature my interview with spirit of it is dead on … I bet you wouldn’t ac- BM: I actually think it’s going to spark a lot heck are you guys going?” And they were like, Jim Sturgess, with the review of the movie fol- tually be able to guess what didn’t happen and more college kids doing it. I’ve got letters from “We go to Vegas every weekend.” And I joked, lowing in the April 4 issue. what did happen because the truth is that whole people already, just from cliché: the truth is stranger than fiction. the book, who wanted to put BM: The other thing is that the MIT Black- teams together. So I have a Movie Review HH½ jack team has been in existence for 25 years. feeling there will be — you There’s a lot in the book that’s true that didn’t know what, it’s much hard- necessarily happen to Jeff. So I would say more er than it looks, most of the like 90% of the book is true to the stories of the teams that try it will prob- Spices Alone Do Not A Curry MIT Blackjack team. ably fail — but I bet there JM: I don’t know, you wrote it. I only lived will be people doing it. Make “ASTONISHING ... ‘Nina’s Heavenly Delights’ A Good But Undercooked Film THE POWER TO MAKE YOU RE-EXAMINE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE..” -Jeannette Catsoulis, THE NEW YORK TIMES By Ron Rosenberg ness partner. Their closeness in the kitchen heats up as Nina’s Heavenly Delights a determined Nina unexpectedly falls in love with the

“ 1 ” Directed by Pratibha Parmer charismatic woman and strives to keep it a secret. /2 Written by Andrea Gibb Soon other family secrets are revealed, most no- �� Starring Shelley Conn, Laura Fraser, and Veena Sood tably her brother’s clandestine marriage to a Scottish -John Anderson, NEWSDAY Screened Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2008 woman, which he has kept secret from his mother MFA Boston’s Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Veena Sood). Mom, who earlier in the film upbraids her daughter for running away to London and refusing he ingredients are more than tasty: exotic an arranged marriage with an equally distinguished They lost their sight, not their vision. curries, a spicy relationship with a business curry-house rival named Sanjay (Raji James), barely partner or lesbian lover, a secret marriage, a blinks when her son finally reveals his secret wife. T generational culture-clash, and a televised Beyond the immediate family and lovers are the cooking competition involving Indian family-owned amusing and colorful “Chutney Queens,” a quartet curry restaurants, all set in Glasgow, Scotland. From of gay dancers led by Nina’s childhood chum Bobbi “A BRILLIANT FILM, “RIVETING! SIT BACK AND this tantalizing stew comes “Nina’s Heavenly De- (Ronni Jhutti), a wannabe Bollywood drag queen. On RAVISHINGLY PHOTOGRAPHED!” ENJOY THE RIDE.” -NYLON lights,” a flavorful romantic comedy during the first the eve of the televised curry competition, the boys, - TIME OUT (London) “FUNNY, TOUCHING AND half that soon stumbles and struggles and winds up along with Nina’s family, are asked to taste and evalu- “INSPIRING AND FASCINATING!” GORGEOUS!”-NOW MAGAZINE undercooked. ate chicken shakuti (chicken in coconut gravy) and -NATIONAL POST (Canada) “CAPTIVATING...COMPELLING... Director Pratibha Parmer, making her feature film barley lamb chop curry that ends with everyone get- “A COMPELLING STUDY BREATHTAKING.” debut after a series of successful documentaries, and ting up from the table and line dancing around the IN CULTURE CLASH.” -NEW YORK MAGAZINE -VARIETY screenwriter Andrea Gibb, open the film with Nina table to “Daydream Believer.” “FILLED WITH EMOTION, Shah (Shelley Conn), a headstrong Scottish Asian For all its quirkiness, “Nina’s Heavenly Delights” “ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING STRUGGLE, AND TRIUMPH.” FILMS I’VE EVER SEEN.” -TORONTO INTERNATIONAL woman returning to Glasgow for her father’s funeral. is beautifully filmed and well-acted as it shows how -JEFFREY LYONS, NBC/REEL TALK “A MUST-SEE!” FILM FESTIVAL BLOG (Toronto) She quickly discovers her beloved Dad’s gambling debts a young woman balances her own identify while re- -CINEMA EYE have closed The New Taj, a premier Indian restaurant, specting the traditions of her ethnic family. But it where he was the owner-chef and two-time trophy win- struggles with a series of plot clichés, including the ner of the Best of the West Curry Competition. ghost of Nina’s father offering encouragement and Nina, whose culinary skills were shaped by her repetitious dialogue, like “Taste it in your heart … father at an early age, decides to compete for a third always follow your heart.” trophy to both honor her father and save the restau- Alas, the movie’s mix of tragedy, laughter, and love rant. Helping her succeed is Glasgow native Lisa is like a promising stew that needed more fire than ex- CHECK THEATRE EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT DIRECTORIES Mackinlay (Laura Fraser), an old school pal and busi- otic ingredients to become a truly memorable film. OR CALL STARTS FRIDAY, MARCH 14 FOR SHOWTIMES

THE TECH (MIT) FRI. 3.14 2 X 5.25 March 14, 2008 Ar t s The Tech Page 9

Performances will be held March 13-15 and March 20-22 at 8:00 p.m. in La Sala de Puerto Rico. (clockwise from left) Olivia (Hanna S. Kuznetsov ’09) declares her undying love for Viola (Nori Pritchard ’06). Maria (Rachel Nagin) berates Mal- volio (Sabrina M. Neuman ’09) over acting crazy toward Olivia. Sir Toby (Christopher Stephenson ’09) holds down Sebastian (Sara E. Ferry ’11), thinking he is Viola. Nathaniel R. Twarog G (Feste) plays the mandolin. The captain (Heather McDonald Shakespeare ’11) helps Viola (Nori Pritchard ’06) catch her breath. Sir Toby (Christopher Stephenson ’09) and Feste (Nathaniel R. Twarog Ensemble Presents G) have a drunken conversation as Sir Aguecheeke (Olivia Leitermann G) dances in the background. ‘Twelfth Night’ Photography by Andrea Robles Page 10 The Tech March 14, 2008

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prompt appointments including evenings + walk-in hours for urgent matters, weekdays 2-4 PM + emergency care available 24 hours March 14, 2008 The Tech Page 11 Endowment, Tuition, Finaid All Increase, MIT Says to Senate Senate, from Page 1 decide what to do next. NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING “In an era of soaring tuition ing costs of tuition and the rising costs and shrinking middle class value of university endowments. incomes, we need more and more The Senate request placed a efforts to expand tuition assistance heavy emphasis on tuition costs, programs for families and students and MIT’s response to the Senate and help open the doors of college came about a week before its an- to a new generation. This initia- nouncement that students whose tive will help us better understand families make less than $75,000 how endowments work and the role will pay no tuition. But Kirk D. they play in making college educa- Kolenbrander, secretary of the tion more affordable for everyone,” MIT Corporation, said the timing said Kerry spokeswoman Brigid was coincidental. The Corporation O’Rourke in an e-mail on Jan. 29. usually announces the next year’s Kolenbrander said he thinks the tuition in March, and the Senate’s Senate will respond to the sum of letter came with a similarly timed the reports from all the universities response deadline. who have responded. He said that & Ice Cream Social Kolenbrander says he doesn’t the inquiry will help educate the know how or when the Senate will public about how universities man- react to MIT’s responses. age their endowments. Senator John F. Kerry, D-Mass., “It’s great being able to share MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2008 who serves on the Finance Commit- with the public and articulate how tee, said in January that the request these complex institutions work,” was meant to help his committee he said. 2:00 – 4:00pm Students, Faculty Can Access Old UROP Info BUSH ROOM (10-105) Using New Web System UROP, from Page 1 ects were for credit or pay. Profes- sors and UROP coordinators will be ments in February. able to see this information for all Students may find that the new their students. system gives them more breathing Old UROP proposals are not Check out research opportunities and career room. Although online proposals are available in the new system, but pro- due at the same time as paper ap- posals submitted online will be ac- plications, an online proposal need cessible in the future. paths in Nuclear Science and Engineering not receive faculty and coordinator Students and faculty can also approval before the deadline. Mar- complete UROP evaluations on the tin-Greene said that this may lead site. to changes in deadlines for future The system is currently accessi- semesters. ble online to MIT certificate holders Using the online system, depart- at https://sisapp.mit.edu/uropweb/ ments can access information about home.mit. their department’s UROPs instead The system was designed by In- of having to obtain it from Office of formation Services & Technology in Undergraduate Advising and Aca- collaboration with the UAAP. The de- I CAN HAS NUZ? demic Programming or set up their partments currently using the system own database systems. include Course I, II, V, VI, VII, VIII, Students will be able to see his- XI, XV, XVII, XVIII, XX, CSAIL, torical information like their past HST, ISN, LFEE, LIDS, LNS, MAS, project titles and whether old proj- MKI, MTL, PSFC, and RLE. Weizenbaum Applied His Intelligence Research to First Chatterbot, ELIZA Weizenbaum, from Page 1 do anything given enough processing power and clever programming. SLIP and the natural language under- “No other organism, and certainly standing program ELIZA, which was no computer, can be made to confront an important development in artificial genuine human problems in human intelligence and cemented his role in terms,” he wrote. the folklore of computer science re- “Computer Power and Human search. Reason raised questions about the role Named for the heroine of My Fair of artificial intelligence, and spurred Lady, ELIZA was perhaps the first debate about the role of computer instance of what today is known as a system reliance on them example of chatterbot program. Specifically, the how man relies on technology in or- ELIZA program simulated a conver- der to escape the burden of acting as sation between a patient and a psycho- an independent agent,” Weizenbaum therapist by using a person’s responses told the journal. “It helps him avoid to shape the computer’s replies. Wei- the task of giving meaning to his life, zenbaum was shocked to discover of deciding and pursuing what is truly that many users were taking his pro- valuable.” gram seriously and were opening their Weizenbaum joined MIT in 1963 hearts to it. The experience prompted as a visiting associate professor of him to think philosophically about the computer science. Within four years, implications of artificial intelligence, he had been awarded tenure in the and, later, to become a critic of it. Department of Electrical Engineering. In 1976, he authored Computer He later held academic appointments Power and Human Reason: From at Harvard University, at the Harvard Judgment to Calculation, in which he Graduate School of Education, Stan- displayed ambivalence toward com- ford University, the Technical Univer- puter technology and warned against sity of Berlin and the University of giving machines the responsibility Hamburg in Germany. He was a fel- for making genuinely human choices. low of the American Association for Specifically, Weizenbaum argued that the Advancement of Science, a mem- it was not just wrong but dangerous ber of the New York Academy of Sci- and, in some cases, immoral to as- ence and of the European Academy of [email protected] sume that computers would be able to Science. Page 12 The Tech March 14, 2008 Fractions Troublesome for U.S.

Up to Students, Federal Panel Finds SPERM DONORS Math Education, from Page 1 ematical knowledge are misguided. some for Americans, the report NEEDED $1100 a month! These capabilities are mutually sup- found. It pointed to the National As- curriculums should be streamlined portive.” sessment of Educational Progress, Healthy MEN in college or with a college degree wanted for our and put focused attention on skills The president convened the standardized exams known as the sperm donor program. like the handling of whole numbers panel to advise on how to improve nation’s report card, which found and fractions and certain aspects of math education. Its members in- that almost half the eighth grad- Minimal time commitment geometry and measurement. It con- clude math and psychology pro- ers tested could not solve a word Help people fulfill their dreams of starting a family. tains specific goals for students in fessors from leading universities, a problem that required dividing frac- Receive free health and genetic screenings. different grades. For example, it said middle-school math teacher and the tions. that by the end of the third grade, president of the National Council of Panel members said the failure APPLY ONLINE: students should be proficient in add- Teachers of Mathematics. to master fractions was for Ameri- ing and subtracting whole numbers; Closely tracking an influential can students the greatest obstacle to www.SPERMBANK.com two years later, they should be pro- 2006 report by the National Coun- learning algebra. Just as “plastics” ficient in multiplying and dividing cil of Teachers of Mathematics, the was the catchword in the 1967 mov- them. By the end of sixth grade, the panel recommended that math cur- ie “The Graduate,” the catchword Graduating this spring or next? report said, students should have riculum should include fewer top- for math teachers today should be mastered the multiplication and di- ics, spending enough time to make “fractions,” said Francis Fennell, Not sure what to do, exactly, but — vision of fractions and decimals. sure each is learned in enough depth president of the National Council of You’re curious about people and ideas, passionate about The report tries to put to rest the that it need not be revisited in later Teachers of Mathematics. social justice, up for a challenge? long, heated debate over math teach- grades. That is the approach used in After hearing testimony and You’re ready for commitment? You think you’ve got “teacher” inside of you? ing methods. Parents and teachers most top-performing nations, and comments from hundreds of orga- have fought passionately in school since the 2006 report, many states nizations and individuals, and sift- districts around the country over have been revising their standards to ing through a broad array of 16,000 Consider the Brandeis University the relative merits of traditional, cover fewer topics in greater depth. research publications, the panelists Master of Arts in Teaching program or teacher-directed, instruction, in The report calls for more re- shaped their report around recent which students are told how to do search on successful math teaching, research on how children learn. Our program: problems and then drilled on them, and recommends that the secretary For example, the report found it • 12 months; year – long teaching internship; leads to initial license versus reform or child-centered of education convene an annual fo- is important for students to master instruction, emphasizing student rum of leaders of the national asso- their basic math facts well enough • Small, personalized, inquiry – based; integrated, critical approach to theory exploration and conceptual under- ciations concerned with math to de- that their recall becomes automatic, and practice; outstanding students and faculty standing. It said both methods had velop an agenda for improving math stored in their long-term memory, • Provides the support and guidance you need to become a bold and creative a role. instruction. leaving room in their working mem- teacher, effective in today’s schools and ready to help make the urgently needed “There is no basis in research for Spellings said Thursday that she ory to take in new math processes. schools of tomorrow favoring teacher-based or student- would convene such a meeting. She “For all content areas, practice Choose to concentrate at the elementary or secondary level, multiple fields. centered instruction,” said Dr. Larry emphasized the importance of math allows students to achieve automa- R. Faulkner, the chairman of the education for all children and said ticity of basic skills — the fast, ac- APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED NOW panel, at a briefing on Wednesday. the report underlined the need for curate, and effortless processing of GENEROUS SCHOLARSHIPSAVAILABLE “People may retain their strongly parents to teach even young chil- content information — which frees held philosophical inclinations, but dren about numbers and measure- up working memory for more com- the research does not show that ei- ments. plex aspects of problem solving,” OPEN HOUSE: WEDNESDAY, ther is better than the other.” Spellings said she hoped the re- the report said. The report found that, “To pre- port would help persuade Congress Faulkner, a former president of MAR. 19, 6:00 – 7:30 pare students for algebra, the cur- to approve the president’s fiscal 2009 the University of Texas at Austin, riculum must simultaneously de- budget request for almost $100 mil- said the panel “buys the notion from Abraham Shapiro Academic Complex on the Brandeis campus in Waltham. velop conceptual understanding, lion for Math Now, an instructional cognitive science that kids have to 781 7 781– 736 – 2022 or email [email protected]. computational fluency and prob- program proposed last year and not know the facts.” www.brandeis.edu/programs/mat lem-solving skills.” Further, it said: financed. The report also cited recent find- poster:tech ad 3/5/08 4:46 PM Page 1 “Debates regarding the relative im- The report cited a number of ings that students who depend on portance of these aspects of math- troubling international compari- their native intelligence learn less sons, including a 2007 assessment than those who believe that success finding that 15-year-olds in the depends on how hard they work. United States ranked 25th among Faulkner said the current “tal- Spring 2008 Wulff Lecture their peers in 30 developed nations ent-driven approach to math, that in math literacy and problem solv- either you can do it or you can’t, massmedia.ccde.ading. 2/5/08 1:48 likePM playingPage 1the violin” needed to be Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Fractions are especially trouble- changed.

4:30–5:30pm UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON Room 6-120 Reception to follow in Chipman Room, 6-104. Summer ’08 at UMass Boston Scratching below the Surface:

Material Metastability Enables � Over 600 undergraduate & graduate courses Engineering Solutions � Classes offered days, evenings, or online

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� Accessible Boston Harbor campus Coupling between the chemical and mechanical states of materials enables applications such as actuators and transducers, defines the environmental susceptibility of mechanical stiffness and strength, and facilitates all biological processes in cells including adhesion to extracellular materials, migration, and differentiation. The Van Vliet Laboratory for Material Chemomechanics Registration studies this chemomechanical coupling in a range of material systems including supersaturated starts March 31 metal alloys, nanoscale amorphous oxides, synthetic polymer thin films, and living mammalian cells and microbes. Prof. Van Vliet will discuss recent progress in the nanoscale experiments and computational simulation of three such material systems, and share what her group has learned about the challenges of modeling and understanding material behavior at surfaces and interfaces that are far from equilibrium. summer.umb.edu The Wulff Lecture is an introductory, general-audience, entertaining lecture which serves to educate, inspire, and 617. 287.6000 encourage MIT undergraduates to take up study in the field of materials science and engineering and related fields. The entire MIT community is invited to attend. The Wulff Lecture honors the late Professor John Wulff, a skilled, provocative, and entertaining teacher who inaugurated a new approach to teaching the popular freshman subject: 3.091 Introduction to Solid State Chemistry. COURSEIII MSE This space donated by The Tech March 14, 2008 The Tech Page 13

The E. M. Baker Foundation INSTITUTE AWARD for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

The ONLY Institute-wide Nominations due Friday, March 14th! student-nominated, student-selected Teaching award!

Submit nominations online at: http://web.mit.edu/baker-foundation/www Also…check out the NEW award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising! web.mit.edu/awards

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A small Franklin �� company says must first be tested in much larger Echo also would face competi- it is developing a novel device that clinical trials with a wider group of tion from other companies, such ��<��)�� ,�9�:( ��0�4.��/�12&$$425%26��1��!4could potentially let diabetics con- patients. as DexCom Inc. of San Diego and 2&4#&6 tinuously monitor their blood-sugar If successful in broader trials, Medtronic Inc. of Minneapolis, Do I have a Brain Tumor? levels — without having to draw Echo hopes to win approval from which have developed systems to blood. the US Food and Drug Administra- let patients insert a glucose sen- A.L.S.? �� Echo Therapeutics Inc. is ex- tion to market the device as soon as sor just under the skin. The sensors ';��4��+�� Alzheimer’s? ��+�� pected to say today the device late next year to both hospitals and constantly monitor glucose levels ��+��+�� passed one of its first key tests, a diabetics for home use. Company for up to a week before they need to �� <��Could I have pilot study with two dozen patients executives estimate at least 1.5 mil- be replaced. Echo says its system is ��)�� ,��9�� in the intensive-care unit at Tufts lion diabetics in the United States superior because patients wouldn’t Heart Disease? Medical Center in Boston. The currently test their blood-sugar lev- have to use a needle to insert the �� Symphony system, a disc about the els twice a day or more, and could sensor, which could be placed on Multiple Sclerosis? size of a half dollar, is designed potentially benefit from the device, the body like a bandage. to read glucose levels through the making it a multibillion-dollar mar- But Echo would likely need skin and transmit the information ket. to raise tens of millions of dollars Do I have Cancer? wirelessly to a nearby computer or “It’s an enormous market oppor- for clinical trials and other work to hand-held meter. Currently, diabe- tunity,” said Harry Mitchell, chief bring the product to market. The tes patients must normally prick financial officer. company had $2.3 million in cash their skin to draw a few drops of To be sure, Echo is still tweaking as of September. x You may be eligible for a research study at Brigham and blood and place them on a measur- the device. It now uses ultrasound “We see lots of interesting Women’s Hospital ing strip. technology to expose capillary ideas,” said Medtronic spokesman “I think it’s extremely promis- blood vessels to measure blood-sug- Steven Cragle, “but actually getting x 24-week treatment for health anxiety and hypochondriasis ing,” said Dr. Stanley Nasraway, a ar levels. But in future versions, the them approved is a much different at no cost Tufts University School of Medicine device will scrape off the outermost story.” x Receive $550 for 6 research visits professor and director of surgical layer of skin. And so far, investors do not intensive-care units at the medical Other companies have failed in seem impressed by Echo’s potential. CALL: ( 6 1 7 ) 7 3 2 - 5 9 6 9 center. Nasraway said Echo’s exper- efforts to market alternatives to nee- Its stock closed at $1.35 Wednes- imental device appeared to be reli- dles for diabetics. In 2001, Cygnus day, down from a high of $31.70 in E-MAIL: [email protected] Inc. won FDA approval for its Glu- 2004. Echo’s market value is just Solution to Sudoku coWatch, a blood-sugar meter that $25 million. VISIT: www.TheHealthStudy.com from page 6 could be worn like a wristwatch. “We have really just started tell- But the device was eventually ing our story,” said Echo chief ex- discontinued amid complaints it ecutive Patrick Mooney. “It’s not was not accurate and caused skin a negative. I think Wall Street just irritation in some users. Johnson doesn’t know who we are.” & Johnson, which now reportedly Mooney said the Echo technolo- owns the technology, did not return gy was originally pioneered in 1996 calls seeking comment. at Robert S. Langer ScD ’74’s lab at In addition, several companies, the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- including Pfizer Inc. and Eli Lilly nology, and then further developed & Co., recently scrapped projects by Sontra Medical Corp., which to develop an inhalable form of in- merged with Echo last year. Henisi. Pat, cor sum nos doloreet elesseq uatuera esectem doloboreet, con heniscidunt at, quat dolobore diam, veliquisl el ut adip eraesto duis dolor sum ex exeros ea faci ea amcommo lorper adit nullaor at, commy nosto odolenim nostrud et laore feu facidunt alit lutetue modolor accum ea am, quamcon sequat wisl ullam, consequat. Iquat. Ut el iure feugait elit, quis adionsectet ex endre facip er accum zzrit lor sustis aut verit, sed modolor eraessim et dolore duis nisis ad minit in vendrem quatums andigna feuissed enim zzriusci tem nos dipsusto od magniat wismod tat, voluptat. Ut amcon volesequisl iure deliscillam quatetum dolorpe riusto del eriusto core facilit, qui tem nonsenim zzriustrud dolore conse molestrud modolore corpercilla feu faccum quisci blan volut iustrud minim ipsum ad magnibh esequatem qui bla con volor sectem zzrit eum nonum ese dolortisis amconullaore vulla feu feu feu feum duipsus tionsectem erci tet aci endreet lor si. sulin, used to regulate blood-sugar The American Diabetes Associa- Magnim do doloreet, conulput wisi ex ex eu facincilit alit iustissed eugue vel dolore vent levels. Eli Lilly was working with tion, which promotes diabetes research, declined to comment. Solution to Words… Solution to Crossword from page 7 from page 6 LEGAL COUNSEL MIT students, family, employers and start-ups seeking U.S. legal counsel, campus or oﬃce consultation. Call: James Dennis Leary, Esq. 321-544-0012 We have computers We Want You In Our Sheets [email protected] You’re probably Course 6

[email protected] March 14, 2008 Sp o r t s The Tech Page 15 Women Dominate in B Division Sparring, Sweep Top 3 Places Feeling down Taekwondo, from Page 16 For the third tournament this year, MIT’s men’s A1 team (Wu, and tors John Sebastian Pineda ’10 and co-captains Christopher J. Han ’09 JiHye Ham ’08 took a gold and silver and Jaroslaw Labaziewicz G) also medal respectively in the men’s and served as the men’s B1 team. Fight- women’s D-Team competitions. ing through a long and arduous day about the US The tournament ended with the in- of competition, they took a bronze termediate (B-Team) division, which medal in the B-Team contest. provided a satisfying conclusion for MIT finished the tournament with MIT with the women’s B1 (Ha, Hui, 378 points to Cornell’s 657, retaining and Chiang), B2 (Ranbel F. Sun ’10, second place in the league among Han Zhu ’09, and Markham), and B3 twenty schools after three tourna- Economy? (Jaclyn J. Ho ’09, Stephanie E. Nix ments this season. The club is now ’09, and Christine Chin ’09) sweep- preparing for the next INCTL tour- ing first, second and third place for nament at the University of Pennsyl- the second consecutive tournament. vania on April 5. Pilgrim League Names “How to Make Money at Geesman, Silverman to Gambling without Counting Scholar All-Star Team Wrestling, from Page 16 lead the competitive Pilgrim League. Cards” The star also ranked second overall in After losing his first match by a the league in his weight class, while 6-2 score, Geesman won his next five standing in the top three in the coun- matches, the clincher being a take- try in pins in all divisions. For his down of York’s Luke Panizzi at the outstanding efforts, Geesman earned MAR 17 :: 12-1PM :: E51-345 2:27 mark. Pilgrim League All-Star Honorable Geesman earned a berth to the na- Mention honors. He was also named tionwide tourney after posting a 6-1 to the Pilgrim League 2008 Scholar- record, including five pins, to win the Athlete All-Star Team along with New England College Conference teammate Joseph B. Silverman ’10. Gary Loveman Wrestling Association heavyweight “The great news is Glenn will be championship on Feb. 23-24. back next season to accomplish his Geesman finished the season with goal of becoming a national cham- CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment & Casinos a 32-5 ledger, including 21 pins to pion,” Layte said.

Sc o r e b o a r d MIT Undergraduate Economics Association & Dept of Economics

Men’s Lacrosse Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Salve Regina University (1-1) 4 MIT (1-1) 6

Women’s Lacrosse Tuesday, March 11, 2008 MIT (0-2) 6 Gordon College (2-0) 10

Men’s Tennis Monday, March 10, 2008 Gordon College (1-1) 0 MIT (6-1) 9 Page 16 The Tech March 14, 2008 Sp o r t s Taekwondo Finishes Second at NYU Amid Field of 370 Athletes By Aaron Sampson Schneider G took first place among Team Member the men with his powerful hand tech- The MIT Sport Taekwondo Club niques. Shammi S. Quddus ’10 and took second place at a tournament Chensi Ouyang ’08 earned first and held at New York University on Feb. third place among the women. 24, the largest tourna- Andrew K. Sugaya ’11 also ment in the history earned second place in the very large of the Ivy Northeast white and yellow belt division. Collegiate Taekwondo The sparring competitions were League. Of the twenty highly competitive in the very large four colleges compet- field, beginning with the advanced ing, only Cornell University sur- (A-Team) division. The women’s A1 passed the impressive score of MIT’s team (co-captain Karolina A. Corin team, coached by Master Daniel Ch- G, Ha, Hui, and Stephanie R. Chiang uang. ’08) had a very impressive showing, The competition began with fighting through close matches and forms, or poomsae, competition, in sudden death overtimes all the way to Noah Spies which competitors perform a choreo- the finals against Harvard University Goalkeeper Garth S. Grove ’10 makes a save in Tuesday’s Men’s Lacrosse match against Salve Re- graphed sequence of kicks and hand A1. The team took the silver medal. gina University. MIT improved to 1-1 after edging Salve Regina 6-4 in the team’s first ever meeting. techniques. Club President Corinna In the beginner (C-Team) and Hui ’09 secured the team’s first vic- first-timer (D-Team) competitions, tory of the day with a gold medal in some of MIT’s newest team members the women’s red belt division. had the opportunity to represent MIT MIT was dominant in blue belt in the ring. MIT’s women’s C2 team Geesman Named All-American at forms, with Ning Wu G and Wenxian (Jing “Jenny” Cheng ’11, ZheChen Hong ’10 taking first place and third “Mary” Hong ’10, and Ouyang) took place respectively in the men’s com- third place after easily winning three NCAA Division III Championships petition, and Elisabeth M. Markham matches, falling only to Cornell ’09 and Miranda J. Ha G doing the University C1. First time competi- By Mike Stoller most prolific muscleman was hailed matches in dominating fashion. He same on the women’s side. DAPER Staff as an NCAA All-American after pin- was the talk of the tournament. All At the green belt level, Michael Taekwondo, Page 15 By just qualifying for the Divi- ning his opponent from York College the coaches and fans were very im- sion III national wrestling tourna- in 2:27. Just before that match, Gees- pressed with Glenn’s performance.” ment, MIT heavy- man soundly defeated his counterpart Geesman became MIT’s first All- weight standout Glenn from the State University of New American in 24 years, as the Engi- Up c o m i n g Ho m e Ev e n t s J. Geesman ’09 had York at Oswego, 10-1. neers closed the tournament ranked already accomplished “Personally, I am extremely proud 15th as a team in the country, their Saturday, March 15, 2008 the remarkable. But of Glenn on his outstanding perfor- best ever finish in NCAA history. Men’s Volleyball vs. Rivier College 11 a.m., Rockwell Cage what the junior sensa- mance,” said MIT head wrestling Kenneth R. Shull ’84 secured Tech’s Men’s Volleyball vs. Baruch College 3 p.m., Rockwell Cage tion achieved Friday night at the U.S. coach Tom Layte. “I am so impressed last All-American accolade in 1984. Sailing, Central Series All Day, Charles River Cellular Center was beyond extraordi- with how Glenn came back from his nary. In the late evening hours, MIT’s first round loss and won five straight Wrestling, Page 15 SUMMER UROP 2008 MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Want to have fun... work on interesting research... and get paid? Find out about CSAIL summer research opportunities for undergraduate students:

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