The California Tech Volume CXIX Number 6 Pasadena, California [email protected] November 2, 2015 Hurricane Patricia worse than Katrina in numbers but not damage HANNALORE GERLING- a decade earlier. Hurricane Katrina any major damage. In comparison, meteorologists use to define one Hurricane Patricia. For such a large DUNSMORE caused massive damage along the Hurricane Katrina smashed hurricane as larger than another is and powerful storm, relatively little Contributing Writer Gulf of Mexico, but the starkest through many small cities and the diameter of the storm’s eye, as damage was done. However, we can memories of the storm come from resort towns, in addition to New the eye’s wall has the strongest and expect more of these ultrapowerful, On Oct. 22, 2015, Hurricane New Orleans, Louisiana. The city’s Orleans. Additionally, Hurricane most destructive winds. Hurricane massive storms. As climate change Patricia became the strongest levees failed, causing massive Patricia came ashore onto the Sierra Katrina’s eye was four times larger heats the oceans, the storms hurricane ever formed in the flooding that led to the majority Madre Occidental, a mountain than that of Hurricane Patricia, that form will be more intense. Western Hemisphere, with of the causalities. The devastation range in western Mexico. Living making the former a bigger storm In particular, during El Niño sustained winds of 200 mph. The was estimated to result in between in Pasadena, Techers are probably where it really matters. years, the wind shear decreases, storm formed with nearly record- 1,200 and 1,800 deaths, and familiar with how mountains The Mexican government seems which further primes conditions breaking speed, going from a caused $108 billion in damage. stifle storms. While it only serves to have learned its lesson from for powerful hurricanes. With tropical storm to a Category 5 Over a million people were to worsen the draught in the Los previous disasters. Warnings were climate change now considered hurricane in about 24 hours. Late displaced from the Gulf region. Angeles area, the Sierra Madre sent out over television, radio and unavoidable, all we can do is try to the next day, the storm moved from However, Hurricane Katrina was Occidental downgraded Hurricane social media. Evacuations started mitigate how severe the change is, the Pacific Ocean and made landfall vastly smaller than Hurricane Patricia to a tropical depression. before Hurricane Patricia rapidly while preparing for more of these near Jalisco, Mexico, significantly Patricia in size, only had top winds This effect was compounded by became a Category 5, giving people superstorms. If Hurricane Patricia weakened with winds down to 165 of 175 mph and had 140 mph winds the fact Hurricane Patricia grew enough time to leave. Some of the hit an area without mountains and mph but still a Category 5. The when it made landfall. For much so quickly ― the storm didn’t have people who remained were taken with a high population density, storm dumped over 20 inches of of its duration, Hurricane Katrina much time at sea, and the time to shelters, while others were we would probably be looking at a rain, directly causing eight deaths was only a Category 3. This has it did have was spent mostly as a told to stay in their homes, based much different result. Next time, and indirectly causing five more. left many people wondering: how minor storm. on what was considered best. In the area the storm hits might not The damages are estimated to be did Hurricane Patricia cause so This gave the storm less time general, the people responded, and be so lucky. More than ever, it is approximately $280 million, with much less damage, by any possible to build a storm surge ― rising of that is credited with improving crucial that effective precautionary most of the damages coming from metric? water levels due to the storm ― the outcome of the storm. This measures are developed and put agriculture losses, as the storm For one thing, Mexico had a good which often does a large portion stands in stark comparison to into place so that when another primarily affected rural areas. share of luck. Hurricane Patricia of the damage. Finally, while the Hurricane Katrina, during which Hurricane Patricia comes knocking Naturally, the sheer size and passed near two major population satellite images of Hurricane the evacuations largely failed. at a major city’s door, we are ready. strength of Hurricane Patricia centers (Puerto Vallarta and Patricia spanning an immense What is abundantly clear is that brought to mind Hurricane Katrina Manzanillo), but spared them from area are impressive to look at, what Mexico got extremely lucky with News briefs from around the globe Caltech elects two A brief list of events from the past week, compiled by the editors new members to the Samuel D. Burris, black abolitionist, to receive pardon Board of Trustees 168 years to the day after Delaware hero’s conviction for aiding and abbeting slaves, gov- KIMM FESENMAIER States at the age of 12. He began ernor’s office to issue pardon [CNN] Caltech Media Relations his undergraduate studies at MIT in 1970 but transferred to Two leaders from the world and graduated from Caltech, Semi accident creates enormous tragedy for Arizona pizza lovers of medicine and biotechnology, where he first became interested 44.5k pounds of dough spilled in accident, no injuries reported [TIME] David D. Ho (B.S. ’74) and in medicine. He went on to William H. Rastetter, have been earn his medical degree from elected to the Caltech Board of Harvard Medical School in Trustees. 1978 and complete his clinical U.S. to begin releasing inmates convicted of drug crimes Ho, a recognized 6k will be part of first wave of mass incarceration policy changes [BBC] leader at the forefront of research on HIV and AIDS, is the California doctor convicted of murder over poor prescribing habits founding scientific director and chief 3 patient overdoses considered murders among list of charges against Dr. Hsiu-Ying executive officer of “Lisa” Tseng, verdict could “resonate throughout the country” [LA Times] the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York and the Irene Oregon teen diagnosed with bubonic plague Diamond Professor 16th reported case in U.S. this year was caused by flea bite, according to Oregon Health at The Rockefeller University. He Authority; 8th case in Oregon in 20 years [CNN] previously served on the Caltech Board of Trustees from U.S. to send ground troops to Syria, but not for combat 1996 until 2006. Earlier this year, he 50 troops to be sent on a “mission to build the capacity of local forces” [TIME] received Caltech’s Distinguished Dr. David Ho is one of the newly elected trustees. Alumni Award, Photo Courtesy of David Ho Nightclub explosion hospitalizes 145 in Bucharest, Romania the highest honor 26 confirmed dead so far after spark on stage ignited polystyrene decor [CNN] the Institute bestows upon a training in internal medicine graduate. and infectious diseases at Born in Taiwan, Ho moved Cedars Sinai Medical Center/ with his family to the United Continued on page 2

OPINION | page 3 FEATURE | page 4 SPORTS | page 5 FEATURE | page 7 In this Boehner sacrifices humans of jamshidi breaks ca- nima talks about speakership for caltech features reer kills record plans for bechtel issue budget deal creative writer residence news 2 November 2, 2015 THE CALIFORNIA TECH Caltech Y Column Ho, Rastetter welcomed to CALTECH Y exciting trip to the Nation’s capital. The four day trip includes flights, lodgings, and Caltech Board of Trustees The Caltech Y Column serves to inform most meals; discussions with those who have Continued from page 1 Rastetter completed his students of upcoming events and volunteer played a role in setting and implementing undergraduate work at MIT, earning an opportunities. The list is compiled by Neera science policy for the United States UCLA School of Medicine and SB in chemistry in 1971. He went on to earn Shah from information given by the Caltech including: Academics, Lobbyists, Scientists, Massachusetts General Hospital/ his master’s and doctoral degrees from Y and its student leaders. Politicians, and Caltech Alumni and of Harvard Medical School, respectively. Harvard University in 1972 and 1975, Founded by students in 1916, the Y was course the opportunity to see Washington, Beginning in 1994, Ho conducted a respectively. After that, he was a member organized to provide extracurricular activities DC landmarks like the White House, the series of studies using treatment data of the faculty at MIT until 1982, when he planned and implemented by students as an Memorials; Smithsonian Museums; the from actual patients and mathematical began working in the biotechnology field opportunity to learn leadership skills and National Archives; and the Capitol. Don t models and computer simulations to at Genentech. In 1986, he joined Idec discover themselves. The mission of today’s Y miss this opportunity! show how HIV operates. In contrast to Pharmaceuticals and eventually grew it remains the same—to provide opportunities The Washington, DC Science Policy Trip what was previously thought, Ho proved to a multibillion-dollar company while that will prepare students to become is coordinated by the Caltech Y with generous that the virus continuously attacks and serving as chairman and CEO. While support from the weakens the immune system so that there, he helped invent Rituxan—the George Housner other illnesses can eventually overtake first monoclonal antibody approved by Fund. Questions and the body easily. He also showed that the U.S. FDA for the treatment of cancer. applications may be HIV replicates and mutates incredibly In 2003, Rastetter led Idec through the directed to caltechy@ quickly, allowing it to evolve its way merger that formed Biogen Idec. caltech.edu. More info around individual drug therapies. These Rastetter is also the lead outside and application can discoveries led him to first devise and director on the board for Cerulean, a be found at: https:// later champion the development of a cancer therapeutics company; sits on www.caltechy.org/ combination antiretroviral therapy, the board of directors of Regulus, a programs_services/ also known as the AIDS cocktail. That company that focuses on discovering and areas/dc/ therapy has resulted in unprecedented developing micro-RNA therapeutics; and control of HIV in patients. Collectively, serves as an adviser to Leerink Partners, 2a. Pasadena these accomplishments earned Ho the a healthcare-focused investment bank. LEARNS title of Time “Man of the Year” in 1996, In addition to his work in the Fridays | 3:00 - among other honors. biotechnology field, Rastetter practices 5:00pm | Pasadena Ho’s team is now working to develop fine art photography and has been Come volunteer at AIDS vaccines and other agents to block represented by the Madison Gallery in Madison and Jackson the spread of HIV. La Jolla, California. Elementary School! Rastetter is chairman of the board for The Board of Trustees is the governing We are partnered three San Diego-based biotechnology body of Caltech. The Board is led by with the Pasadena companies: Illumina, Neurocrine David L. Lee (Ph.D. ’74), chair, and LEARNs program Biosciences, and Fate Therapeutics. He vice chair Ronald K. Linde (M.S. ’62, and work with their retired at the end of 2005 from Biogen Ph.D. ’64), and it is currently composed Science Olympiad Idec, a biopharmaceutical company, of 40 trustees, 23 senior trustees, 22 team or do regular where he had most recently served as life members, and one honorary life tutoring along with executive chairman. member. occasional hands-on science experiments. Engineers Without Borders is one of the Caltech clubs that was at the Community Service Advocacy Fair on Oct. 23. Transportation is Caltechlive! Photo Courtesy of Tyler Okamoto provided. For more information and engaged, responsible citizens of the world. to RSVP, contact [email protected]. SAturdAy, NOVEMBEr 14, 2015/8 PM The Y seeks to broaden students’ worldviews, Eligible for Federal Work Study. raise social, ethical, and cultural awareness through teamwork, community engagement, 2b. Hathaway Sycamores activism, and leadership. More information Wednesdays | 5:30-8:00pm | Highland about the Caltech Y and its programs can be Park Good Lovelies found at https://caltechy.org. The office is Volunteer at Hathaway-Sycamores, a Swinging Harmonies and Hilarious Tales located at 505 S. Wilson Avenue. group that supports local underprivileged $35, 30, 25 / $10 yOutH Ongoing and past programs hosted by the but motivated high school students. There Caltech Y: are a variety of ages and subjects being Alternative Spring Breaks: Costa Rica, tutored. The service trip includes about an New York, Yosemite, San Diego, San hour of travel time and 1.5 hours of tutoring. Francisco Transportation is included. For more info Make-A-Difference Day: Hillsides Home and to RSVP email Sherwood Richers at for Children, LA County Arboretum and [email protected]. Eligible for Botanic Garden, Children’s Hospital Los Federal Work Study. Angeles (Coachart), Eaton Canyon, Lifeline for Pets Explore LA: Lakers game, Next to Normal musical, Norton Simon Museum trip RISE Tutoring program (an afterschool math and science-focused tutoring program that serves public school students between grades 8 and 12) Buoyant bluegrass and sweet storytelling come together in a show that features the flawless three-part vocal harmonies of this Upcoming Events charming female trio. Expect delightful songs and smiles in this 1. Caltech Y - irresistible performance by one of Canada’s premier folk bands. Washington DC Science Policy Trip December 12- 15 | Cost is Caltech / JPL Faculty & Staff $5 off • Students $5 $485 (with round trip flight to DC and back to LA) or $285 (with one way flight to DC) | Free Parking Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium Applications due by Tuesday, www.events.caltech.edu November 3rd Fair attendees were awarded tickets for visiting each booth and Join us for an exploration could get a free boba drink and Caltech Y shirt with five tickets. Call campus x 4652 for information into Science Policy on an Photo Courtesy of Tyler Okamoto

The TECH opinion THE CALIFORNIA TECH November 2, 2015 3 Vibert struggles for new ideas on Bizarster Boehner Sacrifices NAILEN MATSCHKE and are vital to the tone, but most “Officer’s Club” as tolerable more Contributing Writer of the time I found myself getting than anything else. There’s also the Speakership for Budget Deal annoyed by their disruption of the strange inclusion of “Manalog,” There are prolific artists, and music. The recording of a young composed entirely of sleep- SEAN MCKENNA ashamed of the stark contrast there are prolific artists with deep child at the beginning of “Power inducing synthesizers, inexplicably Contributing Writer between this reasonable deal and catalogs of good music, but few, if Press” is used for a cheap joke, repeating themselves until the the sum of everything else they have any, can compete with the sheer while the old man on “Doozit” and song becomes the longest track on This week, John Boehner “accomplished” since Republicans volume and diversity of Luke the Pac-Man effects on the last the album. embarked on a political quest took control of the House in 2010. Vibert’s production over the past track stick out like sore thumbs and On the other hand, there are which could be labeled both as The Republicans have dug into the three decades. As yet another are too cheesy to take seriously. some songs I really enjoyed, such “clearing the barn” and as “burning foothold of opposition they gained Cornish act from the ’90s, he’s as the all-around solid as many bridges as possible.” For in 2010. Since then, mindless released nine LPs of - “War” and the dense, this action, he deserves our thanks. obstructionism and stubbornness influenced, sample-heavy atmospheric “Hey Go,” Boehner’s self-sacrifice advanced has prevented progress in either amalgamations of popular UK which is lent a psychedelic the country more in one week party’s agenda for the past five styles under feel by a symphony of than what the rest of Congress will years. his own name, making up just effect-happy synthesizers accomplish over its entire term Unfortunately, Boehner’s over a third of his total album- along with the whispered from January 2015 to January budget deal cannot be interpreted length output, let alone his “Hey, take a trip.” Even if 2017. as a sign that change is afoot. other EPs and compilations. I didn’t care for the vocal On Oct. 26, Boehner announced, Congress should be even more The remainder of his output samples, I thought the clean alongside Senate Republican ashamed of what was given up to is encompassed mostly by the guitars and bass on “Doozit” leadership and the Obama make this deal happen: Speaker Wagon Christ and Plug acts, created a very warm, administration, a budget deal that Boehner literally sacrificed his specializing in trip-hop and enveloping atmosphere, would last nearly a year and a half. political career for the good of , respectively, making the vocals that This deal suspends the debt ceiling, the country. Knowing that we strewn across labels including much more distracting. an instrument useless for anything would never be able to work with , , Rephlex While Vibert never fails to other than giving migraines to hard-liner Republicans again after and . With these -http://www.factmag.com/ demonstrate that he can members of Congress, until March presenting this deal to them, he records and the incredible produce compelling tracks, 2017. In addition, the deal includes offered them his resignation from list of contemporaries he’s worked Meanwhile, “I Can Phil It” even these moments come too few and a compromise on spending levels Congress before pressing forward to with, Vibert has carved out his own embraces being a joke, with Phil far between on this album. for both defense and non-defense make the deal happen. He claimed niche not as one of the legends of his Collins singing “Can you feel it” Ultimately, there’s no way I spending that allows for a modest to the press that he wanted to era, but as a true jack of all trades. and “I can feel it” for its entire would recommend this album to increase in both. As a bone to “clean the barn” for the new House The magic of his music comes not length. The distorted “Welcome, anybody who’s not already a fan of Republicans, a minor requirement speaker by pushing the date of the from his skill as a songsmith, but we have been expecting you” that . I enjoyed it, but thanks in the Affordable Care Act will be next budget debacle out beyond the from the intricacy with which he kicks off “Hey Go” is something to my dad I’ve heard Vibert’s music repealed. 2016 election. Given the number of weaves all manners of instruments we’ve heard before on at least for longer than I can remember, so This budget deal seems to make budgetary concessions he made and samples together into dense, 2009’s We Hear You. It wouldn’t I also have a much higher tolerance sense. It embodies the essence in the final deal, he also seems to shifting and funky beats. As a result, be a Vibert album without some for his oddities and refusal to take of compromise, and it was even have burned quite a few bridges the challenge with any new album goofiness, and, again, this isn’t out anything seriously than some with members of his such as this month’s Bizarster is of the ordinary, but without a whole others. If you’re already somebody “Congress members should own party who would whether Vibert can incorporate lot going on melodically a lot of who enjoys other Vibert albums never have supported fresh ideas into his music, or if it’s the samples here feel unnecessary and his style of meticulously be ashamed of the stark such a compromise on more rehashing of the tropes we’ve and like a cheap way to hide other evolving his music layer by layer, contrast between this spending. heard from him already. shortcomings. then you’ll probably enjoy what Boehner’s methods Perhaps unsurprisingly at On the subject of the music’s he has to offer on Bizarster. reasonable deal and the are the epitome of this point, this record is largely melodic side, there are some However, it could easily have 20 or sum of everything else they statesmanship, a comprised of the latter; it just hits and a fair amount of misses. 30 minutes taken out of its hour- process seemingly doesn’t seem like Vibert can do Because there isn’t much structure long length and be a much more have ‘accomplished’ since foreign to other much more with his expertise of to these songs, Vibert generally enjoyable experience while still Republicans took control of members of Congress. electronic genres that peaked at comes up with a great idea that he being a respectable album. Even Some of his colleagues least a decade and a half ago. He’s subtly milks for a few minutes, or for fans of similar artists like Aphex the House in 2010. ” would not support shown time and again that he can something middling and skippable, Twin, and the like, I any compromise write unapologetically odd but and the latter frequently ends up would highly recommend starting passed an entire week before the because they have black-listed all memorable melodies, and they being the case on Bizarster. “I Can with something earlier. There’s a debt ceiling would have been raised. things associated with President make their usual appearances Phil It,” “Bizarster” and “Power lot of mediocre content here, and This is what good governance Obama. They do not understand on Bizarster, but without much Press” all have instrumentals not much that you won’t be able looks like. However, Congress as the fundamentals of governing in a to string them along the music that range from forgettable to to find on Lover’s Acid, YosepH or of late has not provided any other democracy, and we can only hope becomes a collection of colorful but downright obnoxious, while I’d many other releases in his extensive examples of good governance. that they will be voted out of office not particularly attention-grabbing describe those on “Knockout” and discography. Congress members should be as soon as possible. beats. You get your standard breakbeats on opener “Knockout,” supporting a woozy bassline, and on the closer, which works well under a repeated and urgent vocal sample, while the interior of the album is generally slower and much more danceable. In fact, if I had to choose one thing that Vibert really did well on this album, it would be how well he uses drum kits throughout it. I’m sure they’re pulled from his enormous sample library, but they’re definitely the most organic-sounding I’ve heard on one of his records, and I don’t think the horn samples of “War” or the general discord of “Bizarster” would work without the imperfect texture of the drums. Still, pulling new compositions from existing recordings is not at all outside of Vibert’s wheelhouse; samples are the entire foundation of his work, and Bizarster is covered in them. There are some tasteful uses on tracks like “War” where they fit with the instrumentals feature 4 November 2, 2015 THE CALIFORNIA TECH Humans of Caltech: Meet creative writer Jon Cotler, class of 2019 The California Tech brings you stories of Caltech community members

slaved over this he had spent hours on, forced into as he called it, for three weeks. Jon infernal creation his memory, suddenly made sense. and his mom fought bitterly over for eight hot, Jon was barely able to contain this, screaming at each other until sticky hours, his sheer joy. He finally liked Jon was blinded by his own tears until it was finally chemistry. In fact, he loved it. After and stomped away, his footsteps ready. Gleaming class, Jon explained to his teacher reverberating with anger. in the sunlight, that he now wanted to be a chemist. “I’M GOING TO HATE IT their masterpiece He just knew that chemistry, in THERE. I’M GOING TO HATE IT, stood a mere 17.5 some way, shape or form, was his AND I’M GOING TO HATE YOU IF inches tall, half true calling. YOU MAKE ME GO.” an inch below the Slowly, the smell faded. Jon Ultimately, Jon’s mom played height limit. The got the butter out of the fridge and her trump card: no video games result of months grabbed a knife. He began to smear unless you go take the entrance of obsessive a thick layer of butter over both of exam and either pass or miss work, and his waffles. As he was putting his passing by a few points. Jon was countless hours knife in the dishwasher, Jon cut his furious, and used his anger to of bitter tears, thumb on the blade. A tiny droplet score well above the minimum bright ideas, of blood began to well up. passing score, because if Jon hated and exhilarating “Only I would cut myself on a one thing more than being wrong, Jon Cotler embraces Thomas Arnold, who is dressed as a Paladin for Halloween. triumph, the butter knife,” lamented Jon. He it was failure. Nevertheless, Jon Photo Courtesy of Katherine Guo robot finally quickly put his thumb into his hardheadedly refused to attend. KATHERINE GUO punctuated by flashbacks to non- moved ― on its mouth. He could taste the metallic Only after Jon’s mom agreed to let Page Editor chronological memories that have own. Bryce and Jon embraced, blood. As the blood poured forth, him enroll in electrical engineering, been triggered by surrounding then got back to work, tightening so did memories. He looked the only course he was interested What’s your favorite brand of stimuli, much like a person will screws and making various small around at all the pieces of the in, and promise to take him to Six cereal? experience in everyday life. adjustments, until it was perfect. computer he was dismantling, Flags on the way back, did Jon I really like Cocoa Puffs, but Though loosely based on his own A pungent odor curled its way the one he had gotten from his reluctantly agree to attend. Despite my favorite brand is probably personal experiences, this work is into Jon’s nostrils, snapping him elementary school. His mom had Jon’s best efforts to be miserable Honey Graham Oh’s. It’s not a big a piece of fiction, and thus many back to reality. told him not to take the computer and prove his mom wrong, which brand, just Cheerios with honey of the memories may have been “That’s probably my waffles.” apart, that he was too young, but she liked to call “cutting off your in the middle. It’s not Honey Nut modified slightly from their factual After removing the very well done Jon wouldn’t listen. He pulled his nose to spite your face,” Jon fell Cheerios, though. I’ve seen them groundings. Feedback is greatly waffles and the fairly crispy hash finger out of his mouth and looked wholeheartedly in love, and began in like one store, ever, and I always encouraged and appreciated. browns, Jon took another whiff. for the piece that had cut him. He to look forward to those three, get them when I see them. “Carbon dioxide, likely with couldn’t find it immediately and short, blissful weeks for the next A Portrait of the Engineer as a a touch of carbon monoxide.” soon lost patience, so he went back three, short, blissful summers. What do you consider to be Young Man Chemical names, formulas, and to taking apart the monitor. As the Of course, she was right this your worst haircut? An essay by Jonathan Cotler symbols came rushing to his brain, pieces became smaller and smaller, time, too. It was 7:16 and Jon Throughout elementary school “The absent-minded genius.” the result of years of memorization, Jon began having a more and more needed to leave a minute ago to and the beginning of middle school That’s what the whole school called starting the summer before high difficult time sorting them into be on time. As he ran through I would get buzz cuts a lot, and I him. Or, at least that’s what he school. The lab was cold. It was their places. the dining room, he knocked a just don’t have the right shaped hoped they called him. He didn’t maybe 60 degrees, which was fairly “Metal goes here, plastic goes letter off the dresser. He felt the head for a buzz cut; it does not look really know what they called him unusual for the middle of July here, glass goes here, and other peculiar gloss of the envelope, and good. I think there’s some pictures because he was, well, a little absent- in central Pennsylvania. Sitting stuff goes here!” Jon exclaimed. knew that it was his Governor’s that I’m not going to send to you. minded. Shower thoughts had down for the pre-test, Jon began to “Does that work, Mommy?” School acceptance letter. As he always been very amusing to Jon, shiver. His mom didn’t answer right placed the envelope back on the If you were a captured but he could never quite figure out “I should have brought my away, and finally asked, “Jon, dresser, he felt along the torn prisoner of war, which form why. Regardless, he dried himself sweatshirt,” he thought. Seizing the are you sure you want to do this? edge. He remembered ripping it of torture would you dread off, got dressed, and set off to make test laid in front of him, Jon began Taking apart a computer is a lot of open, being unable to contain his the most? himself breakfast. to read. “Gibberish,” he thought. work.” excitement. Two and a half years So I read something that was like — After putting his two waffles “Complete and utter gibberish.” “Yes, Mommy! It’ll be fun! I’ll of hard work had finally paid off. they would take a wet rope and tie and two hash browns in the toaster Nevertheless, Jon struggled get to practice being a motor-eer!” The paper crinkled as he held it it around your head, and then put oven, Jon noticed the run-down over the Scantron for the full 80 “Engineer, sweetie. People that in his sweaty hands, his beady you out in the sun, and as the rope microwave in the corner of the minutes, coming away with a not- build things are called engineers.” eyes darting across the labyrinth dried it would contract around kitchen. It had been lying there for so-impressive score of 23 percent. But Jon was hard at work once of neat, printed characters. His your head, and I heard that was ages, but Jon had never found the “It was the cold. Plus, it was only again, taking apart the computer vision was swimming, his hands really, really awful, so I’m going to time to fix it. Jon walked over to it, a pre-test, so I’m not even supposed piece by piece, trying his best not were shaking, and he felt like he avoid that one if possible. gave it a quick glance, and noticed to know any of it!” Still, Jon felt an to break it with his shaky, pudgy was about to pass out, rendering that it was missing a motor. unreasonable sense of guilt. He had fingers. him almost unable to read it, yet he If you could bathe in one food “I still need to get that back been told his whole life that he was A ringing in Jon’s ears startled struggled through until he got to the item, what would it be? from Mr. T’s room,” Jon muttered smart, that he was different. He him. It was his mom, yelling at word “congratulations.” Jon let out [prompt response] Mac and cheese. to himself. His parents had been was at nerd camp for a reason. Yet him that he was going to be late. a shout that shook the foundation quite upset that he had “borrowed” now he was below average. He felt He hated when she yelled, hated of the house and immediately it, but it had fit exactly right. So he had let his parents, and, more it more than just about anything called his friend Erin to tell her the despite his parents’ complaints, he importantly, himself, down, and else. Especially when she was good news. But of course, like every JON COTLER took the motor and added it to the started to cry. As the hot, salty tears right. Then she would subtly taunt other time he had some exciting Page Editor robot. Bryce screamed at him. gushed down his face, he vowed him about it later. Jon felt he was information to share, she didn’t “YOU CAN’T JUST ADD PARTS that he would never fail another right most of the time, as did his pick up. Still, Jon was too excited Note from the author: WHENEVER YOU WANT TO! test in his entire life. After lights out mom, so yelling was certainly by the prospect of going to a new, This piece is a creative writing THEY HAVE TO BE APPROVED!” every single night, Jon would study commonplace in the Cotler better nerd camp this summer, assignment originally submitted Bryce’s solution had been to gear- his notes, even though no work was household. Every time she yelled, one where he would finally be able for credit in a high school class chain four motors together. It allowed outside the classroom. He he couldn’t help but remember the to do real research in a field of his on March sixth, 2015. Since worked, but it wasn’t perfect. Jon hunched over his binder, flashlight worst fight they ever had, the one choice. He couldn’t have wished for then, the author has revised and could see that the gears didn’t in one hand, the other holding the about summer camp, one of the a better opportunity. He already modified the essay, though it still properly mesh, and it made this blanket over his head to shield the few instances where Jon would had his research all planned out: he retains much of its original form. horrible ticking noise when turned light. It was oppressively hot, and ultimately admit he was wrong. wanted to do research in polymers As the title may suggest to the on. thin beads of sweat trickled down He wanted to spend his summers engineering. He had never been well-versed reader, this piece is “No. It has to be perfect,” said Jon’s forehead, but he studied on. doing nothing, being lazy, just like surer of anything in his life. inspired in part by the novel A Jon. “This motor, it’s perfect. Not During one of the lectures, Jon’s all his normal 12-year-old friends Once again, Jon heard his mom Portrait of the Artist as a Young your silly contraption.” Bryce mind lit up like a light bulb. wanted. Fortunately for Jon’s yelling. He put down the letter and Man by James Joyce. This piece eventually agreed to give it a try. “Wait, so bonds are TWO couch, Jon was not normal, and checked his phone. It was 7:20! Jon in particular seeks to emulate the Once inserted, this motor had an electrons? Not one?” Jon asked. his mom certainly knew that. She grabbed his lunch and sprinted out writing style of Joyce, namely a agreeable hum to it. Jon grinned. “Two electrons, one from each had other ideas for how he should the door, beginning yet another day loose chronological progression of “Like I said, perfect.” One wheel atom,” explained Mrs. Koehler. spend his summer. She wanted to in the life of the young engineer. events over a short period of time, down, three to go. Bryce and Jon Finally he understood. Everything send him away to a “nerd camp,” Sports THE CALIFORNIA TECH November 2, 2015 5 Wang, Jin claim épeé, foil titles Jamshidi breaks at IFCSC Open Tournament women’s volleyball GOCALTECH.COM meet in an epic semifinal where Lo ‘C’ class, improving on last year’s Actual Sports Content Editor took the lead on three occasions, finish by three places. Jin swept career kills record but Wang ultimately rallied to through pool play and the direct PASADENA, Calif. (Oct. advance to the final in a 15-14 elimination round, beating eventual GOCALTECH.COM The Sagehens claimed a 3-0 vic- 25, 2015) – Freshman William victory, where he took an early third-place finisher Alex Lew in Actual Sports Content Editor tory to even their record at .500, both overall (11-11) and in the Wang and junior Matthew Jin lead and held on to defeat 2014 the semifinals, 15-5, and crushing SCIAC (6-6), while the Beavers each went undefeated en route champion Jake Hillard of Arizona the only other rated fencer in the PASADENA, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2015) – Senior Cat Jamshidi broke drop to 2-20 (0-15). Pomona- to claiming titles in the épeé and State University, who had knocked weapon, UCSB’s Joseph Alderson, the Caltech women’s volleyball ca- Pitzer was in control throughout, out his own teammate, Crosby, in in the final, 15-4. Lew edged out foil, respectively, for Caltech reer kills record on Saturday night recording set scores of 25-8, 25- men’s fencing at the IFCSC Open the other semifinal. junior Keegan Mendonca, who against Pomona-Pitzer Colleges. 10 and 25-9 as the Beavers only Tournament hosted at Caltech on Lo improved on his position in would better 2014’s 11th-place Jamshidi matched the record strung together consecutive points Sunday. last year’s competition by three finish with sixth in this year’s with three kills in the first set and once in the match. Wang overcome an incredibly places while sophomore Spencer event, in the quarterfinals while surpassed the mark in the second Jamshidi paced the Beavers deep épeé field which included two Strumwasser moved up from 13th James Hamilton came in 11th. with the 555th of her career. She with four kills while senior Megha- na Pagadala recorded nine digs ‘A’ class and four ‘B’ class fencers last year to sixth, dropping just one Kai Chang paced the Beavers also ranks among the Top 3 all- time in digs and solo blocks. and junior Kate Lewis tallied two in his first collegiate competition. pool bout in a 5-4 defeat to Hillard in the saber, finishing seventh blocks. The rookie did not drop a single before bowing out at Lo’s hands to better last year’s top Caltech bout in pool play, narrowly beating in the quarterfinals. Freshman finish of 13th. Junior Marco out Arizona State University ‘A’ Alex White placed seventh in his Cruz-Heredia and sophomore fencer George Crosby, 5-4, to earn collegiate debut, followed by Nima Yu Han Nam placed 11th and 12, a #2 seed in the direct elimination Badizadegan in 11th. respectively. round while sophomore Ethan Lo In the foil, Jin cruised through The Beavers will participate in also went unscathed and earned a 13-man field in which he entered the individual BladeRunner USFA the #3 seed. The teammates would as the highest-rated fencer in the ROC at UC San Diego Nov. 7-8.

After weeks of promising she’s going to do it, Cat Jamshidi finally breaks the career kills record. Go Cat! Photo Courtesy of Bob Palermini Hernandez, Meyer take third place at IFCSC Open

GOCALTECH.COM Hernandez qualified third Actual Sports Content Editor among her pool to earn the #4 seed in direct elimination, where I really don’t know who’s in this picture, but I’m going to assume by their orange socks that they’re both from Caltech. PASADENA, Calif. (Oct. 25, she picked up a win in the quarter- -http://gocaltech.com 2015) – Senior Emilia Hernandez finals before falling in the semis. and Christina Meyer placed third Meyer topped her group in pool for Caltech women’s fencing in the play to earnt the #2 seed but was épeé and foil, respectively, at the knocked off in the semifinals, while Percin named female SCIAC IFCSC Open Tournament hosted freshman Maia Stiber qualified as at Caltech on Sunday. #6 and held her position with a de- Swimmer of the Week feat in direct elimination. GOCALTECH.COM Actual Sports Content Editor

PASADENA, Calif. (Oct. 29, 2015) – Caltech women’s swim- ming and diving freshman Brittany Percin has been named the Col- legeSwimming.com SCIAC female Swimmer of the Week. Percin broke the program’s 200 Freestyle record by over two sec- onds in her collegiate debut at Po- mona-Pitzer Colleges on Saturday, beating out six Sagehens to clock the fastest time in the conference this season at 1:58.31. The rookie just missed setting the 500 Free record by three seconds later in the meet and swam the fastest 100 Thank goodness for pictures that take up more space than necessary, because I “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” — really wanted to fill up the page without adding another article. Free split as part of the 400 Med- Inigo Montoya, not pictured (unless that’s him hiding behind that mask) -http://gocaltech.com ley Relay in the last three years. -http://gocaltech.com Announcements 6 November 2, 2015 THE CALIFORNIA TECH

VICE PROVOST’S OFFICE HOURS Vice Provost, Chief Diversity Officer and Professor of English, ASCITASCIT Board of Directors MeetingMinutes Cindy Weinstein, offers weekly office hours beginning Thursday, Minutes for 27 October 2015. Taken by Sean McKenna. October 15, in Room 104 Parsons Gates. She views these hours as an opportunity for undergraduates, graduate students and postdocs Officers Present: Nima Badizadegan, Catherine Jamshidi, Jay to meet and discuss whatever you’d like to talk about. Professor Palekar, Sean McKenna, Robin Brown Weinstein oversees the Council on Undergraduate Education, Caltech accreditation, the Staff and Faculty Consultation Center, Call to Order: 12:04 pm Student-Faculty Programs, the Center for Teaching, Learning and Outreach, the Caltech Diversity Center and the libraries. Guests: Kurtis Carsch, Chris Dosen, Laura Watson There are four appointments per hour, 15 min. each. Sign up President’s Report (Nima): the day of the meeting in 104 Parsons Gates, Vice Provosts’ Offices • Spoke to Joe Shepard regarding career center and athletics (x6339). at Caltech • Will continue conversations with both parties Fall Term Hours: • Working with IHC to put together student representatives Thursday, Nov. 5, 12pm-1pm Monday, Nov. 23, 12pm-1pm regarding alcohol policies at Caltech Tuesday, Nov. 10, 12pm-1pm Tuesday, Dec. 1, 12pm-1pm Thursday, Nov. 19, 12pm-1pm Wednesday, Dec. 9, 12pm-1pm Officer’s Reports: • V.P. of Academic Affairs (ARC Chair: Jay): The highly dramatic, almost bipolar Symphonie Fantastique of o Discussing Ec11 and other course concerns, course capturing with Deans. Hector Berlioz anchors the November 13th concert by Pasadena • V.P. of Non-Academic Affairs (IHC Chair: Cat): Community Orchestra. The work moves from love, a pastoral country scene and a ball to a delightfully snarky march to the o Cat and one other student representative will sit on an ad-hoc Alcohol Policy Committee to meet scaffold and witches’ dance – it has it all! Also on the concert is soon. My primary goal is to make sure Franz von Suppé’s rollicking Light Cavalry Overture, with its bold student/security relationship remains positive. fanfares and cantering-horses’ rhythms. Rounding out the evening is the hauntingly beautiful Intermezzo from Bizet’s popular o Many meetings, etc. will be happening to plan Bechtel. IHC is working closely with the L’Arlesienne Suite. Friday, November 13, 8:00 p.m. at First Church architectural team. Committee will tour similar of the Nazarene, 3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena. Admission style residences at Claremont. is free, and no reservations are necessary. For more information, • Director of Operations (Sean): contact 626-445-6708 or [email protected], or visit us at o I will summarize the applications in a document www.pcomusic.org. Find us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/ that we can look at on Sunday. Pasadena-Community-Orchestra/125809577468516, and follow us o I'll send out an email tonight with details of any at https://twitter.com/PCOrchestra. applications that require additional screening or attention. Please look at that before Club Funding The California Tech on Sunday. Editors-in-Chief • Treasurer (Kalyn): Neera Shah Nehaly Shah o Absent • Caltech Social Director (Robin): Page Editors Trivia night at Chouse is still a thing every other Jon Cotler o Katherine Guo Thursday. Ching-Yun (Chloe) Hsu • Secretary (Phillip): Valerie Pietrasz Feminist Club, Chemistry Club, and Quizbowl o Public Events Contributing Writers came in to make up their club-funding pitches. Nima Badizadegan Hannalore Gerling-Dunsmore Nailen Matschke Sean McKenna If anyone has any questions or concerns about a section of the Hiring Ushers Contributing Photographers minutes please email the appropriate officer. We are happy to Tyler Okamoto answer any questions. Circulation Manager Kit Chinetti Meeting Adjourned: 12:32 pm Flexible hours. Advisor No experience needed. Richard Kipling Outgoing Personality. Caltech 40-58, Pasadena, CA 91125 Pay Rate: Contact [email protected] REMINDER FROM The Tech is published weekly except dur- $15 per hour ing vacation and examination periods by the Associated Students of the California COUNSELING CENTER: Institute of Technology, Inc. The opinions expressed herein are strictly those of the authors and advertisers. Letters and submissions are welcome; e- mail submissions to [email protected] as Caltech Students plain-text attachments, including the au- thor’s name, by Friday of the week before publication. 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feature THE CALIFORNIA TECH November 2, 2015 7 From the president’s desk: The past and future of Bechtel residence NIMA BADIZADEGAN Bechtel residence. The committee administration has yet to make Because of the construction of the around at Caltech for long enough ASCIT President produced a report containing any decisions about the use of the Bechtel residence, some of the older to see Bechtel. buildings that Over the next four to six months, As you have probably heard, currently house the IHC will be working closely there are a number of construction undergrads may with the architects of the Bechtel projects that are occurring on be repurposed residence to help the architects campus this year. By far, the biggest for grad student get an idea of what the Caltech and longest-planned project housing, so experience is like and figure out is the Bechtel residence, often the landscape how Bechtel should look and referred to as “Bechtel House.” In of housing at feel. We will also be sending out January 2012, the S.D. Bechtel, Caltech will a survey for every undergraduate Jr. Foundation pledged $25 likely be very to provide direct comments to the million to “expand and strengthen different when architects about what they like and the Institute’s commitment to the Bechtel dislike about their current living K-12 educational programs and residence conditions, and the architects will engagement with students and opens. be visiting the houses to get an teachers throughout California,” For the past idea of what undergraduate life at according to the Caltech website. three years since Caltech is like. In recognition for the gift, Caltech the Bechtel Regardless of how the Bechtel decided to build a new residence gift, Caltech residence is used, the impact hall, named afterBechtel, with the Facilities and of the new residence cannot be goal of bringing 100 percent of Student Affairs understated. It is clear that all- undergraduate students into on- have been freshman housing would have a campus housing. preparing for significant impact on the campus The planned residence hall the construction culture and the mental health of will have 250 beds, along with This satellite image shows the potential area for where Bechtel will be built. The indicated area is of the new new students. However, the other common areas, an underground larger than the actual area that will be taken up by the residence hall. building by options on the table will also -http://maps.google.com/ parking garage and a servery for selecting have some impact on students. CDS. The Bechtel residence will be a set of potential uses for the new residence hall. Additional architects and moving buildings like In particular, the removal of all located next to Avery, along Moore new residence, which includes proposals have also been brought the child care center out of the way off-board Caltech-owned housing walk, and should be a 2- or 3-story proposals like: up, including the idea of “multi- of the planned construction site. may cause more students to rent building with approximately • Off-campus housing, generational” housing, where Now that the architects have been apartments off-campus than move 120,000 square feet of total space. including unaffiliated housing undergraduate and graduate selected, the design process will back on. A ninth house or two For more information, Student and/or off-campus alleys students live together. be starting soon, and construction extra houses would have to be Affairs will soon have a description • All-freshman or all- Unfortunately, it is likely that should begin the following year. incorporated into rotation. of the Bechtel project posted on sophomore housing construction will begin on the According to the official timeline, In the coming months, we as a studaff.caltech.edu. • A ninth house or a pair of building before final decisions design will start in the fall of 2015, campus have a lot of thinking to do In 2012, Anneila Sargent, then new houses about its use are made. I have construction will begin in the fall about what we want Bechtel to look theCEFCU vice Ad:Layout president 1 8/14/15of Student 3:33 PM PageThe 1 exact text of the report been avoiding the use of the words of 2016 and the residence hall will like, and how we want it to be used, Affairs, formed a committee is not public. However, with all “Bechtel House” during this article be ready for students to move in because the decisions we make chaired by Professor Paul Asimow of the changes in the president’s because it is not clear whether for the 2018-2019 academic year. today will have a large impact on to look into the use of the new office and in Student Affairs, the Bechtel will become a house or not. Only the current freshmen will be how our campus will be tomorrow. You chose one of the Now choose one of the most trusted institutions most trusted institutions in SCIENCE. in FINANCE.

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