[email protected] Vo l u m e CX, Nu m b e r 3 Pa s a d e n a , Ca l i f o r n i a Oc t o b e r 13, 2008

Big Interhouse: Rotation is Working, Evolving Most prefrosh get first choice, Skits need work perclassmen to evaluate the truth Not This Year By Sarah Marzen dent Affairs. Watson apologized to the Caltech community with a of the email. By Vibha Laljani The general sentiments of the St a f f Wr i t e r letter drafted by IHC members in Despite these irregularities in people who actually built the par- last week’s Tech. this year’s Rotation process, Mar- St a f f Wr i t e r ney is “optimistic” that Caltech ties, including the leadership of Rotation is over with few ir- “The situation was blown a lit- the houses, were also in consen- tle out of proportion,” said Rick- undergraduates will be satisfied regularities, and according to with the House that they were Two years after the return of the sus. “Houses felt burnt out after Ruddock House President Sean etts House President Cliff Chang. Interhouse, the party which has building two Interhouses in a “I think the apology defused it a placed into, and that their satis- Marney, a survey will be released faction will be apparent in the been rocking the South Houses row,” says ASCIT Social Direc- sometime this term to help evalu- lot…. The letter was not meant to each year, the comeback tradition tor Ekta Bhojwani. “People felt it apologize for House cultures, but Rotation survey to be given later ate how well Rotation worked. this term. Last year’s Rotation will not be followed this year. was best to take a break and re- “Rotation went well this year- the way we presented it [in the A variety of reasons played a visit the situation to answer ques- skits].” survey showed that over 65% of -not exceptionally so, but around students were “very happy” with part in the decision-making pro- tions about funding, whether we 60% ended up in their top choice According to Adalian, the main cess. “From what I have been told, want to have Interhouse annually, issue with the skits was the choice their House, and that over 60% of house,” wrote Interhouse Com- students got into their first choice the reasons include the big party etc.” “Since then, I have anec- mittee (IHC) Chair Chris Watson of venue, because it was difficult taking away from the smaller par- dotally seen a lot of relief at not to leave the auditorium during House. in an email. “I don't think any other system ties, cost issues, and the redun- having the burden of building the IHC Secretary Dvin Adalian skits that might have been offen- dancy if it were to happen every party,” agrees Watson. sive. The skits were performed in could significantly beat ours for agreed. "The irregularities are least unhappy people,” said Mar- year.” says the Interhouse Com- However, many students and considered minor. We know the a Caltech auditorium, and adver- mittee (IHC) chair Chris Watson. faculty would like the tradition tised in a Caltech booklet, which ney. “We’re definitely maxing out kind of things that have happened on happiness.” “It will allow more time for other of Interhouse to continue because in past Rotations, these didn't stop makes harassment complaints house traditions to flourish.” After it brings together the alums, the grounds for suing Caltech. In last year’s Rotation survey, the week or anything, and we con- many undergraduates commented the demise of Interhouse in 1989, eight Houses, the graduate stu- sider this a 'smooth Rotation.'" “Ramo Auditorium was a bad Houses developed new traditions dent body, and the faculty. In a choice for skits,” said Marney. that they wanted to remove barri- The few irregularities that oc- ers between Houses, according to to replace it, such as Ruddock’s previous Tech article, Tim Chang, curred during this year's Rotation “It’s not something we [IHC] Own Private Interhouse (OPI) or Director of Housing, said that he were happy about.”These issues Adalian. included a number of complaints But Adalian and Marney be- Blacker’s Frosh Project. It will viewed Interhouse as an event about the Rotation skits, a cyni- will have to be taken care of by be difficult for the Houses to con- that both “brings the [Caltech] next year’s IHC, according to lieve that Interhouse barriers are cal email sent to selected fresh- more perceived than real. “Inter- tinue these traditions alongside community together” and as a men that purported to expose the Marney. building Interhouse annually. party that gives Caltech students “I don’t think Rotation was af- house interactions are as good truth of Rotation, and schedule as people want them to be,” said There are also some questions the “full college experience.” misprints in the Tech. Rumors fected by the skits,” said Adalian. about funding for future Inter- ASCIT and IHC hope to have a The second irregularity—the Marney. that all but one of the Houses The merits of the House system houses. “There is some funding, way of accomplishing this with- had Rotation violations—which email about the House system but we need to raise more mon- out resulting in burnt out under- sent during Rotation week to pre- are currently being discussed by could penalize them during the students on the Student Experi- ey,” says Bhojwani. Tom Man- grads and repetition. “I think that “picks process”—were dismissed frosh—constitutes a Rotation vio- nion, the Assistant Vice President alternating the party with some lation, since specific picks strate- ence Trip. by Adalian, and no IHC member For now, the IHC will continue to Student Affairs and Campus other large event every other year could give House-based statistics gies are explicitly discussed. “The Life, has individually contrib- would be a good way to round email is essentially harassment,” to tweak the Rotation process, for this year’s Rotation viola- suggesting changes that the next uted $10,000 to both recent Inter- out our year-to-year social calen- tions. said Marney.“It’s a scare tactic if houses for food and drinks; and dar,” says Watson. “Anyone who anything.” IHC can implement. Two years Complaints about the content of ago, the Rotation rules were re- Housing has contributed $20,000 remembers the Jimmy Eat World certain Rotation skits came from According to Adalian, most of the Interhouses for construction concert would probably agree on the freshman who received the laxed to reflect the “spirit of Ro- both staff, whose attendance was tation” rather than prescribe spe- by deferring maintenance jobs some level--I feel like that sticks required, and students, whose at- email “recognized that this was for later years. “We can't keep out in my memory, whereas a lot an isolated case.” A few were cific things you could and could tendance was recommended, and not say to prefrosh. depending on Student Affairs for of the Interhouse parties will tend they reached the ears of Caltech’s scared, and IHC members en- [the funding],” says Bhojwani. to run together over the years.” couraged them to talk to other up- Adalian describes these tweaks legal branch, Housing, and Stu- to Rotation as “evolution.”

IRS Scrutiny Leads to New Tax on G. W. Housner Student Discovery Funds New Buildings on Campus

By Wesley Yu creased scrutiny from the IRS on materials for scholarly activity. Fences encircle both the Court of Man--the Caltech’s finances. The Dean’s Office has worked lawn between Beckman Behavioral Biology and St a f f Wr i t e r For students, this means that fi- with the Office of Payment - ser Baxter--and the east parking lot of Moore. The nancial support from the Housner vices to increase tax exemptions two areas add to the unprecedented level of con- Fund must be reported as income. for students. struction being witnessed on campus. Awards from the George W. For students who are US citizens, “If a student gets an award, he Work started on the Cahill Center for Astrono- Housner Student Discovery Fund Caltech will not withhold taxes but or she should talk to us so that we my and Astrophysics at the beginning of 2007 and will now be subject to a federal will report the award to the IRS. can help them avoid the taxes,” on the Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and tax enforced by Caltech. The tax, For non-US citizens, Caltech’s said Dean Hall. “Save receipts Chemical Engineering in October. implemented last June, is a new action will depend on whether or and ask that the fund pay direct- The site between Beckman and Baxter will be interpretation of federal tax code not the US has a tax treaty with ly for as many expenses as pos- the new location of a storm drain previously near by the Caltech Office of Payment the student’s home country. If no sible.” the site of Schlinger Laboratory. Services. According to Rebekah treaty exists, Caltech will with- The Housner Fund has been The Annenberg Center for Information Science Sims, a Manager at Payment hold 30% of the award from in- used by students to fund a diverse and Technology will break ground next month. Services, “it has always been the ternational students. set of activities. Most awards While the Cahill Center is expected to be com- case that prizes and awards are However, there are ways to are for travel to conferences and plete at the end of 2008, Annenberg and Schlinger taxed by the IRS, but we hadn’t avoid the new tax. According other scholarly endeavors. The Laboratory and are not slated to be complete until enforced these taxes before.” The to Dean John Hall, distributions fund will also be used for the new July and December 2009, respectively. stricter interpretation of the tax from the fund will not be taxed 3-unit student taught courses that code comes on the heels of in- if they pay for travel expenses or will be offered Winter term.

Talking Hoops In This Issue with Laissez faire a failure page 2 Helping the Caltech’s Obama takes the lead page 3 Homeless Page 6 Basketball Coach Riding Metro Line 181 page 4 pg. 7 2 Oc t o b e r 13, 2008 Op i n i o n Th e Ca l i f o r n i a Te c h Never Fear!...No wait be Election 2008 afraid. Be very afraid. Republicans are avoiding topic of By Anonymous remembers as “that guy who led the country through the second Thank god it is election season. great depression.” economic history like the plague The problem we are facing Now we can all rest assured that By Marissa Cevallos Republican presidents Warren knows the limits of the free the next four or eight years will today is a much bigger one than Ed i t o r -i n - Ch i e f Harding (1920-3) and Calvin market. Some services just can’t be far better than the last ones. one man - even an extremely Coolidge (1923-9) enforced powerful man - is going to be be developed on the free market For those of you just tuning in free market principles, 60 years without some financial nudging the issue for the election of 2008 able to fix. Just this week 15 It wasn’t Gov. Sarah Palin’s before anyone would utter leaders from around Europe from the government: universal took a drastic turn this October. fault that her mind drew a blank “Reaganomics”. Like McCain health care, for example, or And of course the issue now is gathered to figure out how when Katie Couric pressed her to is proposing, they cut taxes on to save their economy. The educational programs. If McCain money. name one example of Senator John the wealthy believing the effect believed these programs were I find it interesting how at a problem we are dealing with is McCain siding would trickle tremendous. essential, he’d raise taxes for time when the most notable issue with deregulation. down. them too. to debate was the war in Iraq, If people are going to be Since even The philosophy There is voting this election season based Social programs, like McCain was about dead-even before Reagan, the that the free academic government intervention, were in the polls with Obama. Now on the economy, they should not Republican party elegance in be voting for the candidate who market can a bit passe in the 1920’s. That’s however, people are beginning has been enamored shunning taxes. not to say that the economy was to rally more and more around is going to “fix the problem.” with the panacea- solve anything As an economics They need to recognise the fact so prosperous that it didn’t need Senator Obama as the one to like power of the is flawed in student can intervention: small recessions in fix the economy. What I don’t that we might end up just having free market and draw with a few to deal with harsh times. practice. Voters 1920, 1924, and 1927 marred an understand at all from this is repulsed by giving lines, imposing otherwise upward trend. But like why? Haven’t we all learned If you are concerned about it up. should raise taxes creates the economy you should be the Bush administration has let big that the “free market” is best? But as the eyebrows dead weight in business run amok for eight years, Perhaps, and I hope, people are worried about only two things last few weeks the economy. : unemployment and inflation. when McCain so did the Republican presidents voting for reasons better founded of debates have The market no in the 1920’s trust in business than a fool-hardy belief that Both of these problems are likely underscored, the campaign longer runs as to lead the average (or below and bet on the free market. In the either candidate has the power or Nov 4 ballot will pit managers its maximum words of Coolidge: “The business the know how to fix the mess we average) American to have a two fundamentally efficiency when much worse quality of life. desperately try of America is business; he who are in. different economic a tax rudely builds a factory builds a temple.” Now don’t get me wrong: I am People need to stop worrying strategies for to shift attention interrupts the about getting the DOW back up The government didn’t cause not of the opinion that McCain steering the United away from the forces of supply the Great Depression. But the was reading General Theory to 14000 and start worrying more States out of the and demand. about safety nets. Vote not for economy. Federal Reserve sat idly by the of Employment, Interest and mire. Even if the three minor recessions passed Money while in a bamboo prison the canditate you think is going Neither may government to get banks lending. Vote for the by; sometimes they exacerbated in “Nam.” I just don’t see how work, but one will certainly were to return all the taxes it the recessions by raising interest either candidate instills any more candidate who is going to make work better. There are enough collected, taxpayers would sustain sure people are taken care of if rates. confidence than the other. Neither parallels to 1929 to pick the best a net loss. The philosophy that the free wants to be the president history they don’t. philosophy. In lofty theory, it makes sense Vote for the man who is going market can solve anything is At its heart, the Great that businesses don’t operate far flawed in practice. Voters should to keep people in their homes. Depression was fueled by cheap from their optimum. McCain Vote for the man who is going raise eyebrows when McCain The California Tech credit and unchecked over- proposes to keep tax cuts for campaign managers desperately Caltech 40-58, Pasadena, CA 91125 to make sure people will still lending, the same bad habits that advertising e-mail: [email protected] the wealthy--a Bush policy--to try to shift attention away from editorial e-mail: [email protected] have access to healthcare. Vote will put 2008 in history books. sustain business. for the candidate who is going to the economy. The manufacturing, automobile, Does that make Obama a I certainly hope that if the Editor-in-Chief make to address unemployment and agricultural industries were Marissa Cevallos neophyte who, in McCain’s electoral college doesn’t vote for as a primary concern and not benefitting from sky-high levels new favorite quip, “doesn’t just something that will resolve regulation on Nov 4 that a certain Business Managers of productivity after World understand”? In an August New maverick might be able to ignore Robin Abraham itself once the economy gets War I. High wages in modest York Times article, journalist a century’s worth of GOP wisdom rolling again because that may jobs brought luxuries like the David Leonhardt tried to pin down Photography Editor be a ways off despite anyone and and embrace a new economic Jonathan Tsai refrigerator into the house and the “Obamanomics.” In Obama’s policy. everyone’s best efforts. Model T into the driveway. twelve years at the University of Layout Editors Democrat or Republican, With unbridled optimism in Chicago, he ran with the crowd Hanna Liu everyone wants to see banks start the rapidly growing cities and Yang Yang who held Milton Friedman, the lending again and confidence suburbs, consumers felt safe university’s laissez-faire king, in returned to Wallstreet. Have no Webmaster buying on credit, and a financial the utmost regard. The respect for Michael Comstock doubt both candidates will do all system quickly emerged to feed the free market no doubt rubbed they can to make that happen. the demand for cheap credit. off on Obama, according to his Staff Just make sure before you vote to Loans were plentiful for home colleagues. Dannah Almasco consider what you will be doing mortgages. Obama, far from not ZeNan Chang until things get better. Back in the White House, Molly Davis understanding the economy, Andrea Dubin Mark Eichenlaub Andrew Freddo Anna Hiszpanski Michelle Jiang Robert Karl From the President’s Desk... Chris Kennelly Natalya Kostandova A call for free and open discourse within the Caltech community Vibha Laljani Harold Martin Sarah Marzen By Caleb Ng cism to improve the system rather Instead of trying to find and Sara McBride than sending an anonymous rant. punish people like Techer, we Co l u m n i s t Craig Montuori My message would have been should take this as an opportu- Sonia Tikoo nity to engage in a campus-wide Gloria Tran the same as my message to the Wesley Yu Now that the conclusion of Ro- new students at Frosh Camp: there conversation about the issues he/ tation is past, it seems appropri- is a self-critical spirit among the she has raised. As in any free and Circulation ate to reflect on the events of the undergraduates at Caltech, high- open community, we should rec- Aryan Safaie week. lighted by the Student Experience ognize the need to critically eval- One particular incident stands Trip team. You should know that uate the institutions we hold most Adviser dear. We must do this if we want Dr. Gary Libman out among the rest: the e-mail an your concerns will be heard and anonymous upperclass student taken seriously by others. the houses to continue to evolve The Tech is published weekly except during —let’s call him/her “Techer”— At the same time, it is clear and progress, and if we want to vacation and examination periods by the As- sent to new students purporting Techer felt the need to hide his/ improve the undergraduate stu- sociated Students of the California Institute of Technology, Inc. The opinions expressed to explain “The truth about the her identity. The ongoing attempt dent experience at Caltech. herein are strictly those of the authors and house system.” to discover the identity of Techer So what are you waiting for? advertisers. Letters and submissions are welcome; e-mail To be honest, I was saddened perhaps vindicates his/her reasons Start today on these pages; you submissions to [email protected] as plain-text to read Techer’s e-mail. It is best for remaining anonymous. can be a part of this discussion by attachments, including the author’s name, by Friday of the week before publication. described as a three-page rant. The rest of us should ask our- sending the California Tech a Let- The Tech does accept anonymous contribu- It catalogues what one person selves how this reflects on us. As ter to the Editor. tions. The editors reserve the right to edit and abridge all submissions for any reason. All perceives as the worst ills of the members of the Caltech commu- written work remains property of its author. house system and ends with a call nity, we should pride ourselves [email protected] The advertising deadline is 5 PM Friday; all advertising should be submitted electronically to “boycott” the system. in being academics, intellectu- or as camera-ready art, but The Tech can also If I had had the opportunity to als, people who stimulate and are do simple typesetting and arrangement. All advertising inquiries should be directed to the advise Techer, I would have urged stimulated by free and open dis- business manager at [email protected]. him/her to offer constructive criti- course. For subscription information, please send mail to “Subscriptions.” Th e Ca l i f o r n i a Te c h Op i n i o n Oc t o b e r 13, 2008 3 Election: Winner Obama, TKO Letter To The Editor By Evans Boney TV? Well, consistently (except for Republican presidential candidate! Contributing Wr i t e r Dear Tech Editors, the diversity of opinion? Please the question about the Cold War), I have never seen this in my entire get some more writers soon. undecided Ohio voters absolutely life, but it goes to show how I am appalled by your lack of Thanks for your effort, but I'm Before I begin my adulation-filled loved Obama over McCain for piss-poor the free-market crowd professionalism. sure you can do a better job. pronouncement that Obama won the 90 minutes, and I don't think you are viewed these days. It's going I have been at this school election last night with his astounding can blame them. The format that to cost McCain dearly with his for a year now, and all I have Sincerely, performance, let me explain the setup I was supposed to be McCain's base. I predict that a full 5% of seen come out of the Tech are Sarah Marzen had that puts me in position to say this. specialty just wasn't. A quote from Republicans will be so unhappy inaccurate articles, too many Tech staff First of all, I watched CNN, which "Thoughtful American" on the with that proposal that they will pictures, too little content, and had a live poll of the undecided voters NP live blog summed it up well: stay home November 7. If the more incorrect information. in Ohio's reactions to the candidate's "McCain is doing his best, but the columns from the day after are any Your last issue was a perfect every word. Secondly, I was live- cracks show the desperate tactics indication, this is one extremely example of this! You had a very blogging on my iPhone with the of an erratic Maverick". unpopular plan with his base. It simple job to do, entirely based National Post, a Canadian newspaper, Secondly, Obama beat is reaching across the aisle, but I on the ASCIT bylaws: print the to get some foreign input. Finally, I've McCain's pants off on foreign suspect those on the other hand Rotation schedule. As far as I'm now had the time to look at the opinion policy. John McCain sounded will swat his hand away, at least concerned, that is the only thing headlines from conservatives the day exactly like his SNL parody when until after the election. you had to do. None of the full after: the race is over! he said three times in a row "I'll Finally, I think Obama won the page ads, random interviews with First and foremost, John McCain get him" about Osama Bin Laden. debate with his poise and stature. random famous scientists, random showed that he was erratic. Whether it But, he didn't say how (and made He looked John in the eye in humor, or so-called news articles was in his overzealous walking (who it clear that he didn't intend to, not every tough moment, responded were necessary. didn't notice that heavy breathing?), now, not ever) nor did he answer quickly, calmly, and with razor And yet, you failed to print his chuckle that was the setup for the question about going into sharp criticism at almost every even an accurate Rotation a wonderful Obama retort, or his Pakistan. In addition, his attempt turn. He turned several questions schedule. How hard is it to print walking around like a prize fighter to chastise Obama for answering back to the economy without a times, names, and places? It's when Obama was talking to him the question (as an imprudent negative reaction from the CNN- not like an article, where you (Obama looked him in the eye in move for a commander) didn't meter voters in Ohio, who clearly have to interview more than one similar circumstances), he was all fly with the CNN-meter. Finally, wanted to hear it. He played person. The IHC sent you a list over the place, both literally and when asked about his plan in off several McCain miscues and of frosh and the places that they figuratively. When talking about a Iraq, McCain said that General refused to engage him on stupid, were supposed to eat lunch in. website, he used the pronoun "them" Petraeus has the plan. Does he small points (i.e. nuclear energy Essentially, you had to copy and (at ebay), which struck my ears like a know he is about to be Petraeus's and Obama being wrong on the paste. man whose never done business with boss? Obama scored higher on surge). Meanwhile, every McCain Here's another recurring issue them at ebay, and he also used the every foreign policy issue except attack was seen negatively by the with your newspaper-- there's not common phrases "a cool hand at the the Cold War on the CNN-meter, poll-meter. enough news. Last week's five or tiller" and "we're not rifleshots." He and post-debate analysis showed McCain left the room and so news articles were a surprising referred to Obama, ten feet away, as McCain favored 51-46 on who building withing minutes of the break from the usual three article "that one". Three times he started a would handle foreign affairs better, end of the debate while Obama fluff, but this week's Tech only has list, only to find that his brain didn't just 0.5% outside the margin of stayed, took pictures, and signed enough news to fill the front page! have enough items to go on it. This error of the survey. So, McCain's autographs (these were, after all, Surely more than that happened includes the only one positive thing he only long-held advantage is now real people in the audience) for a last week. Or is Rotation not had to say about the American worker very nearly a tie. full 20 minutes more. The whole newsworthy? and anything besides nuclear power Thirdly, and of profound debate was a tough fight, but that I have many more complaints, and offshore drilling in his energy importance, is McCain's bold was the knockout blow. Not only but I'll just mention my chief plan. His plan for social security? move on the economy. No "cool did McCain fail to address the complaint with your paper-- it's "Social security is easy: you just hand at the tiller" asks for $700b concerns of the middle class, he written, edited, and layed out by make tough decisions". He told a jello last week and another $300b this wouldn't even slow his schedule to the same four people every single joke and a hair plug joke that both week. On the plus side, this was say hello to them. Obama wins the week! No wonder you guys make bombed. Who is this old man on the an appeal to the middle from a debate, and the election, by TKO. so many mistakes! And where's

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Find your seat. Find your future. California Institute of Technology 10/15/08 | 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Bechtel Mall Contact your Career Services Center to register. 4 The California Tech No t i c e s October 13, 2008 ASCIT Board of Directors Meeting – Minutes Upcoming Events October 9, 2008 Officers Present: Caleb Ng, Zachary Higbee, Christopher Watson, Tzong-Lian 'Will' Tsay, Ekta Monday October 13, 2008 Bhojwani, Angela Zah, Michelle Jiang Officers Absent: Swati Bhanderi, Matt Czubakowski NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman on his experience living on the Guests: none International Space Station. Call to order: 22:40 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Beckman Institute Auditorium President’s Report: Lucy Jones, chief scientist of the U.S. Geological Survey in • Student Experience Trip update: SET went smoothly logistically, and the team members are satis- Pasadena, on the Great Southern California Shakeout. fied that it was a worthwhile venture. They have met with some trustees, the Alumni Board, and VP 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sargent. The ASCIT Board will meet with them later but they are still in process of discussing findings 155 Arms, Robert Sharp Lecture Hall from trip. A preliminary set of recommendations will be ready around midterms. One thing that came out of it was that Caltech’s health insurance is one of the best around, but it is in process of review, as Tuesday October 14, 2008 happens every ~2 years, and there is often talk about cutting costs. • Movie Chairs: Caleb met with them yesterday, and they will be in touch with plans for a movie series Thomas Kslazek from the Center for Disease Control and along the lines of movies you’re embarrassed to have never seen. Angela pointed out that Josh Weiner Prevention, on new virus Nipah from Southeast Asia. has received a collection of movies to be added to the ASCIT DVD Library, so Michelle will work 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM on this with him. There was general assent to the Movie Chairs requesting funding for movies and 119 Kerckhoff activities surrounding them. • Screening Room: The universal remote has been broken and therefore the entire system is unusable. Christopher Paolini, author of the Inheritance series including It is covered under warranty and has been sent in, but for now the room is closed and the combination Eragon, Eldest, and recent Brisingr for Q&A and book-signing. changed. The Movie Chairs will help evaluate the security situation and recommend improvements. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM • Communications Manager: Michael Maseda is filling this new position on a trial basis. He will be Beckman Auditorium responsible for being our first point of contact with the Tech. He will also collect email for a new AS- CIT Digest and e-mail them out to when he has received enough to fill an digest. Wednesday October 15, 2008 • Coffeehouse Hours: After a soft-launch last year, all ASCIT officers will be expected to be available for these office hours at the Coffeehouse. Caleb, Zack, and Michelle agreed to be available 10:30 pm – FALL CAREER FAIR 2008 11:30 pm Mondays; Chris, will, Ekta, and Angela will be available 10:30 pm – 11:30 pm Tuesdays. Visit http://www.career.caltech.edu/recruiting/careerfair/index.shtml • donut: All officers should flesh out their webpages on donut, which currently only have templates, for more information with duties and current projects and activities. • SAC 15/15A: We are getting a desk in SAC 15, and we need to sort through and organize the docu- Thursday October 16, 2008 ments and records stored in 15A so we can add to them in the future.

Info Session: Next month’s Great Southern California ShakeOut drill Vice President’s Report: and the consequences of a potential 7.8 earthquake on the souther • Honor Code Task Force: This has been one of this summer’s projects. The target date for finalizing San Andreas Fault. the task force’s charge and membership are next week. It will look at how the Honor Code is imple- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM mented practically and procedurally, with an eye on the BoC, CRC, and the Deans. OR 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM IHC Chairman’s Report: Ramo Auditorium • Rotation: It’s over! • MOSH: Met with VP Sargent to discuss the charge to the committee. It should start meeting the Friday October 17, 2008 middle of this term, and a new MOSH is expected by the middle of winter term. The idea of moving the MOSH’s office back to the Olive Walk seems to be more solid. ADD DAY 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM ARC Chairman’s Report: Registrar’s Office • Student-Faculty Conference 2009: The SFC committees will be selected soon, and Caleb notes that he would advise them to be selected by the end of October. Tim Cunningham from the Huntington Hospital Sleep Disorder • Student Experience Conference Report: The SEC Report is near the end of the editing phase and Center on how to improve sleep habits stands at about 30 pages long. Will and Caleb will discuss how to release it offline. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM • Undergraduate Research Opportunity Handbook and Caltech Catalog: ARC has acquired a few cop- Winnett Lounge ies of the catalog and will place one in SAC 15. UROH is nearly ready, and will will continue to provide update on this. Saturday October 18, 2008 • Student-Faculty Lunches: There will continue to be three lunches per term.

SURF Seminar Day Treasurer’s Report: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM • Student-Faculty Lunch Requests: The Board unanimously agreed to delegate the approval responsi- Visit http://www.surf.caltech.edu/seminarday/index.html. bility for these lunches to Angela. • little t: Angela will bring relevant details and records regarding costs, revenues, and past salaries and TACT Film Festival bonuses next week. She will recommend salaries and bonuses to the Board for next week. 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Amphitheater behind Sherman Fairchild Library Social Director’s Report: • Caleb skipped over Ekta on the agenda because he refuses to acknowledge her existence. Except when they go pick up Friday morning donuts, that is. • TACIT Film Festival: Sr. Director Daily expressed interest in working with us to have barbecue on October 17 and November 1 before some of the films TACIT will be showing this month. Ekta will Advertisement see if Meat Club and Team Tech want to work with us on this, and she will talk to Daily. Andrea has offered to be our liaison to Interim Director Brophy. • Europarty: There will be one this term after midterms because the Danish students are only here for one term. This will be the second Europarty under this administration. • GoCrossCampus: The Risk tournament needs more participants or Caltech will be expelled. This will be publicized in the ASCIT Digest.

Freshman Director’s Report: • Freshman Luncheons: The first one was held this past week and was deemed to be quite successful. Michelle will continue to work with Angela and the Athenaeum on this.

Discussion: • Storage Space: A number of student clubs and organizations need storage space and have requested it in the SAC. Caleb will ask Daryl to evaluate possibilities, including the space ASCIT is using to store scaffolding for parties. Ekta notes that it is on a South Master so it should not be considered secure storage. • Parties: Ekta noted that parties are being shut down early without notice or explanation to her. She will talk to Director Chang. • Concert: The Alumni Association has set aside money for Interhouse and would be willing to put the money toward another large event that includes alums, including a concert. Ekta will explore this possibility. • Red Cross Blood Drive: This will happen October 27-28 with ASCIT support for publicity. BoD Meeting_10/09/08 3 • ASCIT Leadership Retreat: Caleb and others will be discussing options and plans with AVP Mannion this weekend. • World AIDS Day: This is commemorated every year on December 1 and seems particularly relevant this year, since the Nobel Prize went to the discoverers of HIV. Michelle suggests the possibility of working with the Caltech Y. • Permanent Memorial for Swaroop Hebbale: There was unanimous assent to this idea. Everyone will brainstorm and ask around for ideas and suggestions. Chris will contact Ruddock President Marney. He also suggested the possibility of making it more general, which was received favorably. Meeting adjourned: 23:45 Submitted by Michelle Jiang, Freshman Director at Large. The California Tech Advertisement October 13, 2008 5

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Information Session October 15

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DESCO_Caltech_FullPageTech_Oct132008.indd 1 8/21/08 5:44:07 PM 6 The California Tech Features October 13, 2008

What would you do with $2,000? Helping the Homeless

by Sarah Marzen

hat’s the question Caltech senior dergraduates Stephen Wilke, Dahvyd protestations of the hotel desk clerk, Po-Ling Loh faced, last year, Wing, and Sunny Chun were walking Loh paid for Gail and Calvin to stay at T when she won the Mari Peterson down Lake Street “looking for home- Westway Inn for one night. Ligocki Memorial Award for perform- less people.” As Loh puts it, everything just ing “small acts of kindness.” A woman “pushing up a shopping seems to work out alright. Loh decided to splurge on a usual cart up the hill, very slowly” according victim in an unusual way—she helps to Wilke, caught their eye. Although the homeless. Loh and a few friends they were a little nervous—what if she Skid Row comb Pasadena streets and ride Met- wasn’t homeless?—and unsure how to ro Line 181 in the early hours of the approach her, they crossed the street. Pasadena is far from the epicenter morning to give them food, buy them “We made a beeline across the park- of homelessness. The infamous Skid meals and hotel rooms, and visit Skid ing lot to talk to her,” said Loh.“And Row in Los Angeles “houses” the Row with a Skid Row Ministry to pro- the first thing she said was that we largest stable population of homeless vide food and prayer. were ‘like angels who had dropped in the nation, cramming over 7,000 The fund still has $1,500, but Loh’s out of heaven.’” people into 50 square blocks. Nearly already “obsessed.” They offered to buy her a meal at every Sunday morning, Wilke joins “People know I talk incessantly Del Taco on the corner of Union Street Skid Row Ministry from Christian As- about homeless people,” said Loh, and Lake Street, and Louie thanked sembly as they set up a buffet table of smiling.“Ideally, I’d like other people them.“It’s the end of the month, so I’m chili dogs and walk around the block to get involved…. I have this money as broke as the 10 Commandments,” with peanut butter and jelly sandwich- to be generous to homeless people.” she said. es. One day towards the end of the Louie told her that homeless people summer, Loh came with him. rode Metro Line 181 at night to avoid “The first thing I said when I first The Start the unsafe streets and harsh open air. saw it [Skid Row] was ‘This isn’t Pas- So Loh and her friends, one early adena.’ This is even more desperate Homelessness was far from the first morning, rode the Metro Line 181, and desolate,” said Loh. thought that crossed Loh’s mind. hoping to hand out muffins to the hun- Skid Row’s inhabitants range from “I had no idea how to spend the gry homeless. mentally ill to embittered to just down money,” she said. Instead, she handed out a bread loaf and out of luck. Almost all the people Her first reaction was to “go crazy given to her by an Armenian immi- I talked to there had been abused in baking.” Last year, she baked brown- grant who was also on the bus. “The some way. Some had well-to-do fam- ies, cookies, and muffins every week whole bus became more lively… like ily members that they hadn’t seen for the Electrical Engineering students a party,” said Loh. “It’s normally dead since their 20’s. in Moore’s subbasement, one of the and depressing.” A few flashes of happiness perme- many small acts of random kindness ate the atmosphere. One woman was that might have won her the award in getting ready for her wedding, another the first place. But it seemed a little Changing attitudes brings her child. But most of the hap- overboard to spend $2,000 on flour, piness comes from the food, clothes, eggs, butter, and sugar. Walking around Pasadena with Po and company the ministry brings. “Cathy Jurca [Master of Student Ling Loh was, for me, an eye-opener “Christ tells us to love our neighbor Housing] said something about buy- to a completely different attitude to- as we love ourselves,” says Wilke. ing a conventional oven,” said Loh. wards the people around us. On our “This is just expanding the definition Her older brother thought she could way back from Soup Plantation, we of neighbor.” make a fund for other people’s small found Martha, a skinny senior lady in acts of random kindness, but Loh a flowery summer dress accompanied wasn’t sure that anyone with good by a shopping cart filled with card- Next steps intentions would show up to take the board boxes. money. “By their very nature, aren’t “I keep them to sleep on,” she As the summer months wane, so small acts of kindness supposed to go says.“I hate it when it rains.” does spare time. With so many home- unnoticed?” she asked. Loh inquires after her family and less and so many ways to help—not Three months later, she still hadn’t asks her if she wants any food. After a to mention classes, graduate school spent any of her money. As the sum- short time, we walk away, but not be- and fellowship applications, Caltech mer months drew her to the Pasadena fore there’s a grin as big as a Cheshire Christian Fellowship leadership and streets, Loh couldn't help but notice Cat’s plastered onto Martha’s face. UCC duties—how will Loh find time the many homeless people sitting on Loh talks to Martha like her grand- for early morning bus rides and soup street corners, each with his or her mother’s friend—not like a lady who kitchens? trademark shopping cart of belong- spends her day at the corner of Lake “I have no idea,” she admits.“I can ings. and Del Mar. be a facilitator, a contact person… so “I had the urge to walk around and “I got over the fact that these people that it’s an outreach project and not avoid them,” admitted Loh.“A lot of are homeless,” says Loh. “There’s just me.” us have been brought up to think that nothing wrong talking to a homeless Loh isn’t even sure that she’s go- way…. I thought there was something person." ing about helping the homeless in the wrong about that.” Still, Loh is the first to tell you about right way. “Is it worth it?” she muses. One of her friends suggested buying her fears and doubts. She’ll describe “There’s no lasting change, there’s meals for those homeless people, and how she ran towards Von’s one early only so much you can do before the Loh’s obsession with homelessness morning trying to find Gail, a skinny fund runs out." was born. black woman that Stephen had briefly "It’s not that social change isn’t described to her; that she saw Gail good, but I have no idea how to do with a male friend and ran into Von’s it.” Vagabond Louie in fear of her own safety, her heart rac- As Wilke describes it, the goal is ing. to get people “talking to that home- Loh's first homeless friend was These stories end happily. Gail and less guy that you were afraid to make “Vagabond Louie”, so-called because her male protector, Calvin, were able eye contact with, and realizing there’s Loh paid for her to stay a night in to travel across Pasadena with bus fare somebody in such injustice.” Vagabond Inn. Loh and Caltech un- enough for only one person; against The California Tech October 13, 2008 7 A Conversation withS Oliverp o Eslingerr t s Volleyball continues struggles Evans Boney St a f f Wr i t e r What is your goal for the team this season?

Dr. Oliver Eslinger came to be If I have to choose one goal, it Caltech's men's basketball team is for us to come together quick- coach, as mentioned in the press ly and, as a program, earn our release last week, directly from Ph.D. - Play Hard and Develop MIT. As I've heard joked: it's — as long as we practice hard our latest prank on MIT. (easier said than done) and with As a former player of his back a purpose (physically and men- at the other Institute of Technol- tally), we will improve as play- ogy, reporter Evans Boney sat ers and as a unit...and that will down with Eslinger to get a sense translate to games and create a of his plans for Caltech basket- foundation for the future. ball and his initial thoughts of the Pasadena area. What changes have you made from last season under Roy What is your coaching philoso- Dow? phy? New men’s basketball head I am not in a position to com- coach Oliver Eslinger When it comes to coaching ment on what has been done in individual student-athletes, I the past. I just know that we believe in coaching the person have put together a tremendous Depending on the day, it may first and the player second. It’s staff of coaches and that we are be John Wooden, Phil Jackson, important to understand how all very excited to get started. Jerry Sloan, Coach K, Larry my players think, how they tick, There is an energy flowing Anderson, Chuck Abba, or my and what makes them go. I try to through our coaches and players youth coach, Jack Hale — ei- motivate individual players in that is really pushing us to pre- ther for motivational purposes, different ways, like an effective pare for the season and enhance educational aspects, respect fac- teacher does in the classroom. our future. tors, etc. From a team perspective, we want to achieve balance — be- Who is your favorite basketball Anything else you'd like to tell come a great team all over the coach and why? the Caltech community? floor. Offensively, defensively, and in transition. In order to do Tough question, as there are It’s an honor and a privilege to this, we need to be in optimal many. Someone else recently be here. I have been welcomed shape, from a physical stand- asked me that question. I guess with open arms and already met point but, more importantly, a the angle to take is, I have been many people on campus and in mental one. If we can learn to influenced by several, just as I the surrounding areas. We want focus during our practices, work used various basketball play- and need the support of stu- hard, and believe in ourselves, ers as my model for develop- dents, faculty, staff, and admin- we will make great strides. ment when I was growing up. istration.

The team dropped its last two matches 3-0, hampered by a Upcoming Games Men’s Soccer foot injury to team captain Katie Peters (pictured above).

Oct. 13 Men’s Socer vs. Haverford 4:00 P.M. Women’s Volleyball vs. La Sierra 7:30 P.M.

Oct. 15 Men’s Soccer vs. Redlands 4:00 P.M. Men’s Water Polo vs. Chapman 6:00 P.M.

Sophomore Jonathan Yueng chases the ball in a October game against La Verne, the team lost a close Oct. 17 match 3-1 to CMS on Saturday. Women’s Volleyball at West Coast Baptist Tournament TBA The Weekly Oct. 18 Women’s Volleyball at West Coast Baptist Tournament Scoreboard TBA Cross Country at SCIAC Multi Duals Oct. 7 La Mirada Women’s Volleyball at Pomona-Pitzer L 3-0 8:00 A.M. Fencing vs. UC Irvine Oct. 8 9:30 A.M. Men’s Soccer at Pomona-Pitzer L 7-0 Men’s Soccer vs. Occidental 11:00 A.M. Oct. 10 Men’s Water Polo at Whittier Women’s Volleyball at Whittier L 3-0 11:00 A.M. Oct. 11 Men’s Soccer at CMS L 3-1 8 The California Tech Hu m o r October 13, 2008

Comics Crippling Depression courtesy of Timof Wan, Yeh,Mike courtesy Lee Ben Depression Crippling xkcd by Randall Munroe

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