Good luck on finals! MIT’s The Weather Oldest and Largest Today: Rain, 40°F (4°C) Tonight: More rain, 37°F (3°C) Newspaper Tomorrow: Partly cloudy, 55°F (13°C) Details, Page 2 Volume 124, Number 59 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Tuesday, December 7, 2004 Mental Community Welcomes President Hockfield By Jeffrey Chang STAFF REPORTER Health It wasn’t her birthday, but Presi- dent Susan Hockfield received a cake placed in her office by a group Response of hackers yesterday, continuing the tradition of creative welcomes for MIT presidents on their first day. The cake was in the shape of Criticized MIT’s great dome, complete with a replica of the Wright brothers’ flyer By Beckett W. Sterner on top, and a plastic policeman. A EDITOR IN CHIEF group of students identifying them- Two people hospitalized by MIT selves as the ones responsible for as undergraduates have said they the hack requested anonymity but felt the decision was either unfound- said that when the group asked ed or inappropriate, and in both Hockfield what she thought of the cases that MIT did not act quickly cake, she said that she liked it. The to resolve the situation and remove students also said that Hockfield them from what they described as a said her first day was a success and traumatizing experience. that people have been very welcom- The two, a man and a woman, ing and enthusiastic. requested their names remain Hockfield’s first day as president anonymous for privacy reasons, but concluded with a lively reception in for convenience will be referred to the Stratton Student Center from by the pseudonyms “Alex” and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Attendees were CONNIE YEE—THE TECH “Shirley.” Alex was committed in President Susan Hockfield converses with members of the MIT community at her welcome reception in 1998, Shirley in 2003. Welcome, Page 16 the Student Center on Monday, Dec. 6. Both stayed a total of 12 days at McLean Hospital, a large psychi- atric facility of Harvard Medical Presidency ‘An Enormous Honor’ For Hockfield School, and both sought to leave substantially earlier while relying on President Susan Hockfield a life scientist, as president of MIT owe it to the current generation of ity must be to build on MIT’s visiting friends for clothing, person- recently responded to questions will seem a natural progression; to students, and to subsequent genera- strengths and to help the Institute al items or academic work. from The Tech’s news department others, it will seem a remarkable tions, to continue the progress use those strengths to chart its Neither said that in retrospect in an e-mail. The questions and departure from past traditions. toward what we can truly and course into the future. I believe being hospitalized was necessary or Hockfield’s responses follow. Viewed from any perspective, it is proudly call a great meritocracy, on deeply in the strength of communi- particularly helpful in fixing the sit- an enormous honor to be the first this campus and across the nation. ties and the power of ideas that uations that initially led to them TT: What significance do you woman, and the first life scientist, to I hope that my election to MIT’s come from the people in those com- being committed to McLean. attach to being the first woman have been chosen to serve as MIT’s presidency will give confidence to munities. My top priority for the Due to anonymity, MIT adminis- named president of MIT? president. women and girls, as well as to peo- present is to learn from MIT’s facul- trators were not able to comment on Hockfield: We often feel that I have benefited enormously ple from all backgrounds, to believe ty, students, staff and alumni what the specific cases, but Robert M. change comes too slowly, but the from the pioneering women and that they, too, can take on roles that they view as the key opportunities Randolph, senior associate dean for last few decades have been a time of men who made it possible for perhaps have not previously been and challenges in the years ahead. students, said that the length of the rapid change that have brought steadily increasing numbers of open to them. From the day my appointment was two’s hospitalizations are “so increasing opportunities for people women of my generation to take on TT: What is your top priority as announced, I began meeting with, from all sectors of our society. To key roles in the academy and the new president? Hospitalization, Page 12 some, the election of a woman, and throughout our society. Now, we Hockfield: Clearly, my top prior- Interview, Page 17 Zhou Approved as New UA Vice President IFC Plans To Facilitate By Kelley Rivoire tion going on between ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR different student gov- IAP, Spring Recruitment Janet Y. Zhou ’06 was unani- ernments.” mously elected as Vice President of Williams said the By Tiffany Chen attempt to attract more members, the Undergraduate Association by UA will perform addi- STAFF REPORTER the IFC will be facilitating recruit- the UA Senate last night, filling the tional recruitment to The Interfraternity Council is ment and approaching recruitment vacancy left by the recent resigna- fill the vacant treasurer planning to hold spring recruitment in a more centralized fashion. tion of Phillip A. Vasquez ’05. To slot by next semester. during Independent Activities Peri- “Fall rush is very intense and take on her new role, Zhou subse- He said there was “no od and February of next term. lots of pressure,” said IFC President quently resigned from her position real time-sensitive Unlike previous years, the IFC will Christopher P. Child ’06. Spring as treasurer. issue,” as next semes- be hosting activities to allow people rush typically offers a more sedate UA President Harel M. Williams ter’s budget has to explore the various fraternities at way for freshmen to rush fraternities ’05 praised Zhou’s work as treasur- already been complet- MIT. and independent living groups. er and said he anticipates that “she’s ed, and the new trea- Spring recruitment will allow In addition, Schiller said that going to continue to do a great job surer can “transition people who missed fall rush to join freshmen may have had experience in her role as Vice President.” She very quickly.” fraternities. IFC Recruitment Chair with only one house during fall. “has brilliant ideas about how to Brad W. Schiller ’07 said the IFC Spring recruitment will therefore make things more efficient,” he UA passes Simmons will be conducting study sessions allow freshmen to meet everybody said. resolutions and other activities to enable people and go to the various fraternity Zhou said that her role as trea- The UA also passed to familiarize themselves with fra- houses. surer has been a “wonderful learn- two resolutions related ternities. IFC Vice President Jordan K. ing experience so far,” and she to the Oct. 9 party at Fabyanske ’06 cites the freshmen on Changes in recruitment “look[s] forward to learning more” Simmons Hall, which CHRISTINA KANG—THE TECH campus policy as one of the primary in her new role as Vice President. was unregistered and Janet Y. Zhou ’06 was elected Undergradu- In the past, fraternities conduct- reasons for spring recruitment. He As Vice President, Zhou said she ate Association Vice President at a meeting ed their own spring recruitment hopes to “improve the communica- Election, Page 18 of the UA Senate last night. individually. This year, in an Rush, Page 15 This is our last issue of the Comics NEWS semester. The Tech will publish MIT professors explore miscon- World & Nation . 2 on Wednesdays during IAP, start- ceptions about innovation in Opinion . 4 ing with Jan. 5, 2005. Have a their new book. Arts . 9 good winter break! Sports . .20 Page 6 Page 16 Page 2 THE TECH December 7, 2004 WORLD & NATION French Lose Their Own Test Congress Reaches Consensus Explosives On Flight By Matthew Saltmarsh THE NEW YORK TIMES PARIS For Passing Intelligence Bill France’s interior minister called it “scandalous.” Le Figaro called it “ridiculous.” But whatever you choose to call it, on Monday, four By Philip Shenon not “abrogate the statutory responsi- ligence adviser and who would take days after the police at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle International Air- THE NEW YORK TIMES bilities” of the Defense Department. authority away from both the CIA port planted explosives in an unsuspecting passenger’s suitcase, WASHINGTON Congressional officials said final and the Pentagon. nobody knew yet where the explosives had gone. Congressional leaders said they House and Senate votes would “I think we need intelligence “We hope the person who finds this will take it to the local author- reached final agreement Monday probably occur Tuesday or Wednes- reform,” Hunter said at a news con- ities,” said a spokesman for the gendarmerie, France’s national allowing passage of a bill to over- day, allowing Bush to sign the bill ference Monday with Sen. John W. police, who planted the mobile-phone-size lump of plastic explosives haul the nation’s intelligence com- into law this week, setting in motion Warner, R-Va., the chairman of the as part of an exercise to train bomb-sniffing dogs. “We hope they munity and enact the major recom- the largest overhaul of the nation’s Senate Armed Services Committee, don’t throw it away.” mendations of the independent Sept. system for gathering and sharing who also announced his endorse- The explosives, which had no detonator, are not thought to 11 commission, including creation intelligence since the creation of the ment of the revised bill after pose a danger.