Starting on July 1, 2013, undergraduate and graduate students with children were able to pre-register for the new subsidized backup child care program. The new program provides students with access to caregivers on a short notice through Parents in a Pinch, a national vendor for child care services. The program will run as a pilot until June 30, 2014, when it will reexamined for renewal.

Two weeks ago, MIT Housing announced that six undergraduate dorms will be undergoing a temporary housing increase for the fall semester. MIT Housing sent an email to each student living in the affected dorms listing the specific rooms in their dorm that will have increased occupancy.

Increased security measures are in effect for this year’s Fourth of July celebrations in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings. Several road closures take effect starting at 4 p.m. in contrast with 4:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. closures last July Fourth. Most notably, the Harvard Bridge will not be accessible to pedestrians or vehicular traffic from 4 p.m. until approximately 2 a.m. on July 5. Other 4 p.m. closures to vehicular traffic include Main Street between Third Street and the Longfellow Bridge; Ames Street between Main Street and Memorial Drive; Land Boulevard from Binney Street to the Longfellow Bridge; Charlotte’s Way; and Amherst, Wadsworth, Hayward, Carleton, and Dock Streets.The Longfellow Bridge will remain open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic after 4 p.m. only on the inbound (Cambridge to Boston) side.

Nadeem Mazen ’06 has announced his candidacy for the Cambridge City Council. If elected in November, he will be the second MIT alumnus to serve on the council after Leland Cheung MBA ’10, who is also running for reelection. Mazen’s campaign is focusing on the issues of affordable housing, zoning, term limits for city councillors, dedicated spaces for arts, and opportunities for mentorship in K-12 education.