Karl W. Reid ’84, Director of the MIT Office of Minority Education since 2005, was recently appointed Senior Vice President of Academic Programs and Strategic Initiatives of the United Negro College Fund in Fairfax, VA. The search for his replacement is currently underway.

Mob psychology, a conversation with an intelligent computer, and audience participation all numbered among the tactics used by six MIT professors Wednesday evening at MIT Hillel’s Sixth Annual Latke vs. Hamentashen Debate.

Anna L. Tang, the former Wellesley College junior accused of stabbing Next House resident Wolfe B. Styke ’10, is scheduled for a pre-trial discovery hearing on Monday, July 14 at 2 p.m., according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. Tang last appeared in court on Monday, Feb. 4, when the court adjusted the terms of her house arrest to allow her to use a gym, the Wellesley Townsman reported.

Education at MIT in 2007 saw a number of changes: two undergraduate courses revamped their curricula; opportunities for freshmen expanded with the addition of project-based engineering and foundational Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences classes; and two degree programs neared acceptance by MIT.

Students who paid half price for meals at dining halls during the fall will also pay half price during the Independent Activities Period. MIT Campus Dining has extended the duration of the House Dining Membership, formerly known as Preferred Dining, at no additional cost to members.

Both the number of early applicants and the Early Action admittance rate rose this year, resulting in 522 early admissions (out of 3,928 total applicants) for the Class of 2012. Last year, 390 students were admitted early (out of 3,493) for the Class of 2011.

This is the second interview in a seven-part series introducing incoming students to some of MIT’s faculty, staff, and student leaders. Today, The Tech interviews Jeffrey I. Schiller ’79, network manager for Information Services & Technology, who discusses IS&T, file-sharing, and his memories of being an undergraduate at MIT.

The demographic breakdown of the Class of 2011 has been released, with gender and ethnicity statistics comparable to last year’s.

Both the number of MIT students receiving Pell grants and the average amount awarded to MIT students increased for the 2006–2007 academic year. The number of recipients increased 3.5 percent and the average amount increased 5.5 percent from the previous year, Director of Financial Aid Daniel Barkowitz said.

Pritchett Dining will not reopen this coming fall, according to Richard D. Berlin III, director of Campus Dining. The discontinuation of Pritchett Dining, a response to a student-led plan for improvement of east campus dining options, was announced in conjunction with the decision to rollback the semester fee for Preferred Dining to $300 for the coming fall.