This past Friday, I came up to Cambridge from New York City to visit the MIT Museum, which I had read about some years ago. It was quite interesting to see your University’s process of founding laboratories to focus on new scientific themes, answer challenging questions and develop new technologies (as described by some of the exhibits).

In an October 27 column in The Tech, Ryan Normandin argues that “state capitalism” is right for America. Capitalism works, but for whom? Let’s us look at some numbers. The top 1 percent richest people own approximately 25 percent of all wealth in the US as of 2004 and that number has likely gone up. The bottom 80 percent of people own less than 20 percent of the wealth (Economic Policy Institute’s “State of Working America” 2009). So whether the current system works depends on whom you ask. Does the system work for the millions of uninsured, unemployed, and homeless?  How about for the millions of hard working people that barely make ends meet? 

Senate met on Monday, November 2. Steve Baker 84, Association of Independent Living Groups (AILG) Board Member, discussed the current work of the AILG as a Senate guest before the regular proceedings. The AILG is currently working to improve their communications with current undergraduates and shift the focus of living groups from their houses to their chapters or organizations, their accreditation process, and their insurance program.

An article last Friday about recent thefts on campus incorrectly framed a statement made by MIT Police Chief John DiFava that “We believe these two actions will directly impact the number of thefts on campus.” “These two actions,” actually refers to one arrest and one instance of charges planning to be pressed for criminal activity, not two arrests, as the article suggests.