MIT Students Demand More Say in University Decisions

Re: Hacking

@Toni,

Hacking as you understand it is not the rich tradition that we carry on at MIT. Here is the meaning of the word "hack" as described in The Jargon File, which was started in 1975 (long before the media tarnished the word "hack" by giving it the negative and computer-focused connotation most people recognize today).

http://catb.org/jargon/html/meaning-of-hack.html

response

As an alum of MIT, I have a few thoughts regarding Hillbilly's comments. First, the reasons we are protesting the current dining plan is that it is exorbitantly expensive for both students and the Institute. The current dining system is failing and the Institute is raising prices to cover the problem instead of overhauling the entire thing. You can look up a report on dining done by the students of Baker House Dining Committee that details their findings. Second, The Institute has had a long standing history of respecting student input on how to make the school better. Only recently has the administration begun to make decisions secretly without student input. We are calling for more transparency from the administration. This is not about spoiled kids whining for their perks. This is about a disintegration of trust between the students and the administration, preserving our traditions, and making ourselves heard because unfortunately, the administration is no longer listening to us through the conventional channels.

Re: Hacking, Re: How much are they willing to pay

Re: Hacking

I think there is a confusion here...MIT "hacking" does not refer to computer hacking.

"The word hack at MIT usually refers to a clever, benign, and "ethical" prank or practical joke, which is both challenging for the perpetrators and amusing to the MIT community (and sometimes even the rest of the world!). Note that this has nothing to do with computer (or phone) hacking (which we call "cracking")." -http://hacks.mit.edu/

Re: How much are they willing to pay

I think you do this country an injustice to claim that "Most college students today would gladly settle for bare bones facilities for an education". I like to think that in this country we can always aspire to better learning environments. Wanting to better your situation is a very American tradition, and an admirable one. Have you been paying attention to public education recently? Having good administration and management, proper resources and facilities, and a focus on high-quality teaching is the BARE MINIMUM to ask of an educational institution.

History has proven over and over again how powerful an education can be not only in improving the situation of individuals and communities, but also in advancing a nation. A lot of technological and societal advances that have had profound effects on our nation are thanks to graduates of MIT and other institutes of higher learning. I for one am glad to see that they're willing to raise a fuss about their quality of existence. I wouldn't want pushovers working on the next great technological or societal advance. The "college students today" are the ones that will have to face criticism, ignorance, bureaucracy, and just plain stubbornness if they want to "change the world" the way they're expected to do.

Re: Hacking

"Hacking," in the MIT sense of the word, refers not to illegal computer activities but to harmless practical jokes that display engineering prowess. No MIT hack has ever caused serious harm to others. The worst that has happened has been minor personal injury (eg, scraped hands) to the person deploying the hack. Perhaps Toni has confused the MIT and computer definitions of "hacking."

Hacking

There is no tradition of hacking at MIT. There is a tradition of practical jokes which were essentially harmless to all except possibly the jokers themselves. Hackers seldom bring joy to anyone but fellow hackers and most often bring at least inconvenience and at most serious harm to others who are trying to accomplish something worthwhile.

How much are they willing to pay

For all of those requests?

Most college students today would gladly settle for bare bones facilities for an education and the ability to repay their loans.

How much are they willing to pay

For all of those requests?

Most college students today would gladly settle for bare bones facilities for an education and the ability to repay their loans.