On campus

Who Even without counting the number of body piercings, purple and green dyed hair, and the latest outrageous fashions (too loose or too tight), the Class of 2006 stands out. According to the Sept. 4 Tech Talk, the group has 560 men and 421 women representing 48 states and 49 countries. Almost everyone was in the top 5% of their class, with 43% being valedictorians. Outside of the classroom, 89% reported doing community service, 61% played musical instruments, 55% earned varsity letters, 32% participated in student government, and 26% were involved in theater.

As the first class to be required to live on campus during freshman year, the new group will experience the annual fraternity/independent living group rush in late September and early October. Sororities' rush will be held in January. Rush previously occurred during freshman orientation, as selecting one's living unit became another pressure piled on top of placement tests and adjusting to college.

Where Plunging right into an urban experience in the new Simmons Dorm on Vassar St. between Mass. Ave. and Westgate, around 350 students moved into the not quite finished building at the end of August. The MIT news office reported that the individual rooms were complete, but construction continues around them on the ample common areas designed to foster a sense of community of belonging, such as the kitchens, fitness centers, multipurpose rooms, study rooms; a music practice room, and the inevitable Athena computer cluster.

Intense competition for limited housing has jacked up Cambridge rents to over $2000/month for small two-bedroom apartments in charmless old buildings without parking. When it opened up last month, the new graduate dorm at 70 Pacific St. removed 700 people from the fray. Intended to be a graduate center not built around departments or academic specialties, the building contains a professional kitchen for large groups, a large fitness center, game room, and Athena computer cluster.