tech@caltech.edu
Volume CX, number 27 Pasadena, California June 1, 2009
Friends and family remember Brian Go
Page President was friend to many students
By Marissa Cevallos out to people without a social taken as a pass/fail course.
group. He organized Chipotle Brian’s mother said he dis-
Photo courtesy of Anna Beck
Staff Writer Tuesdays in high school and in- played the same zeal for fighting
cluded a Korean student who’d injustice in middle school. In 7th
Page House president Brian just transferred and didn’t know grade, he fomented an uprising
Go passed away on campus on that many people, an act of kind- against the 8th graders who ruled
May 17. Brian was a junior dou- ness the student’s mother said al- the back of the bus by organiz-
ble majoring in applied math and ways meant so much to him. ing his classmates to sit where
computer science, was a TA for BGo was active in Boy Scouts, they pleased, in defiance of the
CS 2 and CS 38, played ultimate reaching the highest honor of 8th grader rules. The “rebellion”
Frisbee, and fenced. Eagle Scout. His scout masters didn’t last that long, according to
Brian has two younger sib- would always greet his parents his mom, but was a perfect exam-
lings, a brother and a sister, and with big smiles and stories of ple of how BGo rallied people to
went to Bethesda-Chevy Chase how when BGo was done with a causes he believed in.
High School in Bethesda, Mary- task, he wouldn’t stop—he’d find Friends say BGo had a seem-
land. younger scouts and help them ingly endless amount of care, for
Friends marveled at how Brian, with their tasks. everything from his House, his
known to his House as BGo, was Because he cared so much friends, his classes, and his re-
so in tune with others’ emotions. about those around him, friends search.
“I always felt like he was on say BGo could never sit and idly He’d pull all-nighters to fin-
my side even if he didn’t agree watch unjust situations. Last ish the math problem everyone
with me,” said friend and former school year, he rallied classmates else gave up on, according to his
Page president Mason Smith. who were drowning in the gradu- freshman and sophomore year
BGo formed friendships quick- ate-level course load of Math 6a, roommate Noah Tanabe.
ly and deeply. a class supposed to just be an in- When his girlfriend was feel-
“It is rare to be able to speak so troduction to discrete mathemat- ing down one day, he went to
comfortably with someone after ics, to demand more reasonable Michaels and made her a neck-
such a short period of knowing problem sets. Through working lace with Swarovski crystals, all
him, but that’s who BGo was,” with the Academics and Research before she came back from her 90
said IHC chair Pallavi Gunalan. Committee, BGo helped change minute Spanish class.
In high school BGo always had the scope of the problems and the
lots of friends, but also reached requirement that it could not be Please see BRIAN GO, Page 6
Students may see more Gary Lorden to Retire After 40
loans, smaller merit Years as a Statistics Professor
awards By Casey Jao Professor Alexei Borodin will
By Joel Nikolaus Staff Writer teach Math 2b this coming winter.
current year’s budget and make The advanced statistics course
sure the Financial Aid Office does
Photo Courtesy of Caltech
Staff Writer His name is synonymous Math 112 will not be offered until
not run a deficit. When asked around Caltech with the show the department finds a dedicated
With the recetn decrease in about dipping into the general “Numb3rs”. Undergraduates all statistics professor.
the endowment, many students budget, Crewell said “[It has] know him from Math 2b, the Although Lorden will
can expect to see a change in what Never happened in the past. Not Core probability and statistics no longer shoulder teaching
they are awarded in financial aid the Caltech way.” course. Unfortunately, all good responsibilities, he plans to
for the upcoming year. Although the changes are things must come to an end. Math continue doing some research,
As part of an effort to make only aimed at rectifying the professor Gary Lorden will retire consulting for all kinds of people,
ends meet, the Caltech Financial situation for this next year, how this summer, after having taught serving as expert witness, and
Aid Office will likely issue long these changes last depends at Caltech for forty-one years. “teaching statistics to lawyers.”
students loans where they would largely on how the endowment His successor has not yet been He and his wife also plan to travel
have previously recieved grants. performs. “Temporarily might be named. more.
“We will continue to meet 2 or 3 years.” said Crewell. The “Caltech will miss him,” said “Even though you miss
100%,” said Don Crewell, goal is that “until the endowment senior Po-Ling Loh, who TA’ed teaching, you have the opportunity
the director of the Financial pay out can bounce back, to avoid Math 2b last year. “Even for non- to go whenever you want,” he “I do expect to be [involved]...but
Aid Office, but “When people running deficit in scholarship.” math majors, he was a gentle said. every year is a new ballgame,”
petitioned for increased funding Next year he said “[We] introduction to Caltech life.” The man behind “Numb3rs” said Lorden, who has been
we used to give grant money. see if we will need to do the “His courses were a big also hopes to continue working advising the show since it debuted
Now we are going to have to give same thing again.” Unless gifts influence in my choice to go to in 2004.
some loan money.” He added that increase that may be the case and grad school in statistics,” said Lorden arrived at Caltech as
they would “probably have to do students will continue to see more senior Max Grazier Gsell, also a “Caltech will miss a freshman in 1958, one of seven
that with continuing students [as loans and smaller merit awards.
well].” While Crewell said the Financial
former Math 2b TA. him,” said senior Po- students to matriculate from his
“Gary has been an incredibly Los Angeles high school.
Following the removal of Aid Office remains committed valuable resource for the Caltech Ling Loh, who TA’ed “I was so turned off by the
freshman merit awards earlier to meeting student needs, the
this year, the Financial Aid Office big question they will be asking
community,” said Professor Barry Math 2b last year. [MIT] alum who interviewed me
Simon in a phone interview, that I didn’t finish my application,”
has also reallocated funds that in the future is “Do we have the remarking that finding a suitable “Even for non-math he recalled.
were until recently set aside for funds?”
upper class merit awards. The The estimated budget for
replacement has been difficult. majors, he was a gentle Debating initially whether
Competing institutions like to major in math or chemistry,
office is “moving a good part of this next year is projected at Princeton and UC Berkeley have introduction to Caltech he quickly ruled out the latter
the upperclass merit program,” somewhere between 14.5 and dedicated statistics departments
said Crewell because the funds 15.5 million. So far there has life.” because he soon discovered that
to woo high-calibre statisticians. he had, in his words, “essentially
are needed for need based aid. not been a substantial increase of Moreover, said Simon, “There zero physical intuition.” But the
He said that while there would aid in current students, but there are restrictions on hires imposed -- Po-Ling Loh dealmaker was Tom Apostol, his
probably be around the same is an increase in the aid given to by the administration because of freshmen calculus teacher, who
number of awards as in previous the incoming class. This pattern the economic crunch.” The math helped him realize that math was
years, that would mean “probably is normal, but is still exerting department has several hiring with the show. Despite the
smaller award amounts.” pressure on the Financial Aid goals but only “one bullet” to economic crunch, Numb3rs will
All of these efforts are part of resoureces. If the trend continues spend this year. continue shooting a sixth season.
Please see LORDEN., Page 6
a short-term plan to balance the it may become a bigger problem.
In This Issue Ditch Day
Up Review
Mudeo page 2 Photos
page 4 Galileo Review page 4
Review of New Broad Menu page 5 page 7
Students Win Fellowships Abroad page 6
2 June 1, 2009
OpiniOn The California TeCh
Return of a Caltech Tradition
The Tech Staff wishes you all the best of luck on finals. Just
remember to get a good nights sleep, study hard, and eat your vegetables.
The following information might also be helpful.
C-Store Schedule Mudeo is good ol’ wrestlin’
By Tom Lampo
sophomore and freshman classes,
Sunday, June 7: UndergradUate where the score was often kept But this year, Mudeo is
C-Store open until 2am for events such as sack racing, back! After the renovations, the
Mudeo is one of Caltech’s tire spree, horse and rider,
Monday, June 8: oldest traditions. If you look wheelbarrow racing, and tug of
area north of Avery was designed
to with Mudeo in mind. A giant
Snake Kits 8-10pm North Kitchen through any of the old Big T’s war. As John Gee, class of ’53 dirt rectangle, planted with
C-Store open until 2am there’s usually several pages and former ASCIT president and easy to remove and to replant
Tuesday, June 9: devoted to photographs of
Techers coated head to toe in
organizer of Mudeo recalls, “The
rivalry and competition were
wildflowers, has given Mudeo a
permanent residence in a location
Midnight Madness 11:30pm – 1am Chandler mud. There are pictures of strong”. In more recent years, on campus which during the
C-Store open until 2am people wrestling, playing tackle Mudeo has tended toward team year will be home to beautiful
Wednesday, June 10: football, wheelbarrow and sack sport events, such as ultimate gardens, but for one day a year
races, and the infamous freshman frisbee, soccer, and football,
South Kitchen closed for lunch vs. sophomore tug of war. while tug of war seems to have
will be converted to an epic mud
pit for all to enjoy
Snake Kits 8-10pm North Kitchen survived the test of time.
C-Store open until 2am One year, the media This year, Mudeo is set to
Thursday, June 11: coverage of Mudeo gave Caltech Over the last decade the take place on that field north of
more exposure than any other tradition waned and the turnout Avery, from 2pm to 5pm. Be
South Kitchen closed for lunch event at Caltech, making it to fell dramatically, mainly due to prepared to get very very dirty
Snake Kits 8-10pm North Kitchen the top ten plays of the day on the renovation of the North field and to smile pretty for the news
C-Store open until 2am ESPN Sports Center. At its heart, and the fields north of Avery cameras. Pizza will be provided
Friday, June 12: Mudeo is exactly what its name
suggests; having fun playing
playing host to the mods during
the South House Renovation.
afterward by Tom Mannion,
and there should be plenty of
South Kitchen closed for lunch and dinner games in a giant pit of mud. This resulted in no field being time for everyone to get ready
C-Store open until 2am consistently available for for Mashup Massive later that
Saturday, June 13: Mudeo has changed over creating the requisite giant pit evening. If you want more
the many years it has existed. of mud, and there were several
C-Store open until 10pm Alumni remember the event years where there was no Mudeo.
information or are interested
in participating, contact Tom
Sunday, June 14: being a contest between the With the renovations done, field Lampo or Alan Pezeshki.
C-Store open until 10pm space has opened up again.
End of declining balance
The California Tech We Need McCain’s Spending Freeze...
... And a “Sheriff” to Stop the Spending Frenzy
Caltech 40-58, Pasadena, CA 91125
advertising e-mail: business@caltech.edu By Daniel Alvarez
editorial e-mail: tech@caltech.edu
UndergradUate
deficit has steadily ballooned to their point that tax hikes are not John McCain. During the debates
Editor-in-Chief the current value of $1.84 trillion.
Chris Kennelly With the rejection of an option. Evidence to this is he was ridiculed for proposing a
Some will undoubtedly call me a the defeat of Propositions 1a-1e freeze on federal spending with
Propositions 1a-1e, some
fiscal fear-monger for making a in California and, on a national the exception of national defense.
in Sacramento are asking
Layout Editor big deal of changes in a decimal scale, the hundreds of thousands Obama cleverly responded by
Hanna Liu Washington to help with the
point, but I think too many people (at least) who showed up for saying that McCain’s approach
state’s $21 billion deficit. Think
do not realize that the difference the 278 Taxed Enough Already was like hacking the budget with
of a teenager who maxed out his
Staff ($840 billion) is in and of itself (TEA) parties hosted around a hatchet, whereas he would use a
or her credit card and asks his
Dannah Almasco about twice the largest federal the country. I wish that more of scalpel. Of course what he really
Marissa Cevallos or her parents for a bail out. The
deficit of all time prior to 2009. those people would have joined did was feed the budget steroids.
ZeNan Chang problem is that the parents also
With Obama’s massive $3.4 me in protesting the problem as McCain will never be
Tina Ding purchased a million dollar home
Andrea Dubin trillion budget, the binge sees it was being created; namely, the president of the United States, but
off of a $70,000 salary. This of
Mark Eichenlaub no end in sight. TARP money is passing of unprecedented federal his spending freeze may be the
Andrew Freddo course refers to Washington’s
flowing out of the treasury like spending. only way to lift the United States
Anna Hiszpanski own financial mess.
water and the administration There was one man, out of the fiscal red zone. We
Michelle Jiang In February of this year, it
Casey Jao wants to allocate $600 billion however, who proposed an Americans need to rally together
was predicted that the national
Natalya Kostandova to unnecessarily nationalize extreme solution to an extreme like we did for the TEA parties,
Vibha Laljani deficit would hit an enormous
healthcare. At this rate, we will problem. This man, often referred but under the banner of drastically
Joel Nikolaus $1 trillion. This deficit was said
soon be spending more on the to as “The Sherriff” for his tough reducing federal spending. The
Gloria Tran to be “inherited” by the Bush
Hillary Walker interest of our debt than we do on stances on federal spending, is burden can no longer be put on
administration, yet the Obama
Wesley Yu national security. And this is not the next generation of taxpayers.
administration upped the ante by
even taking into account one of
Business Managers going on a spending binge from
the biggest issues that the media
Gabriel Mendoza the likes the world has never seen.
consistently seems to overlook:
Chris Kennelly In its first 100 days, the Obama
social security costs as the baby
administration spent $2.2 trillion,
boomer generation hits retirement
more than the combined total of
Congratualations
Circulation age.
Aryan Safaie every president in history within
How can we confront the
the same time frame. What is
colossal deficits that we have
even more amazing is how much
been running up? One option is
Class of 2009!
Adviser of this spending has been wasted.
Dr. Gary Libman to put the treasury on overdrive
Within the $787 billion
and print our way out of debt,
stimulus bill were plans to build
but of course inflation would sink
a skate park in Rhode Island and
the dollar in value to the point
bike racks in Washington D.C.
that it might start giving the peso
Also cloaked under the banner of
The Tech is published weekly except during competition. With countries like
vacation and examination periods by the As- “economic stimulus” were $5.8
China and Brazil trying hard to
The California Tech
sociated Students of the California Institute
billion in health prevention and
of Technology, Inc. The opinions expressed dethrone the dollar as the world’s
herein are strictly those of the authors and wellness programs like smoking
advertisers. currency standard, inflation of
cessation. These programs are
the dollar is the last thing that we
wishes you the best of
Letters and submissions are welcome; e-mail
submissions to tech@caltech.edu as plain-text a slap in the face of present and
attachments, including the author’s name, want.
future taxpaying Americans, but
by Friday of the week before publication. Another option is to
The Tech does accept anonymous contribu- it did not stop there.
significantly increase taxes. This
luck.
tions. The editors reserve the right to edit and
We then had the $410
abridge all submissions for any reason. All is an issue where I differ with
written work remains property of its author. billion omnibus bill, laden with
The advertising deadline is 5 PM Friday; all many on the right who cry heresy
nearly 9000 earmarks. Among
advertising should be submitted electronically at the mention of tax hikes in any
or as camera-ready art, but The Tech can also these were $6.6 million to study
do simple typesetting and arrangement. All way, shape, or form. It amazes me
termites in New Orleans, $2.2
advertising inquiries should be directed to the how many fiscal conservatives
business manager at business@caltech.edu. million for the Center for Grape
For subscription information, please send mail think we can even begin to pay
Genetics in Geneva, $1.7 million
to “Subscriptions.” our huge deficit without some
to study why pig waste smells
additional tax revenue. I must
so bad, the list goes on and on.
concede, however, how effective
Unsurprisingly, the projected
people have been in making
The California TeCh June 1, 2009 3
Niles Pierce Gives Watson Lecture on “programmable chemistry”
things together and making it Professor Pierce attended
By June Zhang
Staff Writer Has Possible Implications for Cancer rational. As Pierce, himself, Princeton University for his
put it, his work is like studying undergraduate studies, and
Two weeks ago, Niles Pierce a new type of drug design, which Following the introduction, or making sense of a Jackson attended Oxford University as a
delivered the final Watson Lecture targets the genes of unhealthy Pierce spoke about the ability Pollock piece of art. Rhodes Scholar graduate student.
of the year titled, “In Pursuit cells to cause cell death. This to assemble and disassemble In addition to describing Pierce came to Caltech in 1998 as
of Programmable Molecule research has applications in drugs DNA or RNA polymers into his work with “programmable a Postdoctoral Scholar working
Technologies,” which described for cancer treatment. specific structures. Hairpin RNA chemistry,” Pierce discussed his with Professor Stephen Mayo on
his method of “programming” The lecture drew a full molecules with specific toehold developments of multiplexed computational protein design.
polymers like DNA to act in a crowd and he began the lecture sequence and multiple domains bio-imaging. He showed pictures Since becoming an Associate
predictable manner. with a vivid real-time animation can be predictably assembled by of zebrafish embryos with Professor at Caltech, Pierce has
Pierce, assistant professor of the inner workings of the cell a downstream reaction given a multicolor and simultaneous won numerous teaching awards,
of Applied and Computational and discussed the nature of his particular trigger sequence. imaging. His work allowed including the Feynman Teaching
Mathematics and Bioengineering, research, that his work could be Professor Scott Fraser for a five dimensional analysis Prize in 2003.
conducts research in a relatively described as takeing advantage of described his work as taking the documenting spatial components,
new field that has led to potentially “programmable chemistry.” “junk box method” of putting time, and gene.
ASCIT BoD Minutes
ASCIT BoD Minutes for May 22 • Treasurer: Maral got in touch with the person who sets up club
acconts. Once this is taken care of, Maral will send out funding
awards with Chris.
Officers Present: Anthony Chong, Andrey Poletayev, Michael Maseda, • Social Director: ASCIT Formal is tonight! The cost was slightly
Maral Mazrooei, Nadia Iqbal, Laura Conwill more than anticipated.
Officers Absent: Pallavi Gunalan
Guests: Perrin Considine, Sarah Marzen, Lisa Zhang, Brian Merlob, • Secretary: Laura emailed campus security regarding Jeddy Chen’s
Gloria Tran, Peter Sadowski, Stephen Wilke suggestions for decreasing the number of bike thefts by installing
decoy video cameras.
Call to order: 12:13 PM
Meeting adjourned: 12:51 PM
Funding requests:
Submitted by Laura Conwill
• Baskets: CCF has been making gift baskets for staff members ASCIT Secretary
who have been laid off. They would like to make more, but this
will require additional money to fund them.
o Motion to approve $100 for staff gift baskets. VOTE: ASCIT BoD Minutes for May 29
Passed (4-0-0)
• Mashup Massive: MHF will not fund alcohol, so Lisa requests
$600 in addition to ASCIT’s previously pledged $300 for the party. Officers Present: Anthony Chong, Andrey Poletayev, Michael Maseda,
o Motion to approve $600 for Mashup Massive. VOTE: Maral Mazrooei, Nadia Iqbal, Laura Conwill, Pallavi Gunalan
Passed (4-0-0) Officers Absent:
• Ricketts Lighting: A few years ago, Rickets and Lloyd bought Guests: Tim Black, Brian Merlob
lights for parties; many of these are no longer in good enough Call to order: 12:18 PM
condition to be used. Peter requests $300 to buy additional lights
in time for tomorrow’s GNG party. The lifespan of these lights is Funding requests:
1-2 years, and the lights could be lent out to other houses for their
parties. • ASCIT Awards Refreshments: Andrey requests $350 for food
o Motion to approve $300 for lighting. VOTE: Passed at ASCIT awards. Good food will help to make the event a more
(4-0-0) pleasant experience for everyone involved. Maral will use the
extra SFC budget for this.
• Boba Party: The deans decided that 250 people are coming to the o Motion to approve $350 for food. VOTE: Passed (5-0-0)
party, and 75 of these will be drinkers. Perrin has received funding
from MHF and the GSC, but needs additional funding to cover the Officer Reports:
cost of alcohol.
o Motion to approve $150 for the boba party. VOTE: • V.P. of Academic Affairs (ARC Chair): The ARC did committee
Passed (4-0-0) interviews. Andrey is expecting a survey from Mike Brown for
• BFP: Gloria came to request funding; Maral brought the happy students from the Core Curriculum Task Force. Plans are being
made for the upcoming ASCIT awards. The ARC has also been
news that Fleming automatically gets $500 for interhouse. working on option wikis.
President’s Report: • V.P. of Nonacademic Affairs (IHC Chair): The IHC gave
Housing the list of summer room assignments for each house.
• Staff: Members of the BoD should make sure they are working They began their discussion of this fall’s Rotation, which they will
closely with their staff members. continue at their next meeting. Over the summer, Pallavi wants to
work on developing the career center.
Officer Reports: • Operations Director: Andrey and Mike me with Rick Bischoff
yesterday regarding Prefrosh Weekend. Mike plans to meet with
• V.P. of Academic Affairs (ARC Chair): The ARC is working on Dvin next week regarding the donut website.
their longstanding projects, including compiling course reviews
and dealing with complaints. They are discussing whether to have • Treasurer: Maral is waiting on information from Financial
subsequent student-faculty lunches at the Ath. Andrey submitted Services before she can go ahead with club funding awards.
an article on the ARC’s activities to last Monday’s Tech. The ARC • Social Director: There’s a boba party in the RF courtyard tonight!
has also been working on logistics for ASCIT teaching awards; the Mashup Massive is tomorrow!
date for the ceremony is Wednesday, June 3, at 5 PM in Dabney
Gardens. Committee interviews will be tomorrow. The Core Scheduling:
Curriculum Task Force will be encouraged to put out a survey to
gather student feedback. • Interviews: The BoD will be interviewing candidates for the
convocations committee, MHF committee, Big T editors and
• V.P. of Nonacademic Affairs (IHC Chair): The IHC is in a business managers, Totem editors, little T editors and business
managers, and DevTeam members this Sunday.
period of mourning. They have also been working on housing
issues. Meeting adjourned: 12:43 PM
• Operations Director: Sign-ups have been posted for appointed Submitted by Laura Conwill
positions (Big T editors, little t editors, etc). ASCIT Secretary
4 June 1, 2009 Features THE CAlIFORNIA TECH
Students and Staff Gather in Performance of Galileo
by Helen C. Kondos
O ver the past Caltech (TACIT)The-
ater Arts at
two weekends,
has
JPL employees. A different prominent
scientist performed the cameo part of
given six performances of Bertolt the Vatican head astronomer Chris-
Brecht’s Life of Galileo. The perfor- topher Clavius each night, including
mances, directed by Brian Brophy, Mike Brown, infamously known for
were outside at the Gates Annex Pa- discrediting Pluto.
tio. The audience sat in chairs on the Having the play outside presented
grass and bundled up to see the show unique problems, but it gave the audi-
that was performed at nighttime. This ence a feeling of being more involved
year marks the four hundredth anni- in the action. When Galileo looked
versary of Galileo Galilei turning his through the telescope, he was actually
telescope towards the heavens. viewing the night sky. In fact, the ac-
The play was cut extensively, but tors made entrances from behind and
still had a running time of slightly to the side of the audience members.
less than two and a half hours. Be- Set designer Janne Larson built the set
fore each performance, Caltech’s around the Annex Patio, the audience,
madrigal group sang a few songs. and the audience itself.
Each scene began with a de- Audience turnout was high, despite
scription and a short song. some cool temperatures. The first Sat-
Matthew Elgart, a Caltech urday of the run included a perfor-
guitar instructor, composed mance for alumni only during Alumni
the original music specifi- Weekend. On Saturday, May 23, there
cally for Caltech’s run of was a Galileo discussion, GalCon,
the play. The cast and crew preceding the show led by visiting
was made up of over thirty Professor of History Noel Swerdlow.
drawn from all parts of the The play’s theme of conflict between
Caltech community, includ- scientific discovery and established in-
ing undergraduates, gradu- stitutions still holds much relevance in
ate students, alumni, and our society today.
Pixar takes it UP
Semana Latina another level
by Zenan Chang
B alloons,“Up” has no shortage of party bring out andchild in all offirst
Pixar’s
light, and fun party favors can
balloons
the
may be the
us.
movie to offer them such an enormous amount of screen time.
And so there is a little bit of foreshadowing in “Up,” a story of Mr.
Fredericksen, an old man discontent with the ways of the modern
world. Into his life barges a young and eager boy, Russell, on his way
to completing his badge collection as a Wilderness Explorer. Russell
needs one more, the elderly-assistance merit badge, and so our charac-
ters are brought together in a fantastical adventure involving a house
lifted by thousands of balloons, talking dogs in the South American
jungle, dreams to be fulfilled, and promises to be kept.
The movie begins with a prologue depicting the camaraderie of two
children, Carl and Ellie, brought together by a common excitement for
the daring adventures of an explorer named Charles Muntz. “Up” then
follows this friendship as it blossoms into a sweet romance through a
brief but beautiful sequence that captures the turns and emotions of
life as the characters progress into old age. These few lyrical minutes,
dialogue-free in a manner reminiscent of Wall-E, leave you at the be-
ginning of the story with an aged Carl, now a balloon salesman called
Mr. Fredericksen.
Most unique about “Up” is the interesting dynamic between the
old and grumpy Mr. Frederickson, with his box-shaped head, and the
round, chubby, and earnest Russell. The difference in their outlooks on
life brought about by the gap in their life experience makes for plenty
of comic relief, but also brings up some thought provoking issues on
senior life and the place they are sometimes relegated in society. With
the aging population, such issues are sure to become more and more
relevant.
Pixar’s recent track record has been quite impressive, with the mov-
ies Wall-E, Ratatouille, Cars, The Incredibles, and Finding Nemo com-
ing out the past five years. Save for Cars, all have had a 96% or higher
rating on Rotten Tomatoes and won the Best Animated Feature award
Brazilian Samba dancers perform in front of Chandler in celebration of Semana at the Oscars.
Latina, sponsored by the Caltech Latino Association of Students in Engineering and As an experience, Up promises to add to the ranks of its predecessors
Science (CLASES) as an enjoyable and uniquely endearing masterpiece.
THE CAlIFORNIA TECH Features June 1, 2009 5
Broad Cafe, Round 2
by Andrew Freddo and Dannah Almasco
Since our first review two years ago, was better than the bread from Chandler’s sand-
Broad Café has been known for serv- wich station but could have had a crunchier
ing Mexican food. Before that it was crust. The New York was stacked full of ham,
Thai. Now, Broad has undergone an- turkey, and Swiss cheese, though there was too
other transformation, this time serv- meat compared to the condiments on it. Overall,
ing up sandwiches, deli style. Walk- the sandwich needed more moisture, but all the
ing into Broad during lunch hour, the ingredients tasted fresh.
first thing we noticed was the chaos! The Submarine had ham, salami, and Swiss –
It was crowded, and there was a large again all piled very high. This one retained more
mass of people waiting for their sand- moisture than the New York, possibly because
wiches. There definitely was not any or- of the Russian dressing (put on in error instead
ganization, as the menu was posted around of the oil and vinegar). The salami was nice and
the counter, not really in any one conveniently sharp, but the cheese lacked some punch. Still,
located place. So, to make our decisions, we had the sandwich was very good, though nothing out
to walk around the Café a few times amongst of the ordinary.
those waiting for their food. The revamped Broad Café, as a whole, is a nice
Once we did order, the wait was a good 15 change. It’s good to pop in if you feel like some
minutes, more than it takes for a fresh Mongol pastrami or another specialty meat, or if you’re
Bowl! It seemed that Broad was unprepared for just on that side of campus. Otherwise, it’s just
the load of people grabbing lunch, and it was not something you really crave (like you may
definitely understaffed. Though there are some a pizza or Mongol Bowl). Still, it may be
issues right now, many are probably simply new- worth it to check it out and avoid the
restaurant kinks – a lot of trouble could be allevi- hustle and bustle of Chandler,
ated by making a clearer, take-away menu and since they do make a good,
adding another staff member at lunchtime. filling sandwich at
We ordered two different sandwiches – the Broad!
New York, New York and the Submarine Sand-
wich. Both were served on a hoagie roll, which
...Ascit Formal
Photo by David Hyde
Photos by Bob Paz
6 June 1, 2009 news THE CAlIFORNIA TECH
Brian Go liked “work hard, play hard” culture of Page House
Brian GO, from Page 1 a good drummer in only six lecture at Caltech as a prefrosh, The major test of BGo’s presi- service last Thursday in Dabney
months. he walked out of the hall, pointed dency came at the beginning of Lounge where his father, friends,
“He’d do things like that all the BGo’s drive extended to his down at the ground, and put two third term, when escalating drink- and research advisers spoke.
time,” said Taylor Martin. academics, where his professors thumbs up. “It was the school he ing incidents in Page prompted Anna created a slideshow, start-
BGo’s friends point to his said he excelled. He was one of wanted,” said his father. the administration to impose an ing and ending with video clips of
“make-over” the summer after the most engaging students in his He also knew he would be a alcohol ban, which infuriated BGo drumming.
sophomore year as the most vis- computer science classes, where Pageboy—he loved the “work many members of the House. Fewer than twenty-four hours
ible evidence of his ability to do his professors said he wouldn’t hard, play hard” attitude of Page BGo was in the position of relay- after Page House students were
anything he tried. let anything slip by. House, according to Mason. ing the House’s concerns to the told the news of BGo’s death,
He’d been a “really skinny, “He held himself to much “He poured so much of his deans, while also trying to explain students from other houses came
goofy kid with glasses who wore higher standards than everyone heart and soul into improving the deans’ worries to the House. by with baked goods, cards, and
polo shirts with pajama pants,” else,” said Chris Umans, who Page House because he loved it BGo organized a forum with words of sympathy. Lectures were
according to close friend Riley taught BGo a handful of classes so much.” If he saw people in the the deans and members of the awash with blue, Page’s house
Franks, but wanted to be buff. and was his research mentor this house who weren’t very social, House, “to have the deans see color, as students wore shirts in
That summer, he worked out al- term. he’d drop by their rooms and talk us as a group of people who just support of BGo. By noon, stu-
most every day, changed his diet, BGo’s summer research men- with them for a while. want a safe drinking environ- dents had made hundreds of blue
and got advice from his athletic ment, and that our goals aren’t ribbons to pin to their shirts; a
roommate Jeremy. He bought so dissimilar,” said Mason. BGo woven basket outside Page still
new clothes, got a haircut, and made clear to the House that they holds the remainder of the rib-
started wearing contacts.
The result, as some of his friends
“Everything he tried, he did it to the best shouldn’t expect the alcohol ban bons.
to be lifted overnight, but to take
put it, was “BGo got hot.” of his ability.” the opportunity to show the deans
“We’ve really appreciated what
all the houses have done,” said
His friends said he was dedicat- why they felt a dry environment Mason. “It was really nice to see
ed through the entire transforma- Mason Smith, close friend would affect Page negatively. everyone support us.”
tion. For example, he spent four “He put that meeting together Many of BGo’s relationships
hours in front of the mirror trying really well,” said Mason. Anna were built around what was to
to get his first contact in. Beck said that the forum was so come—the future of Page House,
“Everything he tried, he did tor Mani Chandy was not only BGo wasn’t the obvious candi- successful because BGo made the summer he would spend re-
it to the best of his ability,” said impressed with his ability to date for Page presidency because sure everyone felt respected. searching in Spain, and the plan
Mason. Before the videogame solve problems—the two wrote he hadn’t run for an office sopho- When the deans first told BGo to join his best friend Mason at
Rock Band was released, BGo a paper together on distributed more year, but as soon as some- about the alcohol ban, he gave Berkeley for grad school.
was watching YouTube previews software—but also with the bal- one suggested his name, the deci- an impassioned speech about the At the memorial service, Ma-
of the game to figure out how to ance BGo struck with work and sion was a no-brainer. value of retaining Page House son Smith said, “I will try to find
play the drums. When the game socializing. BGo and Mason “Everyone was like ‘duh’, of culture. Dean Barbara Green was in myself some of the qualities
finally came out, BGo was al- would occasionally skip group course,” said Noah Tanabe. so moved by his leadership, she that made him so special to me
ready an expert. meetings to go to the beach, When the House met to talk started crying after he left the and share those qualities with
He went on to pick up the real which Chandy thought was and vote on the candidates, peo- meeting. others.”
instrument, and posted videos healthy. ple were overwhelmingly in sup- “He impressed us to no end,” “And I hope that, if all his
of himself on YouTube play- “He was an ideal person in so port of BGo, according to Page said Dean Green. friends do the same, then maybe,
ing covers of rock songs includ- many ways—he seemed so well- RA Anna Beck. About two hundred students in some way, he’ll live a much
ing “What’s My Age Again?” rounded,” said Chandy. “Everyone would agree he was came to a candlelight vigil at longer life than he was able to,
by Blink-182 and “Bullet with BGo knew as soon as he vis- an amazing president,” said Ma- Millikan pond two weeks ago to and the world will be a better
Butterfly Wings”. Strangers con- ited Caltech that it would be the son Smith, the Page president be- remember BGo; students, staff, place for it.”
gratulated him for becoming such place for him. After attending a fore BGo. and family attended a memorial
Winners of the undergraduate 2009 McKinney Prize
Two More Students Win
Fellowships Abroad
RYAN DENLINGER -- Sophomore, Non-Fiction Prize By Joel Nikolaus abroad,” said Varma. “There are
SYLVIA SULLIVAN -- Freshman, Poetry Prize not that many opportunities after
Staff Writer this.”
HILLARY WALKER -- Sophomore. Fiction Prize Lin said that he was also
Ila Varma and Benji Lin looking forward to the opportunity
are the latest Caltech students to to spend a year abroad. He said
Based on nominations from the humanities faculty, this prize is awarded annually win fellowships abroad, Varma he planned to spend time getting
to one or more undergraduate students for the best writing in a freshman humanities with a Fulbright to study in the to know the culture and possibly
course. The prize is administered by the Writing Center and judged by a committee Netherlands and Lin with a Rotary the language. The Rotary club
Ambassadorial Scholarship to requires that he interact with the
from the Humanities division. study in Norway. Varma, a senior Rotary clubs both at home and
in Ruddock, will begin this Fall abroad, but Lin is also required to
while Lin, a junior and president run some sort of service project
Department will need to find a new of Ruddock, will begin a year
later.
For both the time abroad will
while in Norway. Lin said that
he will end up “probably doing
statistics professor; Math 2b not the same provide a bridge to their eventual
graduate studies. For Varma
community outreach,“ working
with younger students, planning
“events that encourage students
Gary LOrden, from Page 1 those plans are to go to graduate to ask questions.“
school to study number theory. The Fulbright is a national
“so beautiful.” She picked the Netherlands partly program run by the US
The North houses went because Holland, and Leiden Government and which recieves
up during his undergrad years. in particular, is a “hotspot” for funding from Congress. Students
As a freshman and sophomore the field. Although she will be typically apply at the beginning of
Lorden belonged to Ricketts but enrolled in a two year masters their senior year. Varma advised
lived off-campus. Back then, he program, coursework completed that students “start looking
recalled, students hailing from at Caltech will allow her to now. Talk to your adviser,”
more than one thousand miles focus primarily on research and with her own cautionary advice
away were given priority for on- complete the program in a year. that experience that “everyone
campus housing. When the North Of her future advisor in Leiden, in Europe is on break during the
houses were completed, he and she said “He does stuff I have summer.”
some Ricketts friends moved into never done before.” The Rotary program is
Page. Lin will also be conducting different. “It is more of a grassroots
“I always feel a little lucky,” research in something that he movement dedicated to sending
he said. When alumni visit their has not had previous experience young people abroad” said Lauren
old houses, Lorden gets to visit with. “I knew I wanted to study Stolper, Director of Fellowships
both Page and Ricketts. organometalics,” said Lin. The and Study Abroad. Students
After completing his PhD reason he will likely go to typically apply during their junior
in statistics at Cornell in 1966, Oslo, Norway is that it was one year through their local Rotary
Lorden returned to Caltech in of several places with faculty club. Unlike many of the other
1968 as an assistant professor. In conducting that kind of research. fellowships the Rotary places
the 1970’s he coached Caltech’s Although he plans to continue particular emphasis on the whole
Putnam team to five first-place Gary Lorden teaching Math 2b, a class that different research in grad school, person and is content to accept
finishes in six years. Since then, he taught since first coming to Caltech as a he said, “I hope it will help with students with B-averages. “No
he has served as Dean of Students member of the faculty. my grad student career.“ point in this process is it just an
(1984-88), Vice President for But for both the experience is application. [It is] always paired
Student Affairs (1989-98), and not just about the academics.” I with an interview,“ said Lin.
Acting Vice President (2002). wanted to do a year before grad “Just be honest, be yourself.“
And he has taught statistics every school...always wanted to live
year from the very beginning.
THE CAlIFORNIA TECH news June 1, 2009 7
Groundbreaking Party Brings DJ Earworm to Campus
has been in practice since the peaked at #58 on Billboard’s Pop
By Hillary Walker beginning of recorded music, 100 Airplay chart. “DJ Earworm
the true blossoming of electronic is the epitome of pop,” said
Photo by Stephan Morais
Staff Writer
mashups began in the 1980’s, Anton Karrman of Lloyd, one of
and bastard pop has only recently the party’s organizers. “It’s like
It is rare to find Britney Spears gained its footing as a valid form bringing MTV to Caltech.”
and the Beatles on the same play of artistic expression, thanks in Mashup Massive was planned
list; it is even rarer to find them part to artists such as Girl Talk by a committee composed of
within the same song, but Caltech (Gregg Gillis) and DJ Earworm. undergraduates from every house
students had the opportunity to Jordan Roseman spent his and the former GSC Social Chair.
personally taste such unexpected, early years on a hippie commune In designing the party, the group
heady blends at Mashup Massive, and then went on to earn a hoped to invigorate the Caltech
a unique, student-planned party bachelor’s degree in computer social atmosphere and escape the
this last weekend. The event science and music at the University expectations and traditions that
took place on Saturday evening of Illinois. After moving to San guide typical interhouse parties.
in the Glanville Courtyard at the Francisco, Roseman learned the “We don’t normally see things like
Beckman Institute with a heavy art of blending music, adopted this. It’s something different,”
turnout from both undergrads and his pseudonym, and rose to said Lisa Zang of Fleming. The
grad students. prominence within the mashup Mashup Massive committee also
The innovative event featured scene. Roseman even wrote an seeks to bring undergraduates,
San Francisco-based DJ Earworm instructional book titled “Audio graduate students, and alumni
(Jordan Roseman), an artist Mashup Construction Kit,” which together—a fitting goal for a party
famous for his stylish, technically was published in 2006. centered on blended music—and
advanced concoctions. Mashups, DJ Earworm is notable for hopes that Gradiators, a graduate
also known as smashups, blends, the sophistication and complexity event taking place earlier on the
bootlegs, and bastard pop, are of his pieces, some of which day of the party, will help boost
created by merging two or more combine over twenty songs. graduate student attendance.
songs; most commonly, the vocals Earworm’s “United State of Pop Funding was provided by
of one song are superimposed on 2008” blends the top 25 hits of the the Moore-Hufstedler Fund, DJ Earworm sitting on a stylish couch underneath a nice
the instrumentation of another. year, including songs by Coldplay, ASCIT, and the Caltech Alumni abstract painting. He DJed this last weekends Mashup
Although the reconstruction Rhianna, T. I., and Usher, and Association. Massive.
of songs with borrowed pieces
Ditch Day Offers Students a Break From Classes
Counter-clockwise from right: A group of Blacker students on Ditch
Day; junior Annie Hong removes candy buttons to create the letter
“D” in the Lloyd XKCD stack; Blacker junior Kathryn Gunn is
interviewed by the news about the stack she’s doing; a Fleming stack
watch a boxing game.
Seniors say Ditch Day “definitely rewarding”
campus, and inflicting or receiving Although most of the
By Natalya Kostandova major injuries. Although some of underclassmen participated in the
Staff Writer the participants were not safe from stacks, some chose to spend their
receiving a few hits and bumps, day in other ways, whether it was
Ditch Day seems to have passed catching up on sleep, working on
without major complications. some sets, biking to the beach,
This Wednesday, most For many seniors, building or simply taking a day off to be
Caltech students were involved stacks or overall organizing Ditch lazy.
in stranger things than usual. Day was a significant time sink, “The idea of ditch day is
Whether it was rescuing Princess yet for some it was definitely appealing in that it gives people
Zelda, whacking each other with worth it. the opportunity to have a day to
giant blue balls, or riding around “Creating puzzles and trying not think about work, sets and
in a shopping cart covered with to come up with some storyline to classes,” said an underclassman
tiger fur, at least for most students get the underclassmen engrossed who did not participate in a
the day was spent in anything but in the stack was definitely stack. “It’s good to take a day off
routine activities. rewarding when you can see how to not think about these things
Like many of the other years, much fun they’re having,” said sometimes.”
this Ditch Day attracted some Calvin Ting, who built a Pokemon Ditch Day, while not devoid
attention from outside the one stack with three other seniors. of mind-boggling, thinking-
square mile that makes up the Although most of the intense, brain-hurting tasks,
institute, which resulted in blog stacks involved tasks that were does give some relief from
entries, a newspaper article, and located on campus, some stacks problem sets and daily grunge
a video reportage aired on ABC7 got underclassmen away from of Caltech. And, at least as far as
news. Unlike some of the other Caltech. Whether it was Los my knowledge goes, unlike the
years, however, the 2009 Ditch Angeles, Venice Beach, or Las claim of the ABC7 video, which
Day managed to avoid causing Vegas, a portion of the participants portrays Ditch Day as the ultimate
major power outages, having to got to a chance to explore a little nerdy undertaking, none of the
address the issues associated with bit of the world quite literally clues required a slide rule. Those
bringing a non-Caltech animal to outside the classrooms. things are outdated anyway.
8 THE CAlIFORNIA TECH HumOr June 1, 2009
XKCD by Randall Monroe
Squirrels Steal
ASCIT Donuts
Ph.D. Comics by Jorge Cham
The California Tech
Caltech 40-58
Pasadena, CA 91125