[UA] The Byte: September 11, 2017

[Kathryn Jiang]

*The Byte*
*Vol. 3 Issue 1 September 11, 2017*
Welcome back MIT!

We hope you had a wonderful summer and enjoyed your first week of classes.
To the class of 2021, welcome to MIT :)

The Byte is a weekly newsletter sent out by the MIT Undergraduate
Association with announcements, updates, and events pertaining to
undergraduates at MIT.

The UA works to improve your undergraduate experience through policy,
projects, and events. Our office is located at W20-401 and is open 9am -
5pm Monday - Friday. Feel free to stop by, grab a snack, or relax on our
comfy couches in between classes.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Committee Applications

UA Committee applications
<http://ua.bmetrack.com/c/l?u=73E2F89&e=BBB7E2&c=BCBA2&t=0&email=euW8pQVPf07QNPIk%2BQ4Xo6BanR218rId&seq=1>
are
now open! Committees are an easy way to become involved in the UA and
develop your organizational, communication, and leadership skills. We'll be
in Lobby 10 and the Student Center all week to answer any questions.
*Applications
are due this Friday 9/15.*
First Council Meeting

The first UA Council meeting will be next Wednesday,* September 20th from
7:30 - 9:00pm in the Senate Chambers (W20-400).* Council meetings are open
to all undergraduates. Add yourself to ua-council-listeners at mit.edu to
receive the agenda, meeting reminders, and minutes.
Support for Those Affected by Recent Hurricanes

<http://ua.bmetrack.com/c/l?u=73E2F89&e=BBB7E2&c=BCBA2&t=0&email=euW8pQVPf07QNPIk%2BQ4Xo6BanR218rId&seq=2>The
UA and Peer Ears will be holding a study break this *Wednesday, September
13th at 7:30pm in W20-400* to support those affected by Hurricanes Harvey
and Irma. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to different
student resources
<http://ua.bmetrack.com/c/l?u=73E2F8A&e=BBB7E2&c=BCBA2&t=0&email=euW8pQVPf07QNPIk%2BQ4Xo6BanR218rId&seq=1>on
campus.
UPDATES
OFFICER GOALS

*Expanding mental health access*: adding student support resources on campus

*Improving first year academics:*rethinking GIRs and academic advising

*Building government relationships:*working with our Cambridge and Boston
communities to increase student voices in national policy-making

SUMMER ACCOMPLISHMENTS


Added student representatives to the IS&T Student Technology Advisory Board
and Information Technology Governance Committee in response to concerns
from SIBP and other students about the NAT rollout

Advocated for the release of MIT janitor Francisco Guardado by signing
online petitions, attending a rally, and encouraging individuals to contact
state representatives

Prioritized having a meal swipe donation program and asking about social
responsibility when looking for a new food provider for dining halls

Attended an all-hands meeting with Vice Chancellor Ian Waitz to reorganize
the new combined Undergraduate and Graduate Education offices

Worked with MIT DC office to prioritize items that affect undergraduates,
specifically expanding student aid and reducing loans

SUMMER ADMIN MEETINGS

*President Reif* to reiterate our priorities for the upcoming year

*Provost Marty Schmidt* about the General Institute Budget

*Chancellor Cindy Barnhart* and *Dean of Student Life Suzy Nelson* to
address a range of student issues, including undergraduate housing
overcrowding due to the Senior Haus closure and ensuring spaces for LGBTQ+
students, URMs, and first-generation students across campus

*Vice Chancellor Ian Waitz* about advising, first-year academics,
unconscious bias training, faculty engagement in living communities, and
Interphase

*Krishna Rajagopal, new Dean of Digital Learning,* about the future of the
MIT education

*Ed Bertschinger,* *Institute Community and Equity Officer*, to improve
diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus and add unconscious bias
workshops

*Peter Cummings, Executive Director for Administration* in the Division for
Student Life, about ways to tackle food security

*David Randall, Senior Associate Dean for Student Support and Wellbeing,*about
expanding mental health and S^3 access across campus

EVENTS

Connect - Free Lunch!
*When*: Every Week
*Where*: MIT-wide
*Contact*: questions at connected.mit.edu
<questions at connected.mit.edu>*URL*: https://connected.mit.edu
<http://ua.bmetrack.com/c/l?u=73E2F8B&e=BBB7E2&c=BCBA2&t=0&email=euW8pQVPf07QNPIk%2BQ4Xo6BanR218rId&seq=1>Connect
allows you to meet new people from across campus and all walks of life
through platonic lunch pairings. We know things can get busy, so meet
according to your availability: every 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks. There is such a
thing as a free lunch! Log that you met, and receive $10 in TechCash. Join
over 700 other MIT students, and get connected. Meet new people from across
campus, and from other universities including: Harvard, Northeastern,
Tufts, and BU.

Volunteer for the MIT Fall Career Fair!
*When*: 9/18 - 9/30
*Where*: Z Center, Lobby 10, W20
*Contact*: cf-directors at mit.edu
<cf-directors at mit.edu>*URL*:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4aa9a92ca6fc1-2017
<http://ua.bmetrack.com/c/l?u=73E2F8C&e=BBB7E2&c=BCBA2&t=0&email=euW8pQVPf07QNPIk%2BQ4Xo6BanR218rId&seq=1>Do
you want access to exclusive networking opportunities? Do you want to get
into the Career Fair early? Are you interested in learning more about how
Career Fair is run? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you
should sign up to be a Career Fair volunteer. Help make the MIT Fall Career
Fair a success by volunteering and enjoy our volunteer-exclusive
opportunities! Check here
<http://ua.bmetrack.com/c/l?u=73E2F8D&e=BBB7E2&c=BCBA2&t=0&email=euW8pQVPf07QNPIk%2BQ4Xo6BanR218rId&seq=1>
for
the schedule of company events.

*WANT TO SEE YOUR EVENT IN THE BYTE? Submit an event here
<http://ua.bmetrack.com/c/l?u=73E2F8E&e=BBB7E2&c=BCBA2&t=0&email=euW8pQVPf07QNPIk%2BQ4Xo6BanR218rId&seq=1>!
Events must be submitted by noon Sunday for inclusion in that Monday's
issue.*
ANY QUESTIONS?
Email ua-secretary at mit.edu with any questions, comments, or suggestions for
improvement for future editions of The Byte.
[image: Facebook]
<http://ua.bmetrack.com/c/l?u=73E2F8F&e=BBB7E2&c=BCBA2&t=0&email=euW8pQVPf07QNPIk%2BQ4Xo6BanR218rId&seq=1>
[image: Twitter]
<http://ua.bmetrack.com/c/l?u=73E2F90&e=BBB7E2&c=BCBA2&t=0&email=euW8pQVPf07QNPIk%2BQ4Xo6BanR218rId&seq=1>

-- 
Kathryn Jiang
Department of Mathematics
Secretary of the Undergraduate Association
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2020
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