[UA - The Byte] Feb. 16, 2021

Tue Feb 16 20:59:18 EST 2021

Vol. 5 Issue 13 - February 16, 2021

The Byte
 <https://www.facebook.com/undergraduateassociation/>
 <http://ua.mit.edu/>
 <mailto:ua-secretary at mit.edu>
SUBMIT AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE UA
 <https://forms.gle/GcrFoaD7Xtc9GzRr5>
Hi Undergrads, 

Happy first day of classes everyone! Hope you all have had a fantastic start to what will hopefully be a great spring semester :)

February is Black History Month! Check out this calendar of events <https://innovation.mit.edu/event/mit-black-history-month-events-2021/> by MITii as well as the BSU <https://www.instagram.com/mitbsu/> & BGSA <https://www.instagram.com/mitbgsa/> instagrams for more updates & content throughout the month!

Our second UA Council meeting of the semester will be held this Thursday at 7 PM ET at this zoom  <https://mit.zoom.us/j/94848054203>link <https://mit.zoom.us/j/94848054203>. Council meetings are always open to undergrads & are a great opportunity to make your voice heard! Council is the primary representative body of the UA & is responsible for collecting student input on a variety of issues. Diane Greene, chair of the MIT Corporation, will be joining us this week. This is a wonderful opportunity to interface with the corporation which has a huge amount of influence over MIT and student life. 

The Byte is a biweekly UA newsletter to inform undergraduates about what's happening in the MIT community.

The Byte is run by the UA which works to improve your undergraduate experience through policy, projects, and events. We're always happy to listen to your suggestions, concerns, and comments. Learn more at ua.mit.edu <http://ua.mit.edu/>.

~ Naomi
UA Secretary

 Community
Black Live Matter in MIT Dining Halls!
MIT Climate Action Plan (CAP)
Q-Week Compliance
Navigating Online Dating
StemGems Women's Entrepreneurship Showcase
Distilled Wisdom: Gratitude
MIT School Spirit Contest 
MIT Coalition for Black Athletes 
Interfraternity Council Formal Spring Rush
Solitude & Solidarity: Issue Two of the Rooted zine
 Undergraduate Association
Student Coder Needed - MIT Policy Pal
 Institute News
Seeking student writing submissions: The Isabelle de Courtivron Prize
Artistic Project Funding
Informed Philanthropy in Theory and Action (SP.256)
Free Wall Street Journal Membership
MIT Innovation Initiative Spring ELOs
COMMUNITY

Black Live Matter in MIT Dining Halls!
When: Monday, 2/22 at 6 PM ET
RSVP: tinyurl.com/mit-dining-blm <http://tinyurl.com/mit-dining-blm>

"Many people who have eaten in the MIT dining halls will recognize Mark, a Bon Appetit employee who offers us daily smiles and great food when we’re all away from home. Besides ensuring we stay well-fed, Mark is also the Chief Shop Steward of the dining hall workers' union, UNITE HERE Local 26. This means he represents and defends other dining workers in interactions with Bon Appetit. 

After 13 years of working for Bon Appetit, Mark has received a flagrantly unjust final warning from the company as punishment after speaking up on behalf of a co-worker and completing the duties of his position. This is an apparent effort to silence him and others from speaking up on workplace issues. 

Join the Student-Worker Alliance and coalitions partners for a zoom rally on Monday, February 22nd @ 6pm EST to hear directly from Mark and other Bon Appetit dining workers about unfair treatment and racism at the workplace, and how we can all come together to fight for a just and equitable MIT!"

— Student-Worker Alliance

MIT Climate Action Plan (CAP)
When: Monday, 2/22 from 2:30-4 PM ET
Register for the webinar: here <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mit-climate-action-plan-forum-student-voices-tickets-141044649343>
Contribute to the CAP: fill out this form <https://forms.gle/jstBd8NgsvX8jHd2A>

The 2021 Climate Action Plan (CAP), is MIT’s plan of action for how the Institute will combat climate change in the coming 5 years. The CAP will outline everything from the way we accept funds from with massive fossil fuel companies to the emission and waste reduction goals we set for MIT’s physical campus.

The Climate Action Advisory Committee (CAAC), chaired by Vice President for Research Dr. Maria Zuber, is charged with providing recommendations for the plan. On Monday, February 22 from 2:30-4PM ET, the CAAC will host a webinar <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mit-climate-action-plan-forum-student-voices-tickets-141044649343> where students will present their recommendations for the plan. Then, we will have an open discussion where attendees can submit their questions and ideas to the presenters and CAAC. If you have any questions/feedback for the student presenters or want to get involved in contributing to the Climate Action Plan, feel free to fill out this form <https://forms.gle/jstBd8NgsvX8jHd2A>!

Q-Week Compliance

TL;DR: Please just read this!

This is a reminder that on campus residents can’t see other people or hang out in groups (even socially distanced ones) until Q-week is over.

Here’s some guidance from the campus guide <http://studentlife.mit.edu/life-campus/spring-2021-campus-guides/spring-2021-undergraduate-campus-guide?fbclid=IwAR3PLkCuu_B5XQpqMtIdMN1V5pjgNXlrhZgvZgVLg3exC01rATNxs4_63OI> on Q week policies:

“All residents arriving on campus for the spring semester will be required to quarantine upon arrival. Similar to the fall semester, all undergraduates living on campus will be required to participate in Quarantine Week (or Q-Week). During quarantine, all residents cannot have direct contact with anyone but their roommate... While outside your room, you must keep six feet apart from other people and wear a face covering at all times, including around people you know.”

The consequences for violating COVID policies include suspension of the pods program within a dorm, loss of campus access, restricted access to dorm communal spaces, and referrals to CoD. 

“Failure to comply with these policies may result in a referral to the Committee on Discipline. MIT reserves the right to take interim measures—including immediate removal from Institute-approved housing—to protect MIT and surrounding community members.” (COVID-19 Undergraduate Student Policies <http://studentlife.mit.edu/covid19policies#compliance>)

Campus life looks the way it does because the level of compliance in the Fall ensured the safety of all of our community members. Together, we have the power to keep our community safe and healthy and this starts with a compliance during Q-Week for campus residents!

Navigating Online Dating
When: 2/16 & 2/18 at 5:30 PM ET
Learn More: here <https://mindhandheart.mit.edu/navigating-online-dating>
Contact: beckerd at mit.edu <mailto:beckerd at mit.edu>

Navigate online dating with the help of MindHandHeart, VPR, Pleasure, the PKG center, Student Mental Health and Counseling Services, and WGS! 

Attendees will have the option of asking questions anonymously during this two part series.

Part 1: Online Dating, Identity and Wellness I 2/16/21 I 5:30pm EST
https://mit.zoom.us/j/91632926394 <https://mit.zoom.us/j/91632926394>
Part 2: Notes from the Field {Panel) I 2/18/21 I 5:30pm EST
https://mit.zoom.us/j/94361050882 <https://mit.zoom.us/j/94361050882>

StemGems Women's Entrepreneurship Showcase
When: Monday, 3/8 
Apply: Please submit your applications here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdVWLEtzqKGEVdipj55y0RD1RcU6to47xJKy7hN7Sqxmf5dMQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&gxids=7628> by Feb 16th at 11:59 PM ET

Are you constantly overlooked at start-up showcases? Do you think it might be due to gender biases? Then StemGems women's entrepreneurship showcase is the perfect event for you. This is the first women's entrepreneurship showcase event at MIT that will be held on International Women’s Day.

We are looking for start-up teams in all stages to apply to our event. StemGems is open to any current student teams (Undergrad, Masters and PhD level) with at least one founder from either MIT or Wellesley. At least 50% of the team must consist of female/female identifying founders to participate in this showcase. We encourage all to apply, and we are looking forward to reading your applications!

Distilled Wisdom: Gratitude
When: Thursday, 2/25 from 7-8:30 PM ET
RSVP: addir.mit.edu/wisdom <http://addir.mit.edu/wisdom>

Join us on Thursday, February 25th at 7:00-8:30pm for our third installment of Distilled Wisdom: Practices for Prospering in the Pandemic, on Gratitude. We will be gathering on Zoom with Nada El-Alami (MIT Muslim Chaplain) & Daryush Mehta (MIT Zoroastrian Chaplain). The presentation will be followed by a Q&A and Discussion.

MIT Addir Interfaith invites you to this interfaith speaker series to equip yourself and your community with practices for perseverance, resilience and flourishing in these tumultuous times through a series of dyadic conversations between seasoned practitioners of the world’s great religious, spiritual and ethical traditions.

MIT School Spirit Contest
Submissions form: bit.ly/3puzDTq  <http://bit.ly/3puzDTq%C2%A0>
Learn more: Full details <http://bit.ly/2MtpnfJ> & @mit_school_spirit <http://bit.ly/3opJUyP> 
Contact: emilyhan at mit.edu <mailto:emilyhan at mit.edu>, saracola at mit.edu <mailto:saracola at mit.edu>

We are holding an mit community-wide huge school spirit contest hosted on instagram to raise morale and have fun during these sad remote times, running for the months of February and March! Undergrads, graduate students, faculty, staff, and pretty much anyone in the MIT community can submit entries in a variety of media across a variety of themes on instagram to share nostalgic memories of and your favorite things about MIT 💕. Every week prizes will be given out!! 

funded by: mindhandheart & the baker foundation
organized by: some spirited undergrads 😋

MIT Coalition for Black Athletes
Join: tinyurl.com/MIT-Black-Athletes <http://tinyurl.com/MIT-Black-Athletes>

We are looking to identify Black students who would be interested in joining a Coalition of Black Athletes. If you identify as Black and have been a member (currently or in the past) of a Varsity or Club sports team at MIT, please fill out this interest form <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiMMZIk_4H3bFj6CBvcJbG-HySIlg9rdSbLIDJtMzjDjUqWg/viewform>.

Interfraternity Council Formal Spring Rush
When: Virtual Rush Feb. 6-24
More info: rush.mit.edu <http://rush.mit.edu/>
Contact: ifc-exec at mit.edu <mailto:ifc-exec at mit.edu>
The Interfraternity Council represents 26 male, female, and co-ed fraternities on campus. Formal Spring Rush will be virtual this year and registration is open at rush.mit.edu <http://rush.mit.edu/>. Spring Rush is open to all students at MIT regardless of class year or gender-identity. Feel free to explore different chapters at ifc.mit.edu/chapters <http://ifc.mit.edu/chapters> and email ifc-exec at mit.edu <mailto:ifc-exec at mit.edu> with any questions.

Solitude & Solidarity: Issue Two of the Rooted zine
When: Submissions due Sunday 3/28
Submit content: here <https://forms.gle/aKzNWvjoskzL163d8>

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!

tl;dr Submit your art/writing to Issue Two of the Rooted zine on solitude and/or solidarity.

MIT Asian American Initiative (AAI) is looking to feature stories from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in the second issue of our zine series Rooted. Short stories, poems, drawings, photography, and any form of printable art revolving around the themes of solitude, solidarity, and boundaries are welcome. Anyone interested in contributing — whether an undergrad, grad student, faculty, staff, or alumni — is invited to submit. Anonymous submissions are welcome. Submit and read more details here <https://forms.gle/aKzNWvjoskzL163d8> by Sunday, March 28, 2021! Check out last year's zine on immigration stories here <https://issuu.com/mitaai/docs/zinefinal_4_no_bleed_for_online_export-compressed>! Funded by the Council for Arts at MIT.

UNDERGRADUATE ASSOCIATION

Student Coder Needed - MIT Policy Pal
Apply: Send a resumé to kiaraw at mit.edu <http://kiaraw@mit.edu/> or fill out this form <https://forms.gle/G1SHfPsKEb3XP9oe7>

Tldr; Get paid to implement a Chatbot in partnership with the UA that all MIT students can use this spring to navigate MIT’s COVID policies.

We’re looking for a student to help the UA implement a Discord Bot that will answer questions about the Institute policy. Currently, the robot is up and running here  <https://share.streamlit.io/sauhaardac/mitpolicypal/main/app.py>, but will be moved to the MIT-wide Busy Beaver’s and MIT Class of 2024 Discord server to make it more easily accessible for all undergraduates. Time commitment will be a minimum of 3-4 hours/week during February. The work is paid. 

Prerequisites: Basic skills in Python; preferably some experience with creating Discords or Slack bots; an interest in helping improve the undergraduate spring semester experience :DD  

If you’re interested, please send a resumé to kiaraw at mit.edu <http://kiaraw@mit.edu/>, or fill out this form <https://forms.gle/G1SHfPsKEb3XP9oe7>.

INSTITUTE NEWS

Seeking student writing submissions: The Isabelle de Courtivron Prize
Apply:  Here <http://mitgsl.mit.edu/writingprize> by 3/3 
Contact: languages-awards at mit.edu <http://languages-awards@mit.edu/>

MIT Global Languages seeks student writing submissions—creative or expository—on immigrant, diaspora, bicultural, bilingual, and/or mixed-race experiences for its annual Isabelle de Courtivron Prize.

* First prize $400. Second prize $100.
* Winning submissions featured on the Global Languages website

Open to all MIT undergraduate students. Entries will be judged by a panel and the winner will be announced in April 2021. Submission guidelines and past winning entries at mitgsl.mit.edu/writingprize <http://mitgsl.mit.edu/writingprize>

The Isabelle de Courtivron Prize was established to reward high-quality undergraduate writing (creative or expository) and to honor distinguished Professor Emerita Isabelle de Courtivron <http://mitgsl.mit.edu/people/emeriti-faculty-and-lecturers/isabelle-de-courtivron> on the occasion of her retirement in 2010.

Artistic Project Funding
Apply: Preliminary proposals due March 1 arts.mit.edu/camit/funding/ <https://arts.mit.edu/camit/funding/>
Contact: council-arts at mit.edu <mailto:council-arts at mit.edu>

Apply for funding for an artistic project that engages the MIT community. Average grant size is $2500. All MIT students, staff, and faculty are eligible to apply. Contact Lydia at council-arts at mit.edu <mailto:council-arts at mit.edu> with any questions. Funded by the Council for the Arts at MIT.

Informed Philanthropy in Theory and Action (SP.256)
When: Tuesdays 2-3:30 PM ET (VIRTUAL)
Register: bit.ly/pkgcourses <http://bit.ly/pkgcourses>

Register for Informed Philanthropy in Theory and Action (SP.256) offered in partnership with the Learning by Giving Foundation! The class culminates with students making a group decision on how the Learning by Giving Foundation will disperse $10,000 to local community agencies. 

The course begins February 16 so learn more and register by February 12 at bit.ly/pkgcourses <http://bit.ly/pkgcourses>.

Free Wall Street Journal Membership
Activate membership: WSJ.com/ActivateMIT <http://wsj.com/ActivateMIT>

As a reminder, MIT Libraries has partnered with The Wall Street Journal to sponsor complimentary memberships for all students, faculty and staff of MIT. 

Activate Your WSJ Membership
All students can activate their WSJ memberships at WSJ.com/ActivateMIT <http://wsj.com/ActivateMIT>. Share this link with your peers for unlimited access to award winning news coverage on WSJ.com <http://wsj.com/>, invitations to virtual WSJ events and more. 

The WSJ Jobs Summit
As Covid-19 continues to upend the job market, WSJ will be hosting another complimentary Jobs Summit on March 4. Designed with students and recent graduates in mind, we invite you to join us as we share a modern toolkit for navigating the job market. Invite your fellow club members and peers to RSVP through our registration page linked here <https://edu.wsj.com/e/858843/page-1685187-registration/4bpbd/198987947?h=dXLUjPS0nav-vvzvssAeVyq7mCEYoYXjBX9-SVSUbO8>. 

Earn Your WSJ T-Shirt
Refer five friends at your university to activate their school-sponsored WSJ membership and you’ll receive an exclusive WSJ t-shirt. Learn more and start sharing at WSJ.com/referral <http://wsj.com/referral>. 

MIT Innovation Initiative Spring ELOs
Contact: innovation at mit.edu <mailto:innovation at mit.edu>

Gain technical skills, stay engaged, and earn your ELO $ with MIT Innovation Initiative this Spring!

Venture Match - discover, interview, and match with an internship at MIT affiliated startups, curated exclusively for Spring 2021. Gain the technical skills employers are most interested in — and complements your academic studies. 

InnovationWORKS (iWorks) - dive into the world of innovation & entrepreneurship at MIT and have a positive impact through hands-on projects aiming to solve community challenges in a fun environment. We’re hiring interns to lead projects such as… 

building the virtual environment for one of the biggest events during CPW
collecting student user stories for a new I&E resource tool 
developing the knowledge base for the future of the Corporate Innovation Program 
executing a strategy to launch the iHQ’s student venture studio

All enrolled undergraduate students who have not yet received the guaranteed ELO funding are eligible for these paid opportunities. For more information and a link to apply, explore Venture Match here <https://innovationone.mit.edu/> and apply to iWorks here <https://innovation.mit.edu/innovation-works-s21/>. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

Our mailing address is:
ua-secretary at mit.edu <mailto:ua-secretary at mit.edu>

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