Harvard Today: October 8, 2014

Happy Wednesday, Harvard! Congratulations on making it to hump day of our seventh (?!) week of classes. The add/drop period is finally over, so we hope you like your current slate of classes, because you’re officially locked in. If you’re concerned about your grades already, never fear. Take our 100% scientifically guaranteed personal assessment, it'll help you figure out where you are.

1) How many times did you speak in section today?

a. once. And it was just reading aloud a definition.
b. three to four times, enough to keep my TF happy.
c. Who keeps track of that?? I speak whenever I have something to say.
d. I wasn’t in section today.

2) How are you doing with the reading?

a. I skimmed one of the articles.
b. I skimmed all of the articles.
c. I have color coded notes for each of the articles.
d. What articles?

3) Have you gone to office hours?

a. Nope
b. Nope
c. Duh
d. Lol

4) When do you get to your 10 a.m. class?

a. 10:07
b. 10:05
c. 9:50
d. I don’t go to my 10 a.m. class.

5) How do you plan to study for your midterm?

a. Cram the morning of.
b. Cram the night before.
c. I’ve been prepared since the semester started.
d. I don’t plan to study for my midterm.

Results: Mostly a’s: A-. Mostly b’s: A-. Even though you’re putting in twice as much effort as person a. Sucks. Mostly c’s: We’re surprised you’ve even read this far. Don’t you have to go get coffee with your professor or something? Mostly d’s: Whatever. You’re taking this class SAT/UNSAT anyway.

By Daniel N. Yue

IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Today’s high is similar to yesterday, a delicious 72 degrees. What’s not so delicious (apart from dinner—brunch again?! Come on, HUDS), is the 80% chance of rain. There will be thunderstorms in the morning before sunshine later in the afternoon.

IN THE D-HALLS

Lunch

Bacon and Mushroom and Quiche
Chicken Tikka Masala
Pepper, Tomato, Black Bean, and Monterey Jack Quesadillas

Dinner

Multigrain Penne w/ Chicken and Broccoli
Cheddar Cheese Mushroom Omelette
Scrambled Cage Free Eggs

ON FLYBY

Update: Blondie Brownies No Longer Unhealthier Than Stick of Butter: Good to know. You’re welcome, blondie brownie consumers everywhere.

IN THE NEWS

1) Yale Considers Proposal to Offer CS50 Next Fall: Yale is currently considering a proposal to adopt a version of Harvard's Computer Science 50: “Introduction to Computer Science I” for its undergraduate curriculum, Yale Computer Science Department head Joan Feigenbaum confirmed Tuesday.

2) Faculty Grows to Largest Size Ever, Report Shows: Harvard’s flagship faculty is growing again and reached the largest size in its 124-year history during Fiscal Year 2014, with 17 hires raising the total number of professors in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences to 730, according to a draft of the Dean’s Annual Report that was presented to Faculty this afternoon.

3) Undergraduate Initiative Aims to Revitalize Humanities: At their first meeting Tuesday evening, members of the budding Harvard Undergraduate Humanities Initiative addressed the relevance of humanistic pursuits in an increasingly digital and technological world.

EVENTS

Stop by IOP L166 today at 4 p.m. for a study group with Kristen Soltis Anderson, Republican researcher, strategist and a columnist at The Daily Beast and partner and co-founder of Echelon Insights. This week’s session features Margaret Hoover, CNN Commentator and GOP pro-marriage equality activist.

Head over to Longfellow Hall (13 Appian Way) at 5 p.m. tonight for an AskWith Forum titled: Is U.S. Public School Funding Fair? The forum is presented in conjunction with Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Harvard Law School, and featuring a number of panelists from around the country.

A panel discussion titled Immigrant Struggles, Immigrant Gifts is taking place at 7 p.m. tonight at the First Parish (3 Church St). The panel aims to put today’s immigration debate in a larger political, sociological, historical, and legal perspective.

The women’s soccer team will be playing Boston University at 7 p.m. at Soldier’s Field Soccer Stadium across the river. Come out and and support!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Author Sam B. Harris discusses his most recent novel, Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion, with Harvard Humanist Chaplain, Greg M. Epstein Tuesday evening in the Science Center.