Harvard Today: December 3, 2014

By Alana M Steinberg

Good morning, Harvard, and happy last-day-of-classes-for-the-entire-semester! It may be hump day, but push through for those last classes left before reading period! On the last day, maybe get to class early, engage in some awkward small talk with that TF you never got to know, and resist that urge to tune out your last lecture. Or just sleep in and try to show up on time-ish—why break habits you’ve cultivated all semester on the last day?

For those drowning under final projects, papers, and exams, remember you’re almost done! Congrats on getting this far—a little over two more weeks (probably spent sleep-deprived in Lamont) until sweet sweet winter break.

By Daniel N. Yue

IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Today’s high is going to be 59 degrees, with a low of 32. You may not want your warmest winter coat, but definitely break out the rain boots and umbrella! It’ll be raining all morning, but then lighten up by the evening. At least it’ll be dry inside that last section.

IN THE D-HALLS

Lunch

Chicken Tikka Masala
Crispy Swai Fish Sandwich
Whole Wheat Penne with Wild Mushrooms Ragout

Dinner

Roasted Pork Loin with Cream Mushroom Sauce
Multigrain Penne w/Chicken & Broccoli
Cranberry Baked French Toast

ON FLYBY

Happy Reading Period!: Two beautiful pie charts illustrating your dream vs. reality usage of time during reading period.

IN THE NEWS

1) ‘The World Needs You,’ UN Secretary-General Tells Harvard: "Hundreds of Harvard affiliates and local residents gathered Tuesday in Memorial Church to hear United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations’ Humanitarian of the Year, call on Harvard faculty members and students to help solve several global issues."

2) Former College Dean Lewis Named Interim SEAS Head: "Computer Science professor Harry R. Lewis ’68 will be the interim Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences beginning on January 1, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Michael D. Smith announced on Tuesday."

3) Finale Dessert Shop Closes Harvard Location: "Harvard Square restaurant and deluxe dessert shop Finale suddenly shuttered its location in the Smith Campus Center on Saturday, posting a note on its doors thanking customers for their patronage throughout '12 great years here.'"

ON ARTS

The Crimson Arts 2014 Year in Review: Editors' Note, Top 10 Films and Albums of 2014, and survey results on what Harvard students thought were the best artistic outputs of the year!

EVENTS

The Harvard Environmental Economics Program will be sponsoring a talk on Meeting Tomorrow’s Energy Challenges: Why Technology will Define our Energy Future from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m in the Bell Hall, 5th Floor, Belfer Building at the Kennedy School. Francesco Starace, CEO of the power company Enel, will be speaking, and lunch is provided!

Are you a freshmen not sure how to enter the world of research? Head over to the Research 101 panel today from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Lamont Library Forum Room. Don’t miss this presentation offering tips on getting funding for research, connecting with faculty, and coming up with a research proposal.

Continuing the Radcliffe Institute’s 2014-2015 Fellows’ Presentation series, Ann Senghas will be speaking on How a Language Was Born: Cognitive, Linguistic, and Social Factors That Led to the Creation of Nicaraguan Sign Language at 4 p.m. at the Sheerr Room, Fay House (10 Garden Street). As a Radcliffe Institute Fellow, Senghas’ project explores Nicaraguan Sign Language and how it could be a framework for depicting the origin of language itself.

Need to brush up on your networking skills? The Office of Career Services (54 Dunster St.) is giving a workshop on Leveraging the Harvard Network to Make Connections also from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. today for those who want to learn how to tackle the complicated process of networking. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP on Crimson Careers.

Finally, in the evening, the Mahindra Humanities Center will be hosting a talk on Time, Space, and Reading the Visual in the Graphic Novel in Room 133, Barker Center at 7 p.m. Hillary Chute, University of Chicago professor and respecting expert in comics, will be sharing her opinions on the graphic novel medium.

The Bureau of Study Counsel’s BWISE Fellows are holding a study break tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. in Ticknor Lounge with hot chocolate, J.P. Licks, and more! First 125 people to show up get a free mug, so get there on time!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Ban Ki-Moon accepts the Harvard Foundation Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award as the 2014 Humanitarian of the Year on Tuesday in Memorial Church. Moon delivered a speech calling Harvard to action in supporting his efforts with the United Nations.