[225] in peace2
[doughty@mtl.mit.edu: Protest construction on "the dot"]
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Francis M. Doughty)
Mon Apr 24 14:22:11 2000
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 14:22:16 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <200004241822.OAA07888@gunpowder.mit.edu>
From: "Francis M. Doughty" <doughty@mtl.mit.edu>
To: parekh@pimms.mit.edu
Cc: peace-list@MIT.EDU, mhunter@MIT.EDU
Payal, Thanks and to many others for all of your work and personal
sacrifices on this issue.
WHERE IS THE PETITION? Is it online -- on the web?
If the temp facilities are indeed trailers, let's put them on existing
concrete or pavement, or even dirt (e.g. running them parallel
alongside the back (west side) of bldg 56 -Whitaker) not on this
important green space. I would favor seeing them stashed on the campus
INTERIOR -- behind buildings, or something more discreet.
The "dot" is really close the exterior perimeter of the campus --
showing a beautiful (green on gray so to speak) landscape for those
viewing MIT along Mem. Drive and looking into the campus: Walker to
the left, library to the right, trees and grass and center-walkway,
straight ahead, the view opens wide and uninterruptedly, up to the
"Sail" (of mixed repute), the "dot" --- such a breath of OPEN SPACE,
overshadowed by the towering Green Bldg.
This plan would destroy so much: creating a ghastly eye-sore, ruining
the rhythm and balance of that planned landscape -- further uglifying
MIT.
More importantly this project would cause an enormous amount of
emotional and psychological pain for many people who "depend on" that
space and its inherent good qualities. And those who use that space
for lunch, and lounging, and simply NEED it, because we desperately
need open spaces which are steadly diminishing at MIT. Open spaces
such as the DOT are comforting and necessary and often provide RELIEF,
in so many ways, from the stresses of school and work.
People are naturally drawn to the "dot" and benefit from the relief it
gives -- which is demonstrated both by the numbers of people
frequenting the "dot", and by how people react with this space:
outdoor games of frisbee or catch, laying on the grass, or just
walking by and enjoying the openness of that "plaza" 365 days a year.
I KNOW people can come up with a better plan. Thanks much. --Francis
------- Start of forwarded message -------
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 10:08:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Francis M. Doughty" <doughty@mtl.mit.edu>
To: cmvest@mit.mit.edu
CC: rtdavis@mit.mit.edu, anton@plant.mit.edu, gdayal@mit.edu
Subject: Protest construction on "the dot"
Content-Type: text
Content-Length: 2497
On this coming Monday, April 24th, the circle in McDermott Court (located
>>>between buildings 18 and 54) will have its soil removed in preparation for
>>>the Temporary Faculty Offices that will be placed there in early May.
>>>These "TFOs" will remain there for the three-year period that the building
>>>will be under construction.
Writing to the president is something I've NEVER done in all my years
at MIT. I'm Support Staff, started in 1979, working in the Green Bldg
(54). (I now work in Bldg. 36). I have particular affections for the
many green spaces at MIT, including the wonderful green space on the
river-facing side of Bldg. 54.
I learned of this construction project as I walked to my office this
morning. I am horrified by this. I am equally livid about the way
this whole thing is happening: the alacrity, the non-involvement of
the MIT community, the way it has been under-reported in the MIT
press.
The whole thing feels very other-worldly to me -- it does not feel
like MIT or Cambridge. This has to be one of the most
least-thought-out construction projects I've ever seen on this campus.
Please cease and desist any construction on this beautiful space.
We are, right now, diminishing ourselves by diminishing the beauty of
this campus.
The radical nature of this project demands months of careful study and
discussion. What I'm seeing is something that seems ruthless and
short-sighted, and extremely uncharacteristic of anything I expect of
MIT thinkers and movers.
Let's catch our breath, and sit down and talk about the issues. Let's
use the MIT press, Athena, email polling, internet discussion, email,
front-page stories in the Tech and the Tech Talk, and so on, to get
some dialogue and understanding going here. We've got fantastic
communication resources here at MIT -- not to mention a world-class
collection of great minds and ideas. Let's use everything and figure
this out!
MIT is a bastion of intellect and creativity. I cannot believe for a
minute that the building of this temporary facility which would
destroy an important and valued green space, is the ONLY solution.
Thank you. --Francis Doughty
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Francis Doughty WORK: 617/ 258-6484
6.111 Course Secretary HOME: 978/ 544-5450
6.111 URL http://sunpal2.mit.edu/6.111/s2000/6111.html
OFFICE: 36-277 http://www-mtl.mit.edu/~doughty
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