MIT ’hack’ hits a high note

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/09/a_paper_chase_a.html

by breck • 17 years ago

26 12 17 years ago

boston.com

henning• 17 years ago

The identity of those responsible has been discovered: http://is.gd/3sLvM

blhack3• 17 years ago

It says in the article that the administration at MIT has had a "crackdown" on these "hacks"?

Pardon my language, but, are you fucking joking? If this is true, it is one of the most depressing things I have heard in a while. To me, these "hacks" represented a seemingly long standing tradition of "let the geniuses do whatever the hell they want, they're geniuses!".

This doesn't hurt anybody, doesn't damage anything, why on god's earth would you ever want to punish them? If nothing else, this is bringing more good publicity to the school. These sorts of things are exactly the reason that I daydream about being able to go to a place like MIT.

'Tis is a sad state of affairs if these people are looked at as scoundrels and not heros.

albertsun• 17 years ago

I doubt it. The admissions office uses these hacks as a recruiting tool. There's a big long corridor documenting famous hacks from the past that they take all tour groups through.

cesare• 17 years ago

I agree that they shouldn't be punished or anything.

But calling them heroes is a bit of a stretch.

dfranke3• 17 years ago

I agree that they shouldn't be punished or anything.

They shouldn't be punished in any way severe enough to screw up their future or their academic career. But I think it's important to keep hacking illicit and therefore require that it take a bit of courage to pull off. It serves as a quality filter and keeps the art from degenerating into stupid frat pranks.

blhack3• 17 years ago

But calling them heroes is a bit of a stretch.

And why is that? Football players earn the title of "hero". (at least at ASU they do).

Why should intellectual accomplishments be any less note-worthy than physical ones?

dfranke3• 17 years ago

The administration has always gone through the motions of trying to stop hackers. Evading them has always been part of the game. Those caught usually get a citation for trespassing, but certain professors have a history of covering the fines for them.

dagw• 17 years ago

I imagine that if these hacks where officially sanctioned and supported by the administration then they'd lose a lot of their charm and appeal. I also imagine the crackdown is more for show than any actual serious attempt to stop them.

Also sometimes kids get carried away and cannot fully think through their actions. My university had to crack down on these sort pranks or hacks after they escalated to the point where one caused several thousands of dollars of damage to public property . Just because you're a "genius" doesn't mean you have much common sense. However the crackdown wasn't an all out ban just stern warning that being stupid about it wouldn't be tolerated.

joej• 17 years ago

Part of what makes MIT stand out from the rest

MIT ’hack’ hits a high note

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