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MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

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Re: MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

#361

Post by pfranz »

xur17 wrote: post #193
Trasmatta wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The goal at this point should be to flatten the curve as much as possible to prevent overwhelming healthcare until a vaccine is developed and tested. Nobody thinks this is going to be a permanent measure.

I don't disagree with the flattening the curve bit, but I do wonder - my understanding is that a vaccine is at minimum a year out. Would we need to keep doing this for that entire time period, or are there other factors at play here?

There are shortages in the supply chain; hand sanitizer, masks, and tests for coronavirus in addition to overwhelming hospitals by sick people. If there aren't open beds or staff (ideally who aren't overworked), people who otherwise would get medical attention will die.

If a vaccine wasn't even in the picture flattening the curve would help with these things.

Re: MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

#362

Post by pfranz »

smallgovt wrote: post #94
PureParadigm wrote: post #50

I think large decisive moves like this may seem to some to be an overreaction, but it will prove to be the correct decision in hindsight (like the early travel bans). Exponential growth is real, and anything we can do to slow the rate of infection will save lives. As a current undergrad at UC Berkeley, they've moved all classes here online [1], and exams are either being postponed or converted to take-home assignment…

Actually, I think it's likely going to be seen as an overreaction in hindsight by the general public (even though it may not be). If these actions are successful in curbing the virus' spread, most people won't appreciate how bad things could have really gotten.

Hopefully, we'll see articles like the recent articles talking about how closing schools during the 1918 flu saved lives. Specifically, closing schools before there were any identified cases were much more effective than waiting until one was detected.

Re: MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

#363

Post by letitgo12345 »

narrator wrote: post #69

Speaking of the underprivileged kids. Here in S.F where we have some really high rents, I heard a story from a friend that there was a student who was living in a van and spent most of his time in the lobby of the student center. I wonder if the MIT gang will start living in their cars. This could be the beginning of a new hyper mobile tech road warrior culture... Like all the MIT kids will meet up in random spots ar…

MIT has an exception for homeless students.

Re: MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

#364

Post by jimmaswell »

ohyeshedid wrote: post #323
jimmaswell wrote: post #277

No results in the page for "refund." They're not refunding students prorated dorm, credit, etc. fees? I hope there are lawsuits coming on part of the students.

You seem to be jumping to conclusions without any supporting information. You've done it twice in this thread already. I understand that the world can be an ugly place right now, but filling in your lack of firsthand knowledge with negativity from your imagination doesn't benefit anyone. That also seems like an exhausting way to operate.

Coming to the conclusion there will be no refunds based on the article not saying anything about refunds is jumping to conclusions how?

Re: MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

#365

Post by zanderwohl »

pbourke wrote: post #114
smallgovt wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, I think it's likely going to be seen as an overreaction in hindsight by the general public (even though it may not be). If these actions are successful in curbing the virus' spread, most people won't appreciate how bad things could have really gotten.

Yeah, I've been thinking something similar. In the American context, a successful response would be seen by the uninformed as an overreaction. The administration responsible (federal or state) would be blamed for the economic damage and voted out. It would take a very strong leader who was willing to act without thought to reelection to really meet the crisis head on. That would be ... rare.

I think you're right, and that economic damage is something I think too many people are worried about. I've seen a lot of business magazines more worried about the dow-jones than the number of people who could die.

Re: MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

#366

Post by OldGuyInTheClub »

Tremendous respect for MIT but I am dismayed that one of the world's leading institutions just told students to ship out with what appears to be little regard for the difficulties. Arranging for transportation, alternate housing, storage, etc runs into real costs which many don't be able to bear on top of tuition, board, and other fees that schools routinely charge.

MIT's research enterprise does not seem to be affected, however...

Re: MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

#367

Post by xur17 »

pfranz wrote: post #361
xur17 wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't disagree with the flattening the curve bit, but I do wonder - my understanding is that a vaccine is at minimum a year out. Would we need to keep doing this for that entire time period, or are there other factors at play here?

There are shortages in the supply chain; hand sanitizer, masks, and tests for coronavirus in addition to overwhelming hospitals by sick people. If there aren't open beds or staff (ideally who aren't overworked), people who otherwise would get medical attention will die. If a vaccine wasn't even in the picture flattening the curve would help with these things.

That's a good point. Also, my understanding is that antiviral medications might be an option in a "few" months.

Re: MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

#368

Post by pfranz »

kart23 wrote: post #307
fwipsy wrote: post #264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So far, I've heard that UCSD, UCSC, UC Davis, and Stanford have taken similar precautions to Berkeley.

UC Irvine as well! Not excited to install a rootkit on my computer to take finals, but oh well.

Any option to install it onto a VM or a separate drive for dual boot? Windows 10 VMs are active for a few weeks (or edu discounts are often pretty steep). If it was in a VM you otherwise use you can snapshot and revert back after taking the test (I guess you could do this with a normal backup, too). That's usually my go-to for stuff like this (but for me it's often Linux/macOS).

Re: MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

#369

Post by onlyrealcuzzo »

gevz wrote: post #313
generationP wrote: post #144

> Undergraduates who live in an MIT residence or fraternity, sorority or independent living group (FSILG) must begin packing and departing this Saturday, March 14. We are requiring undergraduates to depart from campus residences no later than noon on Tuesday, March 17. This is strange. Isn't the travel they are forcing quite possibly a cure worse than the disease? And are they really expecting students (many of them…

I’m not sure about mit schedule, but at Harvard, which announced same measures earlier today, the students has to vacate dorm rooms at the end of the academic year anyway. This happens at the end of April. So essentially Harvard is asking students to move out 6 weeks before the end of the year. One of those weeks is spring break. I’m sure students are in shock and there is a lot of chaos on campus. But according to w…

And assuming they're refunding them... They can live basically anywhere for as cheap as a dorm room in MIT or Harvard. Sure, major inconvenience. People aren't gonna be homeless and die.

Re: MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

#370

Post by secstate »

protomyth wrote: post #343
voidlogic wrote: post #273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At my college all the dorms had a kitchen for residents to use in the basement... is this not normal?

US colleges earn money off the meal plan and tend to be liability shy so having a full kitchen is a non-starter. Heck, it was against the rules to have a microwave in dorms (even room not in actual dorms) where I went to college. It was a pain in the butt.

Pretty sure the ban on microwaves was an electrical fire risk, not them being predatory about students eating at the dining hall. Can you imagine if even every other room had an appliance pulling 1000W whenever the hell a student felt like warming up some soup?
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