‘Hockfield Day’ celebrates MIT’s 16th president
A carnival atmosphere overtook Killian Court today as students, faculty and staff came out en masse for a community picnic to celebrate Susan Hockfield, MIT’s 16th president, who will conclude her seven-and-a-half years of service on July 1. On Wednesday, Provost L. Rafael Reif was elected to succeed her as MIT’s 17th president. “It was a magnificent day for all of us yesterday,” Hockfield remarked at the picnic, “a truly great day. It’s nice to follow … with a little levity today.”There was literal levity, too, in true MIT fashion: a parade of translucent blimps, designed by students in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro), kicked off the event with a remote-controlled voyage across Killian Court — an airy tribute to MIT’s outgoing president. “She did really an awesome job as president,” said AeroAstro freshman Molly Kosiarek. "This day is a great idea.” Thousands gathered in the sunshine for...