Timeline
A timeline of events in and around Baker House…
1898 - 1959
| - | Alvar Aalto Everett Moore Baker Housemasters Construction Baker goes co-ed Drinking Age increases (several) Major renovation @ 50 years All freshman required to live in Institute housing Piano Drops revised house constitution Snack Bar | Dining / Commons status & issues over-crowding house tax house budget room rates |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Significant Events | Continuing Issues and Trends |
| February 3, 1898 | Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto is born in born in Kuortane, Finland to Johan Henrik Aalto (a land-surveyor) and Selly (Selma) Matilda (née Hackstedt) | - |
| August 28, 1901 | everett_moore_baker is born in Newtonville, Massachusetts to George D. and Mary Hutton Baker | - |
| 1946 | The Executive Committee of the Corporation decides to build a new dormitory, to be designed by Alvar Aalto. This building is initially referred to as the “New Senior House” | - |
| Fall - 1947 | Everett Moore Baker becomes Dean of Students at MIT | - |
| Fall - 1949 | The “New Dormitory” (W7) is first occupied </p>It is open to all registered undergraduate students, but members of the class of 1950 (i.e., Seniors) are given preference | - |
| August 31, 1950 | Everett Moore Baker is killed in an airplane crash near Cairo, Egypt while fiying back from a meeting in Bombay.</p>He had gone there to preside over a meeting of the International Student Service Organization. | - |
| September 1950 | The “New Dormitory” is renamed the “Everett Moore Baker House” “To remind us of Everett Baker's success as a man, in recognition of his contributions to our community, and in response to the spontaneous suggestions of students and staff, the Executive Committee of the Corporation has authorized the naming of the New Dormitory as the Everett Moore Baker House.” - From Killian's speech at the 1950 Tech Convocation | - |
| Fall - 1950 | - | Rent “per man” per term = $190 |
| Fall - 1951 | Dean Frederick G. Fassett, Jr. becomes the Faculty Resident | - |
| Fall - 1952 | Baker House opens to all undergraduate classes (not just upperclassmen) | - |
| Fall - 1953 | Dr. Samuel J. & Mrs. Jean Mason become the Faculty Residents | - |
| October 1953 | The first issue of the Baker Letter is published | - |
| April 1955 | “It was proposed that the Baker Housecomm adopt house colors for its athletic teams. After considerable debate on the subject, they voted that Baker's athletic colors be red and black.” | - |
| November 1955 | - | Referendum to repeal $1.00 assessment to supplement the Baker House budget</p> </p>Article from //The Tech//</p>The second major area covered by the Baker House Committee was the controversial “Baker House Tax”. At the beginning of the term a referendum held in Baker showed that a majority of the students voting desired the imposition of a dollar tax on every residlent, to be used to expand the Baker House budget. When collection was attempted, however, there was considerable and very noisy resistance. As a result, the BakerComm wiped out all tax legislation from the record and plans to hold another, more widely publicized, referendum on Tuesday, November 29. The result of this referendum will be final, and the House Committee will attempt to enforce the tax, if it is approved. |
| Spring 1957 | Prof. Norm & Jane Holland (and family) become the Faculty Residents | - |
| 1957 | The “Department of Internal Facilities” is formed | - |
| May 1957 | tuition_riot | - |
| FALL – 1957 | - | Room rates for Baker House beginning Fall Term 1957. Rates listed are each Man each Term. $170: 47 - 2nd through 6th floors $185: 01 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, and 11 - 1st through 6th floors $200: 12,13,and 14 - 1st through 6th floors. 42,43,44,45 and 46 - 1st through 6th floors. $215: All remaining rooms, except room 121. $235: 121 |
| November 1958 | Theodore Bikel performs at Baker house Link to article in The Tech | - |
| December 1958 | - | Message from the House President: “Last week Dean Fassett called me into his office and expressed a wish that the house committee enforce … the hot plate rule.”</p> “Effective January 5, the possession of any heating or cooking device … will subject the possessor to action by the Judicial Committee.”</p> |
| Spring 1959 | “Monkey Party” held in dining hall - there was a raffle and the grand prize was a live monkey | - |
| Spring 1959 | February 1959: The Holland's daughter is born, and becomes the second (legitimate) female resident of Baker House. | The Great Vegetable Protest. The cafeteria manager was faced with an angry (but polite) group of residents who did not like the fact that the only vegetables being served at dinnertime over the course of many weeks were broccoli, eggplant, and cauliflower. The manager subsequently introduced more vegetable variety into the menu. |
1960 - 1969
| Date | Significant Events | Continuing Issues and Trends |
|---|---|---|
| January 1961 | Prof Alar Toomre becomes the Faculty Resident | - |
| Fall – 1962 | Prof E. Lee Gamble (and wife) becomes the Faculty Resident | - |
| January 1965 | Professors Harald Reiche and William Watson are invited to dinner in the Master Suite Lounge sponsored by the Freshman Council. Both Professors Reiche and Watson will become Housemasters of Baker House. | - |
| January 1968 | Snow in Baker Fools Nation | - |
| Fall – 1968 | Prof Isadore Amdur (and wife) become the Faculty Residents “They are taking the place of Prof. and Mrs. Gamble While Prof. Gamble spends a year teaching in India…“ | The 11's and 46's are still (freshman) triples |
| Fall – 1969 | Prof Nafi (and Helena) Toksoz becomes the Housemaster | - |
| Late 1960s | The first “Coffin Stuffing” Bob Goodof reports that they “jammed over 100 students into a coffin single” | - |
1970 - 1979
| Date | Significant Events | Continuing Issues and Trends |
|---|---|---|
| March 1970 | Wholesale revisions to the House Constitution are approved replacing the House Committee with an Executive Council | - |
| May 1970 | Cambridge Police (SWAT unit?) rushes Baker House as part of the post Kent State riot | - |
| October 1970 | - | [About] “60 residents issue a call … for voluntary commons” |
| February 1972 | - | Average room rate is $682 per year |
| 1969-1970 | - | House money expended this year: $5618.72 |
| May-70 | House meeting “straw poll” indicates willingness to appropriate money for a Snack Bar in the dining hall | - |
| Summer 1970 | Professor Isadore Amdur passes away | - |
| Apr-70 | Dean Speer addresses a House meeting on the issue of hard drugs in the dorm | - |
| Sep-70 | “Seven dogs now live in Baker House. The housing office is somewhat pissed. The deans say we can decide on a policy for ourselves” | - |
| Sep-70 | - | proposed budget 10/70-2/71: $5021.49 |
| Nov-70 | the Snack Bar has been open for three weekends | - |
| Dec-70 | “For the record the following resignations occured sunday December 6, 1970. Bob Peterson from the post of Vice President for Service and Facilities, Mark Mitchell from Vice President for Freshman Orientation and Dormcon, Mark Stern from Vice President for Institute Relations, Skip Richards from Treasurer, Bill Blum from Secretary, Ira Vishner from Freshman Representative. Bob Goodof resigned separately from the office of Athletic Chair on December 7. Motion to not fill the vacated posts, to move regular Spring elections from March 2 to February 23 and to appoint Skip Richards acting Treasurer and Bill Blum acting Secretary in the lnterim PASSED without objection” | - |
| Feb-71 | House meeting votes to remove all dogs from Baker by 6/1/71 | - |
| 1971 | - | House tax: $6 |
| 1971-1972 | - | Baker total yearly cost (before dining fee) = $599 |
| Sep-71 | Letter from Nafi to MIT: “In two short years, Baker House has become the least accommodating physical structure among the West Campus Houses. This creates some special problems. Indications of new social attitudes are apparent. For example, we have probably the least happy freshmen since they were forced to accept the last choice of their house selection. Some upperclassmen are developing an attitude like “a good thing about Baker is that you can tear it up and change it anyway you wish”. I am too familiar with this attitude and what it leads to from “old Burton”, and I am worried. A few token renovations (lounges) that were to be done are yet to be completed. Returning students found nothing that demonstrated the Institute's commitment to Baker House.” | - |
| Sep-71 | - | reported total budget expenses: $5050 |
| Oct-71 | CROTCH = Committee Rectifying Our Terrible Campus Housing | - |
| November 1971 | Due to excessive hacking, NET&T removes all payphones from 2nd through 6th floors. Two payphones in the lobby remain | - |
| 1972 | The very first piano drop - organized by Charlie Bruno '74 | - |
| Jan-72 | Color TV issue - Baker House Vigilante Committee | - |
| Jan-72 | - | proposed house tax: $30 per year |
| Jan-72 | - | approved house tax: $23.72 per year |
| Feb-72 | Freshman Orientation Committee member: “we have freshmen here who picked Baker as their third or fourth choice…“ | - |
| Mar-72 | Social Chairman's Outgoing Statement: “3 years ago Baker was the big party dorm, things died down over the past 2 years” | - |
| 1972-1973 | - | total budgeted: $6655 |
| 1972-1973 | - | Baker total yearly cost (before dining fee) = 615 |
| 1972-1973 | - | rate review - avg this year: 612 |
| Fall 1972 | “From the Baker Confidential: “In past years such graduates served as tutors; the accent in recent years has shifted to the role of the graduate resident as guide, mentor, social catalyst and unifying influence on a floor.” | - |
| Fall 1972 | - | budget: $5590 |
| Oct-72 | “From the House Meeting minutes: “There was discussion of what we could do for Charlie Roihl and Jim French, both deceased, of Baker House. It was decided to consult Prof. Toksoz.” | - |
| Oct-72 | House meeting approves purchase of a set of Bose 901 speakers | - |
| Nov-72 | Controversy when floor party funds are mis-used to buy marijuana | - |
| Dec-72 | - | proposed budget: $2785 |
| 1973-1974 | - | House Tax: $22.50 |
| 1973 | An opinion poll taken at the meeting tonight showed House sentiment to be in favour of Baker being a coed dorm. (vote is: 87-3-10) | - |
| Mar-73 | - | Budget approved: $4080 |
| 1973-1974 | - | rate review - avg next year: 668 |
| Feb-74 | Residents are told that the house is going co-ed | - |
| Fall 1974 | - | Budget: $6540 |
| Nov-74 | - | House tax: $3 per term |
| 1974 | - | Budget 3/74-10/74: $5770 |
| May-74 | - | house tax approved: $24 |
| 1974 | Baker House goes co-ed | - |
| Spring 1974 | - | budget avail: $6650 |
| Fall 1974 | - | budget avail: $8400 |
| Spring 1975 | - | budget avail: $8997 |
| Nov-74 | Nafi: ” …immense amount of activity, a very happy environment as compared to a few years ago” | - |
| Feb-75 | - | The quads may get permanently quaded… |
| 1974-75 | - | house tax=24 |
| Mar-75 | - | proposed house budget = 8990 |
| Mar-75 | - | “A unanimous resolution of Baker House, passed at a Rouse Meeting on the evening of the eighteenth of March, 1975,stated: RESOLVED, that Baker House is firmly opposed to the imposition of compulsory meal plans for dormitory residents, and is willing to work toward a reasonable alternative which does not involuntarily infringe on the rights of residents of the House” |
| 1975-fall | - | budgeted=8810 |
| 1976-spring | - | budgeted=8905 |
| 1976-spring | - | proposed=8905 |
| Apr-75 | - | The Tech: DSA decides against mandatory commons |
| Apr-75 | - | room rate=931 (next year) |
| Apr-75 | - | room rate=931-78 (this year) |
| May-75 | ”…Toksoz's cat [Muffin] is now a Baker resident…“ | - |
| Sep-75 | - | appd budget=8200 |
| Oct-75 | Memorial services will be held Frday for Steven Drazovich '78, who died while mountain climbing last Saturday | - |
| 1975-76 | - | house tax=22 |
| Nov-75 | Endicott House | - |
| Dec-75 | Early mention of donuts being served after the house meeting  | - |
| 1975-fall | - | budget=8810 |
| 1976-spring | - | budget=8905 |
| Feb-76 | - | budget=8706.54 |
| 1976-spring | - | proposed budget=8770 |
| 1976-spring | - | budget appd=8290 |
| Summer 1976 | ”… house is closing for the summer. The reasons include the following: There is going to be dirt and fumes in the air from the roof resurfacing. The elevator is being replaced … Amherst Alley is being dug up so that they can replace steam pipes … our hot water will be off for a few weeks.” | - |
| 1976 | Trophy case to be built by Gary Gammon and his father | - |
| 1976-04 | - | house tax recommended=22 (for 76-77 school yr) |
| 1976?? | - | house tax=24 |
| Apr-76 | House votes for the following floors to be co-ed: 2, 3, 4, 5-west | - |
| 11-May-76 | Alvar Aalto passes away in Helsinki, Finland | - |
| 1976-rush | - | “rush 1976 sept men women first choice 121 21 admitted 82 24” |
| 1976-spring | - | budget=8290 |
| 1976-fall | - | budget=7936 |
| 1977-spring | - | budget=8xxx |
| 1976-fall | - | proposed house budget = 7230 |
| Sep-76 | - | approved house budget=7660 |
| Dec-76 | Motion to make entire house co-ed as of the Spring [1977] Lottery passes at the House Meeting | - |
| 1977-spring | The last class of males who entered Baker with the idea that it was an all-male dorm will be graduating (they hope) this spring, so there is no longer a need to guarantee any male a single sex living area | - |
| 1977-IAP | Baker Medallion is installed in the central staircase, presented by Evertett Moore Baker's family | - |
| Jan-77 | Nafi has typhoid fever, is in a hospital in California | - |
| Feb-77 | “No Master Suite lounge usage for the next week or so, while Nafi recovers” | - |
| Bernedetta Byrnetwo years?1974-fall | - | budget=6540 |
| 1975-spring | - | budget=8995 |
| 1975-fall | - | budget=8810 |
| 1976-spring | - | budget=8375 |
| 1976-fall | - | budget=7230 |
| 1977-spring | - | proposed=8905 |
| 1977-spring | - | app'd=8375 |
| 1977-fall | - | proposed house budget = $7835.00 |
| 1979-spring | - | proposed house budget = 8990 |
| Mar-77 | Ronald & Jane Prinn leave as Junior Faculty Residents | - |
| Mar-78 | House meeting votes to have 1st and 2nd floors carpeted | - |
| 1978-spring | - | budget=9575 proposed |
| Spring 1980 | Recruiting faculty members and associate advisors begins for Baker associate advising program | - |
| Apr-79 | Massachusetts changes the legal drinking age from Age 18 to Age 20 on April 16, 1979. | - |
| 1979-80 | - | room rate=636 |
| 1979-80 | - | House tax=16.50 |
| 1979-fall | - | budget=12372 |
| 1980-spring | - | proposed=13633 |
| 1979-fall | - | budget=15843 |
1980 - 1989
| Date | Significant Events | Continuing Issues and Trends |
|---|---|---|
| 1980-spring | - | budget=17790 |
| 1980-spring | - | budget = 13633 |
| 1980-spring | - | budget=15023 |
| Mar-80 | - | “INSTITUTE HOUSE COUNT Baker 70 25 49 29 68 20 60 11 6 1 253 86 339 337 2” |
| Mar-80 | - | “COMPARISON OF MALE/FEMALE RATIOS 12/78 and 12/79 12/78 12/79 Baker House - all floors coed 81F 272M 23% 87F 259M 25%“ |
| May-80 | Farewell Party for Nafi & Helena: ”Project Lush“ | - |
| Jul-80 | Nafi and Helena Toksoz leave Baker House | - |
| 1980-81 | Prof Harald and Irene Reiche become housemasters | room rate=709 |
| 1980-81 | - | house tax=33/year |
| Sep-80 | - | Mandatory commons begins for the Freshman class |
| 1980-fall | - | budget=18264.92 |
| 9/1/80 | - | 06's are “over crowded” = (temporary triples) |
| Oct-80 | - | “undergrad house count m/f 1: 61/34 2: 79/21 3: 42/30 4: 68/19 total 250/104 cap 337 crowd 17” |
| Nov-80 | - | “MALE/FEMALE RATIOS 11/80 CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02139 Baker House: all floors coed 104 females 250 males 29.4%“ |
| 1980-fall | - | “UNDERGRADUATE BEDROOM DATA – NORMAL OCCUPANCY, FALL: 1980 (W7) Baker House House Number of Residents 337 Avg/Room Area/Res. (¢) 144 Number of Rooms Singles 166 Doubles 54 Triples 21 Total 241 Room Sizes Singles Avg Sqft/Room 150 Range/Rooms 109-196 Doubles Avg Sqft/Room 296 Range/Rooms 168-332 Avg Sqft/Resident 148 Range/Residents 84-166 Triples Avg Sqft/Room 366 Range/Rooms 291-415 Avg Sqft/Resident 122 Range/Residents 97-138” |
| Dec-80 | - | “COMPARISON OF }~LE/FEMALE RATIOS 12/78, 12/79 &12/80 12/78 Baker House All floors Co-Ed 81F 272M 23%F 12/79 Baker House All floors Co-Ed 87F 259M 25%F 12/80 Baker House All floors Co-Ed 104F 250M 29.4%F” |
| Feb-81 | DKE theft of chair and ottoman | - |
| Mar-81 | “This was the first year of operation of the country kitchen. It started operation on March 1st, 1981. The first country kitchen chairman was Larry McKenna” | - |
| 1981-02 | House constitution amended to allow for two Social Chairpersons | - |
| 1980-fall | - | budget=18594.95 |
| 1981-spring | - | proposed=18805.50 |
| 1981-spring | - | budget = 19495.50 |
| 1981-82 | - | room rate=801 |
| 1981-82 | - | room rate=801 |
| Mar-81 | - | “INSTITUTE UNDERGRADUATE HOUSE COUNT - M F M F M F M F M F M F TOTAL CAP VAC Crowds Baker 68 35 74 24 42 25 65 18 249 102 351 337 14” |
| Apr-81 | - | house tax (81-82)=40 per year |
| - | - | tax = $20 per smeester |
| May-81 | “letter re: “architectural importance of your building” from Nicholas Ray Lecturer in Architecture, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE” | - |
| Dec-81 | DKE pledges steal the Christmas tree | - |
| Oct-81 | - | “INSTITUTE UNDERGRADUATE HOUSE COUNT, FALL 1981 OCTOBER 1981 1 2 3 4 Other Total HOUSE M F M F M F M F M F M F TOTAL; .CAPACITY' VACANCI ES CROWDS Baker 45 29 63 36 78 21 40 25 227 111 338 337 6 7” |
| 1981-fall | - | proposed budget=16539.95 |
| 1981-1982 | - | budget (year)=39905.46 |
| 1981-fall | - | budget=20504.96 |
| 1982-spring | - | proposed=18005.00 |
| 1982-fall | - | budgeted=18357.69 |
| 1983-spring | - | budgeted=20010.00 |
| 1983-spring | - | budgeted=20685 |
| 1982-83 | - | room rate=899 |
| Dec-82 | - | “COMPARISON OF MALE/FEMALE RATIOS Baker House 12/79 All floors coed 87F 259H 25%F 12/80 All floors coed 104F 250M 29.4%F 12/81 All floors coed IllF 227M 32.8%F 12/82 All floors coed 120F 222M 35%F” |
| Feb-83 | - | “INSTITUTE UNDERGRADUATE HOUSE COUNT, SPRING 1983 FEBRUARY 1983 1 2 3 4 Other Total HOUSE M F M F M F M F M F M F TOTAL CAPACITY VACANCIE~ CROWDS Baker 43 36 47 30 60 37 72 15 1 :223 118, 341 337 1 5” |
| 1983-84 | - | recommended house tax=40 |
| 1983-spring | - | approved budget=21170.24 |
| Sep-83 | Piano Drop: Halftime of the MIT football game | - |
| Oct-83 | - | “INSTITUTE UNDERGRADUATE HOUSE COUNT, FALL 1983 October, 1983 1 2 3 4 Other Total House M F M F M F M F M F M F TOTAL CAPACITY VAC. CROWDS Naker 65 24 51 34 44 34 63 32 2 0 225 124 349 337 0 12” |
| 1983-1984 | - | room rate=985 |
| 1984 | Amherst Alley moved, forcing the temporary suspension of piano drops | - |
| 1984-spring | Baker House Productions presents “Pippin”. This is their first-ever production. | - |
| 1984-spring | - | budgeted=19970 |
| 1984-fall | - | budgeted=16376.00 |
| 1985-spring | - | budgeted=21915.69 |
| Dec-84 | Massachusetts changes the legal drinking age from Age 20 to Age 21 on December 5, 1984 | - |
| 1985-spring | - | House tax: $60 |
| 1985-spring | - | VPIR's outgoing report says that the dorm wanted commons… Amazing… |
| Spring 1985 | Baker House Productions presents "Cabaret" | - |
| Mar-85 | - | house tax=64.00 |
| 1985-spring | - | budget=23568.69 |
| 1985-spring | - | spent=16270.07 |
| 1985-fall | - | budget=22869.69 |
| 1984-85 | - | room rate=1041 |
| 1985-86 | - | room rate=1070 |
| Nov-85 | Prof Reiche addresses house mtg re: alcohol-related incidents | - |
| 1985-fall | It looks like the VPIR has to bring food to Execcon meetings now, too… | - |
| Feb-86 | VPRO reports almost 50-50 ratio in Baker | - |
| Spring 1986 | Baker House Productions presents “A Chorus Line” | - |
| Mar-86 | - | House Tax: $82 |
| Fall 1986 | The word “quint” shows up in the Baker Confidential… | - |
| 1986-rush | The first time Rush that results in more women than men | - |
| 1985-fall | - | budgeted=22869.69 |
| 1986-spring | - | budgeted=20238.69 |
| 1986-fall | - | budgeted=26430.69 |
| Oct-86 | New England Monthly article: “Nerd U” | - |
| Spring 1987 | Baker House Productions presents “Grease” | - |
| 31809 | Outgoing VPIR report touches on Commons, tutor room renovations, and alcohol | - |
| 31809 | Baker House will by considered 'dry' through April 1, 1987. | - |
| 1987-spring | The word “quint” shows up in the house meeting minutes… | - |
| 31823 | - | house tax=90 |
| 32021 | - | House tax: $45 / term |
| 1986-spring | - | budgeted: $20228.69 |
| 1986-spring | - | spent: $19140.47 |
| 1986-fall | - | budgeted: $26360.69 |
| 1986-fall | - | spent: $18680.96 |
| 1987-spring | - | budgeted: $19930.69 |
| 1987-spring | - | spent: $18744.15 |
| 1987-fall | - | budgeted: $25820.69 |
| 1987-fall | - | spent: $20068.17 |
| 1988-spring | - | proposed: $22481.69 |
| 1987-88 | - | house tax=92 |
| 1987-88 | - | house tax = 90 |
| Spring 1988 | Jennifer Lund is elected the first woman President of Baker House | - |
| Spring 1988 | Baker House Productions presents "Guys and Dolls" | - |
| 1988-fall | - | proposed=23755.69 |
| 1988-1989 | - | recommended house tax = 97 |
| 1988-89 | - | recommended house tax = 92 |
| 1988-89 | - | app'd house tax = 92 (46 per term) |
| 1989 | Sidney Altman (Judicial Committee Chairman 1959-1960) shares the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Thomas R. Cech for their work on the catalytic properties of RNA | - |
| 02/26/89 | - | house tax for next year =102 |
| 1989-April | Snack Bar viability (LaVerde's opens nearby) is questionned. Referendum passes to “close until next year, select new Manager, develop new policies” | - |
| 1989-spring | Baker House Productions presents “Chicago” | - |
| 4/15/89 | Alumni softball game | - |
| 1989-spring | - | budget=19154.69 |
| 1989-fall | - | budget=18405.69 |
1990 - 1999
| Date | Significant Events | Continuing Issues and Trends |
|---|---|---|
| 1990-spring | show is “Bye Bye Birdie” ?? | - |
| Mar-90 | Members of Execcon met with Dean Tewhey to discuss the incident at New Year's Party..he “Was very concerned with underage dlinking .. This has been the second incident that has occurred at Baker… If there is one more incident, we 'Will go dry for a full term. If you have a private party, you should have your own doorworkers and make sure your party is under control. .. if you have a complaint about noise or parties or drinking see someone within the Dorm first .. don't take it immediately to Dean Tewhey. | - |
| May 1990 | The “Sex God” and “Sex Goddess” competitions are ended [temporarily, as it turned out], and the “urchin” section of the <em>Baker Confidential </em>is re-written. | - |
| September 1992 | Yngve K. Raustein '94, a 21-year-old Baker House resident from Os, Norway, was fatally stabbed after an apparent robbery Friday night near Hayden Library | - |
| September 1993 | Michael J. Duff falls three stories while trying to climb the Memorial Drive side of Baker House | - |
| September 1994 | - | Baker House dining hall reopens, run by a student committee |
| 1994-1995 | - | Baker Dining operates under student management. Losses cut from $10,000 per month to $10,000 per term. |
| Feb-95 | The house secretary reports: “Baker Productions - This is a now defunct organization which used to organize and produce musicals in Baker House. Though not technically part of your duty, it might be nice to try to get this organization up and running for it, if for no other reason than to clear all of their old props out of the Secretary Closet.” | - |
| Fall 1995 | - | Baker Dining strikes deal with Aramark to link Baker dining hall more closely with the campus system run by Aramark |
| August 1998 | President Vest announces that all freshmen will be housed in campus residence halls starting with the opening of a new dormitory. Originally scheduled for the fall of 2001, this actually happens in the fall of 2002. | - |
| 1999 | Baker Productions puts on A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Much Ado about Nothing, and All in the Timing in the years 1997, 1998, 1999 | - |
| 1999 | Completion of renovations to Baker House are celebrated with presentations by the Department of Architecture and by the MIT Museum. | - |
| August 1999 | Bakerites move back into refurbished dorm | - |
2000 - 2010
| Date | Significant Events | Continuing Issues and Trends |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2002 | Baker House Productions seems to have gone dormant again | - |
| Spring 2002 | The Sex God and Sex Goddess competitions have been revived by now. Not sure exactly when… | - |
| June 2002 | - | Bon Appetit wins the contract for residential dining, which includes the dining halls in Baker House |
| August 2002 | “Baker House is having new windows installed as a final phase of the long-running renovations to Alvar Aalto’s modernist masterpiece” | - |
| Fall 2002 | Completion of Simmons Hall allows all freshmen to be housed in campus residence halls. | - |
| December 2005 | Zachary W. Morris dies from an accident at the East India Wharf in Boston | - |
| July 2007 | “James T. Albrecht '08, … died on July 22 from injuries sustained in a fall” The Tech, dated September 7, 2007 | - |
| December 2007 | A student is struck by a large branch from the Class of 1950 Willow Tree in front of Baker House. The tree is subsequently removed. | - |
| 2009 | 60th Anniversary Celebration/Reunion | - |
40th anniversary of the MIT riot
Ken Rosato writes (May 11, 2012): “I thought you might be interested to know that today is the 40th anniversary of the MIT riot. I was working in the dining hall in Baker House until 7:00, and then went out to the area in front of the student center and Kresge Auditorium to see what was going on. There was a trash fire burning in the middle of Mass. Ave., and every 10 or 15 minutes the grassy area would fill up, so the police fired tear gas grenades to disperse the crowd. About 8:00 the police, with some dogs, had formed a line between the student center and Bexley Hall. Another group of them came around from the other side of the chapel. They moved forward and started clubbing people. A crowd formed trying to get into Baker House, so I went in through the loading dock. One policeman got into Baker, but left without doing anything. The police tried to get into McCormack Hall, but it was locked, so they gassed it, and some of the tear gas got inside. The police continued down to Burton and McGregor, but I don't know what happened there. The student center did get gassed. News reports on TV said the whole thing started when a group of undetermined origin tried to rip up the railroad tracks to stop a Dow Chemical train from going through. They got chased down Mass. Ave. and that's how it started.”