Hacks on Slice of MIT: The Archives

Eagerly anticipating—or perhaps just patiently waiting for—the Pi Day announcement of the MIT Hack Madness champion? The winner of the final-round match between the 1982 Harvard-Yale game and the 2006 Caltech cannon heist will be announced at noon at Friday, March 14 (Pi Day, of course).

In the interim, check out Slice of MIT’s collection of hack-related stories, dating back to 2009, some of which were included in the tournament and many that were left out. Read about these pranks then head to the Hack Madness Championship to learn who was named the MIT community’s favorite hack.

2013

• “Hacked! Ender’s Game Crash-Lands at MIT” (November 4, 2013). Fans of the legendary science fiction book series Ender’s Game hacked Lobby 7.
• “A Drop in the Fall: 88 Keys, 66 Feet, 1 Bruno” (October 28, 2013). A piano's sound is a unique combination of wood, metal, buckskin, wool, and Bruno.
• “Hack in Lobby 7: More Questions than Answers” (June 5, 2013). Fake noses and moustaches were placed on a collage in the area between the first and second floor.
• “The Great Snow Hack Explained” (April 26, 2013). An alumnus provides info on a decades-old hack that briefly gained national media attention.
• “Life of Pi Sequel to be Filmed at MIT” (April 1, 2013). The film, titled Life of Pi², describes the protagonist as a grad student at a post-apocalyptic MIT.
• “Secrets to the Caltech Cannon Heist Revealed” (February 28, 2013). For the first time, members of the Howe & Ser Moving Company speak publicly about the 2006 hack.
• “Pac-Man, Hacked” (January 11, 2013). Pac-Man appeared on the Great Dome, battling it out with one his four archrivals, Blinky.

2012

• “Even a Dome under Construction Can Be Hacked” (November 14, 2012). The Great Dome was lit blue and green in honor of Amphibious Achievement’s annual Erg-A-Thon.
• “Holy Hack, Batman!” (July 23, 2012). Mystery assailants–channeling their inner Commissioner Gordon–illuminated the Bat-Signal on the Green Building (Bldg. 54).
• “Heads Up! The Baker House Piano Drop” (April 27, 2012). About 200 spectators watched a piano tossed from the roof of the Baker House onto another piano six stories below.
• “Hacked! Tetris on the Green Building” (April 23, 2012). One side of the Cecil and Ida Green Building (Building 54) was transformed into a giant video game canvas.

2011

• “Infinite Corridor Hacked and Under Attack!” (December 15, 2011). Thousands of armed soldiers stormed the Infinite Corridor.
• “Hacks: A Moustache and a Message” (November 2, 2011). Hackers were on the loose, facing each other on either side of Mass. Ave.

2010

• “Hack: TARDIS Lands at MIT” (August 31, 2010). Hackers installed an illuminated Doctor Who-style police call box (also called the TARDIS on the roof of Building 7.
• “Hack Gives New Perspective to Lounging” (April 9, 2010). The MIT community were treated to quite a sight as they neared the MIT Media Lab: an upside-down lounge.
• “Hack Alert: Engineered Body Parts” (February 8, 2010). A hack aficionado and photographer captured a hack in photos.

2009

• “Hacks Brought to You by the Letters C, P, & W” (April 16, 2009). Hackers were busy welcoming pre-frosh to Campus Preview Weekend.
• “News Flash: MIT Has Better Sense of Humor than Harvard” (April 1, 2009). The comedy Web site ZUG held a contest seeking the funniest content and placement for a large vinyl banner.

View results for all 31 Hack Madness matches in the updated tournament bracket then visit Slice or social media to learn who was named the Hack Madness champion.