Pei Toilet

Since its construction, students have often remarked that the Wiesner Building, with its white tile exterior, looks like an inside-out bathroom. Since the building's architect is I. M. Pei '40, the building is often called the "Pei Toilet" in jest. On registration day for Spring semester, 1994, students turned this verbal wordplay into a hack, taking an opportunity to parody a number of other current events on campus in the process.

The Hack was accompanied by a flyer explaining how the Pay Toilet would solve many of MIT's current problems. [Inside] [Outside]

• the Pei/Pay Toilet accepted "The MIT Card" for payment. At this time, MIT was just starting to transition to "The MIT Card". This magnetic strip ID card served as a meal card and dormitory access card. Housing and Food Service were announcing plans to widely expand its use. Students were generally less than satisfied with the new system.
• The Pei/Pay Toilet allowed MIT Food Service to collect money for food both coming and going. The MIT's food service has had trouble breaking even. At the same time, many students believe the food is overpriced.
• The Pei/Pay Toilet provided bathroom security. Secruity was a big issue around campus at this point in time. The Institute had even gone to the point of locking women's bathrooms in areas of the main buildings they deemed "unsafe."

This was probably the first hack ever to be "covered" first in electronic media. The Freshman Fishwrap ran an article while the hack was still up.

Additional Information