Actions out of bounds in our community

Dear members of the MIT community,

For more than a year, our community has grappled with issues around free expression, including the question of when expression crosses a line into harassment and personal targeting, which we must not and will not tolerate.

I write now because some very disturbing actions discovered this morning surely crossed that line. These included the posting of “Wanted” posters aimed at a member of our faculty, Professor Daniela Rus, and similar messages spraypainted on Institute property in multiple locations.

No matter how passionately someone feels about a cause, this kind of direct personal attack on any member of our community is out of bounds – a violation of the Institute’s strongly held values. Today’s actions also included obvious vandalism.

These events did not occur in isolation. Over the past six weeks, Professor Rus and her lab have been subjected to an unacceptable pattern of escalating provocations. We have worked to address these instances through direct support to the lab and through our faculty-led disciplinary processes.

However, given this latest escalation, I must express to you my deep concern.

Let me be clear: Harassment, intimidation and targeting are unacceptable at MIT, and the accusations against Professor Rus are unfair, willfully mischaracterizing the content and purpose of her work.

The MIT administration strongly supports Professor Rus and her entire team. We condemn the actions that have targeted her and her lab, today and previously, and we will take appropriate action against those found responsible.

It is essential that, even in cases of deep disagreement, we all work to make sure that our community is a place of civility and respect.

Sincerely,

Sally Kornbluth
President