Remarks Delivered to Faculty Meeting
17 October 2007
I delivered these remarks extemporaneously and wrote them down from memory a few days later. The two versions differ in only small ways here and there. Discerning readers will note that the structure and phrasing are influenced by, at least, Henry, Churchill, and Shakespeare.
I want it to be known that I am a great admirer of this administration. That is because
I admire vision, and President Hockfield made it clear in her inaugural address that
this administration would have vision in abundance. I also admire energy, ability, hard
work, and good intentions, and these too we have in abundance.
I hope therefore that my friends in the administration will not think me disloyal, or
disrespectful, or ungrateful when I say that there is one area in which I see things in a
very different light.
I also want it to be known that this is not about Star Simpson, nor is it about a
particular incident. It is about who we are as a community and how we want the world to
think of us.
My own views were shaped many years ago when I was a 19 or 20 year old undergraduate here
at MIT. It was October, and the previous summer I had purchased my first car, a
Volkeswagon, near the end of its service life. After driving it around Europe a little,
I imported it.
Then, it occurred to me from time to time that I should think about getting it registered
in Massachusetts.
But—I was busy.
Then one night, or rather early on a Sunday morning, I was detained by the Wellesley
police. They were upset because my car's muffler didn't amount to much, and they became
additionally upset when they discovered my license plates were foreign and expired.
I say “detained” but many years later, in the course of a routine security-clearance
background investigation, I found that I was considered arrested.
In any case, I eventually received a summons, and a few days after that, I got a call
from Chief Olivieri of the MIT campus police. He asked a few questions, and then
indicated he would see me in court, which he did. When my case came up, he asked for and
was granted a bench conference with the judge.
I don't know what Chief Olivieri said, but I imagine he said I was a good boy; a good
student; not inclined toward reckless behavior; but just a little clueless perhaps, a
common characteristic of boys just in from the corn fields of Illinois. In any case, the
judge chuckled and dismissed the case.
I've told that story many times to many people—students, staff, faculty—anyone
contemplating a move to MIT. I use it to buttress my claim that MIT has always been as
close to an extended family as an organization can be.
But in the past year or two, I have begun to hear grumbling, not yet loud, not yet deep,
but with increasing frequency.
People say our press releases look like they were written by lawyers, rather than people.
People say that we condemn first and ask questions later.
People say that when someone embarrasses us, we spit them out like cherry pits.
And I read in The Tech that the Chancellor, in reference to MIT's characterization of Ms.
Simpson as reckless, has said “it seemed like the right word at the time...we didn't know
the facts.” I hope someone can explain to me the system of logic that joins those
thoughts.
So I decided to join with Professor Manning, to sponsor this
resolution, even though it is not really what I want.
What I want is for people everywhere to say that MIT is a place that forgives—when it
can; that supports—when it can;
and that weeps—when it cannot.
But I don't know how to frame those sentiments in a clear and precise and forceful
resolution, so I will have to vote for what we have.
There are three reasons why I think you should vote for it as well:
First, it is the right thing to do.
Second, it is offered in a constructive spirit.
And third, while we on the faculty have stood idle, our students were in the field. Their
protests fill the pages of The Tech; their concerns echo in the halls.
Let us do them honor by showing that we are not bound up by sloth and indifference. Let
us show them that we too are eager to protect our values and our reputation.
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