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Writing & Speeches

  • Letter to the Community

    Worth fighting for: MIT and American science, innovation and education

    Dear MIT graduates and friends,

    In a letter last fall, I offered fresh evidence of how MIT continues to live out its mission and values, with direct benefits to the American people. In April, I sought your help in convincing Congress that …

  • Speech

    Naming Celebration for the L. Rafael Reif Innovation Corridor

    Wow!  A rhumba!  Rafael, as I’m sure you realize, this is one of the wildly unfair advantages of hailing from Venezuela – versus, say, New Jersey.

    So, huge appreciation to the incomparable John Harbison for composing the “Rhumba for Rafael” for his…

  • Letter to the Community

    Anantha Chandrakasan named MIT provost

    Dear members of the MIT community,

    I’m delighted to share the news that Anantha Chandrakasan – chief innovation and strategy officer, dean of engineering and longtime member of the faculty – has agreed to serve as MIT’s next provost. He’ll begin in the role…

  • Letter to the Community

    Rejecting antisemitism and targeting

    Dear members of the MIT community,

    In my time as president, I have been very clear that protecting freedom of expression is deeply important to the intellectual health and vitality of MIT. I have also been clear that we absolutely reject…

  • Letter to the Community

    Support for lawsuit defending scientific research

    Dear members of the MIT community,

    Recently, Harvard University filed suit to block a federal action to eliminate all grant funding it receives from the US government.

    This afternoon, we joined a broad group of US research universities in filing this…

  • Speech

    One MIT ceremony – Charge to the graduates

    Teddy, and Megha ­– thank you both. 

    Good afternoon, everyone! Governor Healey. The members of the Class of 1975, in their incredibly fashionable red jackets! And of course, all the members of the Class of 2025 – and your devoted family and friends!