Writing & Speeches

Dear members of the MIT community,

Although it was just days ago that I sent a video to open the new semester, I write again because over the last week, we have seen several instances of disturbing imagery and text on campus – in two cases, a hand-drawn…

Hello, everybody!

I just wanted to offer a quick message to welcome all of the new members of our MIT community and to welcome back those of you who took some time away from MIT for the summer. 

September has given us so many perfect back-to-school…

Dear colleagues,

I write because the Boston Globe posted an online article this morning that may raise some questions in your minds, and I want you to know that I’m available to answer them.

The story revisits a case that occurred 15 years ago, when I…

Dear colleagues,

As I wrote to you last fall, one of my chief goals is to magnify MIT’s positive impact by making it easier for researchers in key areas to “go big”: to pursue their most innovative ideas in their discipline, to collaborate with others…

Dear members of the MIT community,

Though I regret having to interrupt what for many is a summer break, I must let you know about extremely troubling actions over the weekend.

On Sunday, the Stata Center was vandalized with spray-painted messages…

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…