I have never gotten an email like this from MIT.
People all over America, not just those in politics, or in law enforcement, or in the Black community, everybody is asking that question. One phrase used by President Reif stood out: "right the ship of our society." To him, it looks different this time. It is the same metaphor David Cameron used in his resignation speech after thr Brexit vote.
To the former D.C. and Philadelphia police chief who used the phrase "society is sitting on a powder keg," it looks different this time.
And to the world it looks different this time: to the Bahamians who issued the travel advisory; to all the foreign diplomats who have asked questions about the Trump candidacy. They are looking at us and asking, "What is going on over there?"
We don't know ourselves.
To the members of the MIT community,
Summer scatters us. As our country again suffers incomprehensible tragedy and violence—in Minnesota, Louisiana, Texas and more—I would like to draw us together, across oceans, borders and time zones, so we can mourn together and reflect on how we can respond.
We begin with compassion, connection, listening and kindness. I invite everyone, including the many visiting students on campus this summer, to come together at an event this Wednesday, led by Institute Community and Equity Officer Ed Bertschinger:
A Community Dialogue Responding to Recent Tragedies
Wednesday, July 13
11:45 am – 1:30 pm
Student Center (W20), Sala de Puerto Rico (2nd floor)
Boxed lunches will be served.
Let us know if you plan to attend.
I also urge MIT students who would like counsel or support to seek out the many resources we offer, and I remind faculty, staff and post-docs of MyLifeServices, a free, confidential counseling and consultation service available to you and your families.
What are we to do?
But I know I am not alone in believing that caring for each other is a fraction of what the moment requires. The terrible images on the news overwhelm us all with pain, fear, outrage and perhaps worst of all, a sense of helplessness. That these events are unfolding in such an overheated political season only magnifies the concern.
Injustice, racism, mistrust, suspicion, fear and violence corrode the foundations of a healthy society. We cannot stand as observers and accept a future of escalating violence and divisiveness. I believe our leading civic institutions have a responsibility to speak clearly against these corrosive forces and to act practically to inspire and create positive change. In this time of need, the MIT community has an opportunity to offer service of great value to our society, to our country and perhaps to the world by applying our unique strengths to the problem at hand.
I have asked Vice President Kirk Kolenbrander to bring together all the voices in our community early this fall, to consider the most effective ways for us to help address these problems and to explore how we can best contribute to progress. I hope we can draw on wisdom from every quarter, from the student leaders who demonstrated such determination and clarity this year, to the MIT Police, to those faculty whose research centers on justice and inclusion, to all of us eager to help right the ship of our society. We will write again later this summer with details and an invitation to participate.
Together in service
We are one community, "One MIT," united in serving a single mission, which includes bringing knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges. Our community contains wide differences in background, culture, class, race, religion, language, profession and life experience. We do not all think alike, and we are not afraid to disagree. Yet at our best we strive to ensure that there is a place at the table and space in the conversation for everyone. E pluribus unum. Let us draw on that strength now.
I hope you will join me in answering this call for the country and the world we serve.
Sincerely,
L. Rafael Reif
People all over America, not just those in politics, or in law enforcement, or in the Black community, everybody is asking that question. One phrase used by President Reif stood out: "right the ship of our society." To him, it looks different this time. It is the same metaphor David Cameron used in his resignation speech after thr Brexit vote.
To the former D.C. and Philadelphia police chief who used the phrase "society is sitting on a powder keg," it looks different this time.
And to the world it looks different this time: to the Bahamians who issued the travel advisory; to all the foreign diplomats who have asked questions about the Trump candidacy. They are looking at us and asking, "What is going on over there?"
We don't know ourselves.
To the members of the MIT community,
Summer scatters us. As our country again suffers incomprehensible tragedy and violence—in Minnesota, Louisiana, Texas and more—I would like to draw us together, across oceans, borders and time zones, so we can mourn together and reflect on how we can respond.
We begin with compassion, connection, listening and kindness. I invite everyone, including the many visiting students on campus this summer, to come together at an event this Wednesday, led by Institute Community and Equity Officer Ed Bertschinger:
A Community Dialogue Responding to Recent Tragedies
Wednesday, July 13
11:45 am – 1:30 pm
Student Center (W20), Sala de Puerto Rico (2nd floor)
Boxed lunches will be served.
Let us know if you plan to attend.
I also urge MIT students who would like counsel or support to seek out the many resources we offer, and I remind faculty, staff and post-docs of MyLifeServices, a free, confidential counseling and consultation service available to you and your families.
What are we to do?
But I know I am not alone in believing that caring for each other is a fraction of what the moment requires. The terrible images on the news overwhelm us all with pain, fear, outrage and perhaps worst of all, a sense of helplessness. That these events are unfolding in such an overheated political season only magnifies the concern.
Injustice, racism, mistrust, suspicion, fear and violence corrode the foundations of a healthy society. We cannot stand as observers and accept a future of escalating violence and divisiveness. I believe our leading civic institutions have a responsibility to speak clearly against these corrosive forces and to act practically to inspire and create positive change. In this time of need, the MIT community has an opportunity to offer service of great value to our society, to our country and perhaps to the world by applying our unique strengths to the problem at hand.
I have asked Vice President Kirk Kolenbrander to bring together all the voices in our community early this fall, to consider the most effective ways for us to help address these problems and to explore how we can best contribute to progress. I hope we can draw on wisdom from every quarter, from the student leaders who demonstrated such determination and clarity this year, to the MIT Police, to those faculty whose research centers on justice and inclusion, to all of us eager to help right the ship of our society. We will write again later this summer with details and an invitation to participate.
Together in service
We are one community, "One MIT," united in serving a single mission, which includes bringing knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges. Our community contains wide differences in background, culture, class, race, religion, language, profession and life experience. We do not all think alike, and we are not afraid to disagree. Yet at our best we strive to ensure that there is a place at the table and space in the conversation for everyone. E pluribus unum. Let us draw on that strength now.
I hope you will join me in answering this call for the country and the world we serve.
Sincerely,
L. Rafael Reif
