Letters penned by Professor Hal Abelson and President L. Rafael Reif appear in The Tech publication
Hal Abelson, a professor of Computer Science at MIT, has announced a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Aaron Swartz in 2013. The investigation, appointed by President L. Rafael Reif, aims to uncover the full extent of MIT's involvement in events leading to Swartz's death.
In a letter to the MIT community, published in today's issue of MIT's student newspaper, Abelson outlined his plan for carrying out the charge. The first, fact-finding phase of the analysis will be carried out with input from the MIT community. To facilitate this, Abelson announced a website specifically designed for soliciting input from the community during the first, fact-finding phase of his analysis.
The charge given to Abelson, which can be read in its entirety below, outlines the scope of his analysis. It requests a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Swartz's death, focusing on MIT's role and the broader issues related to access to information, legal responses to activism, and institutional responsibility.
President Reif expressed sorrow over Swartz's death in a letter to the MIT community on January 13. In the letter, he stated, "Aaron's death is a tragedy, and we share the sense of loss felt by his family, friends, and colleagues." He went on to appoint Professor Abelson to carry out a full analysis of MIT's involvement in events preceding Swartz's death.
Abelson's analysis will involve seeking input from the MIT community, as part of the first, fact-finding phase, as announced in his letter. The website for soliciting input from the MIT community during the first, fact-finding phase of Abelson's analysis is now available.
For those interested in the exact content of Abelson's letter or official MIT communications, I recommend checking the official MIT website or archives related to Aaron Swartz's case or contacting MIT directly for official statements or archival materials.
Stay tuned for updates on Abelson's investigation as more information becomes available.
The MIT community is invited to provide input for the first, fact-finding phase of Hal Abelson's analysis, as he delves into MIT's role in the events leading to Aaron Swartz's death. The public can reach out through a specific website designed for this purpose. As technology advances, this platform offers a convenient means for community members to voice their opinions on this pressing matter related to education-and-self-development and news. In the meantime, further details about the investigation can be found on MIT's official website or by contacting the institution directly.
