In a scathing letter addressed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Corporation and administration, over 700 MIT Jewish alumni and allies criticized the school’s support of MIT President Sally Kornbluth following her controversial congressional testimony. The alumni expressed their concern over Kornbluth’s failure to condemn calls for the genocide of Jews, suggesting that such calls may not constitute bullying and harassment under MIT’s code of conduct, depending on the context.
The letter questioned the message being sent to the MIT community, particularly its Jewish members, by supporting a president whose statement contradicted the overwhelming majority of the public. It also highlighted the negative impact of MIT’s reputation for antisemitism on its ability to attract top students, faculty candidates, and corporate research partners.
Unlike other university presidents who issued apologies or clarifications in response to backlash, Kornbluth remained silent. The alumni pointed out that her testimony was met with shock and widespread criticism from individuals across the political spectrum, including members of the Biden administration, liberal legal scholar Laurence Tribe, and various politicians.
The former MIT scholars called for immediate and concrete action from the institution, including enforcing meaningful consequences for those who violate MIT’s rules, establishing an antisemitism-specific task force, publicly announcing that calls for violence against civilians are grounds for expulsion, and amending the MIT Code of Conduct if necessary.
The alumni emphasized the importance of creating a protected and safe environment for the entire MIT community, reassuring Jewish students that calls for their genocide would be considered harassment and met with disciplinary action. They urged the MIT administration to take swift measures to address the issue and restore the school’s reputation for academic excellence.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth’s representative did not respond to requests for comment.
Brianna Herlihy is a politics writer for Digital. The “Antisemitism Exposed” newsletter covers stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world.
