Published by the MIT News Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.

Vest Hails Strength of American University System

INAUGURAL ADDRESS	

Vest Hails Strength of American University System

Charles M. Vest, the 15th president in the 130-year history of MIT, said 
at his inauguration Friday (May 10) that current controversies over the 
cost and conduct of research "must not be allowed to weaken the basic 
concept of the American university system."

"For four decades, our research universities have served this nation 
exceedingly well," he told an audience that included delegates from some 
150 colleges, universities and learned societies throughout the world. 
"From virtually any perspective, they have paid enormous dividends in 
return for the public's trust and investment."

On a related issue, Dr. Vest said that weakness of the nation's system 
of primary and secondary education was "a danger of the first 
magnitude," imperiling the universities because of "a declining interest 
and ability among our young people to pursue rigorous advanced studies, 
particularly in science and engineering." He added, "These trends must 
be reversed." 

"Education can move a nation: the future belongs to those who understand 
it," he said. "At all levels, active, informed participation in our 
economy and our democracy now requires an ability to understand basic 
scientific and technical concepts," he said. "And yet, American popular 
culture pushes us in the opposite direction."

"Until we, as a nation, wake up to the fact that we must increase our 
investment in the growth of human capital--that is, in people and ideas-
-our educational system will spiral downward, pulling our economy and 
way of life with it," he said. 

Dr. Vest, who took office at MIT on October 15 after serving as provost 
at the University of Michigan, was formally invested by his predecessor 
at MIT, Dr. Paul E. Gray, who is now chairman of the MIT Corporation, 
the university's board of trustees.

The ceremony began with a procession made colorful by the hues of the 
academic gowns worn by the assembled guests. They included the 
presidents of many leading colleges and universities, including 
Presidents Derek C. Bok of Harvard, Benno C. Schmidt of Yale and James 
J. Duderstadt of Michigan. 

President Vest, Chairman Gray and their wives, Rebecca and Priscilla, 
stood in review of the procession as it passed onto Killian Court, 
frequently nodding or gesturing to those in the line of march. Lending a 
special note to the occasion were four fanfares composed especially for 
the ceremony by members of the MIT music faculty.

The program opened with the singing of the National Anthem by Professor 
Ellen T. Harris, associate provost of the arts, and an invocation by 
Susan P. Thomas, MIT chaplain.

A highlight of the ceremony was the reading of an original prose poem by 
Professor Stephen J. Tapscott of the literature faculty.

Although the day began overcast and cool, the sun had begun to penetrate 
the clouds by the time Dr. Vest began his inaugural speech.

On the subject of public confidence in science and technology, Dr. Vest 
said recent concerns about indirect research costs and allegedly 
falsified research results have come at a time when "the American public 
is calling into question the value of research universities, and no 
longer tends to view science and technology as the foundation of 
progress.

"But the doubt of the moment must not be allowed to weaken the basic 
concept of the American university system, one that is universally 
recognized as being the best in the world," Dr. Vest continued. "We need 
to rebuild trust in this nation's research universities and scientific 
enterprise. We must ensure that the foundation of scientific and 
scholarly research is secure."

Because science relies on debate and testing to arrive at truth, Dr. 
Vest said, it has usually been able "to detect and correct error." But 
he added, "Like all human endeavors, science is not, and cannot, be 
totally free from error or even from occasional abuse."

It rests upon scientists and scholars to do "a better job of 
strengthening, continually renewing, and transmitting our system of 
values," he said, adding that how institutions handle problems and deal 
with misconduct will "affect the strength of society's confidence in and 
regard for our universities and colleges, and for the enterprise of 
science."

"We have heard great outcries--for and against--the policing of 
science," he said. "Our response--as an academic community--must not be 
one of knee-jerk defensiveness against our critics. Rather, we must 
engage seriously with our thoughtful critics as well as our colleagues 
as we develop ways to continuously foster academic integrity and to deal 
forthrightly and fairly with problems when they arise."

A similar note was struck by President Frank H. T. Rhodes of Cornell 
University, who also spoke at the inauguration ceremony held outdoors in 
Killian Court facing the Charles River.

"A few highly publicized incidents have created the impression that 
those in universities have given themselves license to operate beyond 
established rules," he said.

"No university is immune to these criticisms and the public concern they 
represent," he said. "We have an obligation not only to uphold both 
integrity and excellence in our scholarship, including both teaching and 
research, but also to be responsible and prudent stewards of the 
resources entrusted to us."

"Academic freedom depends ultimately on public trust and public support, 
and the price of public support is responsiveness to public 
accountability." he said.

Following the inaugural ceremony, the day's festivities continued with a 
reception for the MIT community on the Kresge Oval and an inaugural 
luncheon in Rockwell Cage.

At the luncheon for about 1,650 invited guests, a succession of 
speakers, including Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld and United 
States Senator Edward M. Kennedy, brought greetings to MIT's new 
president. Of MIT, Senator Kennedy said, "Truly, you have become a model 
for the nation, serving society, serving government, and helping 
government serve the public. If MIT were for sale, every other nation in 
the world, plus 49 other states, would want to buy it, regardless of 
price." 

Another speaker, President Bok of Harvard, noted that Harvard had, 
indeed, tried without success to acquire MIT at the turn of the century 
when MIT was "a small, struggling Back Bay institution." He said MIT now 
"seems to be doing surprisingly well on your own."

On a more serious note, he commented that, while academic science "is 
currently under attack from many quarters" and there is "a kernel of 
truth to all these attacks that must be faced and dealt with," there is 
also "much exaggeration and misunderstanding" and "muh preoccupation 
with minor scandal while major problems go unattended that will shape 
our scientific future."

Other luncheon speakers, in order of appearance, included Dr. Gray, who 
presided; Rabbi Daniel Shevitz, MIT chaplain, who gave the invocation; 
Professor Henry D. Jacoby, chair of the faculty; President Niara 
Sudarkasa of Lincoln University, representing the nation's historically 
black colleges and universities; Stacy E. McGeever, president of the 
Undergraduate Association; Michael D. Grossberg, president of the 
Graduate Student Council; Christian J. Matthew, president of the 
Association of Alumni and Alumnae; Mayor Alice K. Wolf of Cambridge; and 
President Duderstadt of the University of Michigan.