Letters

A reputation for integrity

To The Faculty Newsletter:

In his response to Professor Ted Postol's allegations of scientific misconduct at Lincoln Laboratory, Provost Bob Brown writes (Faculty Newsletter May/June 2005, p.7) that MIT has been unable to complete its investigation of Professor Postol's allegations because the Department of Defense "has classified the materials required in order to examine the allegations (including . . . our own inquiry report) and has denied our investigation committee access to those materials . . .. Without those materials, an investigation can neither identify the questions posed in the inquiry report nor answer them."

As contractor for the Lincoln Laboratory, one of MIT's primary responsibilities is to assure the scientific integrity of research conducted at the Laboratory.  It is clear from the Provost's statement that MIT is unambiguously unable to fulfill that basic responsibility.   If MIT cannot investigate allegations of fraud at a laboratory it manages – if its leaders cannot even have access to MIT's own preliminary report on the matter because that report has been classified – then MIT should withdraw from the management contract.   When MIT is denied the right to audit the integrity of research at Lincoln Laboratory, then its managerial role has become an absurdity; we run the risk of seeing our great university's reputation tarnished by researchers for whom we bear responsibility but over whom we lack control.

In this respect the experience of the University of California as contractor for the Los Alamos National Laboratory is salutary.  Every press account of missing secrets, inadequate security, embezzlement, and alleged spying at the Laboratory has dragged the University of California's name through the mud.  

A reputation for integrity is a university's most important asset. If MIT cannot investigate and lay to rest the allegations of impropriety at Lincoln Laboratory, then it should protect its reputation for integrity by withdrawing from the contract.

At their request I am appending a letter to President Hockfield from three distinguished independent physicists who share my concerns on this issue.

Sincerely,

Hugh Gusterson

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