Updates from campus
Updates on campus and community from MIT
On this page:
“We need a community where we can all express our views. But we also need MIT to be a place where we all feel safe and free to live, work, and study.”
Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israeli civilians and more than 240 hostages were taken, an ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and the ensuing humanitarian suffering have drawn members of communities — including university campuses and including MIT — into serious tension with one another. This page was first published in fall 2023.
Updates regarding recent events on campus and sharing relevant policies can be found here.
Latest updates
Data on disciplinary cases
In addition to annual reporting by the faculty-led Committee on Discipline (COD), MIT has released aggregate data on sanctions and other outcomes issued to students and student organizations for disciplinary cases that were decided by the COD between October 7, 2023, and January 30, 2025.
CAFCE commentary on free expression
MIT’s Committee on Academic Freedom and Campus Expression issued a statement on an essay that appeared in a student publication earlier this fall. CAFCE is a faculty-led committee charged by the president and chair of the faculty to “establish a healthy foundation for academic freedom, civility, and the inclusion of a diversity of voices on campus.”
Letter regarding vandalism on campus
President Sally Kornbluth sent a letter to the MIT community after posters and spraypainted messages were found in multiple locations on campus.
Letter regarding events at CSAIL
On Friday of last week, a letter to the editor from Provost Cynthia Barnhart and Chancellor Melissa Nobles was sent to the MIT student newspaper The Tech, addressing an opinion piece published last Thursday and speaking to recent events at CSAIL. Because the next issue does not appear for more than a week, it can be read here.
Correcting the record on MIT and Lockheed Martin
MIT addressed inaccurate assertions regarding the MIT-Lockheed Martin Seed Fund.
Letter regarding guidelines for a new year
Members of MIT’s senior leadership wrote to students, faculty, and staff to share policy updates and valuable resources designed to help everyone on our campus live and learn together.
Letter regarding antisemitism
President Sally Kornbluth sent a letter reminding members of the MIT community that “antisemitism is totally unacceptable.”
Update on MIT’s disciplinary process
The Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response (IDHR) office posted an update describing how MIT’s disciplinary process is handling incidents related to campus tensions stemming from the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against MIT is dismissed
A federal lawsuit accusing MIT of tolerating antisemitism has been dismissed.
Dialogues Across Difference: A Model for Discussing Conflict and War in the Middle East
During spring 2024, there were five events in the Dialogues Across Difference series, which is sponsored by the offices of the president, provost, and chancellor.
Resources
MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom
The MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom was approved by the MIT faculty on December 21, 2022, and embraced by President Sally Kornbluth soon after she took office, in one of her earliest communications to the full community.
Free Expression at MIT
The Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Freedom and Campus Expression (CAFCE) created this website to help our community understand what freedom of expression means at MIT.
Mission and Values
The vital work of the people of MIT continues year-round — work that is essential to the nation’s security, prosperity, and quality of life. Read MIT’s Mission Statement and Values Statement.