Letters penned by Professor Hal Abelson and President L. Rafael Reif as published by The Tech
Professor Hal Abelson, a renowned computer scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has announced the second phase of his analysis into the events leading up to the death of Aaron Swartz.
In a letter published today, Professor Abelson outlined his approach for the second phase, which will be conducted in an open and transparent manner. The focus will be on a comprehensive review of MIT's actions and decisions, aiming to determine if the institution could have taken actions to prevent Swartz's tragic demise.
During this phase, Professor Abelson plans to interview key individuals involved in the events, as well as review relevant documents and emails. He also announced a website for soliciting input from the MIT community during this phase.
The first phase of the analysis, a fact-finding mission, has already been underway, with input from the MIT community. Professor Abelson launched a website for this purpose, where individuals can share their perspectives and insights.
President L. Rafael Reif of MIT appointed Professor Abelson to carry out this full analysis following the publication of a charge in the institution's student newspaper. The charge expressed the MIT community's concern over Swartz's death and the desire for a thorough investigation into MIT's involvement in the events preceding it.
President Reif expressed his sorrow over Swartz's death in a letter to the MIT community on Sunday, January 13. He emphasized the importance of understanding the circumstances surrounding Swartz's death and learning from them.
The final report of Professor Abelson's analysis will be made public and presented to President Reif. Regular updates on the progress of the analysis will be published on the designated website. The second phase of the analysis is expected to take several months to complete.
This comprehensive analysis is a significant step towards understanding the events that led to Aaron Swartz's death and ensuring that such tragedies can be prevented in the future.
The second phase of Professor Abelson's analysis will be open to the public, inviting the press and interested individuals to access updates on the process through the designated website.
In this phase, Professor Abelson plans to delve into the role of technology, paying close attention to the digital infrastructure and its possible connection to Aaron Swartz's demise.
Furthermore, Professor Abelson will advocate for education-and-self-development, encouraging the MIT community to engage in critical discourse and contribute to the review of MIT's decisions, with the goal of fostering a safer learning environment for all students.
