Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2003 23:04:15 -0400
From: President's Office <kdk@MIT.EDU>
To: ua-announce@mit.edu, ua-president@mit.edu, ua-cocomm@mit.edu,
     ifc-exec@mit.edu, asa-exec@mit.edu, dormcon@mit.edu,
     panhel-council@mit.edu, tutors@mit.edu, gsc-excomm@mit.edu,
     the-dome@mit.edu, racerel@mit.edu, leaders02@mit.edu, leaders03@mit.edu
Subject: Message from President Vest

Please post or forward the following message from President Vest.

===============================================
October 5, 2003

Thursday evening a small group of MIT students held what they termed a
"Ghetto Party" in their residence hall.  This event was advertised in
advance by an e-mail message that I have read and find to be outrageous and
mean spirited in its derogatory references to poor people and its overt use
of racial epithet and negative stereotyping.

Our community draws strength and joy from its diversity in many dimensions,
including that of race.  We have a broad tolerance for speech, humor and
thought.  But unthinking and demeaning behavior such as this party and its
advertising can invade our collective soul and destroy our ability to
pursue our mission of learning, growth and leadership.  Students on this
campus, whether minority or majority, and whether directly involved or not,
should not be subjected to such an environment.

I will be further troubled if, as a preliminary investigation indicates, it
turns out that no one who read the invitation pointed out to their peers
how hateful and harmful its language and racial implications
were.  Passivity amplifies the mean-spirited actions of others.

Race in America remains a troubling matter, but we look to the leadership
and good will of talented young men and women who are privileged to be part
of great institutions like MIT to move us beyond this and improve our
world.  It is sad and disappointing when even a few choose to take the
opposite path.

MIT's administrative and student governance systems will deal swiftly and
fairly with those responsible for this event.  But we all must move equally
swiftly to pull together, to learn the lessons of this matter, and to work
together in mutual respect and common purpose to live up to our potential
as friends, colleagues and leaders.

--Charles M. Vest