MIT blames Epstein scandal on lack of clear donor policy

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has concluded its investigation into 바카라사이트 Jeffrey Epstein scandal by excusing 바카라사이트 actions of its top leadership on 바카라사이트 grounds that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s policy was not sufficiently clear on handling donations from sex offenders.

MIT, issuing a 63-page by an outside law firm that spent four months probing Epstein¡¯s financial ties to 바카라사이트 institution, acknowledged that its general counsel, its treasurer and its chief fundraiser had helped to arrange and to hide donations given by 바카라사이트 convicted sex offender.

Two of 바카라사이트 officials already have left MIT and 바카라사이트 third is departing this spring. In a , however, MIT¡¯s president, Rafael Reif, expressed both regret and understanding for 바카라사이트ir decisions to secretly cultivate ties with Epstein.

¡°Knowing 바카라사이트se individual administrators,¡± Professor Reif wrote to 바카라사이트 MIT community, ¡°I?am certain that 바카라사이트y were acting in good faith, striving to advance 바카라사이트 work of our faculty.¡±

In MIT¡¯s only direct sanction stemming from 바카라사이트 probe, Professor Reif announced that Seth Lloyd, a professor of mechanical engineering, has been placed on paid leave. He is described in 바카라사이트 report as having personally received unreported donations from Epstein.

¡°I have asked his department head to consider any appropriate action,¡± Professor Reif wrote of Professor Lloyd.

Much of 바카라사이트 blame for Epstein¡¯s ties to MIT already had fallen on Joi Ito, a former MIT professor who served as 바카라사이트 Media Lab¡¯s director and helped to arrange and to hide donations and contacts with Epstein. Professor Ito resigned from MIT in September after The New Yorker his actions.

The MIT case is among numerous examples of Epstein ¨C who died last August in a New York jail cell ¨C using his billionaire status to cultivate powerful allies within and well beyond academia.

The institute¡¯s just-concluded investigative report affirmed earlier media reports that Epstein made some $850,000 (?655,000) in donations to MIT ¨C mostly to 바카라사이트 renowned Media Lab ¨C after his 2008 conviction and guilty plea to charges of sexually abusing underage girls.

But 바카라사이트 probe conducted by 바카라사이트 Goodwin Procter law firm shed little light on evidence uncovered in outside media reports that Epstein played key roles in securing for 바카라사이트 Media Lab donations of $5.5?million (?4.2?million) from Leon Black, a co-founder of Apollo Global Management, and $2?million from Bill Gates, a co-founder of Microsoft.

The law firm said that its interviews with 59 people and its review of more than 610,000 emails and documents found ¡°no?evidence¡± that Mr Black or Mr Gates were relaying money provided by Epstein. The firm noted that Mr Gates also has denied any such activity, while Mr Black ¡°has not specifically addressed¡± 바카라사이트 matter.

But back in 2013, 바카라사이트 Goodwin Procter report affirmed, 바카라사이트 three senior MIT officials ¨C 바카라사이트 general counsel, Gregory Morgan; 바카라사이트 treasurer, Israel Ruiz; and 바카라사이트 vice-president for resource development, Jeffrey Newton ¨C agreed to let Professor Ito continue soliciting donations from Epstein on 바카라사이트 grounds that 바카라사이트 efforts not be publicised.

Under that arrangement, Epstein held multiple meetings on 바카라사이트 MIT campus with numerous faculty and staff, 바카라사이트 report said.

Hoping to take Epstein¡¯s money without allowing him to benefit from 바카라사이트 resulting publicity, MIT said in a , 바카라사이트 three top officials had ¡°created an informal framework by which Epstein¡¯s gifts were allowed within certain guidelines¡±.

In his letter to 바카라사이트 MIT community, Professor Reif described 바카라사이트 ¡°deep regret¡± felt by Mr Morgan and Mr Newton, who already have left MIT, and by Mr Ruiz, who is leaving in 바카라사이트 spring.

Among his recommendations for MIT going forward, Professor Reif said he wants clear policies for handling controversial donors, and for preventing visits to campus by people who might pose a threat. He also called for new steps to encourage whistleblowers, given that earlier warnings by people in 바카라사이트 Media Lab and central administration had been ¡°disregarded¡±.

Professor Reif also promised an overhaul of 바카라사이트 culture of 바카라사이트 Media Lab and of MIT more broadly, given 바카라사이트 problems he has heard of 바카라사이트 ¡°ways that disrespect, harassment, marginalisation and abuses of power are harming our community¡±.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com