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MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY13FFICE 0F THE PRESIDENT

May 3, 1949

Recent reports in the public press regarding the activities ofDirk J. Struik, Professor of Mathematics at M.I.T., call for astatement of the Institute's attitude toward Communism andtoward freedom of inquiry.

The Institute is unequivocally opposed to Communism; it isalso sternly opposed to the Communistic method of dictating toscholars the opinions they must have and the doctrines they mustteach. M.I.T. seeks first a faculty and staff of thoroughly compe-tent scholars and teachers of high integrity. Assuming this com-petence and integrity, it believes that its faculty, as long as itsmembers abide by the law, and maintain the dignity and respon-sibilities of their position, must be free to inquire, to challenge,and to doubt in their search for what is true and good. They mustbe free to examine controversial matters, to reach conclusions oftheir own, to criticize and be criticized. Only through such un-qualified freedom of thought and investigation can an educationalinstitution, especially one dealing with science, perform its func-tion of seeking truth.

The Institute's attitude toward the charges which have beenmade against Professor Struik must be viewed against this back-ground and in the light of these considerations. Professor Struikis an American citizen. As required in Massachusetts, he hastaken the "teacher's oath" to support the constitutions of theUnited States and of the Commonwealth. He has only by impli-cation been charged with illegal actions, and he staunchly deniesthat he has at any time committed acts that are improper for a

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loyal American citizen. The Institute has secured a transcript ofMr. Philbrick's testimony in New York and finds no statement init charging Professor Struik with an unlawful act. He has alsodischarged competently and faithfully his duties as a professor ofMathematics. Careful investigation by the Institute has revealedno evidence which would indicate that he has sought to indoctri-nate at the Institute his beliefs in regard to Marxism or improperlyto influence students or colleagues.

The Institute believes that Professor Struik, who denies thathe has committed any crime, should be considered innocent ofany criminal action unless he is proved guilty. The Institute feelsthat if criminal charges are to be brought against ProfessorStruik, they should be brought by the government and handledin orderly fashion by the courts. An educational institution hasno competence to carry on a trial to determine whether a law hasbeen broken.

Should a member of our staff be indicted for advocating theviolent overthrow of the American government or other crim-inal acts, or if the evidence of such actions were incontrovertible,immediate action would be taken which would protect the Insti-tute and at the same time preserve his rights. If this staff membershould be convicted of this charge, he would be discharged.

The Institute also wishes to make it clear that it believes thatthe teacher, as a teacher, must be free of doctrinaire controloriginating outside of his own mind. He must be free to be criti-cal and objective in his own way, and above all he must work inthe clear daylight without hidden allegiances or obligations whichrequire him to distort his research or teaching in accord with dic-tates from without. If a teacher were found to be subject to im-proper outside control in his teaching, the Institute would regardhim as incompetent.

The Institute believes that one of the greatest dangers of thepresent cold war and of the present fear of Communism is the

danger that they will cause America to relinquish or distort orweaken basic civil rights. This may be a greater danger than theoccasional impact or influence of a Communist.

No American college or university has a more impressiverecord than M.I.T. of devotion to our national welfare or ofwholehearted support of the ideals of American democracy. Ithas been the training ground for thousands of alumni who serveand strengthen our system of free enterprise and who vigorouslyuphold the principles of our free society. Its faculty serves thecommunity, the state, and the nation in a spirit of completededication to the public service. I need only cite the Institute'swar record and the major contributions it made through researchand training to the national cause.

I believe it is equally true that it would be hard to find aneducational institution in which the students are so unanimouslydevoted to American ideals. They are too critical and independ-ent to be easy marks for any special pleaders. The overwhelmingmajority of our students are so thoroughly imbued with theirdemocratic heritage and with their responsibilities and privilegesas American citizens that there is no danger of their being cor-rupted.

The Institute proposes to deal with all charges of Communismor other ideologies in the light of these considerations and con-victions.

J. R. KILLIAN, JR.

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