We the undersigned ask that MIT issue an apology for its silence regarding the unjust federal prosecution against Aaron Swartz for actions that caused little or no harm to MIT or any individuals. Faced with a maximum fine of $1 million and over 35 years in prison if convicted of 13 felony counts related to the downloading of academic journal articles on MIT’s internet network [1], Aaron committed suicide on January 11, 2013.
We believe that MIT should have issued a statement criticizing the excessively harsh charges against Aaron in light of the following facts:
1. Aaron’s use of MIT’s open network to gain access to JSTOR articles through MIT’s journal subscription was legal. At worst, his use of a computer script to automate downloading of 4.8 million articles violated JSTOR’s terms of use, for which he was not charged [2].
2. Aaron never distributed any of these articles to the public. In fact, he returned all copies of the downloads and promised not to share them once he was arrested [3].
3. JSTOR stated that it had no interest in pursuing civil litigation against Aaron [4] and asked for the criminal litigation to be dropped.
Aaron was a social activist, supporter of open access to knowledge, and friend to many in the MIT community. We are saddened to learn of his death and supportive of his family and partner’s criticism of MIT’s inaction against “a criminal justice system rife with intimidation and prosecutorial overreach” [5].
[1] http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2011/July/SwartzAaronPR.html
[2] http://unhandled.com/2013/01/12/the-truth-about-aaron-swartzs-crime/
[3] http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/12/aaron-swartz-heroism-suicide1
[4] http://about.jstor.org/news/jstor-statement-misuse-incident-and-criminal-case
[5] http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/01/official_statement.php
[Edit: A couple people have pointed out that President Reif has issued a letter announcing the start of an internal investigation into MIT's involvement with Aaron's case, which we appreciate. We do not ask for an apology before the internal investigation is over, but we do wish to communicate our opinion that anything less than an apology as a result of the investigation is unacceptable in light of the facts stated above.]
[Disclaimer: This author of this post does not claim to represent the views of the MIT Society for Open Science as a group.]
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754 Rafael Stein Jun 10, 2013 753 Monica He May 23, 2013 752 Pierce Ogden NONE Mar 11, 2013 751 Daniel Hawkins Student Mar 07, 2013 750 Santiago Pesantez Mar 01, 2013 749 Justin Berk Feb 14, 2013 748 BEAUDOIN Andy Feb 06, 2013 747 Rebecca Gould Feb 03, 2013 746 Jeff Bradley Jan 31, 2013 745 Erika Jonietz alumna Jan 31, 2013 744 Eyal Lapid None Jan 29, 2013 743 Steven Bhardwaj Boston University PhD Student Jan 29, 2013 742 Jenny Hong Jan 27, 2013 741 ak kidd Jan 27, 2013 740 Joe Madrid Jan 26, 2013 739 Patrice Taylor none Jan 26, 2013 738 Yuri George Sivo interned, worked at Media Lab in the earlyh 80s. Jan 25, 2013 737 Jared Owen Graduate Student, Course 7 Jan 25, 2013 736 Pamela Melcher Daughter of an Alumnus Jan 25, 2013 735 Shaun Malone Jan 25, 2013 734 Francisco VALOR Jan 25, 2013 733 Harry Williams Jan 25, 2013 732 Ye Zhao Jan 24, 2013 731 Donna Benenson Wellesley College '74 exchange student 1973-74 Jan 24, 2013 730 Leon Ko none Jan 24, 2013 729 Nicole R None Jan 24, 2013 728 Jamie Eppolite Jan 24, 2013 727 Benazeer Noorani Alumna, 6-1, 2004 Jan 24, 2013 726 Carol Fritz Cornell, AB; Univ. of PA, MA; Temple JD Jan 24, 2013 725 Mila Marinova Jan 24, 2013 724 Scott B Jan 24, 2013 723 Zoz Brooks PhD Alumnus Jan 23, 2013 722 Lupei Zhu Jan 23, 2013 721 Michael Lachanski Jan 23, 2013 720 Amirali Abdullah Jan 23, 2013 719 Anna Waldman-Brown alum Jan 22, 2013 718 Vincere CoeurDeLumiere MIT open study Appreciator Jan 22, 2013 717 Anson Mackay Jan 22, 2013 716 umberto lombardo Jan 22, 2013 715 Carlos Araya Jan 22, 2013 714 Scott Rigby Jan 22, 2013 713 Douglas Roark Jan 22, 2013 712 Christian Ghiaus Jan 21, 2013 711 Alex Newman Lover Jan 21, 2013 710 John Whaley MIT '98 alumnus Jan 21, 2013 709 Gayathri Mahendran Jan 21, 2013 708 Nilton Renno Alum Jan 21, 2013 707 Praveen Kumar Srinivasan None Jan 21, 2013 706 Douglas Lobdell none Jan 21, 2013 705 Mario Murphy Jan 21, 2013 704 Jaime Iglehart Jan 21, 2013 703 Auroop Ganguly Alumnus Jan 21, 2013 702 Y Silberman None Jan 21, 2013 701 Patrick Smith Jan 21, 2013 700 Anu Mirmira Jan 21, 2013 699 marianne woods Jan 20, 2013 698 Craig Montuori Jan 20, 2013 697 Lauren Watkins Jan 20, 2013 696 Victor Negron Student Jan 20, 2013 695 Susan Beiter VI-IA '92 Jan 20, 2013 694 Scott Morrison None Jan 20, 2013 693 Aravinda Pillalamarri visitor Jan 20, 2013 692 Edwin Knight Jan 20, 2013 691 Sami Jarjour Jan 20, 2013 690 Fred Cowie Teacher Jan 20, 2013 689 Harry Rusche none-except with several colleagues I admire. Jan 19, 2013 688 Jim Roberts none Jan 19, 2013 687 Norig Karakashian Jan 19, 2013 686 Tara Curtis n/a Jan 19, 2013 685 Kris Lee Sibling of an MIT alumnus, friend of many MTI alumni. Jan 19, 2013 684 David Greenberg Alumnus Jan 19, 2013 683 martin wells none Jan 19, 2013 682 Jennifer McClinton Jan 19, 2013 681 Derek Martin Jan 19, 2013 680 Morteza Jalalvand Jan 19, 2013 679 Fesquet Didier Jan 19, 2013 678 Alan Hodgkinson 6.1 & 6.3 '82 Jan 19, 2013 677 George Forrester none Jan 19, 2013 676 Shriram Padmanabhan Jan 19, 2013 675 stephen callerame Jan 19, 2013 674 Sofya Raskhodnikova alumna Jan 19, 2013 673 Alexander Lampert Jan 19, 2013 672 Luvena Ong Student Jan 19, 2013 671 Utkarsh SIngh Rathore None Jan 19, 2013 670 Karim Gillani Jan 19, 2013 669 Max Ride Jan 19, 2013 668 Alessandro Gorbi Jan 19, 2013 667 John Gosselin Jan 18, 2013 666 Antony Wright Jan 18, 2013 665 Peter Jenner Jan 18, 2013 664 Daniel Gundlach Jan 18, 2013 663 Saras Udanpur Jan 18, 2013 662 Kachina Gosselin Alumni Jan 18, 2013 661 Joe Emersberger n8w 2x7 Jan 18, 2013 660 Hans Siegenthaler thankfully none Jan 18, 2013 659 Mary Tucker-Pettersen Jan 18, 2013 658 Dan Youngblood Jan 18, 2013 657 Mark Epstein Jan 18, 2013 656 jonathan McMenamin-Balano Jan 18, 2013 655 gordon coombes Jan 18, 2013 654 Jimmy Duong Jan 18, 2013 653 Frederick Freiheit Jan 18, 2013 652 Clark Slagle Jan 18, 2013 651 michael semb wever Jan 18, 2013 650 Sam Gendell Jan 18, 2013 649 robert zeller Jan 18, 2013 648 Jason Poulos Staff Jan 18, 2013 647 Geoffrey Goba Jan 18, 2013 646 Christian Sevilla Jan 18, 2013 645 Rebecca Romatoski Alum Jan 18, 2013 644 Brandon Reed none Jan 18, 2013 643 Lisa Marie Rosen No affiliation Jan 18, 2013 642 Gary Lee Jan 18, 2013 641 Alistair McCall Jan 18, 2013 640 Hossein Khodabandeh Jan 18, 2013 639 Elaine Dombi Jan 18, 2013 638 Jessica Lee White Jan 18, 2013 637 Pradumn Joshi Jan 18, 2013 636 Chandra Deas Jan 18, 2013 635 Peter Lunt Jan 18, 2013 634 James Jacobs Friend of Aaron, librarian, info activist Jan 18, 2013 633 Alan Palm Cambridge resident Jan 18, 2013 632 carol boyd Jan 18, 2013 631 Christopher Hilton --- Jan 18, 2013 630 Trevor Wilson Jan 18, 2013 629 Levente Hajdu none Jan 18, 2013 628 Diana Vance Never Jan 18, 2013 627 Janet Hull Jan 18, 2013 626 NELLY CRESS Jan 18, 2013 625 robert wengronowitz spouse of graduate student Jan 18, 2013 624 Jack Lambert Jan 18, 2013 623 Eva L Jan 18, 2013 622 Adam Eig friends who went/worked there Jan 18, 2013 621 Jeff Weicher none Jan 18, 2013 620 John Leaderbrand Jan 18, 2013 619 Lee Semanek Jan 18, 2013 618 Cara Manning PhD student Jan 18, 2013 617 Alex McLaren n/a Jan 18, 2013 616 Taifa Kimbrough Jan 18, 2013 615 Peter Tsang Alumni Jan 18, 2013 614 Varoon Bashyakarla Jan 18, 2013 613 Scott STODDARD Jan 18, 2013 612 Margo Kavanaugh Jan 18, 2013 611 Teresa DeZazzo A member of the human race that recognizes we lost a great mind and soul in the death of Aaron Swartz. Jan 18, 2013 610 ebby guallar Jan 18, 2013 609 Amy Beam Jan 18, 2013 608 Carole Di Tosti, Ph.D. Jan 18, 2013 607 Zak Accuardi Graduate student Jan 17, 2013 606 Thomas Brierly NONE Jan 17, 2013 605 John Boyer Jan 17, 2013 604 Ana Margarida Esteves Jan 17, 2013 603 Firoj Alam Jan 17, 2013 602 Matei Stanca Jan 17, 2013 601 Liza Nima spiritual warrior Jan 17, 2013 600 John Barley Jan 17, 2013 599 Marques Bostic Jan 17, 2013 598 Farzad Eshaghi Jan 17, 2013 597 Alexei Ivanov Jan 17, 2013 596 Penelope Reed-Woods Jan 17, 2013 595 Qarly Canant friend of TEPs Jan 17, 2013 594 Shawn Nock Jan 17, 2013 593 Deanna Church Jan 17, 2013 592 Peter Godart Student Jan 17, 2013 591 Ted Ko Class of 1994 Jan 17, 2013 590 Inna N. Islen Jan 17, 2013 589 Jorge Ortiz Alumnus Jan 17, 2013 588 Thomas Thompson Undergraduate Jan 17, 2013 587 David Barron Jan 17, 2013 586 Kristin Wiseman student Jan 17, 2013 585 Carrol Miller Jan 17, 2013 584 Alice Wang Class of 2003 Jan 17, 2013 583 Valerie Young Jan 17, 2013 582 Martin Martinez Rivera Student Jan 17, 2013 581 Lillian Good Jan 17, 2013 580 Ted Wood Jan 17, 2013 579 Patrick Cole Jan 17, 2013 578 Jaime Reyes Undergraduate Jan 17, 2013 577 Lyn LaGreca Jan 17, 2013 576 Chris Ball Jan 17, 2013 575 Lef Ioannidis student Jan 17, 2013 574 Tom Zych Jan 17, 2013 573 Jung Choi Course 7, Class of 1978 Jan 17, 2013 572 Rogier Landman Research Scientist Jan 17, 2013 571 Donna Pe'er Jan 17, 2013 570 Elizabeth Fox My father got his masters at MIT Jan 17, 2013 569 Jeri Dubec Jan 17, 2013 568 jo arbon Jan 17, 2013 567 Anthony SKORSKI Jan 17, 2013 566 Gholson Lyon Jan 17, 2013 565 Douglas Mans None Jan 17, 2013 564 George Church Professor, HST, Broad Jan 17, 2013 563 Dominic Temple Jan 17, 2013 562 Bjørn Tennøe Not Affiliated Jan 17, 2013 561 Chris Smith Undergraduate Student Jan 17, 2013 560 Michael Woon Jan 17, 2013 559 Sarah Reiwitch Jan 17, 2013 558 Aimee Smith MIT PhD '02 Jan 17, 2013 557 Geoffrey Garcia Jan 17, 2013 556 Jimmy Gallagher Jan 17, 2013 555 chris crump friends and family Jan 17, 2013 554 Paula Sandusky Jan 17, 2013 553 Aileen Kawabe Former staff Jan 17, 2013 552 Andrés Correa Casablanca Jan 17, 2013 551 Sander Rubin, '50 Alumnus Jan 17, 2013 550 Liz Fear Jan 17, 2013 549 Michael Brown Jan 17, 2013 548 James Buckley Not Affiliated Jan 17, 2013 547 Ahmet Musabeyoglu current undergraduate student at MIT Jan 17, 2013 546 Steve Feller Jan 17, 2013 545 Bennett Cyphers Undergrad Jan 17, 2013 544 Susan Macksey Wellesley '82 Jan 17, 2013 543 Damon Tkoch Jan 17, 2013 542 Dario Garcia-Dominguez Undergrad Jan 17, 2013 541 Tanya Lamb Jan 17, 2013 540 Matthew Bruchon Graduate Student Jan 17, 2013 539 Benjamin Chrobot Student Jan 17, 2013 538 Amelia Carver Undergraduate Student Jan 17, 2013 537 Hailey Cambra Jan 17, 2013 536 John Abbe went to school down the street, hung out at MIT some Jan 17, 2013 535 Jay Walker Jan 17, 2013 534 joan sweet Jan 17, 2013 533 pETER aKKERMAN Jan 17, 2013 532 Hui Xiao Chao undergraduate Jan 17, 2013 531 Mike Hracs Jan 17, 2013 530 Daniel Bergey Class of 2006 Jan 17, 2013 529 Adam S. Student Jan 17, 2013 528 Anita Baxter Jan 17, 2013 527 D Lyan Jan 17, 2013 526 Alexandre Milouchev MIT student Jan 17, 2013 525 Keith Connolly Was accepted but did not enroll. Jan 17, 2013 524 Myisha Nanton Jan 17, 2013 523 Sean Vitka Summer program student once; neighbor for longer Jan 17, 2013 522 Rudy Tanin 2013 Jan 17, 2013 521 John Cavanaugh Jan 17, 2013 520 Aria Stewart Admirant Jan 17, 2013 519 Wendy Johnson none Jan 17, 2013 518 Michael Griffin none Jan 17, 2013 517 Dan Kaminsky Jan 17, 2013 516 Ernest Roe Jan 17, 2013 515 Samuel Walters-Nevet none Jan 17, 2013 514 susan proffitt Jan 17, 2013 513 Fausto Morales MIT '12 Jan 17, 2013 512 Ashley Meyer friend Jan 17, 2013 511 Logan Williams Undergraduate Jan 17, 2013 510 James Kalin None Jan 17, 2013 509 Thomas Sisson Parent Jan 17, 2013 508 Pól Ó Duibhir Jan 17, 2013 507 Kari Johnson Jan 17, 2013 506 Brian Hepler friend Jan 17, 2013 505 Dion Dennis Jan 16, 2013 504 Stephen Olszewski None Jan 16, 2013 503 Angela Chang MIT '11, '02, '97 Jan 16, 2013 502 Nathan Lewis Jan 16, 2013 501 Laura Young Jan 16, 2013 500 Anil Mudholkar Jan 16, 2013 499 Nathan Lewis Jan 16, 2013 498 Julie Probst Jan 16, 2013 497 Lorin Krogh Jan 16, 2013 496 Ciara Brennan Jan 16, 2013 495 Tony Eder Jan 16, 2013 494 Tommy McHugh Jan 16, 2013 493 laurie levinger parent of alum Jan 16, 2013 492 Taymon Beal Jan 16, 2013 491 Stanley Thompson Jan 16, 2013 490 Alejandro Tiraboschi Jan 16, 2013 489 Ryan Guthrie Jan 16, 2013 488 Robert Solorzano Jan 16, 2013 487 Danielle Olson Student Jan 16, 2013 486 Michael Hutchinson Jan 16, 2013 485 David Large Jan 16, 2013 484 Samantha Pasquini Jan 16, 2013 483 Rick Kelley Jan 16, 2013 482 phredd groves Jan 16, 2013 481 Melanie Holland alum '90 Jan 16, 2013 480 Alexander Matheson Jan 16, 2013 479 Anasuya Mandal Graduate Student Jan 16, 2013 478 Linda Ocasio Jan 16, 2013 477 Terri Groth Jan 16, 2013 476 Moya Chin Student Jan 16, 2013 475 Adam Beerman 2012 Jan 16, 2013 474 Casey Chaudhry admitted once Jan 16, 2013 473 Nabeel Khan Jan 16, 2013 472 Bruno Guiraut Jan 16, 2013 471 Andrew Kruyer Jan 16, 2013 470 David Politi Jan 16, 2013 469 Tim Obregon Jan 16, 2013 468 Maude David Jan 16, 2013 467 Stephen Bove none Jan 16, 2013 466 Jonathan Steigman Jan 16, 2013 465 Foster Pinkney none Jan 16, 2013 464 Zachary Ozer Alum 07 Jan 16, 2013 463 kyle mckinley Jan 16, 2013 462 Benjamin Slade Jan 16, 2013 461 Ra'ana-Dilruba Yasmin Jan 16, 2013 460 Brad Johnson MS Course 12 '04 Jan 16, 2013 459 Ashley Nash alum Jan 16, 2013 458 Randy Dixon Jan 16, 2013 457 John Adamo Jan 16, 2013 456 Robert Skulman Jan 16, 2013 455 Matt Petersen '09 Jan 16, 2013 454 Charles McHenry former admirer Jan 16, 2013 453 renata de andrade Jan 16, 2013 452 Alyson Bolles Jan 16, 2013 451 Robert Janusko Jan 16, 2013 450 Nick Phillips Jan 16, 2013 449 Dave Norman Jan 16, 2013 448 Nigel Parry Was published in your Thresholds journal once Jan 16, 2013 447 James Molloy Jan 16, 2013 446 Ranbel Sun Student Jan 16, 2013 445 Ben Thompson lapsed fan Jan 16, 2013 444 ben hammet Jan 16, 2013 443 Mark Brown Jan 16, 2013 442 Hans Johansson Jan 16, 2013 441 Jeremy Goldstein Jan 16, 2013 440 TIMOTHY HOF Jan 16, 2013 439 Peggy Taranenko Jan 16, 2013 438 Luke Scott Jan 16, 2013 437 William Mason Jan 16, 2013 436 Leon Scott Jan 16, 2013 435 Josh Levinger SB 16 2007, MS Media Lab 2010 Jan 16, 2013 434 Christopher Natale Jan 16, 2013 433 Joshua Cohen Member of faculty, 1977-2006 Jan 16, 2013 432 nick bray Jan 16, 2013 431 Mark Tokheim Jan 16, 2013 430 Madeline Whitman Jan 16, 2013 429 Panagiotis Dimotikalis I wish i had one Jan 16, 2013 428 Jennifer Fitzgerald Jan 16, 2013 427 Kaytee Nesmith N/A Jan 16, 2013 426 Ohana Turbak Jan 16, 2013 425 aimilia karapostoli Jan 16, 2013 424 David Cotner Jan 16, 2013 423 Ness Creighton Jan 16, 2013 422 Devon Dimercurio Jan 16, 2013 421 Elinor Mills Jan 16, 2013 420 Jacob Appelbaum Jan 16, 2013 419 tom johnston Jan 16, 2013 418 Bryan Parmelee Jan 16, 2013 417 Seth Rosenblatt Jan 16, 2013 416 Michael Carter Jan 16, 2013 415 Michael Vincent Jan 16, 2013 414 Alison McDonald Jan 16, 2013 413 Jacki Crawford Jan 16, 2013 412 M C Kubiak none Jan 16, 2013 411 Ward McKonly Jan 16, 2013 410 Zachary Barryte Student Jan 16, 2013 409 jost didier Jan 16, 2013 408 Amber Clark Jan 16, 2013 407 Richard Buckman Former special student/hssp student Jan 16, 2013 406 Larry Mayfield Jan 16, 2013 405 William Carter Jan 16, 2013 404 Chris Bodenlos Jan 16, 2013 403 Kathryn Maynes Jan 16, 2013 402 John Black Jan 16, 2013 401 Jay Thomas Jan 16, 2013 400 john earle Jan 16, 2013 399 Simon Kornblith Jan 16, 2013 398 Jim Smith Jan 16, 2013 397 Mark McCormick Jan 16, 2013 396 Ian Tucker Jan 16, 2013 395 Martin Reinhart MIT Class of 61 Jan 16, 2013 394 Kathleen (Kathie) Kaeding Turner Jan 16, 2013 393 Dana Ward Jan 16, 2013 392 Jennifer Quinn Jan 16, 2013 391 Philip Chinn Jan 16, 2013 390 Kevin Gallagher none Jan 16, 2013 389 Simon Gibson Jan 16, 2013 388 Robert Chase Jan 16, 2013 387 Beth Baniszewski Class of 2005 Jan 16, 2013 386 sat posada Jan 16, 2013 385 Aysylu Biktimirova alum Jan 16, 2013 384 Donna Spear Jan 16, 2013 383 Luke Walsh Jan 16, 2013 382 Chad Michael Jan 16, 2013 381 Ted Invictus Jan 16, 2013 380 Nick Janikian Jan 16, 2013 379 Sheri Whitley NA Jan 16, 2013 378 Tracie Almond Jan 16, 2013 377 Daniel Liang Jan 16, 2013 376 john kelly Jan 16, 2013 375 Edward Harris None Jan 16, 2013 374 Filippo Pacini Jan 16, 2013 373 Colin Steinmann Jan 16, 2013 372 Sascha Drews Jan 16, 2013 371 christine cames Jan 16, 2013 370 Clement Suavet Postdoc Jan 16, 2013 369 Don Doumakes Jan 16, 2013 368 Joseph Grasser Jan 16, 2013 367 Cameron Rau None Jan 16, 2013 366 Jim McGowan Jan 16, 2013 365 Jaime Herazo Jan 16, 2013 364 Patrick McHugh Jan 16, 2013 363 Jimmy McColery Jan 16, 2013 362 Brian Jenkins Jan 16, 2013 361 Rachel Chalmers Jan 16, 2013 360 william burnworth Jan 16, 2013 359 Ian Gregory Jan 16, 2013 358 Eric Probola Jan 16, 2013 357 Trevor Bekolay Jan 16, 2013 356 Nick Searcy Jan 16, 2013 355 Michael Silver Jan 16, 2013 354 Derrick Riley None Jan 16, 2013 353 carolyn rhea drapes Jan 16, 2013 352 Khadijah M. Britton MIT Splash/HSSP Participant, Community Member Jan 16, 2013 351 Edward Finkler Jan 16, 2013 350 Timothy Peever Jan 16, 2013 349 Jessica Hamrick Alum Jan 16, 2013 348 Thomas Clegg Jan 16, 2013 347 Samantha Cohen Jan 16, 2013 346 Davis Hunt Jan 16, 2013 345 Yonadav Shavit Student Jan 16, 2013 344 Courtney Hilliard Class of 2010 Jan 16, 2013 343 mélina gallopin Jan 16, 2013 342 Shulin Ye Student Jan 16, 2013 341 Janice Terry Jan 16, 2013 340 Jack White Jan 16, 2013 339 Nivair Gabriel 2010 alum Jan 16, 2013 338 Gayle Jessup White Parent Jan 16, 2013 337 Alexander Hayman 2008 Alum Jan 16, 2013 336 Mary Wang 2012 alum Jan 16, 2013 335 Rory Kirchner Jan 16, 2013 334 Russell Denney Jan 16, 2013 333 Joann Rasmussen Jan 16, 2013 332 Darija Tešanović Jan 16, 2013 331 Mikel Sagues Jan 16, 2013 330 Bianca Farrell Alum '11 Jan 16, 2013 329 Alicia Singham Goodwin Undergraduate 2014 Jan 16, 2013 328 Jillian Monda Jan 16, 2013 327 Alex Pavloff Jan 16, 2013 326 Zak Fallows Alumnus Jan 16, 2013 325 Giedrius Blazys None Jan 16, 2013 324 Harshal Chaudhari Jan 16, 2013 323 Anna Gladstone Alumna Jan 16, 2013 322 Jessica Li Alum Jan 16, 2013 321 Charles Franklin MIT Undergraduate Class of 2014 Jan 16, 2013 320 Brian Hamrick Student Jan 16, 2013 319 Ethan Sterling Former student Jan 16, 2013 318 Mark Ferguson Jan 16, 2013 317 Melissa Skan undergraduate Jan 16, 2013 316 Catherine Y Jan 16, 2013 315 Emily Lydic MIT Undergraduate Jan 16, 2013 314 shen huang alumna Jan 16, 2013 313 Margaret Hagan Jan 16, 2013 312 janice savonen Jan 16, 2013 311 Rafael Rodriguez Jan 16, 2013 310 Anderson Wang '16 Jan 16, 2013 309 Daniel Briggs Alumnus Jan 16, 2013 308 Joanne Robb just an average citizen stunned regarding the circumstances of death of this remarkable young man Jan 16, 2013 307 Daniel Fourie 2012 Jan 16, 2013 306 ben cole none Jan 16, 2013 305 Kayla Meduna undergrad Jan 16, 2013 304 Chris Varenhorst Alum '09 Jan 16, 2013 303 Benjamin Lerner 2012 Jan 16, 2013 302 Juan Ybarra Alum Jan 16, 2013 301 Michael Cohen Current student Jan 16, 2013 300 Theodore Hilk 02139 Jan 16, 2013 299 Sam Range Undergraduate 2013 Jan 16, 2013 298 Edward Burnell MIT 2013 Jan 16, 2013 297 Soohyun Park undergraduate Jan 16, 2013 296 Audrey Horst 2011 Jan 16, 2013 295 David Sheets VI-3 S.B. 2009 Jan 16, 2013 294 Quentin Smith Alum Jan 16, 2013 293 Sam Bauman Undergraduate Jan 16, 2013 292 A. Axelrod alum Jan 16, 2013 291 Brian Fisher MIT '01 Jan 16, 2013 290 Roberta Poceviciute Student Jan 16, 2013 289 Marcos Esparza Student Jan 16, 2013 288 Heidi Baumgartner undergraduate Jan 16, 2013 287 Lily Xu 2012 Jan 16, 2013 286 Elisa Gill Jan 16, 2013 285 Roberta Czyzyk Jan 16, 2013 284 Daniel Cooper Friend of the community Jan 16, 2013 283 Jason Li Jan 16, 2013 282 Nisha Gupta none Jan 16, 2013 281 Tamara Tasoff Alum Jan 16, 2013 280 Charles Xu 2015 Jan 16, 2013 279 Samuel Markson MIT 2012 Jan 16, 2013 278 Omer Zach Jan 16, 2013 277 Juan Manuel Faisal Jan 16, 2013 276 Shefali Oza alum Jan 16, 2013 275 N. Horbinski Jan 16, 2013 274 Peter Olson alumnus Jan 16, 2013 273 Rony Kubat Alum Jan 16, 2013 272 Madeleine Ball Jan 16, 2013 271 Dhaval Adjodah student Jan 16, 2013 270 Ryan Cox Jan 16, 2013 269 Aleyda Trevino Junior Jan 16, 2013 268 Daniel Kramnik Undergraduate Jan 16, 2013 267 Prashanth Venkataram Jan 15, 2013 266 Reid Miller none Jan 15, 2013 265 Mateo Williams Sophomore Jan 15, 2013 264 Anne Hanna Jan 15, 2013 263 Quentin Robinson Jan 15, 2013 262 Jason Wallace Alum Jan 15, 2013 261 Uddhav Sharma Student Jan 15, 2013 260 Arianna Wassmann Jan 15, 2013 259 Ian Baker Jan 15, 2013 258 Danbee Kim Alum Jan 15, 2013 257 Charles Mensah no Jan 15, 2013 256 Dilmurat Moldobaev undergraduate student Jan 15, 2013 255 Holly Durso Alum Jan 15, 2013 254 Daniel King Jan 15, 2013 253 Jeremy Flores MIT S.B. 2010 Jan 15, 2013 252 Katie Hazard Jan 15, 2013 251 Rajeev Ruparell Jan 15, 2013 250 Brandon Sorbom Student Jan 15, 2013 249 Adi Nochur DUSP -- MCP '13 Jan 15, 2013 248 Megan O'Rorke Jan 15, 2013 247 Carolyn Anhalt Jan 15, 2013 246 M. ELBAZ Jan 15, 2013 245 Michele Vitaliano Jan 15, 2013 244 Aidan Bevacqua Student Jan 15, 2013 243 Carmel Dudley alum '12 Jan 15, 2013 242 David Dernoncourt Jan 15, 2013 241 Lyra Levin Student Jan 15, 2013 240 Dorothy Curran Alumna Jan 15, 2013 239 Keri-Lee Garel 2010, current staff Jan 15, 2013 238 Joanne Sprague Jan 15, 2013 237 Sukrit Ranjan Jan 15, 2013 236 Rebecca Bianco Alum '12 Jan 15, 2013 235 Samantha Fomon Student Jan 15, 2013 234 Hector Cruickshanks Jan 15, 2013 233 Ramya Swamy Student Jan 15, 2013 232 Saad Zaheer Jan 15, 2013 231 Hiroyuki Yamada Student Jan 15, 2013 230 Amy Zhang Alumnus Jan 15, 2013 229 mark martini Jan 15, 2013 228 Andrew Shapiro Alumnus Jan 15, 2013 227 Keshav Dhandhania Jan 15, 2013 226 Frank Zucco Jan 15, 2013 225 Larry Stone former staff Jan 15, 2013 224 Marysia Walcerz Jan 15, 2013 223 linda rhines Jan 15, 2013 222 Matt Herrick Jan 15, 2013 221 Shicong Xie Student Jan 15, 2013 220 Boram Lee Jan 15, 2013 219 Geore Whiteman Jan 15, 2013 218 Jessica Harpole alum Jan 15, 2013 217 Jessica Leitch None Jan 15, 2013 216 Lauren Pespisa Jan 15, 2013 215 Boris Mindzak Jan 15, 2013 214 Laura Stonehill Jan 15, 2013 213 Zachary Bailey SB '08, SM '10 Jan 15, 2013 212 Robert DeLanghe Jan 15, 2013 211 Sean Stevens Jan 15, 2013 210 Mallory Taub former graduate student Jan 15, 2013 209 Sean Yeldell Jan 15, 2013 208 Jason Ford Jan 15, 2013 207 Jordan McCarthy Jan 15, 2013 206 Robert Rees alumnus (BS '68, MS '70) Jan 15, 2013 205 Lise Hobeika Jan 15, 2013 204 Edward Meeds Jan 15, 2013 203 Ethan Li Jan 15, 2013 202 Ruth Miller Class of 2007 Jan 15, 2013 201 Sophie Zhang Jan 15, 2013 200 Oliver Hockenhull Jan 15, 2013 199 Jacqueline North Jan 15, 2013 198 Michael Pruett Jan 15, 2013 197 Bruna Moscol MIT undergraduate Jan 15, 2013 196 Ben Horkley 2014 Jan 15, 2013 195 Steph Gans Jan 15, 2013 194 John Collins Jan 15, 2013 193 Chris Mills 2012 Jan 15, 2013 192 Elizabeth Santorella Undergraduate Jan 15, 2013 191 Enrique Estrada Jan 15, 2013 190 Margaret Avener Alum '07 Jan 15, 2013 189 Sumana Raychaudhuri Jan 15, 2013 188 matthew fries Jan 15, 2013 187 kathryn reilly friend of MIT student community Jan 15, 2013 186 Roxana Safipour Alum 2009 Jan 15, 2013 185 Xander Hudson Jan 15, 2013 184 Rachel Boyce Jan 15, 2013 183 Reena Joubert former undergraduate, taking a gap year Jan 15, 2013 182 Manushaqe Muco undergraduate student Jan 15, 2013 181 Corrina Chase Alum Jan 15, 2013 180 Katherine Cali X-registered Wellesley undergrad Jan 15, 2013 179 Daniel Goldman Jan 15, 2013 178 Deena Wang Student Jan 15, 2013 177 Ioana Zelko undergraduate Jan 15, 2013 176 Matthew Boulos Killam Fellow 2004-5 Jan 15, 2013 175 Anastasia McTaggart-Meek Special student Jan 15, 2013 174 Mehmet Cetinkaya Jan 15, 2013 173 Anvisha Pai undergraduate Jan 15, 2013 172 Albert Carter Staff Jan 15, 2013 171 Shuo Yang Jan 15, 2013 170 Iman Hajirasouliha Jan 15, 2013 169 Nutan Gupta None Jan 15, 2013 168 Brian Neltner alumni Jan 15, 2013 167 Ashley Newton Jan 15, 2013 166 Steve Neidhardt Jan 15, 2013 165 Paul Kreiner Student Jan 15, 2013 164 Karen Wickert Jan 15, 2013 163 CJ Carr StartLabs, hackathons Jan 15, 2013 162 Zachary McDowell Jan 15, 2013 161 Olivia Mello MIT '14 Jan 15, 2013 160 Niema Hirsch mother of alumni Jan 15, 2013 159 Laura Totten none Jan 15, 2013 158 Joshua Slocum Alumni '10 and '11 Jan 15, 2013 157 Angela Pineo Jan 15, 2013 156 Robert Krawitz VI-3 1987 Jan 15, 2013 155 Michael Wiley Jan 15, 2013 154 Professor Daniel Martin Katz Jan 15, 2013 153 Libby Cone, MD, MA MIT Class of 1977 Jan 15, 2013 152 Teresa Dovidio Jan 15, 2013 151 Katelyn Haas friends with Aaron's brother Noah Jan 15, 2013 150 Alexander Hoover Jan 15, 2013 149 William Koster Friend Attends MIT Jan 15, 2013 148 Larry Lennhoff alum Jan 15, 2013 147 Marianne Díaz Jan 15, 2013 146 Wendy Johnson Jan 15, 2013 145 Katherine Policy Jan 15, 2013 144 Thomas Levine Jan 15, 2013 143 Thomas Gordanier Jan 15, 2013 142 Nicholas Joliat Alumnus Jan 15, 2013 141 James Madden MCP 2010 Jan 15, 2013 140 David House Jan 15, 2013 139 Madeline Hickman MIT '11 Jan 15, 2013 138 Frederick Davey Jan 15, 2013 137 Jennifer Hill None Jan 15, 2013 136 Sung Kim Alum 2010, Current Staff Jan 15, 2013 135 Jeff Matson former staff Jan 15, 2013 134 Bismita Sahu Jan 15, 2013 133 Manohar Srikanth PhD, Postdoc Jan 15, 2013 132 Maya Cook Jan 15, 2013 131 Kavya Joshi MEng Jan 15, 2013 130 Jordan Reyes Jan 15, 2013 129 Elizabeth Riley Course 20 2008 Jan 15, 2013 128 Francisco Jose Costa-Cano Jan 15, 2013 127 Hernan Anllo Jan 15, 2013 126 Steven Pennybaker Alum Jan 15, 2013 125 Bronwen Watkins-Pitchford Jan 15, 2013 124 Stefano Paluello Jan 15, 2013 123 Elyot Grant Grad student Jan 15, 2013 122 Colm McMahon n/a Jan 15, 2013 121 philip keith none Jan 15, 2013 120 Pratik Chaudhari Student Jan 15, 2013 119 Joshua Estrin Skrzypek Son and friend of numerous students/alumni Jan 15, 2013 118 Amy Farrell MIT 1988, EECS Jan 15, 2013 117 Noah Vickstein Jan 15, 2013 116 James Blake Patterson nay Jan 15, 2013 115 Colin McSwiggen alumnus Jan 15, 2013 114 Latifah Hamzah Alum Jan 15, 2013 113 Rose Cottingham Jan 15, 2013 112 Marcel Boris Jan 15, 2013 111 Simon Osindero Jan 15, 2013 110 Corinn Herrick 2016 Jan 15, 2013 109 Robert Ochshorn former staff Jan 15, 2013 108 Rob McQueen MIT 12 Jan 15, 2013 107 Aimi Watanabe alum Jan 15, 2013 106 Micah Daigle Jan 15, 2013 105 Marc Bouvier Jan 15, 2013 104 Will Doenlen MIT c/o 2012 Jan 15, 2013 103 Jasmine Florentine MIT Alumni Jan 15, 2013 102 Charles Hung MIT '07 Jan 15, 2013 101 Christie Lin MEng 2012 Jan 15, 2013 100 Rachel Bowens-Rubin Jan 15, 2013 99 Harry Richman undergraduate Jan 15, 2013 98 Samuel Klein Jan 15, 2013 97 Dustin Boyer Jan 15, 2013 96 Michele Pratusevich MIT 2013 Jan 15, 2013 95 Nicole Aptekar Jan 15, 2013 94 Rémi Rispal Jan 15, 2013 93 Justin Campbell Jan 15, 2013 92 Jacob Steinhardt MIT '12 Jan 15, 2013 91 Claudia Gold Alum c/o 2007 Jan 15, 2013 90 Frédéric LOHIER Jan 15, 2013 89 Dany Qumsiyeh alum Jan 15, 2013 88 Shauna Gordon-McKeon Jan 15, 2013 87 Cypress Frankenfeld Jan 15, 2013 86 Amir Hirsch Class of 2006, MEng 2007 Jan 15, 2013 85 Seth Woodworth former sysadmin Jan 15, 2013 84 Bhaskar Mookerji Alumnus Jan 15, 2013 83 Darren Schmidt Jan 15, 2013 82 David Lewis Jan 15, 2013 81 Jacob Gresh Jan 15, 2013 80 Natan Wythe Jan 15, 2013 79 Jaimee Lee Aaron's cousin Jan 15, 2013 78 Russell Ryan S.B '09, M.Eng '11 EECS Jan 15, 2013 77 Alec Thomson Grad Student Jan 15, 2013 76 Dr. Pamela Hutchison Extended family of Aaron Swartz Jan 15, 2013 75 Timur Balbekov MIT S.B. 2013 Jan 15, 2013 74 Eric Kugler Jan 15, 2013 73 Rebecca Godfrey USA Jan 15, 2013 72 Nick Badger Friend of graduates Jan 15, 2013 71 Rebecca Schnell Jan 15, 2013 70 Adam Rodriguez MIT Undergraduate student Jan 15, 2013 69 Andrew Zolyak Jan 15, 2013 68 Johan Kullingsjo Jan 15, 2013 67 Hillary Wheelock Jan 15, 2013 66 Jake Thompson Jan 15, 2013 65 Alexander Patrikalakis Alumnus-Affiliate Jan 15, 2013 64 Dan Wheeler alum Jan 15, 2013 63 Deniz Yorukoglu Csail Jan 15, 2013 62 Robert McCauley Jan 15, 2013 61 Alec Williams Student Jan 15, 2013 60 David Coop Jan 15, 2013 59 Thomas McLarney Jan 15, 2013 58 Wiktor Jakubiuk MIT student Jan 15, 2013 57 Daniel Clark Jan 15, 2013 56 Meredith Peterson Jan 15, 2013 55 wesley gould Rejected applicant Jan 15, 2013 54 Star Simpson ex-student Jan 15, 2013 53 Qiaochu Yuan Alumnus Jan 15, 2013 52 Ron Newman MIT '79, course VI-3 Jan 15, 2013 51 Alan Aguiar Jan 15, 2013 50 May Moreshet Jan 15, 2013 49 Taylor Martin friend Jan 15, 2013 48 Michael Coen Alum: S.B., S.M., and Ph.D. Jan 15, 2013 47 Kyle Brogle SIPB Jan 15, 2013 46 Dylan Sherry Graduate student Jan 15, 2013 45 Amanda Wang student (undergraduate) Jan 15, 2013 44 Jonathan Vesey Jan 15, 2013 43 Derek Hovde Jan 15, 2013 42 Melissa Boyd Jan 15, 2013 41 Yuanyu Chen SB '12 Jan 15, 2013 40 Christopher Merrill MIT 2012 Jan 15, 2013 39 Michael Nawrot Student Jan 15, 2013 38 Paula Fraser Jan 15, 2013 37 Charles Pairan Jan 15, 2013 36 Jonathan Marcus Friend of many MIT students and alums. Jan 15, 2013 35 Adam Spektor Jan 15, 2013 34 John Dill Jan 15, 2013 33 Anthony Huron Jan 15, 2013 32 Afian Anwar CSAIL Jan 15, 2013 31 Eric Duerr Jan 15, 2013 30 Eben Freeman MIT undergrad Jan 15, 2013 29 Kevin Mark Jan 15, 2013 28 James King Jan 15, 2013 27 Geoffrey Maciolek A Fan Jan 15, 2013 26 Derek Overstreet Jan 15, 2013 25 Christian Ternus MIT '10 Jan 15, 2013 24 Thomas Calahan Martinos Center at MGH Jan 15, 2013 23 Val Healy former student Jan 15, 2013 22 Ian Daniher Affiliate Jan 15, 2013 21 Jae Ung Hwang Jan 15, 2013 20 Molly de Blanc Staff Jan 15, 2013 19 Daniel Dominguez alum Jan 15, 2013 18 Rachel Fong alumna Jan 15, 2013 17 Kamron Palmer Jan 15, 2013 16 Caroline Blehart Jan 15, 2013 15 Catherine Olsson Student Jan 15, 2013 14 Steven Dee None Jan 15, 2013 13 Janet Li 2013 Jan 15, 2013 12 Nolan Essigmann Student Jan 15, 2013 11 Brittany Willock Jan 15, 2013 10 Jeremy Sher Class of 1999 Jan 15, 2013 9 nathan lachenmyer aluminu Jan 15, 2013 8 Adam Wisniewski Jan 15, 2013 7 Carolyn DiNardo Jan 15, 2013 6 Noah Swartz Jan 15, 2013 5 Brian DeRosa Jan 15, 2013 4 Sarah Ganzhorn Jan 15, 2013 3 Donald Guy alumnus Jan 15, 2013 2 Franck Dernoncourt PhD in AI Jan 14, 2013 1 Yan Zhu alum (2012) Jan 14, 2013
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Hey, I’m an alum and work professionally with online organizing technology. I’d like to help this petition spread and grow big enough to get the response it deserves.
A few minor things you may want to add:
- Optimize for Facebook sharing. Add an og:image meta tag, and a short description.
- Looks like you’re using SpeakUp Email petitions. Can you edit the email sent to the signer after they submit? Ask them to share again, they probably will.
- If you can remove the requirement to confirm the email address, you’ll make it easier to sign quickly.
Anything you can do to lower the barrier to signing, the faster it will grow. Feel free to contact me at the address above, I’m happy to help any way I can.
Final thoughts re Aaron Swartz.
The more I have thought about this the more disturbed I get. My take: a brilliant young man with mental health issues is “adopted” by the Internet/PC/Info should be free crowd (yes Larry, Tim and Cory I mean you). He is coddled and “groomed.” He is a kid, he can act out the things they dare not (but do talk about and fantasize about etc). If he gets into trouble, they as the “respected elders” can vouch for him and all will be well. He gets to do the dirty work (and as a result gets the praise from these elders which is personality needs) and they get the public platitudes. But this time Uncle Sam and MIT refused to go along. The brilliant but troubled Aaron cannot accept that he has done something “wrong” after all all his mentors tell him it was right and for a good cause and the government has no case. If he accepts the plea deal then his role as the “kid who can do anything” vanishes. If he fights on, well it seems his mentors are unable to deliver. All through this no one is dealing with Aaron’s mental health issues and seemingly everyone has failed to teach him about either personal responsibility or cause and effect. Aaron is drowning in his loss of self identity. He does the unthinkable. The mentors and the parents — Aaron’s enablers and those who were “using him” for their own ends — hold much of the responsibility but that defies their sense of self identity (we of the the “higher ethical ground” are always doing only that which is the “right thing to do”) — so they lash out and blame others.
In the world of the users (my word for those who abused their relationship with Aaron) MIT was wrong for not seeing that allowing repeated trespassing and hacking of its property and networks served a “greater good.” The government was wrong for not agreeing that “moral intentions” trump actual physical criminal acts. The media can be used to help divert attention and guilt from those who really hurt Aaron and contributed to his downfall.
The “Information should be free” community abused one of its own most brilliant members. It is time that community look in a mirror and begin to accept responsibility for its own ugly role in Aaron’s tragedy.
Please. Help me understand how MIT conducted itself properly in this situation. Please.
That the Youth Movement… Read: youthful activism… has suddenly become the target of academia and the status quo is a sad commentary on the current culture at MIT.
The Occupy Movement needs to move its headquarters to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to dislodge that thick top crust which has calcified the minds of its administration and runs counter of its stated mission of advancing knowledge, intellectual freedom and creativity. The tragic death of Aaron Swartz is a black mark on this school and will forever remain so. It is time for a new mission statement from MIT which embraces web freedom / open access and the principles that have cost one brilliant young man his life.
s/outreach/overreach/
I disagree with your claim that nothing he did was illegal. In fact, if you look at the law, (i.e. http://www.volokh.com/2013/01/14/aaron-swartz-charges/), what he did was indeed illegal and he continued to do it after he had been blocked, told to stop, etc. He was warned, and continued breaking the law. Whether it hurt anyone is irrelevant – the law is the law, and he should realize that there are consequences to actions. If you think the prosecution should have used their discretion to either not prosecute, deal, or seek lesser charges, that is one thing. But I can just as easily make the argument that they should make an example our of him before someone uses his techniques to do something more damaging.
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In the years I lived and worked in Boston I spent many evenings and weekends on the MIT campus, in the library, attending events or strolling the infinite corridor. In spite of its numbered buildings or maybe even because of them, the place had a homely feeling and I always felt welcome there. In fact, one of my pet stories to tell used to be how I was able to log in to athena using a login passed along to me by a homeless person. All I did was look things up in the library, thereby impressing my co-workers the next day with my fast turnaround on research questions. I was young, it was the 90s. Incidentally I worked at BBN, one of the internet pioneers, where we also had numbered buildings, just like MIT.
(fya, I logged in as root with password mrroot. I assume this no longer works, though I have not tried it in many years. Sorry if I am revealing any secret here.)
I am now far from Boston and though I thought I was aware of issues like this, I had not heard of Aaron Swartz till now and I am more than shocked by the role MIT has played. MIT the place where anyone is allowed to audit a course (at least this is what the word on the street was). I can no longer smile when I see news of MIT students playing tetris on a building, I can no longer think of MIT without thinking of Aaron Swartz. Aaron Swartz who read Noam Chomsky at age 18 and dedicated his life to changing the world. If we do not work to address causes like freedom of knowledge through legal means, then we are going to see more idealistic and self-sacrificing people like Aaron Swartz putting the cause ahead of themselves. When we do, I hope that we can recognize their abilities and seek their guidance for the sake of a more just and humane society.
If we can’t we may want to ban Noam Chomsky for 18-year olds and make them wait till they are old enough to sit in cafes and just talk about it.