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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is looking into its ties with Saudi Arabia for the second time following the death of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi.
In a letter to faculty last week, Richard Lester, assistant vice-principal, said that the university's president, L. Rafael Reif, "asked me, as part of my duties for international activities, to conduct a rapid and thorough reassessment of MIT's commitments to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia so that we can determine the way forward for the Institute. "
He said that MIT "enjoyed very fruitful educational and research collaborations with colleagues and partners in Saudi Arabia for several decades" and benefited from the presence of Saudi students, faculty and staff on the campus. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, accused of playing a role in Khashoggi's death, went to the institute in March.
But Lester said the allegations about Khashoggi's fate "are matters of grave concern to us all."
Khashoggi, a Saudi national, was a legal permanent resident of the United States. He wanted to become an American citizen, said his fiancée. He worked as a columnist for the post office.
He disappeared during his visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, where he was going to pick up the papers he needed to get married. Turkish officials, who are investigating, claimed that he had been murdered and dismembered by a successful team.
Saudi officials initially said the charges were "baseless" and "a scandalous statement". The kingdom then changed history, claiming Saturday that the 59-year-old writer had died in a "hand-to-hand fight," an assertion that drew international skepticism. On Sunday, a Saudi official said the killing was a "fraudulent operation" and a "serious mistake".
Lester, the MIT Provost, also told the faculty, "As we reflect on how to respond to current events, faculty members who have commitments or plan to do so with Saudi Arabia will determine themselves what is the best way to go. "
But he told them, "If you have questions about your own situation, or if you have any suggestions, comments, or advice that you would like to offer about the position of MIT, I hope you will will know. "
The Associated Press documents were used in this report.
