The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab flaunts a rebellious style, dubbing itself “a house of misfits” and “the new Salon des Refusés”, after a French exhibition of rejected art works. But its relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and paedophile, was revolting.
Its decision to take anonymous donations from Epstein, who committed suicide in jail last month while facing charges of trafficking underage girls, led to the resignation of Joi Ito, the Media Lab’s director. Mr Ito is a technology evangelist whose charisma and networking skills kept money flowing and the Media Lab in business.
“I thank god that I’ve never been obligated to raise money for an institution like MIT,” wrote Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard University law professor, in a bungled attempt to defend his friend Mr Ito. The pressure to attract donors who fund research and pay for new university buildings is indeed intense, but Mr Ito behaved unconscionably.