MIT can forget the lazy days of summer. The public image of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is in crisis over charges of racism, and things look set to get worse in the next two weeks.
James Sherley, an MIT stem cell scientist, has been protesting his department鈥檚 refusal to consider him for tenure two years ago. Sherley is one of about 30 black professors at MIT, and he claims racism and conflicts of interest marred his chances of fair treatment. MIT鈥檚 leadership backs the department鈥檚 decision and has ordered Sherley to vacate his laboratory by 30 June. Sherley says he won鈥檛 go.
鈥淭hey have no legitimate reason to ask me to leave without a fair investigation. I plan on coming into my office, with business as usual,鈥� Sherley says.
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Frank Douglas of MIT鈥檚 Center for Biomedical Innovation has announced he will resign on 30 June in protest at Sherley鈥檚 treatment. Douglas, who is black, said he can鈥檛 continue to advise young black scientists within MIT鈥檚 environment as it stands.