has been charged by Chancellor Cynthia Barnhart and Provost Martin Schmidt with engaging the MIT community in the foundational work of developing a statement of shared values, one that is grounded in universal ideals but also speaks to MIT’s distinctive character and culture. The Committee is co-chaired by two MIT alumni: Daniel Hastings SM ’78, PhD ’80, head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Cecil and Ida Green Education Professor, and Tracy Gabridge ’88, deputy director of the MIT Libraries. They spoke with MIT News about ideas and themes that are emerging in the committee’s conversations, and the process of creating a statement that reflects the voices and values of the MIT community.