A few days ago, @Northeastern Senior Vice Provost David Luzzi (provost.northeastern.edu/leadership/dav…) had motion sensors installed under all of our desks in #ISEC. This was done overnight and without our consent.
A thread: (1 of N).
A thread: (1 of N).
The alleged reason for the sensors was to conduct a study on desk usage. Reader, we have assigned desks, and we use a key-card to get into the room, so, they already know how and when we use our desks.
(2 of N).
(2 of N).
We wrote a letter to David and to @PresidentAoun requesting the sensors be removed, noting .
- they serve no scientific purpose
- they are intimidating
- they change our behaviors (students don't want to be surveilled thus do not use their desks) so the data is flawed
(3 of N).
- they serve no scientific purpose
- they are intimidating
- they change our behaviors (students don't want to be surveilled thus do not use their desks) so the data is flawed
(3 of N).
- the university chose not to go through #IRB
- indeed, David didn't even bother to _ask_ the IRB folks if this was something for which he'd need #IRB approval
- being surveilled is creepy and unnecessary
- etc.
(4 of N).
- indeed, David didn't even bother to _ask_ the IRB folks if this was something for which he'd need #IRB approval
- being surveilled is creepy and unnecessary
- etc.
(4 of N).
The letter was widely signed, and, I think, ignored by David. He did an impromptu "listening session" with the 6th floor @KhouryCollege students, in which he said something about how "you must trust the university since you trust them to GIVE you a degree."
(5 of N).
(5 of N).
Obviously, we contest the use of the word "give."
Anyway, the 6th floor ISEC students removed all the sensors and stuck them on the kitchen table.
(6 of N).
Anyway, the 6th floor ISEC students removed all the sensors and stuck them on the kitchen table.
(6 of N).
Then early this week, w/ less than 72 hrs warning, David scheduled another "listening session" at 9am, and only told the professors. So, we disseminated flyers to impacted graduate students.
(7 of N).
(7 of N).
In the listening session, David claimed that the devices are not subject to IRB because they don't sense humans in particular - they sense any heat source. Implying that there are, IDK, rats and kangaroos walking around the 6th floor of ISEC?
(8 of N).
(8 of N).
For now, the sensors have found a new home, as a public art piece on the floor of the #ISEC lobby. In the spirit of #ISEC, this is an interdisciplinary work, with contributions from surveilled graduate students in a myriad of departments.
(9 of N).
(9 of N).
I may continue this thread more later with future developments, but for now, I will conclude with a screenshot of my recent email to David. I won't include his response, but it suffices to say, it was entirely dismissive and in bad faith.
(10 of 10, for now.)
(10 of 10, for now.)
Oh yeah, I forgot this gem. In the meeting, when asked why he didn't seek IRB approval, David said, "we are not doing any science here." Leading to this gem on the 6th floor ISEC window.
(11 of 11, for now.)
(11 of 11, for now.)
Update: I've create a repository to hold relevant PDFs & other documents. I've uploaded this widely-circulated flyer: github.com/maxvonhippel/i… . More to come.
(12 of 12, for now.)
(12 of 12, for now.)
Update: I've added meeting notes another student recorded from the "listening session" this morning with David, here: github.com/maxvonhippel/i…
(13 of 14.)
(13 of 14.)
Some highlights:
- David mis-genders a student
- Student: who are we monitoring if not people. David: Any heat source.
(14 of 14, for now.)
- David mis-genders a student
- Student: who are we monitoring if not people. David: Any heat source.
(14 of 14, for now.)
From @eysasaur : "Another meeting highlight was when someone pointed out the cost of these devices were more than graduate students make in a year and luzzi thought it'd be a good idea to compare other costs in terms of ~how many PhD stipends is this~"
(15 of 15, for now.)
(15 of 15, for now.)
From another student, posted w/ permission: "My favorite part from the notes is when a student complained about wireless interference from the sensors ruining their experiment, [...]
(16 of N).
(16 of N).
[...] and Luzzi said that there was a facility in Burlington (which is a 4 hour drive from Boston!), and then said "stuff like this happens, this is maybe a first experience for you but it is not for me."
Like, yeah, it happened BECAUSE OF YOU.
(17 of 17).
Like, yeah, it happened BECAUSE OF YOU.
(17 of 17).
Update: Some conversation about this can be found on reddit, here reddit.com/r/NEU/comments… .
(18 of 18).
(18 of 18).
🚨Update: We won.🚨
However, I am confident they will make more attempts to surveil us in other ways, and/or justify taking our research space from us. When that happens, I'll update this thread accordingly.
(19 of 19).
However, I am confident they will make more attempts to surveil us in other ways, and/or justify taking our research space from us. When that happens, I'll update this thread accordingly.
(19 of 19).
Alt text: Image of email from David saying they will remove the sensors.
Update: just want to clarify that the transcript is not verbatim! Some things are slightly paraphrased.
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