In the 'good news' section today:

Sep 8, 2019

Brown University has placed a fundraising director on administrative leave while investigating his work with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein while at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Peter Cohen, director of development for computer science and data initiatives at Brown, was previously director of development for MIT Media Lab, which received donations and assistance from Epstein while concealing their relationship with him.

The MIT Media Lab’s Director, Joi Ito, resigned Saturday amid uproar over the scandal.

Cohen began working at Brown in 2018, according to university spokesman Brian Clark.

“We are aware of the content of recent news reports about Mr. Cohen’s work at MIT’s Media Lab, which received funds from Jeffrey Epstein.

Brown has not in its history received any funds from Jeffrey Epstein,” Clark wrote to The Journal in an email Sunday evening.

“We are engaged in a review of available information regarding Mr. Cohen in the context of Brown University policies, core values and the University’s commitment to treat employees fairly. Mr. Cohen is on administrative leave pending this review.

The review does not constitute any adverse determination, and it would be premature to speak to any potential outcomes.”

The New Yorker story published Friday included 2014 emails from Cohen to colleagues at the MIT Media Lab titled “Epstein money” saying donations from Epstein, who was disqualified from the school’s official donor list, “needs to be anonymous.”

The New Yorker reported that Epstein arranged at least $7.5 million in donations to the MIT Media Lab from donors including Microsoft founder Bill Gates and private equity investor Leon Black.

“In general terms, I can share that Brown conducts reviews under a range of circumstances, which include assessing alignment with Brown’s values, the University Code of Conduct and other policies, compliance with any applicable regulations, laws and statutes, and capacity to perform the requirements of an appointed position,” Clark wrote in his email.