DiFava Weighs in on Whitey, Hacks, and Honoring Officer Collier

You spoke eloquently at the memorial for Officer Sean Collier on campus after the marathon bombings. What did you think of Vice President Biden’s remarks? It all came from the heart. He showed that he’s such a regular guy. I have a lot of respect for him coming. And he was magnificent with the family.

Officer Collier has been made an honorary MIT alumnus and an honorary member of the Somerville PD, among other honors. What else can we do? The best tribute to Sean is to never forget him. I've been through a lot of things like this. As superintendent of the police, I buried two officers. Each was painful and hard, and at first, there’s all this sympathy and grief, but then it wanes. I don't want to see that happen here.

How do you gauge a potential MIT police officer in an interview? I ask them if they know what our mission is. There's no right or wrong answer, but I can get a feel from that about how they'll act here. I need to know that they know things are different here. We're dealing with the smartest people in the world, in a place that deserves that reputation, and our role is to assist the Institute in achieving its academic and research goals.

Did the culture of hacks at MIT take some getting used to? Like, anybody else, when I see one of these incredible hacks, I’m impressed, and I get pride in MIT when people ask about them. But there's a risk too. I remember the first time I went up on Building 10. You're looking for something to grab onto and there’s nothing. I'd hate to be doing that at three in the morning. There's an inherent risk, and there's wannabe hackers too who don't do it correctly, who don't follow the code. When we're confronted with it, we wing it. There’s no rule for how to confront it, but I think that 99% of the time we get it right.

Favorite quiet spot on campus? Killian Court.

Favorite lunch spot? Amelias.

You’re an alumnus of Long Island University. Do you contribute to its annual fund? I do.

Name an MIT alum that you’ve enjoyed getting to know. Paul Lagacé ’78. He's an aero/astro professor. Paul and I have become very good friends. I'm a big admirer of him. Paul embodies what this place is all about–he’s world-renowned, but at the same time just a humble guy.

Have you been following the Whitey Bulger trial? Yes. I was the colonel [of the State Police] when the Whitey story broke. I was there at Florian Hall when they were digging up the bodies. It’s almost entertaining now, if it wasn't so tragic.

Are you encouraging your own kids to study at MIT? I’d love it. This place is the real deal.