Universities Balking at Federal Contract Secrecy Provisions

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Many universities are balking at Defense Department and other government contracts requiring high levels of secrecy involving the work. MIT recently refused a $6.9 million Army grant to study chemical agents, arguing it was fundamental research that needed to be shared to be of value. The Army backed down. The Association of American Universities, a Washington-based group that represents MIT and other U.S. research universities, recently reviewed 180 contracts records at 20 member schools and found 138 instances of restrictions either against publication or the use of foreign students. (7/24/06)