Counterpoint: Nobody asked MIT to build graduate student housing in the heart of Kendall Square. Also, many graduate students are international students with rules stating that their spouses cannot work in the U.S., thus making it outright unaffordable.
MIT is not-for-profit with a 17 billion endowment and 3.5 bil operating revenue. Should MIT be trying to make profit off the backs of its most vulnerable? Because that is what this looks like.
i worked at student financial services at m.i.t. and most work as teaching or research assistants, a substantial number receive fellowships and stipends, and -- at least when i was there -- about 90% graduate with *zero* debt to the school. these students are not broke and these rents are not "outright unaffordable." the school wants these scholars. it would be flat-out stupid for m.i.t. to make it difficult for the world's brightest to attend and live on/near campus -- and they make it easy to do so.