MIT Sloan Management Review’s planned shutdown has triggered sharp criticism from members of MIT’s editorial advisory board, who described the decision as surprising and “impulsive.” In separate interviews, Stuart Hart (University of Michigan) and Tensie Whelan (NYU Stern) disputed the framing offered by Sloan leadership. MIT Dean Richard Locke said MIT Sloan will cease production of SMR after nearly seven decades, with the final issue scheduled for September 2026. The closure will cost 23 full-time staff roles and about 20 contractors, while leadership positioned the change as part of a streamlined messaging strategy emphasizing newsletters, podcasts, social media, and short-form digital content. Academics and longtime contributors escalated the critique, arguing the shutdown underestimates how social-first formats can spread ideas without supporting deeper innovation. Specific board feedback pointed to what critics see as an imbalance: frequent references to “communications” in Locke’s letter while “business” appeared only once. The episode matters because it reflects a larger publishing and scholarly-communication stress point for research universities: institutions are reorganizing editorial assets as financial and attention models change, but community pushback is increasing when heritage institutions are cut. The next phase will likely focus on whether MIT revises implementation plans or accelerates alternative publication pathways for SMR’s editorial mission.