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Friday, March 18, 2005

Harvard Faculty: "Oh dear me, what do we do now?"

The Harvard Faculty is so used to passing meaningless resolutions, that it never occurred to them that voting "no confidence" on Pres. Larry Summers would actually have an impact on anything:
Several professors declined to be interviewed because they said they were at such a loss to understand what had happened and the implications for the future that they had nothing to say.
When an Arts & Letters prof is at a loss as what to say, you know things are rough. Here, then, is the way things would unfold in a rational world:

Larry Summers issues the following statement:
It has been brought to my attention that the Harvard Faculty has taken a vote indicating it has "no confidence" in me. I sorely wish I could say the feeling weren't mutual. A long time ago, William F. Buckley, Jr. quipped that he would rather be governed by the first 100 names in the Boston phone book than the Harvard Faculty. I am beginning to see his reason.

When I came to Harvard, it was with the idea that I would be a leader among academicians. I knew that controversies would arise since all meaningful inquiry touches subjects which stir our passions. And I understood that if a professor presented startling conclusions about the workings of our society, it would be my obligation to stand firm in allowing his or her work to continue though those of closed mind might protest. As the President of Harvard, I would do so, even in spite of what has transpired of late.

However, I would like the Harvard Faculty to know that I now understand: While I am charged with their care and feeding, I am not one of them, nor one with them. This is for the good. When confronted with upset students or angry regents, I might have in the past favored those whom I considered "fellow professors." Liberated from the belief that being President of Harvard means leading the Harvard Faculty, I shall henceforth pay better attention to students struggling under the weight of heavy tuitions, regents desirous that their wishes for the university be followed and contributors anxious that their generous support be rewarded with an acknowledgment of their legitimate stake in how our enterprise is governed. My thanks to the Faculty Senate for focusing my attention. I shall be a better President for it.
A chastened Faculty would respond by agreeing not to meddle in administration if he promises not to be a daring professor who raises thought provoking questions anymore.

posted by gbarto at 10:15 PM  


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