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Topic: Harvard chief again to face angry faculty over sexist remarks
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Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795
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posted 23 February 2005 06:09 AM
I thought Harvard was supposed to be a bastion of advanced knowledge?! quote: In a rare second faculty meeting in a week, set for this afternoon, critics of Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers are expected to excoriate him again for his leadership style and recent remarks about women in science and engineering.But the leader of the nation's oldest academic institution also retains a strong base of support among university officials and increasingly vocal groups of students, professors and former Washington colleagues whose counsel he has sought. Conspicuous by their relative public silence during a month-long onslaught of criticism from within the university and beyond, many backers of the former Treasury secretary agree he made a major blunder at a Jan. 14 meeting of the National Bureau of Economic Research by referring to differences of "intrinsic aptitude" for science between men and women. But they also point out that he has taken tangible steps - such as creating two task forces on women in academia, meeting with students and faculty members, and apologizing at every opportunity - that demonstrate his commitment to change. "I think we should acknowledge that he made a mistake, learn from it and move forward," said economics professor David Laibson, who along with a colleague has gathered more than 180 faculty members' signatures on a letter that praises Summers's "lifetime of public service" and "remarkable energy" and says he "will continue to make positive and significant contributions" to Harvard. Others believe that Summers's bluntness has been just what the university needs, and some support his right to say what he thinks - even undiplomatically - in the tradition of allowing wide-ranging freedom of expression on campus. Faculty in Harvard's many professional schools have expressed more support for Summers than colleagues in the arts and sciences.
From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003
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Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
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posted 23 February 2005 08:35 AM
quote: "I think we should acknowledge that he made a mistake, learn from it and move forward," said economics professor David Laibson, who along with a colleague has gathered more than 180 faculty members' signatures on a letter that praises Summers's "lifetime of public service" and "remarkable energy" and says he "will continue to make positive and significant contributions" to Harvard.
Aww, isn't that sweet of him. But you're not the one who is being discriminated against, now, are you, Davey? How touching, that the old boys' club are sticking up for each other. BTW, this has nothing to do with academic freedom. Or if it does, then why are this creep's supporters not supporting the academic freedom of women on campus to object to what Summers said? [ 23 February 2005: Message edited by: Michelle ]
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
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Bacchus
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4722
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posted 23 February 2005 01:05 PM
quote: He doesn't set policy, and he can't influence anyone else's hiring. For him, freedom of expression, pure and simple.
Well he can influence how students do and are marked in his class, ala Paul Fromm. edited to add But it was a flip comment. I do feel however, that since he apologized and caught hell for it, then let it go and watch his behavior from now on. [ 23 February 2005: Message edited by: Bacchus ]
From: n/a | Registered: Dec 2003
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Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795
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posted 23 February 2005 03:29 PM
quote: Originally posted by brebis noire: WUT??? This can only be a prime example of Harvard's impeccable logic.
Ummm...Bush went to Yale. ~~~~~~~~~~ forced to edit 'coz I had a brain fart. [ 23 February 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]
From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003
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v michel
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7879
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posted 23 February 2005 04:04 PM
Well, he certainly has the right to say whatever he wants.But this goes deeper than that. As University president he sets policy on hiring and tenure, he represents the University to the world, and sets the direction of the University at large. Sure he can think whatever he wants about women's suitability for tenure and high-powered professions - but it is reasonable to assume that his beliefs in this regard will inform those decisions. So I am with Michelle on this one. For the Econ professor and other petitioners to brush this off as a mistake is ridiculous. It was not a mistake. The man spoke candidly about what he believed, and now the University community is thinking about whether they want someone with those beliefs leading them. The sense that he somehow made a mistake is really insulting to me. I guess the mistake was that he actually said what he thought, and forgot to keep those comments to himself in the boys' clubhouse or something? No, no mistake was made! He expounded on his personal beliefs and philosophies. He's in a position where those beliefs may actually influence policy, and now is dealing with the natural and expected consequences of that.
From: a protected valley in the middle of nothing | Registered: Jan 2005
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Geneva
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3808
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posted 24 February 2005 11:28 AM
I found the 3-4 articles in Slate.com on the subject gave the best roundup, with a lot of detail: http://slate.msn.com/id/2113810/http://slate.msn.com/id/2112570/ as for Summers on Cornel West, not so simple as West contends; talk about playing the race card! West was awarded the very very top posting that Harvard offers, University Professor, and Summers pointed out that West's production wasn't measuring up, to date; quite another story [ 24 February 2005: Message edited by: Geneva ]
From: um, well | Registered: Feb 2003
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v michel
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7879
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posted 24 February 2005 02:02 PM
quote: Originally posted by Contrarian: vmichel, if you are responding to me, I was talking about Ward Churchill; as for the Harvard President; maybe he should be forced to take sensitivity training or something. If he does have an influence on hiring policies, then it would be good if they could dump him. But how many others who influence hiring share his prejudices without making them public?
Sorry, I was unclear. I wasn't responding to any poster in particular, and I was talking about Summers (not Churchill). It's a good point about those who may share his prejudices. That's why I think he should be dumped. As University Pres. the following Vice Presidents report directly to him (I got this info from the Harvard website): Associate VP for Equal Opportunity Employment and Affirmative Action VP Administration VP Finance VP & General Counsel ... among others. He is hiring and supervising the people who set hiring and supervisory policy. I do wonder how many of them share his opinions, since he hired them and is their boss. If the board (his boss) disagrees with his ideas in those areas, he should go. And if the faculty disagree with his ideas in those areas, they should make that clear to the board (as they have).
From: a protected valley in the middle of nothing | Registered: Jan 2005
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Rebecca West
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1873
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posted 24 February 2005 02:46 PM
I, for one, welcome every opportunity for dinosaurs like Summers to publically reveal why exactly women, with a few notable exceptions, continue to be 2nd class citizens economically, professionally and socially. Ignorant relics who aren't bright enough to camoflage the gender stereotypes they still cling to, still occupy positions of power and influence, should be encouraged to broadcast their ignorance as a reminder of how much work we still have to do before we can sit back, put our feet up, and say, "ah, finally equality". Most of these guys are bright enough sparks to keep their mouths shut about their archaic notions of women's abilities and compentance, so the inequities are more subtle, more behind-the-scenes and easier to disguise, leaving an impression that women have gained much more in opportunity and equity than they actually have. Bravo Summers! Keep that foot planted firmly in your mouth, we're counting on you!
From: London , Ontario - homogeneous maximus | Registered: Nov 2001
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