"Anatomy of Summers' Fall" - (Boston Globe Op-Ed piece, 2.26.06)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>" ...Harvard's motto is ''Veritas," Latin for ''truth." But at Harvard, as in much of academia, ideology, not truth, is the highest value. Nothing exemplifies the moral and intellectual rot of elite academic culture like the sight of Harvard's president falling on his sword for the crime of uttering statements that the vast majority of Americans would regard as straightforward common sense..."</p>

<p><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/02/26/anatomy_of_summerss_fall/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/02/26/anatomy_of_summerss_fall/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Do we really need two threads on the same topic?</p>

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<p>The debate will be continuing for years. There will be scores, if not hundreds, of threads dealing with it.</p>

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<p>Maybe, but why not just post it in one thread and keep the forum tight? Spamming is just silly, and does nothing but make the discussion more diffuse. </p>

<p>Besides, you'll get your point across better in one thread.</p>

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<p>When one thread gets too long, it isn't "tight" anymore, and important viewpoints such as those expressed by the writer of this op-ed piece would just get lost in the stew.</p>

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<p>Fair enough. </p>

<p>Jacoby is mostly right. There is a certain fantatical streak amongst much of academia. However, it is my belief that it is in part fueled by a sort of reaction to noticeable scorn in the mainstream for academics. It doesn't help that academics have to watch local school boards push for creationism in biology classes and then get called ignorant or unfair to those with different views when the issue is brought up.</p>

<p>Now, does this justify the absurd level of frothing at the mouth that was done by the Harvard faculty over fairly innocuous comments? No, of course not. But I can sort of see why so many academics are so worked up.</p>

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<p>Cornel West must be laughing his head off now. Kind of like his revenge.</p>

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<p>"...Last week's revolt targeted not just Mr Summers but Harvard's own students. Many faculty members were quoted as saying you cannot judge a Harvard education the way you would a piece of merchandise. This is not wholly convincing to the parents who fork out $50,000 a year to purchase one. A Harvard education is a product – one that over the decades came to be tailored to the convenience of its employees, not the needs of its consumers. Those curious about what happens when a large and seemingly invulnerable institution sets such priorities can look at General Motors and the rest of the US auto industry.</p>

<p>That is why Mr Summers' seemingly innocuous remarks about women and mathematics a year ago scared the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He had revealed that he would not be constrained by the taboos that protect professorial privilege and self-regard. After that, it did not really matter to the Harvard faculty what he said...."</p>

<p><a href="http://us.ft.com/ftsuperpage/superpage.php?news_id=fto022420061527318651&page=2%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://us.ft.com/ftsuperpage/superpage.php?news_id=fto022420061527318651&page=2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p><a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=511477%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=511477&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><summers knew="" the="" rules.="" he="" dangers="" of="" saying,="" “i="" know="" best,”="" to="" a="" collection="" greatest="" minds="" in="" world.="" and="" yet="" still="" dug="" his="" own="" grave.="" .=""> THE ECONOMIST, Alex Slack ’06</summers></p>

<p>As Summers acknowledged, he made some mistakes. Portraying him as only a helpless victim insults him; why not accept him as he is - both the not so good, with the good.</p>

<p>Time to move on!</p>

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<p>It won't be that simple, I'm afraid. Not by a long shot.</p>

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<p>Go to first new post "Harvard lays an egg" The triumph of the diversity faction and the fall of Summers"
Byerly</p>

<p>Go to first new post "Anatomy of Summers' Fall" - (Boston Globe Op-Ed piece, 2.26.06)
Byerly</p>

<p>Go to first new post "Too bad Harvard's President wouldn't take his own side in a quarrel" ( Multi-page thread 1 2 )
Byerly</p>

<p>USA Today - What Summers' demise means for rich white males
Northstarmom</p>

<p>"Backers of Harvard President Cite Politics (Forbes)
Byerly </p>

<hr>

<p>I SENSE A PATTERN!</p>

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<p>"Summers end marks the start of a long winter in American universities"
- Byerly</p>

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<p>nah that wasnt in the group of 5 posts.</p>

<p>i wanted to be authentic...not do a cut and paste job.</p>

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<p>So wait, whats your affiliation with Harvard Byerly? alum? prospective student? current student? faculty?</p>

<p>I never caught that in my mindless procrastinating in which i am currently involved in by asking you such a question.</p>