<p>This is an interesting article, about a new book written by an ex-dean of Harvard, who says that Harvard is coddling its students, in part because of Harvard's low scores on a student satisfaction survey</p>
<p>Pretty much a sour grapes deal, in that Dean Bernard Gross - who replaced the author, who was eased out as the administrator primarily interfacing with students - has gotten rave notices and been much more responsive to student concerns and desires (ie, a pub at Loker, an all-night coffee shop at Lamont, a student center, a "fun czar", a quadrupled social affairs budget, etc., etc.)</p>
<p>Summers, who was popular with students, sacked Lewis, and this book was designed as revenge and as a criticism of the trend towards involving students in the decision-making process about campus life.</p>
<p>Byerly seems unecessarily defensive of Harvard, as always. It continues to stagger me quite how sad an individual he must be. </p>
<p>However, I think the author's arguments do not amount to worrying criticism. His (entirely normative) arguments seem to me to be pining for the good old days when young people were moral and decent and didn't spend so much time drinking, jollying and frolicking. These days probably never existed but even if they did, I don't see why Harvard should be instilling moral rigour into students at the expense of their having fun. I don't really see how you could do it, either - these are (very intelligent) adults, not little kids.</p>
<p>from a freshman student, not the ex-dean:</p>
<p>"I find this to be an exceptionally competitive environment, bordering on unhealthy, so anything you can do to alleviate that is a good thing," she said. "There's a dearth of community feeling."</p>
<p>
[quote]
from a freshman student, not the ex-dean:</p>
<p>"I find this to be an exceptionally competitive environment, bordering on unhealthy, so anything you can do to alleviate that is a good thing," she said. "There's a dearth of community feeling."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Just because one person says it, doesn't make it at all representative of the community feeling or the student experience at Harvard. Someone's always going to be unhappy.</p>
<p>I kind of agree with Byerly. Lewis was not popular as a dean and not a terribly good teacher (or textbook writer) either. Most students were pretty happy when he was forced out as dean.</p>
<p>Actually, I think Dean Gross would be a good candidate for the presidency.</p>
<p>Actually, I think we all need a life beyond the administrative gossip of Harvard University.</p>
<p>When we are talking about the next president of Harvard University, the issue rises above the level of "administrative gossip." </p>
<p>Defrocked Dean Lewsis' book, I will concede. is not only "administrative gossip" but out-dated gossip. The rationale for his book - and potential sales - were shot to hell when Summers resigned prior to the publication date.</p>
<p>well, his daughters study at Harvard...</p>
<p>Sure ... and he's still on the faculty, so they qualify as high-admit-rate "fac-brats"... and his wife is a fixture in the Admissions office. </p>
<p>He has tenure, though, so he is free to bite the hand that feeds him, and to strive to settle old scores. </p>
<p>This is a book that would have been better left unwritten for the author's reputation.</p>
<p>Maybe if people like you weren't so defensive about Harvard, people who clearly care a great deal about it could write about it without fearing not only their own reputation sullied with accusations of betrayal and bitterness, but even having their children attacked.</p>
<p>Pathetic even for you Byerly.</p>
<p>"Pretty much a sour grapes deal..."</p>
<p>I haven't read the book, and haven't been a Harvard student for several years ... and therefore may not be able to accurately separate what you're calling "old gossip" from "new gossip." However:</p>
<p>1) The word on the street is that it's been much longer since you were a student there.</p>
<p>2) I'm not saying that I agree with what I've heard about the book's content. I don't know if you personally know Harry Lewis, but I do ... he is a person of impeccable integrity who cares deeply about the university. For you to call this "sour grapes" for the reasons you listed is a very biting personal criticism of Lewis. If you're writing this simply because you're making assumptions based on the situation (and because you disagree with the book's message), then you are being extremely childish and deceptive behind a veil of "message board anonyminity."</p>
<p>Hi there, UKRUS, </p>
<p>let me ask you specifically, what is your connection to Harvard? Where are you in the college admission process? I ask, because the great majority of your</a> previous posts are here on the Harvard Forum. This seems to be the CC forum you care most about. </p>
<p>As is the case with many readers here, I like to get accurate information from informed persons. What is your basis for knowledge about Harvard? What acquaintance do you have with the author of the book mentioned in this thread, or with persons named in the book?</p>
<p>I am not in the slightest "defensive" about Harvard, which hardly needs "defending." </p>
<p>Rather, I am for CHANGE at Harvard ... <em>radical</em> change.</p>
<p>I think Harry Lewis is (or at least was) an excellent teacher. I took his popular computers course as an undergrad and enjoyed it quite a bit. But I don't think he did a particularly good job as Dean of the College. In contrast, I think Dick Gross is doing an excellent job.</p>
<p>Lewis' ouster was quite public and quite bitter. He made no secret of his dislike of Larry Summers. I have no idea whether he viewed his book as payback. I haven't read it and probably won't bother. But I tend to be a little suspicious of pieces written by someone with an axe to grind. </p>
<p>And of threads like this started by Princeton alumni/parents. ;)</p>
<p>tokenadult: This thread is discussing an article. I read it, and therefore have as much information as I need to comment on it. </p>
<p>Generally speaking, my interest in this forum is two-fold. Firstly, I very nearly attended Harvard College, turning down an offer after months of deliberation, so I remain naturally interested in it. Secondly, I'm currently a student at Oxford University, and I find comparing the way Harvard and Oxford do things both interesting and useful - I think in many areas Harvard is light years ahead of Oxford.</p>
<p>A common phenomenon - University of Wisconsin envy - Harvard is obviously after the #1 party school ranking. It won't work though, Wis has served beer in ITs student union since 1933.</p>
<p>Beprepn: What's the legal age for drinking in Wisc? In MA, it's 21 (it used to be 18).</p>
<p>The legal age for drinking everywhere in the United States is twenty-one. The federal government used highway funding to nudge all states to increase their drinking age to twenty-one during my early adulthood.</p>