R.I.P. Harvard President Lawrence Summers

[MARIO]

Hell, even the usually politically correct Washington Post editors are siding with Summers on this.

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Prejudice Wins

Wednesday, February 22, 2006; A14



UNIVERSITIES EXIST to pose tough questions, promote critical thinking, and generally challenge complacency and prejudice. When he became president of Harvard five years ago, Lawrence H. Summers determined that the university was not living up to this mission: It was infected by its own complacencies and prejudices, and he did not shrink from saying so. This outspokenness won Mr. Summers support across the university: A new online poll conducted by the Harvard Crimson found that 57 percent of undergraduates supported him -- only 19 percent thought he should resign -- and the deans of several faculties praised his leadership. But Mr. Summers alienated a vocal portion of the Arts and Sciences faculty, which pressed last year for a vote of no confidence in him and recently forced a second such vote on to the schedule for next week. Yesterday Mr. Summers preempted that second vote by announcing that he would step down in the summer. Because of the prestige of Harvard, his defeat may demoralize reformers at other universities.

Mr. Summers fought several well-publicized battles with Harvard's establishment. He refused to rubber-stamp appointees chosen by the faculties, blocking candidates who seemed insufficiently distinguished and pressing for diversity in political outlook. This prompted complaints that he was acting like a corporate chief executive -- as though there were something wrong with that. Next, Mr. Summers had the temerity to suggest that Cornel West, a professor of Afro-American studies, produce less performance art and more scholarship. This plea for academics to do academic work was construed as racist. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Mr. Summers criticized Harvard's hostility to the U.S. armed forces and called attention to the cultural gap between elite coastal campuses and mainstream American values. The fact that these commonsensical positions alienated people at Harvard speaks volumes about the cultural gap that troubled Mr. Summers.

Perhaps most explosively, Mr. Summers raised the possibility that the underrepresentation of women in science and engineering faculties might reflect innate gender differences in ability. His claim was not that women were less intelligent on average, but rather that fewer women than men might be outstandingly bad or outstandingly good at math, with the result that the pool of math geniuses from which universities recruit is disproportionately male. "I would far prefer to believe something else, because it would be easier to address what is surely a serious social problem if something else were true," he noted. But he was immediately branded a sexist.

Mr. Summers can be undiplomatic, as he acknowledged in his resignation letter. But university professors, of all people, should not require mollycoddling; they should be willing to embrace leaders who ask hard questions about how well they are doing their jobs. The tragedy is that the majority at Harvard seems to have known that. But, in university politics as elsewhere, loud and unreasonable minorities can trump good sense.

[bounce]

OK Lor, I can see that this is a very touchy issue with you and I accept that.

Here's the deal though, if you run into glass ceilings where you are, it's time to play your own game (screw the game where the guys make the rules).

Here is an example of what I am talking about:

The people who have made a BILLION DOLLARS (that's 1,000 Million) in a single day belong to a very exclusive club. There are damned few people that have done it.

Martha Stewart is one of them however. She made $1.2 Billion the day her stock went public. What kind of anger do you suppose she has about glass ceilings?

Here's my point: Rather than rail against sexual glass ceilings, change the game. The same thing applies to race, creed and sexual preference.

By the way, white, male, heterosexuals run into roadblocks as well.

[bounce]

Here's another thing that bugs me about this issue...

Did Summers break any laws? Is voicing an opinion contrary to the popular "group think" against the law, or is it protected speech under the First Amendment?

If Summers had been found in violation of Anti-Discrimination laws himself while conducting his duties at Harvard, that would be one thing, but that's not the case here.

All he did was voice an opinion (in six words out of a 15 page speech). For that, he deserves to have his balls kicked in (as Lor said she'd like to do to him) and lose his job???

You know, any white guy who says damn near ANYTHING is under attack these days.

We've reached the point where the First Amendment applies to EVERYONE EXCEPT white heterosexual males.

Can you imagine what the reaction would be if a bunch of white guys were to call for Maxine Waters' head (I want to bash her breasts in and recall her ass from the Congress) for some of the OUTRAGEOUS shit that comes out of her mouth?

[LorSpi]

cameron said:

lorspi said:

I'd like to jerk my knee right into his crotch if you get right down to it.

The "right thinking" believed right up until the 80s that the reason women weren't proportionally represented at universities was because they weren't "capable of" or "interested in" university studies. Provide a level playing field - and today we see the result.

Science and math isn't about gender - it's still about preconceived stereotypes. Marie Curie. She wasn't the only woman out there. She was the only one who had the opportunity.

I luv ya Lor you know that, but I just don't see this the same way you do.

Of course you don't. ;D And that's why you're so luvable. Fact is - I distrust guys you "feel my pain". Working environment for me has always been important - and I rarely have problems. The occasional "problem" is universally regarded as an asshole by male colleagues as well.

Notice Summers was universally regarded as an asshole by colleagues.

[LorSpi]

I worked at a local TV station once upon a time that was bought out. The outgoing chief engineer tried to save his job by trimming the engineering staff. He laid off ALL the black employees (male and female) and all but two of the white female engineers - the two kept were in their 20s and unmarried. He kept his hand picked former construction workers. (BTW - he came out of the closet a couple of years later - which I had called)

This was a jaw hitting the floor move - the folks laid off were experienced, senior and in any other work place the core of the work force. All found jobs with other stations relatively quickly - - but the WP refused to report anything. In fact it's only contribution to the issue was a slam at a sexual harassment lawsuit against CBS News in town. I knew several of the women involved. Only one stayed. They were experiencing outright hostility (all had worked in other cities at other stations) including prominent display of the C word on the bulletin board in the break room. The same CBS studio made a real stink about tossing the mic used for an AIDS activist guest (and then one of the crew retrieve the mic from the trash for his private business).

You want stories about the WP - I've got 'em. It rarely calls it right - - and never in cases close to home. It refused to report Mayor Barry's OD when it was common knowledge btw.

Its support of Summers just goes to show the old boys network. Not refute it.

[LorSpi]

bounce said:

OK Lor, I can see that this is a very touchy issue with you and I accept that.

Here's the deal though, if you run into glass ceilings where you are, it's time to play your own game (screw the game where the guys make the rules).

Here is an example of what I am talking about:

The people who have made a BILLION DOLLARS (that's 1,000 Million) in a single day belong to a very exclusive club. There are damned few people that have done it.

Martha Stewart is one of them however. She made $1.2 Billion the day her stock went public. What kind of anger do you suppose she has about glass ceilings?

Here's my point: Rather than rail against sexual glass ceilings, change the game. The same thing applies to race, creed and sexual preference.

By the way, white, male, heterosexuals run into roadblocks as well.

To the converted.

The issue here is this dude is the president of a university. He was ousted by the faculty. He failed leadership 101 - and no tears from the audience. No weeping from the staff. Just a "get someone who can do the job next time".

Look at Bolton in the UN. Any complaints emerging? He's kicking butt - but still plays well with his colleagues. Summer failed to lead, inspire or direct. For that he should get paid a half a mil a year? You read about his misadventures in headlines in the NYT and Boston Globe? You think Harvard wants that?

He got fired because he fucked up repeatedly.

Of course white guys fail to get promoted or appointed or tenured. But they got a chance to fail. It's when you are told - white guys are intrinsically unable to comprehend or do or feel such and such - THAT is the point where interests coincide. Because white guys are told that. No doubt about it. And it is flat out wrong. What's this about the best rapper being a white guy and the best golfer is a black guy? Same crap.

There are women scientists. Even a Nobel Prize winner. But when women working - or trying to work - in the field are complaining about doors being slammed not because of their work but because higher authorities - such as the president of Harvard - hold a meta-view that women, qualified experienced professionals are "intrinsically" unfit by birth - - there is an institutional problem that is ILLEGAL.

This isn't even about glass ceilings. This is about shut doors.

[bounce]

LorSpi said:

To the converted.

The issue here is this dude is the president of a university. He was ousted by the faculty. He failed leadership 101 - and no tears from the audience. No weeping from the staff. Just a "get someone who can do the job next time".

Look at Bolton in the UN. Any complaints emerging? He's kicking butt - but still plays well with his colleagues. Summer failed to lead, inspire or direct. For that he should get paid a half a mil a year? You read about his misadventures in headlines in the NYT and Boston Globe? You think Harvard wants that?

He got fired because he fucked up repeatedly.

Of course white guys fail to get promoted or appointed or tenured. But they got a chance to fail. It's when you are told - white guys are intrinsically unable to comprehend or do or feel such and such - THAT is the point where interests coincide. Because white guys are told that. No doubt about it. And it is flat out wrong. What's this about the best rapper being a white guy and the best golfer is a black guy? Same crap.

There are women scientists. Even a Nobel Prize winner. But when women working - or trying to work - in the field are complaining about doors being slammed not because of their work but because higher authorities - such as the president of Harvard - hold a meta-view that women, qualified experienced professionals are "intrinsically" unfit by birth - - there is an institutional problem that is ILLEGAL.

This isn't even about glass ceilings. This is about shut doors.

Lor, I do not disagree that there are institutional problems in our society. I do NOT disagree that there are VERY competent women. I majored in mathematics and when I was in college I met a girl who was quite literally a mathematical genius. She was as far ahead of me in math as Mozart would be in music (no shit).

My problem isn't with women's competence.

My problem is with a guy who was fired NOT because of what he did, but for "what he said."

You say we have an institutional problem... fine, I don't necessarily disagree, but he isn't being accused of actually doing anything illegal.

What happened is a bunch of people didn't like what he said.

"WE ARE OUTRAGED! YOU CAN'T SAY THAT! IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT YOU HAVEN'T ACTUALLY DONE ANYTHING WRONG! YOU THINK IDEAS WE DISAGREE WITH AND FOR THAT YOU ARE FIRED! MOREOVER, WE'D LIKE TO KICK YOUR FUCKING ASS!!!!!"

Lor, to me, that intolerance is every bit as bad as the intolerance you rail against.

[bounce]

Hey Lor, one last thing... It is NOT my intent to inflame you (or women in general), but I do want to say this:

If something like this (something I see as being very minor and protected by the First Amendment) REALLY PISSES YOU OFF, you would hate being a white male. You wouldn't believe the demagoguing we put up with on a daily basis.

[LorSpi]

bounce said:

Hey Lor, one last thing... It is NOT my intent to inflame you (or women in general), but I do want to say this:

If something like this (something I see as being very minor and protected by the First Amendment) REALLY PISSES YOU OFF, you would hate being a white male. You wouldn't believe the demagoguing we put up with on a daily basis.

And once a week I do a novena for all those abused guys losing their jobs to ball busters.

Being a jerk is protected by the first amendment? Must be a guy thing.

Sorry! Sorry! ;D

[bounce]

And once a week I do a novena for all those abused guys losing their jobs to ball busters.

Being a jerk is protected by the first amendment? Must be a guy thing.

Sorry! Sorry!

I accept and understand your point of view, I just don't agree with it.

Here's the (non sexist) reality:

90% of the productivity is achieved by 10% of the people (men and women alike).

Everyone else is riding on the gravy train.

90% of the "people" out there (guys and gals alike) are basically worthless. You mentioned that and it's one of the things you've said that I agree with wholeheartedly!

If someone wants to achieve - and I mean REALLY ACHIEVE - it's not that hard to stand out. Almost anyone can stand out as a rock star if they really apply themselves. There isn't all that much competition for someone determined to succeed and that includes women.

Regardless of your sex, if one supervisor refuses to see your talent, productivity and contribution, the company across the street (or the one across town) probably will see it and be willing to pay you for it.

AND, a flaming-asshole's speech IS protected IMHO. If it wasn't the Hillary, Pelosi, Boxer and Waters would have been booted long before this!