Public pressure is unlikely to cause Harvard Corporation to change. Storming the Bastille isn't a strategy. As you point out in the essay, the university administration and staff have a track record predating the behavior that the congressmen expressed outrage over. What the students are getting out of this is a degree with a brand appended to it, "Harvard Graduate". Only when that brand is damaged, for whatever reason, will Harvard Corporation change.
Arguments over freedom of expression and association, etc., fall on deaf ears, until the lack thereof damages the corporate brand. One can say same about Stanford University. Students will put up with quite a lot of bull and nonsense, provided it doesn't rise to the level that is career damaging. But when the school's reputation is irretrievably damaged by the acts or inaction of the university regents, then you will have change, and only then, and naught before then.
"though you can be sure if similar opinions were being expressed by men in white sheets the reaction would have been swift and brutal." Really? I don't recall any case of KKK being given such treatment. Except in a Mel Brooks movie. --E5
Such fear about universities! In my university time it was commonplace for children of wealthy families to have posters of Che Guevara up on their walls. They did recreational protests against the authorities. They waved around Mao's little red book. And afterwards they became loyal servants of the establishment. If you succeed in turning universities into bastions of conservative conformity I dread the consequences. --E5
Old Eagle Eye mentions "career damaging". Now, permanent career damage is readily accomplished by complaining about actions of the government of Israel and getting noticed by the Canary Mission. --E5
Diversity of bad ideas is bad. There is no religious diversity among physics faculty (90 percent are non believers and 99 percent in elite institutions; and perhaps 99.9 percent of Nobel laureates). And there are no departments of astrology. Conservatives need epistemic support that has been slipping with modernity because indefensible things are what it is: indefensible.
Comments are welcome. Keep it short, polite, and on topic.
Thanks to a few abusers I am now moderating comments. I welcome thoughtful disagreement. I will block comments with insulting or abusive language. I'm also blocking totally inane comments. Try to make some sense. I am much more likely to allow critical comments if you have the honesty and courage to use your real name.
Public pressure is unlikely to cause Harvard Corporation to change. Storming the Bastille isn't a strategy. As you point out in the essay, the university administration and staff have a track record predating the behavior that the congressmen expressed outrage over. What the students are getting out of this is a degree with a brand appended to it, "Harvard Graduate". Only when that brand is damaged, for whatever reason, will Harvard Corporation change.
ReplyDeleteArguments over freedom of expression and association, etc., fall on deaf ears, until the lack thereof damages the corporate brand. One can say same about Stanford University. Students will put up with quite a lot of bull and nonsense, provided it doesn't rise to the level that is career damaging. But when the school's reputation is irretrievably damaged by the acts or inaction of the university regents, then you will have change, and only then, and naught before then.
O, what it means to be Gay!
ReplyDeleteOuted by the end of the day
But if whoever comes in
Behaves just like her twin
The real problem won't go away
O, what it means to be Gay!
ReplyDeleteOuted by the end of the day
But if whoever comes in
Behaves just like her twin
The real problem won't go away
some education system you have over there.
ReplyDeletePeople have no idea of what an intifada is or what plagiarism is.
"though you can be sure if similar opinions were being expressed by men in white sheets the reaction would have been swift and brutal." Really? I don't recall any case of KKK being given such treatment. Except in a Mel Brooks movie.
ReplyDelete--E5
Such fear about universities! In my university time it was commonplace for children of wealthy families to have posters of Che Guevara up on their walls. They did recreational protests against the authorities. They waved around Mao's little red book. And afterwards they became loyal servants of the establishment. If you succeed in turning universities into bastions of conservative conformity I dread the consequences.
ReplyDelete--E5
Old Eagle Eye mentions "career damaging". Now, permanent career damage is readily accomplished by complaining about actions of the government of Israel and getting noticed by the Canary Mission.
ReplyDelete--E5
Diversity of bad ideas is bad. There is no religious diversity among physics faculty (90 percent are non believers and 99 percent in elite institutions; and perhaps 99.9 percent of Nobel laureates). And there are no departments of astrology. Conservatives need epistemic support that has been slipping with modernity because indefensible things are what it is: indefensible.
ReplyDelete