The No-Confidence Man
As of yesterday noon, Larry Summers seemed on the road to recovery. The worst was over. He'd survive the two votes at the faculty meeting, the bubble of tension would be burst, and Summers could begin the difficult work of revitalizing his presidency.
After yesterday, as Aimee Mann once sang, everything's different now.
First, Summers lost the no-confidence vote by a tally of 218 to 185. Then he lost the vote on Theda Skocpol's motion by 253-137.
It is safe to say that no one expected this.
In a statement released after the meeting, Summers said that he had tried "to hear all that has been said, to think hard, to learn and to adjust. I will continue to do that. I am committed to doing all I can to restore the sense of trust that is critical to our work together, and to reengage our collective attention with the vital academic issues before us."
It's the right rhetoric. Is it remotely realistic now?
