More Bad News!
Zachary M. Seward reports in the Crimson that the University has
delayed the launch of its capital campaign by six months to two years in order to put distance between the campaign and the Larry Summers controversy.
Donella M. Rapier, vice-president for alumni affairs and development, adamantly denies the charge, saying that everything's right on track.
But—and here's my favorite part of the story—she's almost certainly lying!
According to Seward: "But while Rapier has always described the launch date as flexible, her public statements appear to indicate a delay in the campaign’s schedule.
"In February 2004, Rapier said she expected to publicly launch the campaign in two to three years. In an e-mail this weekend, 16 months later, Rapier wrote, 'We continue to be on track for an expected public launch within the next two to three years.'"
Two to three years—give or take 16 months.
This is today's second example of doublespeak coming from the Harvard administration. Don't they know how patently duplicitous they sound?
Here—I'll show you how to say something honestly.
"It's true," Rapier [should have] said. "We were all distracted by the controversy, and we think given how high the emotions were a few months ago, it's appropriate to slow things down a little. Donors like to see the University moving forward, and that's what we will show them. I'm confident that our donors will rally around Harvard as they always have."
There. That wasn't so painful, was it? In fact, you might even find you sleep better at night after...well, heck, after telling the truth!
Really, you guys should pay me for this. Or maybe an honorary degree?
