Harvard This and That
What current decanal candidate was seen having a Tuesday night dinner with what reportedly former decanal candidate at Henrietta's Table in the Charles Hotel? According to a fellow diner, the two were having a "very serious conversation" in which "either 'x' was trying to convince 'y', or the other way around...."
Meanwhile,
the Crimson reports that, at a meeting with students in the Leverett House dining hall, Larry Summers declined to address a direct question about whether he forced Bill Kirby to resign, saying that "Dean Kirby's letter speaks for itself."
Since
the letter does not actually speak for itself—it is vague on what led to Kirby's resignation—Summers' answer is pretty lame, and I doubt he'll be able to maintain that pose of aloof non-responsiveness. When the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences "resigns" after just four years in office, in the middle of a curricular review, the president owes the faculty more explanation than vague and political non-answers.
Sometimes I wonder if President Summers realizes that he's dealing with a community of fairly smart folks around Cambridge. That answer—the letter "speaks for itself"—is such obvious B.S., why even bother to say it? It insults the intelligence of the audience.
If Summers thought Kirby was failing in his job, he should say so. Because I'm sure that he would
never oust a dean without having sound, meritorious reasons.
So here's a better response, which, unlike a certain Kennedy School
uber-adviser, I volunteer free of charge: "You know, this isn't the right time or place for me to address Dean Kirby's resignation. But when it's appropriate, I will."
It still declines to answer the question...but at least it isn't deceptive in
pretending to answer the question.
I'm always mystified when people prevaricate when there's no reason not to be honest. Why do they do it?
Because it's their nature.....
Oh, and word is there's a faculty meeting next Tuesday. I wonder what they'll talk about......
