Wednesday, June 28, 2024
Ellison to Harvard: Drop Dead
The Wall Street Journal, among others, reports that Larry Ellison isn't giving a dime to Harvard after all. The reason? According to an Ellison spokesperson, because of the unsettled situation at Harvard in the wake of Larry Summers' departure. (All right, imminent departure.)
According to the Journal, Mr. Ellison said he plans to give the money that would have gone to Harvard to a charity that trains teachers and educates impoverished children in the developing world. He didn't identify the institution or elaborate further.
Something about this doesn't feel right; Ellison's intended gift was first made public in June 2005, and it wasn't as if Summers wasn't already a controversial figure at that point; women-in-science had already happened. In fact, at least from a public perspective, the months from June through January were relatively calm ones in the Summers era. Ellison had eight months in which to start writing checks. He didn't....and now he says it's because of upheaval that began in February.
There's another story here. Anyone know what it is?
By the way, these Journal etchings are sort of odd, aren't they?
![[Lawrence Summers]](../../public/resources/images/HC-EO679_Summer_20051026033647.gif)
According to the Journal, Mr. Ellison said he plans to give the money that would have gone to Harvard to a charity that trains teachers and educates impoverished children in the developing world. He didn't identify the institution or elaborate further.
Something about this doesn't feel right; Ellison's intended gift was first made public in June 2005, and it wasn't as if Summers wasn't already a controversial figure at that point; women-in-science had already happened. In fact, at least from a public perspective, the months from June through January were relatively calm ones in the Summers era. Ellison had eight months in which to start writing checks. He didn't....and now he says it's because of upheaval that began in February.
There's another story here. Anyone know what it is?
By the way, these Journal etchings are sort of odd, aren't they?
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Here is part of the story. Harvard people were talking to Ellison people about a big gift before Summers came. Ellison was on and off again. Some Development people believed Ellison would talk forever and never deliver. Summers thought he could do better. But Ellison remained elusive, often refusing to return phone calls. Finally,there was a leak from Harvard intended to force his hand. It seemed to work--witness, the June 2005 statement. Then to pressure him further, Harvard actually started the Center and hired people. But Ellison would still not sign, despite repeated attempts by development people and Summers personally. Some suspect Ellison had become more interested in other projects (as he had done so often in the past). It does seem pretty clear that Summers' pressure tactics failed, and his departure is mostly an excuse.
WGBH is doing a piece on the Summers presidency at 7 p.m. tonight (on Greater Boston). Professor Ed Glaeser of the Economics Dept. was to represent the positive side of the Summers presidency, and I was approached by Jeff Keating of WGBH and agreed to go on and give what would have been a moderate but generally more qualified point of view. I was to have gone to their office at 4:00 p.m. today. At 3:30 p.m. today WGBH called me and asked if I would go on with Harvey Silverglade since Prof Glaeser had "time issues" and couldn't make it. Yeah, sure, as we'll see.
I said I wouldn't go on unless it was to balance an altenative FAS faculty positon (i.e. Prof Glaeser's), which had been the plan all along. They said they would get back to me, but did not do so.
At 4:15 I called them, and surprise, surprise, Prof. Glaeser's "time issues" had been resolved, he had arrived, and was about to tape the show. I said, "I'll be right over," but was told Prof. Glaeser had said he would not do the show if any other faculty member was put on. I said I thought WGBH might have refused to proceed in such circumstances.
So tune in at 7 p.m. for a fair and balanced back and forth, with Prof. Glaeser responding to previously taped pieces with Profs. Daniel Fisher and Judith Ryan which he has presumably had the opportunity to see prior to his remarks.
Tricky move, Prof. Glaeser and WGBH.
Richard Thomas
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I said I wouldn't go on unless it was to balance an altenative FAS faculty positon (i.e. Prof Glaeser's), which had been the plan all along. They said they would get back to me, but did not do so.
At 4:15 I called them, and surprise, surprise, Prof. Glaeser's "time issues" had been resolved, he had arrived, and was about to tape the show. I said, "I'll be right over," but was told Prof. Glaeser had said he would not do the show if any other faculty member was put on. I said I thought WGBH might have refused to proceed in such circumstances.
So tune in at 7 p.m. for a fair and balanced back and forth, with Prof. Glaeser responding to previously taped pieces with Profs. Daniel Fisher and Judith Ryan which he has presumably had the opportunity to see prior to his remarks.
Tricky move, Prof. Glaeser and WGBH.
Richard Thomas
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