The power of the Harvard brand name is such that it's impossible for an incompetent or dishonest President to "ruin the place." It will, however, diminish its reputation for a while.
Chris, when you conclude your piece by demanding that Harvard cancel the outgoing President's pension etc., you've gone off the deep end. That won't happen and it undermines the strength of your case even to people who might be concerned about Gay's suitability for her current job, much less as President.
You can't take away a pension for this kind of misconduct. Maybe not even for embezzlement, etc.-- anybody know the law on this? Rather, the top punishment would be a scathing report and rebuke, widely publicized.
I think we overestimate Harvard's reputation as a bastion of intellectual freedom and excellence. Since WW2, yes, but before that, it was essentially a finishing school for the WASP elite - and of course, very important in that regard. But since the WASP elite has crumbled and new elites took their place, we can hope that Harvard will sink back into the ooze of privileged mediocrity.
The brilliant guys of Math 55 will have always have Caltech - until the forces of wokeness destroy that, too.
The brand is already tarnished by its lower standards for admission of BIPOC students. How can such a student brag on a Harvard degree when everyone knows it has been diluted?
Outstanding work. If Gay became Harvard's president, however, it wouldn't actually ruin the place - it would be the final nail in the coffin.
The power of the Harvard brand name is such that it's impossible for an incompetent or dishonest President to "ruin the place." It will, however, diminish its reputation for a while.
Chris, when you conclude your piece by demanding that Harvard cancel the outgoing President's pension etc., you've gone off the deep end. That won't happen and it undermines the strength of your case even to people who might be concerned about Gay's suitability for her current job, much less as President.
You can't take away a pension for this kind of misconduct. Maybe not even for embezzlement, etc.-- anybody know the law on this? Rather, the top punishment would be a scathing report and rebuke, widely publicized.
Profoundly disagree. How can leaders be accountable with no consequences? The policies are amply documented.
I think we overestimate Harvard's reputation as a bastion of intellectual freedom and excellence. Since WW2, yes, but before that, it was essentially a finishing school for the WASP elite - and of course, very important in that regard. But since the WASP elite has crumbled and new elites took their place, we can hope that Harvard will sink back into the ooze of privileged mediocrity.
The brilliant guys of Math 55 will have always have Caltech - until the forces of wokeness destroy that, too.
As I was reading this I kept thinking “so what if Harvard goes away? Zuckerberg and Gates did OK without completing Harvard.”
Maybe it’s time for a new golden standard?
The brand is already tarnished by its lower standards for admission of BIPOC students. How can such a student brag on a Harvard degree when everyone knows it has been diluted?
I agree.
Ideology requires corruption because ideology is always and everywhere a lie.