1) I am exhausted from not using the words we need to use in the media: resigned because otherwise fired, not just resigned. So tired of the way we re-write facts.
2) I also find it fascinating that often those who sit on the boards of a lot of the Ivy League schools are from a different background than where the funding / endowment is coming from— Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and China, etc.
Reflected in the policies and groups, doesn’t it?
I feel sad for the students who are not coming from wealthy & elite backgrounds who are there to get an education, whatever that means now.
Dog L and Ted: How unapologetically sexist and misogynistic of you! Of course, you have the right to say such things. "As a woman," I will try really really really really hard not to faint onto my couch sobbing, and to instead appreciate your obviously superior intelligence, as well as your better-developed sense of rationality. I can only hope to one day reach such heights of insight!
There will always be exceptions, but in my lifelong experience as a woman, women generally are not equipped for Free Speech, which requires setting emotions aside. Take Larry Summers' undoing at Harvard for presenting data on women in math. Many walked out upset and rent their garments to get him taken down. Google and James Damore. Women weeping that they didn't feel safe because Damore cited data that perhaps women don't gravitate to coding as much as men do. Women have generally played the role of civilizers on the moral front. Their rising dominance in universities correlates to this stymying phenomenon. We should replace desks with fainting couches. Oh how ironic, too, that the Women's Studies lot insist that there is no difference between men and women, it's all a "social construct," while simultaneously heaving with emotion over hearing information that they don't like.
Very interesting. "Women have generally played the role of civilizers on the moral front. Their rising dominance in universities correlates to this stymying phenomenon."
Am I the only one who didn’t realize that the majority of Presidents of Ivy League colleges are women…or were…were Presidents;not women. I am pleased that women are “moving on up” but these chicks aren’t proving that they are the kind of leaders who can…lead. Have any male Presidents resigned or allowed protesters to rule their campuses?
I lot of people--usually older than me--told me the problem was that they were women....I did not want to believe them...but it is a possibility...the sample size is small and the men who probably hired them would be just as bad.
Alan Garbar is reinstating students who were suspended at Harvard. He is acting president. This is after someone there circulated a picture of him with horns and a tail. Honestly this is the worst of all. Disgusting.
A professor at my university emailed how she hated, *hated* ,having to vote for firing our first female president. But a lot are failing in the dimension of free speech and maintaining discipline. One who's doing better is Sally Kornbluth, of MIT-- the only one of the House Ed Committee Hearing trio who survived. She's actually banned DEI statements and has finally cleared the encampment-- the first under very light pressure, the second under heavy pressure.
Eric, If I was in charge, I’d be looking for former military leaders, retired at least 10 years so not to have been infected with DEI, to run these colleges. The educational system created for military personnel’s dependents always comes in the top achievement levels of K-12 schools.
Thank you for sharing Pollack's "retirement" announcement. After reading your post, it seems to be a very good "decision". One point of criticism, although Bill Maher has some good points, I could do without his vulgur condescending delivery. Is that really what elevates him to his level of followers? Sad if it is. Thanks again for providing thought provoking content.
So free speech yay except when criticizing Israel, whereupon: boo.
It is true unis have made themselves a very fat target with zealotry over EDI such that now when they rediscover a commitment to free expression one might wish to laugh sardonically. But the right reaction is to say: great, I am shoulder to shoulder with you to turn things around.
The right reaction is NOT: you have to start doing to anti-zionists what you have been doing to TERFs or walk the plank.
Oh there hasn’t been free speech on campus since the sombrero issue at Yale at least 8 years ago. And universities have codes of conduct. Free speech suddenly back - all Jews sit down and shut up.
Wow!
Thank you so much for this insider perspective
2 points:
1) I am exhausted from not using the words we need to use in the media: resigned because otherwise fired, not just resigned. So tired of the way we re-write facts.
2) I also find it fascinating that often those who sit on the boards of a lot of the Ivy League schools are from a different background than where the funding / endowment is coming from— Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and China, etc.
Reflected in the policies and groups, doesn’t it?
I feel sad for the students who are not coming from wealthy & elite backgrounds who are there to get an education, whatever that means now.
Me too. "I feel sad for the students who are not coming from wealthy & elite backgrounds who are there to get an education, whatever that means now."
Guess the ability to publicly shame is only reserved for one side. Watching this new McCarthyism fall is giving me more pleasure than it should.
Dog L and Ted: How unapologetically sexist and misogynistic of you! Of course, you have the right to say such things. "As a woman," I will try really really really really hard not to faint onto my couch sobbing, and to instead appreciate your obviously superior intelligence, as well as your better-developed sense of rationality. I can only hope to one day reach such heights of insight!
There will always be exceptions, but in my lifelong experience as a woman, women generally are not equipped for Free Speech, which requires setting emotions aside. Take Larry Summers' undoing at Harvard for presenting data on women in math. Many walked out upset and rent their garments to get him taken down. Google and James Damore. Women weeping that they didn't feel safe because Damore cited data that perhaps women don't gravitate to coding as much as men do. Women have generally played the role of civilizers on the moral front. Their rising dominance in universities correlates to this stymying phenomenon. We should replace desks with fainting couches. Oh how ironic, too, that the Women's Studies lot insist that there is no difference between men and women, it's all a "social construct," while simultaneously heaving with emotion over hearing information that they don't like.
Very interesting. "Women have generally played the role of civilizers on the moral front. Their rising dominance in universities correlates to this stymying phenomenon."
I like this article a lot. Maybe because you're a professor, you're bringing out the lessons of the story.
Thank you Eric!
A sad ending to an even sadder career: https://statements.cornell.edu/2024/20240514-encampment-update.cfm
Someone has to let Bill Mahar know that Martha Pollack had a vasectomy!!!!
Am I the only one who didn’t realize that the majority of Presidents of Ivy League colleges are women…or were…were Presidents;not women. I am pleased that women are “moving on up” but these chicks aren’t proving that they are the kind of leaders who can…lead. Have any male Presidents resigned or allowed protesters to rule their campuses?
Dear Gail,
I lot of people--usually older than me--told me the problem was that they were women....I did not want to believe them...but it is a possibility...the sample size is small and the men who probably hired them would be just as bad.
Alan Garbar is reinstating students who were suspended at Harvard. He is acting president. This is after someone there circulated a picture of him with horns and a tail. Honestly this is the worst of all. Disgusting.
A professor at my university emailed how she hated, *hated* ,having to vote for firing our first female president. But a lot are failing in the dimension of free speech and maintaining discipline. One who's doing better is Sally Kornbluth, of MIT-- the only one of the House Ed Committee Hearing trio who survived. She's actually banned DEI statements and has finally cleared the encampment-- the first under very light pressure, the second under heavy pressure.
Eric, If I was in charge, I’d be looking for former military leaders, retired at least 10 years so not to have been infected with DEI, to run these colleges. The educational system created for military personnel’s dependents always comes in the top achievement levels of K-12 schools.
Thank you for sharing Pollack's "retirement" announcement. After reading your post, it seems to be a very good "decision". One point of criticism, although Bill Maher has some good points, I could do without his vulgur condescending delivery. Is that really what elevates him to his level of followers? Sad if it is. Thanks again for providing thought provoking content.
Dear Karen,
ABiut your critcism...you are right. Point taken!
So free speech yay except when criticizing Israel, whereupon: boo.
It is true unis have made themselves a very fat target with zealotry over EDI such that now when they rediscover a commitment to free expression one might wish to laugh sardonically. But the right reaction is to say: great, I am shoulder to shoulder with you to turn things around.
The right reaction is NOT: you have to start doing to anti-zionists what you have been doing to TERFs or walk the plank.
Oh there hasn’t been free speech on campus since the sombrero issue at Yale at least 8 years ago. And universities have codes of conduct. Free speech suddenly back - all Jews sit down and shut up.
That about sums it up.