[Marxism] Not the first time that Summers has had to back down

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

How Strong Is the Institutional Commitment to Black Studies at Harvard?

The departure of Professors Bobo and Morgan renews questions about
Harvard president Lawrence Summers' commitment to black studies. In
2002 he stated that the black studies program would no longer have a
blank check: "We are going to have to make decisions and set
priorities. Not everything can be a priority." In the controversial
meeting with Professor West in the fall of 2001, Summers left the
impression that in his view the black studies effort had played a major
role in the grade inflation problem at Harvard.

During his early months at Harvard, President Summers was evasive about
his support for the express use of affirmative action in Harvard
admissions. This was a major retreat from previous policies. For the
preceding 20 years under former Presidents Derek Bok and Neil
Rudenstine, Harvard University had stood as a mighty oak in defense
against all those who would put an end to racial preferences in higher
education.

Apparently responding to pressures from faculty and others, Summers
finally backed down and expressed his strong support for race-sensitive
considerations in Harvard admissions. Yet today it remains the opinion
of many academics at Harvard, and elsewhere, that President Summers
does not view black studies as an academic endeavor that is appropriate
to Harvard's offerings.
http://www.jbhe.com/latest/100704_Harvard_Bobodeparts.html

AND
http://www.jbhe.com/features/45_blackstudies_harvard.html



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