The Harvard Crimson reports on the Lawrence Summers flap at UC Davis. Interesting comments here from Summers himself, and from some of Summers’ Harvard opponents. It wouldn’t be fair to lump every Summers critic together, but in this case, I can’t see much difference between the Harvard faculty vote of “no confidence” in Summers after his remarks and the actions of the petitioners at UC Davis. It seems to me that, without any clear or adequate basis, Summers’ opponents at Harvard are trying to escape responsibility for the chain of events that they themselves set into motion. Still, it’s good to see them backing away. It’s also of interest that Maureen Stanton, leader of the UC Davis petition drive, seems to be refusing further comment. We already know that Stanton wants this story to “just die.” I don’t think it’s going to be that simple.