Dr. West and Mr. Summers

WHEN an individual assumes certain positions of public responsibility, we require him to place his financial assets in a blind trust. We do this in order that he not profit personally from his office. When an individual assumes the presidency of a great university, we require him to place his testicles in a blind trust. We do this in order that he not rebel against the dictates of political correctness.

As an illustration of what might happen were university presidents allowed to think for themselves and exercise independent intellectual leadership, consider the recent case of Cornel West vs. Larry Summers at Harvard. West is the Alphonse Fletcher, Jr., University Professor of Afro-American Studies at Harvard University. (He is also, incidentally, head of Al Sharpton’s presidential exploratory committee.) Summers, a former professor of political economy at Harvard, served briefly as Bill Clinton’s secretary of the treasury and has been president of Harvard since last July.

About the Author

Roger Kimball

Mr. Kimball is publisher of Encounter Books, and co-editor and publisher of The New Criterion.

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WHEN an individual assumes certain positions of public responsibility, we require him to place his financial assets in a blind trust. We do this in order that he not profit personally from his office. When an individual assumes the presidency of a great university, we require him to place his testicles in a blind trust. We do this in order that he not rebel against the dictates of political correctness.

As an illustration of what might happen were university presidents allowed to think for themselves and exercise independent intellectual leadership, consider the recent case of Cornel West vs. Larry Summers at Harvard. West is the Alphonse Fletcher, Jr., University Professor of Afro-American Studies at Harvard University. (He is also, incidentally, head of Al Sharpton’s presidential exploratory committee.) Summers, a former professor of political economy at Harvard, served briefly as Bill Clinton’s secretary of the treasury and has been president of Harvard since last July.