Wed 16 Mar 2005
Given the current Harvard brouhaha over President Summers, I for one am glad we have Morty Schapiro at Williams. President Summers, in his drive to change the status quo, certainly seems to have rubbed a whole bunch of people the wrong way.
OK, I’ll admit it. Having read the full text of Dr. Summers’ January conference remarks, I certainly feel like telling the Harvard faculty, “Get a life.” But whether you agree or disagree with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ no confidence vote, these skirmishes detract from the daily life of an educational institution. Ultimately, the administration and faculty spend more time posturing/arguing and less time researching/teaching, to the detriment of the students and the vitality of the community.
Unlike his predecessor, from my outside vantage point, Morty appears to have the general support of the Williams community. (My only interaction with Hank Payne was when I asked him a direct question about student life during a Williams Today Q&A and he promptly answered along the lines of, “I’m so glad you asked me about the weather in Wichita….” In short, he sure rubbed me the wrong way. First, by not answering my question and, second, by assuming that I wasn’t bright enough to notice that he hadn’t answered my question.)
In my view, Morty strikes the right balance between discussion and activity. He allows and encourages discussion, but then says, “OK, let’s do it.” Academic communities too often mistake inactivity for deep reflection. (Trust me, I know. My father was both a university professor and a Dean.) Morty seems to have brought a zing, a certain joie de vivre, to the college, and I like it.
2005-03-17 14:02:24
Is Morty good for the faculty? Yes, since he used to be one of them earlier in his career, and is able to understand professors’ concerns and communicate his ideas and issues to them effectively.
Is he good for fundraising? Yes, considering the current numbers of alumni giving, the number of building projects and reforms he and his administration has proposed, and his constant criss-crossing the country to make alumni feel closer to their alma mater.
Is he good for students? Well, let’s just say the jury’s out on this one. He is very accessible to students (with the caveat that it those students in the traditional administration-friendly positions of power (i.e. CC, Gargoyles, etc.) that seem to be in the cozy president-student inner circle). And until we see how his often controversial proposed reforms and constant pushing for change (sometimes just for the sake of change itself because, I would speculate, he and his administration are concerned about leaving their mark/legacy) are enacted and received, it is difficult to gague. Judging from his projects thus far, I am especially skeptical on this count.
I will concede, that Morty is certainly better than Summer. But there are also, I am certain, more authentically student-friendly presidents. But, looking at the above, list and the financial/institutional operations interests they represent, perhaps current students are not the true focus of any institution of higher education.
2005-03-17 21:12:09
The example Guy mentions reminds me of all-too-many encounters that I had with Hank Payne, although I think his problem often stemmed from self-absorption (i.e. he would assume any question related to whatever he was thinking about, so he’d appear to “avoid” questions when in reality, he never actually heard the question) and not his assumptions about the listeners. Not that this quality is any better for a college president to have!
But I did want to weigh in to suggest that Larry Summers may believe the short-term distractions from research and teaching during his tenure are a necessary part of improving both in the long haul.