Thu 29 May 2008
Fun article from Wick Sloane ‘76 on the role of trustees at schools like Williams. Best part is this quote from Upton Sinclair.
You take it for granted that this money is honestly and wisely used; that the students are getting the best, the “highest” education the money can buy. Suppose I were to tell you that this educational machine has been stolen? That a bandit crew have got hold of it and have set it to work, not for your benefit, nor the benefit of your sons and daughters, but for ends very far from these?
Indeed. I have it a good authority that a Williams trustee “blew a gasket” after reading this article.
A little gasket-blowing is usually good for the soul.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Wick is overstating his case. I do think, “Who decides, as Williams College just did, to tear down a sound student center and to build another, with tax-deducted dollars, while raising tuition?” isn’t a fair question.
It should be, “Who decides, as Williams College just did, to tear down a dysfunctional student center and to build another, with tax-deducted dollars, while raising tuition?”
Trustees set the bounds within which the college operates, and as such should be questioned about college policy and practices in the same way a college president is. They don’t return phone calls because they’re usually powerful people with several gatekeepers guarding them. If you never reply, the thinking goes, the worse the press can do to you is accuse you of making no comment. As strategies go, it seems to have worked so far. Trustees aren’t stupid. I think it’s perfectly valid for Wick to ask that trustees start talking; at the same time, I’m fully expecting sounds of silence. (For those of you too young to know, that’s the title of a Simon and Garfunkel song.)