FOCUS: Already a Successful Tenure

University President Lawrence H. Summers, like all of us, has his shortcomings. Some have even argued he has more than most. But none of these should warrant the outpouring of vitriol that has spewed from some faculty members who have sought to capitalize on a set of unfortunate remarks originally intended to generate discussion of a more productive nature.

Part of the wonder of the academy is its unbounded protection of speech. We are all here to discover new ideas and new ways of thinking. Sometimes those ideas are comfortable and familiar. Other times they are radical or even absurd. All of the time they are valuable in expanding our perspectives and allowing us to understand ideas with increased rationality. Summers did us all a service by asking an important question. We may not all agree with the way in which it was asked or share his view on the matter, but we all should acknowledge that if answered, it would add deeply to the knowledge base of all mankind.

What is far worse is the move by some among the faculty to view the situation as an opportunity to pick away at Summers’ presidency. It only serves as a distraction from the far more important issues at hand at this university. The “crisis of leadership” one tenured faculty member decried is pure political capitalization. The continuous reiteration of the two-word phrase “innate differences” does not seem to be the only object of the faculty’s ire. It has, however, served to create an opportunity to drop a stack of complaints on the desk of the president. The solely negative remarks insinuating accusations of racism, sexism, and every other “ism” on the planet would potentially leave us to ponder if Summers has done anything good while in Mass. Hall.

During his time in office, Summers has not only expanded the role of women at Harvard but has provided steady leadership and vision for all the students, faculty, and staff of the University. Prior to Summers’ tenure as president, there had only been two female deans. He appointed two in his first two years. A majority of University vice presidents he has appointed have been women. He has pushed to reform of the undergraduate curriculum, including an elimination of the Core and replacing it with a curriculum with greater emphasis on student-faculty contact and study abroad initiatives. He has played an important role in the hiring of some of Harvard’s newest and brightest faculty, including Tisch Professor of History Niall Ferguson, Professor of Systems Biology Eric Lander, Bass Professor of English Louis Menand, and Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology Steven Pinker. And for those who argue that the president has made himself unapproachable and inaccessible, one glance at his accomplishments shows that he has made himself and the University more accessible than has perhaps any Harvard president since the implementation of the G.I. Bill. Summers has added office hours, started evening house visits full of discussion, sponsored a number of student events, given dozens of guest lectures, and even taught courses. Perhaps more importantly, he has opened the possibility of a Harvard education to those who could otherwise not afford the opportunity, making tuition free for any undergraduate student whose parents earn less than $40,000 and increasing financial aid across the university. A program he started allows students pursuing careers in public service to borrow the cost of their education at interest rates far below prime. This program has grown to now lend more than $30 million annually—a first at an American university.

We are merely representative of the many others who share our viewpoint and have signed on to and helped author this piece. Together, we are all Harvard students standing in support of our president.

If Summers occasionally bruises an ego or two, we’ll stand by him anyway. Like many, we do not always agree with our president, but we respect and applaud him for his tenacity, zeal, and willingness to stand up for the academy and freedom of thought at his own expense, while using the power of his office to implement initiatives that work to improve our beloved Harvard. There is no crisis of leadership in the president’s office. Thank you, President Summers, for all you have done and continue to do. We’d appreciate if you would stick around quite a bit longer.

Kate Penner ’07 is a government concentrator in Quincy House. Paloma Zepeda ’06 is an English concentrator in Dunster House. Lauren K. Truesdell ’06 is a government concentrator in Adams House.