The Left Seizes Harvard

The American Thinker ^ | Feb. 22, 2006 | Thomas Lifson

[libstripper]

The American left, long in decline, has shored up its base, definitively seizing the high ground of American academia. The resignation of Lawrence Summers as president of Harvard University, the nation’s oldest, and the world’s richest and most prestigious university, marks a significant coup d’etat for the left.

A faction, only a plurality within one segment of the university, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, has proven its ability to drive from office a brilliant and energetic leader who had been committed to pushing Harvard a little bit back toward the political center.

The breaking point came when Summers dared to entertain as a possible hypothesis that there might be inherent differences between men and women, which might affect the success females experience in mathematical and scientific endeavors.

[libstripper]

Here's one more great article about the Summers coup.

I've really been interested in this because, all through college and law school, my liberal professors constantly drummed into us students the vital importance of academic freedom and free speech. The actions of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences make this all a hypocritical joke, one that's even more vile when we look at how an unqualified charlatan like Ward Churchill is harbored and supported solely because he is a Marxist.

[Eagles Talon IV]

Freedom of speech only applies when that speech conforms to moonbat ideology.

[NRA1995]

All speech should be free speech but some speech should be more free than others.

[OKIEDOC]

HUM!

Just my opinion but Whorevard is highly hypocritical and just a tad................. over rated.

Most of these people are caught up with their smug liberal elitism.

Some people, who I disagree with, equate high entry standards with the quality of education received.

There are lots of brilliant minds at Whorevard but not much common sense.

[mikeus_maximus]

Harvard's relevance continues to decline-- except as a destination for foreign nationals with money to burn.

More of more top US students are doing cost/pay-back anlayses and attending good public schools. Harvard is not the only private school in decline, but it's descent will accelerate as it becomes increasingly repugnant to the mainstream of American society.

[RightWingAtheist]

OK, your post was funny enough, but then I read your tagline, and I spewed half-chewed bagel chunks all over my monitor. You really just made my day :)
P.S. I work in academia....in the social studies department...surrounded by feminists

[edcoil]

Did the left win or, is the President of Harvard a coward?

[RightWingAtheist]

Lubos Motl and Steven Pinker have plenty of common sense as well as brilliant ideas. And don't you dare say anything nasty about Lisa Randall in this forum :-)

[ladyjane]

Freedom of speech only applies when that speech conforms to moonbat ideology.

No. Freedom of speech is selectively applied.

A so-called historian is going to prison for 3 years because because he made some wildly unpopular assertions about the Holocaust.

Even moonbats don't always have freedom of speech.

[HoosierHawk]

You've got to love the liberality of the leftists.

You'd think he published cartoons parodying the intelligence of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

[driftless]

Excellent article by Mr. Lifson, but the far left didn't just suddently take over Harvard with this coup. The far left has held a stranglehold on Harvard for at least forty years or more. The fact that there are virtually no voices on Harvard in Summers defense speaks volumes about the control the leftist Harvard Thought Police have on the academic's and university's decisions.

[Eagles Talon IV]

"A so-called historian is going to prison for 3 years because because he made some wildly unpopular assertions about the Holocaust."

This took place in America? If so I would like you to provide a source. It was within this country to which I was referring hen I said freedom of speech only applies if it supports the moonbat ideology.

[Wombat101]

Old news; the left seized Harvard sometime in the 1960's.

Nothing to see here...

[headsonpikes]

The Left Seizes Harvard

This must have been big news in 1962.

[TC Rider]

I never thought I would feel sorry for a former Clinton hack, but this may be the exception.

Ooops, sorry, nope, I don't feel sorry for him, it was just a little gas.

[massgopguy]

It will be a cold day in hell before Hahhh-vud wins another Bean Pot.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Reportedly Summers was facing a second vote of no confidence by "the faculty." WTF, I thought the Board of Trustees did the hiring and firing of the President.

[maryz]

This took place in America?

Probably referring to the one in Austria, where Holocaust denial is illegal. (I think I saw a headline where the guy is retracting, but I didn't read the article.)

[ladyjane]

I was talking about David Irving the British historian who is going to jail for his unpopular statements.

In this country freedom of speech is many times limited if its content is unpopular. Think evolution, intelligent design, homosexuality, race differences, sex differences, Mohammed pictures, on and on.