Despite the racial controversy stirring at Harvard University this Winter Break, Harvard spokesman Joe Wrinn said President Lawrence Summers praised diversity and asked the current faculty members to stay to help him make Harvard an “even greater opportunity for all.”
Summers received harsh criticism from members of the black community after criticizing African-American studies professor Cornel West’s involvement in the Rev. Al Sharpton’s presidential exploratory committee. West was recruited over the summer to lead Sharpton’s committee.
According to Wrinn, Summers denied criticizing any professor for the use of his time away from Harvard.
“President Summers has said publicly that he regrets the misunderstanding and that he is sorry that it ever took place,” Wrinn said.
Sharpton, along with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, publicly condemned Summers’ comments and called for a meeting with Summers, claiming the criticism was racially biased.
Wrinn said the issue was resolved after West met with Summers.
“President Summers and professor West had a good conversation that cleared the air,” Wrinn said. “They ended the conversation with a feeling of mutual respect.”
Summers has since praised West and his colleagues in the Afro-American studies department to discourage them from leaving the university, as West had threatened.
“With regard to the Afro-American Studies program at Harvard, we are proud of this program collectively and of each of its individual members,” Summers told the Harvard Crimson. “We would very much like to see the current faculty stay at Harvard and will compete vigorously to make this an attractive environment.”
Summers said in the Crimson interview he takes pride in “Harvard’s long-standing commitment to diversity.” He said he will continue to encourage racial and other forms of diversity, as it promotes educational excellence by enabling people from all backgrounds to learn from one another.
Wrinn said it is difficult to tell how other professors or students are reacting to the controversy, as the campus has been quiet due to Winter Break and preparation for final exams.
According to Boston University spokesman Kevin Carleton, BU does not have an official policy regarding political involvement of a faculty or staff member.
But, he added, as a non-profit organization, BU must place certain restrictions on that type of involvement.
“In 1990, when [then-President] John Silber ran for governor, we advised all faculty and staff of their limitations,” Carleton said. “This did not mean that people could not go to the campaign headquarters and engage in work on behalf of the candidacy, but they would be prohibited from using University time and resources to contribute.”
In the case of West, Carleton argued it would not be unreasonable to question a professor who is spending an inordinate amount of time on something like a political campaign.
“A professor engaged in a major campaign would probably be expected to take a leave of absence,” Carleton said.
Kate Wright, a BU School of Education junior, said she felt West’s tenure agreement allows him to take part in any outside activities.
“If there were no tenure, [professors] would feel pressure to write or go along with what the university agrees with,” she said. “Tenure protects interests [professors] might have in controversial issues, research or campaigns.”
Wright said professional criticism would be appropriate, however, if a professor’s external involvement caused his or her occupational obligations to suffer.
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