Silber’s embarrassing comments hurt the entire BU community

I love Boston University. I really do. I am proud of my education and of BU as an institution. Like my fellow students, I complained about the guest policy and the 881 red tape as an undergraduate student. But in my heart, I love it.

So when I read Patrick Healy’s article in Sunday’s Boston Globe, an article about BU’s recent financial concerns and chock full of the latest “Silberisms,” I was livid.

Chancellor John Silber referred to class sizes as too small and “hundreds of classes that he says now enroll only a handful of students each” as a result of “lazy” and “unproductive” faculty. These small classes are some of the best at BU; they are what current students search for and prospective students demand when choosing a college. Consolidating smaller classes into lectures and calling professors lazy does not sound like the best way to attract top-level faculty and the best students from across the country.

But Silber can say whatever he wishes — he will not suffer the consequences of his statements. He is in a place in his life where he does not have to bank on the reputation of this University to secure his professional future. Most of us still do — defaming the faculty, increasing class sizes and force-feeding his social agenda to students hurts the reputation of the University. I worry about the value of the education I worked hard to achieve and my family and I sacrificed to attain. He has publicly called students psychopaths and professors lazy — where can I find those quotes in the viewbook?

Dr. Silber has said in the past that he does not care about the opinions of the students in regard to issues like the dorm guest policy, as he does not answer to the students. Well Dr. Silber, you may not think you have to answer to students, but you do have to answer to me. I am an alumna, and you do not represent what I love about my BU. You do not represent the opinions of your students; you degrade and insult the faculty and women on campus — whom do you speak for? Whom do you represent? You speak for yourself, yet your statements affect us and the BU community you choose to disrespect with your narrow mindedness.

Take it from this alumna — remember us? We are the ones you keep sending those fun cards, asking for money? As the endowment dwindles and money is needed to build new buildings throughout campus, remember us. That endowment, and the future of BU, is in serious jeopardy as you continue to insult and alienate students, faculty and alumni.