The passing of Boston University’s former President John Silber Thursday marked a major milestone in BU’s history. Silber left behind a two-fold legacy — he was both a vocal defender of BU and a harsh suppresser of student voices. He brought the university forward in academic prominence and tried to hold it back to his conservative take on social issues. He was both a great asset and a great liability.
Silber had plenty of critics, and rightfully so. His shutting down of the Gay-Straight Alliance at the BU Academy in 2002 and his discouragement of student activism on campus remain black marks on his record. And his notorious temper frequently got him into trouble, with many saying that it lost him his chance at the Massachusetts governorship. Although his death may cause us to celebrate his accomplishments, we should not forget that his time as President was a contentious one, filled with controversy and conflict.
But no matter how much we may disagree with some of the policies that Silber implemented, it is impossible not to have some degree of respect for him and his accomplishments.
Silber engineered the development of BU from a mid-grade commuter school to one of the nation’s premier research universities, expanding programs and prestige. He always spoke his mind, no matter the consequences. And he pushed students, including several former editors of this newspaper, to be the best thinkers, writers, debaters and citizens they could be.
Silber provided The Daily Free Press with a reason to exist. He was a natural adversary, an opportunity for us to rail against the institution, a chance for us to truly be a voice of the student body. And although none of the current Free Press staff was here during his reign, his legacy lives on in our newsroom and in our approach to delivering the news.
For better or worse, Silber defined this institution for two-and-a-half decades, and made it into the place that it is today. As students, our job now is to further the positive aspects of Silber’s legacy, while moving past the negatives — to create an open culture of discussion and activism while continuing to make Boston University the best institution it can be.
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The opinion expressed in this editorial that Silber transformed a “mid-grade commuter school” lacks historical perspective. By 1971, BU had thousands of out-of-state students. There wasn’t enough on-campus housing for everyone, so many students lived off campus in Allston, Brighton, Brookline, Cambridge, Back Bay, etc.. For Thanksgiving they went home to New York, Ct., New Jersey, and places far and wide. Although many students also commuted from their homes locally, BU was no longer a “commuter school” in the traditional meaning of the term when Silber became president. That description is more suited to Northeastern and UMass Boston at that point in time, but not BU. Also, the description of BU as “mid-level” doesn’t do it justice. By the late 1960s, BU was thought of as a good school. Although it wasn’t an elite level school, it had a good academic reputation. Silber inherited a good university.
Joel Krakow
College of Liberal Arts (CLA ’73’)