Faculty group passes no-confidence vote in Harvard president

[paineinthearse]

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050315/APA/503150894

Mar 15, 2005

Faculty group passes no-confidence vote in Harvard president

By JUSTIN POPE
AP Education Writer

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.— In a symbolic but stunning rebuke, Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences passed a motion Tuesday saying it lacked confidence in President Lawrence Summers - the first such action in the nearly 400-year history of the university. The arts and sciences faculty is one of 10 that comprise the university, and Summers reports to the Harvard Corporation, the university's governing board, which has expressed its support for him.

But the 218-185 vote supporting the motion - which even supporters had expected to be defeated - was a significant setback to Summers' efforts to rebuild his standing with Harvard's faculty in the wake of the uproar over his comments about women in science at an academic conference in January. At the very least, the vote seemed likely to prolong the period of divisiveness among faculty, and hinder Summers' efforts to return focus to his agenda for remaking the university.

The measure stated simply: "The Faculty lacks confidence in the leadership of Lawrence H. Summers." The faculty also passed a milder rebuke of Summers' comments and "managerial approach," which also expressed support for the president in addressing the issues. That measure passed 253-137.

"As I said to the faculty, I have tried these last couple months to listen to all that has been said, to learn from it, and to move forward, and that's what I am going to do," Summers said in brief remarks as he emerged from the meeting, struggling to be heard over the shouts of protesters.

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[roguevalley]

1. cool. I hear he's a consistent fuck up