So here is the latest news, on January 2, 2002:
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link for original article
BOSTON (AP) The Rev. Al Sharpton is demanding to meet with Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers after Summers allegedly criticized a professor for agreeing to head an exploratory committee for Sharpton's possible presidential run.
Sharpton's call comes a day after Summers agreed to meet with the Rev. Jesse Jackson to discuss Harvard's affirmative action policy. Jackson requested the meeting after reports that three high-profile black professors may leave because of dissatisfaction with Summers.
Sharpton said Tuesday he wants Summers to ''clarify'' whether he reprimanded Cornel West, a senior black faculty member, for agreeing to head Sharpton's exploratory committee.
The civil rights activist said Summers' alleged rebuke of West could hurt his possible 2004 presidential campaign.
''I would like for him to state very publicly that he in no way stifles or punishes or alters the role of any faculty member based on their support of Al Sharpton or anyone else as president,'' Sharpton said.
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First of all, let me give some background. Apparently a few weeks ago, the Harvard pres. had a meeting with Cornel West, one of the Afro-Am dept. faculty members, in which Summers (the pres.) urged West to continue the department's strong reputation for scholarship. Some places are reporting that this was kind of a rebuke for Cornel West possibly wanting to lead Al Sharpton's campaign, and the fact the Cornel West did a rap CD, which is not thought to be very scholarly (though West has written many books however).
Here are my questions. First, what right does Al Sharpton have to *demand* a meeting with the president of Harvard University to question a private conversation?
Second, if a professor is deciding to do something which greatly affects his duties at a university, ie. heading someone's election campaign, shouldn't his/her superior (dean, president, whatever) be allowed to have an opinion on that? I don't think Summers was taking a position b/c of West's support for Sharpton, just that he was thinking about taking that job.
Third, why is Al Sharpton such a loud troublemaker? I mean, being a vocal, questioning person is not a bad thing in itself, but I feel like Sharpton is a lot of talk, and no substance of his own. In fact, he seems to distort the substance of others much of the time. He doesn't seem like a very wise or patient person. Why would I ever want to vote for him for an important leadership position?
I hope others can enlighten me on these issues.
(sorry for some ranting, I am on a university campus, and these kinds of political issues pique my attention)
-------------------------------------------------------------
link for original article
BOSTON (AP) The Rev. Al Sharpton is demanding to meet with Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers after Summers allegedly criticized a professor for agreeing to head an exploratory committee for Sharpton's possible presidential run.
Sharpton's call comes a day after Summers agreed to meet with the Rev. Jesse Jackson to discuss Harvard's affirmative action policy. Jackson requested the meeting after reports that three high-profile black professors may leave because of dissatisfaction with Summers.
Sharpton said Tuesday he wants Summers to ''clarify'' whether he reprimanded Cornel West, a senior black faculty member, for agreeing to head Sharpton's exploratory committee.
The civil rights activist said Summers' alleged rebuke of West could hurt his possible 2004 presidential campaign.
''I would like for him to state very publicly that he in no way stifles or punishes or alters the role of any faculty member based on their support of Al Sharpton or anyone else as president,'' Sharpton said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
First of all, let me give some background. Apparently a few weeks ago, the Harvard pres. had a meeting with Cornel West, one of the Afro-Am dept. faculty members, in which Summers (the pres.) urged West to continue the department's strong reputation for scholarship. Some places are reporting that this was kind of a rebuke for Cornel West possibly wanting to lead Al Sharpton's campaign, and the fact the Cornel West did a rap CD, which is not thought to be very scholarly (though West has written many books however).
Here are my questions. First, what right does Al Sharpton have to *demand* a meeting with the president of Harvard University to question a private conversation?
Second, if a professor is deciding to do something which greatly affects his duties at a university, ie. heading someone's election campaign, shouldn't his/her superior (dean, president, whatever) be allowed to have an opinion on that? I don't think Summers was taking a position b/c of West's support for Sharpton, just that he was thinking about taking that job.
Third, why is Al Sharpton such a loud troublemaker? I mean, being a vocal, questioning person is not a bad thing in itself, but I feel like Sharpton is a lot of talk, and no substance of his own. In fact, he seems to distort the substance of others much of the time. He doesn't seem like a very wise or patient person. Why would I ever want to vote for him for an important leadership position?
I hope others can enlighten me on these issues.
(sorry for some ranting, I am on a university campus, and these kinds of political issues pique my attention)
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