Via the NYT: Harvard Will Spend $50 Million to Make Faculty More Diverse
Lawrence H. Summers, the embattled president of Harvard University, announced yesterday that the university would spend at least $50 million over the next decade to recruit, support and promote women and members of underrepresented minority groups on its faculty.
Precisely why it costs more to hire minorities than non-minorities is unclear, but apparently it isn’t enough money:
Faculty members interviewed yesterday were enthusiastic about the initiatives. But some remained skeptical of Dr. Summers’s commitment to diversity. Several professors also said $50 million was not a particularly large sum for an institution as wealthy as Harvard. In recent years, its operating budget has been about $2.5 billion.
I have nothing against fostering diversity, but gee whiz this is Harvard–surely the best and the brightest of all races, ethnicities and of both genders already apply for jobs there. So what’s the $50 million for?
Of course, being that it is Harvard, the ultimate goal should simply be to have the best and the brightest, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, etc.
And the story notes:
It was unclear whether Dr. Summers’s actions would quell unhappiness over his leadership.
Oh, I think it is pretty clear from the article (and recent events) that no matter what Summers does he won’t be able to quell the unhappiness.
Harvard to Hire Token Women
Harvard President Larry Summers has caved to activist groups by committing to spend $50 million to hire less qualified faculty members.
Harvard to spend $50 million on diversity (Reuters)
Harvard University President Lawrence Summers, under fir…
Trackback by Outside The Beltway — Tuesday, May 17, 2024 @ 1:07 pm