And In the Short Term
Whatever goals Summers was working on this year, you can stick a fork in them—they're done.
1) The curricular review. That was supposed to be discussed at the meeting yesterday. Shock! It wasn't. And it won't be until next year, and Summers' status is clearer.
2) Fundraising. This has got to be devastating. I'm sure some alums who strongly support Summers will make a show of giving large gifts. But ask any fundraiser whether controversy is good for their work, and you'll get a quick two-letter answer. Maybe preceded by a four-letter word.
3) Allston. Who's going to sign off on any major decisions now?
4) Faculty hiring. Hmmm. If you were a professor at another university, might you have some doubts about moving to Harvard at the moment? There's a lot to be said for a collegial campus.
That's off the top of my head. But you can imagine that in offices and hallways all over Harvard this morning, the conversation is of little else...and the work of the university lies dormant.
