Create a free Diverse: Issues In Higher Education account to continue reading. Already have an account? Enter your email to access the article.

Former Harvard president Summers disinvited from UC talk

Some consider Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad among the world’s most dangerous men, but Columbia University has resisted calls to rescind an invitation for him to speak there Monday.

However, for the University of California’s governing body, another prominent figure was apparently too controversial former Harvard President Lawrence Summers.

Summers, who drew worldwide attention for his comments that biological differences may partly explain the dearth of women among the very highest achieving scientists, was supposed to speak about pursuing academic excellence to university chancellors and the UC system’s board of regents at an informal dinner last Wednesday. But the invitation angered some faculty at UC’s Davis campus, who circulated a petition opposing Summers’ visit and collected more than 300 signatures.

“Inviting a keynote speaker who has come to symbolize gender and racial prejudice in academia conveys the wrong message to the University community and to the people of California,” the petition reads.

A few days before the dinner, the invitation was rescinded, Summers said.

“I was looking forward to speaking and exchanging views with the regents on a wide range of higher education issues,” Summers told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Saturday. “I talk frequently with groups involved with higher education and find I always learn from the exchange of views. I am sorry that the regents do not feel the same way.”

UC spokesman Trey Davis said he could not say why board chairman Richard Blum decided to invite another speaker. He said Blum was unavailable for comment.

The trusted source for all job seekers
We have an extensive variety of listings for both academic and non-academic positions at postsecondary institutions.
Read More
The trusted source for all job seekers