2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty casts close vote on professorship controversy
Brian Fung
Issue date: 1/10/07 Section: News
A motion reaffirming the College's commitment to diversity was narrowly passed, 52-43, by secret ballot at the Dec. 11 faculty meeting. Arguments for and against the resolution were among the latest volleys to be exchanged in the debate over a controversial professorship dedicated to former Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.
Leading the campaign for the symbolic "sense of the faculty" resolution was Professor of Russian Kevin Moss.
"The recent naming of an endowed chair for William H. Rehnquist undermines Middlebury College's ability to promote diversity," he said, arguing that the College's actions represent tacit support for the late Chief Justice's conservative court decisions. "Rehnquist had the opportunity to grant civil rights to African Americans and gays and lesbians, and he consistently used that power to deny them these rights again and again."
According to Moss, the motion was inspired in part by a lack of communication between the administration and the College community regarding the decision to announce the Rehnquist chair. Moss's resolution called for the future consultation of faculty on potentially sensitive College actions, especially those concerning race, class, and sexual preference.
"We should have participation within the faculty," he said. "That we're discussing this now is a little absurd. We should have been discussing this earlier."
President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz apologized for the miscommunication, tracing the root of the problem to a visit earlier in the academic year by current Chief Justice John G. Roberts.
"[Granting] the request by the donors to have Roberts' lecture be the place where we announced this was a mistake on my part," said Liebowitz in an interview. "I didn't think through the implications of folks coming to hear the Chief Justice, and instead hearing about the chair given in honor of William Rehnquist."
In a letter to the College that was read aloud during the meeting, Jim Ralph, professor of History and the recipient of the Rehnquist professorship, claimed that there was nothing inherently conservative about the decision to establish the chair in Rehnquist's name.
Leading the campaign for the symbolic "sense of the faculty" resolution was Professor of Russian Kevin Moss.
"The recent naming of an endowed chair for William H. Rehnquist undermines Middlebury College's ability to promote diversity," he said, arguing that the College's actions represent tacit support for the late Chief Justice's conservative court decisions. "Rehnquist had the opportunity to grant civil rights to African Americans and gays and lesbians, and he consistently used that power to deny them these rights again and again."
According to Moss, the motion was inspired in part by a lack of communication between the administration and the College community regarding the decision to announce the Rehnquist chair. Moss's resolution called for the future consultation of faculty on potentially sensitive College actions, especially those concerning race, class, and sexual preference.
"We should have participation within the faculty," he said. "That we're discussing this now is a little absurd. We should have been discussing this earlier."
President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz apologized for the miscommunication, tracing the root of the problem to a visit earlier in the academic year by current Chief Justice John G. Roberts.
"[Granting] the request by the donors to have Roberts' lecture be the place where we announced this was a mistake on my part," said Liebowitz in an interview. "I didn't think through the implications of folks coming to hear the Chief Justice, and instead hearing about the chair given in honor of William Rehnquist."
In a letter to the College that was read aloud during the meeting, Jim Ralph, professor of History and the recipient of the Rehnquist professorship, claimed that there was nothing inherently conservative about the decision to establish the chair in Rehnquist's name.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Friend of Middlebury
Thomas A. Underwood
posted 1/10/07 @ 8:50 PM EST
I disagree with Rehnquist's overtly political interpretation of the Constitution, but I believe that Jim Ralph is one of the morally upstanding people I've ever known. (Continued…)
James Lyall
posted 1/11/07 @ 9:05 AM EST
It's going to take much more than a symbolic resolution to give any content to Middlebury's supposed commitment to diversity. Perhaps the College should consider devoting its ample and ever-accruing resources to creating a truly multicultural institution (i. (Continued…)
Donald S. Black
posted 1/11/07 @ 3:03 PM EST
I agree wholeheartedly with Professor Dry and I am disgusted that this has received so much play among Middlebury's overly pampered and sheltered faculty, who can only assume to know Rehnquist's political views on race and diversity. (Continued…)
Ben Patch
posted 1/12/07 @ 10:22 AM EST
If the political discourse is to be truly diverse, I do not see the benefit in squelching a scholarship that some believe represents the College as not progressive or in some eyes aligns this institution with abhorrent action at our nation's higest court. (Continued…)
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