I don't know how many of you are following what is going on concerning the appointment of a new provost, but everyone should be shocked and appalled at what is happening. First, I will fill you in with the background information and then I will show and explain the abuses of power and position that are going on among the faculty and the administration.
Former Provost Lee Bollinger left the position to become the new president of the University of Michigan. This was a major step up in his career and I wish him the best of luck. President Freedman then by-passed the usual search committee for a new provost, and appointed then Dean of Faculty James Wright to hold the position on a temporary basis. Why President Freedman did this is unclear. Perhaps, knowing that he was planning on resigning soon, and that the College would be in an awkward position without a president, a dean of Thayer, a dean of Mary-Hitchcock, and a provost, four of Dartmouth's ranking administrators, he wanted to establish some stability. Perhaps, President Freedman wanted to reward Wright for what he considered a good reign as dean of faculty. Or perhaps, he had some completely ulterior motive, either good or bad. The point is that by by-passing the established procedure, President Freedman has made a serious error, one that could cost Dartmouth dearly.
Welcome to the world of faculty politics.
What has gone on recently, is a huge farce. Wright "voluntarily" agreed to step down as provost and allow the usual search and replacement committee to select his successor. The real reason behind his stepping down, as I understand it, was faculty grumbling about both Wright's method of ascension, and his performance.
Next comes along a group of professors, headed by Prof. Hans Penner, chair of the Religion department and former dean of faculty, that wanted Wright to stay on. Why they wanted this is unknown. Perhaps, it was because these professors truly thought that Wright was doing a great job. Or, perhaps, they are friends of Wright and are acting as a favor to James. Probably they are trying to cover their backs just in case Wright becomes provost. Whatever their motivations, they got an outstanding 60% of the faculty to sign on.
Ultimately this faculty petition to keep Wright is a load of bull. Here is a document to which Wright can look at to see who his "friends" are and, by default, who his enemies are. Now, knowing there is a chance the Wright will be legitimately selected as provost, by standard or non-standard means, would YOU sign this petition? How about if you were coming up for tenure soon? Or if you wanted to expand your department? Or if Wright had attacked your department in the past and you wanted to make nice-nice? I seriously wonder how many department chairs or other power faculty members sent out blitzes subtly instructing their subordinate colleagues to sign this petition.
There is no way to tell how many faculty members truly believe in Wright, and how many are trying to protect themselves. I find it hard to believe that within a month the faculty would go from calling for his resignation privately to wanting him to stay on. Clearly this petition should carry no weight on behalf of Dean Wright for provost, because of the illegitimate means by which the signatures were obtained
What kind of message do these actions send to we undergraduates? When I go into the business or academic world, should I try to usurp and hold onto as much power as possible by legitimate or illegitimate means? Is Dean Wright's example really what kind of people Dartmouth wants to produce?
Anytime that the regular rules of succession are broken and someone is allow to take a position through irregular channels, a serious error has been made. The rules governing hiring a new provost, or for that matter the new president, are there for a very good reason. We cannot allow these procedures to by disregarded because once we do, we open ourselves up to the whims of those in charge and we change the playing field from one of merit and truth to that of the good old boys club. I mean, we have a former dean of faculty creating a petition under bogus circumstances to help the current dean of faculty continue his climb up the ladder, without regard to proper and fair procedure. Should I have a former student in a class give me all of the answers to the problem sets and tests when I take the class, just so that I can get an A? Shouldn't Dartmouth's honor principle apply to administrators? Fundamentally, Dean Wright is cheating in his attempt to become provost. Don't be fooled about that. Just because this form of cheating doesn't involve answers programmed into a calculator, it does involve the attempt to procure an outcome through unfair practices, which is what cheating is.
Rare indeed is a George Washington, a Cincinnatus, or anyone who willingly surrenders their power. Although at first glance, this appears to be what is going on at Dartmouth, in reality it seems to be to a highly calculated gamble, based on intimidation, and thinly veiled threats.
The true problem is not the men themselves, but the method that is being used. We have a proper methodology for replacing all positions at Dartmouth, let's use it and show all Dartmouth students that the good old boys club is not how Dartmouth handles appointing its chief faculty.
