One widely-held theory to explain Silber's combativeness is that he is out to prove himself. Silber's right arm ends in a knob at his elbow--the result of a birth defect--and some say he is still revenging himself upon the school children who taunted him as a child.

For whatever reason, Silber doesn't mince words. Responding to charges that he denied salary increases to political science professors Howard Zinn and Murray Levin because they are among his most outspoken critics, Silber said they simply do not deserve higher salaries: "They are not regarded in high esteem generally--Harvard has never offered them a professorship; neither has Yale. If these people are so worried about their salaries, why don't they get an offer someplace else? The answer is no place else wants them."

The faculty had originally planned to meet next Tuesday to vote on a resolution calling for Silber's dismissal. However, Silber--who will chair the meeting--postponed the assembly because he will be out of the country on that date. He said he is not concerned by the possibility the faculty will recommend his ouster because such a vote would show "absolute contempt for civil liberties and civil rights. You don't decide by popular vote on the truth or falsity of charges that have not been examined or investigated."

Silber's belligerence melts as he recalls a previously unreported incident that is at odds with his reputation for callousness. A year ago he hired an attorney with his own money to defend a young cab driver charged with murder. The cabbie's brother, a security guard at B.U., had told Silber of the situation: the court-appointed attorney was trying to convince the defendant to plead guilty in exchange for only a 20-year sentence. Outraged at this, Silber retained a different attorney and the man was later acquitted. The second attorney, George V. Higgins of Boston, says Silber paid a fee of more than $15,000 from his own pocket.

Few people see Silber in such a charitable light. No one denies that he is brilliant and enormously articulate, but many believe he is using his talents to the detriment of Boston University. For example, his critics say his abrasiveness and intransigence in labor negotiations were a major stimulus for union activity at B.U., which has had three strikes within the last year.

"I'm watching a man of high ideals become corrupted by his power," says one personal friend. "He's one of those sad cases of a flawed genius."