Glass House?

For all Rudenstine talks about the importance of diversity, Harvard's faculty recently pointed out the mote in Rudenstine's own eye. Without his house in order, some question how much force Rudenstine's words to the nation can carry.

Since 1991, 20 of the 84 Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) appointments--24 percent have been women, still only represent 11.5 percent of the FAS's senior faculty.

For many women across the University, Rudenstine's decision to deny tenure to Associate Professor of Government Bonnie Honig, a woman scholar who is widely well-regarded by her peers, was proof that the president's private commitment to diversity does not match his public stance.

"Your decision to refuse Professor Honig tenure has been greeted with shock and disbelief across the University and beyond," 15 senior faculty women wrote in a letter of protest to Rudenstine after the decision.

"It is especially incomprehensible given your publicly stated commitment to equality for women," they continued.

This sentence has become a mantra for those concerned with Harvard's commitment to faculty diversity and a springboard for newspapers across the nation to point out Rudenstine's perceived hypocracy.

The subhead on an article in section A of The New York Times about the controversy, for example trumpeted "Rejection From Leader Who Vows Diversity."

Assistant to the President for Affirmative Action James S. Hoyte admits Harvard has not been as progressive in its tenure policy as in its admissions policy, but he still contends Harvard is committed to tenuring more women and minorities.

"[The] University has been determined that in seeking diversity of the hiring practices that exist here," Hoyte says.

He says that Harvard's approach to tenuring women and minorities cannot be described as "bold" or "creative" but has been "thoughtful"and "sincere."

In other words, Rudenstine has remained committed to the institutional framework for tenure that the University handed him when he became president in 1991,

This "other" mantle complicates Rudenstine's efforts to promote and protect diversity.

"To what extent to we do what we ought within our own communities to shape these values?" Edley asks. "Sometimes I have my doubts.... One of the ways an institution can lead externally is by demonstrating internally how best to engage a community in controversies of this sort."

When asked if there were a "tension" between his public commitment to diversity and his denial of tenure to Honig, Rudenstine says, "That's a question for you to answer," referring to evidence that he says indicates his comment to increasing Faculty diversity.

Conclusion

For the first time since Bakke, academics are circling their wagons and starting to question the premises they have held for years so as to provide the answers skeptics demand.

Rudenstine has responded to his call--gradually--by increasing his efforts outside Harvard's iron gates. But he is challenged by the University's tenure policies, his own modesty and the lack of a solid body of research to support his convictions.

"Race-based admission practices and scholarships are in deep jeopardy, and anybody who cares about diversity and doesn't want to see these advances rolled back has to lie awake at night and worry about this--and I do," Zwerling says.

"The political tide is running against those efforts," he adds.