Mansfield's Comments Not Worth the Effort

To the editors:

I have been at Harvard as an undergraduate and graduate student, and this is not the first time that I have been offended by the divisive comments of Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield '53 (News, "BSA Up in Arms After Mansfield Comment," Feb. 12).

But after six years, I have no speeches or intellectual response. I am just absolutely sick of hearing about Mansfield and of the warm feeling of bile that seeps into my stomach every time I hear about his unsubstantiated statements. Where is his evidence?

The very worst part is that the Black Students Association (BSA) sit-in and the letter they are writing are exact mirror events of what happened in 1996, when Mansfield responded to President Neil L. Rudenstine's report on diversity.

The names and graduation years and Mansfield stay the same. The only thing that changes is the cohorts of black students who waste time and effort on this man.

I have some anecdotal evidence of my own. Maybe we black students offend because we devote extra intellectual effort responding to Mansfield.

Jason B. Phillips '99