Whether or not Paulin will accept—the poet has eschewed the media in recent months—the apparently stalled or failed efforts to bring him back to Harvard are viewed as a victory by some who criticized his initial invitation.
“It was inappropriate to honor him by inviting him,” said Benjamin P. Solomon-Schwartz ’03, former president of Hillel, who added that he felt it “is a good end” that the original protests have resulted in Paulin’s visit being postponed.
Max P. Davis ’04, who warned last fall that he would protest Paulin’s visit, continues to object to the possibility of a visit by the Irish poet.
“I sincerely hope that the English Department has chosen to honor a worthy speaker instead of Paulin,” Davis wrote in an e-mail.
—Staff writer Alexander J. Blenkinsopp can be reached at blenkins@fas.harvard.edu