Rumors Abound at B.U.

At Boston University, faculty and students arein the dark regarding Silber's future with theinstitution.

Silber is slated to return to his post onJanuary I, but university administrators refusedto comment on the possibility that Silber maychoose to pursue other interests rather thanreturn to his post. A meeting of the universitytrustees is scheduled for next week.

Some have already indicated their approval ofSilber for the state's top party post. "I don'tthink that it would mean the end of the Democraticparty in Massachusetts by any stretch of theimagination," said David S. Palmer, professor ofLatin American studies at B.U.

"The possibility of running the Democraticparty is, I think, not incompatible, with hisremaining as president of B.U.," said Palmer.

"My guess is that if he became the head of theDemocratic party in the Commonwealth, it would bean interesting experience for all concerned,because he is a man who certainly does not leadlightly," he said.

Until recently, rumors were flying that drugczar and former Secretary of Education WilliamBennett would replace Silber as B.U. president.Bennett, however, publicly squashed those rumorson Thursday, after resigning from his post in theBush Administration.

"I am free of that world now," Bennett said ofthe liberal university environment. "Does theSoviet dissident wish to return as the head of thegulag?"

H. Joachim Maitre, dean of the college ofcommunications at B.U., thinks Silber is too goodfor the job of Democratic chair. Instead, Silberdeserves to be Harvard's next president, saysMaitre, an East German defector lured to B.U. bySilber.

"I don't think [the state party leader] is ajob for which he is suited. He's better thanthat," Maitre said. "I think he should bepresident of Harvard."

"He's been president of a university for 20years, and he's been in the running for governorof Massachusetts," Maitre said. "He clearly willhave to have something a lot more promising thanwhat he has now."

Silber has not been mentioned publicly as acandidate for president of Harvard, but Maitresaid that "if they haven't been talking to him, Ibelieve they should."

Student Reactions

Boston University students contacted were splitin opinion over Silber's return.

"I think he will be a more effective leader nowthat he's a known figure. Hopefully, he canattract better faculty," said Tom Gill, a senior.