Sunday, May 12, 2019

Harvard University Will Not Renew Contracts of First African American Deans of Winthrop, Robert Sullivan Jr. and Stephanie Robinson

Ronald S. Sullivan, Jr.
First of all, I'm no fan of Harvey Weinstein.  His abuse of power, sexual misconduct and assaults and reign of terror over Hollywood went on far too long.

That said, I'm having difficulty with Harvard University's decision to bow to pressure from what has undertones of a "mob mentality" of activists using the "me too" movement to oust the first two African American Deans at Harvard's Winthrop.  

Granted, I haven't investigated the story enough to know all of the underlying details, but it would seem to me that Harvard would support Mr. Weinstein's constitutional right to legal representation.  

Harvard's decision not to renew the contracts of husband and wife Winthrop Faculty Deans Ronald S. Sullivan, Jr. and Stephanie R. Robinson seems to have been heavily influenced by a campaign led by student activist, Danu A.K. Mudannayake, a student from Sri Lanka, who has been a very vocal opponent of Dean Sullivan.

This story will surely gain more national momentum both inside and outside of academic circles in the days and weeks ahead.  

This case bears watching.  

Stay woke.