'I’ve made my share of mistakes': Violation No. 1 of my no-more-Harvard-posts pledge: Can you imagine Summers' most ardent critics on the faculty admitting 'mistakes'? I honestly can't. ... Lots of thoughtful comments and links over at LCL on the matter. Combined with conversations I've had with people in the know about Summers, I'm officially distancing myself a bit more from the views of Alan Dershowitz. Of course there was left-wing ideology at the core of the opposition to Summers. Are we to dismiss the entire Innate Differences 'crisis' as anything but ideological? Would Summers have been forced to resign this week if his comments about women -- and other third-rail PC controversies, i.e. Cornell West and affirmative action, Israel divestment etc. -- had not occurred? I think not. But that doesn't mean Summers didn't and wouldn't have caused other troubles for himself. He alienated too many other faculty members via his erratic and sometimes autocratic management style. When their support wavered, Summers' days were numbered. ... FYI: I have a hunch that Summers' 'long good-bye' tour -- if handled correctly, as it was yesterday -- might play into the Corporation's hands, assuming board members still want to make major changes at Harvard. Summers is reaching out to students and coming across as reasonable in defeat, regaining legitimacy for his vision in the process. The Corporation can use that legitimacy by hiring someone with similar views as Summers but with better management skills. They then can present the candidate to the public and basically say, 'You faculty members say this was all about management? Fine. Here's a good manager. Now what?' I'm not sure some on the Arts and Sciences faculty appreciate their support is thin among alumni, students and faculty members at other schools.

Update -- Here's a A&S faculty member who hopes the next president indeed retains aspects of Summers' goals and style. ...  ¶ 6:22 AM