tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116442395849122822.post5106089540446389697..comments2024-03-12T14:31:50.264-07:00Comments on Bits and Pieces: The political execution of Dean SullivanHarry Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17088418333536732728noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3116442395849122822.post-11245983874931496092019-10-03T14:13:58.219-07:002019-10-03T14:13:58.219-07:00I appreciate the points about free speech and of c...I appreciate the points about free speech and of course professors should be able to take unpopular positions without having to worry about their jobs. But house dean seems like a position like head of department where your ability to be successful depends on the confidence that either the students or the faculty (for house dean or head of dept respectively) have in you. If you become a controversial figure and thereby lose the confidence of the students, then probably you are a less effective house dean. The same would hold in your example about abortion rights. If the house dean's interactions with students in the house becomes dominated by a dispute over abortion then they probably will be less effective at doing the rest of their job. aram harrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01272118188252697149noreply@blogger.com