Stanford: A Reconsideration

Cleaning the mess at White Plaza (Chron photo)

Maybe, just maybe, Stanford University has had enough of the extremes of Progressivism, DEI (diversity,equity, and inclusion), and wokeness: [bold added]

Thirteen people were arrested at Stanford University in a protest led by pro-Palestinian students, university officials confirmed Wednesday.

"All arrested students will be immediately suspended and in case any of them are seniors, they will not be allowed to graduate," the university said in an emailed statement.

In the demonstration, students "unlawfully entered" Building 10 where offices for both the president and provost are located, according to the statement. Stanford officials said the offices were damaged and a public safety officer was injured "after being shoved by protesters who were interfering with a transport vehicle." The university did not elaborate on the severity of the injury.

Richard Saller, 71, the former Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences and specialist in Roman history, is Stanford's interim president and was willing to tolerate the pro-Palestine protests up to a point. However, the arrests, suspensions, and refusal to confer degrees on arrested seniors showed where his red line was.

(After seven years as Stanford president, Marc Tessier-Lavigne resigned in 2023 after an investigation showed his research lab had produced reports that contained "falsified information." He had been cleared of personal misconduct.)

Jonathan Levin, the Dean of Stanford Business School for the past eight (8) years, will become Stanford's next president on August 1st.

Jonathan Levin, a renowned economist, comes to the top spot of one of the world’s most prestigious, and wealthiest, universities at a challenging time in higher education...

Levin, 51 years old, will begin his new job Aug. 1. A Stanford alum and son of former longtime Yale University president Rick Levin, he has been dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business since 2016.

Jonathan Levin has a glittering pedigree, as well as an unsurpassed record of achievement. He was born in New Haven to Yale Assistant Professor Rick Levin, who rose through the ranks to become Yale's President from 1993 to 2013.

Earning degrees from Stanford, Oxford, and MIT, Jonathan Levin "received the John Bates Clark Medal as the outstanding American economist under the age of 40." As the Dean of the GSB, he kept Stanford atop the Business School rankings.

Successful business educators and leaders know that they must keep their organizations from taking political positions that will alienate customers, suppliers, and governments. Based on his record, Jonathan Levin will strike the balance between free speech, protest, and the rights of all Stanford students to receive a quality education.

I know that this has as much realistic impact as declaring which politician I will vote for, but I am reconsidering my decision to never make another donation to Stanford.