Letter to the Editor: Tenured faculty vital

The following is in response to Matthew Tilghman’s opinion piece, “Primary economic obstacle is adjustment to progress,” published on Jan. 31.

Norman Birnbaum, University Professor EmeritusMr. Matthew Tilghman, 2L, suggeststhat replacing full time facultywith adjunct professors would save the Law Center a certain amount of money. Perhaps it would. It would also destroy the sense of community and continuity which distinguishes institutions of higher education, and which enables full time faculty to think of themselves not as employees but as trustees devoted to the institution’s purposes.

Mr. Tilghman mentions Professor Lawrence Summers. He and the Harvard faculty had a certain number of arguments until a mutua ldecision was reached that his large talents could best be employed in an office other than that of President of the university. However, even in the most intense period of their disagreements, Professor Summers did not suggest that Harvard dismiss its full time faculty. Mr. Tilghman might wish to reflect on the complexities of human nature and the social institutions we construct. They are not reducible to cost-benefit calculations.

Norman Birnbaum, University Professor Emeritus (GULC 1979-2001)