Teaching tolerance

Attending a college or university is a time to explore intellectual and social boundaries, to learn, to be open to ideas and to grow. Several students at Harvard University were upset that Ronald Sullivan, a lecturer at Harvard Law School and a faculty dean who is also a highly respected criminal defense attorney, agreed to become part of Harvey Weinstein’s defense team (with which he is apparently no longer associated).

As despicable as Mr. Weinstein is, he is constitutionally entitled to his defense. And, yes, every lawyer does not have to accept every case that comes his way. But running Mr. Sullivan and his wife out of the dormitory for which he was the faculty head is doubly shameful — Harvard, by capitulating to student pressure, and the students, by failing to show tolerance.

The Harvard administrators should have responded to the students’ demands as follows: “Mr. Sullivan has every right to take on part of the defense of Mr. Weinstein no matter how politically charged that may be. You should sit down with him and exchange ideas. If you do not like his continuing presence, please feel free to advise the registrar that you are withdrawing from Harvard; the university will promptly refund your full tuition and room and board fees, and will send your transcript to the college or university of your choice.”

Result: No takers, and perhaps a lesson to Harvard to have standards and to the students regarding the importance of the tolerance they profess to defend.

JON SCHMERLING

Mt. Lebanon