Word: ultimatumed
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When Pat Riley was coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, he presented his team with an ultimatum...
...years ago, the Faculty Council issued an ultimatum threatening to refuse scholarship money from ROTC if the program did not change its policy of excluding gays...
...does not need to agree with the council's stance on ROTC to understand that Rudenstine and Knowles should abide by the Faculty Council's ultimatum. It is useful here to consider the Congressional debate before the Gulf War. President Bush--rightly or wrongly--issued an ultimatum to Saddam, granting Congress only the last-minute right of refusal. Congress's decision was limited by the fact that the ultimatum had already been made, and that backing down would involve serious loss of face...
This spring, the Faculty, too, has the right to back down on the council's ROTC ultimatum. But they must not--for reasons far greater than loss of face. The ROTC ultimatum was not issued by a single executive without representative consent. It was issued by a coalition of dean, president and elected representatives of the Faculty. The council debated and thought hard before passing it. As such, the threat has far more legitimacy than the commitment of troops by a commander-in-chief...
...back down after such a strongly worded ultimatum would send a disastrous message to the military: that Harvard has had a drastic change of heart and doesn't really mind now what it minded two years ago. If Rudenstine and Knowles feel strongly enough in defense of ROTC, they should go ahead and send that message. But to pretend that the issue is simply up for grabs is downright irresponsible. Sure, let's talk. But most importantly, let's remember what's already been said...