Re: 4/18/00 - Lorimer, Conroy should not resign/Linda Lorimer deserves support of students, faculty
Lorimer, Conroy should not resign
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Published 4/11/00
To the Editor:
On Thursday, April 6, President Levin issued a prepared response to the YDN in regard to the comments attributed to a University spokesman on the ABC 20/20 program that aired on March 1. He said the comments "do not reflect the beliefs of any University official," and he expressed his regret for any offense they may have given to the family of Suzanne Jovin, their friends and others. Despite the five-week delay in issuing it, I am sure the president's statement is appreciated by all those who were offended by the comments attributed to the spokesman.
Unfortunately, on the same day he released his statement, President Levin told the YDN that "Students in Yale College who are thinking about signing [the petition circulated that day to all undergraduates by six students or former students] ought to think carefully--since they are being complicit in the defamation of some outstanding people." (YDN, April 7). For President Levin to accuse the authors of the petition -- a current student and five recent graduates -- of defamation is altogether extraordinary. Defamation is an exceptionally serious matter. An accusation of defamation is no less serious. It is especially serious when it is made by a university president against a group of current and former students who are involved in circulating a petition to undergraduates and alumni about matters pertaining to the University. I believe the President must either substantiate his charge or retract it. I have read the petition and do not believe there is any statement in it which is defamatory or which could be claimed to be bordering on defamation. I can only regard the president's comment to the YDN as an unacceptable effort to intimidate undergraduates and the petitioners alike by making an untrue accusation about the petitioners. I urge him to retract the charge and to do so immediately.
The petition, which has now circulated to undergraduates and alumni, refers to my earlier letter to the YDN (March 27) and quotes several sentences in it. While I am sympathetic to the concerns of the petitioners, I do not agree with several of their resolutions. In particular, I do not support their call for the resignations of Linda Lorimer, the Vice President and Secretary, and Thomas Conroy, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs and the University spokesman who communicated with ABC 20/20. I believe that whatever Mr. Conroy said to ABC was said in his capacity as University spokesman and was presented as the University position. In that capacity, he expressed -- accurately, I am sure -- the University's position as it was elaborated by his superiors and communicated to him for dissemination to the media. As my earlier letter indicated, the critical issue for me has always been changing the University position itself, not changing the identity of the particular person or persons communicating it to the media.
David R. Cameron
April 10, 2000
The writer is a professor of political science.
yaledailynews.com
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Linda Lorimer deserves support of students, faculty
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Published 4/11/00
To the Editor:
All Yale remains in anguish over the senseless death of Suzanne Jovin. Linda Lorimer shares that anguish. I have admired her caring, conscientious work in action from the moment she became Secretary of Yale. Two years ago, when Timothy Dwight College was hit with a tragic suicide, it was Linda Lorimer who was at our door immediately in the night. Linda stayed in TD til 2 a.m., helping us cope with this tragedy.
About a year and a half ago, Lorimer approached me and the other masters, asking for ideas about building bridges between Yale and the various communities of Connecticut. Last night's massive Tito Puente concert in honor of the boricuas [Puerto Ricans] of Connecticut started, in fact, with her initiative.
Linda has loyally and compassionately served Yale as far back as 1977 when, an acting master of the Houn, I knew her as the finest graduate centurion of that fine college. She went to become a distinguished member of the Yale Corporation. My conscience demands that I rise to defend her. When TD needs help from the central administration, she is always there for us. She is one of the best things going at Yale.
Robert Farris Thompson
April 7, 2000
The writer is the master of Timothy Dwight College.
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