A Rejected Letter to the Editor of the Crimson

To the editor of the Crimson:
I am writing in response to an article published on December 12^th about Professor Mansfield’s book, Manliness, and his more recent article, “Manliness and Morality” in the Weekly Standard. The authors, Sandra Korn and Marina Bolotnikova, have called into question the abilities of Professor Mansfield to teach, given his controversial political views.
It is common knowledge that any academic institution with integrity will try to rid itself of all types of prejudice and discrimination.  Harvard professors must refrain from judgment and remain impartial on all political issues, especially with regard to the subjects they teach. Moreover, I would argue the same must apply to students. What is an opinion if nothing but prejudice toward one argument and discrimination against another? It follows, therefore, that Harvard students, like Harvard professors, should not hold opinions. Opinions are simply useless biases and nothing you can say will persuade me otherwise.
The controversial and political nature of this article casts doubt on the ability of its writers to learn. Some may question my credibility in passing judgment, as I have never taken a class with either writer. However, I do not have to take a class with either writer to know that their opinions clearly inform their education and that neither writer could ever feasibly entertain both sides of an argument. Consequently, I urge the administration to seriously reconsider these students’ capacities to fulfill their obligations as members of the Harvard undergraduate class.
Was it not Voltaire who said: “I may not agree with what you say, and I am offended to death by your right to say it.”? Yes, Voltaire, surely.
Doubleplusgood,
Sarah Siskind ’14
Cambridge MA