March 1, 2001I have been too busy with the UW-Madison Academic Freedom Conference last week (February 22-23) and the events preceding it to follow up on our Guest Columns that appeared on successive Sundays in the Wisconsin State Journal (January 21 and 28, 2001).
Any number of people I’ve encountered in recent weeks are perplexed by our exchange. They do not understand why we offer such distinctly different versions of how admissions decisions are made for minority applicants at the University of Wisconsin. Most of them suspect that race preferences are aggressively applied, certainly in admissions decisions at UW-Madison. Yet, they harbor some doubt about my description of how the system works. They ask how the President of the Board of Regents could be wrong when he is able to draw on the abundant resources and the vast knowledge available through the University of Wisconsin System to give him accurate information about how the admissions process works, not only at UW-Madison but elsewhere in the UW System.
I explain to them the essence of truth seeking in the world of higher education. It goes like this. Explanations are published, whether in scholarly journals or newspaper Guest Columns. These explanations purport to represent the truth. But, if these explanations are flawed, refutations of these explanations are written and published. Then, readers have the opportunity to decide for themselves where the truth lies.
Thus, I tell people that our exchange of explanations may not yet have come to a close. It is entirely possible that my explanation is incorrect; this would not be too surprising in view of the difficulties I experienced getting answers to my questions about how the admissions process operates. If my explanation is flawed, I tell them that you will soon be writing another Guest Column pointing out the errors in my explanation. Doing so, will give readers a chance to judge for themselves based on the further evidence you provide. Of course, I may find it necessary to respond further. And so the “sifting and winnowing” process continues until the truth emerges.
So far, a month has elapsed with no response from you or anyone else in the UW System. If my explanation is wrong, my errors need to be exposed. Only then can I make amends to you, the UW System, and the general public, by correcting my explanation. If on the other hand, I am correct, I would hope the correctness of my explanation would be publicly acknowledged. Silence does not advance truth. Moreover, short-circuiting the sifting and winnowing process does not reflect well on the history and traditions of this great truth-seeking university.
Whether we know it or not, whether we practice it perfectly or imperfectly, universities and their faculties are committed to truth seeking. That position is best reflected in John Henry Newman’s classic book, The Idea of a University (1854), from which I quote:
“The university is the place to which a thousand schools make contributions; in which the intellect may safely range and speculate, sure to find its equal in some antagonist activity, and its judge in the tribunal of truth. It is a place where inquiry is pushed forward, and discoveries verified and perfected, and rashness rendered innocuous, and error exposed, by the collision of mind with mind, and knowledge with knowledge.”
I look forward to your response.
Cordially,
— W. Lee Hansen
Professor Emeritus, Economics
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Letter to Regent President Smith
March 1, 2001I have been too busy with the UW-Madison Academic Freedom Conference last week (February 22-23) and the events preceding it to follow up on our Guest Columns that appeared on successive Sundays in the Wisconsin State Journal (January 21 and 28, 2001).
Any number of people I’ve encountered in recent weeks are perplexed by our exchange. They do not understand why we offer such distinctly different versions of how admissions decisions are made for minority applicants at the University of Wisconsin. Most of them suspect that race preferences are aggressively applied, certainly in admissions decisions at UW-Madison. Yet, they harbor some doubt about my description of how the system works. They ask how the President of the Board of Regents could be wrong when he is able to draw on the abundant resources and the vast knowledge available through the University of Wisconsin System to give him accurate information about how the admissions process works, not only at UW-Madison but elsewhere in the UW System.
I explain to them the essence of truth seeking in the world of higher education. It goes like this. Explanations are published, whether in scholarly journals or newspaper Guest Columns. These explanations purport to represent the truth. But, if these explanations are flawed, refutations of these explanations are written and published. Then, readers have the opportunity to decide for themselves where the truth lies.
Thus, I tell people that our exchange of explanations may not yet have come to a close. It is entirely possible that my explanation is incorrect; this would not be too surprising in view of the difficulties I experienced getting answers to my questions about how the admissions process operates. If my explanation is flawed, I tell them that you will soon be writing another Guest Column pointing out the errors in my explanation. Doing so, will give readers a chance to judge for themselves based on the further evidence you provide. Of course, I may find it necessary to respond further. And so the “sifting and winnowing” process continues until the truth emerges.
So far, a month has elapsed with no response from you or anyone else in the UW System. If my explanation is wrong, my errors need to be exposed. Only then can I make amends to you, the UW System, and the general public, by correcting my explanation. If on the other hand, I am correct, I would hope the correctness of my explanation would be publicly acknowledged. Silence does not advance truth. Moreover, short-circuiting the sifting and winnowing process does not reflect well on the history and traditions of this great truth-seeking university.
Whether we know it or not, whether we practice it perfectly or imperfectly, universities and their faculties are committed to truth seeking. That position is best reflected in John Henry Newman’s classic book, The Idea of a University (1854), from which I quote:
I look forward to your response.
Cordially,
— W. Lee Hansen
Professor Emeritus, Economics
University of Wisconsin-Madison