Onitsfaceitshouldnotseemprobablethatmotivesofpersonalgain,intheformofpecuniaryorothermaterialinterest,wouldhaveaseriouspartinthematter。Inallprobabilitythereisinnocaseasensiblepecuniarygaintotheuniversityassuchfromitsexpendituresonpublicity,andthereisstilllessquestionofgaininanyotherthanthepecuniaryrespect。Thereisalsocommonlynoverysubstantialpecuniarygaintobederivedfromthisbusinesseitherbytheacademicheadorbythemembersoftheboard,——anexceptionalinstancetothecontrarywillnotvitiatethisgeneralproposition。Itallbringsnoappreciablepecuniaryreturntothem,particularlysofarasitisconcernedwiththepursuitofprestige;andapartfromexceptional,andthereforenegligible,casesitadmitsofnoappreciableconversionoffundstoprivateuse。Atthesametimeitseemsalmostanaffronttoentertainthenotionthattheseimpassivelypurposefulmenofaffairsaregreatlymovedbypersonalmotivesofvanity,vaingloriouslyseekingrenownforefficientlycarryingonatrafficinpublicitythathasnootherendthanrenownforefficientlycarryingiton。Andyetitwillbefoundextremelydifficulttotakeaccountofthefactsandatthesametimeavoidsuchanodiouslypersonalinterpretationofthem。
Such,indeed,wouldhavetobetheinferencedrawnbyanyonewhomightingenuouslytaketheavailablefactsattheirfacevalue,——notcountingasfactsthedutifulprotestationsoftheauthoritiestothecontrary。Butitshouldbekeptinmindthatatransparentingenuousnessisnotcharacteristicofbusinessphenomena,withintheuniversityorwithout。Adegreeofdeviation,or\"diplomacy,\"maybeforcedontheacademicmanagementbythecircumstancesoftheiroffice,particularlybytheone—eyedbusinesssenseoftheirgoverningboards。Indeed,admissionstosuchaneffectarenotaltogetherwanting。
Ratedastheyare,inthepopularapprehension,asgentlemenandscholars,andthemselvespresumablyacceptingthisratingassubstantiallycorrect,nofeatureoftheschemeofmanagementimposedontheacademicexecutivebybusinessprinciplesshould(presumably)besorepugnanttotheirsensibilitiesandtheirscholarlyjudgmentasthiscovertbutunremittingpursuitofaninnocuousnotoriety,coupledasitnecessarilyiswithasystematicmisdirectionoftheacademicforcestounscholarlyends;butprudentialreasonswilldecidethatthismustbetheirchiefendeavouriftheyaretoholdtheirownasacompetitiveuniversity。Shouldtheacademicheadallowhissenseofscholarlyfitnessandexpediencytohamperthisbusinessofreputablenotoriety,itis,perhapswithreason,fearedthatsuchremissnesswouldpresentlyleadtohisretirementfromoffice;atleastsomethingofthatkindseemsafairinferencefromtherunofthefacts。Hisplacewouldthenbesuppliedbyanincumbentdulyqualifiedonthisscoreofone—eyedbusinesssagacity,andonewhowouldknowhowtokeephisscholarlyimpulsesinhand。Itisatleastconceivablethattheapprehensionofsomesuchcontingencymayunderliecurrentuniversitymanagementatsomepoints,anditmaythereforeinsomeinstanceshavegiventheadministrationofacademicaffairsanairoflight—headedfutility,whenitshouldratherbecreditedwithasagaciouslydisingenuousyieldingtocircumstance。
Therunofthefactsasoutlinedabove,andthelineofinferencejustindicatedasfollowingfromthem,reflectnogreatcreditonthemanlyqualitiesoftheincumbentsofexecutiveoffice;butthealternative,asalsonotedabove,isscarcelypreferableeveninthatrespect,whileitwouldbeevenlessflatteringtotheirintellectualpowers。Yetthereappearstobenoavoidingthedilemmasopresented。Ofdisinterestedgroundsforthecommonrunofacademicpolicythereseemtobeonlythesetwolinestochoosebetween:——eitherashort—sightedandheadlongconformitytothevulgarprejudicethatdoesnotlookbeyond\"practical\"trainingandcompetitiveexpansion,coupledwithaboyishcravingforpopulardisplay;orastrategiccompromisewiththeeldersofthePhilistines,afutiledoingofevilinthehopethatsomegoodmaycomeofit。
Thislatterlineofapologyisadmissibleonlyinthosecaseswheretheuniversitycorporationisinanexceptionallyprecariouspositioninrespectofitsendowment,whereitisingreatneedandhasmuchtohopeforinthewayofpecuniarygainthroughstoopingtoconventionalprejudices,thatareofnoscholasticvalue,butthatareconceivedtobinditspotentialbenefactorsinaweboffatallyfragilebigotry;or,again,wheretheexecutiveisinsensibledangerofbeingsupersededbyanadministrationimbuedwith(conceivably)yetlowerandfeeblerscholarlyideals。
Now,ithappensthattherearenotableinstancesofuniversitieswheresuchapolicyofobsequiouslyreputablenotorietyandaimlessutilitarianmanagementispursuedundersuchcircumstancesofsettledendowmentandsecuretenureastoprecludeallhazardofsupersessiononthepartoftheexecutiveandallchanceofmaterialgainfromanyaccessionofpopularrenownorstagnantrespectability。ThereisasmallclassofAmericanuniversitycorporationsthataresoplaced,bythepeculiarcircumstancesoftheirendowment,astobeabovetheapprehensionofneed,solongastheyarecontenttoliveanywherenearlywithinthedomainoflearning;atthesametimethattheyhavenothingtolosethroughalienatingtheaffectionsofthevulgar,andnothingtogainbydeferringtothesentimentalinfirmitiesofelderlywell—to—dopersons。Thisclassisnotanumerousone;notlargeenoughtosetthepacefortherest;butevidentlyalsonotnumerousenoughtogoontheirownrecognizances,andadoptalineofpolicysuitedtotheirowncircumstancesandnotboundtothefashionsetbytherest。Someofthewellknownestablishmentsofthisclasshavealreadybeenalludedtoinanotherconnection。
Statisticaldisplay,spectacularstageproperties,vaingloriousmake—believeandobsequiousconcessionstoworldlywisdom,shouldseemtohavenoplaceinthecounselsoftheseschools;whichshouldthereforehopefullybecountedontopursuethequestofknowledgewiththatsinglemindwhichtheyprofess。
Yetsuchiseminently,nottosaypre—eminently,notthecase。
Theirpolicyinthesematterscommonlydiffersinnosensibledegreefromthatpursuedbytheneedierestablishmentsthatareengagedinadesperateraceofobsequiousness,forfundstobeprocuredbyfavourofwell—to—dodonors,orthroughthesupportofworldly—wiseclergymenandpoliticians。Indeed,someofthemostpatheticclamourforpopularrenown,aswellasinstancesofthemostprofligatestoopingtovulgarprejudice,aretobecreditedtoestablishmentsofthis,potentiallyindependent,class。Themanagement,apparently,aretoowellimbuedwiththecommonplacepreconceptionsofworldlywisdomafloatamongthelaity,toadmitoftheirtakinganyactionontheirowndeliberateinitiativeoreffectuallytakingthoughtofthatpursuitoflearningthathasbeenentrustedtotheircare。So,perhapsthroughsomepuzzleheadedsenseofdecorum,theyhavecometoengageinthisbootlessconventionalraceforfundswhichtheyhavenoslightestthoughtofobtaining,andforanincreasedenrolmentwhichtheyadvisedlydonotdesire。
Inthelightoftheseinstances,oneisconstrainedtobelievethattheacademicexecutivewhohassobeenthrownupasputativedirectorofthepursuitoflearningmustgoinforthisannexationofvocationalschools,foramateurish\"summersessions,\"fortheappointmentofschoolmastersinsteadofscholarsontheacademicstaff,forthesafe—keepingandpropagationofgenteelconventionalitiesatthecostofscholarship,fordevoutandpoliteceremonial,——oneisconstrainedtobelievethatsuchauniversityexecutivegoesinforthispolicyoftawdryroutinebecausehelacksordinaryintelligenceorbecausehelacksordinarycourage。Hisdiscretionisoverborneeitherbyhisownstoreofunreflectingprejudice,orbyfearoflosing。personalprestigeamongtheignorant,eventhoughhehasnosubstantialground,personalorofficial,forsoyieldingtocurrentprejudice。Suchappearstobethestateofthecaseintheseinstances,wheretheexigenciesofuniversitypoliticsaffordnooccasionforstrategiccompromisewiththeworldly—wise;whichpointedlysuggeststhatthelikethreadbaremotivesofunreflectingimitationandboyishmake—believemayalsohaveundulymuchtodowithacademicpolicy,eveninthatcommonrunofcasesthatmightotherwisehavebestbeenexplainedasaneffectofshrewdstrategy,designedtomaketermswiththemischievousstupidityofanunderbredlaity。
Butanydiscussionofmotivesnecessarilyhasaninvidiousair,andsocannotbutbedistasteful。Yet,sincethisexecutivepolicycanbeexplainedorunderstoodonlyastheoutcomeofthosemotivesthatappealdecisivelytothediscretionaryofficials,itisnecessarytopursuetheinquiryadegreefartheratthispoint,evenatthecostofsuchslightodiumasmaynotbeavoided,andattheriskofacertainappearanceofdispraise。
Itisperhapsneedlesstosaythatthisquestionofmotivationisnotgoneintohereexceptasitmayservetoexhibittherunofthefacts。Therunofthefactsisnotintelligibleexceptinthelightoftheirmeaningaspossiblemotivestothepursuitofthatpolicyofwhichtheyaretheoutcome。
Ontheaboveconsiderations,itfollowsthattheexecutiveheadsofthesecompetitiveuniversitiesareapickedbodyofmen,endowedwithaparticularbent,suchaswilldisposethemtobeguidedbytherunofmotivesindicated。Thiswillimplythattheyare,eitherbytrainingorbynativegift,menofasomewhatpeculiarframeofmind,——peculiarlyopentotheappealofparadeandephemeralcelebrity,andpeculiarlyfacileinthechoiceofmeansbywhichtoachievethesegaudydistinctions;
peculiarlysolicitousofappearances,andpeculiarlyheedlessofthesubstanceoftheirperformance。Itisnotthatthischaracterizationwouldimplyexceptionallygreatgifts,orotherwisenotabletraitsofcharacter;theyarelittleelsethananaccentuationofthemorecommonplacefrailtiesofcommonplacemen。Asasidelightonthisspiritualcomplexionofthetypicalacademicexecutive,itmaybeworthnotingthatmuchthesamecharacterizationwillapplywithoutabatementtotheclassofprofessionalpoliticians,particularlytothatlargeandlong—livedclassofminorpoliticianswhomakealivingbykeepingwellinthepubliceyeandavoidingblame。(4*)
Thereis,indeedmorethanasuperficialoraccidentalresemblancebetweenthetypicalacademicexecutiveandtheprofessionalpoliticianofthefamiliarandmorevacantsort,bothasregardsthequalificationsrequisiteforenteringonthiscareerandasregardstheconditionsoftenure。Amongthegenialmake—believethatgoestodignifytheexecutiveofficeisadutifulprotest,indeed,asomewhatclamorousprotest,ofconspicuousself—effacementonthepartoftheincumbent,totheeffectthattheresponsibilitiesofofficehavecomeuponhimunsought,ifnotunawares;whichisrelatedtothefactsinmuchthesamemanneranddegreeasthelikeholdstrueforthemanoeuvresofthosewisepoliticiansthat\"heedthecallofduty\"
andsofindthemselves\"inthehandsoftheirfriends。\"Inpointoffact,hereasinpoliticaloffice—seeking,themostactivefactorthatgoestodecidetheselectionoftheeventualincumbentsofofficeisatenaciousandaggressiveself—selection。Withdue,butbynomeanslarge,allowanceforexceptions,theincumbentsarechosenfromamongaself—selectedbodyofcandidates,eachofwhomhas,inthecommonrunofcases,beenresolutelyinpursuitofsuchanofficeforsomeappreciabletime,andhasspentmuchtimeandendeavouronfittinghimselfforitsduties。Commonlyitisonlyaftertheaspiranthasachievedasettledreputationforeligibilityandapredilectionfortheofficethathewillfinallysecureanappointment。Thenumberofaspirants,andofeligibles,considerablyexceedsthenumberofsuchexecutiveoffices,verymuchasistruefortheparallelcaseofaspirantsforpoliticaloffice。
Astothequalifications,inpointofcharacterandattainments,thatsogotomakeeligibilityfortheexecutiveoffice,itisnecessarytorecallwhathasbeensaidinanearlierchapter(5*)onthecharacteristicsofthoseboardsofcontrolwithwhomreststhechoiceinthesemattersofappointment。Theseboardsaremadeupofwell—to—dobusinessmen,withapenchantforpopularnotability。andthequalificationsnecessarytobeputinevidencebyaspirantsforexecutiveofficearesuchaswillconvincesuchaboardoftheirserviceability。
Amongtheindispensablegeneralqualifications,therefore,willbea\"businesslike\"facilityinthemanagementofaffairs,anengagingaddressandfluentcommandoflanguagebeforeapopularaudience,andwhatiscalled\"optimism,\"——asereneandvolubleloyaltytothecurrentconventionalitiesandaconspicuouslyprofoundconvictionthatallthingsareworkingoutforgood,exceptforsuchuntowarddetailsasdonotvisiblyconducetothevestedadvantageofthewell—to—dobusinessmenundertheestablishedlawandorder。Tosecureanappointmenttoexecutiveofficeitisnotonlynecessarytobepossessedofthesequalifications,andcontrivetoputtheminevidence;theaspirantmustordinarilyalso,touseacolloquialism,bewillingandableto\"workhispassage\"byadroitnegotiationanddetailengagementsonpointsofpolicy,appointmentsandadministration。
Thegreaterproportionofsuchaspirantsforexecutiveofficeworktheirapprenticeshipandmanagetheircampaignofoffice—seekingwhileengagedinsomeuniversityemployment。Tothisendthemostlikelylineofuniversityemploymentissuchaswillcomprisealargeshareofadministrativeduties,as,e。g。,thedeanshipsthatarelatterlyreceivingmuchattentioninthisbehalf;whileoftheworkofinstructionthepreferenceshouldbegiventosuchundergraduateclass—workaswillbringtheaspirantinwidecontactwiththelessscholarlyelementofthestudentbody,andwiththose\"studentactivities\"thatcomefavourablyunderpublicobservation;andmoreparticularlyshouldonegoinforthequasi—scholarlypursuitsof\"universityextension\";whichwillbringthecandidateintofavourablenoticeamongthequasi—literateleisureclass;atthesametimethisemploymentconducesgreatlytoassuranceandaflowofpopularspeech。
Itisbynomeanshereintendedtoconveytheassumptionthatappointmentstoexecutiveofficearecurrentlymadeexclusivelyfromamongaspiringcandidatesansweringthedescriptionoutlinedabove,orthattheadministrativedeanshipsthatcurrentlyaboundintheuniversitiesareuniformlylookedonbytheirincumbentsasinsomesortahopefulnovitiatetothepresidentialdignity。
Theexceptionsunderbothofthesegeneralpropositionswouldbetoonumeroustobesetasideasnegligible,althoughscarcelynumerousenoughorconsequentialenoughentirelytovitiatethesepropositionsasacompetentformulationofthetypicallineofapproachtothecovetedoffice。Thelargerandmoresubstantialexceptionwould,ofcourse,betakentothegeneralizationastouchingtheuseofthedeanshipsinpreparationforthepresidency。
Thecourseoftrainingandpublicityaffordedbythedeanshipsandextensionlecturesappearstobethemostpromising,althoughitisnottheonlylineofapproach。So,e。g。,ashasbeenremarkedinanearlierpassage,theexigenciesofacademicadministrationwillordinarilyleadtotheformationofanunofficiallyorganizedcorpsofcounsellorsandagentsorlieutenants,whoserveasaidstotheexecutivehead。Whiletheseaids,factors,andgentlemen—in—waitingarevestedwithnoofficialstatusproclaimingtheirrelationtotheexecutiveofficeortheirshareinitsadministration,itgoeswithoutsayingthattheirvicariousdiscretionandtheirspecialprerogativesofaccessandadvisementwiththeexecutiveheaddonotcommonlyremainhiddenfromtheircolleaguesontheacademicstaff,orfrominterestedpersonsoutsidetheuniversitycorporation;nor,indeed,doesitappearthattheycommonlydesiretoremainunknown。
Inthesameconnection,ashasalsobeenremarkedabove,andasissufficientlynotorious,amongthelargeandimperativedutiesofexecutiveofficeispublicdiscourse。Thisisrequired,bothasameasureofpublicityatlargeandasameansofdivulgingtheostensibleaims,advantagesandpeculiarmeritsofthegivenuniversityanditschief。Thevolumeofsuchpublicdiscourse,aswellastheincidentattendanceatmanypublicandceremonialfunctions,isveryconsiderable;somuchsothatinthecaseofanyuniversityofreasonablesizeandspiritthetrafficinthesepremisesislikelytoexceedthepowersofanyoneman,evenwhere,asisnotinfrequentlythecase,the\"executive\"headispresentlyledtomakethisbusinessofstatelyparadeandpromulgationhischiefemployment。Ineffect,muchofthistrafficwillnecessarilybedelegatedtosuchrepresentativesofthechiefasmaybetrusteddulytoobserveitsspiritandintention;andtheindicatedbearersofthesevicariousdignitiesandresponsibilitieswillnecessarilybethepersonalaidsandcounsellorsofthechief;whichthrowsthem,again,intopublicnoticeinamostpropitiousfashion。
Soalso,byforceofthesameexigenciesofparadeanddiscourse,thechiefexecutiveisfrequentlycalledawayfromhomeonamoreorlessextendeditinerary;andtheburdenofdignityattachedtothethiefofficeissuchastorequirethatitsostensibledutiesbedelegatedtosomecompetentlieutenantduringtheseextensiveabsencesofthechief;andhere,again,thistemporarydiscretionanddignitywillmostwiselyandfittinglybedelegatedtosomememberofthecorpsofpersonalaidswhostandsinpeculiarlycloserelationsofsympathyandusefulnesstothechief。Ithashappenedmorethanoncethatsuchanhabitual\"actinghead\"hascomeinforthesuccessiontotheexecutiveoffice。
Itcomes,therefore,tosomethinglikeageneralrule,thatthedisciplinewhichmakesthetypicalcaptainoferudition,asheisseenintheadministrationofexecutiveoffice,willhavesetinbeforehisinductionintooffice,notinfrequentlyatanappreciableintervalbeforethatevent,andinvolvingaconsequent,moreorlessprotracted,termofnovitiate,probationandpreliminaryseasoning;andtheaspirantssosubjectedtothisdisciplineofinitiationareatthesametimepickedmen,drawnintotherunningchieflybyforceofafacileconformityandaself—selectivepredispositionforthisofficialdignity。
Theresultingcaptainoferuditionthenfallsunderacertainexactingdisciplineexercisedbythesituationinwhichtheexigenciesofofficeplacehim。Theseexigenciesareofdiversorigin,andaresystematicallyatvarianceamongthemselves。Sothatthedominantnoteofhisofficiallifenecessarilybecomesthatofambiguity。Bytradition,——indeed,bythattraditiontowhichthepresidentialofficeowesitsexistence,andexceptbyforceofwhichtherewouldapparentlybenocalltoinstituteSuChanofficeatall,——bytraditionthepresidentoftheuniversityistheseniormemberofthefaculty,itsconfidentialspokesmaninofficialandcorporateconcerns,andthe\"moderator\"
ofitstownmeetinglikedeliberativeassemblies。Aschairmanofitsmeetingsheis,bytradition,presumedtoexercisenopeculiarcontrol,beyondsuchguidanceasthesuperiorexperienceoftheseniormembermaybepresumedtoaffordhiscolleagues。Asspokesmanforthefacultyheis,bytradition,presumedtobeascholarofsucherudition,breadthandmaturityasmayfairlycommandsomethingoffilialrespectandaffectionfromhisassociatesinthecorporationoflearning;anditisbyvirtueofthesequalitiesofscholarlywisdom,whichgivehimhisplaceasseniormemberofacorporationofscholars,thatheis,bytradition,competenttoserveastheirspokesmanandtooccupythechairintheirdeliberativeassembly。
SuchisthetraditionoftheAmericanCollegePresident,——
and,insofar,oftheuniversitypresident,——asitcomesdownfromthatearlierphaseofacademichistoryfromwhichtheofficederivesitsostensiblecharacter,andtowhichitowesitsholdonlifeunderthecircumstancesofthelatergrowthoftheschools。AnditwillbenotedthatthisofficeisdistinctlyAmerican;ithasnocounterpartelsewhere,andthereappearstobenofeltneedofsuchanofficeinothercountries,wherenosimilartraditionofacollegepresidenthascreatedapresumptiveneedofasimilarofficialintheuniversities,——
thereasonbeingevidentlythattheseuniversitiesinotherlandshavenot,inthetypicalcase,grownoutofanunderlyingcollege。
Inthesentimentalapprehensionofthelaityoutofdoors,andinadegreeevenintheunreflectingesteemofmenwithintheacademicprecincts,thepresidentialofficestillcarriessomethingofthistraditionallypreconceivedscholarlycharacter;
anditisthisstillsurvivingtraditionalpreconception,whichconfusesinductionintotheofficewithscholarlyfitnessforitsdignities,thatstillmakestheofficeoftheacademicexecutiveavailableforthosepurposesofexpansivepublicityandbusinesslikemanagementthatithasbeenmadetoserve。Exceptforthisuncriticalesteemoftheofficeanditsincumbency,sosurvivingoutofaningloriouspast,nogreatprestigecouldattachtothattrafficinspectacularsolemnities,edifyingdiscourseandmisdirectedbusinesscontrol,thatmakesupthesubstantialdutiesoftheofficeasnowconducted。Itisthereforeoftheutmostmomenttokeepup,orrathertomagnify,thatappearanceofscholarlycompetenceandofintimatesolidaritywiththecorporationoflearningthatgivesthepresidentialofficethisprestigevalue。Butsinceitisonlyforpurposesexternal,nottosayextraneous,tothecorporationoflearningthatthisprestigevalueisseriouslyworthwhile,itisalsoonlytowardtheoutsidethatthemake—believeofpresidentialeruditionandscholarlyidealsneedseriouslybekeptup。Forthecommonrunoftheincumbentstodaytoposebeforetheirfacultiesasinanyeminentdegreeconversantwiththerunofcontemporaryscienceorscholarship,orasrisingtotheaverageevenoftheirownfacultiesinthisrespect,wouldbeasbootlessasitisuncalledfor。Butthefaculties,asiswellenoughunderstood,needofcourseentertainnorespectfortheirexecutiveheadasacitizenoftherepublicoflearning,solongastheyatalladequatelyappreciatehisdiscretionarypowerofuseandabuse,astouchesthemandtheirfortunesandalltheways,meansandopportunitiesofacademicwork。Bytradition,andinthegeniallegendarylorethatcolourstheproceedingsofthefaculty—meeting,heisstilltheseniormemberofanassemblageofscholarlygentlemen;butinpointofexecutivefactheistheiremployer,whodoesbusinesswithandbythemonacommercialfooting。Tothefaculty,thepresidentialofficeisabusinessproposition,anditsincumbentischieflyanobjectofcircumspection,towhomtheyowea\"hired—man’sloyalty。\"
Itistowardtheoutside,inthefaceofthelaityoutofdoors,thatthehighfence——\"theeight—foldfence\"——ofscholarlypretensionistobekeptup。Hencetheindicatedmeansofitsup—keeparesuchaswillpresumablyholdthe(transient)
respectandaffectionofthislaity,quasi—scholarlyhomileticaldiscourse,frequent,voluminous,edifyingandoptimistic;
ritualisticsolemnities,divertingandvacant;spectacularaffectationsof(counterfeit)scholasticusageinthewayofdrollvestments,bizarreandarchaic;paradeof(make—believe)
gentility;encouragementand(surreptitious)subventionofathleticcontests;promulgationof(presumablyingenuous)
statisticstouchingthevolumeandcharacteroftheworkdone。
Itisonlybykeepingupthesemanifestationstowardtheoutside,andmakingthemgoodintheesteemoftheunlearned,thatthepresidentialofficecanbemadetoservetheendsoftheboardofcontrolandtheambitionsoftheincumbent;andthislargeapparatusandtrafficofmake—believe,therefore,isthefirstandmostunremittingobjectofexecutivesolicitude。Itisthe\"placewhereontostand\"whilemovingtheacademicuniverse。
Theusestobemadeofthestanding—placesoachievedhavealreadybeensetoutinsomedetailinearlierchapters。Theycentreaboutthreemainconsiderations:Visiblemagnitude,bureaucraticorganization,andvocationaltraining。
Asalreadynotedinearlierpassages,theboardsofcontrolarebodiesofbusinessmeninwhoseapprehensionthemethodssuccessfullyemployedincompetitivebusinessaresuitableforallpurposesofadministration;fromwhichfollowsthattheacademicheadwhoistoserveastheirgeneralmanagerisvested,ineffect,withsuchdiscretionarypowersascurrentlydevolveonthediscretionaryofficialsofbusinesscorporations;fromwhichfollows,amongotherthings,thatthemembersofthefacultycometotakerankasemployeesoftheconcern,hiredbyandresponsibletotheacademichead。
Thefirstexecutivedutyoftheincumbentofoffice,therefore,istokeephisfacultyundercontrol,soastobeableunhamperedtocarryoutthepolicyofmagnitudeandsecularizationwithaviewtowhichthegoverningboardhasinvestedhimwithhispowers。Thisworkofputtingthefacultyinitsplacehasbythistimebeencarriedoutwithsufficienteffect,sothatits\"adviceandconsent\"mayinallcasesbetakenasamatterofcourse;andshouldaremnantofinitiativeandscholarlyaspirationshowitselfinanygivenconcretecaseinsuchawayastotraversethelinesofpolicypursuedbytheexecutive,hecanreadilycorrectthedifficultybyexerciseofavirtuallyplenarypowerofappointment,prefermentandremoval,backedasthispowerisbyanearlyindefeasibleblack—list。Sowellistheacademicblack—listunderstood,indeed,andsosensitiveandtrustworthyisthefearsomeloyaltyofthecommonrunamongacademicmen,thatveryfewamongthemwillventureopenlytosayagoodwordforanyoneoftheircolleagueswhomayhavefallenunderthedispleasureofsomeincumbentofexecutiveoffice。Thisworkofintimidationandsubornationmayfairlybesaidtohaveacquiredtheforceofaninstitution,andtoneednocurrentsurveillanceoreffort。(6*)
Thesubservienceofthefaculty,orofaworkingmajority,maysafelybecountedon。Buttheformsofadvisementandresponsibilityarestillnecessarytobeobserved;thepresidentisstill,bytradition,theseniormemberofthefaculty,anditsconfidentialspokesman。Fromwhichfollowsacertain,atleastproforma,disingenuousnessintheexecutive’scoercivecontrolofacademicpolicy,wherebytheostensiblediscretionandresponsibilitycomestorestonthefaculty,whilethecontrolremainswiththeexecutive。But,afterall,thisparticularrunofambiguityandevasionshasreachedsuchsettledformsandissowellunderstoodthatitnolongerimpliesanappreciablestrainontheexecutive’sveracityoronhisdiplomaticskill。Itbelongsunderthecategoryoflegalfiction,ratherthanthatofeffectualprevarication。
Soalsoasregardsthebusinesslike,orbureaucratic,organizationandcontroloftheadministrativemachinery,anditsutilizationforvocationalendsandstatisticalshowing。Allthathasbeenworkedoutinitsgeneralfeatures,andcalls,inanyconcretecase,fornothingmuchbeyondanadaptationofgeneralpracticestothedetailrequirementsofthespecialcase。Itdevolves,properly,ontheclericalforce,andespeciallyonthosechiefsofclericalbureaucalled\"deans,\"togetherwiththemanycommittees—for—the—sifting—of—sawdustintowhichthefacultyofawell—administereduniversityisorganized。Thesecommitteesbeing,ineffectifnotinintention,designedchieflytokeepthefacultytalkingwhilethebureaucraticmachinegoesonitswayundertheguidanceoftheexecutiveandhispersonalcounsellorsandlieutenants。Thesematters,then,arealsowellunderstood,standardized,andaccepted,andnolongerrequireavigilantpersonalsurveillancefromthesideoftheexecutive。
Asiswellandseemlyforanyheadofagreatconcern,thesemattersofroutineandcurrentcircumlocutionarepresentlydelegatedtotheoversightoftrustedsubalterns,inamanneranalogoustothedelegationofthesomewhatparalleldutiesofthecaretakersofthematerialequipment。Bothofthesehierarchicalcorpsofsubordinatesareinasomewhatsimilarcase,inthattheirdutiesareofamechanicallystandardizednature,andinthatitisincumbentonbothaliketodealinadispassionate,nottosayimpersonal,wayeachwiththeparticularsegmentofapparatusandprocessentrustedtohiscare;asisrightandgoodforanyofficialentrustedwithgivendetailsofbureaucraticroutine。
Theexactingdutiesthatremainpersonallyincumbentontheacademicexecutive,andclaiminghisordinaryandcontinuedattention,therefore,arethoseofhisownofficialprestigeontheonehand,andtheselection,preferment,rejectionandproscriptionofmembersoftheacademicstaff。Thesetwolinesofexecutivedutyarecloselycorrelated;notonlyinthatthestaffisnecessarilytobeselectedwithaviewtotheirfurtheringtheprestigeoftheirchiefandhisuniversity,butalsointhattheexecutive’sexperienceinthecourseofthisenterpriseinpublicitygoesfartoshapehisidealsofscholarlyendeavourandtoestablishhisstandardsofexpediencyandefficiencyintheaffairsoflearning。
Byusage,guided,nodoubt,byashrewdsenseofexpediencyinthechoiceofmeans,ithas,inthetypicalcase,cometobethesettledpolicyoftheseincumbentsofexecutiveofficetoseekthecompetitivelyrequisitemeasureofpublicprestigechieflybywayofpublicoratory。Nowandagainhisacademicrank,backedbytheslow—dyingtraditionthathisofficeshouldbefilledbyamanofscholarlycapacity,willbringtheincumbentbeforesomescientificbodyorother;wherehecommonlyavoidsoffence。But,ashasbeenremarkedabove,itisthelaitythatistobeimpressedandkeptpropitiouslyinmindoftheexecutiveandhisestablishment,anditisthereforethelaitythatistobeconciliatedwithpresidentialaddresses;itisalsotothelaitythatthetypicalacademicexecutiveiscompetenttospeakwithoutstultification。Hencethemanyedifyingaddressesbeforepopularaudiences,atcommencements,inaugurations,dedications,clubmeetings,churchfestivals,andthelike。Sothatanexecutivewhoaspirestodohiswholedutyinthesepremiseswillbecomeinsomesortanitinerantdispensaryofsalutaryverbiage;anduniversitypresidentshavesocometobeconventionallyindispensablefortheeffusionofgracefulspeechatallgatheringsofthewell—to—doforconvivialdeliberationonthestateofmankindatlarge。(7*)
Throughoutthiselocutionaryenterprisethererunstherigorousprescriptionthatthespeakermustavoidoffence,thathisutterancesmustbeofasalutaryorder,sincethepurposeofitallissuchconciliationofgoodwillaswillprocureatleastthepassivegoodofficesofthosewhoarereachedbythepresidentialrunoflanguage。But,byandlarge,itisonlyplatitudesandracyanecdotesthatmaybecountedontoestrangenoneoftheaudiencesbeforewhichitisworthwhileforthecaptainsoferuditiontomaketheirpleaforsanityandrenown。