An amusing story from the Chicago Tribune:
Few names are more associated with the University of Chicago than Milton Friedman’s.
But that’s exactly the problem, say some faculty who want to put the brakes on a plan to name a new research center after the Nobel Prize-winning economist.
In a letter to U. of C. President Robert Zimmer, 101 professors—about 8 percent of the university’s full-time faculty—said they feared that having a center named after the conservative, free-market economist could “reinforce among the public a perception that the university’s faculty lacks intellectual and ideological diversity.”
Aside from his achievements as an advocate for free markets and individual liberty, Friedman was an unquestionably brilliant economist with contributions to the field that were not limited to any particular political views. There are far worse names to have associated with one’s university.
[Hat tip: Newmark’s Door.]
That’s an odd complaint.
Are they concerned that the perceived conservative bent to the University of Chicago is hurting their application pool?
Comment by RumorsDaily — June 18, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
It’s certainly better than naming one’s dorm in honor of the Confederacy. Just to cite a random example…..
Comment by Ben — June 19, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
Like a respected university would ever do that…
Comment by Jacob Grier — June 19, 2008 @ 4:05 pm