Harvard Bigotry

I have just sent the following letter to the president of Harvard University, regarding the university's plans to name a building after an ignorantly offensive professor who says that "Muslim life is cheap."

May I urge you to send similar letters.


Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust, President
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Dear President Faust,

I am disgusted by Martin Peretz’ ignorant and obscene remark, and both shocked and ashamed that Harvard University will still name a building after him.

Does Harvard think it is above criticism? My colleagues and students here certainly don’t think so.

I taught for twenty-eight years at the University of Michigan. Public bigotry was not honored there. And here, where people are sensitive to bigotry and prejudice, the remark is seen as utterly offensive.

Surely Harvard’s honor is not so cheap as honoring Martin Peretz will make it.
Sincerely yours,

Bert G. Hornback
Professor of English, Universitaet des Saarlandes
Emeritus Professor of English, University of Michigan