Oberlin

Before Oberlin

The media are full of discussions about sexual relations in the US. I was some sort of administrator for a great many years, as dean and provost and three stints as philosophy department chair at three different institutions. While I aimed always to be “correct” and conform to the procedures pertaining to a job, I never hesitated to assert my authority within the rules that governed that job.

   Given the practices of most of those years, my male dominance was never challenged—at least not in a way that came to my attention.

   Except once.

   I was a candidate for the presidency of Oberlin and to become a finalist I had to pass scrutiny by a large committee. All seemed to go well with them, except when one committee member noted that no woman had participated in the lengthy discussion that had taken place. Was my personality quietly but distinctly anti-women?

   The decision, sensible, before making a recommendation about the Oberlin presidency, was to have some committee members interview women who had been “subject” to my authority.

   To my subsequent pleasure, that female bunch of my constituently mostly wondered what the fuss was all about and, in effect, sent them on with an unhesitating OK.

   To be sure, I nevertheless did not become Oberlin’s president; the other finalist, Frederick Starr  was the chosen one. I have speculated about what eliminated me and have come to a conclusion—a guess, to be sure.

   When interviewed by a faculty committee, I no doubt variously orated about requirements and the like. Well, the faculty rightly thought that these deanish ideas were inappropriate for a president and voted for Fred Starr.  Maybe I was born to be a dean, but not a president.