Harvard is a place that prides itself on being a place of diversity, but lately it's been awash in so much political correctness that intellectual diversity has been waning. Former Harvard President Larry Summers describes himself as “somebody who believes very strongly in diversity, who resists racism in all of its many incarnations, who thinks that there is a great deal that’s unjust in American society that needs to be combated.” When he sat down with then-Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, he said that there is “a creeping totalitarianism in terms of what kind of ideas are acceptable and are debatable on college campuses." He also said that university administrators have “their dominant instinct to placate rather than to educate.” He said students “see their moment to establish a kind of orthodoxy.”

That's why it was surprising -- in the modern era of renaming buildings and treating anything conservative as if it's infested with lice -- that Harvard Law School recently announced the Antonin Scalia Professorship of Law. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (who graduated from HLS in ’60) served on the Surpreme Court for thirty years until his death. According to TaxProfBlog:

“Justice Scalia had a singular impact on statutory analysis and legal thought. He also had a great love of learning, so it is especially meaningful that he will be honored with a professorship that will provide enduring support for teaching and scholarship at the Law School and beyond,” said Martha Minow, Morgan and Helen Chu Dean and Professor at Harvard Law School. “We are deeply grateful to the Considine Family Foundation for endowing this professorship, which stands as both a testament to Justice Scalia’s legacy on the Supreme Court and as a vote of confidence in a new generation of scholars.”

“It is wholly appropriate that Justice Scalia’s accomplishments, intellectual legacy, and dedication to the founding principles of the United States Constitution be recognized at Harvard Law School, his beloved alma mater,” said Terry Considine ’71, who with his wife Betsy formed the Considine Family Foundation. “Betsy and I offer special thanks to Dean Minow for her commitment to the establishment of the Scalia Professorship and hope that it gives her great satisfaction as she prepares to conclude her service as Dean of Harvard Law School.” ...

Scalia felt a deep connection to Harvard Law School and often returned to campus to speak with students and faculty. In 2006, the Law School hosted a celebration of the 20th anniversary of his appointment to the Supreme Court.

The professorship is endowed by the Considine Family Foundation, which makes charitable grants in support of education. This is a wonderful development for Harvard Law School and for the liberals students who believe they own the place. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes them to try to wrest this away from the Law School in some misguided attempt at "tolerance."

Image Credit: Wikimedia