Mystery Posters Insult Summers

The posters attacking University President Lawrence H. Summers which have appeared around campus the past few days are small and attention-grabbing: “GET UPPITY ON MASSA SUMMERS’ PLANTATION!” says one; “Stuck-up people LOVE LARRY SUMMERS,” says another.

Their message, in the wake of the recently resolved conflict between Summers and Fletcher University Professor Cornel R. West ’74, is relatively clear. Their origin, however, remains a mystery.

The posters, about two by two inches large with black-on-white lettering, have been plastered on telephone call boxes, poles and kiosks on campus in recent days, with many of them in the Yard. One “GET UPPITY” poster, on a kiosk between Harvard Hall and Hollis Hall, lies within shouting distance of Summers’ Mass. Hall office.

Blocks away, an anonymous petition supporting “Brother West” was posted on the penthouse level of Hilles Library, thanking the professor for his contributions to the Harvard community.

“Harvard thanks you! You created a much-needed dialogue on the musical, cultural, and moral issues that color the way Americans see themselves,” the petition read. “Your insights onto the human condition have changed the way we will see the struggle for justice in [the] 21st century. We all feel that you have changed the Harvard community for the better, and would like to offer a show of our support.”

The author or authors behind the petition, too, remain anonymous.

One Hilles staffer said she took down a previous copy of the petition because it was not an officially sanctioned Hilles notice. The librarian directed all further inquiries to Beth Brainard, director of communications for Harvard College Library. The staffer soon took down the latest petition, which had been placed on a wall next to the Hilles elevators, just across from the library’s Colloquium Room.

Only one student, a senior whose signature was illegible, had signed the petition by mid-afternoon yesterday. The Kuumba Singers rehearse in the Colloquium Room, but the group’s president, Melanie L. Forbes ’02, said her group was not involved with the petition.

“I haven’t heard anything about it, and it wouldn’t be from us because we haven’t practiced since early December,” Forbes said.

Brandon A. Gayle ’03, the president of the Black Students Association, said he had not seen the posters or the petition.

“I’m assuming they’re just put out by other student groups or students who care about Professor West and don’t want to see him go,” Gayle said.

Staffers at Cabot, Lamont and Widener libraries said yesterday they did not know of any similar petitions circulating in those libraries.

Brainard and Climenko Professor of Law Charles J. Ogletree Jr., who has served as West’s spokesperson in recent weeks, could not be reached for comment last night, while the University spokesperson on-call, who was not familiar with the posters, deferred comment until University spokesperson Joe Wrinn could be reached today.

—Staff writer Edward B. Colby can be reached at ebcolby@fas.harvard.edu.