January 25, 2008

All Bikes, All the Time

To the Editor:

Once again, academic arrogance at its finest ("Born to Be Mild," Short Subjects, The Chronicle, December 14)! Richard S. Meyers, president of Webster University, rides a Honda Gold Wing because, as your reporter puts it, he believes that people who ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles "embrace the mythology of the tough guy on a loud bike." And we may have tattoos hidden under our leather jackets.

Considering our responsibilities as academic leaders, stereotyping is