Yale University said today that it would return to Peru thousands of ancient Incan artifacts that were taken from Machu Picchu by a Yale researcher almost a century ago and have been the subject of a lengthy dispute that was settled only last fall. Under an agreement described in a Yale news release, the artifacts will be housed at a new center, for research and education, that will be jointly run by Yale and the National University of St. Anthony Abbot, in Cusco, Peru. The agreement calls for faculty and student exchanges between the two institutions. The 4,000 artifacts, including ceramics, bones, and tools and other objects made of metal and stone, were removed from Machu Picchu from 1911 to 1916 by the pioneering Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham III.
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A great resolution
Public acrimony of this magnitude is a clear sign of instability in an institution’s leadership. In this case, it is an indication that those in leadership positions do not understand their role and the boundaries associated with same. The internal impact from something of this nature can be significant: (1) the staff and faculty are so agitated by this situation, and so distracted by it from their proper duties; it has and will galvanize their time, attention and energy, taking all of this away from where it should be focused, which is on their jobs and their students; (2) those in leadership positions, such as vice presidents and deans, will be more worried about their own futures and their jobs in circumstances such as these; will they be leading the institution, or spending their time and energy trying to figure out how to protect themselves and their careers? How much are parents willing to spend to send their kids into a situation in which the education they are paying for is not the first priority on everyone’s mind today and for the next few years while they will be there? There are many other colleges one can attend, so why take an unnecessary risk with a place that is in free fall at this moment in time?
I have not attended the University of Virginia and I don’t have connections to it. I have, however, as one interested in higher education and history, among other things, studied the University of Virginia very closely. I have known and worked with many UVA alumni and have had many insights into the University of Virginia and continue to keep up with it. Despite the recent “kerfuffle” (I recently learned that word, got a chuckle out of it ;>) at “THE University”, as some call UVA, please know, dear readers, that I would,without any hesitation, send any child of mine there and would attend there myself in any of it’s programs if I had the desire to do that. Any problems at the University of Virginia(such as some alumni who tend to brag too much, in my opinion ;>) are insignificant compared to problems at many other colleges and universities. Good ol’ UVA has been, is still and will remain an EXCELLENT, OUTSTANDING higher education institution. If a potential student can get in there, in any of the academic units, I would advise them to GO there. You will be glad that you did, however, I hope that you will also learn a little humility and won’t brag so much after you graduate. ;>
“Despite the recent ‘kerfuffle’ (I recently learned that word, got a chuckle out of it ;>) . . . ”
Yes, it’s a good word.
I suggest you also learn the difference between “it’s” and “its.”
After all, this is The Chronicle of Higher *Education.* Sheesh.
Meant as a reply to embuckles:
“Despite the recent ‘kerfuffle’ (I recently learned that word, got a chuckle out of it ;>) . . . ”
Yes, it’s a good word.
I suggest you also learn the difference between “it’s” and “its.”
After all, this is The Chronicle of Higher *Education.* Sheesh.