Dartblog

I don’t think that I would be getting such a response to Carol Folt’s vain arrogation of the President’s title if she could point to anything resembling real accomplishment in her career as a Dartmouth administrator. But preening does not go unpunished when a ladder-climber like Folt ascends to the highest level and tries to have everyone think that she earned the name.

Geez, even Jim Wright had a sense of decency when he was Acting President in 1994-1995. He said as much in The D:

But his experience and reputation in many areas of the College have preceded him. “He is a kind and unusual man who will bring tremendous energy to the post,” Freedman said of Wright’s position as acting president. When asked to point to one attribute which will make him right for the position, Freedman said “good, sound judgment.”

Wright said he sees the temporary position as a chance for him to deal with a different and bigger set of administrative issues. “Anything I handle here will certainly be on the plate across the street.”

Although he welcomes the responsibility, Wright has no plans to pursue any issues that are not already in motion.

“I think it is presumptuous for an acting president to stress anything other than those things that the President and the Board of Trustees and the institution has been stressing ,” he said. “I certainly wouldn’t move across the street for a few months next year and think it is an opportunity for me to address my own agenda. I think the agenda is here and my responsibility is to work with the faculty, administration and students to try to pursue that agenda.” [Emphasis added]

The Alumni Magazine made sure to consistently refer to Wright by his complete title at that time: