第15章

类别:其他 作者:Thorstein Veblen字数:13635更新时间:18/12/18 14:02:12
Onitsfaceitshouldnotseemprobablethatmotivesofpersonalgain,intheformofpecuniaryorothermaterialinterest,wouldhaveaseriouspartinthematter。Inallprobabilitythereisinnocaseasensiblepecuniarygaintotheuniversityassuchfromitsexpendituresonpublicity,andthereisstilllessquestionofgaininanyotherthanthepecuniaryrespect。Thereisalsocommonlynoverysubstantialpecuniarygaintobederivedfromthisbusinesseitherbytheacademicheadorbythemembersoftheboard,——anexceptionalinstancetothecontrarywillnotvitiatethisgeneralproposition。Itallbringsnoappreciablepecuniaryreturntothem,particularlysofarasitisconcernedwiththepursuitofprestige;andapartfromexceptional,andthereforenegligible,casesitadmitsofnoappreciableconversionoffundstoprivateuse。Atthesametimeitseemsalmostanaffronttoentertainthenotionthattheseimpassivelypurposefulmenofaffairsaregreatlymovedbypersonalmotivesofvanity,vaingloriouslyseekingrenownforefficientlycarryingonatrafficinpublicitythathasnootherendthanrenownforefficientlycarryingiton。Andyetitwillbefoundextremelydifficulttotakeaccountofthefactsandatthesametimeavoidsuchanodiouslypersonalinterpretationofthem。 Such,indeed,wouldhavetobetheinferencedrawnbyanyonewhomightingenuouslytaketheavailablefactsattheirfacevalue,——notcountingasfactsthedutifulprotestationsoftheauthoritiestothecontrary。Butitshouldbekeptinmindthatatransparentingenuousnessisnotcharacteristicofbusinessphenomena,withintheuniversityorwithout。Adegreeofdeviation,or\"diplomacy,\"maybeforcedontheacademicmanagementbythecircumstancesoftheiroffice,particularlybytheone—eyedbusinesssenseoftheirgoverningboards。Indeed,admissionstosuchaneffectarenotaltogetherwanting。 Ratedastheyare,inthepopularapprehension,asgentlemenandscholars,andthemselvespresumablyacceptingthisratingassubstantiallycorrect,nofeatureoftheschemeofmanagementimposedontheacademicexecutivebybusinessprinciplesshould(presumably)besorepugnanttotheirsensibilitiesandtheirscholarlyjudgmentasthiscovertbutunremittingpursuitofaninnocuousnotoriety,coupledasitnecessarilyiswithasystematicmisdirectionoftheacademicforcestounscholarlyends;butprudentialreasonswilldecidethatthismustbetheirchiefendeavouriftheyaretoholdtheirownasacompetitiveuniversity。Shouldtheacademicheadallowhissenseofscholarlyfitnessandexpediencytohamperthisbusinessofreputablenotoriety,itis,perhapswithreason,fearedthatsuchremissnesswouldpresentlyleadtohisretirementfromoffice;atleastsomethingofthatkindseemsafairinferencefromtherunofthefacts。Hisplacewouldthenbesuppliedbyanincumbentdulyqualifiedonthisscoreofone—eyedbusinesssagacity,andonewhowouldknowhowtokeephisscholarlyimpulsesinhand。Itisatleastconceivablethattheapprehensionofsomesuchcontingencymayunderliecurrentuniversitymanagementatsomepoints,anditmaythereforeinsomeinstanceshavegiventheadministrationofacademicaffairsanairoflight—headedfutility,whenitshouldratherbecreditedwithasagaciouslydisingenuousyieldingtocircumstance。 Therunofthefactsasoutlinedabove,andthelineofinferencejustindicatedasfollowingfromthem,reflectnogreatcreditonthemanlyqualitiesoftheincumbentsofexecutiveoffice;butthealternative,asalsonotedabove,isscarcelypreferableeveninthatrespect,whileitwouldbeevenlessflatteringtotheirintellectualpowers。Yetthereappearstobenoavoidingthedilemmasopresented。Ofdisinterestedgroundsforthecommonrunofacademicpolicythereseemtobeonlythesetwolinestochoosebetween:——eitherashort—sightedandheadlongconformitytothevulgarprejudicethatdoesnotlookbeyond\"practical\"trainingandcompetitiveexpansion,coupledwithaboyishcravingforpopulardisplay;orastrategiccompromisewiththeeldersofthePhilistines,afutiledoingofevilinthehopethatsomegoodmaycomeofit。 Thislatterlineofapologyisadmissibleonlyinthosecaseswheretheuniversitycorporationisinanexceptionallyprecariouspositioninrespectofitsendowment,whereitisingreatneedandhasmuchtohopeforinthewayofpecuniarygainthroughstoopingtoconventionalprejudices,thatareofnoscholasticvalue,butthatareconceivedtobinditspotentialbenefactorsinaweboffatallyfragilebigotry;or,again,wheretheexecutiveisinsensibledangerofbeingsupersededbyanadministrationimbuedwith(conceivably)yetlowerandfeeblerscholarlyideals。 Now,ithappensthattherearenotableinstancesofuniversitieswheresuchapolicyofobsequiouslyreputablenotorietyandaimlessutilitarianmanagementispursuedundersuchcircumstancesofsettledendowmentandsecuretenureastoprecludeallhazardofsupersessiononthepartoftheexecutiveandallchanceofmaterialgainfromanyaccessionofpopularrenownorstagnantrespectability。ThereisasmallclassofAmericanuniversitycorporationsthataresoplaced,bythepeculiarcircumstancesoftheirendowment,astobeabovetheapprehensionofneed,solongastheyarecontenttoliveanywherenearlywithinthedomainoflearning;atthesametimethattheyhavenothingtolosethroughalienatingtheaffectionsofthevulgar,andnothingtogainbydeferringtothesentimentalinfirmitiesofelderlywell—to—dopersons。Thisclassisnotanumerousone;notlargeenoughtosetthepacefortherest;butevidentlyalsonotnumerousenoughtogoontheirownrecognizances,andadoptalineofpolicysuitedtotheirowncircumstancesandnotboundtothefashionsetbytherest。Someofthewellknownestablishmentsofthisclasshavealreadybeenalludedtoinanotherconnection。 Statisticaldisplay,spectacularstageproperties,vaingloriousmake—believeandobsequiousconcessionstoworldlywisdom,shouldseemtohavenoplaceinthecounselsoftheseschools;whichshouldthereforehopefullybecountedontopursuethequestofknowledgewiththatsinglemindwhichtheyprofess。 Yetsuchiseminently,nottosaypre—eminently,notthecase。 Theirpolicyinthesematterscommonlydiffersinnosensibledegreefromthatpursuedbytheneedierestablishmentsthatareengagedinadesperateraceofobsequiousness,forfundstobeprocuredbyfavourofwell—to—dodonors,orthroughthesupportofworldly—wiseclergymenandpoliticians。Indeed,someofthemostpatheticclamourforpopularrenown,aswellasinstancesofthemostprofligatestoopingtovulgarprejudice,aretobecreditedtoestablishmentsofthis,potentiallyindependent,class。Themanagement,apparently,aretoowellimbuedwiththecommonplacepreconceptionsofworldlywisdomafloatamongthelaity,toadmitoftheirtakinganyactionontheirowndeliberateinitiativeoreffectuallytakingthoughtofthatpursuitoflearningthathasbeenentrustedtotheircare。So,perhapsthroughsomepuzzleheadedsenseofdecorum,theyhavecometoengageinthisbootlessconventionalraceforfundswhichtheyhavenoslightestthoughtofobtaining,andforanincreasedenrolmentwhichtheyadvisedlydonotdesire。 Inthelightoftheseinstances,oneisconstrainedtobelievethattheacademicexecutivewhohassobeenthrownupasputativedirectorofthepursuitoflearningmustgoinforthisannexationofvocationalschools,foramateurish\"summersessions,\"fortheappointmentofschoolmastersinsteadofscholarsontheacademicstaff,forthesafe—keepingandpropagationofgenteelconventionalitiesatthecostofscholarship,fordevoutandpoliteceremonial,——oneisconstrainedtobelievethatsuchauniversityexecutivegoesinforthispolicyoftawdryroutinebecausehelacksordinaryintelligenceorbecausehelacksordinarycourage。Hisdiscretionisoverborneeitherbyhisownstoreofunreflectingprejudice,orbyfearoflosing。personalprestigeamongtheignorant,eventhoughhehasnosubstantialground,personalorofficial,forsoyieldingtocurrentprejudice。Suchappearstobethestateofthecaseintheseinstances,wheretheexigenciesofuniversitypoliticsaffordnooccasionforstrategiccompromisewiththeworldly—wise;whichpointedlysuggeststhatthelikethreadbaremotivesofunreflectingimitationandboyishmake—believemayalsohaveundulymuchtodowithacademicpolicy,eveninthatcommonrunofcasesthatmightotherwisehavebestbeenexplainedasaneffectofshrewdstrategy,designedtomaketermswiththemischievousstupidityofanunderbredlaity。 Butanydiscussionofmotivesnecessarilyhasaninvidiousair,andsocannotbutbedistasteful。Yet,sincethisexecutivepolicycanbeexplainedorunderstoodonlyastheoutcomeofthosemotivesthatappealdecisivelytothediscretionaryofficials,itisnecessarytopursuetheinquiryadegreefartheratthispoint,evenatthecostofsuchslightodiumasmaynotbeavoided,andattheriskofacertainappearanceofdispraise。 Itisperhapsneedlesstosaythatthisquestionofmotivationisnotgoneintohereexceptasitmayservetoexhibittherunofthefacts。Therunofthefactsisnotintelligibleexceptinthelightoftheirmeaningaspossiblemotivestothepursuitofthatpolicyofwhichtheyaretheoutcome。 Ontheaboveconsiderations,itfollowsthattheexecutiveheadsofthesecompetitiveuniversitiesareapickedbodyofmen,endowedwithaparticularbent,suchaswilldisposethemtobeguidedbytherunofmotivesindicated。Thiswillimplythattheyare,eitherbytrainingorbynativegift,menofasomewhatpeculiarframeofmind,——peculiarlyopentotheappealofparadeandephemeralcelebrity,andpeculiarlyfacileinthechoiceofmeansbywhichtoachievethesegaudydistinctions; peculiarlysolicitousofappearances,andpeculiarlyheedlessofthesubstanceoftheirperformance。Itisnotthatthischaracterizationwouldimplyexceptionallygreatgifts,orotherwisenotabletraitsofcharacter;theyarelittleelsethananaccentuationofthemorecommonplacefrailtiesofcommonplacemen。Asasidelightonthisspiritualcomplexionofthetypicalacademicexecutive,itmaybeworthnotingthatmuchthesamecharacterizationwillapplywithoutabatementtotheclassofprofessionalpoliticians,particularlytothatlargeandlong—livedclassofminorpoliticianswhomakealivingbykeepingwellinthepubliceyeandavoidingblame。(4*) Thereis,indeedmorethanasuperficialoraccidentalresemblancebetweenthetypicalacademicexecutiveandtheprofessionalpoliticianofthefamiliarandmorevacantsort,bothasregardsthequalificationsrequisiteforenteringonthiscareerandasregardstheconditionsoftenure。Amongthegenialmake—believethatgoestodignifytheexecutiveofficeisadutifulprotest,indeed,asomewhatclamorousprotest,ofconspicuousself—effacementonthepartoftheincumbent,totheeffectthattheresponsibilitiesofofficehavecomeuponhimunsought,ifnotunawares;whichisrelatedtothefactsinmuchthesamemanneranddegreeasthelikeholdstrueforthemanoeuvresofthosewisepoliticiansthat\"heedthecallofduty\" andsofindthemselves\"inthehandsoftheirfriends。\"Inpointoffact,hereasinpoliticaloffice—seeking,themostactivefactorthatgoestodecidetheselectionoftheeventualincumbentsofofficeisatenaciousandaggressiveself—selection。Withdue,butbynomeanslarge,allowanceforexceptions,theincumbentsarechosenfromamongaself—selectedbodyofcandidates,eachofwhomhas,inthecommonrunofcases,beenresolutelyinpursuitofsuchanofficeforsomeappreciabletime,andhasspentmuchtimeandendeavouronfittinghimselfforitsduties。Commonlyitisonlyaftertheaspiranthasachievedasettledreputationforeligibilityandapredilectionfortheofficethathewillfinallysecureanappointment。Thenumberofaspirants,andofeligibles,considerablyexceedsthenumberofsuchexecutiveoffices,verymuchasistruefortheparallelcaseofaspirantsforpoliticaloffice。 Astothequalifications,inpointofcharacterandattainments,thatsogotomakeeligibilityfortheexecutiveoffice,itisnecessarytorecallwhathasbeensaidinanearlierchapter(5*)onthecharacteristicsofthoseboardsofcontrolwithwhomreststhechoiceinthesemattersofappointment。Theseboardsaremadeupofwell—to—dobusinessmen,withapenchantforpopularnotability。andthequalificationsnecessarytobeputinevidencebyaspirantsforexecutiveofficearesuchaswillconvincesuchaboardoftheirserviceability。 Amongtheindispensablegeneralqualifications,therefore,willbea\"businesslike\"facilityinthemanagementofaffairs,anengagingaddressandfluentcommandoflanguagebeforeapopularaudience,andwhatiscalled\"optimism,\"——asereneandvolubleloyaltytothecurrentconventionalitiesandaconspicuouslyprofoundconvictionthatallthingsareworkingoutforgood,exceptforsuchuntowarddetailsasdonotvisiblyconducetothevestedadvantageofthewell—to—dobusinessmenundertheestablishedlawandorder。Tosecureanappointmenttoexecutiveofficeitisnotonlynecessarytobepossessedofthesequalifications,andcontrivetoputtheminevidence;theaspirantmustordinarilyalso,touseacolloquialism,bewillingandableto\"workhispassage\"byadroitnegotiationanddetailengagementsonpointsofpolicy,appointmentsandadministration。 Thegreaterproportionofsuchaspirantsforexecutiveofficeworktheirapprenticeshipandmanagetheircampaignofoffice—seekingwhileengagedinsomeuniversityemployment。Tothisendthemostlikelylineofuniversityemploymentissuchaswillcomprisealargeshareofadministrativeduties,as,e。g。,thedeanshipsthatarelatterlyreceivingmuchattentioninthisbehalf;whileoftheworkofinstructionthepreferenceshouldbegiventosuchundergraduateclass—workaswillbringtheaspirantinwidecontactwiththelessscholarlyelementofthestudentbody,andwiththose\"studentactivities\"thatcomefavourablyunderpublicobservation;andmoreparticularlyshouldonegoinforthequasi—scholarlypursuitsof\"universityextension\";whichwillbringthecandidateintofavourablenoticeamongthequasi—literateleisureclass;atthesametimethisemploymentconducesgreatlytoassuranceandaflowofpopularspeech。 Itisbynomeanshereintendedtoconveytheassumptionthatappointmentstoexecutiveofficearecurrentlymadeexclusivelyfromamongaspiringcandidatesansweringthedescriptionoutlinedabove,orthattheadministrativedeanshipsthatcurrentlyaboundintheuniversitiesareuniformlylookedonbytheirincumbentsasinsomesortahopefulnovitiatetothepresidentialdignity。 Theexceptionsunderbothofthesegeneralpropositionswouldbetoonumeroustobesetasideasnegligible,althoughscarcelynumerousenoughorconsequentialenoughentirelytovitiatethesepropositionsasacompetentformulationofthetypicallineofapproachtothecovetedoffice。Thelargerandmoresubstantialexceptionwould,ofcourse,betakentothegeneralizationastouchingtheuseofthedeanshipsinpreparationforthepresidency。 Thecourseoftrainingandpublicityaffordedbythedeanshipsandextensionlecturesappearstobethemostpromising,althoughitisnottheonlylineofapproach。So,e。g。,ashasbeenremarkedinanearlierpassage,theexigenciesofacademicadministrationwillordinarilyleadtotheformationofanunofficiallyorganizedcorpsofcounsellorsandagentsorlieutenants,whoserveasaidstotheexecutivehead。Whiletheseaids,factors,andgentlemen—in—waitingarevestedwithnoofficialstatusproclaimingtheirrelationtotheexecutiveofficeortheirshareinitsadministration,itgoeswithoutsayingthattheirvicariousdiscretionandtheirspecialprerogativesofaccessandadvisementwiththeexecutiveheaddonotcommonlyremainhiddenfromtheircolleaguesontheacademicstaff,orfrominterestedpersonsoutsidetheuniversitycorporation;nor,indeed,doesitappearthattheycommonlydesiretoremainunknown。 Inthesameconnection,ashasalsobeenremarkedabove,andasissufficientlynotorious,amongthelargeandimperativedutiesofexecutiveofficeispublicdiscourse。Thisisrequired,bothasameasureofpublicityatlargeandasameansofdivulgingtheostensibleaims,advantagesandpeculiarmeritsofthegivenuniversityanditschief。Thevolumeofsuchpublicdiscourse,aswellastheincidentattendanceatmanypublicandceremonialfunctions,isveryconsiderable;somuchsothatinthecaseofanyuniversityofreasonablesizeandspiritthetrafficinthesepremisesislikelytoexceedthepowersofanyoneman,evenwhere,asisnotinfrequentlythecase,the\"executive\"headispresentlyledtomakethisbusinessofstatelyparadeandpromulgationhischiefemployment。Ineffect,muchofthistrafficwillnecessarilybedelegatedtosuchrepresentativesofthechiefasmaybetrusteddulytoobserveitsspiritandintention;andtheindicatedbearersofthesevicariousdignitiesandresponsibilitieswillnecessarilybethepersonalaidsandcounsellorsofthechief;whichthrowsthem,again,intopublicnoticeinamostpropitiousfashion。 Soalso,byforceofthesameexigenciesofparadeanddiscourse,thechiefexecutiveisfrequentlycalledawayfromhomeonamoreorlessextendeditinerary;andtheburdenofdignityattachedtothethiefofficeissuchastorequirethatitsostensibledutiesbedelegatedtosomecompetentlieutenantduringtheseextensiveabsencesofthechief;andhere,again,thistemporarydiscretionanddignitywillmostwiselyandfittinglybedelegatedtosomememberofthecorpsofpersonalaidswhostandsinpeculiarlycloserelationsofsympathyandusefulnesstothechief。Ithashappenedmorethanoncethatsuchanhabitual\"actinghead\"hascomeinforthesuccessiontotheexecutiveoffice。 Itcomes,therefore,tosomethinglikeageneralrule,thatthedisciplinewhichmakesthetypicalcaptainoferudition,asheisseenintheadministrationofexecutiveoffice,willhavesetinbeforehisinductionintooffice,notinfrequentlyatanappreciableintervalbeforethatevent,andinvolvingaconsequent,moreorlessprotracted,termofnovitiate,probationandpreliminaryseasoning;andtheaspirantssosubjectedtothisdisciplineofinitiationareatthesametimepickedmen,drawnintotherunningchieflybyforceofafacileconformityandaself—selectivepredispositionforthisofficialdignity。 Theresultingcaptainoferuditionthenfallsunderacertainexactingdisciplineexercisedbythesituationinwhichtheexigenciesofofficeplacehim。Theseexigenciesareofdiversorigin,andaresystematicallyatvarianceamongthemselves。Sothatthedominantnoteofhisofficiallifenecessarilybecomesthatofambiguity。Bytradition,——indeed,bythattraditiontowhichthepresidentialofficeowesitsexistence,andexceptbyforceofwhichtherewouldapparentlybenocalltoinstituteSuChanofficeatall,——bytraditionthepresidentoftheuniversityistheseniormemberofthefaculty,itsconfidentialspokesmaninofficialandcorporateconcerns,andthe\"moderator\" ofitstownmeetinglikedeliberativeassemblies。Aschairmanofitsmeetingsheis,bytradition,presumedtoexercisenopeculiarcontrol,beyondsuchguidanceasthesuperiorexperienceoftheseniormembermaybepresumedtoaffordhiscolleagues。Asspokesmanforthefacultyheis,bytradition,presumedtobeascholarofsucherudition,breadthandmaturityasmayfairlycommandsomethingoffilialrespectandaffectionfromhisassociatesinthecorporationoflearning;anditisbyvirtueofthesequalitiesofscholarlywisdom,whichgivehimhisplaceasseniormemberofacorporationofscholars,thatheis,bytradition,competenttoserveastheirspokesmanandtooccupythechairintheirdeliberativeassembly。 SuchisthetraditionoftheAmericanCollegePresident,—— and,insofar,oftheuniversitypresident,——asitcomesdownfromthatearlierphaseofacademichistoryfromwhichtheofficederivesitsostensiblecharacter,andtowhichitowesitsholdonlifeunderthecircumstancesofthelatergrowthoftheschools。AnditwillbenotedthatthisofficeisdistinctlyAmerican;ithasnocounterpartelsewhere,andthereappearstobenofeltneedofsuchanofficeinothercountries,wherenosimilartraditionofacollegepresidenthascreatedapresumptiveneedofasimilarofficialintheuniversities,—— thereasonbeingevidentlythattheseuniversitiesinotherlandshavenot,inthetypicalcase,grownoutofanunderlyingcollege。 Inthesentimentalapprehensionofthelaityoutofdoors,andinadegreeevenintheunreflectingesteemofmenwithintheacademicprecincts,thepresidentialofficestillcarriessomethingofthistraditionallypreconceivedscholarlycharacter; anditisthisstillsurvivingtraditionalpreconception,whichconfusesinductionintotheofficewithscholarlyfitnessforitsdignities,thatstillmakestheofficeoftheacademicexecutiveavailableforthosepurposesofexpansivepublicityandbusinesslikemanagementthatithasbeenmadetoserve。Exceptforthisuncriticalesteemoftheofficeanditsincumbency,sosurvivingoutofaningloriouspast,nogreatprestigecouldattachtothattrafficinspectacularsolemnities,edifyingdiscourseandmisdirectedbusinesscontrol,thatmakesupthesubstantialdutiesoftheofficeasnowconducted。Itisthereforeoftheutmostmomenttokeepup,orrathertomagnify,thatappearanceofscholarlycompetenceandofintimatesolidaritywiththecorporationoflearningthatgivesthepresidentialofficethisprestigevalue。Butsinceitisonlyforpurposesexternal,nottosayextraneous,tothecorporationoflearningthatthisprestigevalueisseriouslyworthwhile,itisalsoonlytowardtheoutsidethatthemake—believeofpresidentialeruditionandscholarlyidealsneedseriouslybekeptup。Forthecommonrunoftheincumbentstodaytoposebeforetheirfacultiesasinanyeminentdegreeconversantwiththerunofcontemporaryscienceorscholarship,orasrisingtotheaverageevenoftheirownfacultiesinthisrespect,wouldbeasbootlessasitisuncalledfor。Butthefaculties,asiswellenoughunderstood,needofcourseentertainnorespectfortheirexecutiveheadasacitizenoftherepublicoflearning,solongastheyatalladequatelyappreciatehisdiscretionarypowerofuseandabuse,astouchesthemandtheirfortunesandalltheways,meansandopportunitiesofacademicwork。Bytradition,andinthegeniallegendarylorethatcolourstheproceedingsofthefaculty—meeting,heisstilltheseniormemberofanassemblageofscholarlygentlemen;butinpointofexecutivefactheistheiremployer,whodoesbusinesswithandbythemonacommercialfooting。Tothefaculty,thepresidentialofficeisabusinessproposition,anditsincumbentischieflyanobjectofcircumspection,towhomtheyowea\"hired—man’sloyalty。\" Itistowardtheoutside,inthefaceofthelaityoutofdoors,thatthehighfence——\"theeight—foldfence\"——ofscholarlypretensionistobekeptup。Hencetheindicatedmeansofitsup—keeparesuchaswillpresumablyholdthe(transient) respectandaffectionofthislaity,quasi—scholarlyhomileticaldiscourse,frequent,voluminous,edifyingandoptimistic; ritualisticsolemnities,divertingandvacant;spectacularaffectationsof(counterfeit)scholasticusageinthewayofdrollvestments,bizarreandarchaic;paradeof(make—believe) gentility;encouragementand(surreptitious)subventionofathleticcontests;promulgationof(presumablyingenuous) statisticstouchingthevolumeandcharacteroftheworkdone。 Itisonlybykeepingupthesemanifestationstowardtheoutside,andmakingthemgoodintheesteemoftheunlearned,thatthepresidentialofficecanbemadetoservetheendsoftheboardofcontrolandtheambitionsoftheincumbent;andthislargeapparatusandtrafficofmake—believe,therefore,isthefirstandmostunremittingobjectofexecutivesolicitude。Itisthe\"placewhereontostand\"whilemovingtheacademicuniverse。 Theusestobemadeofthestanding—placesoachievedhavealreadybeensetoutinsomedetailinearlierchapters。Theycentreaboutthreemainconsiderations:Visiblemagnitude,bureaucraticorganization,andvocationaltraining。 Asalreadynotedinearlierpassages,theboardsofcontrolarebodiesofbusinessmeninwhoseapprehensionthemethodssuccessfullyemployedincompetitivebusinessaresuitableforallpurposesofadministration;fromwhichfollowsthattheacademicheadwhoistoserveastheirgeneralmanagerisvested,ineffect,withsuchdiscretionarypowersascurrentlydevolveonthediscretionaryofficialsofbusinesscorporations;fromwhichfollows,amongotherthings,thatthemembersofthefacultycometotakerankasemployeesoftheconcern,hiredbyandresponsibletotheacademichead。 Thefirstexecutivedutyoftheincumbentofoffice,therefore,istokeephisfacultyundercontrol,soastobeableunhamperedtocarryoutthepolicyofmagnitudeandsecularizationwithaviewtowhichthegoverningboardhasinvestedhimwithhispowers。Thisworkofputtingthefacultyinitsplacehasbythistimebeencarriedoutwithsufficienteffect,sothatits\"adviceandconsent\"mayinallcasesbetakenasamatterofcourse;andshouldaremnantofinitiativeandscholarlyaspirationshowitselfinanygivenconcretecaseinsuchawayastotraversethelinesofpolicypursuedbytheexecutive,hecanreadilycorrectthedifficultybyexerciseofavirtuallyplenarypowerofappointment,prefermentandremoval,backedasthispowerisbyanearlyindefeasibleblack—list。Sowellistheacademicblack—listunderstood,indeed,andsosensitiveandtrustworthyisthefearsomeloyaltyofthecommonrunamongacademicmen,thatveryfewamongthemwillventureopenlytosayagoodwordforanyoneoftheircolleagueswhomayhavefallenunderthedispleasureofsomeincumbentofexecutiveoffice。Thisworkofintimidationandsubornationmayfairlybesaidtohaveacquiredtheforceofaninstitution,andtoneednocurrentsurveillanceoreffort。(6*) Thesubservienceofthefaculty,orofaworkingmajority,maysafelybecountedon。Buttheformsofadvisementandresponsibilityarestillnecessarytobeobserved;thepresidentisstill,bytradition,theseniormemberofthefaculty,anditsconfidentialspokesman。Fromwhichfollowsacertain,atleastproforma,disingenuousnessintheexecutive’scoercivecontrolofacademicpolicy,wherebytheostensiblediscretionandresponsibilitycomestorestonthefaculty,whilethecontrolremainswiththeexecutive。But,afterall,thisparticularrunofambiguityandevasionshasreachedsuchsettledformsandissowellunderstoodthatitnolongerimpliesanappreciablestrainontheexecutive’sveracityoronhisdiplomaticskill。Itbelongsunderthecategoryoflegalfiction,ratherthanthatofeffectualprevarication。 Soalsoasregardsthebusinesslike,orbureaucratic,organizationandcontroloftheadministrativemachinery,anditsutilizationforvocationalendsandstatisticalshowing。Allthathasbeenworkedoutinitsgeneralfeatures,andcalls,inanyconcretecase,fornothingmuchbeyondanadaptationofgeneralpracticestothedetailrequirementsofthespecialcase。Itdevolves,properly,ontheclericalforce,andespeciallyonthosechiefsofclericalbureaucalled\"deans,\"togetherwiththemanycommittees—for—the—sifting—of—sawdustintowhichthefacultyofawell—administereduniversityisorganized。Thesecommitteesbeing,ineffectifnotinintention,designedchieflytokeepthefacultytalkingwhilethebureaucraticmachinegoesonitswayundertheguidanceoftheexecutiveandhispersonalcounsellorsandlieutenants。Thesematters,then,arealsowellunderstood,standardized,andaccepted,andnolongerrequireavigilantpersonalsurveillancefromthesideoftheexecutive。 Asiswellandseemlyforanyheadofagreatconcern,thesemattersofroutineandcurrentcircumlocutionarepresentlydelegatedtotheoversightoftrustedsubalterns,inamanneranalogoustothedelegationofthesomewhatparalleldutiesofthecaretakersofthematerialequipment。Bothofthesehierarchicalcorpsofsubordinatesareinasomewhatsimilarcase,inthattheirdutiesareofamechanicallystandardizednature,andinthatitisincumbentonbothaliketodealinadispassionate,nottosayimpersonal,wayeachwiththeparticularsegmentofapparatusandprocessentrustedtohiscare;asisrightandgoodforanyofficialentrustedwithgivendetailsofbureaucraticroutine。 Theexactingdutiesthatremainpersonallyincumbentontheacademicexecutive,andclaiminghisordinaryandcontinuedattention,therefore,arethoseofhisownofficialprestigeontheonehand,andtheselection,preferment,rejectionandproscriptionofmembersoftheacademicstaff。Thesetwolinesofexecutivedutyarecloselycorrelated;notonlyinthatthestaffisnecessarilytobeselectedwithaviewtotheirfurtheringtheprestigeoftheirchiefandhisuniversity,butalsointhattheexecutive’sexperienceinthecourseofthisenterpriseinpublicitygoesfartoshapehisidealsofscholarlyendeavourandtoestablishhisstandardsofexpediencyandefficiencyintheaffairsoflearning。 Byusage,guided,nodoubt,byashrewdsenseofexpediencyinthechoiceofmeans,ithas,inthetypicalcase,cometobethesettledpolicyoftheseincumbentsofexecutiveofficetoseekthecompetitivelyrequisitemeasureofpublicprestigechieflybywayofpublicoratory。Nowandagainhisacademicrank,backedbytheslow—dyingtraditionthathisofficeshouldbefilledbyamanofscholarlycapacity,willbringtheincumbentbeforesomescientificbodyorother;wherehecommonlyavoidsoffence。But,ashasbeenremarkedabove,itisthelaitythatistobeimpressedandkeptpropitiouslyinmindoftheexecutiveandhisestablishment,anditisthereforethelaitythatistobeconciliatedwithpresidentialaddresses;itisalsotothelaitythatthetypicalacademicexecutiveiscompetenttospeakwithoutstultification。Hencethemanyedifyingaddressesbeforepopularaudiences,atcommencements,inaugurations,dedications,clubmeetings,churchfestivals,andthelike。Sothatanexecutivewhoaspirestodohiswholedutyinthesepremiseswillbecomeinsomesortanitinerantdispensaryofsalutaryverbiage;anduniversitypresidentshavesocometobeconventionallyindispensablefortheeffusionofgracefulspeechatallgatheringsofthewell—to—doforconvivialdeliberationonthestateofmankindatlarge。(7*) Throughoutthiselocutionaryenterprisethererunstherigorousprescriptionthatthespeakermustavoidoffence,thathisutterancesmustbeofasalutaryorder,sincethepurposeofitallissuchconciliationofgoodwillaswillprocureatleastthepassivegoodofficesofthosewhoarereachedbythepresidentialrunoflanguage。But,byandlarge,itisonlyplatitudesandracyanecdotesthatmaybecountedontoestrangenoneoftheaudiencesbeforewhichitisworthwhileforthecaptainsoferuditiontomaketheirpleaforsanityandrenown。