Second Open Letter to Drew Faust, President of Harvard
Dear President Faust:
You can´t say nobody told you.
In our post of December 2, 2013, our first open letter to you, we notified you that Harvard was in deep trouble.
The title of our post said it all: "Harvard Harbors Fugitive From Justice. Jamil Mahuad: White Soul, Dirty Hands." The post outlined, among other things, the astounding grief Mahuad caused the people of Ecuador during his brief presidency of that country. Never before in the course of human endeavor have so many, lost so much, to so few. Thousands upon thousands of lives were ruined as Chevron and a handful of Mahuad´s banker cronies were enriched beyond their wildest dreams and schemes.
I know you received a copy of our post, President Faust. I forwarded one to your office which kindly provided me with your address.
We concluded that post with these words:
"We come to the proverbial bottom line:
What happens, President Faust, if Ecuador´s extradition request is approved? The entire world could be treated to the spectacle of a fleet of U.S. Marshals descending on your law school, handcuffing Mahuad, carting him off in a tinted-window van.
What will be your reply to the Harvard student body when they ask why Harvard provided safe haven to a man who is arguably the most corrupt president in Latin American history?
What will be your response to the torrent of emails and telephone calls from bewildered alumni and worried members of your Board of Overseers?
And what will you tell the New York Times, the Washington Post, "60 Minutes" and the BBC if they note that Chevron is among Harvard´s big financial donors -- an acknowledged half million dollars -- then look you in the eye: did Chevron pay for Mahuad´s refuge...? Is Harvard for sale?
One thing is clear: times are changing. With increasing worldwide exposure of Ecuador´s "Dirty Hand of Chevron" campaign coupled with a renewed push for Mahuad´s extradition, Harvard faces a new road ahead. It is paved with double and triple-bottomed boxes.
I hope you will consider the appropriate action, President Faust:
You/him.
Back to the present, President Faust. You didn`t listen.
You/him, it is.
Do the right thing, President Faust. Stop soiling Harvard´s reputation by aiding and abetting a convicted criminal who was sentenced to 12 years hard time for graft.
President Faust, resign immediately.
Harvard governing board, alumni, professors, students: in order to end speculation about a Faustian bargain in which Chevron paid $500,000 to Harvard for harboring Mahuad, you have one -- and only one -- move. Return the money to Chevron.
Do it now. Every single penny.
Sincerely,
Thomas Belvedere, Ph.D.
Update, May 31, 2014. “We are currently evaluating our options in regards to [Mahuad´s] role in future programs,” said Doug Gavel, Harvard Kennedy School spokesman. Just one more step, Mr. Gavel, if you really want to be relevant.
President Faust is a die-hard defender of big oil. As long as she sits in the president´s chair, dear reader, do not expect Harvard to return Chevron´s money. To see the Faustian official position on oil company "donations," click here.
You will witness a strange, little dance.