Revisionist history, even unto its innermost…?
But I swear that's what happened!
Fortunately Brandeis came to its senses about the Rose Museum kerfuffle a few weeks ago, but alumni just got a message from the president which was intended to “clear up some of the misconceptions surrounding these issues.” I only bring it up here briefly because I get annoyed when other factors–meteors, locusts, a terrible flood–get blamed for something instead of the real culprit, in this case the administration itself.
–From an FAQ in the current message:
Q. What is the situation involving the Rose Art Museum?
A. Unfortunately, there has been a great deal of misinformation circulating in the media regarding the Rose. The facts are:
1. The Rose is NOT going to close. The Board of Trustees voted to keep the Rose open as a teaching and exhibition gallery that is even more fully integrated into University life and the academic enterprise.
Well, now, that seems much more reasonable than…
–From the original message sent on January 26, 2009:
I am writing to tell you that the Board of Trustees met today and voted to close the Rose Art Museum.
Honestly, what were those crazy media types thinking about?
–From an FAQ in the current message:
2. The Board of Trustees voted to authorize Brandeis to sell a limited number of pieces in the collection — if the need arises in the future. Nothing will be sold into the currently depressed art market.
Okay, well that seems like a sensible…
–From the original message sent on January 26, 2009:
After necessary legal approvals and working with a top auction house, the university will publicly sell the art collection. Proceeds from the sale will be reinvested in the university to combat the far-reaching effects of the economic crisis, and fortify the university’s position for the future.
Ah, E-mail. What a tremendous way to record, permanently if you’re careful, opinions and events. It does such wonders in compensating for faulty memory and uncertain history, don’t you think?
I have been following this debate here with interest. I suppose you saw that the New York Times weighed in on the issue… http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/arts/design/20yale.html?em
Thanks for the heads-up, Aaron…I sent a message to the author letting him know our discussion about the subject in our little corner of the Internet, so hopefully he’ll stop by at some point. Glad Brandeis seems to be gradually coming around to (my, since Storey disagrees with me 🙂 ) position here, in any case.