Dear President Leebron,

I was a grad student at Rice from 1994 to 2001. I’m disappointed to hear that there is once again controversy on campus over the radio station. I do not know whether the proposed asset sale is right or wrong, however, it’s abundantly clear that the issue is being handled poorly.

In 2004 when Rice was faced with hard questions about the future of its athletics program, the McKinsey report was made available to all members of the community. That was a smart move. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, and I’m sure it generated lots of heated debate, but it was the right way to proceed. Decisions behind closed doors strike everyone in the wrong way, even those who might be inclined to agree with the action.

I have no doubt that the board has made this decision with the best possible intentions. But President Bush took us to Iraq with the best possible intentions. Indeed, I suspect that the “corruption” that comes from power is little more than a too confident belief in one’s own perspective.

When you write that confidential negotiations were a necessity I feel sorrow. I do not believe you. I want to, but I can’t.

You have a made a mistake, but there is still time to right this error. I encourage you to postpone the sale and open the issue to campus wide discussion. Let the stakeholders be informed. If the sale is appropriate then this will become apparent, and it can be done with a clear conscience.

Sincerely,
Curtis Haaga