A retired general was tapped for leadership at Northwestern, but opponents derailed the...

Northwestern University struck a deal with Karl Eikenberry last year that he believed would be a capstone to his career as a global citizen with military, diplomatic and academic credentials. The retired three-star Army general and former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan would move from Stanford University to Northwestern to become the first executive director of a new global studies institute, backed by the largest single donation in the university's history.

The deal, announced in November, fell through months later, after a surprising debate erupted about Eikenberry's qualifications and his views on the value of the humanities and social sciences as elements of "soft power" in U.S. foreign policy. The dispute at the elite private university in Illinois reflected the power of faculty dissidents as a check on university administrators, as well as conflicting views on the value of military and diplomatic experience for advancement in academia.

Forty-six faculty members signed a letter in February describing Eikenberry as a "non-academic career military officer" who was a bad fit for the job. An online petition emerged to oppose Eikenberry's appointment.

Now, all I can now say is "So much for academic freedom and diversity." If you are not part of the liberal elite you need not apply. Forget experience and other sources of wisdom, you have to jump thru the insane academic credentialing hoops to become worthy of any major university position. LTC (Join to see) @