Reply #1: About academic freedom

[oldcoot]

It is incorrect to assume that university employees have unlimited academic freedom. Professors, teaching assistants, part-time instructors, administrators, and others are often required to sign documents stating that they will follow certain rules (including those involving respecting diversity). For example, professors cannot fail students because they were born the "wrong" race or sex. However, if a professor did a study that provided evidence that women are not biologically suited for the sciences than one could argue firing the professor is infringing on his or her academic freedom.

As president of a university, Summers does not enjoy many of the same protections as a tenured professor. Universities often reserve the right to fire their presidents for a variety of reasons such as the inability to raise funds for the university and Summers's remarks might have reduced his effectiveness as a fund raiser. One additional concern for the university is the fact that Summers's remarks may have made it easier for disgruntled former employees and applicants to sue over sex discrimination.

You could also bring up the fact that Harvard is a private university and has the same rights as any other private business to protect itself from bad PR.