Williams and the Economics Department

The BUCC recently hosted a speech by Dr. Walter Williams--who George Mason University has described as "perhaps the most ardent free market economist in the world"--at Bucknell as our Third Annual Conservative Alumni Lecture.

The speech was a fantastic success, as students packed the lecture hall to hear Dr. Williams talk about "The Proper Role of Government in a Free Society," much to the apparent chagrin of our Economics Department. The Department's role in having this world renowned economist was:

1. 2/4/06--BUCC asks Department Chair Peter Karl Kresl if the Economics Department would cosponsor Dr. Williams's talk.

2. 2/18/06--After 2 weeks with no answer, BUCC asks Kresl again if Economics would support the talk.

3. 2/19/06--Economics denies funding for the event, and requests that the economics faculty be given a
chance to meet with Williams (the BUCC generously agrees to give special treatment to the department).

4. 2/19/06--BUCC asks Kresl if the economics deparment would cosponsor the event "in name only" (that is, not giving any money, just putting their name on the talk). On 2/20, Kresl replied, "That would, of course, give the impression to the rest of the campus that we were actually supporting his visit financially." Apparently, the world would fall apart if anyone thought that the department was acting like any other economics department worth its salt would.

5. BUCC raises the necessary funds (80% from off campus sources), and confirms Williams's visit, which is listed on the University calendar beginning in mid-March.

6. On April 7, BUCC sends the Economics Department an official invitation to the Williams/Econ faculty reception.

7. On April 11, Kresl sent BUCC president, Dominic Rupprecht, an email which stated that they had scheduled an event featuring Todd Buchholz, which, “has just been arranged, yesterday, for the 20.”

Let that sink in a minute. Dr. Walter Williams, whom they had refused to fund, cosponsor in name only, and with whom they demanded a meeting, was speaking on April 20.

One could argue that while they knew he was coming, they did not know the specific date of his visit. However, this is belied by the fact that the department was invited to meet with him on April 7, and according to them, they did not schedule their speaker’s visit until April 10.

Moreover, they could have looked at the campus calendar, which featured “Conservatives Club – Speaker Walter Williams.” They could have contacted the club to see if there was a date set for Williams, of whose visit they were aware since February 3.