Gonzales’ Rice award should not be revoked
In last Sunday’s Houston Chronicle, William P. Hobby Professor Emeritus of History Harold Hyman wrote a column stating that Rice University should rescind Alberto Gonzales’ (Lovett ‘79) Distinguished Alumnus award. We disagree.
We recognize Gonzales’ failures as attorney general, not only because of his treatment of the U.S. Constitution, but also because of his politicizing of the Justice Department. If Rice were to repeal Gonzales’ award, it would be guilty of a similar crime.
The Distinguished Alumni awards are not political and should not become political. When Gonzales received his award in 2002, he had a distinguished career as Texas secretary of state, member of the Texas Supreme Court and counsel to President George W. Bush. This was an impressive record for a Rice alumnus, Republican or Democrat, and worthy of recognition. Any step to revoke his award would merely be an act of buyer’s regret.
Furthermore, rescinding Gonzales’ award would set a precedent for revoking awards after the fact for any recipient. Should Rice go through its records and see if some deceased alumni committed crimes in their time? We do not think Rice should have to deal with such reducto ad absurdum possibilities.
Rice is not in a position to commit retroactive finger wagging. Gonzales is already shamed enough in the eyes of the nation, and a much better way to react to this would be discussions and lectures about the problems with and consequences of his actions as attorney general. Proper discussion could actually have some effect. Revoking his award would prove nothing
No matter what steps are taken, Gonzales will always be tied to the university, and that is a fact that faculty, students and alumni all must live with.
In the end, Gonzales’ award will serve as a reminder that gaining power and prestige is one thing — it is what you do with that power that really matters.
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