Compare and Contrast 14

The Rose Art Museum discussions continue, in the press and blogosphere. I have still more self-serving bullshit email from Jehuda Reinharz.

• January 26, 2009: " I am writing to tell you that the Board of Trustees met today and voted to close the Rose Art Museum."
• Later in the January 26 email: "Today's decision will set in motion a long-term plan to sell the art collection and convert the professional art facility to a teaching, studio, and gallery space for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty."
• February 26: "Unfortunately, there has been a great deal of misinformation circulating in the media regarding the Rose. The facts are: 1. The Rose is NOT going to close. The Board of Trustees voted to keep the Rose open as a teaching and exhibition gallery that is even more fully integrated into University life and the academic enterprise. 2. The Board of Trustees voted to authorize Brandeis to sell a limited number of pieces in the collection -- if the need arises in the future. Nothing will be sold into the currently depressed art market."

Misinformation in the press? You mean the press and everybody who read the January 26 email somehow made a mistake by thinking "...the Board of Trustees met today and voted to close the Rose Art Museum" means "we're closing the Rose Art Museum"? How does turning the building into an art studio constitute anything other than closing the museum?

President Reinharz, spare us the crap. The Board voted to close the museum; it's not going to be functioning as a museum, so just stop. We all know how to read, and we all have your past email to refer to. Stop pretending the press got it wrong.