When we inevitably trace innocent deaths in the community back to universities like Texas Tech, I fully hope presidents like this are held to account. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-10-24/coronavirus-surging-college-towns-worst-texas

This guy is talking about student life and alumni connections while packing a football stadium in a surging, deadly pandemic. Sorry, that should automatically disqualify you from public service.

I had a coach famous for telling runners who flaunted the rules, “we don’t need you!” I’m reminded of that now as I consider the state of higher ed leaders. We can do better than people like this, sitting in their box seats, physically and cognitively distant from reality.

I’m so tired of sleazy, spineless leadership. Hospitals are packed, the death ticker keeps rolling, and universities think they can reconcile huge crowds, tailgating, booze, and personal responsibility? And they’ll celebrate their rankings and enrollment numbers as people die.

And before someone says it was politics and they had no choice: there are *always* choices. Even under big choices, there are hundreds of micro-choices. There were alternatives. We know because other universities took a different, safer path. That’s what leaders do.

So when we look back on 2020, we should remember that when pressed to pick between reducing the spread of a deadly infection through vulnerable communities or playing football, a bunch of universities picked football. I won't forget it or the leaders who made the call.