解读美国大学的不信任投票——以哈佛大学前校长拉里·萨默斯的不信任案为例

Reading the No-Confidence Votes in American Universities ——the Case of Former Harvard University President Larry

不信任投票源于西方民主议会制中的投票表决。在美国大学，不信任投票是教师表达对校长执政强烈不满的一种手段，表明对校长失去信心。投票只具有象征意义，董事会才有解雇校长的权力，但其影响是灾难性的。校长违反共同治理的信条是导致不信任投票产生的首要原因。大学在发展过程中，应妥善处理好传统与变革、民主与控制这双重矛盾。

No-confidence vote is originated from th e voting in western parliamentary system. In American universities, the no-confidence vote is ameans of expressing strong dissatisfaction to president by faculties. The vote is only symbolic, because it is the governing boards that have the right to fire president. However, the impact is disastrous. The violation of shared governance is one of the main reasons behind the vote. In the process of development, the universities should dealwith the dual ambivalence oftradition vs reformand democracyvs control.