Once they arrive, affirmative action kids are generally left to sink or swim academically. Brown (University) offers plenty of counseling and tutoring to struggling students, but, as any academic Dean will tell you, it's up to the students to seek it out, something that a drowning minority student will seek to avoid at all costs, fearing it will trumpet a second-class status.

Many years later, a psychiatrist friend of mine said something to us. He said, "Respect denial." It's a powerful force.

When you get people standing up saying, 'I'm going to just tell the truth; what do we have to fear?,' it encourages others, and it creates a counterresponse.

The President [Barack Obama] is very focused on [healthcare]. He, of course, is also writing this speech at high speed. And right coming up until the speech, he is convinced that a full plan, letter and verse of what the administration wants, will be released.

A little known area often defines the fortunes of leaders -- management skills.

It's exciting to work with the kids so devoid of irony, so unguarded. And also terrifying

Message matters. Message matters almost as much as actions.