The presidents of Smith and Mount Holyoke colleges are calling on conservative firebrand Stephen Bannon to develop a more tolerant and informed world view in light of his recent appointment as President-elect Donald Trump’s senior adviser.
In an open letter to Bannon, Smith President Kathleen McCartney and Mount Holyoke President Sonya Stephens joined the leaders of the other Seven Sisters institutions denouncing comments made by Bannon in a 2011 Political Vindication Radio interview in which he disparaged lesbians, feminists and Seven Sisters alumnae.
The Seven Sisters is an association of historically women’s colleges.
In light of his recent White House appointment, the college leaders urged Bannon to refrain from such intolerance in favor of a message of inclusion.
“As the leaders of the Seven Sisters Colleges, we take deep exception to these comments and ask that you take a more expansive, informed and tolerant world view in your leadership role,” they wrote in the letter posted online Monday morning.
Bannon served as chairman of the far-right Breitbart News until August, when he was named chief executive of Trump’s presidential campaign. Trump earlier this month appointed him as senior counselor to the president and chief strategist.