University leaders cannot be public intellectuals

I think this misses the point. It is definitely better for leaders to speak out on what they believe. Then we know what they believe. Its just that we don't want to be lead by some who have particular views. That is we care about what their views are, not what they say their views are. Personally I'd rather be lead by someone who *believed* (and not just said they believed) that in the long run increasing diversity the academy is synonymous with prioritizing excellence in the academy.