Victory! (from a UCI faculty member)

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Monday September 17, 2007 · 11:27 AM PDT

2007/09/17 · 11:27

(also diaried while I was writing this diary by FoundingFatherDAR)

Proponents of academic freedom have won a stunning victory at the University of California freedom with the rapid reversal of the university's decision to "un-hire" outspoken civil libertarian Erwin Chemerinsky as the dean of UCI's new law school. More beneath the fold!

Last week, Upper West, clcox1958 and hbjackson all diaried about this, and Bill in Portland Maine mentioned it in his story too. Chemerinsky had been offered the deanship and then had the offer withdrawn due to political opposition.

Newspapers, law professors, bloggers, and others of all political persuasions attacked UCI's decision. Here at UCI, faculty members (I am one) came together in an emergency meeting where we strongly critiqued what had occurred. Further faculty action was being planned.

Over the weekend, UCI reversed itself, with Drake traveling back to North Carolina to re-offer Chemerinsky the position. Their joint statement included that the lawschool "will be founded on the bedrock principle of academic freedom."

As a UCI faculty member, I extend my thanks to all those across the country that spoke out on this important issue!

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