Dean Runs Amok - Faculty Dumped
Wed, Aug08, 2007 - Category: School of
Law
What are the odds? Five Ave Maria Law School faculty
were recently reviewed for tenure. All are strong
orthodox Catholics with solid contributions to the
institution and the legal profession. Three
professors unquestionably support the governance of
Chairman Tom Monaghan and Dean Bernard Dobranski. Two
professors have respectfully stated their opposition
to aspects of the governance of Monaghan &
Dobranski. The legitimacy of such respectful
opposition was confirmed by (a) the ABA engaging in
an ongoing investigation
for accreditation violations, (b) votes of
no-confidence by the assembly of faculty and the
Alumni Board, and (c) by the concerns expressed
in public from colleagues within the legal
profession [1,2,3]. The three professors were
awarded tenure. The two were not. In most
schools, to not achieve tenure is to lose your
job. Fumare has the details here and here.
Still not convinced that the Law School's administration protects its supporters and dumps those who question it?
Consider the booting of co-founder and Professor Emeritus Charles Rice from the School's Board and faculty - an instance in which (one year ago) the administration went so far as to mail Rice's AMSL office to him rather than allow him on campus during the summer.
Consider another contrast. Co-founder and tenured Professor Stephen Safranek is not only subjected to termination proceedings on thin grounds, but this father of 7 is also suspended without pay and locked-out of his office and email. Compare this to Fr. Michael Orsi, the School's Chaplain and bullhorn-in-residence for supporting Monaghan and Dobranski. Without the Dean's knowledge, Orsi offers the institution's computer resources to help a local priest investigated by the state and Diocese for computer-based child pornography. The Dean finds-out about the help months after the fact - and not from Orsi, but from another employee. That triggers an extensive, and expensive, internal investigation. Meanwhile, Orsi sits next to the Dean week after week, repeatedly making outrageous statements about rape, the culpability of minors, and discrimination on the radio. And for all this, Orsi receives neither a reprimand nor sanction.
Who do Chairman Monaghan and Dean Dobranski think they're fooling?
Finally it should be noted that the 4 men dumped upon by Ave Maria (Rice, Safranek, and the two professors denied tenure) are, when taken together, fathers to 26 children.
UPDATE, 8/9/2007 - The two faculty members purged by AMSL administration have released a statement [hat-tip to Fumare]. They learned just yesterday that the administration put them on "leave of absence"; they will not teach in the upcoming Fall semester. Imagine being an Ave Maria student - whether a new student or a rising student ready for mentor - and learning that THREE of your professors were booted just weeks before classes start. What school with any shred of decency dumps professors in August?
Still not convinced that the Law School's administration protects its supporters and dumps those who question it?
Consider the booting of co-founder and Professor Emeritus Charles Rice from the School's Board and faculty - an instance in which (one year ago) the administration went so far as to mail Rice's AMSL office to him rather than allow him on campus during the summer.
Consider another contrast. Co-founder and tenured Professor Stephen Safranek is not only subjected to termination proceedings on thin grounds, but this father of 7 is also suspended without pay and locked-out of his office and email. Compare this to Fr. Michael Orsi, the School's Chaplain and bullhorn-in-residence for supporting Monaghan and Dobranski. Without the Dean's knowledge, Orsi offers the institution's computer resources to help a local priest investigated by the state and Diocese for computer-based child pornography. The Dean finds-out about the help months after the fact - and not from Orsi, but from another employee. That triggers an extensive, and expensive, internal investigation. Meanwhile, Orsi sits next to the Dean week after week, repeatedly making outrageous statements about rape, the culpability of minors, and discrimination on the radio. And for all this, Orsi receives neither a reprimand nor sanction.
Who do Chairman Monaghan and Dean Dobranski think they're fooling?
Finally it should be noted that the 4 men dumped upon by Ave Maria (Rice, Safranek, and the two professors denied tenure) are, when taken together, fathers to 26 children.
UPDATE, 8/9/2007 - The two faculty members purged by AMSL administration have released a statement [hat-tip to Fumare]. They learned just yesterday that the administration put them on "leave of absence"; they will not teach in the upcoming Fall semester. Imagine being an Ave Maria student - whether a new student or a rising student ready for mentor - and learning that THREE of your professors were booted just weeks before classes start. What school with any shred of decency dumps professors in August?