Marquette University Rescinds Offer to Potential Dean

[ThetaDancer]

Essentially, after offering Seattle University professor Jodi O'Brien a job as the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Marquette University changed its mind and rescinded the offer, calling its initial decision to hire her "premature." The College has not had a Dean since 2007. Although the University is officially denying the offer was rescinded because Ms. O'Brien is a lesbian, it has become a controversy among professors and students, and throughout the community as a whole.

Marquette University on Thursday abruptly rescinded an offer to a sociologist to serve as dean of one of its colleges, angering some students and faculty members who said the university did so after learning she was a lesbian who wrote about sexuality.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/ed...marquette.html

Local coverage: http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/93012094.html


I'll be interested in watching this story unfold. The College of Arts and Sciences hasn't had a Dean since 2007, and yet MU is calling its decision to actually hire someone in 2010 "premature"? They offered her a job, and then they read her academic work? Something isn't adding up and, in my opinion, the University seriously needs to get its act together.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Huh. Is Marquette that religious? I didn't realize it was. Funny thing is Seattle Univ. is also jesuit...and apparently it didn't have a problem with the professor.

[Senusret I]

^^^ Additionally, some schools have vocal minorities who are conservative who strategically (and conveniently) protest some things and not others. (Georgetown)

On one hand, there was a movement to put crucifixes in every classroom (and they did) but there was nothing that could be done to stop the LGBTQ center which was recently established. Each side picks and chooses what it thinks it can win.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by ThetaDancer

Essentially, after offering Seattle University professor Jodi O'Brien a job as the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Marquette University changed its mind and rescinded the offer, calling its initial decision to hire her "premature." The College has not had a Dean since 2007. Although the University is officially denying the offer was rescinded because Ms. O'Brien is a lesbian, it has become a controversy among professors and students, and throughout the community as a whole.



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/ed...marquette.html

Local coverage: http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/93012094.html


I'll be interested in watching this story unfold. The College of Arts and Sciences hasn't had a Dean since 2007, and yet MU is calling its decision to actually hire someone in 2010 "premature"? They offered her a job, and then they read her academic work? Something isn't adding up and, in my opinion, the University seriously needs to get its act together.

I would not be surprised if an influential alum donor pulled some strings to make this happen (not hire her). These days many universities and colleges are hurting financially, and money talks. More and more schools are relying on their alumni donations to cover some expenses. So, it may not have been the University's decision to do this. Maybe they folded to alumni pressure.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

^^^ Additionally, some schools have vocal minorities who are conservative who strategically (and conveniently) protest some things and not others. (Georgetown)

On one hand, there was a movement to put crucifixes in every classroom (and they did) but there was nothing that could be done to stop the LGBTQ center which was recently established. Each side picks and chooses what it thinks it can win.

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

I would not be surprised if an influential alum donor pulled some strings to make this happen (not hire her). These days many universities and colleges are hurting financially, and money talks. More and more schools are relying on their alumni donations to cover some expenses. So, it may not have been the University's decision to do this. Maybe they folded to alumni pressure.

I hear ya. My school is the same way.

[AOII Angel]

She's probably better off not going there.

[ThetaDancer]

An update for those who are interested. The students continue to protest and some faculty members are evaluating how to hold Father Wild (the President) accountable, (although he had announced his plans to leave before any of this happened).

I'll agree that she's probably better off not going there.