What Do YOU Think: Should Erwin Chemerinsky Be Reinstated as UCI Law School Dean?

September 17, 2007 Uncategorized 5

 

“The university has taken a tremendous hit to its prestige, and it’s hard to see how that can be remedied without (Chemerinsky) being re-offered the position, or some form of censure of Drake’s decision,” said Mark Warschauer, a UCI professor of education. 

And apparently, Professor Warschauer isn’t the only one who would like to see Erwin Chemerinsky reinstated as UCI Law School Dean. According to The Register, there’s a growing campaign to require UCI to remedy its grave error by giving Chemerinsky the job they gave him to do in the first place. And even though a few, like OC GOP “Consligliere” Mike Schroeder and LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, are still patting themselves on the back for driving Chemerinsky out of town, their view is looking increasingly like the view of a small, partisan minority. Even many Republicans have condemned UCI’s firing of their law school dean after hiring him only 21 days before.

So what can be done now to put this nasty scandal to rest? How about reinstating Erwin Chemerinsky as UCI Law School Dean?! What do YOU think about that? After all, since there was no good reason for firing him in the first place, shouldn’t Chemerinsky have his rightful position as UCI Law School Dean returned to him?

So what do you think about that? Am I missing something, or am I on to something here? I want to hear what you have to say about what should be the proper remedy to this national embarrassment of not just UCI, but of Orange County as a whole. Should Erwin Chemerinsky just stay out of town, or should he be reinstated as dean of the law school?

Go ahead. Make my day. Fire away, and have your say! 🙂

5 Comments

  2. I think the question is, as you say, “what should be the proper remedy to this national embarrassment?”

    It would be great if Chemerinsky were to be re-hired, but it’s not at all clear that he would accept or that his acceptance would really eliminate the pall that’s been cast over the University. The ideal situation would be to make an offer to someone else equally liberal and outspoken, to show that the University isn’t afraid of the local GOP, but I have my doubts as to who’d take the job at this point.

  4. Dan-

    You’re probably right here. The easiest way to begin righting this wrong would be to reoffer Chemerinsky his position. And then, UCI needs to put out a public apology for this terrible misstep. And perhaps, further rebuke of those involved in the firing should be considered.

    Gila-

    Interesting idea. Perhaps if Chemerinsky doesn’t accept UCI’s offer of reinstatement, UCI should do that. Heck, they need to do SOMETHING to begin restoring its now tainted reputation.

    Richard-

    HUH?! How is Erwin Chemerinsky “screwing up America”? He’s a well-respected law professor who knows his stuff on our legal system. Last I checked, he wasn’t part of that screwy disaster that some call “The Bush Administration”.

  5. Not only is Chemerinsky not a “pinhead” he’s one of the foremost figures in his field. Unfortunately much of the damage is done now. UCI law school’s first real national news is that this OC-based school has grave trouble respecting freedom of expression and – more narrowly – academic freedom. If fact the “pinhead” comment above typifies the particular brand of right-wing name-calling politics that rose to power in the 1980s on claims of saving our freedoms but has actually progressed by pressing an agenda of stultification and intimidation through – as we see above – name calling and distorted denunciations. Lot’s of people who have heard about the firing may never hear about the remedy (if there is one). No matter what happens now UCI takes a hit, and it’s their own fault for refusing to fight for their autonomy from political pressures.

    Nonetheless, they should offer Chemerinsky the job again – and sweeten the pot in terms of his and his faculty’s individual and collective autonomy as a Dean and a school. Do that publically as a statement of commitment to protecting academic freedom in the face of shallow power politics and they’ll enhance my sense of the school’s dynamic future. But I won’t surprised by any outcome at this point. -j

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