Comments on: “Pimps up, Ho’s down” leads to law prof going on leave

By: Journal Article Poachers

Journal Article Poachers — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:07:33 +0000

Hilarious!!! Would love to know where he is now! Poaching Ass Review

By: Prostituting and pimping at the UCONN law school « Dankprofessor’s Weblog

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 03:52:08 +0000

[...] ethics, higher education, political correctness — dankprofessor @ 7:51 pm Last week publicdefender.com had a discussion on the UCONN Professor Birmingham case and some of the discussants were or had [...]

By: SaucyVixen

SaucyVixen — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:10:40 +0000

That’s too bad. I never had Birmingham, but the whole things reeks of ickiness (I’m tired, so “ickiness” is the best I can come up with right now).

It’s true, though… this does detract from potential students and faculty.

And as an aside, the Bullets and Bubbly thing last year was just in poor taste.

By: Anton Kunckle

Anton Kunckle — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:38:12 +0000

Eugene Volokh at the Volokh Conspiracy catches up with this story today:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_10_07-2007_10_13.shtml#1192039933

By: UCONN 3L

UCONN 3L — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:05:39 +0000

It’s unclear what is going to happen. People find it sad and funny mostly. There’s also the element that some think the students who take Birm’s classes just for the A’s got what was coming and don’t feel bad for them. It’s hard to rally around the students as “losers” here.
The question remains around academic freedom and free speech. Note how no students have been quoted by name in the papers. I’m not sure that’s by accident. There is a feeling that if you do speak out on this, you may be branded a racist in light of the racial sensitivity nonsense last winter. It’s a real catch-22, the admin has chilled speech really well.

I like Birm and I think he got hosed, but I’m not willing to risk my neck alone to fight for him. Not when the admin is willing to can an tenured prof. for speaking his mind. What does that make me? I’d probably be painted a whiny racist…

By: Gideon

Gideon — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 23:05:13 +0000

[quote comment="6389"]Everyone I’ve talked to thinks this is a stupid reaction by the new wet-noodle dean. It makes the school look bad and will only hurt attracting decent faculty. “Come to UCONN, where academic freedom exists sometimes.” The administration needs to be overhauled top to bottom.[/quote]
Thanks for your comment! Do you know if anything else is going to happen or is this matter closed? Are the students writing to Dean Paul or is it pretty much over?

By: UCONN 3L

UCONN 3L — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 21:14:48 +0000

Everyone I’ve talked to thinks this is a stupid reaction by the new wet-noodle dean. It makes the school look bad and will only hurt attracting decent faculty. “Come to UCONN, where academic freedom exists sometimes.” The administration needs to be overhauled top to bottom.

By: S.cotus

S.cotus — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:00:56 +0000

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t defending our constitutional rights one of the foundations of the study of law?

Well, this all depends on what you think the constitution means. There is nothing wrong with taking a narrow view of the First Amendment.

How can a law school of all places take such a cavalier stance on the right to free speech?

How do you know it was cavalier? Although most large institutions don’t talk about their consultations with their lawyers and negotiations with the parties, I suspect that what you are seeing is the end result. Moreover, there is not an absolute right of individual professors to say whatever they want in class. (It is pretty broad, but not absolute.)

After all, this professor hardly called for a revolution; he paused the movie at an inopportune moment! Amazing.

Calling for a revolution would probably enjoy more protection.

By: Karoli

Karoli — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:54:04 +0000

When I saw this in my email today I nearly spit coffee. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t defending our constitutional rights one of the foundations of the study of law? How can a law school of all places take such a cavalier stance on the right to free speech? After all, this professor hardly called for a revolution; he paused the movie at an inopportune moment! Amazing.

By: justin eisele

justin eisele — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 02:45:08 +0000

I was Student Bar President my 3L year. Hearing a story like this brings back non-fond memories of my frustrations. I worked with some great people, but I definitely was constantly finding myself inadequate in understanding the inner workings of the administration.