Serious Failure of Process at Marquette

My colleague Jodi O'Brien, a prominent sociologist, was recently offered the Deanship of Arts and Sciences at Marquette, only to have the University attempt to rescind the contract.  As all of our institutions do, Marquette went through an extensive search and review process before making Professor O'Brien an offer.  The only justification so far for the University's change of position is that her work in gender and sexuality is inconsistent with the mission of the institution.  This came as a shock to many of my colleagues here, who have considered her an important contributor to University mission, although her positions challenge some current Catholic teaching.  Marquette's administration presumably reviewed her scholarship, so this should have been no surprise.  Clearly, something happened after the selection process had been completed, most likely originating outside the University's administration.  It has raised serious concerns about process and academic freedom at Marquette and has implications for Catholic universities in general.

Marquette Rescinds Offer to Sociologist

By SAM DILLON Published: May 7, 2010

 

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