Widener Law School Becomes Laughingstock

Widener Law School Professor Lawrence Connell, who is white and conservative, has been acused of racism and sexism by Widener Law School Dean Linda Ammons, who is black and liberal, based on complaints from a couple of highly sensitive and none-to-bright students.



Connell won the first round when the case against him was heard by panel of his peers. But the university (Ammons) continued the effort to persecute Connell and has now ordered him to apologize and undergo a psychiatric evaluation.



Connell has hired a lawyer and has filed suit against Ammons and the school for defamation.



The case has received the much attention in the world of legal blogging, most of it very negative. Widener is becoming both a laughingstock and pariah among those knowledgable about the case.



At the well-regarded Volokh Conspiracy David Bernstein writes:

The saga of Dean Ammons vendetta against Professor Lawrence Connell, revolving around trumped up charges of harassment and discrimination, gets more and more absurd. Having been almost entirely vindicated by a faculty committee, with the only remaining “charge” that he dared to rebut false accusations against himself publicly, Dean Ammons has recommended that Connell be suspended for a year without pay and be forced to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Widener’s administration, apparently oblivious to the long-term damage this is doing to the law school’s and university’s reputation, agreed. I hope Connell sues, and I hope he wins his lawsuit, and wins big. Meanwhile, if any of our readers are considering attending Widener, I recommend looking elsewhere–anywhere else. If Connell can be abused in this way, so can you.



UPDATE: I had agreed to participate in a Widener-sponsored project after the committee report was released, which I thought would be the end of the matter. I’ve now sent an email to my contact at Widener, withdrawing. I can’t in good conscience have my reputation associated in any way with Widener Law School.

More on the case here and here with plenty of links.



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