Is This Law School Championing Academic Freedom Or Pandering To Bigotry?

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA — COLUMBUS SCHOOL OF LAW — EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE

Alumnus Email

From:
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2015 10:11 AM
To: CUA Law Alumni
Cc: Attridge, Daniel
Subject: Re: Law School March 2015 Newsletter

Dear Alumni Affairs:

I am writing to express my extreme disappointment and shock regarding the decision of the Alumni Office to include Professor Destro’s interview with the National Catholic Register in the most recent alumni newsletter.

I am an out and proud homosexual. During my time at CUA law, I never felt marginalized and was always treated with respect by my classmates, friends, and professors. Since my graduation, major strides have been made in the fight for marriage equality. Let us remember that, currently, same-sex marriage IS legally recognized in more than 50% of the states in this country and by the federal government. The decision to include Prof. Destro’s interview, discussing same-sex marriage (or “marriage” as the article repeatedly–and insultingly–refers to it) makes me seriously concerned that the atmosphere of acceptance I experienced is no longer present at the law school.

I understand that a Catholic institution has certain beliefs, but highlighting the article in question as if it is something to be proud of is insulting and, quite frankly, embarassing for the law school. The vast majority of my generation, and including my fellow alumni, support marriage equality.

One has to wonder, had interracial marriage been considered “illegal,” “unnatural,” or “less than” other marriages by a minority of the population in 2015, would an article discussing that topic have been so brazenly highlighted to your alumni? How about equal rights for women?

Once the Supreme Court hears the cases on marriage equality in June, the vast majority of us know what is going to happen (with the exception of Professor Destro, apparently). Much like the opponents of interracial marriage look out-of-touch and bigoted to us today, so will an interview like this proudly displayed by CUA Law on the Internet.

Because the article so respectfully used quotations and suggested that homosexuals are not entitled to equal treatment under the law, let me do the same with the remainder of my email to you.

As one of your “alumni,” who hopes to one day find someone to “marry,” I would be more than happy to redirect my “support” to “institutions” that are more “with the times” than this “high quality piece of journalism” suggests about CUA “Law.” I am happy to recommend to prospective students that they attend school elsewhere if this indeed is the message that CUA wants to send to its alumni, whom they seem ok with disrespecting until they ask for their monetary support.

“Sincerely,”

Dean Attridge response

Thank you for your email and for offering your perspective. I am sorry that you are upset about our newsletter.

With all due respect, it is important to bear in mind what was included in our newsletter and what was not. The entirety of what the newsletter itself said was: “Professor Robert Destro, quoted in a National Catholic Register story on same-sex marriage laws and practices in Alabama.” This single sentence was just one of several of a laundry list of items relating to our faculty (and alumni) being in the news. Now it is true, of course, that a reader could have clicked through to read the story that appeared in the National Catholic Register in which Professor Destro was quoted. That is obviously what you did, and that is the source of your offense. But it is not correct to say that we included Professor Destro’s interview in our newsletter or even described his views. Nor is it correct to say that we took any position on same-sex marriage or on Professor Destro’s views. Our newsletter simply reported that he was quoted. This is a routine practice when a faculty member is quoted in the news.

Part of the essence of academic freedom is the right to express views with which other people might disagree. Professor Destro has his own views on same-sex marriage. Neither you nor anyone else needs to agree with him. But as members of the CUA Law community, it is important that we be respectful of one another’s views. You may disagree with Professor Destro, and vice versa, but it is not helpful to the debate to label his views as “insulting” and “embarrassing” to the Law School.

Just as I would ask you to be respectful of others’ views, please understand that I expect others to be respectful of yours. In our mission statement, we say that “the school is committed to fostering its already strong bonds of community by continuing to promote and maintain respect for and among faculty, administrators, students, staff, and alumni, and respect for the diversity of backgrounds, religious affiliations, viewpoints, and contributions that members bring to the law school community.” We take this obligation seriously.

Lastly, let me respond to your comment about continued support for the Law School. You are, of course, not required to recommend that prospective students attend CUA Law or make donations to the Law School. Whether you do so or not is up to you. But I think you’ll find that if you do support us – or more particularly the students here – that you will find it to be very rewarding. Remember that there were alumni (and fellow students, faculty, and staff) who supported you while you were here. The question is: do you want to do the same for others who come after you? Or, do you wish to point to something you disagree with as an excuse for never doing anything ever again for CUA Law? The choice is yours, and we hope you pick the former alternative. We would welcome you as an actively engaged member of our alumni community.

Daniel F. Attridge

Alumnus response email

Date: February 25, 2015 at 4:29:08 PM EST
Subject: Re: Law School March 2015 Newsletter
From:
To: “Attridge, Daniel”

Actually, the portions of the article referring to Destro’s involvement are found on the CUA website, which is what the newsletter links to: http://inthemedia.cua.edu/2015/destro-ncreg-al-marriage.cfm

It does imply that a position was taken when the material appears on the University’s website, much like as attorneys we are concerned about the appearance of bias or impropriety, whether or not it actually exists. It’s disappointing to see the administration disregard the implication that this sort of story has for your readers, particularly now that it has been brought to your attention.

And in terms of respect, suggesting that a marriage between two members of the same sex is pretend or somehow imaginary is anything but respectful, as is implying that this is a meaningless “excuse” for me to not continue to support the school.