UChicago Administration Doubles Down On Mocking Immigrants -- So Much For That 'Environment Of Inclusion' They Said Was So Important

It's possible that UChicago has deeper problems than a handful of law students.

Yesterday, the University of Chicago Law School’s Law Student Association President, Sean Planchard, wrote a scathing letter calling out the administration for its repeated failures to promote the “environment of inclusion” that Dean Tom Miles claimed was core to the school’s mission. The recent flyer heaping derogatory rhetoric on immigrants — ostensibly for yuks — wasn’t the first time the Edmund Burke Society had crossed the line into offensive rhetoric, not to shock or make a point, but just because, as Chicago Law’s Professor M. Todd Henderson explained, this rhetoric is privately funny to the members of the conservative group.

After hearing the outcry, reading Planchard’s incisive letter, and feeling the material impact of losing prospective students, the administration has responded.

They’ve told LSA to shut up.

As part of his letter, Planchard explained that the LSA was fed up with the Society’s shenanigans, and explained that while the LSA planned to defund the group pursuant to an explicit provision that “[f]unding for LSSOs is determined exclusively by the Law Students Association.” That would appear fairly cut and dry since the word “exclusively” isn’t known for lending itself to a multitude of interpretations. And yet here’s Dean Miles (full Miles response available here):

The University has determined that the events surrounding this past week’s controversy, including the Edmund Burke Society’s flyers, did not violate any University policies. Accordingly, the Law School will take no action against the Edmund Burke Society for these flyers, and LSA cannot do so either.

It’s beginning to seem like this “environment of inclusion” thing Miles talked about the other day is just lip-service. But Dean Miles does make an excellent point in that these flyers don’t seem to violate the University of Chicago’s core values… because the University of Chicago’s core values seem deeply committed to nourishing childish racism.

Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity members at the University of Chicago referred to a Muslim student-activist on campus as a “terrorist” and planned to celebrate “Marathon Luther King Day” by drinking and eating at a fried chicken restaurant, according to emails obtained by BuzzFeed News.

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Delightful.

This is really just the tip of the despicable in the Alpha Epsilon Pi story, which includes all manner of offense (a fraternity whose leadership at that time bears a not insignificant overlap with the current Edmund Burke Society leadership). But the school also played host to this racist and homophobic prank on a mail carrier and a Facebook page called Politically Incorrect UChicago Confessions, all incidents contributing to a toxic culture at the University of Chicago that the school appears hellbent to ignore.

Perhaps the University of Chicago is just trying to reclaim its old brand. The school used to pride itself on its right-wing bona fides. For decades it positioned itself at the forefront of the conservative movement, with a bunch of Hayek acolytes writing hot takes about how the Great Depression was proof that unchecked capitalism was good and taking sabbaticals to prop up murderous regimes in South America. Now more people recognize the school as where President Obama taught. The problem is, we don’t really need a Deplorables Law School. Any proto-Alito out there can just go to ASSLaw.

But back to the culture of the University of Chicago. I’m not sure how many times this needs to be said, but protecting the rights of students to hold and voice unpopular opinions, even about sensitive subjects like immigration and civil rights, does not require shrugging your shoulders when students are insulting other students and throwing racist theme parties. You’re capable of taking a stand against the latter while still defending the free speech rights of the former.

As a society, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. Can’t we?

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(The full Dean Miles response is available on the next page…)

Earlier: UChicago Student President’s Letter Eviscerates Administration Over Repeated Failures
UChicago Law Responds To Race-Baiting Student Event With ‘Fine People On Both Sides’ Schtick
You Should Absolutely Read This Insane Law School Event Promo Calling Immigrants Toilet People
Immigrant Student Rejects University of Chicago Law After Trashy Burke Society Response, School Responds With Mild Stalking


HeadshotJoe Patrice is an editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news.