23 Oregon Law Profs Call On Colleague To Resign For Wearing Blackface At Halloween Party

Dear Colleague,

If these allegations are true, and you did in fact wear blackface to a Halloween party, you need to resign.

It doesn’t matter what your intentions were. It doesn’t matter if it was protected by the First Amendment.

Blackface is patently offensive. It is overtly racist. It is wildly inappropriate. It reflects a profound lack of judgment. There is no excuse.

We are angry that you would alienate our students, staff, and faculty of color. We are angry that you would destroy what others have worked hard to build.

Your actions implicate all of us and our community.

If you care about our students, you will resign. If you care about our ability to educate future lawyers, you will resign. If you care about our alumni, you will resign.

Brian Leiter (Chicago), University of Oregon Law Professor Went to Halloween Party in Blackface:

23 of the professor's colleagues have called on the faculty member to resign if the allegations are true. That reflects poorly on them, and suggests they have no regard for contractual and constitutional rights to academic freedom, including the right to engage in racially insensitive extramural speech. Absent a finding that the professor treats students or colleagues in racially discriminatory ways, there is no reason for the faculty member to resign (apologizing might be a good idea though!). 

University of Oregon Press Release, UO Leadership Speaks Out About Unacceptable Behavior:

President Michael Schill and other UO leaders sent the following message to campus Tuesday night committing to additional training and dialogue on racial issues following the actions of a faculty member at a Halloween party:

Students, Faculty, and Staff,

The University of Oregon has been made aware that a faculty member of the School of Law wore a costume that included blackface at a private, off-campus Halloween party that was attended by UO faculty members and students.

We condemn this action unequivocally as anathema to the University of Oregon’s cherished values of racial diversity and inclusion. The use of blackface, even in jest at a Halloween party, is patently offensive and reinforces historically racist stereotypes. It was a stupid act and is in no way defensible.

The faculty member involved has apologized for the decision and has expressed concern about its potential impact on members of the community. Although the party occurred outside of the faculty member's official duties, the professor acknowledges that the costume choice was unacceptable under any circumstances.

We take seriously any complaints from members of our community, and we have referred this complaint to the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, which will determine whether this action could constitute a violation of university policy.

At a minimum, it illustrates the need for more training and dialogue on these critical issues.

• Above the Law, It’s After Halloween, So OF COURSE We Have To Talk About Law Professors Wearing Blackface
• Chronicle of Higher Education, U. of Oregon Censures Professor Who Attended Halloween Party in Blackface
• Inside Higher Ed, Oregon Condemns Professor Over Blackface
• Oregonian, UO Law Professor Investigated for Wearing Blackface at Halloween Party