Statement From The Dean At The University of Florida College of Law
Merrit E. McAlister, the Interim Dean at the University of Florida College of Law, released this statement to the UF Law Community:
Dear UF Law Community:
Many of you may have seen the recent New York Times article about a student at the law school. The article stated that the student—who told the Times it “would not be manifestly wrong” to call him a Nazi—received a recognition through a “book award,” which is given to the highest overall grade in a law school class. The paper he wrote, which counted for 65% of the final grade in the small seminar course, argued for constitutional “nationalism” based on an understanding of the Constitution that excluded non-white people from legal and civil participation in America. Although the law school is limited by what it can say about these events under federal and state law that protects the privacy of student record information, that student has now disclosed some information publicly.
Let me state unequivocally: the student’s views are revolting and do not reflect the values of UF Law, its faculty, or its administration. We welcome all, we discriminate against none, and we aim to create a community where students feel a sense of belonging and connection—without experiencing fear or threats or hatred.
The paper’s views also in no way reflect the views of the professor in this course. The professor had no knowledge of this student’s history at the law school or his deeply held personal views. The professor took the paper on its face—as a student paper attempting to use originalist methodology to reach a detestable and extreme position. As abhorrent as the paper’s thesis may be, that work still falls within the bounds of academic freedom and the First Amendment, and, as such, was graded consistent with the grading standard for the course.
As a matter of practice at UF Law and most other law schools across the nation, the highest-performing student in any class receives a “book award” during the grading process. Indeed, the professor believed that recognition was mandatory for the top scoring student.
I understand that these events and this article have caused many in our community pain, disappointment, and fear. I know that many of you are outraged at the law school for not taking the book award away from
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