For a Second Time, Widener Law Prof’s Classroom Hypos Pass University Review
A second panel reviewing classroom hypotheticals used by a Widener law professor has found the scenarios did not violate university standards.
The panel found Lawrence Connell did not commit racial or sexual harassment by using hypotheticals involving the murder of Widener’s law dean, a black woman, report the National Law Journal and the Philadelphia Inquirer. In March, a faculty panel said Connell should not be fired for the hypotheticals.
The new panel, made up of two professors and an administrator, did find that Connell violated the university’s conduct code barring retaliation, the NLJ says. Two actions were found to be violations: Connell’s email to his students to explaining why he was placed on administrative leave, and his lawyer’s comments that Connell was trying to identify his student accusers.
Connell has sued the dean, Linda Ammons, and is seeking to add as defendants the two students who brought the harassment complaints against him. He contends he was targeted because of his conservative views.
Hat tip to TaxProf Blog.
