On March 6, the UNC School of Law was honored by the visit of a U.S. Supreme Court justice. Justice Clarence Thomas granted the academic community an opportunity to question his views and hear him express his rationales on several court decisions.
But this learning event was marred by a boycott organized by a small group of professors. This group apparently believes that they know all there is to know about the way this man thinks and reasons and that they have nothing to learn from his visit. This boycott belies their arrogance and exposes a level of academic intolerance that I hoped professors of their caliber would be above.
The law school should be "delighted" that a Supreme Court justice decided to visit with us for a full day. It should be noted that there are only nine justices and over 220 law schools in this nation.
Personally, I am delighted that I have had this chance to hear an expert's opinion on the law. I came to law school to learn, and one way you learn is through exposure to viewpoints that you disagree with and challenge your beliefs. I attended the event last year at which Justice Sandra Day O'Connor spoke, even though I strongly disagree with several of her opinions, most notably in the Asahi Metal case. I vote Democrat, but I actively and critically listened when Sen. Jesse Helms spoke at the School of Law. If I refused to listen to dissenting views, I would have a pitiably narrow world view, and I would feel that my University had failed me academically.
Justice Thomas expressed valid and legitimate political and legal viewpoints. But these professors quickly dismissed his viewpoints as illegitimate and raised claims that he has betrayed his African-American heritage because he has a different interpretation of the Constitution.
Richard Brandon Linderman
Third Year Law Student
