Marquette and John McAdams: Lovell's Decision

Finally, we have some new information regarding Marquette University's attempt to fire John McAdams.

Marquette University President Michael Lovell has decided to offer the tenured McAdams a path to return to campus.

However, Lovell has to know that McAdams would never accept the offer as it stands.

In short, rather than standing up for Catholic values and free speech, Lovell is choosing to keep Marquette in the national spotlight as an institution that squelches free expression and fosters censorship and harassment.

Good idea?

No.

From FOX6 News:

FOX6 News has learned Marquette University political science professor John McAdams is suspended without pay until January 2017. He could get his job back if he submits a letter of apology by April 4th — but McAdams does not plan to do that. He instead plans to fight the suspension.

...McAdams has been suspended, banned from stepping foot on campus since December 2014, after he wrote a controversial blog post about a student who felt his instructor blew off a request to discuss his opposition to same-sex marriage.

...On Thursday, March 24th, McAdams learned his suspension will be lengthened until January 2017. He is suspended without pay, and required to write an apology within the next two weeks.

“That`s a deal killer. No, I`m not going to do that,” McAdams said.

...McAdams has the backing of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty and is now weighing his options.

“They asked me what I wanted to do and I simply gave them a one word answer ‘fight,'” McAdams said.

Perfect response.

Marquette's assault on free speech and academic freedom cannot be accepted.

Lovell's statement to the "Dear Marquette community" is terribly disappointing.

Lovell writes:

Following the faculty statutes, a Faculty Hearing Committee made up of seven of Professor McAdams’ peers conducted a hearing over a period of four days last September. The committee consisted of a diverse set of tenured faculty members from different academic disciplines. After months of deliberations, the committee issued a thorough 123-page report to my office in January regarding Professor McAdams’ actions. It is noteworthy to mention that the report provided a unanimous recommendation on a path forward regarding the issue under consideration.

Today, I want you to know that after significant personal deliberation, I have decided to formally implement the Faculty Hearing Committee’s unanimous recommendation. While I cannot provide specific details of the recommendation because it relates to a personnel matter, I can assure you that my decision has been guided by Marquette University’s values and is solely based on Professor McAdams’ actions, and not political or ideological views expressed in his blog.

Simply put, that is absurd.

It's painful to witness the disintegration of Marquette under Lovell's leadership.

We will continue to withhold all financial support to Marquette.

We didn't make a 2014 year-end donation to the university. We made no donations in 2015. It appears we're on course to carry this pattern through 2016.

Very sad.