I don't think we have or will have any disputed litmus test for speakers
but it is fair to rule out the extremes (I note that Jim Morgan presented
to his class the arguments for various political philosophies but did not
include racism among them).  I believe that the critics of Ashcroft were
expressing their opinions that he is so extreme that they would be unhappy
having him as a speaker.  That is a perfectly fair opinion for them to
express.  To my knowledge, they have not tried to bully anyone into
rejecting him.  Some judgment is employed in whom to invite, and it is
perfectly reasonable to express opinions in how that judgment should be
exercised



At 10:59 AM 1/19/2001 -0600, Joe Zavaletta wrote:
>Dittos to John Conlee and Jim Morgan.  Joe Zavaletta UT Brownsville
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Talk
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of John Conlee
>Sent: Friday, January 19, 2001 4:04 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Ashcroft
>
>
>Thank you Jim Morgan.  Well said.  Well said indeed.
>John Conlee
>Wichita State University.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Morgan, Jim <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2001 2:46 PM
>Subject: Re: Ashcroft
>
>
>> I respectfully disagree with the views of Professor Ginger.
>>
>> First, I was unaware that the Academy possessed a litmus test for
>speakers.
>> I have listened over the years to a variety of folks at ALSB functions,
>some
>> espoused positions I agreed with, some articulated positions I did not
>> embrace, and some simply caused me to think more deeply about a subject.
>> Moreover, I cannot imagine a speaker with more prestige, given the purpose
>> of our profession, than the Attorney General of the United States.
>> (Consider, too, the positive public relations value for the ALSB of having
>> someone with a national reputation address our membership.)
>>
>> Next, I was not aware that all of our black colleagues think alike.  Nor
>was
>> I aware that all of our female colleagues think alike.  And, it is
>> surprising to learn that all of our GLB members think alike.  I am from
>> California, so perhaps my experience is an aberration, but I do not happen
>> to believe that color, gender, and sexual preference connote political
>> views.
>>
>> Also, how in the world can we feel ashamed having the highest ranking law
>> enforcement official in the country (or his wife, for that matter) address
>> our assemblage?  Especially when the speaker spent several years in the
>> trenches teaching undergraduates the subject of law.  We can (and should)
>> embrace Ashcroft if for no other reason than because of the extent of his
>> service, both to the citizens of his home state and to the United States.
>>
>> Finally, and I may be alone on this point, but one measure of success for
>me
>> in the classroom is for the students at the end of the semester to have no
>> idea...whatsoever...my political affiliation.  I will tout conservative,
>> liberal, Green, Libertarian,  and an entire host of other views, where
>> appropriate, on numerous occasions. I hold a simple belief: my mission is
>to
>> stimulate the mind, not indoctrinate.  Perhaps mistakenly, I believed
>> something similar of the ALSB.
>>
>> It's funny, too, that I thought one reason for the law was to ensure free
>> discourse.  Come to think of it, I thought free exchange of ideas was one
>of
>> the basic tenets of university life.  Perhaps in my twenty years of
>> university-level teaching law I missed something.
>>
>>
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Professor Laura Ginger [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>> > Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 4:46 PM
>> > To:   [log in to unmask]
>> > Subject:      Re: Ashcroft
>> >
>> > I feel compelled to say that I am opposed to inviting Ashcroft to speak
>> > due to his reprehensible views on various issues.  I think it would be
>an
>> > affront to our black colleagues, not to mention women and GLB members of
>> > our organization.  I would never attend any session at which he appeared
>> > and would feel ashamed if our organization hosted him for anything.  I
>> > have not seen this view expressed to date in this series of messages but
>I
>> > know that I am not the only person who is reacting this way to the idea.
>>
>
Frank Cross
Herbert D. Kelleher Centennial Professor of Business Law
CBA 5.202
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712