Comments on UVA Law Blog: Secret's Out: Cavalier Daily Runs Story On Student...

1:18 PM -

Agreed. In my post at 8:18 AM, ...

2009-03-18T18:33:00.000-04:00

1:18 PM -

Agreed. In my post at 8:18 AM, I meant to suggest more of a connection in the attempt to vindicate oneself in the court of public opinion than in the underlying conduct. As you have pointed out, the latter may bear on the success of the former. Fair enough.

While I think the complaining students are probably overly sensitive, I do not think they are totally off base. Most of us (myself included) probably don't mind crassness on the part of professors in the classroom. It does not mean, however, that people who are offended by it are unreasonable.

I don't think the burden will be as high as you might think. Assuming it's true that he said some of the things he's alleged to have said, I don't think that complaining students will have to prove somehow that his comments were objectively offensive or constituted gross misconduct before the administration will be willing to do something about it.

Anon @ 1:18 PM said:

"I think the accusers...

2009-03-18T13:32:00.000-04:00

Anon @ 1:18 PM said:

"I think the accusers will have a high burden."

I agree. Leslie has invited accusers to plead with more particularity. They should accept the challenge.

As a double hoo, I argue that there is a huge diff...

2009-03-18T13:18:00.000-04:00

As a double hoo, I argue that there is a huge difference between Sofka and Leslie. Sofka’s cavorting with female students occurred in his office and behind closed doors. He was not a tenured professor, blantly hit on Echol scholar girls, and his actions had nothing to do with his academic pursuits. In contrast, Leslie’s alleged comments were in class discussions and can be explained away. Therefore, he will have more leeway by tying them back to his subject matter. Additionally, as a law professor, I think his e-mail made sense. By memorializing a position, sticking to that position and seeming sensitive to the accusations it will show that he is sensitive to the student’s comments. I think the accusers will have a high burden.

I agree with anonymous above. Not surprising thou...

2009-03-18T09:13:00.000-04:00

I agree with anonymous above. Not surprising though - typical behavior of someone who thinks he is invincible and beyond reproach. Leslie needs to be taken down a notch.

Double Hoos out there will recognize this as a tot...

2009-03-18T08:18:00.000-04:00

Double Hoos out there will recognize this as a total rehash of the James Sofka incident. He was alleged to have engaged in inappropriate behavior (granted, Dean Sofka's alleged misconduct was more serious than this matter). Presumably thinking that he would be vindicated by his admiring students, he took the matter into the court of public opinion by turning over the letter he received from President Casteen to the Cavalier Daily, who ran it in the paper.

Rather than rallying students behind him, the public announcement just gave confidence to other students to lodge their own complaints and to make new accusations. It totally backfired. And instead of quietly moving on, without a mar on his record, his name got dragged through the mud on the public record. Not a smart move in my book.