More on Miami Law's Dean Firing Fiasco....

Just heard from a source: a faculty committee at Miami is hurriedly soliciting internal and external candidates from faculty contacts for a one or two year interim dean position. One of the candidates approached told me that would be akin to crossing a picket line and academia is no more sacred a place than a field of grapes--either way it didn't feel right to that candidate. Sadly, given the nature of our profession, the ambition many of us possess, and how rare these lucrative these jobs can be, I suspect UM will get a fair number of both internal and external candidates. 

My question is whether this effort will be yet another UM fumble, or merely the powerful prevailing:

 

Comments

[M. Harrison]

Perhaps the decision to remove Dean Varona was in the best interests of the law school. Perhaps it wasn't. Regardless, a law school cannot operate without a dean and so of course there is now a search and an appointment will be made. Individuals can decide whether or not they want to be considered for the position (and the circumstances of Dean Varona's removal will obviously be a relevant factor to many prospective candidates). But to embrace the idea that -nobody- should be interested and that all of this is just a picket line or other theater is to be profoundly mistaken about the responsibilities of an institution to its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and broader community.

[AnonProf]

Personally, I cannot imagine anyone wanting to be dean at a University that behaves in this manner even if you do reject the picket line analogy.

[Ediberto Roman]

Good arguments Harrison--made me ponder them. My question: who create this situation? Should those that are offended by merely know their place? AnonProf, once again, we agree--terrifying to each of us,, I am sure!!!

[House of wax]

This really is a fiasco. Maybe there are power hungry people out there, but I would think most (good, competent) candidates would be wary of jumping into the middle of a situation like this.