Overview
- Less than a week after announcing Emily Suski as its next law school dean, the university said it would go a different direction following feedback from key external stakeholders.
- University officials declined to detail the feedback, while the school’s statement said they continue to hold Suski in high regard and wished her well.
- Democratic Rep. Nicole Clowney said several lawmakers and at least one constitutional officer objected to Suski’s hiring and threatened funding cuts after learning of her amicus brief support.
- Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester said he urged the university to withdraw the offer over Suski’s positions, including her support for transgender athletes, while denying he issued explicit funding threats.
- Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office and Attorney General Tim Griffin praised the reversal, as the ACLU of Arkansas condemned it as unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination and retaliation against protected speech.