The Legal Beat

Welcome To Emory Law School — It’s Been 0 Days Since We Last Used The N-Word In Class
Posted on Monday September 16, 2019

Reset the clock!

Honestly, it was just FRIDAY when we last wrote an article about Emory Law School’s casual N-Word habit. The most recent incident — separate and apart from the professor who dropped it twice last year — involved an adjunct using the term in the context of discussing Native Americans. A BLSA report claimed he used it while quoting someone whom he said he was personally upset by. That’s slightly distinct from the account of the professor, Robert Saunooke. Saunooke, the president of the National Native American Bar Association, says he used the term in recounting the application of the epithet to indigenous peoples.

In either event, he’s been roundly apologetic since the incident, noting that even though he was recounting a slur directed toward his people, that doesn’t mean it’s not hurtful toward others in the class, which is the best one can hope for.

Well, actually, the best one could hope for is professors to not drop racial slurs in an academic setting, but given that we’re here, Saunooke is handling it well.

Unfortunately, we can’t call this the most recent incident anymore because Emory Law School told the National Law Journal that they’re already investigating another incident that apparently happened around the same time. The school has said nothing more about that incident.

Seriously, get it together, Emory! This seems like the sort of problem that a school wouldn’t have when a tenured professor is already facing possible termination in an effort helmed by the former interim dean. One might think this problem would be more “top of mind” under the circumstances.

Emory Investigating Reports That 2 More Law Profs Used Racial Slur in Class [National Law Journal]

Earlier: Why Can’t Emory Law School Professors Stop Using The N-Word All The Time?
Law School Professor Drops The N-Word In The First Week Of Class
Law School Professor Who Dropped The N-Word In Class Is Back At It
Law Professor Drops Racial Slur In Class Because Otherwise How Will Black Students Ever Learn About Racism?

Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.

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