Multiple Law students have filed reports against University Law Prof. Doug Leslie, accusing him of making offensive comments, using harsh language and giving preferential treatment to particular students. An investigation about the concerns is now underway, Law School Dean Paul Mahoney said.
In recent days, the accusations have become the subject of some conversation among many Law students, as Leslie sent a mass e-mail to his students encouraging them to voice their opinions to Academic Assoc. Dean Jim Ryan. Leslie declined to comment further about the proceedings, but referred The Cavalier Daily to a copy of the e-mail. According to that copy, several former students cited the professor for inappropriate behavior.
“I am alleged to discriminate against African Americans by not allowing them to talk in class or by failing to accord them respect when they do,” Leslie stated in the e-mail. “I am alleged to be anti-Jewish. I am alleged to use sexually-charged, inappropriate hypotheticals in class. Finally, I am rude.”
Mahoney said a couple of students from Leslie’s Contracts class last fall “approached Jim Ryan and expressed concern about offensive statements they said the professor made in class.”
After hearing the report, Mahoney said he held a meeting with Leslie. Mahoney said the Law School’s investigation of the matter is ongoing and noted that his office has not yet reached a conclusion about the accusations.
“Of course if a student raises a concern about a professor’s classroom behavior, we would always investigate that,” the dean said, later adding that, “Occasionally a student will complain about statements in class. Typically the matter seems to be sufficiently small and contained that it can be addressed more informally.”
Mahoney also noted, though, that he is not yet comfortable talking about specific case details.
In response to the allegations, Leslie stated in his e-mail that he has taken two immediate steps to remedy the situation.
First, Leslie said, “I have announced in class that I will no longer cold-call, but will only take volunteers. This will avoid the allegation that I do not call on African-Americans, although it will not avoid the treating with respect issue.”
Second, Leslie said, “I have also begun to audio-record all my classes, so that hypotheticals or other remarks made by me [cannot] be inaccurately reported.”
Should the ongoing investigation find Leslie to have committed any wrongdoing, however, Leslie’s teaching assignments, including his current Contracts class — a required first-year class in which students are unable to choose the professor with whom they take the course — likely would change hands, Mahoney said. Leslie could still be allowed to teach other classes, Mahoney added.
Since the accusations became public, Law students have responded both positively and negatively to the concerns raised about Leslie’s teaching.
One former student of Leslie’s, who wished to remain anonymous, said although Leslie uses “arguably racist and misogynistic hypotheticals,” his main complaint about Leslie is his alleged favoritism. The student said Leslie uses a system of favoritism when distributing grades and claimed that Leslie’s tenure status makes the professor feel justified in doing so.
Leslie “should be forced to demonstrate the integrity of his allegedly objective grading formula,” the student said.
Third-year Law student Carey Mignerey, however, said he believes that “first-years, perhaps in their discomfort with Law School, have overreacted.”
He added that, if someone were to read snippets of a class transcript out of context, it is “conceivable that you could read things that at first blush would appear inappropriate.” However, he said he has never perceived an uncomfortable atmosphere in Leslie’s class.
Third-year Law student Paul Martin also denied the claims.
“I have never ever once in all four classes [with Leslie] heard him say anything that could possibly be construed as racist, sexist or religious bigotry,” he said.
Mahoney noted that the Law School usually receives complaints through student evaluations completed at the end of each semester. In recent years, though, he said there have been very few completed course evaluations from Leslie’s class in comparison to other teachers’. The investigation into the matter is ongoing, Mahoney said, as the Law School is now taking steps to look into each of the claims against Leslie.
“We take student concerns very seriously,” Mahoney said.
Read More
Student Council votes to relocate Hereford orchard and basketball hoop
By Lauren Seeliger | 5 hours agoStudent Council passed a resolution Tuesday to relocate the orchard and basketball hoop of Hereford Residential College due to construction in the surrounding area.
Dean Rucker honored with Z Society’s highest honor, Pale Z Award
By Brendon Bordwine | 22 hours agoThe Society has a storied history of honoring University leaders with the Pale Z.
Students receive free STI testing through U.Va. Health and Wellness
By Jackie Bond | YesterdayThrough funding from Student Council, students are now able to receive free STI testing with SHW which includes tests for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Hepatitis C.
