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Miami Law

Miami Law School Community Demands Answers

The University of Miami (UM) law community is seeking answers after the university abruptly fired UM Law Dean Anthony Varona back in May.

On May 24, Varona was asked by UM President Julio Frenk to step down from his dean post starting July 1. President Frenk told students and faculty that new leadership was critical for the law school’s future growth.

Following the firing, faculty have signed an open letter demanding answers and the UM Faculty Senate has unanimously passed a resolution denouncing Dean Varona’s firing, The Miami Hurricane reports.

“The firing of Dean Varona without appropriate faculty input and consultation has severely tarnished the university’s local, national and international reputation,” the Faculty Senate memorandum states. “Moreover this decision threatens to negatively impact hiring, recruitment and accreditation going forward.”

A number of national law groups have also joined the pushback over the decision including the Society of American Law Professors, the Association of American Law Professors and UM’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

UM PRESIDENT OFFERS LIMITED RESPONSE

In response to emails protesting his decision over the firing, UM President Julio Frenk states the following in an email:

“I appreciate your thoughtful letter regarding the School of Law. As we emerge from the challenges of a pandemic, we must recommit to delivering for our students, whose accomplishments we hope will mirror the success of our alumni. To improve the law school’s performance, new leadership is essential.” “Miami Law has my full support in continuing the progress made over the past decade on issues of diversity and inclusion, cutting-edge clinical programs that advance social justice, hemispheric leadership, and scholarship on the law in action.”

In his email statement announcing the firing of Varona, President Frenk highlighted Varona’s issues over fundraising. Yet, Varona has reportedly raised over $8 million during his two years as Dean.

A number of critics have raised speculation around whether Varona, an openly gay man, was fired in part due to his sexual orientation. The law school’s LQBTQ advocacy group, Outlaw, sent a letter including more than 150 alumni signatures demanding transparency over Varona’s firing. In the open letter, faculty members also questioned the reason behind Varona’s dismissal.

“The administration’s only publicly offered reason for firing Miami Law’s first Hispanic, openly gay dean not even two years into his five-year term– namely, that his removal from the deanship as of July 1, 2021 was necessary to fulfill the goals of the university’s capital campaign – raised far more questions than it answered,” faculty state in the letter.

Sources: The Miami Hurricane, TaxProf Blog, Law.com

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