General Information Staff Subscribe Donor Information Archives Syndicate Chronicle Headlines Other News articles		Northwestern School of Law   Professor Bernardine Dohrn.   Dohrn must go, say NU law school alums Alums pull donations to protest unrepetant terrorist Posted 11-01-2001, 22:58 by David Weigel Her years as a 60s radical didn't hinder Bernardine Dohrn from becoming director of the Children and Family Justice Center at NU's law school, but in the weeks since September 11 they've caused a small revolt among alumni. The furor began when Sean O'Shea, a New York prosecutor and NU '81, reacted angrily to a Wall Street Journal article on Dohrn and her husband Bill Ayers, the founders of a leftist terrorist group called the Weather Underground. According to the Daily Northwestern, O'Shea demanded the return of a $1,000 donation to NU on the grounds that there "should be no room for the talk of law-breaking among the faculty members of a legitimate law school." And O'Shea was not alone. On Oct. 30, four people called the Office of Annual Giving with "very angry" words for Executive Director Tim Case. During the office's normal solicitation that day, one alumnus explicitly stated that he would not donate money while Dohrn was on the faculty. "We never had anything like that before," Case said. "In six years we have not had a alum complain about Prof. Dohrn." Law School Dean David Van Zandt issued a letter of support for Prof. Dohrn, counting off her achievements in the Center and praising her "energy and passion." But O'Shea challenged the notion of a former fugitive teaching law and speculated that her father-in-law's former position on the Board of Trustees may have played a role in her hiring. As reported in the Oct. 19 issue of the Chronicle, Dohrn earned her position at Northwestern only a few years after leaving the FBI's Most Wanted List. The Weather Underground was an outgrowth of Students for a Democratic Society that subscribed to the theory that whites were an oppressive race and the American system needed to be overthrown. The Underground bombed the Capitol in 1971 and the Pentagon in 1972, activities that forced Ayers and Dohrn to go into hiding well into the 1980s. While Medill Prof. Donna Leff pleaded in the Daily Northwestern that angry alums "call [Dohrn] and ask if she currently advocates violence," Dohrn has not answered phone calls or voice messages since September 11. No authorities in the law school will state her reason for avoiding calls. "I don't think this is going to affect her position," Case said. "This is the law school's issue, and there's no indication that they will waver." Email this Article Printer-friendly version Author David Weigel [e-mail] Reader Feedback Post a comment Name E-mail address Subject   Comment Bernadine Dohrn by Joy Andis (waterbearer@attbi.com) on 02-12-2003, 15:40 I hope that EVERYONE that blasts Ms Dohrn for her role in the 60's remembers this: our government at the time was corrupt. What? You weren't around for Watergate? Kent State? Well then, you probably really don't know much about what real freedom means, and you are all just as much a menace as anyone whose ideas differ from yours.because you don't think anyone whose views are different from yours should have a right to exist. THAT was (and is) what the 60's did (or tried to do) for us. I hope that those who weren't around in that time of upheaval don't ever have to worry about their phones being tapped, their families being harrassed, or being denied the basic considerations of civility that is"guaranteed"every American. Hell I remember when it was an acceptable thing to deny women, blacks, and Indians basic human rights. Because of the new right wing, it is now only acceptable to refuse someone their liberties if they are of arabic descent. Maybe the 60's taught me something after all. Define good violence from bad. by Amy (Kapp44017@aol.com) on 03-06-2002, 12:15 I love America because of the freedoms that I have, but I do not condone nor codemn the acts of the Weathermen. I also don't think it's fair to compare the acts of the Weathermen to that of September 11, nor is it right to condemn Ms. Dohrn for attempting change. This will make a lot of people mad, but if you study the early history of America, you will find that even some of our most loved 'founding fathers" were also "radicals". Attempting to elicit change in one's country should be commended. Attempting to hurt people in another country should not - but that's not what she did. I am a pacifist basically, and do not believe in war of any kind. But I do not codemn anyone - even the United States either in their efforts to use war to defend themselves from terrorism. Dohrn a Disgrace by Tim (tmeshgin@aol.com) on 01-24-2002, 16:00 Anyone who thinks Prof. Dohrn is a fit for a lousy law school--let alone a reputable one--is a taco short of a combo platter. To be in any position to train lawyers, you have to be one. Dohrn--a felon--is not a member of the bar and therefore is not lawyer. Given that she is not a lawyer, what qualifies her to teach law at one of the nation's prominent law schools? Resume by Oshama bin Laden (binny@hotmail.com) on 12-30-2001, 10:13 I was wondering if your school was taking applications for law professors. My qualifications include: Hating America, hating the American constitution, hating authority figures, I've killed innocent Americans - and rejoiced afterwards, and I haven't passed the BAR. So I'm sure I'll be hearing from you soon... I'm looking forward to infecting..I mean TEACHING America's children! Perfesser Dohrn by James Howell (jfh3i@home.com) on 12-29-2001, 13:28 Why are the alums mad/surprised that a university would keep a Hate-America type on staff? It is the nature of American universities to Hate America. Bernardine Dohrn by Lil Spilde (plspilde@paulbunyan.net) on 12-29-2001, 10:27 Northwestern Law School's employment of law-breaking, anti American Bernardine Dohrn is akin to a Christian Seminary hiring an athiest to teach their students. Outrage by Craig Marr (camarr@msn.com) on 12-29-2001, 09:27 It seems clear that the law school and Northwestern University are committed to keeping an individual on the law school faculty who by her own words and actions, does not support the constitution and has shown no respect for the rule of law. The only way to end this outrage is for alumni of the University to suspend all contributions until Ms. Dohrn is thrown out into the street where she belongs. Dorhn by Ken Barnett (kenneth_barnett@merck.com) on 12-29-2001, 09:21 This "lady" is an absolute disgrace to your University!! What the hell were you guys thinking allowing a 60's radical terrorist fugitive to teach law students? Does she have the right to hold her ridiculous beliefs in our country? Yes. Should she be spewing her brand of hatred and contempt for our system of justice and way of life to unsuspecting students? Hell No! The Northwestern name has lost all of its luster in my eyes and you should remedy this by relieving the anti-American, faux-lawyer (she isn't even a member of the BAR for crying out loud) Comrade Dohrn from her duties. You guys should be ashamed!! Dismissed by Greta Huegel (ghuegel@aol.com) on 12-29-2001, 08:12 Where is the integrity in this? She is director of the Children and Family Justice Center. Sounds so benign, yet her history is far from benign. She should be forthcoming about her past and how it relates to what she believes today. If her past is any indication, I'd want her far away from any mission to help children and families. dismissed by keith back (wkeithback@hotmail.com) on 12-29-2001, 07:12 what a disgrace to allow dohrn to remain on the faculty at NW. she couldn't pass her bar, and yet she can teach law? NW is getting a major black eye over this. you have an avowed communist that at one time wanted to overthrow democracy in the US, and was on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. what in the world are you thinking? let her go. dismissed by keith back (wkeithback@hotmail.com) on 12-29-2001, 07:11 what a disgrace to allow dohrn to remain on the faculty at NW. she couldn't pass her bar, and yet she can teach law? NW is getting a major black eye over this. you have an avowed communist that at one time wanted to overthrow democracy in the US, and was on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. what in the world are you thinking? let her go. Ridiculous by D Mountain (dmountain@prexar.com) on 12-28-2001, 17:59 This woman has NO business in teaching law. If no bar will allow her in, why was she hired to teach ? Because daddy used to be on the board of trustees ? What nonsense ! I wonder if along with Johnny bin Walker she supports the acts of Sept. 11. Object but don't Bomb by D. Harkins (dkharkins@juno.com) on 12-28-2001, 16:12 I am in disbelief that a "respected" university like Norhwestern would have a criminal on staff, such as Prof. Dohrn. I strongly disagree with this person representing Northwestern, and the message it sends to the legal community. I will protest the only way I can--by never again using the services of a Northwestern attorney, instead of Ms. Dohrn's method of blowing up buildings. How can anyone see this as forgivable or acceptable Job Search by R.D. Jones (UncleRiz@hotmail.com) on 12-28-2001, 15:15 I bet there are several Al-Queda veterans currently looking for employment. Perhaps Northwestern should consider hiring some of these. If not being a bar member and hating the constitution are qualifications for the faculty, I'd say they should all get jobs. traitors by Bill Crowley (bcrow816@attbi.com) on 12-28-2001, 10:25 As a former Chicago Policeman, U. S. Army soldier during the Viet Nam period, Graduate of Loyola Univ, married for 30 years, the father of four grown children, (also a season ticket holder of Northwestern Football), I take offense to these traitors expounding tails of their ugly past which strikes a mean cord against everything decent based on our value system. I do not have a problem with these two expressing their beliefs (as guaranteed by our Constitution), however, I do have a problem with the Northwestern Univ supporting these felons for the University’s gain. I plan to voice my opinion to the University and not financially support their program. Back to top Hosting generously provided by Steadfast Networks.