By Segan Helle
According to an email sent to students at Harvard Law School (HLS) on Monday evening, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh will not be returning to his position as a lecturer in January 2019. In the email, Dean Catherine Claypoole announced that Kavanaugh informed HLS that he could “no longer commit to teaching his course.” The official reason that Kavanaugh has decided not to return has not been confirmed.
This announcement follows a larger student movement at both HLS and the College calling for Harvard to rescind his lectureship. A letter circulating around HLS alumni with over 860 signatures called upon HLS Dean John Manning to “send a clear message that it takes sexual violence seriously” by cutting ties with Kavanaugh, who faces sexual assault allegations by multiple women, including Dr. Christine Blasey Ford who testified against him in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. Students at HLS are also asking for Harvard to launch its own investigation into sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh.
A concurrent campaign being spread around the College called for students to file formal complaints against Kavanaugh with the Office of Dispute Resolution, instructing them to inform administration that Kavanaugh’s presence at HLS would “create a hostile environment for students” in light of the accusations against him.
Segan Helle (shelle@college.harvard.edu) writes news and features stories about campus life and politics.