Marquette U. Professors Criticize Withdrawal of Job Offer to Lesbian Scholar

Marquette University has withdrawn an employment offer it made to a prospective new dean for its College of Arts and Sciences, provoking sharp criticism from several faculty members who see the move as a blow to academic freedom and diversity at the Jesuit institution, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The rejected hiree, Jodi O’Brien, is a sociologist at Seattle University and a lesbian who has written about gender and sexual-identity issues. A university spokeswoman said the withdrawal was not about the quality of Ms. O’Brien’s scholarly work or her sexual identity, but about how some of her writings related “to Catholic mission and identity.” Faculty critics are not convinced. Nancy E. Snow, a philosophy professor, said she believes the move is “all about her sexual orientation” and was motivated by fears of upsetting donors.

In an e-mail message to the Associated Press, Ms. O’Brien said, “At this time the only comment I can offer is to confirm that I was offered the position of dean and I accepted it, but there was an intercession by the president before my appointment was announced officially.”