Displaying items by tag: university of tennessee college of law

Photo illustration by Abeth Stambaugh/Hellbender Press

As UT acts against professor who privately posted hateful things about Charlie Kirk, has law prof with own social blunder gone full apparatchik?

KNOXVILLE — It didn’t take long for the fallout from Charlie Kirk’s murder to land in Big Orange country.

Just five days after Kirk’s life was tragically snuffed out by a sniper’s bullet, the University of Tennessee announced the commencement of termination proceedings against anthropology professor Tamar Shirinian for allegedly making grossly inappropriate comments on social media about Kirk’s killing.

(WBIR reported that a chastened Shirinian has since apologized and implored the university via letter to chancellor Donde Plowman to reconsider its decision.)

First of all — to be resoundingly clear — I’m disgusted by Shirinian’s behavior and don’t feel much sympathy for her. After learning of Kirk’s death, she posted: “The world is better off without him in it. Even those who are claiming to be sad for his wife and kids....like, his kids are better off living in a world without a disgusting psychopath like him and his wife, well, she's a sick f—- for marrying him so I dont care about her feelings.”

Shirinian’s comments were needlessly cruel, grotesque, and misanthropic. Nonetheless, I have some serious questions about how UT has handled this case, and I’ve resolved to pose them even though I fear I may end up in hot water for doing so. This is the Golden Age of Canceling, after all, and I’ve been told since I was a kid that I have a preternatural ability to tick off authority figures. Of course, that also means I’ve had lots of practice basking in stew pots.

With that in mind, let me ask my conservative friends how they would react if some Far Left, “woke” professor had watched footage of the crowd gathered around the capitol on January 6, 2021, and tweeted the following message to nearby motorists: “Run them down!” 

ELO is a student-run organization at the University of Tennessee College of Law. It is not directly affiliated with the University of Tennesse or any particular non-profit organization. It is dedicated to providing students and attorneys with learning opportunities and leadership experiences.

Networking environmental leaders across Appalachia and the State of Tennessee

Knoxville — APIEL is a relative newcomer to the small circle of inclusive U.S. public interest environmental law conferences. Because it is organized by law school student volunteers, APIEL is affordable to attend for citizens from all walks of life. Students are free!

APIEL is much loved and considered essential by regional nonprofit leaders and activists. It is also highly acclaimed by seasoned environmental lawyers. With just 13 conferences under its belt, APIEL has risen to rank among leading peer conferences with a much longer track record, such as the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) at the University of Oregon School of Law (41 events), the Red Clay Conference at the University of Georgia School of Law (35) and the Public Interest Environmental Conference (PIEC) at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law (29).

ELO is a student-run organization at the University of Tennessee College of Law. It is not directly affiliated with the University of Tennesse or any particular non-profit organization. It is dedicated to providing students and attorneys with learning opportunities and leadership experiences.

Networking environmental leaders across Appalachia and the State of Tennessee

Knoxville — APIEL is a relative newcomer to the small circle of inclusive U.S. public interest environmental law conferences. Because it is organized by law school student volunteers, APIEL is affordable to attend for students as well as citizens from all walks of life.

APIEL is much loved and considered essential by regional nonprofit leaders and activists. It is also highly acclaimed by seasoned environmental lawyers. With just 12 conferences under its belt, APIEL has risen to rank among leading peer conferences with a much longer track record, such as the  Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) at the University of Oregon School of Law (39 events), the Red Clay Conference at the University of Georgia School of Law (34) and the Public Interest Environmental Conference (PIEC) at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law (28).