After being reinstated on technical grounds, Ilya Shapiro decided to resign from his position at Georgetown University Law Center Monday morning.
He wrote to Dean William M. Treanor, “Although it was a great feeling to celebrate my technical victory in Wall Street Journal,” and added that further analysis showed that he’s made it impossible for him to perform the duties of his appointed post.
The Foundation for Individual Rights In Education reported that Shapiro was under investigation before he intended to begin at the university as an executive Director and senior lecturer. This was due to a tweet about President Joe Biden’s potential Supreme Court picks. The investigation revealed that he had tweeted it before he started working at the university.
He tweeted, “Objectively the best pick for Biden was Sri Srinivasa. He is solid [progressive] but also [very] smart.” He even enjoys the identity politics benefit of being the first Asian (Indian-American) American. Alas, he doesn’t fit in the latest intersectionality hierarchy so we won’t get fewer black women. “Thank heaven for small favors!”
Shapiro also tweeted a poll asking whether Biden was racist or sexist. He noted that if a president nominates someone based on their race or gender, it will “always have an asterisk attached.”
He outlined the specific issues surrounding his reinstatement, including Georgetown’s Institutional Diversity, Equity & Affirmative Action Report on the situation and whether strict speech rules could be enforced. To show that Georgetown is not consistent in its investigation, he even quoted politically charged tweets from fellow professors.
“Under the reasoning in the IDEAA Report, no objective textual analysis even matters. According to the report, “The University’s Anti-Harassment Policy does not require that respondents intend to denigrate, show hostility, or aversion towards individuals based upon a protected status.” The Policy, however, requires that I consider the ‘purpose and effect’ of my conduct.
“Ironically, you and IDEAA have created an unacceptable work environment for me because of my political views.
A succinct resignation letter from Shapiro sends a clear message to academics, but it won’t be understood by all who need it.
