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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Ind. Law - Flagrant Age Discrimination at IU-Indy School of Law?

The blog Concurring Opinions had this post yesterday from IU-Indy law prof Gerard Magliocca:

I am not in the habit of criticizing my employer, but here goes. Indiana University has a policy holding that the deans of individual schools on campus must retire at 65. In the past, this policy was rarely enforced, but the current President — Michael McRobbie — has decided to enforce the policy strictly. This mindless age discrimination now threatens to force out my dean (who is doing a fine job) despite assurances given when he was hired three years ago that he would not be subject to this age limit.

I think that a serious inquiry should be undertaken to determine whether President McRobbie and IU are in violation of the ADEA. Even if that is not the case, I think the President’s behavior is shameful and sends a clear message to campus that senior faculty are not welcome.

Gary R. Roberts is the Dean and Gerald L. Bepko Professor of Law at Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis. Here is the ILB entry from Jan. 20, 2007 announcing his appointment. The story includes:
Roberts, 58, will be paid $259,000 a year when he replaces interim Dean Susanah M. Mead on July 1.
That means Roberts has been dean a little over 2 years and will be 61 soon, if not already.

Roberts sent an e-mail to the law school faculty late yesterday, letting them know he was being interviewed for the Deanship at Denver. A quote:

When I interviewed here and accepted this dean’s job, I believed and expected that I would finish my career here by being dean for at least 10 years, a period I believed, and still believe, to be essential for accomplishing the strategic and resource development goals that this school must meet.
What does this portend for IU Law's future? One prof writes:
It could make it difficult for us to hire someone in the future. The person cannot not much over 50 if they want to be a Dean for awhile.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 29, 2009 09:20 AM
Posted to Indiana Law