George Mason University’s president said the school will not change course on its hiring of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, despite pushback from students.
“Even if the outcome is painful, what’s at stake is very, very important for the integrity of the university,” Angel Cabrera told students Tuesday, according to the Huffington Post.
The comment received audible gasps.
Kavanaugh has a three-year contract with the university to teach a summer course at its England campus. Kavanaugh had a contentious confirmation hearing after he was accused by California professor Christine Blasey Ford of sexual assault when the two were in high school. Kavanaugh has denied the allegation.
The student government and student group Mason for Survivors organized the town hall after protests, an ad campaign, and a petition opposing the hire received more than 10,000 signatures.
Cabrera took vetted questions from the students, some of whom shared personal stories of being sexually assaulted during a portion of the event not open to the public. When the public was allowed in, Cabrera defended the university’s decision to hire Kavanaugh.
Provost S. David Wu said it was the law school’s decision to hire him and there was “no reason for university administrators to override” that decision. Cabrera said the law school should have the ability to hire whoever it wants.
“Even if in this particular case the outcome is one that you deeply disagree with, the process by which these decisions are made and the reason why we are so firm in defending them is actually essential to the way a university like ours operates,” Cabrera said.
