A Yale Law School dean known for her zeal for “diversity, equity and inclusion” and a turbulent history of controversies over free speech and anti-Semitism could become the university's next president.
Heather Gerken, the current dean of Yale Law School, is now in the running to succeed Peter Salovey, five insiders told the Free Beacon.
Gerken is making waves in the world with her track record, which includes shaming a conservative student via email, allowing “woke” students to cancel a speaker, and hiring a coach who claims anti-Semitic hate crimes are exaggerated Race with a lot at stake.
Her relationships with wealthy alumni could also boost her candidacy, a source told the media.
Additionally, in response to Jewish students' concerns following the October 7 Hamas massacre, Gerken had her secretary refer them to counseling centers rather than address anti-Semitism concerns.
Heather Gerken, the current dean of Yale Law School, is now in the running to succeed Peter Salovey, five insiders told the Free Beacon
Gerken was in the spotlight in 2021 when the law school threatened a Native American student named Trent Colbert (pictured) via email and pressured him to apologize for sending a party invitation that described the location as a “trap house.” became.
“I understand that these are extremely challenging times,” Gerken’s chief of staff, Debra Kroszner, wrote in an email to Jewish students who had been personally attacked by students who advocated terrorism and blamed Israel for Hamas’ actions.
Gerken was in the spotlight in 2021 when the law school threatened a Native American student named Trent Colbert via email and pressured him to apologize for sending a party invitation that described the location as a “trap house.”
Colbert was accused of using a word with racist connotations, but the Native American student insisted his email had no such aims.
He reported that he was pressured into an apology by Associate Dean Ellen Cosgrove and Diversity Director Yaseen Eldik, who even prepared a written letter for him to sign.
“I was told that if I didn’t apologize it could escalate. I was told that an apology would make the situation more likely to “go away,” and it was suggested that it would have a lasting impact on my reputation because “the legal community is small,” Colbert wrote in a blog on the website Time.
“The subtext behind the meetings that followed became increasingly clear: apologize or risk the consequences. “They even went so far as to write an apology on my behalf to the Black Law Students Association, which I rejected.”
Colbert was also accused of “triggering” students through his membership in the conservative-leaning Federalist Society.
This led to intense scrutiny and rumors of her possible dismissal as dean – but Gerken survived and now appears to be earmarked for promotion.
Yale's director of diversity and inclusion, Yaseen Eldik, encouraged the student to apologize
The above invitation gave some recipients the impression that it contained anti-racial language
Gerken was also criticized for failing to take action against students who violated free speech guidelines by yelling at conservative speaker Kristen Waggoner.
In the incident, Yale law students disrupted a free speech event where conservative speakers were threatened and a riot broke out.
Gerken was condemned for failing to impose consequences on the students involved, which some called a “terrible precedent.”
Gerken also had a bizarre public altercation with outspoken professor Amy Chua before stripping her of her teaching post after she was accused of hosting a dinner party during the pandemic.
She then allegedly pressured two students into making false statements, which led to settlements for undisclosed amounts.
In another controversial move, Gerken hired diversity trainer Ericka Hart, who argues that the FBI is intentionally increasing the number of anti-Semitic hate crimes.
This decision was part of the law school's broader efforts to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion programs into all aspects of education.
Despite these controversies, Gerken is on the radar of Yale's presidential election commission, according to Beacon.
It is unclear how many candidates are being considered, but some sources say Gerken is the frontrunner, according to the medium.
Two faculty members told the Free Beacon that Gerken was being considered based on second-hand knowledge of the “search process.”
The aftermath of scandals in which other Ivy League presidents lost their jobs due to mistreatment of anti-Semitism is compounding the question of the selection process (pictured: former Harvard president Claudine Gay)
Her connections with wealthy alumni could boost her candidacy, one student told the outlet, emphasizing the role of fundraising in the selection process.
Notably, the wealthy alumni with whom she is said to have ties include Alibaba Group Chairman Joseph Tsai and Blackstone CFO Michael Chae, who are reportedly helping her run.
“The donors are one of the reasons the school is taking them seriously,” the source told the Free Beacon.
However, Gerken's prioritization of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, evident in her commitment to anti-racism and controversial decisions in handling campus matters, can create challenges for her, particularly amid intense scrutiny from university leaders.
The aftermath of scandals in which other Ivy League presidents lost their jobs due to mishandling of anti-Semitism further exacerbates the selection process.
While Gerken's bid for the presidency of Yale University is marked by a controversial track record that raises questions about her suitability for the role, the decision ultimately rests with the Yale Corporation, the university's governing body, which will select Salovey's successor.
Two months after George Floyd's death in 2020, Gerken also reportedly issued a school-wide email titled “Yale Law School's Commitment to Anti-Racism.”
In the message, she noted the efforts of “colleagues of color,” particularly Black colleagues, in the fight against racism and racial oppression.
The email outlined several initiatives, including establishing new centers focused on “health equity” and “environmental justice,” appointing a diversity specialist for each law school office and committing to sending one million books to prisons across the country world to bring country.
Gerken was also criticized for failing to take action against students who violated free speech guidelines by yelling at conservative speaker Kristen Waggoner
The students hurled profanities at Wagoner, including one who threatened that they would “literally fight you, bitch.”
Protesters insulted the speaker and chanted “Protect trans kids” and “Shame, shame” throughout the law school building after police officers escorted her and Miller from the building
It also promised an annual course on critical race theory and vowed to “diversify the law school's iconography through portraits, photographs and art.”
She had also refused to display a painting of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, a prominent black law school alumnus, since its gift to Yale in 2019.
However, a portrait of Justice Sonia Sotomayor is reportedly on display in the law school's largest classroom.
“We recognize that our colleagues of color, particularly our Black colleagues, have long done more than their share of unrecognized civic work in the fight against racism and racial oppression,” Gerken wrote to the school in 2021.
The email, first reported by the Free Beacon, also allegedly said it would discourage students from calling the police.
“Law school will teach our community not to demand.” [Yale Police Department] “On-campus support for matters not related to law enforcement,” Gerken wrote. “The Yale Police Department has agreed to work with the law school on a plan to redirect calls from the law school to non-police assistance where possible.”