In the Agora: Turning the Tide at Ave Maria Law School?

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October 02, 2007

Turning the Tide at Ave Maria Law School?

Founded by Domino's mogul Thomas Monaghan and molded in the wake of John Paul's Ex Corde Ecclesia, Ave Maria School of Law embodies the modern identity of what it means to be a Catholic university...until recently, so far as the alumni board of the School is concerned. For the second time, the alumni board has given a vote of "no confidence," calling for the ouster of Dean Bernard Dobranski and Board Chairman Monaghan, who gave more than $50 million to establish the School. At the heart of the imbroglio is Dobranski's and Monaghan's desire to move the School to Naples, Florida, which now appears to be a done deal. Numerous faculty and alumni believe the move will damage the School's nascent reputation (already one of the highest bar passage rates in the country) and alumni support network. Since fall of 2006, the leadership of Ave has selectively silenced faculty who have expressed concern over the leadership of Dobranski and Monaghan.

Many in the Catholic education community are troubled by what has transpired at Ave. The statement issued by the contributing authors of the Mirror of Justice blog perhaps best captures the tenor of those concerned: Not only are the actions of Ave's leadership damaging academic integrity, but also dismantling the Catholic identity and mission of the School. It remains to be seen whether Dobranski and Monaghan will heed the call of their alumni.

Posted by Seth Zirkle at October 2, 2007 12:25 PM

Comments

Dobranski and Monaghan are thugs and will never capitulate. Monaghan has already publicly indicated that he views any objecting group of professors as "terrorists." Not to be negotiated with. He owns the Board and he owns Dobranski. He wants to move the law school to Florida to prop up his flailing unaccredited University in Catholic "Jonestown". Monaghan cares little about the Church or anything else except his own megalomanic dreams.

Don't hold your breath for them to voluntarily do anything to stop the bleeding. Like "raging bull" it's always somebody else's fault that they have problems. And they interpret the only possible explantion for opposition as inspired by the devil and proof that they are doing God's Will. No doubt Monaghan's views are flamed by his demonic -possession-mongering priest,Ave Maria Law School's own chaplain, Michael Orsi, Monaghan's private little Rasputin.

Posted by: Sincere at October 2, 2007 01:33 PM | permalink

While you are completely right about the failure of management concerning AMSL, you're ad hominens and invectives against Monaghan and Father Orsi are simply are catholic bigotry.

Posted by: Alberto Hurtado at October 2, 2007 01:49 PM | permalink

Coverage here:

http://positivelyavemaria.blogspot.com/2007/10/us-expert-in-catholic-social-teaching.html

Posted by: Anonymous at October 4, 2007 12:45 PM | permalink

Anonymous,

I totally agree with Sincere. You need to understand the meaning of non-sequitur and ad hominem. Ad hominem means irrelevant criticisms that have nothing to do with the merits of the issue. In fact your accusation of ad hominem is ad hominem.

Are you paid by Monaghan and his Irish Mafia thugs?

Posted by: Blogger at October 13, 2007 07:00 PM | permalink

October 02, 2007

Turning the Tide at Ave Maria Law School?

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