Editorial: Marquette O'Brien decision shames Jesuit values

When the public became aware of Marquette University's retraction of its job offer to Seattle University professor Jodi O'Brien, Marquette U officials said the basis for their decision was that O'Brien's academic writings were contrary to the university's Jesuit Catholic values. O'Brien's research focuses on sexuality and contains some graphic accounts of homosexual sex.

"We found some strongly negative statements about marriage and family," Marquette President Robert Wild, S.J. told The New York Times.

But that's not the exact reason why Marquette University leadership rescinded its offer to O'Brien. It's simply an excuse—and a poorly chosen one at that.

Marquette U and its search committee wanted Jodi O'Brien to be its dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The proof lies in a search committee that did, in fact, vet O'Brien's academic work. Its desire for O'Brien to be dean also shows in the history of Marquette's search, in which she was asked to apply twice over the course of two years. O'Brien's commitment to Jesuit education is evident in her cover letter, which states she would only consider a dean position at a Jesuit university.

O'Brien told The Spectator that "I think the president [of Marquette] is responding to people who are concerned with what I represent." And she added that Wild told her he was worried she would struggle as dean with "too much distraction from people external to the university who did not support my appointment."

O'Brien's statements were confirmed early Wednesday when the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki and Fr. Paul Hartmann, the archdiocese's judicial vicar, expressed concerns about O'Brien, including that she "pursues subject matter that seems destined to actually create dichotomies and cause tensions (if not contradictions) with Marquette's Catholic mission and identity."

As much as Wild claims it's not about outside influence, the reality is he caved to that pressure after O'Brien had already signed a contract and accepted. Wild's veto and lies were cowardly and unethical.

The decision compromised not only Marquette's academic freedom, but its institutional integrity and independence. Marquette is governed by a board of trustees, not the archdiocese or the greater Catholic community. Giving in to these misguided voices demonstrates that Jesuit values should only be upheld when it's easy and won't upset others.

This was a decision that deserves condemnation from fellow Jesuit universities. It threatens their decision-making and autonomy while portraying Jesuit Catholic education exactly as it isn't: intolerant.

By claiming her writings conflicted with university values, Marquette leaders also insulted sister school Seattle University.

O'Brien is Seattle U's Louis B. Gaffney Endowed Chair, a position reserved for a faculty member who embodies and works to promote the Jesuit mission, according to Arts and Sciences Dean David Powers. By claiming her writings didn't align with Jesuit Catholic values, Marquette boldly undermined Seattle U's judgment and firsthand experience of O'Brien's work.

University administrators at Seattle University have been quiet except for noncommittal statements praising O'Brien when the right thing to do is stand by Seattle U and its current Gaffney Endowed Chair. Administrators should voice their interpretation, which we see in practice here at Seattle U, of academic and institutional freedom as well as Jesuit Catholic values.

Reach the editorial board at opinion@su-spectator.com