Penn Law Professor Amy Wax Suspended for Misconduct

The University of Pennsylvania has suspended law professor Amy Wax for one year at half-pay due to her repeated unprofessional conduct regarding race-related comments, including questioning the academic performance of Black students and inviting a white nationalist to speak in class. In addition to the suspension, Wax will lose her named chair and summer pay permanently, and she must clarify that her views do not represent the university. The administration stated that her behavior breached the responsibilities of offering equal learning opportunities to all students, leading to concerns over her impartiality. Wax has characterized the university's actions as an attempt to silence conservative voices on campus and has stated that the allegations against her are unfounded. Provost John L. Jackson emphasized the importance of assessing all students fairly, while Wax’s future at the university remains uncertain, with potential legal actions hinted by her. This situation reflects ongoing tensions between academic freedom and institutional accountability in higher education.