The Daily Mississippian reports that both its online polling and its interviewing around campus indicate general and lasting unhappiness with Chancellor Robert Khayat’s pro-Dickie letter to Judge Biggers, written on University letterhead.
The DM’s reporters did their best to find professors willing to comment on-the-record — but with only one exception (and that hedged), they got nuttin’. This makes the editorial board mad.
If Dickie Scrugg’s bribery conviction is something Kyahat finds forgivable, then Kyahat needs to resign. This letter and use of the letterhead is an example of the kind of good ole boy system that allowed Minor and Scruggs and the others to think no one could find them guilty of bribing of Mississippi judges. I wonder if Kyahat would be as supportive of reparations to those who were wronged by the bribery schemes.
From the DM editorial:
“Our constitutional guarantee to freedom of speech is one of the most paramount American values….” and “We the people of this university deserve the right to express our opinions freely without fear of retaliation….”
The faculty will not speak to the DM on-the-record because they are aware that at least one professor has previously been personally threatened by Chancellor Khayat for speaking—not negatively, but in a questioning manner— to the DM about his administration. Loyalty is the trait most admired–maybe even required–by Khayat, and one who speaks against him or his administration is considered to be not loyal, thus not wanted. The faculty is very aware of this “requirement.”
Supremes still taking their sweets on the disbarments too, I see.