‘It shouldn’t be up to us’: Law students speak out against Eastman op-ed

The Black Law Students Association and the Diversity Social Justice Forum called upon Chapman administration, students, faculty and staff to speak up when faced with injustice and racially charged rhetoric. Black Student Union, above, held a protest on campus Aug. 30. Panther Archives

The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and the Diversity Social Justice Forum (DSJ) of the Dale E. Fowler School of Law released open letters on their social media accounts this past week, discussing the “chilling” effect Chapman law professor John Eastman’s opinion piece on California Sen. Kamala Harris has on political processes and minority students.

Alexis Jugan, the president of BLSA and an associate editor of DSJ, told The Panther she was disheartened to read Eastman’s opinion on a woman of color’s citizenship. Although upset, she said she wasn't shocked due to a slew of “racially charged” controversies that have adversely influenced the university's reputation. BLSA considered releasing a statement back in late May during the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, but Jugan said Eastman’s article was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“Orange County isn’t known for its diversity and Chapman wasn’t for a very long time. I know they’ve made huge strides in that, so I want to applaud them for that,” she said. “However, it hasn’t been enough. As Black students, it shouldn't be up to us to always speak. It’s a burden that everyone should carry.”

Eastman asserts there are inconsistencies within DSJ’s statement, including the claim that only BIPOC candidates have their citizenship questioned. He cites Texas Senator Ted Cruz and former Arizona Senator John McCain as examples of white men whose presidential eligibility were also questioned.

“I, myself, have been raising the issue of the meaning of the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause for nearly 20 years,” Eastman told The Panther. “The simple fact is that race and color have absolutely nothing to do with the issue. Indeed, the claim by the signers of the letter amounts to a demand that Sen. Harris be exempt from the same kind of inquiry that has been addressed to numerous others merely because she is part Black – that is the racist position, not mine.”

Eastman also argues his query on Harris’ citizenship does not lend itself to “students (questioning) their own identity and place at the law school,” as the DSJ letter states, and said neither himself nor any member of the Chapman faculty speaks as a representative of the university.

As of Sept. 12, neither BLSA nor DSJ have received a response from Chapman administration to their statements, which concerns Jugan that previous efforts made by administration to address the campus climate weren’t genuine.

“I understand there is apprehension with responding to this type of stuff, but at the end of the day, when you’re responsible for your students safety – and that includes mental wellbeing – you can’t sweep this under the rug,” she said. “(President Daniele Struppa’s) statement was only in response to an uproar for a reaction … based on people pushing (his) hand to respond.”

However, despite the administration’s lack of communication, both BLSA and DSJ have received overwhelming support from student peers who are happy to see the two organizations address the university directly. The Thurgood Marshall Bar Association, an Orange County organization “committed to connect, support and increase the Black legal community,” has even shared BLSA’s open letter on their website. Multiple Chapman law associations and societies, like the Student Bar Association (SBA) have also signed off on DSJ’s letter.

“SBA represents our entire student body … A large portion of our students have been hurt or frustrated as a result of the op-ed,” said Tim Schuler, the president of SBA. “The correct action here is to join and stand in solidarity with them.”

Eastman shouldn’t be publicly condemned or fired for expressing his freedom of speech, Jugan asserts, but she believes ignorance should be educated and minority students, faculty and staff shouldn’t be tokenized or used to boost the university’s public depiction of diversity.

“It’s moments like this that speak to whether or not we actually support those who make the campus diverse,” she said. “Until we recognize those who had little say in the matter, we can’t be better as an organization, as a school, as a nation until we address what’s in our own backyard.”