Overview
- The University of Arkansas confirmed on Jan. 14 that it withdrew its offer to Emily Suski less than a week after announcing her as the next law school dean.
- Interviews and records show Senate leaders Bart Hester and Dan Sullivan contacted university officials over Suski’s scholarship, including her signature on a brief in Supreme Court cases on transgender athletes.
- Hester said he personally urged the rescission and referenced legislative control over funding, while the provost said the school would go in a different direction after stakeholder feedback.
- Suski said the decision reflected outside influence rather than her qualifications, and the ACLU of Arkansas and FIRE warned the action could chill faculty speech.
- The governor’s office praised the reversal as benefiting students, as law professors and the Arkansas Bar Association raised concerns about academic freedom and lawyers’ professional duties.