April 13, 2007

What\'s reason behind law dean\'s exit?

Columnist Laura Berman writes about Frank Wu\'s announced resignation this week as dean of Wayne State's Law School. Officially, Berman writes, he offered the explanation that his wife, Carol Izumi, a Georgetown University Law School dean, had health problems. Izumi, who has lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, underwent wrist surgery and will have another operation next month. Increasingly, she needs more help than a commuting husband 500 miles away can provide, he says. Berman points out that Wu\'s announcement also came close on the heels of the news that the Wayne State law school had been downgraded -- from Tier 3 to Tier 4 status -- by U.S. News & World Report. She writes that Wu persuasively argues that this status will be short-lived, he also says he needs to take responsibility for the problem." Berman further writes that the passage of Proposal 2 that "Wu fought with considerable eloquence and visible, public passion on radio talk shows, at public forums - wherever he could," is also "a factor." \"I love the law school. And what I will regret the most is not (the U.S. News & World Report problem) but the likely lack of diversity\" now and in the future, Wu says. A photo of Wu is included.

Subscribe to Today@Wayne

Direct to your inbox each week

Related articles