Alan Greenblatt is a GOVERNING correspondent.
E-mail: mailbox@governing.comTwitter: @governing
City Council Weighs in on Torture
John Yoo provided the legal justification and framework for the Bush administration's torture policies as head of the Office of Legal Counsel, but he has since returned to Berkeley as a tenured professor at the university's law school.
Berkeley being Berkeley, his position there has generated controversy. On Monday, the city council will vote on a package of measures targeting Yoo.
One would demand that the U.S. charge Yoo with war crimes. Another would call on the university to provide alternatives to Yoo's courses, so that no student would have to enroll in Yoo's classes if they didn't want to.
A couple of city council members interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle sounded dubious about the latter measure.
"I certainly am not in agreement with this professor's justifications for torture, but this measure seems to fly in the face of a good liberal arts education," said Councilman Laurie Capitelli. "Taking a course from a professor with whom you disagree is a healthy intellectual challenge."
Written and compiled by staff writers and editors, GOVERNING View is an on-the-ground, and sometimes behind-the-scenes, look at the topics we're covering in print and online. From notes on what's up in statehouses, county courthouses and city halls, to encounters with people, places and things, GOVERNING View is a window into the side of state and local government you don't always see.
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved. |