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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 1982)
By Jonathan Siegle Photos by Dave Kao Controversy has fol lowed Derrick Bell, dean of the law school, since his arrival in Oregon There was the FBI flap last year and the crisis over the Environmental Law Center Lately he's received more attention over the reporting of his comments to the black alumni. He’s not happy with all the attention "I think I've had more expo sure in the press than the president (Olum),” he says. But that is the result of speaking out on unpopular is sues "A substantial part of being controversial is to have views that most people have and be willing to express them in contexts that it's not in your best interest to do so. And at some risk.” He does not seek con troversy, but it may be una voidable. Causes raise eyebrows — some of approval, some of disapproval — Bell says "To speak out on con troversial issues, to take un popular stands,” he says, "is to raise some questions ” Yet Bell is no radical. Many of his concerns are what one would expect from a lawyer — civil liberties issues, privacy issues It is this, however, that makes Bell controversial. "To express and support a policy people think is fair creates consternation, even when you’re clearly working in people's interests.” And he surely isn't back ing off, although he does wish some of the attention would go away Bell knows there are many in Oregon who would prefer he leave, just as there ca ■ c i ■ i a 11 y tti iw die v^iau he’s here Hiring him was “a smart move, and it did take some courage I told them in advance that I wasn’t one of those professionals who just happens to be black.” He took the job and did not "disappear into the woodwork of regularity." There are those, Bell says, who believe "It’s a great thing the law school appointed you as dean. Be appreciative, and don’t make waves." Don’t make waves "Everybody would rather get along with people Most of us take an awful lot in order to get along, which is especially true of blacks.” Don’t make waves “Americans are a people comfortable with the status quo.” Don't make waves “Fade into the background Be more neutral ” Bell is proud of his tenure as dean of the School of Law He admits, however, to not being “an administrative genius I kind of drop the ball the whole time." “I have a sense that enterprises I am involved with are going to do well Effort on my part will be rewarded We were able to add LEXUS We’ve got computers now, a number of improvements Visitors want to stay.” "I’d like to have a decent budget, but the absence of a decent budget and the pressures from outside create an environment where people want to stay together,” Bell says “Seven members of our «na mere are as many books in process for publica tion next year. It’s astound ing,” he says Unlike Harvard, our people get very little support tor writing But good teaching makes good writing and vice versa It’s a circular ef fort.” "I can’t take credit for that " The law school is improving its national image, Bell says "I think that reputation is a subjective thing Reputation is based on the age of the school, its size and the amount of money it has to spend. Reputation is separable from the quality of education, and you have to deal with it that way. A quality reputation attracts better students ” "Impressive folk are applying to teach at Oregon,” he says "Add the budgetary problems, and it's quite amazing .” Bell says at other law schools the dean stays an average of three years He would like to equal the six-year tenure of his two predecessors, then move on but not as a dean "One of these is enough But I’d like to fill out the same term and build on their good work " Bell, his wife Jewell, and his three sons came to Eugene from Harvard, where he was on the faculty Living in Ore gon, he has faced some problems, "but to a different degree Boston is one of the most racist cities, even now It's just an awful place Oregon was a relief to living in Bos ton " "If I hadn't lived in cities like w New York, Chicago, I would not appreciate what Eu ^^^gene has But Oregon ians aren’t used to seeing too many black people an me lime, uui you jusi wish you didn’t have to when you go out to have a good time," Bell says “I can't say I haven't been affected by the racial compo sition of the state But you've got to take the bitter with the better " Bell admits it's easier for him as dean of the law school than other blacks. "Whites are very class conscious There's a lot of class base to racial dis crimination In our travels people have been kind and helpful " He also admits he ignores the lesser hassles "People have no sense of what they’re saying, so you let it pass " When Bell was hired, colleagues back east suggest ed perhaps he was retiring He disputes that "It's not an anomaly for a civil rights attorney to come out and be dean of a virtually all-white law school in a virtually all-white state Since I ve been here I've been more outspoken than ever before." Coming to Oregon may prove to be the best thing for him and the state He challenged the legal profes sion when he suggested Portland attorneys would prefer representing murderers and thieves to the Black United Front He's challenged the in stitution of law school when he suggested great similarities exist between law students and slaves He's brought attention to important issues and recognition to the School of Law r Derrick Bell, dean of the University's taw school, is widely known tor his pursuit of civil rights causes, yet he has found time to improve the law school during hts tenure nope. Bell says, "the final evaluation is that it will be good for me and good for the school "
