Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Mukasey and BC Law School

The Boston Globe is reporting that Boston College Law School has decided not to award the Founder's Medal, its highest honor, to Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey when he speaks at its May commencement ceremony. The decision was announced on Tuesday by Dean John Garvey at a meeting with graduating students. The invitation to Mukasey has been criticized by BC alumni and students because of his "controversial refusal to declare that an interrogation technique known as waterboarding constitutes torture." In the future, the graduation speaker will not necessarily receive the Founder's Medal, which is "awarded to those who 'embody the traditions of professionalism, scholarship, and service which the Law School seeks to instill in its students.'" One alumnus stated that he was glad Mukasey would not receive the Medal, but feels that BC should have withdrawn the invitation "because his position on waterboarding conflicts with the university's Jesuit mission."

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