We, current and former members of the central Arkansas Jewish legal community, are speaking out against what we believe to be false and public accusations of antisemitism made against Dean Theresa Beiner of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law by Robert Steinbuch, a Jewish and tenured professor at the law school.
Steinbuch has created a public controversy over an internal, administrative matter. His accusations trivialize actual instances of antisemitism facing the Jewish community, unjustly compromise the reputation of Dean Beiner, and harm the law school.
Professor Steinbuch requested a religious accommodation for future teaching absences to allow observance of Jewish holidays. His request was handled administratively via an interactive process with Steinbuch, Beiner and the Human Resources Department, in accordance with UA policies and the law.
Steinbuch was allowed several ways to make up any missed classes, including in-person, via Zoom, or by using the school's capture system, which permits faculty members to record a class for later viewing. Steinbuch, however, insisted that he was also entitled to arrange for guest speakers. Dean Beiner denied only this option, as having the regular professor rather than guest speakers may further the interest of the students in continuity of instruction.
Steinbuch then publicly accused Beiner of antisemitism, including complaining to the press. Steinbuch filed a grievance with the HR Department against...
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