With Nov. 6 now just days away, no other Stanford professor has been as involved in impacting the outcome of the midterms as Michele Dauber. A prominent law school professor who gained considerable attention from her efforts in the successful recall of Judge Aaron Perksy, there is little question that Dauber’s public persona plays a role in our contemporary politics. Dauber has embraced this by creating the Enough is Enough Voter Project, recognizing that with the attention sexual misconduct allegations have garnered recently, her group can help galvanize the issue to hold elected officials accountable. Perhaps there are benefits in having a professor involved in current politics, as many voices from both the left and right believe academia is losing relevance in our society. However, Dauber’s involvement in the midterm elections raises questions regarding the role of a professor as a political figure.
At Stanford, there are many professors who never hesitate to express their political opinions, and while their opinions tend to skew heavily leftward, there is nothing inherently wrong in any teacher professing their beliefs. Pedagogically, an educator’s goal is to instill in their pupils insight into what they believe will make their students better people for the future. But professors who express their opinions are doing so in their classrooms. Once their political activity exits the confines of academia and could even advance their political careers, I believe the efficacy of their work must be evaluated – which takes us back to Professor Dauber and her nascent political action committee.
Via its website, the Enough is Enough Voter Project “is targeting candidates for public office who – in both public and private life – have turned against women on the issues of sexual harassment or violence against women and children.” Her mission statement is objectively nonpartisan, but the PAC’s actions are not. The organization’s website has singled out six candidates, including a random spotlight on Sen. Ted Cruz (TX), while its Facebook page has singled out additional candidates, all of whom are Republicans, who should be voted out of office. Some of the candidates facing backlash rightfully deserve to lose reelection. However, by ignoring the Democratic officials facing the same allegations, Dauber’s partisanship has undermined her PAC.
The Enough is Enough Voter Project fails to mention U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas (CA-29) even though he faces allegations of drugging and sexually molesting a 16-year old girl. While House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called for an investigation by the House Ethics Committee, none has been conducted, and there is little pressure from the left to do so. In all likelihood, Cardenas will comfortably win reelection. Perhaps the PAC should be reminded of U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-5), the deputy chair of the DNC who faces allegations of emotionally and physically abusing his ex-girlfriend but has maintained united support from the Democratic party. These two politicians are just a small sample of the numerous Democrats facing allegations.
Combating sexual misconduct is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue. In fact, nearly an identical number of politicians on both sides have faced allegations. Instead, it’s about preventing predators from taking advantage of and unfairly using people in the most heinous of ways. It’s an injustice and quite disappointing that such a salient and nonpartisan issue has been poisoned by the nasty political discourse of our time – and it’s even more saddening to see that a Stanford professor is responsible.
When college campuses like Stanford become echo chambers racing to the far-left corner of the political compass, issues that speak to our decency as humans become trivialized in partisan cage fighting. So to the reader I ask, if this is the outcome of allowing professors to be as freely political as they desire, has a line been crossed?
Contact Christian Giadolor at cgiad123 ‘at’ stanford.edu.