Amidst controversy, student petitions and negative press, former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Robert Orr has rescinded his proposal for a Constitutional Law Center to be housed at N.C. Central University.
"They didn't want to do it," Orr said in response to why he withdrew the offer.
The proposal, which was made in an August 19 letter from Orr, called for the law center to be built with $600,000 in start-up funds from the John W. Pope Foundation.
The center drew negative reviews in part because of its connection to the Pope Foundation which is headed by Republican Art Pope, a controversial conservative who owns Variety wholesalers, parent company of discount chains, Roses and Maxway.
Pope provided funding to the campaigns of conservatives aiming to restructure the the Wake County School District, a restructuring many say will reintroduce segregation into the district.
Pope played a significant role funding the conservative takeover of the N.C. General Assembly.
On Monday night, The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC) highlighted the role Pope may play in the 2012 presidential elections, a role that will prove crucial since North Carolina is expected to be a key swing state in the election.
"This time he is going to pull out all the stops," said BlueNC blogger James Protzman. "He has a model and it works … it worked in 08 and 10."
Pope's conservative leanings had law school alumni and current students so concerned that they sent letters and a petition to NCCU law school dean Raymond Pierce opposing the proposed law center.
In the petition, titled "Prevent the Radical Right, Tea Party Financier Art Pope from meddling with the curriculum, Mission and Legacy of NCCU School of Law," students questioned the authenticity of the offer, and expressed concern that there may be strings attached.
The petition was blunt:
"We fear that the controversial and divisive background of Art Pope will tarnish our school's image and contradict the mission and legacy of NCCU School of Law."
Orr withdrew the proposal in a Sept. 27 letter to the Pierce and Law School Associate Dean Wendy Scott, even before the faculty committee voted on whether or not to accept or deny the center.
In the letter Orr says he appreciates their positive response to the proposal, but notes that "there have been unfortunate misapprehensions about the governance and mission of such a center."
Law school dean Raymond Pierce could not be reached for comment on this story. "I think it's a loss for the school and a loss for the students," said Orr.
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