Harvard Law Professor Representing Harvey Weinstein Is Removed as Faculty Dean


Professor Ronald Sullivan and his wife Stephanie Robinson, will no longer be faculty deans of Winthrop House, one of 12 undergraduate residential houses at the college. The reason is that the professor was part of the legal team defending former movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein, whose downfall helped launch the #MeToo movement. The decision to represent a high-profile defendant in a rape and assault case riled Harvard’s campus where sexual assault and harassment have become a major issue. The couple are the first black faculty deans in Harvard’s history. -GEG

A Harvard University law professor who faced criticism on campus for representing Harvey Weinstein in his sexual assault trial is being relieved of his position as faculty dean of an undergraduate house.Professor
Ronald S. Sullivan Jr. and his wife, Harvard law lecturer Stephanie
Robinson, will no longer be faculty deans of Winthrop House — one of 12
undergraduate residential houses at the Boston-area university — after
their term ends June 30, Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana said.

Harvard professor representing Harvey Weinstein says people deemed ‘vile’ deserve defenseThe couple are the first black faculty deans in Harvard’s history.

Khurana, in a letter explaining his decision not to renew the couple’s deanships, wrote generally about a deteriorating climate in the 400-student house but did not specify the underlying issue.

“Over the last few weeks, students and staff have continued to communicate concerns about the climate in Winthrop House to the college. The concerns expressed have been serious and numerous,” Khurana wrote.

“This decision in no way lessens my gratitude to them for their contributions to the college.”Sullivan made waves on campus in January when he decided to represent Weinstein, the former movie mogul whose downfall helped launch the #MeToo movement.

Sullivan and Robinson reacted to the decision in a statement to CNN:”We are surprised and dismayed by the action Harvard announced today. We believed the discussions we were having with high level University representatives were progressing in a positive manner, but Harvard unilaterally ended those talks. We will now take some time to process Harvard’s actions and consider our options. We are sorry that Harvard’s actions and the controversy surrounding us has contributed to the stress on Winthrop students at this already stressful time.”

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