The University of Pennsylvania Law School has officially suspended Professor Amy Wax for one year, citing a series of racially charged remarks and conduct spanning several years. The suspension, which begins in the 2025-2026 academic year, also includes other sanctions such as a reduction of pay, the loss of her named chair, and a permanent cut to her summer compensation. The university’s decision follows a faculty hearing that found Wax guilty of what they termed “flagrant unprofessional conduct.”
Wax has gained notoriety for her controversial comments, including questioning the academic performance of Black students, advocating for a reduction in Asian immigration, and inviting a white nationalist speaker to her class. These actions, according to the faculty board, reflect “sweeping and derogatory generalizations” that have contributed to an unequal educational environment.
In addition to her suspension, Wax will also be required to publicly clarify that her views are her own and do not represent the University of Pennsylvania or its law school. However, despite the severity of the sanctions, Wax retains her tenure, and the university has not moved to dismiss her entirely.
Wax has remained defiant in the face of these consequences. In a statement to the New York Sun, she expressed her intent to continue her role at the law school, characterizing herself as a “conservative presence on campus.” She dismissed accusations of student mistreatment as “totally bogus” and described her suspension as a form of “performance art” by the university, which she claims is motivated by a desire to silence conservative voices.
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The university’s sanctions came after a three-day hearing in May 2023, during which Wax’s behavior was scrutinized. The board pointed to a pattern of discriminatory remarks, not only in public forums but also in her classroom, where she allegedly discussed student grades by race and targeted minority students with derogatory comments. The case against Wax included several accusations that dated back years, some of which, according to her lawyer David Shapiro, were “highly contested.”
Provost John L. Jackson Jr. emphasized that while academic freedom is a cornerstone of the university, it must not come at the expense of maintaining a fair and impartial learning environment. He noted that Wax’s conduct had raised concerns about her ability to evaluate students without bias, particularly those from minority backgrounds.
Wax’s controversial career first made headlines in 2018 when she was barred from teaching required first-year law courses after making what the dean called “disparaging and inaccurate” comments about Black students’ academic performance. Despite her ongoing controversies, Wax remains determined to continue promoting what she describes as conservative thought, claiming that her suspension is a response to her opposition to “woke” ideologies.
As the university navigates this difficult terrain, the case underscores the tension between academic freedom and the need to create inclusive educational spaces. Wax’s future at Penn Law remains a topic of debate as both the institution and the broader academic community grapple with the fallout of her remarks.
