Guinier To Join Law School

Lani C. Guinier '71, who achieved national notoriety when President Clinton withdrew her nomination for an appointment within the justice department, will be joining the faculty of Harvard Law School this January as a visiting professor.

Guinier will be teaching a course on law and the political process during the one-month winter term in January.

"I think she's going to bring er political perspective, the work she's done on elections and voting, and ways in empowering disadvantaged voters," said Frank E.A. Sander '48, associate dean of the Law School.

"I'm very excited about her being here," said Law School dean Robert C. Clark.

"We've been talking about [her visit] for quite a while," he said. "She wants to be here and have an enjoyable time."

Guinier is currently a professor at University of Pennsylvania Law School.

She has been a controversial figure since her nomination for the position of Assistant U.S. Attorney for Civil Rights was withdrawn by President Clinton because Guinier's views were perceived as too radical.

"We're making a constant effort to diversify the school, with different backgrounds and different perspectives," said Sander.

Guinier will be the only black female professor at the Law School.

Clark would not say if her visit this January is a step toward an eventual offer of tenure.

"I don't know if I would think about it in those terms. I can't comment too much on the future. We'll see what it leads to," he said.

However, Sander said that tenure "is clearly a possibility."

"We're certainly seriously interested in her. We're trying to take a good look at her, but she does not yet have an offer for a permanent job."