University Of Chicago: Obama Was A Professor

A recent Clinton campaign research document charged that Barack Obama was falsely claiming to be a professor:

Sen. Obama consistently and falsely claims that he was a law professor. The Sun-Times reported that, "Several direct-mail pieces issued for Obama's primary [Senate] campaign said he was a law professor at the University of Chicago. He is not. He is a senior lecturer (now on leave) at the school. In academia, there is a vast difference between the two titles. Details matter." In academia, there's a significant difference: professors have tenure while lecturers do not. [Hotline Blog, 4/9/07; Chicago Sun-Times, 8/8/04]

Today, the University of Chicago released the following statement:

The Law School has received many media requests about Barack Obama, especially about his status as "Senior Lecturer." From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School. He was a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996. He was a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004, during which time he taught three courses per year. Senior Lecturers are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, although not full-time or tenure-track. The title of Senior Lecturer is distinct from the title of Lecturer, which signifies adjunct status. Like Obama, each of the Law School's Senior Lecturers have high-demand careers in politics or public service, which prevent full-time teaching. Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined.

Comments

[AnninCA]

Oh......le­t the stories continue. He taught a class.

Period.

[Squidkid]

Can you read? "He was a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004, during which time he taught three courses per year." That's about 24 classes.

[editrix66]

That's your answer? Facts are not real.

[lilith1]

Actually, if you read the story above, he taught three classes a year from 1996 to 2004. Most research universities require tenure track and tenured professors to teach between three to four classes a year, although some require as little as two and others as much as five classes. So, yeah, it was a few more than one class.

[colette]

"He taught a class. Period."

Ummmm.....­..Just in case you don't know it, teaching even a single class at one of the country's best law schools for years takes a lot time, knowledge, preparation and talent. Especially when you are also doing many other things, as Mr. Obama was.

When will this belittling stop? Oh, he made Harvard Law Review. Big deal. Oh, he successfully organized people to vote in poor neighborhoods of Chicago. Who cares?

If it's right to acknowledge Clinton's credentials, i the well-earned and genuine ones, it's also important to give Obama his due. guess what? He might just be the Democratic candidate for president this year.....

[BitJam]

You're almost as bad as Clinton herself. It seems you cannot help but lie, even when the truth would serve you better. The University of Chicago Law Schools says he taught three classes a year, not just "a class. Period".

People just have to scroll the page up to see that you are lying.

[robXdion]

Funny how his so-called "inexperience" is stacking up well against her falsely touted "experience". And the hits just keep on coming.

[DocSmith]

Well, I guess that puts that to rest. What will they try to "find" out on them next?

[nazgul]

Hello, AnninCA!!!

[BitJam]

One more Clinton lie discredited, 999,998 to go.

[joselopez]

HOW INCREDIBLY PETTY THIS HAS GOTTEN: "Details matter." In academia, there's a significant difference: professors have tenure while lecturers do"

So the fact that he did not have tenure, he was not a Professor, okay Clinton Campaign.

I believe most Americans will look at the fact that he was teaching college students as him being a Professor.

To me it does not come down to what the definition of is is or the difference between reject and denounce.

He taught, he is a Professor!!!

[DavieB36]

It is not as if he was teaching at PoDunk College. The University of Chicago is one of the top academic institutions in this country, they dont let just anyone teach there. How many of you who are trying to bring Obama down on this could have gotten into Columbia or Harvard Law? My guess is less than 1 percent.

[OverIt]

Thanks joselopez.­. Actually, it's even more striking. He was teaching LAW STUDENTS not college and at a Top 3 law school at that!!!! The fact that the Univ. of Chicago tried to get him to become a fully tenured Professor speaks volumes about how well they regarded him!!!!!

[1dogs2]

In fact, he was teaching graduate students. That's what students in professional schools are. They already have a college degree before they begin their professional specialization. The University of Chicago Law School has what is ranked by the legal profession as one of the very best faculties in the country. The Law School has confirmed that Obama has been a professor there for 12 years. End of discussion.

[rrafiringa]

You forgot to mention the definition of "is" and "sex".

[IslandGyal]

Other Hillary Clinton campaign mis-speak?

[billrott]

While I am from PA, I am currently going to the University of Chicago. It is widely known on the campus that Obama was a professor. Additionally, the difference between tenured and non-tenured professors is not apparent to the students. if anything, I have found that non tenured professors are usually better teachers due to the fact they are still working towards their tenure and can't simply rest on their laurels that they can't be fired because of tenure. With that said, I have found all the professors at the University of Chicago to be excellent.

[akhinaten]

but was he in Bosnia ducking sniper fire "the tall tale of Tulza"

[Plowboy]

Now you're playing dirty, akhinaten! Shame!

Don't you know that Hillary is a representative of the same Empire thaat the great Dubya has served so well, and in that Empire, certain people are entitled to make (up) their own reality?
(See who supports her if you doubt it!)

Obama doesn't represent that, because he is a real Democrat.

[aquarius2001]

LOL

[cyndeewi]

Too Funny Akhinaten!!!!

[Grannysue]

So Billary thinks that because the schools define him as a Senior Lecturer and Professor, he somehow mistated what? Clinton will stoop at nothing, she has no shame or morals.