Some students unhappy with Rehnquist's record
About 50 people protested outside Chief Justice William Rehnquist's class yesterday at the James E. Rogers College of Law.
The crowd gathered to oppose the rulings Rehnquist has handed down during his 16 years on the Supreme Court.
"It's not personal. We aren't protesting him as a person," said Meg MacDougal, a second-year law student. "We're protesting the negative effects he's had on the law."
The issues that were presented included abortion rights, affirmative action, homosexual rights, the death penalty and free speech.
Rehnquist teaches a two-week course on the history of the Supreme Court at the law school each spring. Law students can take the one-credit course and receive pass/fail credit. The class ends today.
Andrew Stevenson, a second-year law student, is a member of the National Lawyers Guild and was in Rehnquist's class. He said the protest was to get information out to people and to generate discussion about the issues Rehnquist has ruled on.
"It was the culmination of putting out information, asking students what they think about his rulings," Stevenson said. "We have to start thinking about both sides."
MacDougal said the protest was an important opportunity for students and the chief justice.
"It's really important to hear the locals' opinions when any public official travels," MacDougal said. "Students wouldn't have this opportunity in Washington, D.C."
Fliers were lying around the law school, passed out earlier in the week by students who were protesting the protest.
A group of law students who refer to themselves as the Law Students for Free Speech said they were exercising their right to protest the protest by not showing up yesterday.
The flier listed arguments, including statements like, "Just say 'no' to their protest of the chief justice."
The Law Students for Free Speech claimed in the flier that the Rehnquist protest was censorship.
"The protesters want to censor Chief Justice Rehnquist and drive him away because they disagree with his views," the flier said.
Those at the protest disagreed, saying they wanted to get the issues out so students would discuss them.
"The purpose was to be more of a dialogue between law students and the people who care about the issues," said second-year law student Rui Wang.
Some protesters said they were not surprised when Rehnquist walked by them and into the classroom without acknowledging them.
"It seemed consistent that he didn't look at us, because he doesn't hear us," said Gretchen Nielsen, a politically active Tucsonan.
Nielsen said Rehnquist avoided looking at the signs, but she thinks it's important to show him people care about the issues he rules on.
Second-year law student Sara Ransom said Rehnquist may not have reacted because the protest was about the issues, not him.
"He never reacts. It's about raising awareness, not disrespecting the chief justice," Ransom said.
First-year law student Tyler Abrahams said he was at the protest as a member of the National Lawyers Guild because he disagrees with some of Rehnquist's opinions. However, he did not agree with all the signs people had at the protest.
One said Rehnquist was a bigot, while another had a pro-choice message. Another sign supported John Kerry for president.
Abrahams said he wanted to be at the protest because it is timely and important.
"He's a major political figure, but he's not part of the political process," he said.
Stevenson noted the difference between elected and appointed officials.
"It's different from any other position because it's appointed. He's not really responsible to the people," Stevenson said.
Rehnquist was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1971 by President Nixon. He was appointed chief justice in 1986 by President Reagan.