The recent hiring of Alberto Gonzales, the controversial former U.S. attorney general who resigned the post two years ago amid allegations of wrongdoing, has left many on the Texas Tech campus divided.
Tech Chancellor Kent Hance announced Tuesday Gonzales will join the university system as a recruiter, guest speaker and professor for a one-year term beginning Aug. 1.
The decision to bring Gonzales aboard came despite his resignation in 2007 after he was involved with several political scandals: the dismissal of a stable of federal prosecutors, a memo scandal on torture, a much-debated surveillance program, and Texas clemency memos when he served as legal counsel to then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
Despite the turmoil leading to his resignation, Gonzales, who spent the past two years giving speeches, consulting and working on a book, said he remains satisfied with his accomplishments.
"I am very proud of my record," he said. "I'm proud of what I've accomplished in my life. I'm proud of the positions in office that I've held, and I'm privileged of the privilege to serve in those positions."
For Reagan Tatsch, a senior marketing and management major from Georgetown, the move was shocking. However, he said he would consider taking Gonzales' class to ask him some "serious questions."
He, like many other students, probably won't get that chance, since there is a 15-student cap in Gonzales' political science course, "Contemporary Issues in the Executive Branch." Additionally, those students must be taking at least 12 hours of political science courses, faculty members in the department confirmed.
"He was involved in so many scandals," Tatsch said. "One of Texas Tech's mottos is strive for honor. That kind of goes against it by hiring him."
Dennis Patterson, an associate professor of political science, remained optimistic about what Gonzales could do for the university.
"Will there be people who will view it negatively? Absolutely yes," he said. "So the idea is to take something, an opportunity, and make it work for us. That's what you do in life, and I think that's the way you make this a better place and the way you make things happen here."
Patterson, who also serves as interim executive director of the institute for modern conflict, diplomacy and reconciliation, invited Gonzales to lecture to a security strategic studies class.
Some faculty members, including Patterson, said they believe bringing in a former Cabinet member to teach classes is a win-win situation, regardless of his political track record.
Other faculty didn't necessarily share the same sentiments, saying Gonzales' controversy is significant enough to raise some "serious red flags."
"I think it's preposterous for him to come here," said one faculty member who requested anonymity. "They're trumping up some fake position to bring him in, and I don't know what his responsibility will be, but I'm certain it won't be commensurate with his pay. If you look at his teaching load, it's incredibly reduced."
Gonzales will receive a $100,000 salary, Hance said. Gonzales' other duty will be to recruit minority students, particularly Hispanics, to Tech and Angelo State University during his one-year term.
"Maybe I'm wrong," the faculty member said. "Maybe he'll be very active in Hispanic student organizations. I hope that's the case."
The faculty member also questioned Gonzales' qualifications to teach a political science course, saying his law degree from Harvard University would serve him better as a law professor. Plus, there are the shaky ethical standards associated with Gonzales.
"It's not that just because somebody might be a Democrat you dislike the guy," the faculty member said. "There will certainly be those kind of people, but when you look at the magnitude of some of the scandals, that was really pretty bad stuff."
Despite serving under what he called "one of the most difficult periods of time during our nation's history," Gonzales claims his first-hand experience brings an unparalleled perspective on campus and more than qualifies him to teach a class.
"People have that opportunity to voice that disagreement," he said. "Universities provide an ideal setting for young minds to debate and discuss controversial issues."
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