Notre Dame Promotes Controversial Professor
The University of Notre Dame, known for its Catholic heritage, has recently appointed Associate Professor Susan Osterman as the director of the Liu Institute for Asian Studies. This decision comes after Osterman, in 2022, criticized the state’s abortion ban, describing it as “sexual violence.”
Despite already being a faculty member, Osterman co-authored an op-ed that challenged the abortion ban, arguing against the notion that a fetus is a living entity. The editorial stated, “Criminalizing abortion will cause irreparable harm,” while also denying that “abortion kills babies.”
Osterman’s piece noted that “almost 90% of abortions occur during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy when there is no baby or fetus present,” asserting that only a blastocyst or embryo, which is microscopic, is involved at that stage.
In her arguments, she claimed that requiring a woman to undergo an ultrasound before an abortion constitutes “sexual violence.” Osterman also mentioned that many women do not regret their decision and dismissed the potential negative effects of abortion, even suggesting that abortion pills are “safer than taking Tylenol.”
The president of Notre Dame responded to public backlash against the op-ed, stating that while the authors have the freedom to express their opinions, the piece does not represent the university’s values or beliefs. Critics, however, found this response lacking, with some suggesting that the university should have taken a stronger stance on the issue.
Concerns about Notre Dame’s commitment to its Catholic identity have intensified lately, especially following an attempt to alter staff values, which aimed to remove the emphasis on embracing the “Catholic mission of the university.” After facing criticism, the university opted to retract this policy.
Earlier, the academic director of Notre Dame remarked that hiring women and minorities was as crucial to the school’s mission as hiring Catholics. This has added another layer of complexity to discussions about the university’s direction.
As of now, Notre Dame has not responded to requests for comments regarding these matters.
