Law Professor Anita Hill Denies She Has Quit College Post

Law professor Anita Hill, who gained national attention during the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, said Friday that she has not resigned from the University of Oklahoma, despite reports to the contrary.

“I have not resigned from the University of Oklahoma, and I don’t have any further comment,” the Laguna Beach resident said before driving away from her tidy two-story cottage Friday morning.

Hill, who has been on unpaid leave since Aug. 16, moved into a remodeled cottage in Laguna Beach in August.

An Oklahoma City television station reported Wednesday that it had obtained a March 9 memorandum from the law school’s dean to other law professors stating: “I am sorry to inform you that Professor Anita Hill will be resigning her position at the College of Law at the conclusion of the academic year.

“She informed me of her decision last evening during a telephone conversation.”

University press secretary Josh Galper confirmed Friday that College of Law Dean C. Peter Goplerud III wrote the memo but Galper denied that Hill had actually relinquished her post.

“She is still a faculty member here,” he said. “The university has received no official communication from Prof. Hill about her future plans at all.”

A source close to the university who asked not to be named said: “Apparently, Goplerud didn’t properly assess the situation or follow appropriate procedures in handling the situation.”

Hill stunned the nation in 1991 when she charged that then-Supreme Court nominee Thomas had sexually harassed her. Although the U.S. Senate eventually confirmed Thomas, Hill’s accusations sparked a fiery national debate about the treatment of women in the workplace.

Hill has a contract with Doubleday to write two books--her autobiography and a study of historical and contemporary sexual harassment.

Galper said Hill’s leave expired Wednesday but he was not sure when she is expected back on campus. According to university policy, Hill would have been expected to notify the university by Feb. 1 if she planned to extend her leave of absence, he said.

Hill has steadfastly declined to grant interviews since moving to Laguna Beach.