Interesting BYU Law hire

[Armenag]

Was teaching at St. Mary's, then hired by BYU (though maybe not for long?). She recently published an article about her life as a sociopath and is apparently soon to appear on Dr. Phil to promote her book.

http://abovethelaw.com/2013/05/sources-and-dr-phil-offer-insights-author-of-confessions-of-a-sociopath-who-might-be-this-law-professor/

[edward777]

Was teaching at St. Mary's, then hired by BYU (though maybe not for long?). She recently published an article about her life as a sociopath and is apparently soon to appear on Dr. Phil to promote her book.

http://abovethelaw.com/2013/05/sourc...law-professor/

There are differences between sociopaths and psychopaths. Also, being surprised that such a person is in law is what I find surprising. These people are over-represented in law, corporate leadership and politics.

[frank ryan]

There are differences between sociopaths and psychopaths. Also, being surprised that such a person is in law is what I find surprising. These people are over-represented in law, corporate leadership and politics.

Um, no those terms are used pretty interchangeably. Someone could posit a difference but it isn't based on any science. Neither term is the DSM. A psychopath/sociopath is most likely someone with anti-social personality disorder.

It is not surprising that someone like that would be in law. They gravitate toward any position of power. They often make effective CEOs because they aren't constrained by ethics or morals.

[Applejack]

Was teaching at St. Mary's, then hired by BYU (though maybe not for long?). She recently published an article about her life as a sociopath and is apparently soon to appear on Dr. Phil to promote her book.

http://abovethelaw.com/2013/05/sourc...law-professor/

This is a pretty crazy story. I'm surprised this hasn't been picked up by the local rags yet. It's got some great juicy bits.

1. It all begins with the pseudonymous publication of "Confessions of a Sociopath" by M.E. Thomas, a book that receives little initial buzz. In the book, the author gives out a host of identifiable biographical details, which by themselves likely could have outed the author, namely:
- LDS
- Law Professor
- Female
- BYU grad
- Worked at a prosecutor's office working in misdemeanors.

2. The book describes the author's sociopathy, how she committed petty crimes while at BYU, how she worries she might kill someone one day, how she sees people as objects to be used in achieving her goals. She also writes this pithy line of prose:

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a sociopath's dream."

Here's an excerpt from her book: http://www.psychologytoday.com/artic...ions-sociopath

3. Not content to simply write a pseudo-pseudonymous book, the author decides to go on Dr. Phil!!!! Best of all, she wears a "disguise" that consists of nothing but a blond wig. Here is M.E. Thomas disguised for the cameras:

METhomas.jpg

4. After all of this, Abovethelaw.com--a gossip blog for law students--tracks down M.E. Thomas to St. Mary's Law School (it's in Texas). Professor Jamie Lund matches all the biographical details in the book and, as the cherry on top, she looks exactly like the person on Dr. Phil, minus the wig.

JamieLund.jpg

5. The day that Abovethelaw outs Professor Lund, she is no longer listed on the faculty page for St. Mary's Law. After some inquiry, St. Mary's says that Professor Lund has left St. Mary's for...

6. BYU LAW!

So, now it looks like Dean Rasband is trying to fire Professor Lund before he hires her. Query for you employment law experts: can you fire someone for being diagnosed as a sociopath, without anything more? (I presume that Lund's comments about the LDS church being the ideal place for sociopaths will be enough to get her fired from a church-owned school).

Pretty crazy story. BYU ends up looking pretty bad, but not as bad as Professor M.E. Thomas.

[Donuthole]

6. BYU LAW!

So, now it looks like Dean Rasband is trying to fire Professor Lund before he hires her. Query for you employment law experts: can you fire someone for being diagnosed as a sociopath, without anything more? (I presume that Lund's comments about the LDS church being the ideal place for sociopaths will be enough to get her fired from a church-owned school).

Pretty crazy story. BYU ends up looking pretty bad, but not as bad as Professor M.E. Thomas.

What evidence do you have that Rasband is looking to fire her? I'm curious, as I received a letter from the JRube just this weekend listing her as a new hire.

[Sleeping in EQ]

I am stunned that there is a lawyer out there who is a sociopath.

[Applejack]

What evidence do you have that Rasband is looking to fire her? I'm curious, as I received a letter from the JRube just this weekend listing her as a new hire.

I have no evidence; it's from a "tipster" that Abovethelaw contacted. The letter from BYU to alums listed her as a prof before all this broke. Maybe the tipster is wrong, but I would be shocked if BYU hired her. All the law faculty (maybe all the faculty at BYU?) have to pass an ecclesiastical interview in addition to being voted on by the faculty. As I understand it, the main point of that ecclesiastical interview it to weed out hires that might potentially embarrass the church or the school. Writing that the LDS church is an ideal place for sociopaths seems about as good as you can do with one line to embarrass the church.

[Donuthole]

I have no evidence; it's from a "tipster" that Abovethelaw contacted. The letter from BYU to alums listed her as a prof before all this broke. Maybe the tipster is wrong, but I would be shocked if BYU hired her. All the law faculty (maybe all the faculty at BYU?) have to pass an ecclesiastical interview in addition to being voted on by the faculty. As I understand it, the main point of that ecclesiastical interview it to weed out hires that might potentially embarrass the church or the school. Writing that the LDS church is an ideal place for sociopaths seems about as good as you can do with one line to embarrass the church.

I agree, BYU likely won't every employ her. I just wondered if you had additional info beyond what was in that article.

[Applejack]

I agree, BYU likely won't every employ her. I just wondered if you had additional info beyond what was in that article.

No, I don't have any inside dirt. I would suspect this is the end of her career in academia. If she gets the ax(e) at BYU, I'm not sure anyone will be ready to jump on this crazy train.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I agree, BYU likely won't every employ her. I just wondered if you had additional info beyond what was in that article.

She is DOA. No question.

I am friends with Dean Rasband. I will return and report.

[Applejack]

She is DOA. No question.

I am friends with Dean Rasband. I will return and report.

An insider! :clap:

[PaloAltoCougar]

She is DOA. No question.

I am friends with Dean Rasband. I will return and report.

I'm buds with the ranking female law professor at the school. We should be able to triangulate and get the full scoop.

[Indy Coug]

[SandYFan]

She reads like someone making stuff up. It's like a really poorly written self-published novel.

[jay santos]

She reads like someone making stuff up. It's like a really poorly written self-published novel.

Yeah, I read a little of this.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201305/confessions-sociopath

The elevator anecdote with the symphony buffs...there's no way that happened in real life. I think she has a really active fantasy life.