Following up on my prior posts:

• Former Maryland Dean Under Fire for Payments in Lieu of Sabbatical (Feb. 22, 2010)
• Former Maryland Dean Asked to Return $60k Paid for Summer Research; AG to Decide Propriety of $350k Paid for Untaken Sabbatical (Feb. 27, 2010)

The Baltimore Sun yesterday published an editorial on the controversy, The $410,000 Question — Our View: We Still Need More Answers About Payments to the Former UM Law School Dean:

The debate over the $410,000 in bonus payments to former University of Maryland School of Law dean Karen Rothenberg has largely devolved into an argument between two camps. Her defenders say that the focus on the payments is smearing the record of an excellent and transformative leader for the school, and her detractors are appalled by the amount of money being thrown at a public employee. There's truth to both sides, but that argument misses the point.

Paul D. Bekman, Chairman of the University of Maryland School of Law Board of Visitors, published this letter (endorsed by the Board of Visitors) in the Baltimore Sun:

I write to you as chairman of the University of Maryland School of Law Board of Visitors. I have served in this position for the last eight years. The Board of Visitors is an advisory Board similar to the many Boards of Visitors around the country which act in an advisory capacity to a particular institution and provides leadership, advice and support for the furtherance of the mission of the institution. It represents a cross section of the bar in this state, as well as around the country. It is composed of lawyers, judges, business leaders, and public servants, all of whom have a direct connection with the University of Maryland School of Law, as graduates and/or as strong supporters of the law school. This letter is endorsed by the Board of Visitors.

Karen Rothenberg served as a dean of the law school for 10 years and brought the University of Maryland School of Law to national prominence. Her accomplishments are many and changed the direction of the law school. She became dean at a time when the law school was in transition. The law school was about to embark on a new law school building, with tremendous challenges regarding funding and financing, as well as raising the level of recognition and ranking of the law school in national circles.

I think it is important to point out some of these outstanding achievements. The reason the University of Maryland School of Law has achieved national recognition and has moved up substantially in the national rankings is due in no small part to Dean Rothenberg's leadership.