Skip to content
  • Give me access to SECRET EPISODES
  • Episodes
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Subscribe
  • Episodes
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Subscribe
  • Give me access to SECRET EPISODES
PrevPrevious EpisodeCivil Rights Investigation at BYU
Next Expisode*Impact of Protests on Apostles (Part 7 of 7)Next

BYU Law School Almost Lost Accreditation (Part 6 of 7)

Table of Contents: BYU Law School Almost Lost Accreditation (Part 6 of 7)

Click to Support
Gospel Tangents

In the early 1970s, BYU opened up a brand-new law school.  I was surprised to learn that the American Bar Association considered not accrediting the university due to the racial ban in the Church.  Dr. Matt Harris describes some of these little-known issues that new BYU president and lawyer Dallin Oaks dealt with this potentially fatal blow to the law school.

YouTube player

Matt: There is new law school popping up and the American Bar Association, they send a letter to Dallin H. Oaks, this brand-new president. He’s a young man. He’s just left his tenured position at the University of Chicago where he went to school and then subsequently joined their law faculty. BYU recruited him to replace Wilkinson. So in 1971, Dallin Oaks comes on board and Oaks receives this letter. “Oh my gosh, they’re not going to accredit us.  They’re threatening to not accredit us because of the church’s policy towards blacks.”

GT: On the law school.

Matt:  On the law school. They just got it up and running.

GT:  So let me make sure.  So, 68-69 we’re having these civil rights problems with the entire school in general.

Matt:  Yes.

GT:  We hire some black faculty. So that gets them off their back.

Matt:  Yes.

GT:  But now 1971 comes and the bar association is threatening to take away the accreditation.

Matt:  Yes, and a year earlier, Nixon, the IRS with Bob Jones is out. This is all going on at the same time.

Check out our conversation….

- BYU Law School Almost Lost Accreditation (Part 6 of 7) - Mormon History Podcast
In 1971, brand-new BYU President Dallin Oaks was worried the new law school on campus might not get accredited.

Don’t miss our other conversations with Dr. Harris.

351: Civil Rights Investigation at BYU

350: Sports Protests Against BYU

349: Race & Religious Minorities at BYU

348: How Brazil Influenced Official Declaration 2

347: Did Nixon & Carter Pressure BYU Over Race?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:05 — 9.4MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Love this? Donate or Subscribe

Do you love the friendly, non-bashing interviews about Mormonism here on Gospel Tangents? 
Please show your support for Gospel Tangents by becoming a donor or subscriber:

Make me a Donor
Make me a Subscriber
No related products found.

More Podcasts with these Guests:

  • GT Live! Top 20 Topics We Missed with Matt Harris
  • *What was Left Out? (Matt Harris 6 of 6)
  • Fired from First Presidency (Matt Harris 5 of 6)
  • Inside the Room for 1978 Revelation (Matt Harris 4 of 6)
  • What Lester Bush Missed (Matt Harris 3 of 6)

Get more information on the people and things discussed in this episode:

  • Guest: Matt Harris
  • LDS Leaders, Priesthood-Temple Restriction, Racial Priesthood/Temple Ban
  • Historical Mentions Edward Kimball, Ernest Wilkinson, J. Reuben Clark, Mormon History
  • Tags: American Bar Association, black, BYU, BYU Law School, Church History, Dallin Oaks, Edward Kimball, Ernest Wilkinson, faculty, GT Podcast, interracial marriage, iTunes, J. Reuben Clark, Matt Harris, protest, Race ban, Racial Stereotypes, students, Wilkinson

Tell me when the next episode drops!

PrevPrevious EpisodeCivil Rights Investigation at BYU
Next Expisode*Impact of Protests on Apostles (Part 7 of 7)Next
  • Date: December 24, 2019
  • Guest: Matt Harris
  • LDS Leaders, Priesthood-Temple Restriction, Racial Priesthood/Temple Ban
  • Historical Mentions Edward Kimball, Ernest Wilkinson, J. Reuben Clark, Mormon History
  • Tags: American Bar Association, black, BYU, BYU Law School, Church History, Dallin Oaks, Edward Kimball, Ernest Wilkinson, faculty, GT Podcast, interracial marriage, iTunes, J. Reuben Clark, Matt Harris, protest, Race ban, Racial Stereotypes, students, Wilkinson
  • Posted By: RickB

Subscribe

I passed my class! Please help support Gospel Tangents and subscribe to the podcast!

Rick Bennett, Host

Rick Bennett is the friendly host of Gospel Tangents LDS Podcast: The Best Source for Mormon History, Science, and Theology. Book Rick for your fireside or conference.

More Interviews

  • Ben Spackman
  • David Ostler
  • Denver Snuffer
  • Lachlan McKay
  • Lindsay Hansen Park
  • Margaret Toscano
  • Richard Bushman
  • Sally Gordon
  • Terryl Givens
  • Ugo Perego...
View all 100+ Interviewees

Proud to be an Amazon Associate

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Subscribe

Go ad-free, get written transcripts, and talk to Rick one-on-one!
Stop Seeing Ads

Rick Bennett, Host of Gospel Tangents

Rick Bennett is the friendly, independent historian at the heart of Gospel Tangents LDS Podcast: The Best Source for Mormon History, Science, and Theology. When he isn't interviewing Mormon scholars, prophets, and others, he is teaching math and statistics at Utah Valley University. He also freelances as a research biostatistician in the fields of Dermatology and Traumatic Brian Injuries, as well as in the network television/cable T.V. industries as a sports statistician. Rick holds a Master of Statistics Degree from the University of Utah.

Contact Rick
Book Rick for your Event
Podcast Episodes
0 +
People Interviewed
0 +
  • Home
  • About
  • Episodes
  • Subscribe
  • Fan Shop
  • Book Rick
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About
  • Episodes
  • Subscribe
  • Fan Shop
  • Book Rick
  • Contact Us
Copyright 2025, Gospel Tangents. All Rights Reserved.