Hugh Culverhouse will not be silenced

Hugh Culverhouse, Jr. Photo courtesy University of Alabama

Hugh Culverhouse, Jr. can no longer claim to be University of Alabama’s biggest booster. But he remains one of the loudest voices demanding a boycott of the school.

Following a decision by university trustees to return a $21.5-million donation, the South Florida donor won’t disappear quietly.

“I will not be silenced,” he said.

Culverhouse called publicly for students to boycott the school after Alabama lawmakers passed a near-total ban on abortion.

University Chancellor Finis E. St. John IV at the time issued a statement inferring abortion politics had nothing to do with the dispute.

“As part of an ongoing dispute, last week Hugh Culverhouse, Jr. asked for the return of $10 million, repeating numerous demands about the operations of the University of Alabama School of Law,” St. John said.

Culberhouse maintains that isn’t true.

“I want to make clear that I never demanded that $21.5 million be refunded,” he said, “and wonder if the University is attempting to silence my opinions by their quick response.”

Rather, he remains concerned with a law threatening doctors with up to 99 years in jail for performing illegal abortions.

That law violates Roe v. Wade, Culverhouse said. He suggested law students should not study at the school until the law gets repealed or struck down.

A law school currently bearing Culverhouse’s name will now be stripped of the moniker.

He’s fine with that.

“I expected this response from UA,” Culverhouse said.

“I will not allow my family’s name to be associated with an educational system that advocates a state law which discriminates against women, disregards established Federal law and violates our Constitution.”

Moreover, he re-upped his call for a boycott of the entire state, including UA.

“Once again, I call on students to protest and reconsider their educational options in Alabama,” he said.

“I also appeal to out-of-state and international businesses to consider the consequences of conducting business in a state that discriminates against women and defies constitutional law. These boycotts and acts of resistance should remain in effect until the State of Alabama reverses the illegal anti-abortion statute.”