Interim dean of SLU law school says he will step down

St. Louis University’s interim law school dean is stepping down, saying he made “politically incorrect” statements to faculty and was not a good fit for the position.

Tom Keefe, who took over the temporary post in August, said his inappropriate comments — which included a remark about Indians and another comment perceived as sexual harassment — were misinterpreted.

But he said he was not pressured to resign.

“I have chosen to step down because obviously there have been statements made about things I have done, and in all likelihood I’ve done them all,” Keefe said in an interview Monday. “The problem is I’m just too politically incorrect to be a dean.”

The university is close to naming a permanent law dean. University spokesman Clayton Berry said a search committee has selected two finalists.