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There's no abuse of power. A teacher can refuse to write a letter of recommendation for whatever reason he wants. He is under no obligation, moral or legal, to give a letter to any student he feels is "unworthy", and he is the ONLY applicable judge to the "worthiness" of the candidate. You and I might not agree with his assessment methods, but it's none of our damn business.

Part of the first ammendmant gives people the right to freely associate (or not associate) with shomever they choose. Writing a letter of recommendation is a form of association, if he chooses not to associate himself on this professional level with the student in question that is 100% his perogative. I knew a prof who would only write 1 letter of recommendation per school per year (and he didn't write general letters, they were always addressed to the admissions board and not given to the student to send out willy-nilly), so if you wanted a letter from him and were aiming for a popular school you'd better ask early. I thought that was a pretty stupid policy, but it was his policy, if you didn't like it you went to a different prof.

It's not like this guy is the absolute gatekeeper. Just because he doesn't write a certain student a letter doesn't mean the student has capped out. The student has 4 years to impress profs enough for them to write him a letter, this is only one guy.

A teacher can refuse to write a letter of recommendation for whatever reason he wants.

That someone can do something does not make it morally correct. That you can steal something or murder someone and get away with it does not make it right. In civilized society rightful conduct includes fairness. When someone misuses their power to advance a personal agenda that is wrong, that is immoral and that is despicable. Dr. Dini does not belong in any sort of educational institution. He does not belong in any position of power. He should be fired. He is an ideologue, not and educator.