- Attiya Ahmad, Associate Professor of Anthropology, George Washington University
- Elisabeth Anker, Professor of American Studies, George Washington University
- Dara Orenstein, Associate Professor of American Studies, George Washington University
- Mona Atia, Associate Professor of Geography, George Washington University
- Jonathan Hsy, Professor of English and Affiliated Faculty in WGSS and Sigur Center for Asian Studies, George Washington University
- Ivy Ken, Associate Professor of Sociology, WGSS, and Public Policy, George Washington University
- Aman Luthra, Assistant Professor of Geography, George Washington University
- Judith Tucker, Professor of History, Georgetown University
- Quito Swan, Professor of Africana Studies and History, George Washington University
- Elliott Colla, Associate Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Georgetown University
- Fida Adely, Associate Professor and Clovis and Hala Salaam Maksoud Chair in Arab Studies, Georgetown University
- Christina Hanhardt, Associate Professor of American Studies, University of Maryland College Park
- Irene Calis, Director of Arab World Studies, American University
- Ilana Feldman, Professor of Anthropology, History, and International Affairs, George Washington University
- Rochelle Davis, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Georgetown University
- Nader Hashemi, Director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and Associate Professor of Middle East and Islamic Politics, Georgetown University
- Melani McAlister, Professor of American Studies & International Affairs, George Washington University
- Kirstie Dorr, Associate Professor of Critical Race, Gender and Cultural Studies, American University
- Gayle Wald, Professor, American Studies, George Washington University
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, George Washington University
- Jay Weiner, Libraries, University of Maryland College Park
- Shira Robinson, Associate Professor of History and International Affairs, George Washington University
- Arshad Ali, Associate Professor, Educational Research, George Washington University
- Diana Pardo Pedraza, Assistant Professor, Anthropology and International Affairs, George Washington University
- Marcus Johnson, Assistant Professor, Government and Politics, University of Maryland
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, American University
- Malini Ranganathan, Associate Professor, School of International Studies, American University
- Garrett Graddy-Lovelace, Provost Associate Professor, Environment, Development & Health Department, American University School of International Service
- Elsa Barkely Brown, Associate Professor, History and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Neda Atanasoski, Professor, Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender and Sexuaity Studies, University of Maryland College Park
- William Youmans, Associate Professor of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University
- Thomas A. Guglielmo, Professor of American Studies, George Washington University
- Barbara J. Wien, Senior Professorial Lecturer, American University, School of International Service
- Zenzele Isoke, Associate Professor, Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender and Sexuaity Studies, University of Maryland College Park
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland College Park
- Angela Zimmerman, Professor of History, George Washington University
- Anaheed Al-Hardan, Associate Professor of Sociology, Howard University
- Mubbashir Rizvi, Professorial Lecturer, American University
- Anny Gaul, Assistant Professor, Arabic, University of Maryland College Park
- Mary Catherine Stoumbos, Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, Department of Performing Arts, American University
- Leniqueca Welcome, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and International Affairs, George Washington University
- Mariam Durrani, Professorial Lecturer, American University
- Arjun Shankar, Assistant Professor, American University
- Christopher Gunderson, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology, Howard University
- David Vine, Professor of Anthropology, American University
- Katrina Orsini, Museum Educator, The GW Museum and Textile Museum, George Washington University
- Olivia Desjardins, Senior Exhibition Coordinator, The GW Museum and Textile Museum, George Washington University
- Gennifer Majors, Associate Conservator, GWU Museum and Textile Museum, George Washington University
- Sara Matthiesen, Associate Professor of History and WGSS, George Washington University
- Tracy Meserve, Librarian, GW Museum, George Washington University
- Ella Jones, Curatorial Assistant, The GW Museum and The Textile Museum, The George Washington University Museum
- Raneem Atiyeh, Museum Educator, The GW Museum and the Textile Museum, The George Washington University
- Gay Young, Professor Emerita, Sociology, American University
- Elizabeth Chacko, Professor of Geography, George Washington University
- Alex Finn Macartney, Assistant Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, Institute for Security and Conflict Studies, George Washington University
- Joshua M. Myyers, Associate Professor, Africana Studies, Howard University
- Zoltan Gluck, Assistant Professor, Anthropology, American University
- Molly Megan, Collections Specialist, The GW Museum and the Textile Museum, The George Washington University
- Eva Hageman, Assistant Professor, American Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Maryland, College Park
- Joel Kuipers, Professor of Anthropology and International Affairs, George Washington University
- Atiaf Alwazir, AUx Instructor and Advisor, American University
- Alexis Lothian, Associate Professor, Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Maryland College Park
- Germán Joven, Assistant Professor, Political Science, Howard University
- Amaka Okechukwu, Assistant Professor, Sociology & Anthropology, George Mason University
- Erin D. Chapman, PhD, Associate Professor, History, George Washington University
- Megan Gayken, AUx Instructor, American University
- Kimberly F. Monroe, Assistant Professor, History and Africana Studies, Trinity Washington University
- Tazreena Sajjad, Sr Professorial Lecturer, American University
- Anonymous, Student Aid Coordinator, Enrollment Services, American University
- Anders Hardig, Senior Professorial Lecturer, SIS, American University
- Manissa Maharawal, Assistant Professor, Anthropology, American University
- Jay Weiner, Worker, Libraries, University of Maryland, College Park
- Nicoll Botero, Museum Visitor Services Specialist, The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum, George Washington University
- Bassam Haddad, Associate Professor, Schar School, George Mason University
- Matthew Scherer, Associate Professor, Policy and Government, George Mason University
- Shaista E. Khilji, Professor of Human and Organizational Learning & International Affairs, George Washington University
- Sid Williams, Assistant Professor, Corcoran Theatre Arts & Dance, The George Washington University
- Amanda Getz, Adjunct Professor, Advisor, American University
- Vanessa Wills, Associate Professor of Philosophy, The George Washington University
- Gina Davidson, AUx Instructor & Advisor, American University
- Richard A. Kohn, Ph.D, Professor, Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
- Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Professor, Peace and Conflict Resolution, School of International Service, American University
- William Burns, Professorial Lecturer, History, George Washington University
- Soleman Abu-Bader, Professor, Social Work, Howard University
- Jason d’Angelo, AUx Instructor and Advisor, Undergraduate Education and Academic Services, School of Education, American University
- Orian Zakai, Assistant Professor, George Washington University
- Dane Kennedy, Professor Emeritus, History, George Washington University
- Zachary Posnik, Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography, The George Washington University
- Sara Clarke Kaplan, Associate Professor, Literature & Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies, American University
- Erica Cusi Wortham, Lecturer and Director, GW Innovation Center, SEAS, George Washington University
- Akanksha Sinha, Research Associate (Staff), Center for Social Justice, Earth Commons, Georgetown University
- Terrence Lyons, Professor, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University
- Agnieszka Paczynska, Professor, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University
- Zachary Posnik, Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography, George Washington University
- Anonymous, Academic Administrator, George Washington University
- Altaf Husain, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Howard University
- Crystal Luo, Assistant Professor, History/American Studies, Georgetown University
- Nancy R Mirabal, Associate Professor, American Studies Department, University of Maryland, College Park
- Demar F. Lewis IV, Assistant Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Maryland
- La Marr Jurelle Bruce, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, American Studies University of Maryland College Park
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland College Park
- Hiromi Ishizawa, Associate Professor, Sociology, George Washington University
- Manuel Cuellar, Associate Professor of Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures, Romance, German, and Slavic Languages and Literature, George Washington University
- Ibtisam Ibrahim, Lecturer, Arab Studies, American University
- Carlos Bustamante, Assistant Professor, Sociology, George Washington University
- Anonymous, Librarian, University of Maryland College Park
- Mohamed Esa, Professor, World Languages, Literatures and Cultures, McDaniel College
- Anonymous, Attorney, Washington College of Law, American University
- Yariana Rodriguez, Research Program Associate, Anthropology, George Washington University
- Robert McRuer, Professor, English, George Washington University
- Cecelia Michalowski, Academic Administrator, George Washington University
- Matthew Thomas Miller, Assistant Professor Roshan Institute for Persian Studies, University of Maryland
- Anita Sinha, Professor of Law, American University
- Neel Ahuja, Professor, The Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Maryland, College Park
- Annie Liontas, Assistant Professor, English, George Washington University
- Dina Rizk Khoury, Professor Emerita, Department of History, George Washington University
- Colin O’Brien Associate, Office of Sustainability, The George Washington University
- Nejm Benessaiah, Assistant Teaching Professor, Anthropology, Georgetown University
- Desmond F. Goss, Assistant Professor, Sociology, George Washington University
- Lauryn King, Adjunct Professor, Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, George Washington University
- Muneer Abbas, Associate Professor, Microbiology, Howard University
- Christy Thornton, Assistant Professor, Sociology, Johns Hopkins University
- Clara Han, Professor, Department of Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University
- Nadine Sahyoun, Professor of Nutrition Epidemiology, University of Maryland, College Park
- Anonymous, Associate Professor of History and International Affairs, The George Washington University
- Janelle Wong, Professor, Government and Politics, American Studies, University of Maryland, College
- Char Miller, Associate Professor, Schar School, George Mason University
- Anonymous, Staff, Student Affairs, American University
- Fifi Elshaarawey, Director of Financial Reporting, Controller, Howard University
- Marc Lynch, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University
- Dr. Jennifer Crewalk, Director of Group Initiatives, Student Affairs, Georgetown University
- Liv Pierce, Program Assistant, Sustainable Maryland, University of Maryland
- Kimberly Katz, Professor of History, Department of History, Towson University
- Lauren Carruth, Associate Professor, American University
- Shay Hazkani, Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies, University of Maryland, College Park
- Bayley Marquez, Assistant Professor, American Studies, University of Maryland, College Park
- Alyssa Luisi, Senior Research Associate, George Washington University
- Amanda Berry, Assistant Professor, Literature, American University
- Katie J. Wells, Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
- Mimi Kirk, Adjunct Faculty, Georgetown University
- Emily Parker, Associate Professor, Philosophy and Religious Studies/Women’s and Gender Studies, Towson University
- Keanu Stovall, Transfer Coordinator, Letters and Sciences, University of Maryland
- Samuel Gerald Collins, Professor, Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, Towson University
- Chad Rector, Professor, Political Science and International Relations, Marymount University
- Fiona Brideoake, Assistant Professor, Literature, American University
- Adam Klager, Faculty Assistant, University of Maryland, College Park
- Cortney Mihulka, Senior Library Assistant, Special Collections Research Center, George Washington University
- Alyssa Newman, Assistant Professor, Sociology, Georgetown University
- Tita Chico, Professor, English, University of Maryland
- Anonymous, Supporter, George Washington University
- John Keniston, Senior Faculty Specialist, Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland
- Heather Harper, Academic Administrator, Sociology, George Washington University
- Peter Calloway, Visiting Associate Professor of Clinical Law, George Washington University Law School
- Allison Johntry, Senior Administrator, Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies, American University
- Anonymous, Faculty Member, Towson University
- Fran Buntman, Assistant Professor, Sociology, George Washington University
- Cody Dunn, Program Coordinator, DTAIS, George Washington University
- Anonymous, Staff, School of Public Affairs, George Washington University
- Jung Yun, Associate Professor, English, George Washington University
- Arjun Singh Sethi, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University Law Center
- Anonymous, Research Assistant, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University
- Anonymous, Professorial Lecturer, Department of Critical Race, Gender and Cultural Studies, American University
- Tanja Aho, Senior Professorial Lecturer, Department of Critical Race, Gender and Cultural Studies, American University
- Leslie Dwyer, Associate Professor, Carter School, George Mason University
- Amber Reike, Lecturer, School of Public Health, George Washington University
- Monica Morin, Curriculum Systems Coordinator, Registrar, American University
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, Elliott School of International Studies, George Washington University
- Siv Lie, Associate Professor of Musicology, School of Music, University of Maryland
- Poorvi L. Vora, Professor, Computer Science, George Washington University
- Luka Arsenjuk, Associate Professor, Cinema and Media Studies, University of Maryland College Park
- Lily Wong, Associate Professor, Literature; Critical Race Gender & Culture, American University
- Dipali Mukhopadhyay, Associate Professor, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University
- Benjamin D Hopkins, Professor, History, George Washington University
- David J. Vazquez, Associate Professor, Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies Program and Director of Latina/o/x Studies, American University
- Michelle V. Rowley, Associate Professor, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, University of Maryland, College Park
- Dr. Michaela Frischherz, Associate Professor , Communication Studies, Towson University
- Adam Dean, Associate Professor, Political Science, George Washington University
- Michael Tristano Jr., Director of Cultural Studies, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies Towson University
- Erica M. Lesto, Professor, Sociology, American University
- Chloe Levine, Web Associate,Communications and Marketing,George Washington University
- Christina Juhasz-Wood, Professorial Lecturer, American University
- Kawthar Zaki, Professor Emeritus, Electrical and computer Engineering, University of Maryland College Park
- David Mitchell, Professor, English, George Washington University
- Thomas E. Flores, Associate Professor, Jimmy and Rosaylnn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University
- Amanda Phillips, Associate Professor, English, Georgetown University
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University
- Laura DeMarco, Administrative Assistant, Libraries, University of Maryland College Park
- Barbara J. Wien, Senior Professorial Lecturer, School of International Service, American University
- Soail Rana, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Howard University
- Deborah Rosenfelt, Professor Emerita, Harriet Tubman Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Maryland at College Park
- Zachary Wolfe , Assistant Professor, University Writing Program, George Washington University
- Kathryn Kleppinger, Associate Professor of French Studies and International Affairs, George Washington University
- Claudia Youakim, Adjunct Professor, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
- Janet Steele, Professor, School of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University
- Alexander VanWoert, Adjunct Professorial, Audio Technologies, American University
- Joel Lewis, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics, George Washington University
- Hiba Sohail, Academic Department Administrator and Alumna, School of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University
- Ashraf Harahsheh, Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine
- Julia Xia, Global Learning Advisor, University of Maryland College Park
- Abdourahman Waberi , Associate Professor of French Studies, Romance, German, and Slavic Languages and Literature, George Washington University
- Brian Casemore, Associate Professor of Curriculum & Pedagogy, George Washington University
- Anonymous, Adjunct Faculty, Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University
- Anonymous, Staff member, Information Technology, American University
- Tyler Teagle, Adjunct Vocal Professor, School of music, George Mason University
- Reilly Simmons, Program Coordinator, Undergraduate Education and Academic Student Services, American University
- Chenyang Xiao, Professor of Sociology, American University
- Jonathan Parkes Allen, Post Doctoral Fellow, Roshan Institute for Persian Studies University of Maryland, College Park
- Mary Taylor-Lewis, Senior faculty specialist, University of Maryland College Park
- Nidal Qaddumi, Assistant Professor, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University
- Anonymous, Senior Administrative Coordinator, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, George Washington University
- Anonymous, Assistant Director, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
- Christine So, Associate Professor, English, Georgetown
- G. Chesler, Professor, Film and Video Studies, George Mason University
- Lily Wong, Associate Professor, Literature and Critical Race Gender & Culture, American University
- Alejandro Cañeque, Professor, History, University of Maryland
- Antonio López, Associate Professor, Department of English,George Washington University
- Chiara Graf, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland
- Katherine Wasdin, Associate Professor, Classics, University of Maryland
- Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Director, Roshan Institute for Persian Studies Universal of Maryland, College Park
- Theresa Runstedtler, Associate Professor, History and Critical Race Gender & Culture, American University
- Andrea López, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University, SAIS
- Theodora Danylevich, Adjunct Faculty, Georgetown University
- Sabeen Sheikh, Lecturer Communication, University of Maryland
- Matthew Durington, Professor, Anthropology , Towson University
- Aamir Mufti, O’Connor Professor, Department of English, Johns Hopkins University
- Casey Lurtz, Assistant Professor, History, Johns Hopkins University
- Anonymous, Program Coordinator, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
- Jennifer Brinkerhoff, Professor, Public Administration and International Affairs George Washington University
- Imani, Associate Professor, School of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University
- Katie DePalma, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Georgetown University
- Harvey Feigenbaum, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University
- Maryam Deloffre, Associate Professor of International Affairs, George Washington University
- Ger FitzGerald, Adjunct Professor, The Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University
- David Reeves Adjunct Professor, History, Northern Virginia Community College
- Julia Storberg-Walker, Associate Professor, Human and Organizational Learning, The George Washington University
- Susan Shepler, Associate Professor, School of International Service, American University
- Niki Akhavan, Associate Professor, Catholic University of America
- Emily R. Bock, Assistant Professor, American Studies, George Washington University
- Eric Schluessel, Associate Professor of History and International Affairs, The George Washington University
- Abigail Agresta, Assistant Professor, History, George Washington University
- Robert Zayd KiaNouri-Zigmund, Editorial Associate, The Maydan/AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, George Mason University
- Naveeda Khan, Professor, Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University
- Veena Das, Research Professor, Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University
- Lester Spence, Professor, Political Science and Africana Studies, Johns Hopkins University
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University SAIS
- Anne Schaufele, Assistant Professor of Law Clinical Program, University of the District of Columbia
- David A., Clarke School of Law
- Niloofar Haeri, Professor, Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University
- Michael Ralph Cameron Schrier, Professor and Chair, Afro-American Studies, Howard University
- Gail Weiss, Professor, Philosophy, George Washington University
- Aubrey Hill, Sys Admin, American University
- Thurka Sangaramoorthy, Professor, Anthropology, American University
- Dwayne Kwayse Wright, Assistant Professor of Higher Education Administration, Department of Educational Leadership, George Washington University
- Sam Sadow, AU Staff Union Rep., American University
- David Kaib, Assistant Director, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, American University
- Dan Prengel, Assistant Director of Data Analytics, Kogod School of Business, American University
- Roshan Abraham, Adjunct Professor, Philosophy and Religion, American University
- John Willoughby, Professor, Economics, American University
- Christina Fink, Associate Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, George Washington University
- Guillermo Orti, Louis Weintraub Professor of Biology and Chair, Dept. of Biological Sciences George Washington University
- Da’ Vonte Lyons, Lecturer, Africana Studies, George Washington University
- Kristin Sinclair, Assistant Teaching Professor, Educational Transformation, Georgetown University
- Anonymous, Professor, Sociology and criminology, Howard University
- Amr Madkour, Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, George Washington University
- Hannah Grudi, Lab Coordinator, Biological Sciences, George Washington University
- Gustavo Hormiga, Ruth Weintraub Professor of Biology, Biological Sciences, George Washington University
- Eleanor Sciannella, Financial Aid Advisor, American University
- Mark Wood, Associate Professor, World Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Matthew Stifter, Assistant Director, Study Abroad Office, American University
- Kim Coles, Professor, English, University of Maryland
- Payman Dehghanian, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering George Washington University
- Navid Ghaffarzadegan, Associate Professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech
- Anonymous, Program Associate, George Washington University
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, George Washington University
- lahra Smith, Associate Professor, African Studies Program, School of Foreign Service & Dept. of Government, Georgetown University
- Joel Andreas, Professor of Sociology, Sociology, Johns Hopkins University
- Verónica Sousa, Lecturer, Anthropology, UMD-College Park
- Harvey Peters, Assistant Professor, Counseling and Human Development, The George Washington University
- Eaman jahani, Assistant professor, Information systems, University of Maryland
- Orisanmi Burton, Assistant Professor, Anthropology, American University
- Holly Dugan, Associate Professor, English, GWU
- Michael Montoro, Lecturer, Mathematics, Howard University
- Krista Johnson, Professor, African Studies, Howard University
- Anonymous, Assistant Professor, Howard University
- Mike Guy, Museum Exhibitions, GW Museum & Textile Museum, George Washington University
- Marcus Board Jr., Associate Professor, Political Science, Howard University
- Emily MN Kugler, Associate Professor, English, Howard University
- Mahbubur Sumon MD, Internal Medicine, Howard University Hospital
- Celeste Malone, Associate Professor, Human Development and Psychoeducational Studies, Howard University
- Ricky Ramón, Lecturer & Adjunct Faculty, Theatre, Howard University & George Washington University
- Shaheen Alvi, MD Internal medicine, Howard University
- Ozra Dehkordi, Associate Professor, Neurology, Howard University
- Bagmi Das , Assistant Professor, Counseling & Human Development, George Washington University
- Msia Kibona Clark, Associate Professor, Department of African Studies, Howard University
- Eli McCarthy, Professor, Peace Studies Program, Religion Dept.George Washington University
- Sean Pears, Lecturer, English, Howard University
- Monica Styles, Assistant Professor, Spanish, Howard University
- Amusa S. Adebayo, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Howard University
[This letter was originally published on a WordPress site. Access that here.]
Open Letter from Faculty and staff across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia Region
(Adapted from the faculty at Northwestern University and the Middle East Studies Association)
Please add your signatures here. Also note that currently, this letter is only for faculty (active and emeriti) and staff at campuses across the DMV .
We, the undersigned faculty and staff of different backgrounds and political viewpoints from Universities across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, come together to support the student protests and encampment at George Washington University.
This is a historical moment in which students across the country and around the world are voicing what they want their universities to be and do in terms of policies, ethics, partnerships, and finances. These protests are anchored in a clear moral compass in the face of Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza through mass killing, widespread destruction, and other acts condemned by the International Court of Justice. These students’ visions are based on an understanding of our collective well-being and, often, in a principled objection to that which impedes it. As faculty, we take our obligation to prepare our students for leadership, critical thinking, global citizenship, and political engagement seriously in an increasingly divided and global society. The purpose of a University is to encourage and allow open and free expression of speech to uphold the democratic ideals of a society. George Washington University, and indeed universities across the DMV and the United States as a whole, will fail in their most basic promises and commitments if they continue to repress, arrest, suspend, and stifle the free speech and political activity of their students. We condemn any move by GW to shut down student gatherings and restrict access rather than open spaces.
We will not tolerate the weaponization of unfounded presumptions of bigotry to intimidate, punish, and silence students who are not engaging in anything of the sort. As educators, we will not stand for the criminalization of peaceful protests on our campuses.
As GW affirms, building a community “that reflects and embraces a rich and broad range of human experiences and perspectives is incredibly important.” George Washington University’s moniker– The Revolutionaries – refers to the “distinguishable GW spirit” and reflects “the ambition of GW community members to go beyond the conventional, shift mindsets, break barriers, and create a new future for themselves and the world.” GW’s Student Conduct pledges to uphold “free inquiry and free expression.” Further, it recognizes “that protecting impromptu and spontaneous assembly for the purpose of expression, protest, and dissent is essential to its commitment” to free speech. We remind the GW administration that it will violate its own commitments if it undertakes any action to block these students’ rights to peaceful speech, assembly, and dissent.
The students engaging in protests today are upholding and strengthening the proud tradition of protest, dissent, and free speech. Should the current administration choose to stand in their way, it will be on the wrong side of history. All of our students are members of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Their collective action is in line with the consortium’s own mission to provide advocacy for all of our members.
We, therefore, call upon college and university boards of trustees, presidents, and administrations across the DMV and the country at large to recommit themselves to the freedom of inquiry, expression, and protest on campus that have been pillars of the US academy for decades. As the mass killing of Palestinians and widespread destruction in Gaza continue, we also demand that you fulfill your responsibility to your campus communities to defend peaceful protesters, uphold academic freedom, and reject all pressures seeking to block access and criminalize peaceful encampments and demonstrations.
Please add your signatures here. Also note that currently, this letter is only for faculty (active and emeriti) and staff only for faculty at campuses across the DMV.
Signed by: