Hopkins AAUP response to note from Dr. Shumpert, OIE

Dear colleagues,

Most of us have just received an email from Dr. Shannon Shumpert, Vice Provost for Institutional Equity, concerning OIE's plans to foster anti-discrimination at Johns Hopkins.

It goes without saying that we, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)-Hopkins Chapter,  support a robust university procedure to combat all forms of racism and harassment based on ethnic characteristics, including but not limited to anti-semitism and anti-Arab bias.

It is also the case that OIE procedures and university regulations must not be used to intimidate members of our community or to threaten the values of free speech and academic freedom.

We are now in consultation with AAUP legal counsel, who are helping us to evaluate this announcement and its implications.

Based on their input, the Officers and Executive Committee will determine the next steps that we will take to ensure faculty rights are protected and that free speech is ensured on campus.

In the meantime, if you (or any faculty that you know) have any concerns or are faced with an investigation, the AAUP chapter will be available to provide support and advice. You can find more about the resources here: https://www.hopkinsaaup.org/resources 

In solidarity,

Lisa and Ahmed

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Lisa Siraganian, President, Hopkins AAUP Chapter

Ahmed Ragab, Vice President, Hopkins AAUP Chapter