Statement of Jewish faculty at GMU to Rector Stimson

We are Jewish faculty at George Mason University who condemn an attack on our university community and our GMU President that is quickly intensifying under a false, racially divisive, and deeply cynical claim of combating anti-Semitism. On July 1, the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights announced it would formally investigate our university for a supposed “hostile environment for Jewish students and faculty on campus.” This description does not reflect our experience; this investigation is not about our safety. It comes from a federal administration that has employed, promoted and pardoned people with documented histories of anti-Jewish racism and other forms of white supremacy. The investigation is part of an agenda to eviscerate higher education in the USA through the assertion of political control and the stifling of dissent. As Jewish scholars and educators, this investigation threatens us and endangers the interests of the students and the Commonwealth we serve. We reject it. Rector Stimson: We call upon you to do your public duty, protect Mason from political overreach, and refuse this pretext for the undemocratic and unlawful dismissal of a president who is supported by the university community.

Sincerely,

1. Lauren Cattaneo, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
2. Alison Landsberg, Professor, Department of History and Art History
3. Thalia Goldstein, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
4. Ben Manski, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
5. Matt Karush, Professor, Department of History and Art History
6. Igor Mazin, Professor, Physics and Astronomy
7. Zachary Schrag, Professor, History and Art History
8. Dina Copelman, Associate Professor (ret), History and Art History/Cultural Studies
9. Suzanne Smith, Professor, History and Art History
10. Yehuda Lukacs, Associate Professor Emeritus, Global Affairs
11. Anna Pollack, Professor, Global and Community Health
12. Robert Matz, Professor, English
13. Jessica Rosenberg, Professor, Physics and Astronomy
14. James Finkelstein, Professor Emeritus, Schar School of Policy and Government
15. Faye Taxman, University Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government
16. Louise Shelley, Distinguished University Professor Emerita, Schar School of Policy and Government
17. Nathaniel Greenberg, Associate Professor, Modern and Classical Languages
18. Eric Eisner, Associate Professor, English
19. Jennifer Leeman, Professor, Modern and Classical Languages
20. Mark Addleson, Associate Professor Emeritus, Schar School of Policy and Government
21. David Hart, Professor Emeritus, Schar School of Policy and Government
22. Joan Bristol, Associate Professor, History and Art History
23. Steven Pearlstein, Robinson Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government
24. Jack Goldstone, Virginia E. and John T. Hazel, Jr. Professor of Public Policy, Schar School of Policy and Government
25. Robert Ehrlich, Professor of Physics (ret), Physics and Astronomy
26. Steven Rose, Professor Emeritus, Social Work
27. Richard Rubenstein, University Professor Emeritus of Conflict Resolution and Public Affairs, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
28. Gabrielle Tayac, Associate Professor of Public History, History and Art History
29. Vicki Kirsch, Associate Clinical Professor, Social Work
30. Siona Listokin, Associate Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government
31. Shayna Maskell Yuhasz, Professor, School of Integrative Studies
32. Daniel Freedman, Professor, Social Work
33. Jessica Hurley, Associate Professor, English
34. Sam Lebovic, Professor, History and Art History
35. Deborah Kaplan, Associate Professor Emerita, English
36. Alan Abramson, Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government
37. Stuart Malawer, Distinguished Service Professor of Law & International Trade Emeritus, Schar School of Policy and Government
38. Benjamin Dreyfus, Professor, Physics and Astronomy
39. B. Robert Kreiser, Adjunct Professor (ret), History and Art History
40. Lori Rottenberg, Assistant Professor, INTO Mason, Honors College
41. Eric Anderson, Associate Professor, English
42. Rose Cherubin, Associate Professor, Philosophy
43. Susan Hirsch, Professor Emeritus, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
44. Jeremy Plotnick, Instructional Assistant Professor, Costello College of Business
45. Karen Trister Grace, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
46. Russell Abratt, Instructional Professor of Marketing, Costello College of Business
47. Nancy Hanrahan, Associate Professor Emerita, Sociology
48. Samuel Gordon, Associate Professor, Computer Science
49. Rutledge Dennis, Professor, Sociology/Anthropology
50. Emily Green, Associate Professor, Music
51. Yotam Gingold, Associate Professor, Computer Science
52. Philip Rubin, Professor, Physics and Astronomy
53. Jandos Rothstein, Associate Professor, School of Art
54. Alison Redlich, Distinguished University Professor, Criminology, Law and Society
55. Lisa Gilman, Professor, Folklore and English
56. David Kaufmann, Professor, English
57. Larry Kerschberg, Professor Emeritus, Department of Computer Science
58. Steve Pilloff, Instructional Professor, Costello College of Business
59. Gregory Koblentz, Associate Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government
60. Steven Weinberger, Professor Emeritus, Linguistics, English
61. Marc Gopin, James Laue Professor of World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, Carter School of Peace and Conflict Resolution
62. Adina Friedman, Adjunct Professor, Carter School of Peace and Conflict Resolution
63. Kevin Dunayer, Professor of Theater & Events Production, School of Theater/School of Sport, Recreation & Tourism Management
64. Jennifer Wood, Term Assistant Professor, English
65. Dale Rothman, Associate Professor, Department of Computational & Data Sciences
66. Gad Perry, Professor, Environmental Science and Policy
67. Maurice David Kugler, Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Economics, Schar School of Policy and Government
68. Karla Hoffman, Professor Emeritus, Systems Engineering and Operations Research
69. Mark Ginsberg, Professor Emeritus, Counseling
70. Carley Fisher-Maltese, Associate Professor, Inclusive Early Childhood Education
71. Robyn Mehlenbeck, Professor, Director - Center for Community Mental Health, Psychology
72. Benedict Carton, Academic, School of Integrative Studies
73. Kevin Avruch, Professor Emeritus, Carter School of Peace and Conflict Resolution
74. Kathryn Laskey, Professor Emerita, Systems Engineering and Operations Research
75. Lee Black, Assistant Professor (Instructional), Health Administration and Policy
76. Alexandria Frisch, Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies, Religious Studies
77. Samantha Viano, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy
78. Rebecca R.G., Associate Professor, Mathematical Sciences
79. Michael Jarret, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences and Department of Computer Science
80. Edward Maibach, Mason Distinguished University Professor (Emeritus), Communication
81. Barry Klinger, Associate Professor, Atmospheric, Oceanic & Earth Sci (AOES)
82. Ariel Goldenthal, Associate Professor of English, English/Composition
83. Alex Brodsky, Professor, Computer Science
84. Evelyn Sander, Professor, Mathematical Sciences
85. Ellen Clarke, Adjunct Professor, School of Law