Open Letter to the University Community

Open letter to the University community:

On March 18, University members held a peaceful demonstration on campus on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Their point: that the Iraq war, which has now entered its sixth year, has been based from the start on blatant lies, is conducted in violation of international laws, and has made the United States an international pariah.

In an act of non-violent civil disobedience, a group of demonstrators continued the on-campus rally by marching down Vestal Parkway. They carried signs and banners that sought to raise awareness of the tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths that have devastated thousands of families both here and in Iraq and the hundreds of billions of dollars wasted in this war, draining resources from our universities, schools, cities, and general infrastructure. The march was brutally broken up by the police, who arrested eight students and one alumna of Binghamton University.

As university faculty our mission is not only to teach students professional skills but also to prepare them as responsible citizens to engage critically with the social, economic, political, and moral conditions of the world in which we live. The courage and commitment of the students who undertook this action in support of peace and an end to an illegal war deserves our full support. The University Judicial Affairs Office is, however, considering whether to bring charges against the students under the Student Code of Conduct. This action sends a chilling message to all members of the University community: dissent by students will not be tolerated. As concerned citizens and members of the faculty, we call on the Judicial Affairs Office not to bring charges against these students. We also appeal to the administration, students and staff of the university to express their solidarity with the students and their cause.

Signed by professors:
Barbara Abou-El-Haj, Art History
Jeffner Allen, Philosophy
Bat-Ami Bar On, Philosophy
Reinhard Bernbeck, Anthropology
Herbert Bix, History and Sociology
Mark Blumler, Geography
Gisela Brink-Gabler, Comparative Literature
Virginia Brown, Political Science
David Cingranelli, Political Science
Marylinn Desmond, English
Aruna D’Souza, Art History
Thomas Dublin, History
Bonnie Effros, History
Deborah Elliston, Anthropology
Nergis Ertürk, Comparative Literature
Carmen Ferradas, Anthropology
Ross Geoghegan, Mathematical Sciences
Thomas Glave, English
Douglas Glick, Anthropology
William Haver, Comparative Literature
Gladys Jimenez-Munoz, CCPA Human Development
Wulf Kansteiner, History
Gerald Kutcher, History
Ingeborg Majer O’Sickey, German, Russian, and East Asian Languages
Florence Margai, Geography
Randall McGuire, Anthropology
Rosmarie Morewedge, German, Russian, and East Asian Languages
Martin Murray, Sociology
Ravi Arvind Palat, Sociology
Susan Pollock, Anthropology
Donald Quataert, History
Jean Quataert, History
Kelvin Santiago, Sociology
Mahua Sarkar, Sociology
Kathryn Kish Sklar, History
William Spanos, English
Ann Stahl, Anthropology
Lisa Tessman, Philosophy
Michael West, Sociology"