Letter to the Chair of History at Brooklyn College

The Advo­cate has drafted a let­ter that can be sent to the chair of the soci­ol­ogy depart­ment at Brook­lyn Col­lege in defense of Kristofer Petersen-Overton. Please take a moment and email Pro­fes­sor David Troyansky, demand­ing that he sup­port Petersen-Overton and aca­d­e­mic free­dom at CUNY this com­ing week as Brook­lyn College’s var­i­ous depart­ments hold emer­gency meet­ings to decide how to proceed. Specifically, it is imper­a­tive that Petersen-Overton be hired to teach the course as orig­i­nally agreed. He can be con­tacted via email at [email protected]

***

Dear Pro­fes­sor Troyansky,

I am writ­ing to encour­age you to demon­strate lead­er­ship this com­ing week when the var­i­ous depart­ments of Brook­lyn Col­lege meet to dis­cuss the vio­la­tion of aca­d­e­mic free­dom being per­pe­trated by the admin­is­tra­tion in the case of Kristofer Petersen-Overton.

As you know, Mr. Petersen-Overton was dis­missed by Provost William Tra­mon­tano at the urg­ing of State Assem­bly­man Dov Hikind. As a num­ber of promi­nent aca­d­e­mics and pub­lic intel­lec­tu­als from around the world have noted, this brand of neo-McCarthyism has no place at Brook­lyn Col­lege and must not be tolerated.

I ask that you lead your depart­ment in stand­ing up to this polit­i­cal bul­ly­ing and help ensure that the integrity of the col­lege — built in no small mea­sure upon the foun­da­tions of the prin­ci­ple of aca­d­e­mic free­dom — remains intact. Specifically, it is imper­a­tive that Mr. Petersen-Overton be rein­stated to teach the course on Mid­dle East Pol­i­tics as orig­i­nally agreed.

I’ll be keep­ing informed of the events as they unfold at Brook­lyn Col­lege, and look for­ward to hear­ing about your efforts in sup­port of Kristofer Petersen-Overton and the rights of all fac­ulty in the CUNY system.

Yours,

Share on Facebook

Print Friendly

3 Responses to “Letter to the Chair of History at Brooklyn College”

1. Dr Fayez Najjar says:

   Jan 30, 2011 at 12:56 am

   Dear Pro­fes­sor Troyansky,

   I am writ­ing to encour­age you to demon­strate lead­er­ship this com­ing week when the var­i­ous depart­ments of Brook­lyn Col­lege meet to dis­cuss the vio­la­tion of aca­d­e­mic free­dom being per­pe­trated by the admin­is­tra­tion in the case of Kristofer Petersen-Overton. Thousands of PhD candidates teach graduate seminars particularly if it is their specialty. Overton delima is that in NY you must be pro Israeli. Why do you allow politics to influence academic learning?

   As you know, Mr. Petersen-Overton was dis­missed by Provost William Tra­mon­tano at the urg­ing of State Assem­bly­man Dov Hikind. As a num­ber of promi­nent aca­d­e­mics and pub­lic intel­lec­tu­als from around the world have noted, this brand of neo-McCarthyism has no place at Brook­lyn Col­lege and must not be tolerated.

   I ask that you lead your depart­ment in stand­ing up to this polit­i­cal bul­ly­ing and help ensure that the integrity of the col­lege — built in no small mea­sure upon the foun­da­tions of the prin­ci­ple of aca­d­e­mic free­dom — remains intact. Specifically, it is imper­a­tive that Mr. Petersen-Overton be rein­stated to teach the course on Mid­dle East Pol­i­tics as orig­i­nally agreed.

   I’ll be keep­ing informed of the events as they unfold at Brook­lyn Col­lege, and look for­ward to hear­ing about your efforts in sup­port of Kristofer Petersen-Overton and the rights of all fac­ulty in the CUNY system.

   Yours,

   Dr Najjar

   Reply
   • David G. Troyansky says:

     Jan 30, 2011 at 3:03 pm

     Indeed, I am aware of the issue and deeply committed to protecting academic freedom and shared governance at Brooklyn College and elsewhere. Faculty in my department and throughout the college have been consulting and petitioning. Fellow historians at other institutions and individuals and groups dedicated to academic freedom have also weighed in with letters to the president. For my part, I look forward to the opportunity to hear from and speak directly to the administration on a matter of serious concern to us all.

     Sincerely,
     David G. Troyansky

     Reply
2. M says:

   Apr 28, 2011 at 8:08 am

   Sad to see that BC overturned the decision of Karen Gould and re-hired this Jew-hater.

   When will the political correctness end?

   Reply