<div dir="ltr"><div>The timing on this seems incredibly cynical and manipulative. <br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Oct 12, 2023 at 11:52 AM <<a href="mailto:linganth-request@listserv.linguistlist.org">linganth-request@listserv.linguistlist.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Send Linganth mailing list submissions to<br>
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<br>
Today's Topics:<br>
<br>
1. Supporting change at the AAA (Elise Berman)<br>
2. Re: Supporting change at the AAA (Alexander M. Thomson)<br>
<br>
<br>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
Message: 1<br>
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2023 11:45:43 -0400<br>
From: Elise Berman <<a href="mailto:eberman@charlotte.edu" target="_blank">eberman@charlotte.edu</a>><br>
To: "<a href="mailto:LINGANTH@LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG" target="_blank">LINGANTH@LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG</a>"<br>
<<a href="mailto:linganth@listserv.linguistlist.org" target="_blank">linganth@listserv.linguistlist.org</a>><br>
Subject: [Linganth] Supporting change at the AAA<br>
Message-ID:<br>
<CAG-JUfuXrmVjk0vntmR6HAgijVx=<a href="mailto:t7Oi%2BDUnhpejxBNPrrC-Bg@mail.gmail.com" target="_blank">t7Oi+DUnhpejxBNPrrC-Bg@mail.gmail.com</a>><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"<br>
<br>
Dear SLA members:<br>
<br>
<br>
Below you will see a letter asking you to support a change in by-laws of<br>
the AAA. The changes proposed are below as is a brief rationale for<br>
them, and a link to sign. This move is in response to the recent vote by<br>
the AAA to boycott and sanction universities in Israel. Especially in light<br>
of recent events, I hope that you might follow the link, sign the petition,<br>
and support the organization considering this change in the AAA by-laws.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Very best wishes<br>
Elise Berman (incoming linguistics seat on the AAA nominations committee)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Dear Friends and Colleagues,<br>
<br>
As you know, the AAA membership recently voted to boycott and sanction<br>
universities in a single nation, Israel. Arguments against the boycott of<br>
any academic institutions were previously posted on the AAA website.<br>
Anthropology as a discipline was founded on the commitment to promoting<br>
understanding and communication across cultural boundaries. Academic<br>
boycotts violate this basic principle.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
To address this concern, a next step is to launch an effort to amend the<br>
By-Laws of the AAA to prohibit any academic boycotts by the American<br>
Anthropological Association (Article I, Section 1). This amendment to the<br>
AAA By-Laws will reflect a commitment to the free exchange of ideas among<br>
academics, which is core to the discipline of Anthropology.<br>
<br>
In order for there to be a full AAA membership vote to amend the AAA<br>
By-Laws, 250 signatures from AAA members are required. Please visit the<br>
following website to endorse a vote on the proposed amendment (<br>
<a href="https://forms.gle/5p7CDmZTCujMBbzU6" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/5p7CDmZTCujMBbzU6</a>).<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
If you sign this document, and 250 signatures are received, it will come to<br>
a vote of the broader AAA membership. At that point, all AAA members will<br>
have the opportunity to vote on the proposed new By-Law.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
<br>
Pamela Feldman-Savelsberg, Carleton College<br>
<br>
Aliya Glatt, University of California Los Angeles<br>
<br>
Harvey E. Goldberg, Hebrew University of Jerusalem<br>
<br>
Alma Gottlieb, University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign and Brown<br>
University<br>
<br>
Sergei Kan, Dartmouth College<br>
<br>
Melvin Konner, Emory University<br>
<br>
Jill E. Korbin, Case Western Reserve University<br>
<br>
Robert Lemelson, University of California Los Angeles<br>
<br>
Fran Markowitz, Ben Gurion University of the Negev<br>
<br>
David M. Rosen, Farleigh Dickenson University<br>
<br>
Cynthia Saltzman, Rutgers University-Camden<br>
<br>
Richard A. Shweder, University of Chicago<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
***************************************************<br>
<br>
Proposed New AAA By-Law against Academic Boycotts:<br>
<br>
?AAA is an academic and professional association and a community of<br>
scholars who support open inquiry, free speech, and the unrestricted<br>
exchange of ideas on a global scale. In furtherance of our commitment to<br>
academic freedom, the<br>
<br>
American Anthropological Association opposes and does not participate in<br>
academic boycotts."<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
****************************************************<br>
<br>
Rationale for the New AAA By-Law:<br>
<br>
The American Anthropological Association should uphold the sanctity of the<br>
principle of academic freedom that enables and protects the ability of<br>
scholars to write, teach, and pursue research. This right must be protected<br>
by recognizing that academic boycotts pose a threat not only to<br>
institutions, but to the students, scholars, and staff who work there and<br>
who are the lifeblood of universities. Where governments or institutions<br>
engage in unethical practices, including limiting academic freedom of their<br>
own students and faculty, those policies and truths should be exposed and<br>
critiqued, especially by scholars with regional expertise. Nonetheless, the<br>
AAA should not formally endorse a broad academic boycott of these<br>
institutions, whose human capital would be directly affected. Instead, in<br>
accord with the principles of academic freedom and open inquiry, the AAA<br>
should support open lines of communication, the free exchange of ideas, and<br>
a diversity of viewpoints among scholars globally.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
As the AAUP has stated, ?The form that noncooperation with an academic<br>
institution takes inevitably involves a refusal to engage in academic<br>
discourse with teachers and researchers, not all of whom are complicit in<br>
the policies that are being protested. Moreover, an academic boycott can<br>
compound a regime?s suppression of freedoms by cutting off contacts with an<br>
institution?s or a country?s academics. In addition, the academic boycott<br>
is usually at least once removed from the real target. Rarely are<br>
individuals or even individual institutions the issue. What is being sought<br>
is a change in state policy. The issue, then, is whether those faculty or<br>
ideas that could contribute to changing state policy are harmed when<br>
communication with outside academic institutions is cut off and how to<br>
weigh that harm against the possible political gains the pressure of an<br>
academic boycott might secure.?<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
The AAUP argued that the continued exchange of faculty, students, and ideas<br>
is more conducive to academic freedom in the long run than is an academic<br>
boycott. This freedom is what we share and treasure as academics, beyond<br>
specific ideologies or political views we might espouse as individuals. In<br>
accord with this rationale, a new By-law stating that the AAA does not<br>
endorse academic boycotts is warranted and necessary.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
We invite you to vote in favor of this new addition to the AAA By-laws.<br>
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<br>
Message: 2<br>
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2023 08:51:29 -0700<br>
From: "Alexander M. Thomson" <<a href="mailto:alexander.thomson@ucla.edu" target="_blank">alexander.thomson@ucla.edu</a>><br>
To: Elise Berman <<a href="mailto:eberman@charlotte.edu" target="_blank">eberman@charlotte.edu</a>><br>
Cc: "<a href="mailto:LINGANTH@LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG" target="_blank">LINGANTH@LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG</a>"<br>
<<a href="mailto:linganth@listserv.linguistlist.org" target="_blank">linganth@listserv.linguistlist.org</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [Linganth] Supporting change at the AAA<br>
Message-ID:<br>
<<a href="mailto:CAGHmBp47FxgsGZycKbmShj5FFsHGHTy%2B-nmz6i-yZh5XO8N81w@mail.gmail.com" target="_blank">CAGHmBp47FxgsGZycKbmShj5FFsHGHTy+-nmz6i-yZh5XO8N81w@mail.gmail.com</a>><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"<br>
<br>
Thank you for sending this out! Can someone remind me though why the AAA as<br>
a scientific and professional body feels compelled to take moral &<br>
political stances (e.g. boycotts) in the first place?<br>
<br>
On Thu, Oct 12, 2023 at 8:47 AM Elise Berman <<a href="mailto:eberman@charlotte.edu" target="_blank">eberman@charlotte.edu</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
> Dear SLA members:<br>
><br>
><br>
> Below you will see a letter asking you to support a change in by-laws of<br>
> the AAA. The changes proposed are below as is a brief rationale for<br>
> them, and a link to sign. This move is in response to the recent vote by<br>
> the AAA to boycott and sanction universities in Israel. Especially in light<br>
> of recent events, I hope that you might follow the link, sign the petition,<br>
> and support the organization considering this change in the AAA by-laws.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Very best wishes<br>
> Elise Berman (incoming linguistics seat on the AAA nominations committee)<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Dear Friends and Colleagues,<br>
><br>
> As you know, the AAA membership recently voted to boycott and sanction<br>
> universities in a single nation, Israel. Arguments against the boycott of<br>
> any academic institutions were previously posted on the AAA website.<br>
> Anthropology as a discipline was founded on the commitment to promoting<br>
> understanding and communication across cultural boundaries. Academic<br>
> boycotts violate this basic principle.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> To address this concern, a next step is to launch an effort to amend the<br>
> By-Laws of the AAA to prohibit any academic boycotts by the American<br>
> Anthropological Association (Article I, Section 1). This amendment to the<br>
> AAA By-Laws will reflect a commitment to the free exchange of ideas among<br>
> academics, which is core to the discipline of Anthropology.<br>
><br>
> In order for there to be a full AAA membership vote to amend the AAA<br>
> By-Laws, 250 signatures from AAA members are required. Please visit the<br>
> following website to endorse a vote on the proposed amendment (<br>
> <a href="https://forms.gle/5p7CDmZTCujMBbzU6" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/5p7CDmZTCujMBbzU6</a>).<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> If you sign this document, and 250 signatures are received, it will come<br>
> to a vote of the broader AAA membership. At that point, all AAA members<br>
> will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed new By-Law.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Sincerely,<br>
><br>
> Pamela Feldman-Savelsberg, Carleton College<br>
><br>
> Aliya Glatt, University of California Los Angeles<br>
><br>
> Harvey E. Goldberg, Hebrew University of Jerusalem<br>
><br>
> Alma Gottlieb, University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign and Brown<br>
> University<br>
><br>
> Sergei Kan, Dartmouth College<br>
><br>
> Melvin Konner, Emory University<br>
><br>
> Jill E. Korbin, Case Western Reserve University<br>
><br>
> Robert Lemelson, University of California Los Angeles<br>
><br>
> Fran Markowitz, Ben Gurion University of the Negev<br>
><br>
> David M. Rosen, Farleigh Dickenson University<br>
><br>
> Cynthia Saltzman, Rutgers University-Camden<br>
><br>
> Richard A. Shweder, University of Chicago<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> ***************************************************<br>
><br>
> Proposed New AAA By-Law against Academic Boycotts:<br>
><br>
> ?AAA is an academic and professional association and a community of<br>
> scholars who support open inquiry, free speech, and the unrestricted<br>
> exchange of ideas on a global scale. In furtherance of our commitment to<br>
> academic freedom, the<br>
><br>
> American Anthropological Association opposes and does not participate in<br>
> academic boycotts."<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> ****************************************************<br>
><br>
> Rationale for the New AAA By-Law:<br>
><br>
> The American Anthropological Association should uphold the sanctity of the<br>
> principle of academic freedom that enables and protects the ability of<br>
> scholars to write, teach, and pursue research. This right must be protected<br>
> by recognizing that academic boycotts pose a threat not only to<br>
> institutions, but to the students, scholars, and staff who work there and<br>
> who are the lifeblood of universities. Where governments or institutions<br>
> engage in unethical practices, including limiting academic freedom of their<br>
> own students and faculty, those policies and truths should be exposed and<br>
> critiqued, especially by scholars with regional expertise. Nonetheless, the<br>
> AAA should not formally endorse a broad academic boycott of these<br>
> institutions, whose human capital would be directly affected. Instead, in<br>
> accord with the principles of academic freedom and open inquiry, the AAA<br>
> should support open lines of communication, the free exchange of ideas, and<br>
> a diversity of viewpoints among scholars globally.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> As the AAUP has stated, ?The form that noncooperation with an academic<br>
> institution takes inevitably involves a refusal to engage in academic<br>
> discourse with teachers and researchers, not all of whom are complicit in<br>
> the policies that are being protested. Moreover, an academic boycott can<br>
> compound a regime?s suppression of freedoms by cutting off contacts with an<br>
> institution?s or a country?s academics. In addition, the academic boycott<br>
> is usually at least once removed from the real target. Rarely are<br>
> individuals or even individual institutions the issue. What is being sought<br>
> is a change in state policy. The issue, then, is whether those faculty or<br>
> ideas that could contribute to changing state policy are harmed when<br>
> communication with outside academic institutions is cut off and how to<br>
> weigh that harm against the possible political gains the pressure of an<br>
> academic boycott might secure.?<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> The AAUP argued that the continued exchange of faculty, students, and<br>
> ideas is more conducive to academic freedom in the long run than is an<br>
> academic boycott. This freedom is what we share and treasure as academics,<br>
> beyond specific ideologies or political views we might espouse as<br>
> individuals. In accord with this rationale, a new By-law stating that the<br>
> AAA does not endorse academic boycotts is warranted and necessary.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> We invite you to vote in favor of this new addition to the AAA By-laws.<br>
><br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> Linganth mailing list<br>
> <a href="mailto:Linganth@listserv.linguistlist.org" target="_blank">Linganth@listserv.linguistlist.org</a><br>
> <a href="https://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linganth" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linganth</a><br>
><br>
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****************************************<br>
</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><br><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div>Paul Manning<br>Professor of Anthropology, <span>Trent University</span><br>Editor, <i>Semiotic Review</i>: <a href="http://semioticreview.com" target="_blank">semioticreview.com</a><br><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal"><br></div><br><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br><table style="border-top:1px solid #d3d4de"><tr><td style="width:55px;padding-top:13px"><a href="https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail" target="_blank"><img src="https://s-install.avcdn.net/ipm/preview/icons/icon-envelope-tick-round-orange-animated-no-repeat-v1.gif" alt="" width="46" height="29" style="width: 46px; height: 29px;"></a></td><td style="width:470px;padding-top:12px;color:#41424e;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:18px">Virus-free.<a href="https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail" target="_blank" style="color:#4453ea">www.avast.com</a></td></tr></table><a href="#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2" width="1" height="1"></a></div>