[Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests

Wed May 1 14:47:50 PDT 2024

Dear Yoav,

As a professor devoted to close reading and cultural histories in various languages in contact, I would like to point out that a carefully reading of the text on the link you shared states very clearly that:

“However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”

Indeed, there is wide agreement that anti-Zionism, that is, criticism of the expansive colonial policies of the modern state of Israel, and its theocratic policies, conducted on the backs of the Palestinian people and other neighbors, is not the same as antisemitism. Antisemitism, like any racist or genocidal discourse is abhorrent. Anti-zionism, however, is a geopolitical position that puts into question the policies of the state of Israel towards the occupied territories and its neighbors, these are two very distinct political and ideological positions and it is of the utmost importance that we do not obfuscate this nuanced distinction here. Repressing a criticism of the state of Israel and describing it as antisemitic is plain wrong. Criticism should be allowed, and it is not a form of antisemitism. I oppose including this discussion or the characterization of campus demonstrators as antisemitic in our public letter.

In solidarity,

Pedro

Pedro García-Caro<https://cas.uoregon.edu/directory/romance-languages/all/pgcaro>

Associate Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies | School of Global Studies, University of Oregon | UO Senator (2023-2025), College of Arts and Sciences, Humanities | Friendly Hall 325 | (541) 346-5813

General Editor, Periphērica: A Journal of Social, Cultural, and Literary Studies<http://journals.oregondigital.org/index.php/peripherica/index>
Co-Editor, Journal of Academic Freedom<https://www.aaup.org/reports-publications/journal-academic-freedom>

[signature_1127409394]

The University of Oregon is located on Kalapuya ilihi, the traditional indigenous homeland of the Kalapuya people.<https://library.uoregon.edu/honoring-native-peoples-and-lands>

From: uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu <uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> on behalf of Yoav Dubinsky <yoavd at uoregon.edu>
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 2:17 PM
To: Raoul Lievanos <raoull at uoregon.edu>, Carrie McCurdy <cmccurd5 at uoregon.edu>, Senate President <senatepres at uoregon.edu>, Senate Vice President <senatevp at uoregon.edu>
Cc: uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu <uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu>
Subject: Re: [Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests
Dear Senators,

I feel somewhat uncomfortable by this message and exchanges of emails, as they lack condemnation of hate speech and specifically antisemitism. I would have supported such a message if it included condemnation of antisemitism including clarifying to UO members what is the internationally officially accepted definition of antisemitism<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.state.gov/defining-antisemitism/__;!!C5qS4YX3!DNR8v__sM_Odfq-4Obioqal2dc44hjAraPorvEO8ve6YMYAkMYXLJYN6YtK2h37KPyO0oLsVihtzQ8aXZg$> that is also adopted by the U.S. Department of State since the Obama administration.

Best,
Yoav Dubinsky, PhD
Instructor of Sports Business
Lundquist College of Business
University of Oregon
Anstett 298D
Eugene, OR 97403
Phone: 541-346-3532
Email: yoavd at uoregon.edu<mailto:yoavd at uoregon.edu>

From: uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu <uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> On Behalf Of Raoul Lievanos
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 1:28 PM
To: Carrie McCurdy <cmccurd5 at uoregon.edu>; Senate President <senatepres at uoregon.edu>; Senate Vice President <senatevp at uoregon.edu>
Cc: uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu
Subject: Re: [Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests

Hello all,

Gerard and Alison, thank you for drafting the letter. I would like to add my name in support of the letter. Also, I second Pedro’s suggestion to remove “leader” and/or “leadership” from the letter “to allow for all members of the senate to support and thus strengthen the statement.”

Sincerely,

Raoul

------------------------------------------
Raoul S. Liévanos, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
Chair-Elect, Section on Environmental Sociology, <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.asanet.org/asa_sections/environmental-sociology/__;!!C5qS4YX3!DgL6utJGxiKTFFfHADlVUqoqb_7AUWCpoznF64kI2lZiqr-TmoqsgOTQE37Vytho_hG-ggWVl4dORf5HXfc$>
  American Sociological Association<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.asanet.org/asa_sections/environmental-sociology/__;!!C5qS4YX3!DgL6utJGxiKTFFfHADlVUqoqb_7AUWCpoznF64kI2lZiqr-TmoqsgOTQE37Vytho_hG-ggWVl4dORf5HXfc$>
Associate Professor
Department of Sociology<https://socialsciences.uoregon.edu/sociology>
640 Prince Lucien Campbell Hall
1291 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1291

The University of Oregon is located on the homeland of Indigenous Kalapuya peoples<https://library.uoregon.edu/honoring-native-peoples-and-lands>.

E-mail: raoull at uoregon.edu<mailto:raoull at uoregon.edu>
Website: https://cas.uoregon.edu/directory/sociology/all/raoull

New Publication: Liévanos, Raoul S. 2023. “Racialized Hazardous Space: A Critical Race Urban-Environmental Sociology of Residential Security in the Depression Era<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/doi.org/10.1177/15356841231176539__;!!C5qS4YX3!DgL6utJGxiKTFFfHADlVUqoqb_7AUWCpoznF64kI2lZiqr-TmoqsgOTQE37Vytho_hG-ggWVl4dOnVyo8Ik$>.” City & Community 22(4):308-329 (Special Issue: “Environmentalizing Urban Sociology”).

From: uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu>> On Behalf Of Carrie McCurdy
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:36 PM
To: Senate President <senatepres at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatepres at uoregon.edu>>; Senate Vice President <senatevp at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatevp at uoregon.edu>>
Cc: uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu>
Subject: Re: [Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests

I would also like to sign. Perhaps, we can add this to agenda for the meeting today.

Carrie E. McCurdy, PhD (she/hers)

Associate Professor | Associate Department Head
University of Oregon | Human Physiology
Office: 112 Pacific Hall, 1025 University St, Eugene, OR 97403
Shipping: 109 Cascade Annex, 1254 Franklin Blvd, Eugene, OR 97403
Contact: 541-346-5069 | cmccurd5 at uoregon.edu<mailto:cmccurd5 at uoregon.edu>

________________________________
From: uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu>> on behalf of Kathryn Mills <klmills at uoregon.edu<mailto:klmills at uoregon.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:17 PM
To: Senate President <senatepres at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatepres at uoregon.edu>>; Senate Vice President <senatevp at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatevp at uoregon.edu>>
Cc: uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests

Thank you for crafting this letter! I would like to add my signature in support.

Kate

-----
Kate Mills, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
University of Oregon
www.devbrainlab.org<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.devbrainlab.org__;!!C5qS4YX3!AXSVdPkYZGl4oG0692GpoxHWYVdx1UNhlSBg5pmN94Awg_FhRIwqiP2dTVPqKMYSVjsph23mDLEcdfb-JilsfqM$>
541-346-0475
________________________________
From: uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu>> on behalf of Christopher Michlig <cmichlig at uoregon.edu<mailto:cmichlig at uoregon.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 11:44 AM
To: Erica Bornstein <ebornste at uoregon.edu<mailto:ebornste at uoregon.edu>>; Bjorn Smars <smars at uoregon.edu<mailto:smars at uoregon.edu>>
Cc: uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests

I would like to sign as well

Professor of Art, Clark Honors College Faculty in Residence
Research home > Department of Art
University of Oregon

Office Hours -
In-person office hours - Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu - 9:30am-11:30am
Office location - Chapman Hall Room 128
Zoom office hours – Friday 10:00am-12:00pm by appointment
https://uoregon.zoom.us/j/91450332275<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/uoregon.zoom.us/j/91450332275__;!!C5qS4YX3!FYTkNCEcRCbgApROhoGMRs5C8RVpg8qoCQ9yGqAzWaSIKC7YNMO9Vgp_RovvFTclQkIBMg9W5qOmZJ6aJ1flZIE$>
*I am very happy to arrange meetings outside of my scheduled office hours if necessary

christophermichlig.com<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/christophermichlig.com/__;!!C5qS4YX3!FYTkNCEcRCbgApROhoGMRs5C8RVpg8qoCQ9yGqAzWaSIKC7YNMO9Vgp_RovvFTclQkIBMg9W5qOmZJ6aTN44QIo$>
323-393-5699

Author, File Under: Slime<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/hatandbeard.com/products/file-under-slime-by-christopher-michlig__;!!C5qS4YX3!FYTkNCEcRCbgApROhoGMRs5C8RVpg8qoCQ9yGqAzWaSIKC7YNMO9Vgp_RovvFTclQkIBMg9W5qOmZJ6auYm-5i0$>, Hat and Beard Press (2023)

Enrolled member, Seldovia Village Tribe
svt.org<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/svt.org/__;!!C5qS4YX3!FYTkNCEcRCbgApROhoGMRs5C8RVpg8qoCQ9yGqAzWaSIKC7YNMO9Vgp_RovvFTclQkIBMg9W5qOmZJ6ayFs-_p8$>

________________________________
From: uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu>> on behalf of Erica Bornstein <ebornste at uoregon.edu<mailto:ebornste at uoregon.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 11:39 AM
To: Bjorn Smars <smars at uoregon.edu<mailto:smars at uoregon.edu>>
Cc: uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests

I too would like to be added in supporting this letter. Thanks Gerard and Alison.

Erica Bornstein
Professor of Anthropology
University of Oregon

On May 1, 2024, at 11:35 AM, Bjorn Smars <smars at uoregon.edu<mailto:smars at uoregon.edu>> wrote:

I, too, would like to sign an open letter. Thank you, Gerard, Alison, and anyone else involved in crafting this message.

Bjorn Smars
Senior Instructor I
Assistant Department Head, English Department
University of Oregon
Office: PLC 223
Pronouns: he/him
________________________________
From: uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu>> on behalf of Lillian Duran <lduran at uoregon.edu<mailto:lduran at uoregon.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 11:07 AM
To: Dyana Mason <dmason at uoregon.edu<mailto:dmason at uoregon.edu>>; Pedro Garcia-Caro <pgcaro at uoregon.edu<mailto:pgcaro at uoregon.edu>>; Senate President <senatepres at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatepres at uoregon.edu>>; uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu>>; Senate Vice President <senatevp at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatevp at uoregon.edu>>; Sandy Weintraub <sandymw at uoregon.edu<mailto:sandymw at uoregon.edu>>; Betina Lynn <betina at uoregon.edu<mailto:betina at uoregon.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests

I agree! I read this immediately and I’d love to sign on. It appears we are slipping into Vietnam era actions against students and it concerns me deeply.

From: uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu>> on behalf of Dyana Mason <dmason at uoregon.edu<mailto:dmason at uoregon.edu>>
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 10:53 AM
To: Pedro Garcia-Caro <pgcaro at uoregon.edu<mailto:pgcaro at uoregon.edu>>, Senate President <senatepres at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatepres at uoregon.edu>>, uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu><uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu>>, Senate Vice President <senatevp at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatevp at uoregon.edu>>, Sandy Weintraub <sandymw at uoregon.edu<mailto:sandymw at uoregon.edu>>, Betina Lynn <betina at uoregon.edu<mailto:betina at uoregon.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests
Agreed, Pedro.  I’d be happy to support an open letter.

Dyana Mason, MBA PhD
Director, Master’s in Nonprofit Management
Director, Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management
School of Planning, Public Policy and Management
University of Oregon
541-346-2324  |  dmason at uoregon.edu<mailto:dmason at uoregon.edu>  |www.dyanamason.com<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.dyanamason.com__;!!C5qS4YX3!EOxzK7RY6j7v_oTwp_tybaH-s_EC4hzdUT0SlgZ3bEoytsZSl2TR4IvtqcoSGY3ZZ92kyjNyqByR6Ne8BbM$>
Book an appointment: https://calendly.com/dyanamason/officehours<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/calendly.com/dyanamason/officehours__;!!C5qS4YX3!C91lBVCo2lnPk6l3tQeiYXesdtBbn3ObrB5gkQw0lxwQTDayLrDGKAYh6mOio9eL_nsRgzzzfg7gY6OrItGH$>

From: uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu>> On Behalf Of Pedro Garcia-Caro
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 10:36 AM
To: Senate President <senatepres at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatepres at uoregon.edu>>; uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu>; Senate Vice President <senatevp at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatevp at uoregon.edu>>; Sandy Weintraub <sandymw at uoregon.edu<mailto:sandymw at uoregon.edu>>; Betina Lynn <betina at uoregon.edu<mailto:betina at uoregon.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests

Dear Gerard and Allison,

Thanks so much for your response and your leadership in this. Can you please add my signature to your letter (perhaps leader and/or leadership could be removed to allow for all members of the senate to support and thus strengthen the statement?)

Thanks!
Pedro

Pedro García-Caro

Associate Professor of Spanish | Department of Romance Languages | School of Global Studies | 325 Friendly Hall | 1233 University of Oregon | Eugene, Oregon 97403-1233 | (541) 513-8706 | pgcaro at uoregon.edu<mailto:pgcaro at uoregon.edu>
https://cas.uoregon.edu/directory/romance-languages/all/pgcaro
________________________________
From: uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate-bounces at lists.uoregon.edu>> on behalf of Senate President <senatepres at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatepres at uoregon.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 10:06
To: uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu> <uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:uosenate at lists.uoregon.edu>>; Senate Vice President <senatevp at uoregon.edu<mailto:senatevp at uoregon.edu>>; Sandy Weintraub <sandymw at uoregon.edu<mailto:sandymw at uoregon.edu>>; Betina Lynn <betina at uoregon.edu<mailto:betina at uoregon.edu>>
Subject: [Uosenate] Senate leadership statement on Freedom of Speech and protests

Dear UO Senators,

As University of Oregon Senate Leadership members, we support faculty, staff, and students' right to protest peacefully. In fact, the Senate just passed an updated UO University Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech policy on March 13, 2024. The policy begins with an important statement: “1.1  WHEREAS the essential values of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech are bedrock principles of the University of Oregon...” The updated policy improves and clarifies our university’s stance on the importance of these critical principles. These principles are pillars of our university’s core academic mission, both to our students and our public mission to the State of Oregon and the world. You can find the policy here:

https://senate.uoregon.edu/senate-motions/us2324-07-academic-freedom-and-freedom-speech-policy

As Senate and University leaders, we are deeply concerned by the actions taken across the country to forcefully remove and arrest students who peacefully gathered in non-disruptive ways to exercise their freedom of speech. Such actions undermine the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and academic freedom and the value of critical expression in our community at the University of Oregon. As Senate Leadership, we take a proactive stance, advocating for respectful dialogue and constructive engagement to address the issues being raised by the Gaza Solidarity Camp.

We urgently and unequivocally call upon the University of Oregon administration to not just acknowledge but actively uphold the rights of all members of our academic community to express themselves peacefully.  Furthermore, we strongly urge the administration to engage proactively with the Gaza Solidarity Camp members, seeking collaborative and peaceful solutions to pave the way forward. No member of our university community should feel intimidated while on our university grounds. Senate leadership has been working tirelessly with President Scholz and Interim Provost Ford to express this fundamental point and to seek ways that our Senate’s mission of maintaining the University’s academic integrity is protected while also seeking means of supporting the rights of free speech and the safety of all our students, faculty, and staff.

Let’s unite as a Senate and university community in an authentic dialogue to seek ways to move forward positively and productively.

Cordially,

Dr. Gerard Sandoval, UO Senate President
Dr. Alison Schmitke, UO Senate Vice-President

Gerard Francisco Sandoval, PhD
President, University Senate<https://senate.uoregon.edu/>
Professor, School of Planning, Public Policy and Management<https://pppm.uoregon.edu/>
University of Oregon
147A Hendricks Hall
Eugene, OR, 97403-1209
541-346-8432

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