APSA condemns the boycott

Following the statements of the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Association of University Professors and the Middle East Studies Association of North America, Margaret Levi, President of the American Political Science Association, has now also written to the AUT. Her letter is addressed to Sally Hunt, the General Secretary:

Dear Ms. Hunt,

On behalf of the Council and the Committee on Professional Ethics, Rights, and Freedoms of the American Political Science Association, I am writing to convey the following statement, issued in conjunction with the position expressed by the American Association of University Professors, with respect the academic boycott recently adopted by the AUT.

"The American Political Science Association, through action by its Council and its Committee on Professional Ethics, Rights, and Freedoms, supports the views expressed in the May 3, 2005 statement by the AAUP against academic boycotts. We join in condemning the resolutions of the AUT that damage academic freedom and we call for their repeal."

We hope that these matters can be resolved quickly and in a manner that affirms our common interest in higher education and academic freedom.

Sincerely,

Margaret Levi
President

See also this account of the boycott controversy by Hasdai Westbrook in today's Washington Post. (Hat tip: JW.)