Dear all:
While I"m sure we all recognize the need to respect other Institutions'
right to determine their own tenure policies, I'm personally quite concerned
not only for Dr. Smith, but also about the broader implications for women of
color scholars, Women's Studies scholars, and Native scholars in particular.
Dr. Smith was a keynote speaker at our Women's Studies conference last year,
to great acclaim. Additionally, many of us use her work, whether it's her
groundbreaking and extremely important book "Conquest" or her various
anthologized pieces, for both our own research and in our classes. She is
also well known as an activist whose work focuses largely on indigenous
sovereignty issues as well as violence against women of color. The National
Women's Studies Association has formally recommended that community work be
considered in tenure decisions, and certainly Native communities benefit
from a reciprocal relationship with the scholars who "use" them for
research.
I encourage everyone to consider the entire case for Dr. Smith's tenure and,
if you decide it's warranted, to take immediate action. At the very least,
our efforts present a base of support not only for Dr. Smith, but for women
scholars of color. I will be writing my letters today.
Thanks!
Barb
Native Feminism Without Apology!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25,
2008
Statement of University of Michigan Students and Faculty in Support of
Andrea Smith's Tenure Case
CONTACT: [log in to unmask]
On February 22nd, 2008, University of Michigan's College of Literature,
Science and the Arts (LSA) issued a negative tenure recommendation for
Assistant Professor Andrea Lee Smith. Jointly appointed in the Program in
American Culture and the Department of Women's Studies, Dr. Smith's body of
scholarship exemplifies scholarly excellence with widely circulated articles
in peer-reviewed journals and numerous books in both university and
independent presses including Native Americans and the Christian Right
published this year by Duke University Press. Dr. Smith is one of the
greatest indigenous feminist intellectuals of our time. A nominee for the
2005 Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Smith has an outstanding academic and community
record of service that is internationally and nationally recognized. She is
a dedicated professor and mentor and she is an integral member of the
University of Michigan (UM) intellectual community. Her reputation and
pedagogical practices draw undergraduate and graduate students from all over
campus and the nation.
Dr. Smith received the news about her tenure case while participating in the
United States' hearings before the Convention on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Ironically,
during those very same hearings, the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decisions that
restricted affirmative action policies at UM specifically were cited as
violations of international law. At the same time, there is an undeniable
link between the Department of Women's Studies and LSA's current tenure
recommendations and the long history of institutional restrictions against
faculty of color. In 2008, students of color are coming together to protest
the way UM's administration has fostered an environment wherein faculty of
color are few and far between, Ethnic Studies course offerings have little
financial and institutional support, and student services for students of
color are decreasing each year.
To Support Professor Andrea Smith: The Provost must hear our responses!
Write letters in support of Andrea Smith?s tenure case.
Address email letters to ALL of the following:
Teresa Sullivan, Provost and Executive VP for Academic Affairs, LSA,
[log in to unmask] Lester Monts, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, LSA,
[log in to unmask] Mary Sue Coleman, President, [log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask] Voice your ideas on the web forum at
http://www.woclockdown.org/
To Support Women of Color at Michigan and the Crisis of Women's Studies and
Ethnic Studies: Attend the student organized March 15th Conference at
UM!!!! Campus Lockdown: Women of Color Negotiating the Academic Industrial
Complex is free and open to the public. Speakers include renowned activists
and scholars Piya Chatterjee, Angela Davis, Rosa Linda Fregoso, Ruthie
Gilmore, Fred Moten, Clarissa Rojas, and Haunani-Kay Trask. For more
information and to register, visit:
http://www.woclockdown.org/
######
_______________________________________________
NativeStudies-l mailing list
[log in to unmask]
http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nativestudies-l
A Critical Sociological Discourse Listserv
-----Original Message-----
From: Gurr, Barbara [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 11:30 AM
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; Mccomiskey,
Marita; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: [nativestudies-l] Immediate Release--Tenure for Andrea Smith!
Dear all:
While I"m sure we all recognize the need to respect other Institutions'
right to determine their own tenure policies, I'm personally quite concerned
not only for Dr. Smith, but also about the broader implications for women of
color scholars, Women's Studies scholars, and Native scholars in particular.
Dr. Smith was a keynote speaker at our Women's Studies conference last year,
to great acclaim. Additionally, many of us use her work, whether it's her
groundbreaking and extremely important book "Conquest" or her various
anthologized pieces, for both our own research and in our classes. She is
also well known as an activist whose work focuses largely on indigenous
sovereignty issues as well as violence against women of color. The National
Women's Studies Association has formally recommended that community work be
considered in tenure decisions, and certainly Native communities benefit
from a reciprocal relationship with the scholars who "use" them for
research.
I encourage everyone to consider the entire case for Dr. Smith's tenure and,
if you decide it's warranted, to take immediate action. At the very least,
our efforts present a base of support not only for Dr. Smith, but for women
scholars of color. I will be writing my letters today.
Thanks!
Barb
Native Feminism Without Apology!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25,
2008
Statement of University of Michigan Students and Faculty in Support of
Andrea Smith's Tenure Case
CONTACT: [log in to unmask]
On February 22nd, 2008, University of Michigan's College of Literature,
Science and the Arts (LSA) issued a negative tenure recommendation for
Assistant Professor Andrea Lee Smith. Jointly appointed in the Program in
American Culture and the Department of Women's Studies, Dr. Smith's body of
scholarship exemplifies scholarly excellence with widely circulated articles
in peer-reviewed journals and numerous books in both university and
independent presses including Native Americans and the Christian Right
published this year by Duke University Press. Dr. Smith is one of the
greatest indigenous feminist intellectuals of our time. A nominee for the
2005 Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Smith has an outstanding academic and community
record of service that is internationally and nationally recognized. She is
a dedicated professor and mentor and she is an integral member of the
University of Michigan (UM) intellectual community. Her reputation and
pedagogical practices draw undergraduate and graduate students from all over
campus and the nation.
Dr. Smith received the news about her tenure case while participating in the
United States' hearings before the Convention on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Ironically,
during those very same hearings, the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decisions that
restricted affirmative action policies at UM specifically were cited as
violations of international law. At the same time, there is an undeniable
link between the Department of Women's Studies and LSA's current tenure
recommendations and the long history of institutional restrictions against
faculty of color. In 2008, students of color are coming together to protest
the way UM's administration has fostered an environment wherein faculty of
color are few and far between, Ethnic Studies course offerings have little
financial and institutional support, and student services for students of
color are decreasing each year.
To Support Professor Andrea Smith: The Provost must hear our responses!
Write letters in support of Andrea Smith?s tenure case.
Address email letters to ALL of the following:
Teresa Sullivan, Provost and Executive VP for Academic Affairs, LSA,
[log in to unmask] Lester Monts, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, LSA,
[log in to unmask] Mary Sue Coleman, President, [log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask] Voice your ideas on the web forum at
http://www.woclockdown.org/
To Support Women of Color at Michigan and the Crisis of Women's Studies and
Ethnic Studies: Attend the student organized March 15th Conference at
UM!!!! Campus Lockdown: Women of Color Negotiating the Academic Industrial
Complex is free and open to the public. Speakers include renowned activists
and scholars Piya Chatterjee, Angela Davis, Rosa Linda Fregoso, Ruthie
Gilmore, Fred Moten, Clarissa Rojas, and Haunani-Kay Trask. For more
information and to register, visit:
http://www.woclockdown.org/
######
_______________________________________________
NativeStudies-l mailing list
[log in to unmask]
http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nativestudies-l
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