Ward Churchill Solidarity Network

Richard Falk

To the Regents of the University of Colorado:

I write as a concerned member of the university faculty community, having taught for six yeas at Ohio State University, forty years at Princeton University, and the last six years as a visiting professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara. I also write as someone who has known Ward Churchill for more than ten years, and had the opportunity to work with him in several professional settings. My message is a fervent request that you reject the recommended dismissal of Professor Churchill, and either reinstate the majority recommendation of the CU faculty appeal panel for a one-year suspension, or more appropriately, decide on the dismissal of charges against Churchill. From the outset of this controversy I have been apalled by the rush to judgment that has characterized this case, and have taken a public stand that any effort to dismiss Professor Churchill from the University of Colorado represents a flagrant denial of academic freedom that would have severe adverse consequence for learning communities across the country.

Having examing the reports and evidence I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that there exists no basis, aside from bias and outside political pressure, for the dismissal of Professor Churchill on grounds of ‘research misconduct.’ The alleged wrongs over a long, productive scholarly career have not been established to nearly the degree that should warrant disciplinary action, much less dismissal from a tenured position. However the alleged infractions of research standards is evaluated the issues reduce to matters of interpretation,
accident, and some instances of carelessness that is to be expected to be present to some degree in the scholarly work of almost every senior professor.

I regard Professor Churchill’s scholarly work as having made major contributions in ethnic studies and with respect to Native Americans. This assessment is reinforced by Churchill’s worldwide reputation, as well as by the high regard with which he is held by students.

Against this background, I would respectfully request the Board of Regents to consider these charges against Professor Churchill in an objective manner, and to take into account not only issues of fairness in relation to this individual whose future is on the line, but with respect to the sort of university atmosphere that you would like to encourage at the Univerisity of Colorado. Naturally, this case is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity to adhere to principles of justice and to show support for academic freedom when it really matters, that is, when it is under attack due to political and ideological pressures mounted from outside the university.

Sincerely,

Richard Falk
Albert G. Milbank Professor of International Emeritus, Princeton University (since 2002) Visiting Distinguished Professor, Global Studies, University of California at Santa Barbra