To: Fresno State, University President
Fresno State, renew Dr. Lars Maischak's Contract!
We, the undersigned, demand that Fresno State renew the contract of Dr. Lars Maischak and return him to classroom teaching duties in his field of History.
Why is this important?
We believe that Fresno State owes its students, its employees, and its community a strong stand for academic freedom, for freedom of speech, for quality education, and against right-wing violence. We, therefore, demand that Fresno State renew the contract of Dr. Lars Maischak and allow him to teach in the classroom in his field of History.
BACKGROUND
In April of 2017, right-wing media outlets accused Dr. Maischak of advocating for, or planning to commit, acts of murder and assassination. In this matter, Dr. Maischak was thoroughly investigated by the Secret Service and exonerated of any wrongdoing.
The intent of Dr. Maischak's widely-reported statements, scandalized by right-wing propagandists, was to warn of the future consequences of the actions and ideas of the present administration and its supporters. His position was based on his scholarly understanding of History, stemming from his experience as a native of Germany and a student of the history of both Germany and America. Scholars and an interested public may disagree that Trumpism stands in the tradition of European Fascism; although many vocal supporters of Mr. Trump proudly embrace that very tradition.
In a free society, and in the academy, a disagreeable view is not a crime, nor cause for punitive measures by an employer, nor a justification for public vilification and threats of violence. It is, rather, an invitation to explore the evidence underlying such a view, to debate its merits, and to engage in public discourse.
In making his statements, Dr. Maischak's exercised his constitutionally protected right of free speech and followed his conscience as a scholar.
The death threats against Dr. Maischak and other members of the campus community come from a segment of the population now routinely deployed to terrorize dissenters. Dozens of scholars, artists, actors, activists, and journalists have been targeted with the same playbook in 2017. For Fresno State to give in to the threat of violence is to capitulate to this orchestrated campaign of intimidation. Timidity in the face of threats emboldens those who seek to silence critical voices, and thus exposes others to similar attacks.
Fresno State has removed Dr. Maischak from classroom teaching duties, ordered him to design online classes, and teach these classes in the Spring of 2018, while his present, three-year contract is in effect.
Past actions and statements of Fresno State suggest their intent to deny a renewal of Dr. Maischak's contract at the time of its expiration. We believe that the University has erred in its past actions towards Dr. Maischak and that it would commit a moral, political, and academic mistake by not renewing his contract.
To hear Dr. Maischak lay out his argument, listen to his interview with Chauncey DeVega:
http://www.chaunceydevega.com/2017/10/a-conversation-with-lars-maischak-about.html
BACKGROUND
In April of 2017, right-wing media outlets accused Dr. Maischak of advocating for, or planning to commit, acts of murder and assassination. In this matter, Dr. Maischak was thoroughly investigated by the Secret Service and exonerated of any wrongdoing.
The intent of Dr. Maischak's widely-reported statements, scandalized by right-wing propagandists, was to warn of the future consequences of the actions and ideas of the present administration and its supporters. His position was based on his scholarly understanding of History, stemming from his experience as a native of Germany and a student of the history of both Germany and America. Scholars and an interested public may disagree that Trumpism stands in the tradition of European Fascism; although many vocal supporters of Mr. Trump proudly embrace that very tradition.
In a free society, and in the academy, a disagreeable view is not a crime, nor cause for punitive measures by an employer, nor a justification for public vilification and threats of violence. It is, rather, an invitation to explore the evidence underlying such a view, to debate its merits, and to engage in public discourse.
In making his statements, Dr. Maischak's exercised his constitutionally protected right of free speech and followed his conscience as a scholar.
The death threats against Dr. Maischak and other members of the campus community come from a segment of the population now routinely deployed to terrorize dissenters. Dozens of scholars, artists, actors, activists, and journalists have been targeted with the same playbook in 2017. For Fresno State to give in to the threat of violence is to capitulate to this orchestrated campaign of intimidation. Timidity in the face of threats emboldens those who seek to silence critical voices, and thus exposes others to similar attacks.
Fresno State has removed Dr. Maischak from classroom teaching duties, ordered him to design online classes, and teach these classes in the Spring of 2018, while his present, three-year contract is in effect.
Past actions and statements of Fresno State suggest their intent to deny a renewal of Dr. Maischak's contract at the time of its expiration. We believe that the University has erred in its past actions towards Dr. Maischak and that it would commit a moral, political, and academic mistake by not renewing his contract.
To hear Dr. Maischak lay out his argument, listen to his interview with Chauncey DeVega:
http://www.chaunceydevega.com/2017/10/a-conversation-with-lars-maischak-about.html