Ciccariello-Maher Suspension Is Problematic

The Drexel University administration’s unilateral suspension of George Ciccariello-Maher, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Global Studies, raises concerns about academic freedom and is at odds with normative academic procedures. The AAUP today wrote to Drexel University administrators to express our concern that by suspending Ciccariello-Maher against his will, they have bowed to pressure from those who are threatening him and reinforced the belief that, as Ciccariello-Maher put it, “you can control a university’s curriculum with anonymous threats of violence.” A suspension is a severely adverse personnel action, and imposing one on Ciccariello-Maher without consulting an appropriate faculty body raises concerns for his academic freedom and tenured status. It is especially concerning that the suspension is indefinite.

Read our letter to Drexel about this case.