Linfield University’s Professor of Shakespeare Studies is fired for criticising the university’s handling of sexual harrassment allegations and for anti-semitic statements made by university leadership.
July 28, 2021
Dr. Miles K. Davis
Office of the President
Linfield University
900 SE Baker Street
McMinnville, Oregon 97128
Email: president@linfield.edu
Dear President Davis:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists (“CCS”) is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world. For almost 50 years CCS has been helping persecuted scholars overcome injustice and return to their academic work.
We are writing to express our concern over the treatment of Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, a well-known Shakespearean scholar, who was fired from Linfield University and lost his tenured position as the Ronni LA Croute Chair in Shakespeare Studies. This extraordinary measure was taken without any hearing or due process in reaction to his criticism of the university’s response to sexual harassment allegations and his claims of anti-Semitic statements made by university leadership.
In support of his termination, Dr. Pollack-Pelzner was accused of being “insubordinate,” and that he had “interfered with the university’s administration of its responsibilities.” It is unclear to us how his concerns about sexual harassment and anti-Semitism would be dismissed as “insubordinate,” rather than given the independent investigation such serious allegations clearly require.
The firing of Professor Pollack-Pelzner without a hearing and without any chance for appeal is profoundly troubling to us, as it violates his rights and your university’s stated commitments to free expression and academic freedom. It suggests an effort to conceal, rather than discover, the truth of his claims.
We are aware that a report by the local NAACP chapter suggested that “systemic and institutionalized racism” were at the root of some of Dr. Pollack-Pelzner’s allegations, and we recognize that this is a serious charge that deserves further investigation. We also understand that Dr. Pollack-Pelzner has filed a lawsuit against Linfield University. We urge you to reinstate Dr. Pollack-Pelzner, and to allow a comprehensive, independent investigation into all these claims of sexual harassment, anti-Semitism, and systemic racism at Linfield University.
Thank you for your attention to this very important matter and we look forward to a response from you shortly.
Sincerely,
Cc:
Susan Agre-Kippenhan
Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost
900 SE Baker Street
McMinnville, Oregon 97128
Email: susanak@linfield.edu