It’s not an easy time to be a liberal arts professor in Texas. What with the incessant demands and ever-changing tides of political correctness, the effort involved in throwing off the yoke of Western cultural imperialism, the imperative of tearing down the patriarchy one skull full of mush at a time, and having to issue trigger warnings before discussing anything more contentious than the semester’s syllabus in class, it’s all an academic can handle. Which may explain why UT faculty members are in full freak-out over the Lone Star State law that will allow law-abiding 21-year-old students to carry concealed weapons in class next year. As we reported earlier today . . .
Econ professor Daniel Hamermesh is taking his ball and going home. History Professor Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra isn’t down with the new permissiveness either. Now we hear that his History Department colleague, Joan Neuberger is in just as big a tizzy. Here’s her cri de couer that’s now bouncing through the halls of Austin academe:
From: Neuberger, Joan H [mailto:neuberger@austin.utexas.edu]
Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2015 3:49 PM
To: Neuberger, Joan H <neuberger@austin.utexas.edu<mailto:neuberger@austin.utexas.edu>>
Subject: GUN FREE UTDO YOU WANT TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF OUR CLASSROOMS?
WE DO TOO!
Gun Free UT <http://www.gunfreeut.org/> is a group of faculty, students, staff, parents and alumni working to protest the passage of SB11 (“Campus Carry”), to limit the impact of laws that allow guns on our campus, and ultimately to repeal laws that allow guns to be carried anywhere on campus. At present, we want the Working Group, which is considering how to implement the new laws, to keep guns out of classrooms, office, and dorms.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
ADD your name to the list of 370+ faculty who pledge to “Refuse Guns in Our Classrooms.” Send an email to: p.diaz@austin.utexas.edu<http://austin.utexas.edu/>
By adding your name to this list you are under no obligation to DO anything. We will be planning some collective action when the law takes effect in Fall 2016, but at present joining the list is a statement that individuals may interpret as they wish, whether they wish to take action (or not) however they choose.SIGN THE BIG CHANGE.ORG<http://change.org/> PETITION AND ADD YOUR COMMENT
If you feel the language in the “Refuse” statement is too strong, you can sign our Change.org<http://change.org/> petition to “Oppose Guns in Classrooms” <https://www.change.org/p/no-guns-in-our-classrooms-gun-free-ut?recruiter=7572902&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink> : we have 4500+ names but want to reach at least 10,000! Everyone should sign this and get everyone they know to sign it. Also, please add your comment and identify yourself with your position at UT in the comments section of the Change.org<http://change.org/> petition.YOU CAN COPY THIS EMAIL AND SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES at UT-Austin and public universities around the state.
You can join our Facebook Page for announcements, resources, articles, discussions, and Solidarity! Gun Free UT<https://www.facebook.com/groups/469991229827182/> .
Or follow us on twitter: @gunfreeut. And use our hashtag #gunfreeut . And visit our website: <http://www.gunfreeut.org/> www.GunFreeUT.org<http://www.GunFreeUT.org>READ AND SHARE THESE ARTICLES FOR MORE INFO ABOUT US:
LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM<http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/opinion/commentary-campus-carry-wrong-for-ut-faculty-stude/nnqxh/> GUN FREE UT Co-Chairs and UT profs Joan Neuberger and Ellen Spiro
NYTIMES<http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-guns-campuses-and-madness.html>: “Guns, Campuses, Madness,” by Frank Bruni
TIME: <http://time.com/4061114/gun-control-texas/> “Why I’m Scared on my College Campus,” Javier Auyero (UT-Sociology)Have a lovely gun free day,
Ellen Spiro<mailto:spirovich@gmail.com>, Professor, Radio-TV-Film, Co-Chair, Gun Free UT
Joan Neuberger<mailto:neuberger@austin.utexas.edu>, Professor, History, Co-Chair, Gun Free UTProf Joan Neuberger<https://joanneuberger.wordpress.com/>
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
128 Inner Campus Drive B7000
Austin, Texas 78712
To the ramparts!