An Open Letter to College and University Faculty
We are a diverse group of faculty at all levels, at institutions throughout the United States. We would like to invite any interested faculty, from teaching assistants and adjuncts to tenured professors, to join us in founding nonpartisan national and state-level faculty networks to ensure student voting rights on and off campus.
We believe ensuring students’ ability to exercise their right to vote is an important priority for all educators. As this year of crisis plays out, we need to be on guard against stepped-up attempts to suppress voting by students. Student voters are a particularly vulnerable population because many have never registered to vote before, or are attending school in states where they have never lived and don’t know the law or procedures. They may not be able to rely on the advice of family or friends who might live in entirely different jurisdictions spread throughout the country.
In this context, the 1.3 million college and university faculty have a key role to play. We propose to create a Faculty Network for Student Voting Rights to activate faculty on behalf of their students. This new organization will help organize cross-institutional coalitions of faculty at the state level, since that is where election laws are made, and where the specific knowledge of faculty members who may be long-time residents of the state they teach in can be extremely useful to their students. Its focus will be connecting individual academics with student-led groups in their states, cities, and specific institutions to help provide support to students who are helping others navigate the sometimes frustrating process of registering to vote and then exercising their franchise.
The network will provide:
- Training materials, information on how to adhere to nonpartisan guidelines, and FAQs, drawing on national organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice;
- Access to local, regional, and national networks focused on student voting;
- A “Faculty Pledge” wherein instructors commit to helping register students, publicizing elections-related information, and lobbying campus administrations on behalf of their students’ right to vote;
- A rapid response network to respond to attacks on students and faculty who advocate for campus voting.
To support students on your campus, and in your community and state, take our Faculty Pledge to Support Student Voting Rights [hyperlinked], which includes listing your name and affiliation publicly on our website.
Initial Signers [institution listed for identification purposes only]
Jeanne Albert, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
Barry Ames, Political Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Laura Ammon, Religious Studies , Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Guy Aronoff, History, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Patricia Aufderheide, School of Communication , American University, Washington, DC
Radhika Balakrishnan, Women’s gender and sexuality studies , Rutgers University , New Brunswick , NJ
James Bazán, Sociology, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC
Marc Becker, History, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO
Cristina Beltran, Social & Cultural Analysis, New York University, NEW YORK, NY
Dick Bennett, Prof. Emer., English, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Fayetteville, AR
Benjamin Berger, Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Joe Berry, Labor and COMM.STUDIES, City College of SF, San Francisco, CA
Carolyn Betensky, English , University of Rhode Island, Kingston , RI
Dennis Bixler-Marquez, Chicano Studies, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Adam Bonica, Political Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Bill Bower, Population and Family Health , Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY
David Bremenstuhl, Education Laureate, Human Development/Learning Theory/Clinical Psychology, retired educator, Gaithersburg, MD
Lisa Brock, Praxis Center, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo , MI
Judith Brown, History, Wesleyan.edu, Middletown , CT
Stewart Burns, Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program, MLK Studies, Union Institute & University, Cincinnati, OH
Katie Cahill, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee
Arthur Caplan, Medical Ethics, NYU school of Medicine, ridgefield, CT
Barbara Caress, Graduate Program in Health Administration, Baruch College/CUNY, New York, NY
Edward Castaneda, Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Dr. Areli Chacon Silva, Leadership and Community Engagement, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Gordon Chang, History, Stanford, Stanford, CA
Amy Chazkel, History, Columbia University, New York, NY
Kimberly Christensen, Economics , Sarah Lawrence College , Bronxville, NY
Robert Cliver, History, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Sandi Cooper, History, City U of New York at Staten Island and the GC, New York, NY
Eduardo Corral , English , North Carolina State University , Raleigh , NC
Ann Crigler, Political Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Paul Croce, History, Stetson University, DeLand, FL
Christina Crosby, English & FGSS, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
Joanne Csete, Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Leena Dallasheh, History , Humboldt State University , Arcata, CA
Mary DAngelo, Theology, University of Notre Dame (Emerita), Jamaica Plain, MA
Andrew Dausch, History, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA
Denise Davis, Pembroke Center (Gender and Sexuality Studies), Brown University, Providence, RI
Jordan Davis, Philosophy , Colorado State University , Fort Collins, CO
Helen de Pinho, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Kevin Decker, Philosophy, Eastern Washington University, Spokane, WA
Christine Desan, Law, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA
Sandra Deutsch, History, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Toby Ditz, History , Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore , MD
Mara Dodge, History, Westfield State University, Westfield, MA
Priya Doshi, School of Communication, American University, Washington, DC
Carolyn Eisenberg, History and Center for Civic Engagement, Hofstra University, Hempstead , NY
Geoff Eley, History, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Robert Entenmann, History and Asian Studies (retired), St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Lewis Erenberg, History, Loyola University Chicago, Chicaago, IL
Fred Evans, Philosophy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
Andrew Feffer, History , Union College , Schenectady , NY
Andy Felt, Mathematical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI
Steven Fesmire, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Radford University, Radford, VA
Eileen Findlay, Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies AND History, American University, Washington, DC
Sibylle Fischer, Spanish & Portuguese, History, CLACS, NYU, New York City, NY
Jerise Fogel, Classics and Humanities, Montclair State University, New York , NY
Eric Foner, History, Columbia University, New York, NY
Estelle Freedman, History, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Lisa Gasbarrone, French, Francophone, and Arabic Studies, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Paul Geck, History , Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Lori Ginzberg, History and WGSS, Penn State University, Philadelphia, PA
Amanda Godley, Teaching, Learning and Leading, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Tami Gold, Film & Media Studies, Hunter College, New York , NY
Chad Alan Goldberg, Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Edie Goldenberg, Political Science/Public Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Michael Goodhart, Political Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Johanna Gosse, Art + Design, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Van Gosse, History, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Scott Greer, Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Sally Guttmacher, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY
John Hammond, sociology, Hunter College and Graduate Center CUNY, New York, NY
Christine Harker, English and Linguistics, Truman State University, kirksville, MO
Andrew Hartman, History, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Mobina Hashmi, TV/Radio/Emerging Media, CUNY – Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY
April Haynes, History, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Cheryl Healton, Public Health, NYU, NY , NY
Christopher Heaney, History, Penn State, Philadelphia, PA
Eric Heberlig, Political Science, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Gabrielle Hecht, History, Stanford University, SF, CA
Annelise Heinz, History, University of Oregon, Portland, OR
Jennifer Helgren, History, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Josiah Heyman, Latin American and Border Studies, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Sanford Hinderlie, Visual / Performing Arts, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans
Jerrold Hirsch, History, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO
Martha Howell, History, Columbia University, New York, NY
Elizabeth Hull, Political Science, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
Reeve Huston, History, Duke University, Durham, NC
Lionel Jensen, East Asian Languages & Cultures, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Tamara Johnson, Urban Research and Community Engagement, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Patricia Juarez-Carrillo, Center for Inter-American and Border Studies, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Chelsea Kaufman, Political Science, Wingate University, Wingate, NC
Christine Kovner, Nursing, New York university, New York, NY
Mark Kramer, English, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Karen Kurczynski, History of Art and Architecture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA
Peter Kuznick, History, American University, Washington, DC
Daniel Lassiter, Linguistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Caroline Lee, Anthropology & Sociology Department, Lafayette College, Easton, PA
Jody Lori, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Laura Lovett , History , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, PA
Cindy Lutenbacher, English, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
Catherine Lutz, Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Brown University, Stonington, CT
Daniel Mandell, History, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO
Anastasia Mann, School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Patrick Manning, History, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Douglas Margolis , English, TESOL, and Modern Languages , University of Wisconsin–River Falls , River Falls , WI
Peter Matthews, Economics, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
MJ Maynes, History, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Timothy McCarthy, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Barbara McCloskey, Department of History of Art and Architecture, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Kirk McDermid, Philosophy, Montclair State, Randolph, NJ
Lisa Medoff, Human Biology, Stanford, Palo Alto, CA
Thessalia Merivaki, Political Science, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State
Melissa Michelson, Political Science, Menlo College, Atherton, CA
Rob Mickey, Political Science, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI
Maria Mitchell, History, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Arlen Moller, Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Marissa Moorman, History, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Ashley Moraguez, Political Science, UNC Asheville, Asheville, NC
Tom Mullaney, History , Stanford Univeristy , Stanford, CA
Aurelia Lorena Murga, Sociology & Anthropology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Carlos Murillo, Theatre Studies – Playwriting, The Theatre School of DePaul University, CHICAGO, IL
Pamela Murray, History, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Christopher Newfield, English, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Molly Nolan, History, NYU, New York, NY
Ruth O’Brien, Political Science, CUNY Graduate Center, New YOrk, NY
Kathryn Olivarius, History, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Melina Pappademos , Africana Studies, University of Connecticut , Storrs, CT
Anna Paretskaya, Dept. of Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Kelly Parker, Philosophy & Environmental Studies , Grand Valley State University , Allendale, MI
Prasannan Parthasarathi, History, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Gunther Peck, History, Duke University, Durham, NC
Rafael Pelayo, Medicine and Health, Stanford, Palo Alto
José Juan Pérez Meléndez, History, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Michael Peshkin, Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Nicole Peterson, Anthropology, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
M Anne Pitcher, Political Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Rebecca Jo Plant, History, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Elizabeth Portes, Theatre School, DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Steve Posner, Other, University of Southern California, Sausalito, CA
Margaret Power, Humanities, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Detra Price-Dennis, Mathematics, Science, and Technology, Teachers College, New York, NY
Allison Rank, Political Science, SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY
Lisa Rasmussen, Philosophy, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Reginald Raymer, Philosophy, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Jessica Riskin, History, Stanford University, Berkeley, CA
Mary Louise Roberts, History Department, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI
Neil Roberts , Africana Studies, political theory, and the philosophy of religion , Williams College, Williamstown, MA
John Robertson, School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY
Nancy Romer, Psychology, Brooklyn College, NYC, NY
Rob Ruck, History, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Carl Sachs, Philosophy, Marymount University, Arlington, VA
Mark Sanders , Philosophy, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Raphael Sassower, Philosophy, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO
Kristina Sawyer, Communication, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL
Jim Scheibel, Nonprofit Management and Public Administration, Hamline University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Cathy Schneider, School of International Service, American University, Washington, DC
David Scobey, Bringing Theory to Practice, Elon University, Elon, NC
Joan Scott, History, institute for Advanced Study and Graduate Center CUNY, NYC, NY
Rebecca Scott, History Department and Law School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Robert Scott, Mathematics, Augusta University, Augusta, GA
Irene Silverblatt, Cultural Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC
Alan Singer, Teaching Learning Technology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Shanti Singham, United States, Williams College, New York, NY
Andor Skotnes, History and Society–retired, The Sage Colleges–retired, Troy and Albany, NY
Rogers Smith, Political Science, University of Pennsylvania, Bala Cynwyd, PA
Guillermina Solis, School of Nursing, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Sarah Sobieraj, Sociology, Tufts University, Medford
Diane Soles, Sociology, Madison College, Madison
Raymond Spoto, Spanish Literature, professor emeritus Univ. of Wisconsin Platteville, Platteville, WI
Kathleen Staudt, Political Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Leonard Steinhorn, School of Communication, American University, Washington, DC
Lior Sternfeld, Department of History, Penn State, State College, PA
Suzanne Stewart-Steinberg, Comparative Literature, Italian Studiers,Pembroke Center, Brown University, Providence, RI
Michelle Stonis, Department of History, Glendale Community College, Glendale, CA
Ronald Sundstrom, Philosophy, University of San Francisco , San Francisco, CA
Rev. James Swarts, History, SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY
Chris Tilly, Urban Planning, UCLA, VENICE, CA
Heidi Tinsman, History, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
Bridget Trogden, Division of Undergraduate Studies/Academic Affairs, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Pei-Lan Tsou, Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
Jennifer Tucker, History, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
Akinyele Umoja, African-American Studies, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Deborah Valenze, History, Barnard College, New York, NY
David Waldstreicher, History, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY
Judith Walkowitz, History, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, NY
Barbara Weinstein, History, NYU, New York, NY
Beth Whitaker, Political Science & Public Administration, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Barbara Wien, School of International Service, American University, Washington D.C., DC
Jacob Wilson, College Student Personnel Administration , Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
Barbara Winslow, Women and Gender Studies Program., Brooklyn College CUNY, Brooklyn, NY
Mikael Wolfe, History, Stanford University, Mountain View, CA
Nan Elizabeth Woodruff, African American Studies and History, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Judy Wu, Asian American Studies/Humanities Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
Kathleen Young, Health Sciences, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA
Kevin Young, History, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
Ji-Yeon Yuh, History, Asian American Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
