Faculty Democracy Forms Committe to Investigate Threats Against Graduate Students

In light of President Sexton's egregious threats of retaliation
for striking graduate employees, and in light of numerous accounts of
intimidation and threats toward graduate students across the
university in recent weeks, a subcommittee of Faculty Democracy has
formed to investigate, publicize, and seek redress for any acts of
intimidation, coercion, or retaliation against graduate students for
their union activities. The members of the committee are Harry Harootunian
(History), Alan Sokal (Physics), Jeff Goodwin (Sociology) and Manu
Goswami (History).

Most of the threats made by Sexton in his November 28, 2005 letter
to graduate assistants would be illegal under the National Labor
Relations Act. We believe that New York University should hold itself,
at a minimum, to the same standard of conduct required of other
employers under the law. We are also deeply concerned by the accounts
of intimidation and coercion that graduate students in various departments
have reported; we believe that such conduct has no place at a
university. If these acts are true, the NYU administration must
be held responsible for fostering an environment in which academic
freedom is under attack.

Graduate students who have experienced intimidation, coercion,
threats, or retaliation for their union activities should contact the
committee. They will be free to discuss their concerns with us at
whatever level of confidentiality they desire.

Manu Goswami
Department of History
New York University
53 Washington Square South, 614
New York, New York 10012
Phone: 212-998-8632
Fax: 212-995-4017
Email: manu.goswami@nyu.edu