I had the privilege to attend the local Scholars At Risk (SAR) meeting in Washington DC the end of March. It is important, given the political issues in the US, to both give a brief summary of SAR to the ASA community and to encourage all to be proactive in supporting scholars. ASA is a member of SAR.
Rob Quinn, Executive Director, Scholars At Risk (SAR) wrote the following summary and suggested resources. Rob Quinn has encouraged all to share "…this message and links with others at your institutions (or elsewhere) to all who might be interested in this information."
SAR was established to respond to threats to higher education around the world. Thanks to member institutions like ASA, SAR has helped thousands of scholars and documented many hundreds of attacks on higher education in over 100 countries.
US higher education has been experiencing unprecedented pressures on university admissions, hiring, research and teaching content, departmental structures, policies on speech, disciplinary policies and sanctions, and finances. The following are some initial steps that SAR is taking to respond, to assist member institutions, and to communicate the importance of higher education not just to academics and students, but to all Americans.
- Starting on March 21st, SAR began issuing a bi-monthly, US bulletin, augmenting SAR's long-standing Academic Freedom Media Review by compiling relevant US-focused media, public writings, events, and SAR updates. Anyone can subscribe to receive the US bulletin here.
- Beginning in spring 2025, SAR will be organizing US-focused Zoom calls and webinars for members and partners. Some sessions will be focused on information-sharing and updates. Other sessions will include presentations from key experts, stakeholders, and emerging working groups. You can sign up here to receive invitations to these sessions.
- Looking ahead, SAR and the SAR US Section Steering Committee (representing all US SAR member institutions) invite you to save the date for the next SAR US Section General Assembly, to be held October 9-10, 2025 at New York University. The GA is the annual meeting for US members and prospective member institutions to share experience and explore collective responses. This year's GA will be especially important. Information on registration, logistics, and the program will follow. You can sign up here to receive updates on the GA as they become available.
SAR knows from history and their work over the last 25 years that state pressures on higher education are intended to trigger fear and isolation in order to secure acquiescence. SAR also knows that the most effective way to defend higher education is to resist these impulses by working together, sharing information, and standing up for core higher education values. This is what SAR will continue to do.
RESOURCES: Current attacks on Academic Freedom in the US and Responses
SAR documents and suggestions:
1. SAR addresses attacks on academic freedom mostly through monitoring, documenting, and reporting, via their Academic Freedom Monitoring Project. All are encouraged to provide information about attacks (in the US or worldwide).
2. SAR report on our 2024 Global Congress, held in Vilnius, Lithuania.
3. SAR also is producing maps of reported international students
A. who have had their VISAs revoked: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/international-students-us/2025/04/07/where-students-have-had-their-visas-revoked?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d1610b6998-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d1610b6998-236700690&mc_cid=d1610b6998&mc_eid=2ead71fa3d
B. individuals who have been picked up by ICE:
https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/danielleharlow/viz/UnitedStatesDisappearedTracker/Map
Other resources:
1. AAAS District Visits Guide (for advocacy with members of Congress)
2. American Association of University Professors v. Rubio (lawsuit challenging ideological deportation policy; MESA is one of the plaintiffs)
3. Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom: Understanding the Law and Policies for Grant Terminations for the National Science Foundation
4. American Historical Association: History of Deportation
5. National Academies Committee on Human Rights Resources for Protecting Immigrant Students, Employees, and Patients
6. Presidents' Alliance Rights & Protection Hub: Guidance for Institutions and Immigrant Students
7. American Historical Association has published a working document: Resources for Foreign Scholars.
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Cathy Furlong
ASA Scholars At Risk (SAR) Local Representative
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