We are grateful to the Miami community and to the research community nationwide who share our concerns about academic freedom and the unfair terminations proposed for two of our tenured colleagues. As of today, our petition in support of the faculty as well as the conservatory manager (who was forced to resign) has over 700 signatures. You can still sign here. And the issue is receiving increasing attention in the media:
“Much Ado About Iboga: How this rare plant could cost two long-serving Miami U professors their careers.” Inside Higher Ed, July 3, 2019. Comment stream is worth reading, particularly this comment from former Miami President James Garland:
“I admire greatly Miami University’s senior administrative staff, and know most of them to be thoughtful and competent and level-headed. It is thus especially difficult to comprehend how this issue has become so blown out of any reasonable proportion. DEA agents?? Jeopardizing the careers of senior professors? Oh, please! I’ll try to keep an open mind and not jump to conclusions, but at this point I agree with the prior commenter’s view that the situation is, start to finish, ‘a case study in boneheadedness.’”
Garland has confirmed for us that the comment is his.
“The iboga tree affair: A confiscated shrub, hallucinogenics and suspended professors rile Miami campus.” Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati.com), July 3, 2019.
An in-depth story based on public records requests. (Follow-up: According to the reporter, the DEA later confirmed that it does provide permits for botanical collections to hold psychoactive plants.)
“Miami University Must Reverse Unjust Decision to Terminate Professors,” Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati.com), July 7, 2019. Legal scholar and former Miami dean, Daniel Hall (Miami–Hamilton) weighs in on the conflict:
“Two respected professors who have taught at Miami University’s regional campuses for over 20 years, and a staff person with nearly five years of service, were, or will be, unfairly fired. It is time for their colleagues, former students and the community they have served to come to their defense.”
“Professors Could Lose Jobs for Housing Rare, Psychedelic Plant,” The Scientist, July 3, 2019. Based on the Inside Higher Ed article.
In addition, multiple directors of botanical research collections, scientists, and other experts have commented in support of the faculty and Conservatory manager on our petition. We will share some of these quotes in future posts.
Please follow our Facebook page and Twitter feed (@AaupMiami) for updates.
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