On July 30, the American Association of University Professors made the first political endorsement in its history, supporting Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for the U.S. Senate.
The decision has sparked the usual criticism of the AAUP for being too “political.” Sean Westwood of Dartmouth College, director of the Polarization Research Lab, claimed, “The AAUP is speedrunning its own demise” and accused the AAUP of “antisemitic narcissism.”
Should the AAUP be neutral on academic freedom? Obviously not. Is it the case that some politicians support academic freedom and others attack it? Obviously yes. Then what can be the objection to endorsing political candidates who will support academic freedom? Political endorsements represent the AAUP’s values rather than undermining them.
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