From the President of the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading, and Publishing (SHARP)
Dear colleagues,
In light of the recent Executive Order signed by the US President resulting in an immigration ban that restricts the flow of scholarly communication and participation, the SHARP Board and Executive Committee have agreed to release the following statement:
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Statement issued by the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading, and Publishing (SHARP) on February 1, 2017 The Society for the History of Authorship, Reading, and Publishing unequivocally opposes the recent Executive Order issued by the President of the United States of America regarding the admission and vetting of non-citizens. SHARP was founded to create a global network for book historians working in a broad range of scholarly disciplines. It has held conferences in fifteen different countries and has members from over forty countries worldwide, including the countries affected by the Executive Order. The Executive Order not only impedes the freedom of academic movement that underpins the scholarly exchange of ideas but also runs counter to the values of free speech, diversity and inclusion that the Society holds dear, and which are essential to intellectual life and the pursuit of knowledge. SHARP stands alongside fellow members of the American Council of Learned Societies in calling for the retraction of the Executive Order and the repudiation of all forms of religious intolerance.
We are expressing solidarity with like-minded organisations. SHARP is the newest member of the American Council of Learned Societies which includes a number of highly respected international organisations. ACLS remains committed to freedom of speech, freedom of congress, and tolerance of all races, religions, nationalities, and ethnicities. A list of statements issued by the ACLS in response to the recent Executive Order can be seen at http://www.acls.org/societies/statements/.
Should you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for further action, we ask that they be submitted direct to SHARP President, Ian Gadd, president@sharpweb.org and/or posted on our newly established twitter channel #SHARPdiversity. (Please do not respond to this message via SHARP-L.) These conversations will contribute to our ongoing deliberations and help inform our future decision-making. We will keep you all posted.
Ian Gadd
Professor of English Literature
Bath Spa University
President, Society for the History of Authorship, Reading, and Publishing