Berks Statement on Protecting Academic Freedom and Due Process

The Berkshire Conference of Women Historians was founded on the belief that scholarship flourishes when intellectual freedom and diverse perspectives are protected. That commitment feels especially urgent today.

In recent weeks, faculty and staff across the country have been fired, suspended, or investigated for their political speech, scholarship, and teaching. From Texas A&M University and Texas State University to Brooklyn College and, most recently, to Middle Tennessee State, University of Tennessee, Cumberland, South Dakota, Guilford, Sequoias, and Clemson, we have witnessed a troubling pattern: institutions policing expression in ways that threaten academic freedom and chill dissent.

We reaffirm, without reservation, our support for our members and our solidarity with all scholars, teachers, students, and staff whose livelihoods are at risk when dissenting voices are silenced. We fully support fundamental First Amendment rights and the principles of due process that guarantee fair treatment for everyone. Our field is strongest when we ask tough questions, challenge accepted ideas, and bring histories long pushed aside into the center of public and academic discussions. The Berks remains committed to standing with you—as scholars, teachers, and advocates—in defending constitutional rights and safeguarding academic freedom for all faculty.

We demand that academic institutions not only defend our constitutional and academic rights but also uphold principles of fairness and due process–core democratic ideals. Too often, faculty are condemned and sanctioned without transparent procedures, notice, or the chance to respond to accusations. These protections are essential—they safeguard individual scholars and ensure the integrity of higher education. When institutions bypass due process, they damage public trust, hinder open inquiry, and weaken the university’s democratic mission.

We acknowledge the deep personal and professional impact these attacks are having. If you are directly affected, please remember you are not alone. We encourage members to reach out—to us, to each other, and to the Berks network as a source of support, care, and shared strength. To contact us, please email execadmin@berksconference.org for help or connection.

In struggle and in community,

The Berkshire Conference of Women Historians