Yale faculty pen letter in support of embattled colleagues

File photo: The Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University. File photo: The Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University. Photo: (Catherine Avalone/New Haven Register) Photo: (Catherine Avalone/New Haven Register) Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Yale faculty pen letter in support of embattled colleagues 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN >> Forty-nine Yale University faculty members, including the deans of the business and music schools, have written an open letter supporting the master and associate master of Silliman College, who students have demanded be fired from their positions.

“As faculty colleagues we wish to express our strong support of the right of Nicholas and Erika Christakis to free speech and freedom of intellectual expression,” begins the letter, released Monday.

The couple came under fire after Erika Christakis criticized an email from the Intercultural Affairs Committee that advised students to be sensitive in their choice of Halloween costumes.

In her response, Christakis had said, “I don’t wish to trivialize genuine concerns about cultural and personal representation, and other challenges to our lived experience in a plural community,” adding, “Is there no room anymore for a child or young person to be a little bit obnoxious … a little bit inappropriate or provocative or, yes, offensive?”

Nicholas Christakis, who defended his wife, was confronted on a campus by a group of students, one who yelled obscenities at him. A video of the episode went viral and can be seen here.

The faculty’s letter strongly defended Erika Christakis. “One can differ with her suggestion that administrative bodies should not play such an oversight role at Yale, but the suggestion itself clearly does not constitute support for racist expressions,” the letter said. “We are deeply troubled that this modest attempt to ask people to consider the issue of self-monitoring vs. bureaucratic supervision has been misinterpreted, and in some cases recklessly distorted, as support for racist speech. …

“While the university stands for many values, none is more central than the value of free expression of ideas,” the letter stated.

Students have said the issues involved are not free speech but of feeling safe from racial and other discrimination on campus, especially in the residential college. Yale President Peter Salovey, who supported demands by the student group Next Yale for more resources for the four cultural centers on campus and for diversifying the faculty, also wrote an email to the Silliman community, along with Yale College Dean Jonathan Holloway, supporting the Christakises.

Douglas Stone, the letter’s primary author and a professor of applied physics, said of Erika Christakis that “she has spent her whole life working with marginalized people, people with AIDS and people with drug addiction. ... For her to be the target of this is incredibly unfair.”

Brea Baker, a senior and president of the NAACP at Yale, wrote that the letter “completely ignores the job description of a ‘master’ and ‘associate master.’ As the steward over physical and mental well being of Silliman students, that should be their priority. …

If the Christakises are more tied to the idea of free speech and positive intent than they are to the impact of their words on the students they are charged with protecting then the roles of ‘master’ and ‘associate master’ are not for them and they should resign or be forced to step down.”

Nicholas Christakis declined a request for comment on his and Erika Christakis’ behalf.

Professor Joan Feigenbaum, chairwoman of the Computer Science Department, said in an email, “I hope for strong condemnation, by my faculty colleagues at Yale and by thinking people everywhere, of the type of ad hominem attack to which Erika and Nicholas Christakis were subjected. Disagreement is fine; indeed, it is a natural outcome of the ‘diversity’ that the attackers claim to want. However, disagreement does not require verbal abuse; the latter is unworthy of Yale students.”

Martin Schwartz, professor of medicine and biomedical engineering, wrote that he signed because, “in light of calls for (Nicholas Christakis’) resignation, I felt it was important for the faculty at Yale to express strong support. In brief, he did nothing wrong and … should not be penalized for failing to agree with someone else’s views.”

Dr. Laura Niklason, professor of anesthesia and biomedical engineering, said, “I think it is important for the University to defend freedom of speech and expression, for both students and for faculty. Especially when the expressed opinions are offered in a thoughtful and considered way, faculty and students alike deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.”

Physics professor Daniel Prober said part of the reason he signed the letter was the “horrible” behavior of the student in the video. “It certainly is in my view unacceptable behavior.” He also criticized the demands of Next Yale that included firing the master and associate master.

More than 1,000 Yale students, faculty and staff rallied on Cross Campus Nov. 9 seeking more inclusivness on campus.

Call Ed Stannard at 203-680-9382.