STUDENT PETITION ON THE DCF AT UCI

To whom it may concern, I'm a first year PhD student in Informatics looking to engage in graduate level knowledge generation around identity, narratives and STE(A)M multigenerational learning. I was just looking for course offerings in Modern India Studies! I hope that the university will listen closely to voices like Noopur Raval, to whom I look to for ethical scholarly dialog regularly in classes in broader academic development. Sincerely, AM Tsaasan

Arrangements of this sort compromise the independence and integrity of any university that accepts them. Responsible institutions need to resist the attempts of interested parties to use financial "gifts" to obtain influence, even control over academic staffing, teaching, and research.

In solidarity with students and faculty in South Asian Studies, at UCI and beyond.

In solidarity with the students and faculty in South Asian Studies at UCI. Michael J. Altman Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Affiliated faculty in Asian Studies University of Alabama

In solidarity with students and faculty in South Asian Studies at UCI. Roopika Risam Assistant Professor of World Literature and English Education Salem State University, USA

This is a sad development. We need to learn about South Asia as an interconnected region in terms of economy, politics culture and even evolution of religious ideals.

Can money buy a racist agenda in universities? This UCI case is one of many tests. Senior Research Fellow, Open University, UK

Researcher, European University Institute

Research Fellow, Oriental Studies, University of Oxford, UK

Very disturbing to see this!

A critical study of Indic religions is welcome, but not contextualised from broader South Asian Studies Nitya Rao, Professor, Gender and Development, University of East Anglia, UK.

Associate Professor, South Asian & Global History; Director, Asian Studies Program; Co-founder & Director, Global Humanities Initiative, Northwestern University

Undergraduate, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, UC Davis

When you start allowing outside forces to shape your academic priorities and project, you lose your academic immortal soul. The money isn't worth it--as Dr. Faustus. UCI Humanities, please reconsider. Jim Holstun Professor of English, SUNY Buffalo UCI Ph.D., 1983

For the fight of freedom , these psuedo Hindu Sanghis will fail !

This is obnoxious.

Professor, South Asian Studies, University of Lausanne

It is incredibly irresponsible and unethical to restrict freedom in academia.

In solidarity with students concerned about compromising academic freedom in favor of specious donors. Ramona Gupta Asian American Cultural Affairs Columbia College Chicago

Associate Professor of English Tufts University