Category Archives: Advocacy

Medieval Academy of America Statement on Israel and Hamas

Terrible events take place all too often, and the Medieval Academy of America, for the most part, does not comment. We speak out only when something that has happened affects our field, our fellow medievalists, and medieval objects or medieval … Continue reading

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MAA Advocacy Statement on West Virginia University and New College, Florida

We, the Advocacy Committee of the Medieval Academy of America, denounce the growing tide of political interference witnessed at both West Virginia University and New College of Florida. Experience in higher education proves that limiting students’ options saps intellectual development … Continue reading

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MAA Advocacy Committee Response to SCOTUS Affirmative Action Ruling

We, the Advocacy Committee of the Medieval Academy of America, denounce the Supreme Court of the United States ruling to strike down affirmative action. The loss of affirmative action is detrimental to both the enrichment of particular disciplines, including medieval … Continue reading

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MAA Advocacy Statement in Support of LGBTQ+ Rights

19 April 2023 We, the Advocacy Committee of the Medieval Academy of America, denounce the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation sweeping the U.S.A., such as the  467 anti-LGBTQ bills currently being tracked by the  American Civil Liberties Union. These affronts to trans and … Continue reading

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Support for Turkey and Syria

As the death toll and suffering in Turkey and Syria mounts, and reports on the destruction of museums and monuments of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman period filter in, the Medieval Academy of America and its community of scholars wishes … Continue reading

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Medieval Academy of America Statement on the Case of Hamline University and Dr. Erika López Prater

The Medieval Academy of America condemns the decision of Hamline University not to renew Dr. Erika López Prater’s teaching contract following the widely-reported incident in which López Prater showed in a classroom context a 14th-century image of the prophet Muhammad. … Continue reading

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Statement on Medieval Armenian Heritage in the Region of Nagorno-Karabakh

Recent satellite information gathered by Caucasus Heritage Watch demonstrates distressing changes to the Armenian heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh, including threats to two 7th-century churches, destruction of 12th-century cross-stones (khachkars) in Shushi/Shusha, and the complete erasure of an 18th-century church. This erasure … Continue reading

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Statement against Antisemitism

The Medieval Academy of America expresses concern for recent acts of antisemitism both in the United States and abroad. We unequivocally condemn antisemitism of all kinds and stand in solidarity with our colleagues and our community members who suffer from … Continue reading

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Statement on Presentism and Medieval Studies from the MAA’s Advocacy and the MAA’s AHA Program Committees

The Inaugural Advocacy Committee and American Historical Association Committee  — both of the Medieval Academy of America — join together to speak against accusations of presentism leveled against scholars and researchers who study the Middle Ages in relation to contemporary … Continue reading

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