As members of the global community of scholars, researchers, and teachers, we write to protest, in the strongest possible terms, Midwestern State University's treatment of former philosophy professor Dr. Nathan Jun.

Dr. Jun served as Professor of Philosophy and Coordinator of the Philosophy Program at Midwestern State University from 2008 until he was compelled to resign his tenured position in August 2021. By all reasonable accounts, Dr. Jun was, and is, an exemplary teacher and scholar with an established record of professional excellence.

Between June and December of 2020 Dr. Jun was subject to a protracted campaign of harassment, intimidation, doxing, and violent threats at the hands of fascists, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other right-wing extremists in response to protected political expression that was made in his capacity as a private citizen. Throughout this period Dr. Jun received hundreds of death threats via email, phone, text, and conventional mail, many of which contained hateful and derogatory anti-Semitic language. His residence was vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti on more than one occasion. He was repeatedly and publicly defamed in several high-profile online venues even as the university was inundated with hysterical calls for his dismissal. For several months he could not even show his face in public without being heckled and harassed by strangers. Unrecognized individuals drove by his home day and night, snapping pictures with their phones or shouting obscenities; some parked outside for hours at a time. Local businesses denied him service on at least a dozen occasions.

Throughout this ordeal the university made no effort to defend Dr. Jun's personal or professional reputation, take proactive measures to protect his safety, or even express concern for his well-being privately. It did not see fit to publicly condemn the heinous violence and harassment to which he had been subject, let alone the white supremacist and fascist ideologies that fueled them. Instead the former president of MSU, Dr. Suzanne Shipley, elected to publicly denounce Dr. Jun and, in so doing, manifestly violated the very same institutional values she claimed to uphold, not least the university’s commitment to protecting freedom of expression. These shameful and cowardly actions exemplify a long pattern of inaction and callous indifference on the part of the MSU administration to previous instances of racist, anti-Semitic attacks against Dr. Jun.

As a result of the aforementioned campaign of terror, coupled with the university's betrayal,  Dr. Jun developed post-traumatic stress disorder and was subsequently hospitalized on several occasions. The university  responded by refusing to provide various accommodations Jun had requested under the Americans with Disabilities Act, effectively leaving him with no choice but to resign his position. In so doing, the university "used the trauma it helped generate as part of a strategy to oust the professor suffering from it and thereby appease right-wing activists, politicians, and donors" (https://dailynous.com/2021/09/17/tale-two-resignations/).

We call upon Midwestern State University to publicly acknowledge and apologize for its horrendous treatment of Dr. Jun, which we, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn. Until such a time as this call has been heeded, we furthermore urge our professional colleagues to refrain from any dealings with Midwestern State University, including making or accepting applications of employment.

The Undersigned

For list of signatories, please see:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PnHzVHu2SpGDrm_PDa17D_lhuLOcXMB_g9tGzSA4iXE

N.B. This statement is intended to be signed by current or former university faculty, academic staff, and postgraduate students. A letter of general support is available at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLKQY2AvWaiI-6wOdWMJ1ug5M0UmH13XGHhymXnne4fE0W2Q/viewform

Other ways you can help Dr. Jun:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11ZFVbcPInosZEZaFg61Ynx64uJWo2e4UUqwParVG634/

Questions or concerns regarding this letter may be directed justice4nathanjun@gmail.com.