The text of the letter is below. Please leave your name and affiliation with University of Alaska if you would like to be signatory to the letter.
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To the Administrators of the University of Alaska:
We, the undersigned, express deep concern about persistent discrimination, including sex‑ and gender‑based discrimination, at the University of Alaska (UA), retaliation against those who report it, and UA’s inadequate response. We condemn discrimination and retaliation in all forms and call on UA to take meaningful and sustained corrective action to repair harm and prevent recurrence.
Recent formal findings of discrimination and retaliation underscore violations of obligations under policies and law, including Title IX, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the UA Board of Regents policies 01.02 and 01.04. These policies exist to ensure an equitable and safe academic and workplace environment. The discriminatory behavior found on UA campuses has serious impacts on the affected individuals and erodes the trust of faculty, staff, graduate workers, and students.
The Office of Rights, Compliance, and Accountability (ORCA) and UA Labor Relations have repeatedly failed to provide timely responses and supportive measures that ensure safety and accountability when instances of misconduct occur. Chronic delays, mismanaged investigations, and restricting the disclosure of formal discrimination findings prolongs uncertainty and risks continued exposure to misconduct, causing professional and personal harm. In UA’s small, interdependent community, the effects reverberate, eroding trust, chilling reporting, and placing students, early-career researchers, international colleagues, and members of other underrepresented groups at heightened risk, driving attrition among students, staff, and faculty.
We affirm our commitment to a just, equitable workplace. We stand with those who have experienced discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; support their right to speak about their experiences; and support their pursuit of resolution and remedy.
Accordingly, we call on university leadership to ensure that ORCA and UA Labor Relations take reports seriously; provide timely and adequate investigative and supportive measures; and fulfill UA’s contractual, legal, and moral obligation through the following:
a) participating in any and all union grievance processes in good faith;
b) providing complete remedy and resolution to those who have sought relief;
c) implementing reforms that prevent discriminatory and harassing behavior;
d) holding perpetrators and those who enable misconduct accountable;
e) setting and enforcing the highest standards for researcher safety in the field and on campus;
f) and correcting the harm caused by inadequate responses to reports of discrimination.
These changes are necessary for those that make up the UA community to work and study without burden or fear of retaliation.
Sincerely,
