Faculty/Staff who want to sign, please email msa.psu@gmail.com

Penn State Faculty/Staff Coalition for Religious Tolerance on Campus

On Monday, April 21, 2008, The Daily Collegian featured a paid advertisement from an off-campus organization that constituted an unprincipled and grossly inaccurate attack against the Penn State Muslim Student Association (MSA). We, the undersigned faculty and staff at Penn State University, affirm the right to freedom of expression as established in the First Amendment of the Constitution. However, we strongly denounce the inflammatory and unsubstantiated charges made in this ad. Reminiscent of the campaign of fear and intimidation that was waged against American citizens during the McCarthy Era in the 1950s, the ad only serves to cut off dialogue and create an atmosphere of fear and distrust. The MSA at Penn State University has been registered as a student organization since 1964 and is funded by the Student Activity Fee; for countless years it has worked in conjunction with other campus organizations and departments to promote an at- mosphere of tolerance and understanding. Unfortunately, rather than fostering a healthy climate for debate and dialogue on our campus, the ad published in The Daily Collegian was designed to target and intimidate our Muslim students through a series of unfounded charges. We would like to take this opportunity to stand in solidarity with our Muslim students and express our support for their efforts to counter this hateful advertisement through campus-wide programs aimed at mutual understanding and intercommunal dialogue.

We, the undersigned, reject any campaigns that subvert the spirit of tolerance and religious freedom that we have all worked so hard to nourish on our campus over the years. Furthermore, we urge The Daily Collegian to reconsider publishing such inflammatory paid advertisements from off-campus organizations in the future.

Signed,

1. Sydney Aboul-Hosn, Ph.D.
   Senior Lecturer in Comparative Literature
   
   
2. Frank M. Ahern, Ph.D.
   Senior Research Associate in Health and Human Development
   Director, Medicine, Health and Aging Laboratory
   
   
3. Carol J. Ahmed
   Staff, Education Equity
   
   
4. Rahan Ali, Ph.D.
   Lecturer in Psychology
   
   
5. David M. Almeida, Ph.D.
   Professor of Human Development and Family Studies
   
   
6. Sridhar Anandakrishnan, Ph.D.
   Associate Professor of Geosciences
   
   
7. Sara Armengot
   Lecturer in Spanish
   
   
8. S. Ashok, Ph.D.
   Professor of Engineering Science
   
   
9. Masume Assaf
   Associate Director, International Student Services
   
   
10. David G. Atwill, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of History
    
    
11. Luis F. Ayala, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
    
    
12. Gabeba Baderoon, Ph.D.
    Research Associate in Women's Studies and African and African American Studies
    Post-Doctoral Fellow, Africana Research Center
    
    
13. John Bardi, Ph.D.
    Instructor of Philosophy
    
    
14. Paul Barsom, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Music
    
    
15. Frank R. Baumgartner, Ph.D.
    Bruce R. Miller and Dean D. LaVigne Professor of Political Science
    
    
16. Thomas O. Beebee, Ph.D.
    Professor of Comparative Literature and German
    
    
17. Karen S. Bell, M.D.
    Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
    
    
18. Thomas Bernard, Ph.D.
    Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology
    
    
19. Michael F. Berube, Ph.D.
    Paterno Family Professor in English Literature
    
    
20. Alberto Bressan, Ph.D.
    Eberly Chair Professor of Mathematics
    
    
21. Erica F. Brindley, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and History
    
    
22. Forrest Briscoe, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Management
    
    
23. Margaret Brittingham, Ph.D.
    Professor of Wildlife Resources
    
    
24. Jonathan E. Brockopp, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of History and Religious Studies
    
    
25. Victor W. Brunsden, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Mathematics
    
    
26. Tammy Buckley
    Instructor of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management
    
    
27. William S. Carlsen, Ph.D.
    Professor of Education
    Director, Center for Science and the Schools
    
    
28. Ghassan Chehab, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering
    
    
29. Cynthia H. Chuang, M.D.
    Assistant Professor of Medicine and Public Health Sciences
    
    
30. Cynthia Clem
    Assistant Director, Center for the Excellence in Writing
    
    
31. Christopher M. Collins, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Radiology
    
    
32. Jeanna E. Cooper, D.Sc.
    Instructor of Information Sciences & Technology
    
    
33. Roselyn Costantino, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Spanish and Women's Studies
    
    
34. Peter Crabb, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Psychology
    
    
35. Anthony Cutler, Ph.D.
    Evan Pugh Professor of Art History
    
    
36. Ellen Dannin, J.D.
    Fannie Weiss Distinguished Faculty Scholar and Professor of Law
    
    
37. Negar C. Davis, Ph.D.
    Director, International Student Services
    
    
38. Solsiree Del Moral, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of History
    
    
39. Ali Demirci, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
    
    
40. Juana C. Djelal, Ph.D.
    Senior Lecturer in Humanities
    
    
41. Robert Drago, Ph.D.
    Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations
    
    
42. Nancy A. Dreschel, Ph.D.
    Instructor of Small Animal Sciences
    
    
43. Paula Droege, Ph.D.
    Lecturer in Philosophy
    
    
44. E. Paul Durrenberger, Ph.D.
    Professor of Cultural Anthropology
    
    
45. J. Ann Dumas, Ph.D
    Lecturer in Communications
    
    
46. Lyn E. Elliot, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Communications
    
    
47. Tolga U. Esmer
    Lecturer in History and Religious Studies
    
    
48. Charlotte Eubanks, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature and Japanese
    
    
49. Daniel J. Evak
    Director of Business Development, The Smeal College of Business
    
    
50. Garrett G. Fagan, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies
    
    
51. Diane G. Farnsworth
    Counselor, Multicultural Resource Center
    
    
52. Saira Farooq
    Instructor of International Business
    
    
53. Vronique M. Fti, Ph.D.
    Professor of Philosophy
    
    
54. Eric W. Fuchs
    Lecturer in Communication Arts and Sciences
    
    
55. Kevin P. Furlong, Ph.D.
    Professor of Geosciences
    
    
56. Robert Gallagher, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Crop and Soil Sciences
    
    
57. Lori Ginzberg, Ph.D.
    Professor of History and Women's Studies
    
    
58. Gary Gittings
    Instructor of Supply Chain and Information Systems
    Senior Research Associate, Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
    
    
59. Arthur Goldschmidt Jr., Ph.D.
    Professor Emeritus of Middle East History
    
    
60. (Col.) Jake Graham, USMC (ret.)
    Lecturer of Security and Risk Analysis
    Deputy Director, NC2IF Center
    
    
61. R. Larry Grayson, Ph.D.
    Professor of Energy and Mining Engineering
    George H., Jr., and Anne B. Deike Chair in Mining Engineering
    
    
62. Galen A. Grimes
    Associate Professor of Information Sciences & Technology
    
    
63. Kevin J. Hagopian, Ph.D.
    Senior Lecturer in Media Studies
    
    
64. Marvin H. Hall, Ph.D.
    Professor of Forage Management
    
    
65. James M. Hammond, M.D.
    Distinguished Professor of Medicine
    Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology
    
    
66. Marie Hardin, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Communications
    Associate Head, Department of Journalism
    
    
67. Paul Heinemann, Ph.D.
    Professor of Agricultural Engineering
    
    
68. Rachel Helwig
    Staff, Office of International Students
    
    
69. Errol A. Henderson, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Political Science
    
    
70. Dorn Hetzel
    Associate Professor of Communications
    Head, Film-Video Program
    
    
71. Denise Hinds-Zaami, Ed.D.
    Diversity Advocate and Counselor, Multicultural Resource Center
    
    
72. Christopher M. Hoadley, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Education and Information Sciences and Technology
    
    
73. Kathryn E. Hood, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Human Development, Women's Studies, and Biobehavioral Health
    
    
74. James E. Howell, Ph.D.
    Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
    
    
75. Toby S. Jenkins, Ph.D.
    Director, Paul Robeson Cultural Center
    
    
76. Lewis Jillings
    Associate Professor of German
    
    
77. Ellen Johnson, M.D.
    Medical Director, Psychological Clinic
    Department of Psychology
    
    
78. Djelal Kadir, Ph.D.
    Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Comparative Literature
    
    
79. Seogchan Kang, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Plant Pathology
    
    
80. Julia S. Kasdorf, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of English & Women's Studies
    
    
81. James F. Kasting, Ph.D.
    Distinguished Professor of Geosciences
    
    
82. Julia Kisner
    Education Abroad Advisor, Office of International Programs
    
    
83. Celeste S. Kinginger, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of French and Applied Linguistics
    
    
84. George B. Kleindorfer, J.D., Ph.D.
    Professor Emeritus of Quantitative Business Analysis
    
    
85. Stephen J. Knabel, Ph.D.
    Professor of Food Science
    
    
86. Donald Kunze, Ph.D.
    Professor of Architecture and Integrative Arts
    
    
87. Ann Kusnadi
    Research Associate, Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis
    
    
88. Joan B. Landes, Ph.D.
    Walter L. and Helen Ferree Professor of Early Modern History and Women's Studies
    
    
89. Jack W. Langelaan, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering
    
    
90. Tracy Langkilde, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Biology
    
    
91. Dongwon Lee, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Information Sciences and Technology
    
    
92. El-Amine Lehtihet, Ph.D.
    Professor of Industrial Engineering
    
    
93. Brian Lennon
    Assistant Professor of English
    
    
94. Jessica Lindoerfer
    Senior Promotions and Outreach Coordinator, Office of International Programs
    
    
95. Nancy S. Love, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Political Science, Communication Arts and Sciences, and Women's Studies
    
    
96. Charles L. Lumpkins, Ph.D.
    Lecturer in African and African American Studies
    
    
97. Janet Lyon, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of English and Women's Studies
    
    
98. Jennifer Macalady, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Geosciences
    
    
99. Donald R. Mackay, M.D.
    William P. Graham III Professor and Chief of Plastic Surgery
    Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs, Department of Surgery
    
    
100. Robert E. Malcom, Ph.D.
     Professor Emeritus of Accounting
     
     
101. Thomas E. Mallouk, Ph.D.
     DuPont Professor of Materials Chemistry and Physics
     Director, Center for Nanoscale Science
     
     
102. James H. Marden, Ph.D.
     Professor of Biology
     
     
103. J. Daniel Marshall, Ph.D.
     Professor of Education
     Professor-in-Charge, Education Leadership Program
     
     
104. Melissa D. Marshall
     Lecturer in Communication Arts and Sciences
     
     
105. Bettina Mathes, Ph.D.
     Associate Professor of German, Science, Technology and Society, and Women's Studies
     
     
106. Naomi McCormack
     Assistant Professor of Communications
     
     
107. Annette McGregor, Ph.D.
     Associate Professor of Theatre Arts
     
     
108. Susan M. McHale, Ph.D.
     Professor of Human Development
     Director, Social Science Research Institute
     
     
109. Edward A. McKeon
     Counselor, Multicultural Resource Center
     
     
110. John J. Messmer, M.D.
     Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine
     Associate Vice-Chair for Inpatient Medicine
     
     
111. Carol A. Miller, Ph.D.
     Associate Professor of Communication Disorders
     
     
112. Richard G. Mistrick, Ph.D.
     Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering
     
     
113. Robert B. Mitchell, Ph.D.
     Professor Emeritus of Biology
     
     
114. Prasenjit Mitra, Ph.D.
     Assistant Professor in Information Sciences and Technology
     
     
115. Burt L. Monroe, Ph.D.
     Associate Professor of Political Science
     Director, Quantitative Social Science Initiative
     
     
116. Henry J. Morello, Ph.D.
     Senior Lecturer in Comparative Literature and Spanish
     
     
117. Hossein Movahedi-Lankarani, Ph.D.
     Professor of Mathematics
     
     
118. Stephanie J. Movahedi-Lankarani
     Library Supervisor, Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library
     
     
119. Laurie Mulvey, Ph.D.
     Lecturer in Sociology
     Co-Director, Race Relations Project
     
     
120. Mark Munn, Ph.D.
     Professor of Ancient Greek History and Greek Archaeology
     
     
121. Jeffrey T. Nealon, Ph.D.
     Professor of English
     
     
122. Brian J. Olsen, Ph.D.
     Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Sciences
     
     
123. Mary Beth Oliver, Ph.D.
     Professor of Communications and Communication Arts and Sciences
     Co-Director, Media Effects Research Laboratory
     
     
124. Jon Olson, Ph.D.
     Assistant Professor of Writing
     Director, Center for Excellence in Writing
     
     
125. Stephen Piazza, Ph.D.
     Associate Professor of Kinesiology
     
     
126. Randy J. Ploog, Ph.D.
     Coordinator of International Programs
     College of Arts & Architecture
     
     
127. Raja V. Ramani, Ph.D.
     Professor Emeritus of Mining Engineering and Geo-Environmental Engineering
     
     
128. Donald B. Redford, Ph.D.
     Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies
     
     
129. Susan Reighard
     Staff, Institute for the Arts and Humanities
     
     
130. Samuel M. Richards, Ph.D.
     Senior Lecturer in Sociology
     Co-Director, Race Relations Project
     
     
131. Dan W. Riddle
     Assistant Professor of Theatre Music Director, School of Musical Theatre
     
     
132. Michelle Rodino-Colocino, Ph.D.
     Assistant Professor of Communications
     
     
133. Jamal Rostami, Ph.D.
     Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering
     
     
134. Sherry Roush, Ph.D.
     Associate Professor of Italian
     Associate Director, Institute for the Arts and Humanities
     
     
135. Janina Safran, Ph.D.
     Associate Professor of History
     Director, Middle Eastern Studies
     
     
136. Sajay Samuel, Ph.D.
     Clinical Assistant Professor of Accounting
     
     
137. Gerald M. Santoro, Ph.D.
     Assistant Professor of Information Sciences and Technology
     
     
138. Sandra J. Savignon, Ph.D.
     Professor of Applied Linguistics
     
     
139. Steven B. Sawyer, D.B.A
     Associate Professor of Information Sciences & Technology, Management & Organization
     Labor Studies & Employment Relations, and Science, Technology & Society
     
     
140. Kai A. Schafft, Ph.D.
     Assistant Professor of Education & Rural Sociology
     Director, Center on Rural Education and Communities
     
     
141. Amit M. Schejter, Ph.D.
     Assistant Professor of Telecommunications
     
     
142. Elizabeth M. Seymour, Ph.D.
     Instructor of Anthropology
     
     
143. Keith D. Shapiro
     Assistant Professor of Arts and Architecture
     
     
144. Claire Y. Shannon
     Lecturer in English
     
     
145. Stephen Sinsley
     Instructor of Art
     
     
146. Jose A. Soto, Ph.D.
     Assistant Professor of Psychology
     
     
147. Stephanie Springgay, Ph.D.
     Assistant Professor of Art Education and Women's Studies
     
     
148. Amy L. Stever
     Marketing Manager, University Outreach
     
     
149. James B. Stewart, Ph.D.
     Professor of Labor Studies and Industrial Relations & African and African American Studies
     Former Vice Provost for Educational Equity
     Former Director, Black Studies Program
     
     
150. Janet Swim, Ph.D.
     Professor of Psychology
     
     
151. Marica S. Tacconi, Ph.D.
     Associate Professor of Musicology
     Director, Institute for the Arts and Humanities
     
     
152. Daniel L. Treviņo, Ph.D.
     Senior Instructor of Biobehavioral Health
     
     
153. Jack P. Vanden Heuvel, Ph.D.
     Professor of Molecular Toxicology
     
     
154. Alan C. Verbanec
     Instructor of Computer Science and Engineering
     
     
155. James Wines
     Professor of Architecture
     
     
156. Kristi A. Wormhoudt
     Assistant Director, Office of International Programs
     
     
157. Linda A. Wray, Ph.D.
     Assistant Professor of Biobehavioral Health & Women's Studies
     
     
158. Yinong Yang, Ph.D.
     Associate Professor of Plant Pathology
     
     
159. Abdullah Yavas,
     Elliott Professor of Business Administration
     Director, Institute for Real Estate Studies College of Business
     
     
160. Cemile Yavas, Ph.D.
     Senior Lecturer in Economics
     
     
161. Hulya Yilmaz, Ph.D.
     Senior Lecturer in German
     Director, German Language Program