MLA President issues statement on the infamous Butler letter in defense of Ronell

A colleague elsewhere forwarded it:

Dear Colleague, As many members know, a letter written in support of a New York University faculty member accused of sexual harassment was signed by Judith Butler, who was identified as the 2020 MLA president. The letter, written without authorization from the Executive Council, runs counter to aspects of the MLA’s Statement of Professional Ethics and to the council’s own document outlining the legal duties of care and loyalty the council owes to the association. The Executive Council is a broadly representative, member-elected body, with no single member accorded any more decision-making power than any other, and no officer of the MLA speaks for the MLA unless expressly authorized to do so. Professor Butler has apologized for allowing the MLA to be associated with the letter and has expressed regrets for arguments in it. The officers have accepted her apology. The MLA recognizes the power disparity between faculty members and graduate students, and we affirm our strong commitment to graduate student rights and welfare and to academic professional rights and responsibilities. Those commitments will not change. Sincerely,

Anne Ruggles Gere President, Modern Language Association