ASA On the Issues

The American Sociological Association signed on to a letter to the U.S. Department of Education from the Middle East Studies Association (MESA), along with 16 other scholarly associations, expressing "considerable concern and surprise" regarding an inquiry into the Middle East studies program jointly operated by Duke and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Read the full letter.

In a tweet on Friday, April 27, Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, said that the Minister of Education is considering withdrawing funds from philosophy and sociology programs.

In response, the American Sociological Association and the American Philosophical Association sent a community letter to President Bolsonaro and Education Minister Weintraub regarding the proposed defunding of sociology and philosophy in Brazilian universities. The letter follows:

Dear President Bolsonaro and Minister Weintraub,

A letter sent to government officials of Alaska by the ASA, along with 31 other professional societies, states "we express deep concern about Governor Dunleavy’s proposed funding cuts for higher education. While we understand that Alaska is currently facing financial constraints, a $134 million reduction in state support for the University of Alaska will undoubtedly have devastating consequences to the well-being of the state for generations to come....  A healthy local system ensures that many of the economic benefits of higher education remain local.

The American Sociological Association welcomes today’s court ruling in the Southern District of New York holding that the Secretary of Commerce’s decision to include the citizenship question in the 2020 census was unlawful.  ASA has advocated strongly on this issue and submitted an amicus brief for this case in partnership with the American Statistical Association and the Population Associa

According to a memo obtained by The New York Times on October 21, the Department of Health and Human Services is seeking to establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX based on “a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.” The proposed definition would allow only a binary classification that is immutable and based on genitalia at birth. ASA sent a letter to the Secretary of DHHS expressing strong objection to this proposal which fails to reflect the findings from extensive sociological literature on this subject.

Do you use census data?  Now is your opportunity to ensure continued access to the data products that are important for your work.

The American Sociological Association is a professional society of sociologists who meets annually for a conference of more than 5,000 participants.  Our scholarship shows that many workers in the hospitality industry do not earn a living wage. As sociologists, we know the consequences of such inequality are detrimental to the workers themselves as well as our broader communities. We, therefore, express our strong support for fair labor practices and the right of hotel workers to organize.

Join your fellow sociologists for the 2^nd annual March for Science on April 14, 2018. 

In 2017, more than one million people around the world gathered together in the largest event for science advocacy in history, the March for Science.  The March for Science is a public celebration of science and a reminder of the important role evidence-based research plays in informing public policy.

On February 6, ASA signed on to a letter from the Task Force on American Innovation—a broad nonpartisan coalition—that was sent to U.S. congressional leadership, regarding 302(b) allocation. These allocations establish the cap on spending for each of the appropriations bills. The letter's 95 undersigned businesses, scientific and engineering societies, and universities--each a fundamental part of the U.S.

The American Sociological Association (ASA) calls on President Trump to reverse his decision to end the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA).  Absent such a reversal, we implore Congress to reinstate the program with expedience. 

The very nature of the educational work we do on campuses—generating and disseminating knowledge—is predicated upon the assurance that our institutions of higher education serve as strong and safe forums for the free exchange of ideas.  Importantly, we recognize that speech rights come with responsibilities. Pursuit of understanding and truth cannot happen without responsible debate, deliberation, and dialogue. 

ASA signed on to a letter from the American Association for the Advancement of Science expressing our concerns regarding the Notice of Information Collection under OMB Emergency Review: Supplemental Questions for Visa Applicants published in the Federal Register on May 4, 2017.

The ASA signed on to a letter expressing our strong support for the critical Federal data sources that inform and strengthen our nation’s world-leading economic, educational, democratic and civic institutions and successes. Our Federal statistical and data systems provide information that is uniquely accurate, objective, relevant, timely, and accessible. 

The American Sociological Association sent a letter to Hungary’s Minister of Human Capacities expressing our profound concern about proposed legislative changes to the status of Central European University (CEU) in Hungary. Read the letter here.

ASA signed on to two letters that oppose restrictions on geospatial and racial disparities data:  an Association of American Geographers (AAG) letter which was signed by 26 other prominent national organizations expressing concerns about proposed bills (Senate Bill 103 and House Bill 482) that could impose restrictions on the use of and access to geospatial data related to racial disparities, and one from Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS) which expressed interest in the following provision in H.R. 482.

ASA has taken a firm stance against the Executive Order regarding entry into the United States for people from seven majority Muslim countries. We have co-signed, with many of our sister scholarly societies, a statement written by the American Association for the Advancement of Science which argues that scientific progress depends fundamentally on an open exchange of ideas and recognizes that the Executive Order will have the effect of limiting interaction among scholars.

ASA has a long and ongoing history of activity supporting diversity, inclusion, free inquiry, and academic freedom.

The heads of 29 top U.S. scientific and higher-education organizations – including Nancy Kidd, ASA Executive Officer – wrote to President-elect Donald Trump on November 23, urging him to quickly appoint a science adviser.

ASA along with the British Sociological Association and the Canadian Sociological Association sent a joint letter to the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation regarding a troubling situation with the Levada Center.