Help Poet Wang Ping Defend Freedom of Speech!
Donation protected
Aug 15, 2019
I am starting this fundraising campaign in behalf of my friend, Dr. Wang Ping, Professor of English at Macalester College, who I have known over the decades from many adventures on the Mississippi River, and in our mutual love of big rivers, and the big river cultures of the world. She connects river people through her Kinship of Rivers project, and recently published the book Life of Miracles along the Yangtze and Mississippi (2018, U of Georgia Press ). Even though she is a fully decorated academic, I know her as Ping, the name I will use in this campaign.
Ping is embroiled in an unfair fight with Macalester College over Freedom of Speech. It is unfair for many complex reasons, which you can read about on her petition page (this is the petition for same cause: please read the narrative, then sign, and then scroll to bottom of this page for extensive media stories, documents, interviews, student testimonies, and many primary and secondary source materials). From these documents you might detect strains of sexism, racism, machoism, bullying, and other very un-liberal minded methods employed by the College.
Ping's students have been caught up in the controversy. Their involvement has been used as an argument against Ping, but in my mind this could be the best education they receive, the fight for human rights in real time, and their introduction to real life, in a real-time David vs. Goliath for the protection of a true liberal arts education. Many students have cited Ping as the best teacher they have ever had (read some of their letters and testimonies here ). Many of her readers and those who have experienced her performances might share the same sentiment.
This should be of concern to us all; whether you personally know Ping, or have been inspired by her prayer flags, her soulful presentation, or her poetry readings, your donation will help Ping survive this battle for Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech. You will help support her defense team (including lawyer Peter J. Nickitas) on top of normal living expenses, with the threat of loss of tenure hanging over her head.
From the bottom of my muddy heart -- thank you for your support! All donations will help Ping in her noble cause, no donation is too small nor too big. All donations will be directly deposited into Ping’s checking account.
In anticipation of good intentions, I am sending out a big river blessing to you for your support for my friend Dr. Wang Ping, for Academic Freedom, and for the Freedom of Speech!
Yours in service,
John Ruskey
Quapaw Canoe Company
Clarksdale, Miss
Appendix:
1. For more information go HERE (this is the petition for same cause: scroll to bottom of this page for media stories, documents, interviews, student testimonies, and much more primary and secondary materials)
2. Please sign Ping's petition at Change.org:
"MACALESTER MUST RESPECT ACADEMIC FREEDOM, RENEW DR. WANG'S CONTRACT & STOP DISCRIMINATION!"
3. Chronicle of Higher Education Aug 7, 2019
An Escalating Tenure Fight Catches Students in the Crossfire
A professor says Macalester College is continuing a yearslong pattern of retaliation and discrimination against her. Both say students are getting dragged into the battle.
I am starting this fundraising campaign in behalf of my friend, Dr. Wang Ping, Professor of English at Macalester College, who I have known over the decades from many adventures on the Mississippi River, and in our mutual love of big rivers, and the big river cultures of the world. She connects river people through her Kinship of Rivers project, and recently published the book Life of Miracles along the Yangtze and Mississippi (2018, U of Georgia Press ). Even though she is a fully decorated academic, I know her as Ping, the name I will use in this campaign.
Ping is embroiled in an unfair fight with Macalester College over Freedom of Speech. It is unfair for many complex reasons, which you can read about on her petition page (this is the petition for same cause: please read the narrative, then sign, and then scroll to bottom of this page for extensive media stories, documents, interviews, student testimonies, and many primary and secondary source materials). From these documents you might detect strains of sexism, racism, machoism, bullying, and other very un-liberal minded methods employed by the College.
Ping's students have been caught up in the controversy. Their involvement has been used as an argument against Ping, but in my mind this could be the best education they receive, the fight for human rights in real time, and their introduction to real life, in a real-time David vs. Goliath for the protection of a true liberal arts education. Many students have cited Ping as the best teacher they have ever had (read some of their letters and testimonies here ). Many of her readers and those who have experienced her performances might share the same sentiment.
This should be of concern to us all; whether you personally know Ping, or have been inspired by her prayer flags, her soulful presentation, or her poetry readings, your donation will help Ping survive this battle for Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech. You will help support her defense team (including lawyer Peter J. Nickitas) on top of normal living expenses, with the threat of loss of tenure hanging over her head.
From the bottom of my muddy heart -- thank you for your support! All donations will help Ping in her noble cause, no donation is too small nor too big. All donations will be directly deposited into Ping’s checking account.
In anticipation of good intentions, I am sending out a big river blessing to you for your support for my friend Dr. Wang Ping, for Academic Freedom, and for the Freedom of Speech!
Yours in service,
John Ruskey
Quapaw Canoe Company
Clarksdale, Miss
Appendix:
1. For more information go HERE (this is the petition for same cause: scroll to bottom of this page for media stories, documents, interviews, student testimonies, and much more primary and secondary materials)
2. Please sign Ping's petition at Change.org:
"MACALESTER MUST RESPECT ACADEMIC FREEDOM, RENEW DR. WANG'S CONTRACT & STOP DISCRIMINATION!"
3. Chronicle of Higher Education Aug 7, 2019
An Escalating Tenure Fight Catches Students in the Crossfire
A professor says Macalester College is continuing a yearslong pattern of retaliation and discrimination against her. Both say students are getting dragged into the battle.
Organizer and beneficiary
John Ruskey
Organizer
Clarksdale, MS
Wang Ping
Beneficiary
