jeudi 24 mars 2011

Normale Sup’ : Monique Canto-Sperber s’est fait une réputation...

mercredi 23 mars 2011
Près de 160 chercheurs internationaux de premier plan, de toutes les disciplines, issus de grandes universités mondiales, comme Berkeley, Oxford ou Columbia, ont lancé une pétition contre la directrice de l’ENS, rapporte le journal britannique The Guardian.
Normale Sup’ : le gratin de la recherche mondiale “consterné” par Monique Canto-Sperber
“Nous, soussignés universitaires américains, canadiens et britanniques ayant de nombreux et prolongés contacts avec la France, et qui avons longtemps admiré le rôle historique de l’Ecole normale supérieure dans la vie intellectuelle de ce pays, sommes consternés par les récents événements au sein de cette école”. Ainsi, commence une pétition signée par près de 160 chercheurs internationaux de premier plan de toutes les disciplines, issus des meilleures universités mondiales, comme Berkeley, Oxford ou Columbia. Elle a été évoquée, lundi 21 mars, par le site du Guardian.
Après les universitaires français, qui s’étaient indignés de l’annulation de la conférence de Stéphane Hessel, ce sont les universitaires anglo-saxons qui critiquent vertement la politique de Monique Canto-Sperber . Lancée par Judith Butler, professeure de rhétorique à Berkeley, Michael Harris, professeur de mathématiques à Paris-Diderot, Natalie Zemon Davies, historienne à Toronto et Joan Wallach Scott, historienne à Princeton, cette pétition réunit du très beau monde. De l’incontournable Noam Chomsky, qui est de tous les combats, à l’historien israélien Avi Schlaim en passant par Paola Bacchetta, spécialiste des “gender studies” à Berkeley ou Rashid Khalidi, historien à Columbia.
“Restaurer la liberté d’expression”
Dans ce texte, ces chercheurs condamnent non seulement l’interdiction de la conférence de Stéphane Hessel, mais aussi le refus d’organiser au sein de l’école des réunions publiques sur Israël à l’initiative du Collectif ENS Palestine.“Nous ne sommes guère convaincus, expliquent les pétitionnaires, par le raisonnement de la directrice et du Conseil d’Etat, qui estiment que ces réunions constituent une menace à l’ordre public ou bien que la responsabilité qu’a l’ENS de garantir à tous les étudiants leur liberté d’expression et le droit de réunion ne saurait s’aplliquer dans ce cas”.
“Nous pensons que les actions de la directrice vont à l’encontre d’une longue tradition de liberté d’expression politique au sein de l’ENS, comme elle a coutume de se présenter : “Pendant des décennies, l’ENS a été le plus prestigieux centre de la vie intellectuelle et scientifique française. Elle participait à tous les grands débats intellectuells de la France moderne, de l’Affaire Dreyfus aux mouvements des années 1930, et de la fondation des sciences humaines à l’avant-garde des mouvements des années 1970″. Nous appelons la directrice à modifier ses décisions et à restaurer la liberté d’expression, une pratique longtemps associée à cette institution reconnue.”
Le texte de la pétition en anglais :
A PETITION TO MONIQUE CANTO-SPERBER, DIRECTOR, ECOLE NORMALE SUPÉRIEURE, PARIS
We, the undersigned U.S., Canadian and British academics, many of us with long connections to France, and who have long admired the historic role of the École Normale supérieure in the critical and intellectual life of the country, are dismayed at recent events at the school. The actions of the Director, Monique Canto-Sperber, first banning a talk by Stéphane Hessel and then refusing to allow the Colléctif Palestine ENS to hold a meeting on campus, is a denial of the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Hessel is 93, a former ENS student, member of the Resistance, survivor of Buchenwald, one of the authors of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and of the recent best-selling Indignezvous !/Time for Outrage, in which he (among other things) criticizes Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
We are not persuaded by the reasoning of the Director or of the Conseil d’État, that these meetings constitute a threat to public order or that they exceed the responsibility of the ENS to guarantee all students’ rights to speech and assembly.
The action of the Director is an exception to the school’s customary toleration of political action by students and it is a recurring exception, aimed at silencing one side in a needed debate about the Israel/Palestine conflict. We believe that the Director’s action contravenes a long history of free speech and political expression at the ENS as described in its own publicity : “For decades, the ENS has been the most prestigious site of French intellectual and scientific life. It participated in all the great intellectual debates of modern France, from the Dreyfus Affair to the movements of the 1930’s, and from the foundation of the human sciences to the avant-garde movements of the 1970’s.”
We call upon the Director to reverse her decision and to restore academic freedom, a practice long associated with this distinguished institution.
Les signataires
Judith Butler, Professor of Rhetoric, University of California at Berkeley, Michael Harris, Professor of Mathematics, Université Paris-Diderot, Natalie Zemon Davis, Professor of History, University of Toronto Joan Wallach Scott, Professor, School of Social Science, Institute for Advanced Study, Yve-Alain Bois, Professor, School of Historical Studies, Institute for Advanced Study, Edmund Burke III, Professor of History, University of California at Santa Cruz Noam Chomsky, Professor (retired), MIT, Edwin E. Daniel, F. R.S.C., Professor Emeritus of Health Sciences, McMaster University and University of Alberta, Laurence Dreyfus, Professor of Music, Magdalen College, Oxford, Freeman Dyson, Professor Emeritus, School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, Morris Halle, Institute Professor, MIT Malcolm Levitt, FRS, Professor of Chemistry, University of Southampton David Mumford, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Brown and Harvard Universities Jacqueline Rose, Professor of English, Queen Mary University of London Graeme Segal, FRS, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, All Souls College, Oxford Ben-Z. Shek, F.R.S.C., Professor Emeritus of French, University of Toronto Avi Shlaim, Professor of International Relations, St. Anthony’s College, Oxford Richard Taylor, Professor of Mathematics, Harvard University James L. Turk, Executive Director, Canadian Association of University Teachers Marina Warner, Professor of Literature, University of Essex Andrew Aisenberg, Associate Professor of History, Scripps College Gil Anidjar, Associate Professor of Religion, Columbia University Robert Boyce, Senior Lecturer in International History, London School of Economics and Political Science Wendy Brown, Professor of Political Science, University of California at Berkeley Edouard Bustin, Director, Groupe de Recherches sur l’Afrique Francophone, Boston University Terence Cave, Emeritus Professor of French Literature, Oxford Jonathan Dewald, Distinguished Professor of History, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Peter Fitting, Professor emeritus, French and Cinema Studies, University of Toronto Carla Freccero, Professor of Literature, Director, Center for Cultural Studies, University of California at Santa Cruz Irene Gendzier, Professor, Dept of Political Science, Boston University Michael Hardt, Professor of Literature, Duke University David Heap, Associate Professor of French and Linguistics, University of Western Ontario Ann Jefferson, Professor of French, Oxford Katherine Callen King, Professor, Comparative Literature and Classics, University of California at Los Angeles Martin Klein, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Toronto Conrad Leyser, Fellow and Tutor in History, Worcester College, Oxford Brian Massumi, Professor of Communication, Université de Montréal Peter Sahlins, Professor of History, Executive Director of the France-Berkeley Fund, University of California at Berkeley Kate Tunstall, University Lecturer (CUF) in French, Worcester College, Oxford Wes Williams, University Lecturer, Fellow and Tutor in French, St. Edmund Hall, Oxford Rabab Abdulhadi, Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies, College of Ethnic Studies, San Francisco State University Mary Louise Adams, Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston Sylvat Aziz, Professor of Fine Arts, Queen’s University, Kingston Feyzi Baban, Associate Professor, Political Studies Department, Trent University Paola Bacchetta, Associate Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies, University of California at Berkeley Ian Barnard, Associate Professor of English, Affiliated Faculty, Queer Studies, California State University at Northridge Amy Bartholomew, Associate Professor of Law, Carleton University Micheline Beaudry, Professeure retraitée (nutrition publique), Université Laval Roger Beck, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto Dr G. K. Bhambra, Director of the Social Theory Centre, University of Warwick Mario Biagoli, Professor of Law & Science and Technology Studies, University of California at Davis Hagit Borer, Professor of Linguistics, University of Southern California Eileen Boris, Hull Professor and Chair, Department of Feminist Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara Martha Bragin, Associate Professor of Social Work, Hunter College Haim Bresheeth, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of East London Stephen Eric Bronner, Distinguished Professor (PII) of Political Science, Rutgers University Anne Clement, Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, Harvard University Lynne Cohen, Former Professor of Photography, University of Ottawa Rebecca Comay, Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto Rebecca Coulter, Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario Stephen D’Arcy, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Huron University College Miriam David, Professor Emerita of Education, Institute of Education, University of London Howard Davidson, Interim Director, Aboriginal Focus Programs, University of Manitoba Chandler Davis, Professor of Mathematics, University of Toronto Mary Ellen Davis, Part time faculty, School of Cinema, Concordia University Geneviève A. Dumas, Professor, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston Peter Eglin, Professor of Sociology, Wilfred Laurier University Christo El Morr, Adjunct Professor of Information Technology, York University Nada Elia, Professor of Global Studies, Antioch University, Seattle Randa Farah, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario Gordon Fellman, Professor of Sociology, Brandeis University L. M. Findlay, Professor of English, University of Saskatchewan Norman Finkelstein, Independent Scholar Gavin Fridell, Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Politics, Trent University Mark Gabbert, Associate Professor of History, University of Manitoba Jack Gegenberg, Professor of Mathematics, University of New Brunswick Marvin E. Gettleman, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn Harry Glasbeek, Professor Emeritus and Senior Scholar, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University Sherna Berger Gluck, Professor Emerita of History, California State University at Long Beach Mark Golden, Professor of Classics, University of Winnipeg Bluma Goldstein, Professor Emerita of German, University of California at Berkeley Peter Gose, Chair of Sociology and Anthropology, Carleton University Allan Greer, Canada Research Chair in Colonial North America, Department of History, McGill University Julie Guard, Associate Professor and Coordinator, Labour Studies Program, University of Manitoba Nadia Habib, Department of Humanities, York University Christian Haesemeyer, Associate Professor of Mathematics, University of California at Los Angeles Lisa Hajjar, Associate Professor of Sociology, Chair, Law and Society Program, University of California at Santa Barbara Sondra Hale, Professor of Anthropology and Women’s Studies, University of California at Los Angeles Robert M. Hamm, Professor, Dept. of Family and Preventive Medicine, Director, Clinical Decision Making Program, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Paul Handford, Professor Emeritus of Biology, University of Western Ontario Jens Hanssen, Associate Professor of History, University of Toronto Gillian Hart, Professor of Geography, University of California at Berkeley Amir Hassanpour, Associate Professor, Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations (ret.), University of Toronto Sudhir Hazareesingh, Fellow in Politics, Balliol College, Oxford Henry Heller, Professor of History, University of Manitoba Sami Hermez, Visiting Fellow, Centre for Lebanese Studies, St. Anthony’s College, Oxford Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Northwestern University Viqar Husain, Professor of Mathematics, University of New Brunswick Radha Jhappan, Professor of Political Science, Carleton University Suad Joseph, Professor of Anthropology and Women and Gender Studies, University of California at Davis Louis Kampf, Professor Emeritus of English, MIT Ilan Kapoor, Professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University Michael Keefer, Professor of English Literature, School of English and Theatre Studies, University of Guelph Assaf Kfoury, Professor of Computer Science, Boston University Rashid Khalidi, Professor of History, Columbia University Muhammed Ali Khalidi, Associate Professor of Philosophy, York University David Klein, Professor of Mathematics, California State University at Northridge Ann Hibner Koblitz, Professor of Women and Gender Studies, Arizona State University Neal Koblitz, Professor of Mathematics, University of Washington Dennis Kortheuer, Department of History, California State University at Long Beach Clarice Kuhling, Lecturer, Department of Sociology & Department of Contemporary Studies, Wilfred Laurier University Ailsa Land, Emeritus Professor of Operational Research, London School of Economics Robert V. Lange, Professor Emeritus of Physics, Brandeis University Paul Lauter, Allan K. and Gwendolyn Miles Smith Professor of Literature, Trinity College Winnie Lem, International Development Studies, Trent University Margaret Little, Professor of Gender Studies and Political Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston David Lloyd, Professor of English, University of Southern California Yosefa Loshitzky, Professor of Film and Cultural Studies, University of East London Andrew Lugg, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Ottawa Rashmi Luther, Lecturer, School of Social Work, Carleton University Arthur MacEwan, Professor Emeritus of Economics and Senior Fellow, Center for Social Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston Moshe Machover, Professor Emeritus of philosophy, King’s College, London David McNally, Professor of Political Science, York University Dr. John McTague, English Faculty, Oxford William Messing, Professor of Mathematics, University of Minnesota Haynes Miller, Professor of Mathematics, MIT Kevin Moloney, Faculty, Dept of Languages, Linguistics & Literatures, York University Karen Bridget Murray, Associate Professor of Political Science, York University Karma Nabulsi, Fellow in Politics, St. Edmund Hall, Oxford Mary-Jo Nadeau, Lecturer, Dept. of Sociology, University of Toronto Mississauga Joanne Naiman, Professor Emerita of Sociology, Ryerson University, Toronto Maire Noonan, Assistant Professor of Linguistics, McGill University Richard Ohmann, Benjamin Waite Professor of English, Emeritus, Wesleyan University Patricia Palulis, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa Charles Posner, Institute of Education, University of London Garry Potter, Associate Professor of Sociology, Wilfred Laurier University Trevor Purvis, Assistant Profesor of Law and Political Economy, Carleton University Aneil Rallin, Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Writing Studies, Soka University of America Denis G. Rancourt, Former Professor of Physics, University of Ottawa Rush Rehm, Professor of Drama and Classics, Stanford University Steven Rose, Emeritus Professor of Biology, The Open University Jonathan Rosenhead, Emeritus Professor of Operational Research, London School of Economics Marty Roth, Emeritus Professor of English, University of Minnesota E. Natalie Rothman, Assistant Professor of History, University of Toronto Leila Rupp, Professor of Feminist Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara Claire Schub, Lecturer in French, Tufts University Alan Sears, Professor of Sociology, Ryerson University, Toronto Eric Smoodin, Professor of American Studies and Film Studies, University of California at Davis Metta Spencer, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of Toronto Brian Stock, Professor Emeritus of Comparative Literature, University of Toronto Bernard Sufrin, Fellow Emeritus in Computation, Worcester College, Oxford Abdel Razzaq Takriti, Junior Research Fellow in Political History, St. Edmund Hall, Oxford Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, Director of the Law and Religion Program, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Oliver Taplin, Emeritus Professor of Classics, Oxford Vladimir Tasic, Professor of Mathematics, University of New Brunswick Barrie Thorne, Professor of Sociology, and Gender and Women’s Studies, University of California at Berkeley Eric Urban, Professor of Mathematics, Columbia University Richard A. Walker, Professor of Geography, Co-director, Global Metropolitan Studies, University of California at Berkeley Seth Wigderson, Professor of History, University of Maine, Augusta Howard Winant, Professor of Sociology, Director, UC Center for New Racial Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara.
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