Across the country, universities are complying in advance with the Trump administration’s repressive agenda. These attacks on academic freedom, freedom of speech, and workers’ rights are antithetical to the mission of the University of California and the scholarly commitments of the School of Humanities. I am writing to you today to urge you to stand with us as scholars and workers and to demonstrate that commitment by reinstating Dr. Ricky Crano.

Dr. Crano’s scholarship on critical AI literacy is essential at a time when so many universities are debating how to engage with AI as an emerging technology. It is for this very reason that so many of us at UCI were confused and distraught when we learned of the School of Humanities’ intention to dismiss Dr. Crano well before the conclusion of the funding provided by his grant.

At this precarious time in the history of American higher education, we need critical voices offering nuanced perspectives on emerging technologies and their application, not summary dismissals of talented scholars. I am asking you, Dean Miller, to do the right thing today and commit to reinstating Dr. Crano for the duration of the term funded by his research grant. Across this country, our rights as scholars are under attack. Please help us show our fellow academics that is not the case too in Irvine.