When George Mason 麻豆国产 got a message in February from The New School that scholars abroad were being persecuted and needed a safe haven to continue their lives and academic work, the response was a definitive 鈥測es鈥 to welcome them.
In agreeing to host at least one endangered scholar for a minimum of two years, Mason is one of 11 U.S. colleges and universities defending academic freedom as founding members of the New 麻豆国产 in Exile Consortium. The original 麻豆国产 in Exile was formed back to the 1930s in the wake of nazism and fascism in Europe.聽
Mason students will benefit from the program in several ways, said Kevin Avruch, dean of Mason鈥檚 School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, and the university鈥檚 liaison to the consortium.
While at Mason, the hosted scholars will interact with faculty colleagues, conduct research and teach courses鈥攎uch the same as a visiting professor would.
After their initial two years at Mason, the academics will have several options for what comes next.
With the help of the consortium, 鈥渨e鈥檙e hoping that the scholars can find a way either to return to their home countries [if the situation has improved there] or find a career path here in the United States that permits them to continue their scholarship,鈥 says Arien Mack, director of the consortium and professor of psychology at The New School.