We write as long-term colleagues of Professor Avital Ronell who has been under investigation by the Title IX offices at New York University. Although we have no access to the confidential dossier, we have all worked for many years in close proximity to Professor Ronell and accumulated collectively years of experience to support our view of her capacity as teacher and a scholar, but also as someone who has served as Chair of both the Departments of German and Comparative Literature at New York University. We have all seen her relationship with students, and some of us know the individual who has waged this malicious campaign against her. We wish to communicate first in the clearest terms our profound an enduring admiration for Professor Ronell whose mentorship of students has been no less than remarkable over many years. We deplore the damage that this legal proceeding causes her, and seek to register in clear terms our objection to any judgment against her. We hold that the allegations against her do not constitute actual evidence, but rather support the view that malicious intention has animated and sustained this legal nightmare.
It is crushing to see a statement like this signed by a person like Judith Butler. It is exactly the kind of response that have kept sexual harassment quiet for so long. "We know [accused harrasser], he would never act this way. We've worked with him for years, he's an honorable man, we know his character,... The accuser is just seeking attention/money in this malicious campaign". It just happens to be the case that the accuser is a woman in power this time.
Having a powerful feminist be accused of sexual harassment does zero damage to the feminist movement at large. If nothing else, #MeToo has taught us that there are harassers hiding everywhere, and even the people you least suspect can be guilty of it. This is just another example.