President’s speeches, letters, and articles
Subject: A message from President Bilger
November 30, 2022
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,
I write to inform you that Reed Professor Paul Currie has resigned his appointment at the college effective January 6, 2023.
Last spring, many community members expressed concerns, ones I shared, about a video circulated on social media that captured remarks made by a professor on leave from the college, Paul Currie. Based on the content of the video, the incident led to calls for reconsideration of Professor Currie’s appointment, a position he held with indefinite tenure. Following the procedure outlined in college documents governing faculty employment, a faculty committee investigated the incident and found no violation of college policy. I have accepted the committee’s decision.
After receiving the report, I discussed the committee’s findings with legal experts and with Professor Currie. As a result of these discussions, Professor Currie has resigned from his position.
Since coming to Reed, my priority has been and remains to support students in their educational pursuits, efforts that rely on an inclusive and welcoming campus environment. As president, it is my responsibility to guide this work forward; as a teacher, and as someone who has spent my career seeking to advocate for and champion historically underrepresented individuals and groups, I am deeply invested in building a campus environment where all can thrive.
I am sorry to send this message to you at a busy time of the semester, but I wanted to share this news as soon as I was able. I am grateful for your attention and concern.
Sincerely,
Audrey
---
Audrey Bilger
President