Dear Heba,
We want to begin by sincerely thanking the ASA membership for the thoughtful, engaged conversations that have occurred over the last three weeks. The care and energy so many members have brought to these discussions reflects how much this association matters to sociologists and how invested we are as a community in its future.
We received a wide range of feedback regarding the March 12 email with members expressing support, concern, and questions about the member petition process. We also understand that there is some frustration about the limits of what our association can do to influence global challenges. This email is narrowly focused on clarifying our bylaws. However, there is an intentional, ongoing discussion among Council about key issues, including how we might broadly support Palestinian and other scholars under attack. That discussion reflects understanding on the part of ASA leadership that improved communication to minimize confusion and frustration about policy and process is paramount for the health of our association.
In 2023, the membership voted to amend Article 2, Section 9 of our bylaws to clarify that members can petition the association regarding public policy positions only. The amendment was intended to preserve members’ ability to influence ASA’s positions on public policy, while also reaffirming that operational decisions remain under the purview of the elected members of Council. This distinction ensures that governance and operational decisions remain the responsibility of organizational fiduciaries who are legally obligated to the organization, which is standard and best practice for nonprofit associations.
As conveyed by the word ‘public’, public policy positions focus externally, are focused on an issue of public concern to the association, and are intended to influence government actions, policies and practices in higher education, and public opinion. Examples of public policy positions include ASA’s 2004 statement affirming same-sex marriage, 2023 comment to the Florida Board of Governors opposing the removal of sociology, and the 2024 member resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Proposed actions that concern the association’s business practices, finances, contracts, day-to-day operations, and internal policies including access to ASA listservs and journals, and eligibility to advertise or receive membership and travel support are considered operational, and they fall outside of the scope of what is petitionable under our bylaws.
We acknowledge that reasonable people could disagree about how to interpret the language of bylaws, and it is understandable that members have questions about what is permitted. ASA leadership consulted with legal counsel to ensure that the stated interpretation of the proposed petition is in accordance with Association bylaws. There is no realistic way for our bylaws to outline every potential action that would not be permitted. Instead, they are intended to identify actions that are permissible. The definitions outlined above are consistent with the distinction between public policy positions and operational decisions that motivated the 2023 amendment. The bylaws were considered, voted on, and adopted by the membership and we have an obligation to follow them.
Over the last few weeks, we have had the privilege of engaging in conversation with members whose views reflect the diversity of our community. What we’ve heard in these conversations makes it clear that we are and we aspire to remain a big tent organization. Diversity of perspectives is a hallmark characteristic of the ASA that makes our community strong. As we look toward…
Though 500+ members committed to boycott he annual meeting, the American Sociological Association just reiterated their refusal to allow a vote on BDS, complete with a throwaway line about how they "might broadly support Palestinian and other scholars under attack".
