John F. McClelland

Group Leader — Applied Spectroscopy Group

Ames Laboratory — US Department of Energy

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa

2 September 2001

 

 

Marc Brodsky (via e-mail)

CEO and Executive Director

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse

College Park, Maryland 20740

 

Dear Mr. Brodsky,

 

Thanks for responding to my inquiry.  I have tried to gather the information necessary to fairly understand both sides of this issue and your input has been valuable.

 

After going through this process, I have to say that the actions of the AIP regarding Jeff Schmidt's termination concern me a great deal.  Quite frankly I'm aghast that the organization that represents my profession and that I have supported for many years would engage in such behavior.  Doesn't anyone at AIP understand the full implications of what this action means?  Furthermore, I seriously doubt that the majority of physicists who have supported AIP would be comfortable with the treatment of Jeff Schmidt.

 

Please understand that your belief the AIP has not violated federal law is hardly the point.  Most people who look into what occurred are going to suspect early on that the "stolen time" issue is bogus and that this is really about personality clashes and difficulty within AIP recognizing the importance of examining matters of great importance to the profession from different perspectives.  While it may not work to have all of the Physics Today editors with Schmidt's outlook, our profession was truly lucky to have one regardless of any personality considerations.

 

I hope that you will reinstate Schmidt immediately.  To do so will save a lot of people a lot of time and expense, and it is simply the only reasonable course of action at this point.  I feel that the physics community would be best served if the matter could be settled without further legal action and further organization of the APS membership against the AIP actions.  Both will inevitably occur unless you take action.  Please seriously consider an early closure.

 

Sincerely,

 

John McClelland