Alan Sobel

Senior Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Fellow, SID

Member, American Physical Society

23 August 2001

Marc H. Brodsky (via e-mail)

CEO and Executive Director

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse

College Park, Maryland 20740

My dear Mr. Brodsky:

I have just read about the summary dismissal of Jeff Schmidt from Physics Today.

AIP has been concerned with tenure for physics teachers. Why does the organization avoid any consideration of tenure for staff members?

AIP has, in the past, been in favor of free speech for technical professionals. This summary denial of such freedom of writing and speech can only harm AIP in working for physicists and other scientists and engineers, and harm all of its members as well.

If your action is because Mr. Schmidt has been active in attempting to improve workplace conditions, it is a shameful action. If it is because you disagree with the opinions he has expressed in his book, it is a shameful action.

I urge you to rescind this action before further damage is done to the Institute and its component societies.

Very truly yours,

Alan Sobel