Diethard Pallaschke, a professor of mathematics at the University of Karlsruhe, has stepped forward to volunter to become a coordinator of a chapter of SPME in Germany. Prof. Pallaschke, a Seventh Day Adventist, indicates he has strong ties to Israel and the Jews and that he wishes to work with colleagues to “de-emotionalize” the discussions on campus and raise the level of factual and analytical accuracy which is very much consistant with SPME’s mission.
Pallaschke states: ” First I can inform my friends in the German academic society about the SPME’s philosophy to de-emotionalize the Middle East conflict by pointing out the unbiased real facts in order to dispel the propaganda… and…[ then ]organize meetings, some smaller workshops and lectures at our University….”
Currently, there are 114 SPME Faculty Forum Subscribers who have indicated they are from Germany and all that is needed to form the chapter is for these subscribers to become members of SPME by going to spme.org/join.html to pay the membership fee and register. 50% of all collected fees is returned to the chapter for programming and services as well as making it potentially eligible for other grants in aid and help.
Ruth Contreras, of Vienna, who serves as SPME European Coordinator, SPME Secretary and coorindator of SPME-Austria, is “thrilled” with this development and the developments in Europe with chapter formation. She is looking forward to working closely and collaboratively to provide help and support for SPME-German. Pallaschke and Contreras are looking for more Germans to work to form a core group for the chapter to work together to help Germany’s chapter grow and have impact.
A independent listserv for SPME-Germany has been set up for communications in German and within- group discussions and communication. Similar listserves have been set up in Austria, France and will be instituted in the UK.
SPME President, Ed Beck commented, ” SPME is quickly becoming an international community of Scholars with chapter forming throughout Europe and North America…we are exploring possibilities of Chapter formation in other countries such as the UK, Italy, the Netherlands as well as in the United States and Canada. The challenges facing faculty on European campuses in many ways is as difficult, if not more so, in many cases than on campuses in North America.
“With over 6000 professors and leaders on our mailing lists, We are succeeding in our mission to engage, network and empower professors to advocate for academic integrity and honest debate in their disciplines, on the campuses and in their communities with respect to the Middle East narrative…As a ‘big-tent’ faculty-to-faculty organization, more and more professors of many pursuasions are understanding the important of scholarship over propaganda which will effect academic institutions throughout the world in lasting ways.” Beck added.
