April 2, 2017
To: H.E. Réka Szemerkényi, Ambassador of Hungary to the United States of America
Zoltán Balog, Minister of Human Capacities, Ministry of Human Capacities, Hungary
László Palkovics, Minister of State for Education, Ministry of Human Capacities,
Hungary
Dear Ambassador Szemerkényi, Minister Balog, and Minister Palkovics,
We are writing to express our deep concern about the proposed amendment to the National Higher Education Law. In its current form, the amendment would make it virtually
impossible for the Central European University to continue its operation in Hungary. The Philosophy Department at CEU enjoys a stellar international reputation – in fact, it is among the very best departments in Europe. Disrupting its academic life would be a serious loss for the profession everywhere, but it would be especially devastating for Hungarian philosophy and Hungarian academia. It would likely result in the departure of a number of outstanding thinkers and waning cooperation with Hungary by researchers and scholars from throughout the English-speaking world.
We doubt this is an outcome the Hungarian government seeks. We therefore ask, respectfully but inthe strongest possible terms, that the government should consider the likely consequences of the amendment and withdraw this legislation.
Sincerely,
Members of the Department of Philosophy
Yale University
http://philosophy.yale.edu/