On behalf of the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), the Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA), and the over 1,000 signatories and counting, we sent a letter to Northwestern University (NU) President Bienen and NU Feinberg School of Medicine Dean Neilson to express our concern about the recent allegations by the Estate of Dr. Jane Ying Wu regarding Northwestern University’s treatment of the deceased Dr. Wu, a prominent scientist and U.S. citizen. The alleged treatment of Dr. Wu is inconsistent with her status as one of very few endowed Asian American women professors and her nineteen years of contributions as a tenured faculty member at the Feinberg School. Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s treatment of Dr. Wu has shocked many in the research community and resulted in fear within the academic and research community, especially those of Asian descent. 

This letter represents the nationwide show of concern from the national research community. Our signatories of current and former U.S. university faculty members cover 44 states and the District of Columbia and are affiliated with more than 300 institutions nationwide, including Nobel Laureates and members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Please note that signatories are signing in their individual personal capacity, and not as a representative of their institution or place of employment.