The Save Sociology Web site at www.savesociology.org has been maintained by Mathieu Deflem since last summer in response to various forms of political attack on sociology in recent years.

“In particular, so-called ‘public sociology’ has brought about an unscientific invasion on the basis of political ideas,” Deflem said. “Public sociologists have rallied to the American Sociological Association to have the organization pass political resolutions against the war in Iraq and against a proposed constitutional amendment on marriage.”

Other sociologists have begun to organize opposition against these political developments, which they see as a perversion of the academic standards of sociology and an invasion on their academic freedom and educational mission, Deflem said. Sociology education and research at the University of South Carolina, Deflem added, is resolutely committed to the ideals of academic scholarship.

The Save Sociology site seeks to safeguard the academic integrity of sociology as a science, Deflem added. It includes information on the political attacks on sociology in order to secure the academic status of sociology in academe and beyond, said Deflem, who has published several accounts on the developments in the Chronicle Review and other outlets.

Deflem can be reached at 7-6595 or deflem@gwm.sc.edu.

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