The Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) stands in unwavering support of Helyeh Doutaghi, a Carleton alumna and respected legal scholar, in response to the harmful and unfounded allegations that have been levied against her regarding AI-generated content.
CUSA joins a growing chorus of academics, legal professionals, and students in condemning the reliance on anonymous, unsourced, and unverified allegations to scrutinize the work of scholars. These tactics threaten academic integrity, due process, and the fundamental rights of educators, particularly those from historically marginalized backgrounds.
We are particularly troubled by the weaponization of AI-related claims to challenge the credibility of academics. As the open letter of support highlights:
“We are particularly troubled about the source of the allegation and its handling: the online publication that Yale Law School relied on was unattributed, unsourced, and had no responsible human author. Accusations leveled by humans can be subject to scrutiny, questioning, and, in case of frivolous and malicious accusations, be subject to accountability measures.”
This case sets a dangerous precedent that could impact scholars across institutions, including Carleton University. We call on universities to reject AI-related allegations that lack accountability and real evidence and ensure that no educator faces professional consequences based on anonymous and baseless claims.
CUSA stands firmly with Helyeh Doutaghi and all educators facing wrongful scrutiny. We urge students, faculty, and institutions to support her and advocate for policies that protect academic freedom.
Read and sign the statement of support here: https://openletter.earth/statement-of-support-for-helyeh-doutaghi-18ce8d84