Subj: The reputation of AIP and Physics Today

From: Robert P. Wolf

To: Mildred Dresselhaus, Chair, American Institute of Physics governing board

Cc: Physics faculty list, Harvey Mudd College

Date: 8 April 2007

Dear AIP Chair Mildred Dresselhaus:

As a physicist and educator of long standing (Ph.D. MIT 1963), I am interested in insuring that the AIP and Physics Today serve the physics community by observing the highest professional and ethical standards. Therefore, I am very distressed by the public account of the interactions of AIP and Physics Today with physicist Jeff Schmidt.[1] The image presented therein greatly harms the reputations of those two institutions, portraying arbitrary, unfair, and vindictive behavior.[7]

I believe it would be best to scrupulously avoid further criticism, restrictions and demands on Jeff Schmidt, and to make a public statement of commitment to abide by the spirit of the settlement of this case.[8-12] Silence on this matter leaves readers to assume that the unflattering public account paints an accurate picture of the past, present and future standards at AIP and Physics Today.

I welcome a response from you to this unfortunate situation.