Elizabeth Weiss is an American anthropologist. She was a professor of anthropology at San Jose State University.
Education
editIn 1996, Weiss received a BA in anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 1998, she received a MA in anthropology from California State University, Sacramento. In 2001, she received a PhD from the University of Arkansas in Environmental Dynamics. [1]
From 2002 to 2004, Weiss did post-doctoral work at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.[1]
Career
editIn 2004, Weiss became a fully tenured professor at San Jose State University.[2]
In April 2021, Weiss gave a presentation at the Society for American Archaeology virtual annual meeting titled "Has Creationism Crept Back into Archaeology?" She claimed during the presentation that NAGPRA gives control of scientific research to the religious beliefs of contemporary Native American communities.[3][4]
In February 2022, Weiss sued San Jose State officials claiming that they retaliated against her for her views and restricted her from accessing skeletal remains that she was studying.[5][6][7] She is being represented by a lawyer from the Pacific Legal Foundation.[8]
In June 2023, Weiss had reached a settlement with San Jose State that allowed her to voluntarily retire with full benefits, effective May 29th, 2024. Due to fears that she may be fired and subsequently lose employment benefits, Weiss accepted a voluntary leave to pursue "more fruitful opportunities".[9][10] She had hoped the lawsuit would pressure the university to reinstate her access to the skeletal remains she had been studying. The judge overseeing the case dismissed her efforts as the Muwekma Ohlone tribe, which the remains belonged to, would have to be involved in the lawsuit. However, due to the tribe's sovereign immunity, it cannot be sued.[11]
Personal life
editWeiss was married to J. Philippe Rushton.[12] She is now married to Nick Pope.
Awards and honors
editIn 2019, Weiss received the College of Social Sciences’ Austen D. Warburton Award of Merit for excellence in scholarship.[13][7]
Books
edit- Reburying the Past: The Effects of Repatriation and Reburial on Scientific Inquiry (Nova Science Publishers, 2008)[14]
- Bioarchaeological Science: What we have Learned from Human Skeletal Remains (Nova Science Publishers, 2009)[15]
- Introduction to Human Evolution 2010[16]
- Paleopathology in Perspective: Bone Health and Disease through Time (Rowman & Littlefield, 2014)[17]
- Reading the Bones: Activity, Biology, and Culture (University Press of Florida, 2017)[18]
- with James W. Springer Repatriation and Erasing the Past (University Press of Florida, 2020)[19][20]
- On the Warpath: My Battles With Indians, Pretendians, and Woke Warriors (Academica Press, 2024)[21]
References
edit- ^ a b "Weiss, Elizabeth | People | San Jose State University". www.sjsu.edu.
- ^ "San Jose State: Professor smiling with Native American skull ignites fiery debate". October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Why Creationism Appears in Debates About Scientific Racism | Religion & Politics". religionandpolitics.org. September 8, 2021.
- ^ "An archaeology society hosted a talk against returning Indigenous remains. Some want a new society". www.science.org.
- ^ "Did San Jose State retaliate against professor who posed for photo with Native American skull?". February 2, 2022.
- ^ "Anthropologist opposed to Indigenous repatriation sues university for alleged threats to her free speech". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. October 27, 2022.
- ^ a b "Anthropologist says she's being punished for views on bones". www.insidehighered.com. 15 February 2022.
- ^ "Weiss v. Perez". Pacific Legal Foundation.
- ^ "Calif. Professor Known For Repatriation Views To Leave Post - Law360". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "Controversial San Jose State prof who posed with Native American skull to resign after reaching settlement". The Mercury News. 2023-06-26. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "Controversial SJSU anthropologist will remain locked out of Native American remains collection". The Mercury News. 2022-05-14. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "248. Elizabeth Weiss on Woke Archaeology and Erasing the Past". Skeptic. February 15, 2022.
- ^ "Accomplishments | College of Social Sciences". www.sjsu.edu.
- ^ Bray, Tamara L. (February 20, 2011). "Reburying the Past: The Effects of Repatriation and Reburial on Scientific Inquiry. By Elizabeth Weiss". Museum Anthropology. 34 (1): 73–74. doi:10.1111/j.1548-1379.2010.01108_1.x – via Wiley Online Library.
- ^ "Weiss, Elizabeth | People | San Jose State University".
- ^ "Weiss, Elizabeth | People | San Jose State University".
- ^ Binder, Michaela (December 15, 2016). "Weiss, Elizabeth. Paleopathology in perspective: bone health and disease through time. xiv, 249 pp., illus., figs, bibliogr. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015. £37.95 (paper): Book reviews". Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 22 (4): 999–1000. doi:10.1111/1467-9655.12515.
- ^ Ubelaker, Douglas H. (June 30, 2019). "Weiss, Elizabeth. Reading the bones: activity, biology, and culture. xix, 183 pp., bibliogr. Gainesville: Univ. Press of Florida, 2017. £85.95 (cloth)". Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 25 (2): 397–398. doi:10.1111/1467-9655.13041. S2CID 155218626.
- ^ Dongoske, Kurt E. (March 1, 2022). "Repatriation and Erasing the Past . Elizabeth Weiss and James W. Springer. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2020, 278 pp. $90.00, cloth. ISBN 9781683401575". Journal of Anthropological Research. 78 (1): 115–117. doi:10.1086/717838. S2CID 247259856.
- ^ Sassaman, Kenneth E. (October 2, 2021). "Repatriation and Erasing the Past". Southeastern Archaeology. 40 (4): 284–286. doi:10.1080/0734578X.2021.2003017. S2CID 244552530 – via Taylor and Francis+NEJM.
- ^ "On the Warpath: My Battles With Indians, Pretendians, and Woke Warriors". Academica Press, LLC. Retrieved 2024-03-19.