COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

Department of Economics - Austin, Texas 78712-0301 - (512) 471-3211 - FAX (512) 471-3510

Daniel S. Hamermesh
Sue Killam Professor Emeritus

E-mail: hamermes@eco.utexas.edu
Office Telephone: (512) 475-8526

October 4, 2015
President Gregory Fenves
University of Texas at Austin
Dear President Fenves:
I came to the University as professor of economics in 1993 and from1993-2014 taught over 8,000
students, most in large classes of Introductory Microeconomics, ECO 304K. In some semesters these
groups of 18-year-olds constituted the largest single course on campus. During that time I received
numerous university-wide teaching awards.
Although I retired in August 2014, I had an agreement with my Department to teach this course again
each of Fall 2015, 2016 and 2017. Indeed, I am teaching it this semester (to 475 students).
As much as I have loved the experience of teaching and introducing these students to economics at
the University, I have decided not to continue with this agreement and will not be teaching here in
Fall 2016 and 2017. With a huge group of students my perception is that the risk that a disgruntled
student might bring a gun into the classroom and start shooting at me has been substantially enhanced
by the concealed-carry law. Out of self-protection I have chosen to spend part of next Fall at the
University of Sydney, where, among other things, this risk seems lower.
I cannot believe that I am the only potential or current faculty member who is aware of and disturbed
by this heightened risk. As I wrote on my blog several years ago, no doubt this law will make it more
difficult to attract faculty, especially those who are willing and able to teach large groups of students.
Anything that can be done to mitigate this risk should be implemented. Applying this law broadly
will detract from both faculty well-being and from the national and international reputation of this
University.
Sincerely yours,

Daniel S. Hamermesh
Sue Killam Professor Emeritus and
Professor of Economics, Royal Holloway University of London,
and
Research Associate, IZA and NBER
cc. Abrevaya