To the Editor:

We the undersigned, Western Carolina University’s economics faculty, wish to express support for our colleague Dr. Ed López, WCU’s BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism. Unfortunately, he has been subject to unjustified criticism in this publication. In contrast, we who know him best have the highest, most profound confidence in his personal integrity and have no hesitation about sharing that opinion publicly. 

As practicing academic economists, we also endorse the integrity, value, and relevance of his research. Only a small minority of faculty at any institution nationwide can even approach the quality, quantity, and impact of his research publications. In the few years he has been on the faculty at Western, he has made a distinguished contribution to improving the university’s public stature and intellectual climate.  

Furthermore, we fully endorse his efforts to establish a Center for the Study of Free Enterprise. The Center will directly benefit our students and we are dismayed that misguided, misinformed, and in some cases ideologically biased voices have been raised against Professor López and his initiatives.  

This is not only unjust but detrimental to the people of North Carolina, the stature of the UNC system, its commitment to academic freedom, and in the final analysis, counter-productive.  

Robert F. Mulligan, Ph.D.

Professor of Economics

James H. Ullmer, Ph.D.

Professor of Economics

Inhuck Steve Ha, Ph.D. 

Professor of Economics

Zac Gochenour, Ph.D.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics