Tithi Bhattacharya, a history professor at Purdue University, formally declined the Modern Language Association’s Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for South Asian Studies in protest of the MLA’s decisions and handling of proposed resolutions related to Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Bhattacharya cited the MLA’s suppression of a delegate vote on a proposed boycott, sanction and divest resolution and framed her refusal as an ethical stand about professional associations’ responsibilities amid alleged state violence. Her public declination spotlights tensions within scholarly associations over institutional responses to geopolitical crises and intensifies debate on the role of academic organizations in political advocacy. The move follows similar acts of resignation and protest by scholars at multiple institutions. Academic leaders said the episode will fuel discussions about governance, free expression, and how professional organizations balance member viewpoints with external political pressures—issues likely to affect conference programming, awards governance, and association policymaking moving forward.