Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 1d

Breaking: Trump's higher-ed compact is open to all, I confirmed for @chronicle.com: www.chronicle.com/blogs/the-tr...

“We welcome any institution that wants to adopt these principles to sign the compact,” a source told me.

Trump Welcomes ‘Any Institution’ to Sign Onto Compact Outlining His Priorities

An administration source told The Chronicle that “any institution that wants to adopt these principles” could sign onto the document, which offers a purported edge in grant funding.

www.chronicle.com

1 11 7

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Stephanie M. Lee @stephaniemlee.bsky.social · 13d

This is an incredibly helpful and context-rich breakdown of the "compact" that the Trump administration has sent to nine universities, offering them an edge in federal funding. Written by many of my brilliant colleagues www.chronicle.com/article/the-...

The White House’s New ‘Compact’ Would Offer Universities an Edge in Grant Funding. What’s In It?

We’ve seen what the Trump administration’s stick looks like. Let’s look at its carrot.

www.chronicle.com

3 3

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Chronicle of Higher Education @chronicle.com · 22d

Some Republican lawmakers have threatened to pull funding or enact other consequences if the colleges don't fire employees who criticized Charlie Kirk after his death. Here's a list of who's been fired, suspended, expelled, or disciplined so far.

Employees and Students at These Colleges Have Been Punished for Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Death

Republican politicians have been pressuring institutions to take action against those who criticized the conservative activist after he was shot and killed last week.

www.chronicle.com

5 2 7

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · 22d

The @aaup.org has earned kudos for going toe-to-toe with the Trump administration.

It has also taken heat for, in critics' minds, becoming too partisan.

I interviewed the org's president, @proftwolf.bsky.social, about what he makes of those criticisms. Read here!
www.chronicle.com/article/is-t...

Is the AAUP Too Partisan? Its President Doesn’t Think So.

Todd Wolfson has taken heat for some of the organization’s political stances during his tenure. Here’s what he makes of the criticism.

www.chronicle.com

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 28d

Two-thirds of college presidents are “extremely” or “moderately” concerned about the impact of immigration restrictions or visa revocations on higher education, according to a new survey by @aceducation.bsky.social www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...

A Campus Campaign Seeks to Add a Foreign Language. Yes, Add.

Students at Brown want courses in Tagalog, one of the most commonly spoken languages in the U.S. Also, a push to exempt students from the travel ban.

www.chronicle.com

3 3

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · 27d

"For free-speech devotees, it’s been a whirlwind week in which arguments in favor of censoring speech considered disturbing and disrespectful — a cause more prominently associated with the left, in recent yrs — were adopted by the right, and thrust into overdrive."
www.chronicle.com/article/with...

With Charlie Kirk’s Killing, a New Chapter of the Campus Speech Wars Has Begun

Some campuses have disciplined professors for cheering his death, raising complex legal and institutional questions.

www.chronicle.com

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Chronicle of Higher Education @chronicle.com · 27d

Facing backlash for employees' social media posts, Clemson University stated that the right to free speech does not extend to rhetoric that "incites harm" or “undermines the dignity of others.”

With Charlie Kirk’s Killing, a New Chapter of the Campus Speech Wars Has Begun

Some campuses have disciplined professors for cheering his death, raising complex legal and institutional questions.

chroni.cl

3 2

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · 27d

On the most recent episode of College Matters from @chronicle.com, the conservative activist Chris Rufo talks to my colleague @jackstripling.bsky.social about his incredibly successful pressure campaign to eradicate DEI from higher ed, and much more: www.chronicle.com/podcast/coll...

Chris Rufo Floats Calling in ‘Troops’

The conservative activist says President Trump should consider using the military to dismantle college DEI programs.

www.chronicle.com

2

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 29d

Quite the story.

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · 29d

A palate cleanser (kind of): I wrote about a student government election that went totally off the rails, at Ohio State University. There were claims of wrongdoing, counterclaims, counter-counterclaims, appeals to authority, to civil rights orgs, and more:

www.chronicle.com/article/camp...

When a Student-Government Election Becomes ‘All-Out War’

Is what happened at Ohio State University a cautionary tale about cutthroat ambition — or frightened administrators?

www.chronicle.com

1

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Stephanie M. Lee @stephaniemlee.bsky.social · 29d

I'm on @nature.com's podcast talking to @nickpetrichowe.bsky.social about the role that journalists can play in combating research misconduct. Honored to appear alongside @jamesheathers.bsky.social, @abalkina.bsky.social, @richvn.bsky.social and many others: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Research misconduct: how the scientific community is fighting back

Hear the biggest stories from the world of science | 08 September 2025

www.nature.com

2 8 25

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · 29d

A palate cleanser (kind of): I wrote about a student government election that went totally off the rails, at Ohio State University. There were claims of wrongdoing, counterclaims, counter-counterclaims, appeals to authority, to civil rights orgs, and more:

www.chronicle.com/article/camp...

When a Student-Government Election Becomes ‘All-Out War’

Is what happened at Ohio State University a cautionary tale about cutthroat ambition — or frightened administrators?

www.chronicle.com

1 6

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Megan Zahneis @mzahneis.bsky.social · Sep 12

Details on Charlie Kirk's suspected shooter are emerging, but there's still much unknown about what the Kirk killing will mean for #HigherEd and the nation. @chronicle.com's @jackstripling.bsky.social and @ngluckman.bsky.social have some analysis in a quick-turn episode of our podcast.

The Meaning of Charlie Kirk

Podcast Episode · College Matters from The Chronicle · 09/11/2025 · 27m

podcasts.apple.com

1 1 3

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · Sep 11

An academic freedom showdown is brewing at Texas A&M.

Per the U, over the summer, an instructor taught content that was irrelevant to her course. She did the same this fall, so she had to go.

But free speech experts say that reasoning smells of pretense.
www.chronicle.com/article/was-...

Was an Instructor’s Firing a Violation of Academic Freedom? Or an Example of ‘Academic Responsibility’?

Texas A&M’s president said he dismissed a senior lecturer because the content of a course didn’t match its summary. Some are skeptical.

www.chronicle.com

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · Sep 10

...including audio of the prez telling the student, who wanted the prof fired, "That's not happening."

But it did. Ostensibly not for booting the student but for repeatedly failing to "align course descriptions with course materials."
www.chronicle.com/article/a-cl...

A Classroom Clash Over Course Content Went Viral. Texas A&M Fired the Instructor and Removed 2 Administrators.

The flap was sparked Monday by a Republican state lawmaker, who posted videos that he said show an exchange between an instructor and a student over discussion of gender identity.

www.chronicle.com

1

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · Sep 10

A case to watch at Texas A&M:

A student and instructor for a children's lit class got into a back-and-forth over the prof's teaching of "gender identity and transgenderism." The prof eventually booted the student. Clips went viral...
www.chronicle.com/article/a-cl...

A Classroom Clash Over Course Content Went Viral. Texas A&M Fired the Instructor and Removed 2 Administrators.

The flap was sparked Monday by a Republican state lawmaker, who posted videos that he said show an exchange between an instructor and a student over discussion of gender identity.

www.chronicle.com

1

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Stephanie M. Lee @stephaniemlee.bsky.social · Aug 12

SCOOP: The NIH is moving to prohibit funded scientists, inside and outside the agency, from collecting data about gender, according to a draft policy I obtained. It’s part of the NIH’s aggressive crackdown on gender-identity research. www.chronicle.com/article/gend...

Gender Data Would Be Off-Limits Under Proposed NIH Policy

A draft rule would bar scientists funded by the agency from collecting data about gender identity, following other steps the administration has taken to restrict research on LGBT topics.

www.chronicle.com

11 98 130

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Chronicle of Higher Education @chronicle.com · Aug 12

A 1991 warning from Harvard's then president predicted the blowback that would happen if "wokeness" or "political correctness" took over higher education. The report looks more prescient than ever. chroni.cl/45u4xBH

Harvard’s President Warned Against Wokeness ... in 1991.

Plus: An update on Northwestern.

chroni.cl

91 4 8

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · Aug 7

There's a rift among higher-ed critics who generally agree the sector is too aligned with the political left.

First, are colleges as captured as Chris Rufo and co. say they are?

Second, should the federal gov't flex its muscle, or is internal reform possible?
www.chronicle.com/article/they...

They Have a Common Criticism of Higher Ed. And They’re Arguing.

The Manhattan Institute and the Heterodox Academy disagree on whether higher ed can reform itself.

www.chronicle.com

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · Jun 13

Of Santa Ono's pummeling by Florida's Board of Governors, one former UF administrator tells @jackstripling.bsky.social and @reporterdavidj.bsky.social: “They did a remarkable job, if you like executions.”

Their story on what Ono's denial means for the sector: www.chronicle.com/article/he-w...

Santa Ono Wanted a Presidency. He Became a Pariah.

The former University of Michigan leader’s failed move to Florida has taken on unmistakable political significance for higher education.

www.chronicle.com

1

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · May 29

At UC Berkeley, an anonymous survey asked professors if they think higher ed's critics have a point.

More than half of respondents indicated yes, according to results I obtained:
www.chronicle.com/article/at-u...

At UC Berkeley, the Faculty Asks Itself, Do Our Critics Have a Point?

Professors’ responses to an internal survey were candid and occasionally brutal.

www.chronicle.com

2

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · May 13

This is a really thoughtful piece on the substantial budget challenges facing Sonoma State University. Quite a few regional public and private universities are having similar--and difficult--conversations as enrollment has fallen over the last decade.

Sonoma State U. Is Making Big Cuts to Close a Budget Hole. What Will Be Left?

The Cal State campus is slashing academic programs, laying off faculty, and, in an unusual move, scuttling its entire Division II athletics program.

www.chronicle.com

3 4

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Chronicle of Higher Education @chronicle.com · May 9

This week on College Matters from The Chronicle: Why this professor wants colleges to nurture and educate conservative students. chroni.cl/3EZZC22

College Matters from The Chronicle

News Podcast · Updated Weekly · Everything happening in the world converges in one place: higher education. Political unrest, the future of AI, the dizzying cost of everything — all of it is playing o...

chroni.cl

1 2 3

Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · May 9

Took a papal victory lap in @chronicle.com's Daily Briefing newsletter! Subscribe if you want higher ed news, analysis, and my occasional jokes in your inbox every morning.
www.chronicle.com/newsletter/d...

1 1

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Stephanie M. Lee @stephaniemlee.bsky.social · Apr 29

NEW: My latest story is about a surprising turn of events. A handful of scientists had NIH grants terminated by the Trump administration earlier this year — and now those grants are getting *reinstated*.

Yes, you read that right.

www.chronicle.com/article/thes...

These NIH Grants Were Terminated. Now They’re Back.

A handful of scientists whose funding was canceled by the Trump administration are now seeing those decisions reversed — and it’s not always clear why.

www.chronicle.com

4 61 130

Reposted by Emma Pettit

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · Apr 30

NEW: Columbia pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi walked out of court today after a judge ordered his immediate release from ICE detention. His words to Trump: "I am not afraid of you."

w/ Liz Crampton

www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

67 1.6K 6.2K