Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by pam lach

Jacqueline Antonovich @jackiantonovich.bsky.social · 4h

As a historian, I can certify that we are in the bad times. But bad times eventually end.
In the meantime:
• Figure out a small way to help someone
• Figure out a small way to fight back
• Figure out a small place to find joy
• Figure out a small way to grow and thrive

And do it often.

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In the Library with the Lead Pipe @libraryleadpipe.bsky.social · 5h

"Knowledge workers are obligated to maintain and preserve these [biomedical] materials because of their epistemic and cultural value, in spite of their awful, nonconsensual origins. We wanted to create an ethical and methodological framework that enabled the divestment of stolen human biomatter..."

In the Library with the Lead Pipe @libraryleadpipe.bsky.social · 7d

The Digital Opaque: Refusing the Biomedical Object by Sean Purcell, Kalani Craig and Michelle Dalmau

www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2025/digital...

The Digital Opaque: Refusing the Biomedical Object – In the Library with the Lead Pipe

www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org

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Brandon Barker @astrobarker.bsky.social · 1d

Time and time again, universities prove that their primary responsibility is not to their students but to themselves and the endowment

Benjamin McKean @blmckean.bsky.social · 1d

Very bad: OSU unilaterally cancelled the registration of grad students attending the joint conference of the National Society of Black Physicists and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists. And OSU won't fund recruiting at the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.

Ohio State changes policy on group conferences after Trump administration threats

A federal investigation into potentially discriminatory practices at Ohio State prompted the university to change its policies regarding conferences.

www.dispatch.com

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Kendra, regular version @kendrawcandraw.bsky.social · 2d

You can't logic your way out of being burnt out. Unless you're me. Who should be able to do it and it's a personal failing that I can't

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you for creating and sustaining this incredible community for all of us. It’s such an important resource/space🫶

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Dr. Amanda Wyatt Visconti @literaturegeek.bsky.social · 1d

I started the DH Slack 10 years ago today 🎉 3.8k legit DHer/DH-interested folks joined; we became a regular venue for asking questions & sharing opportunities+research; usually have several hundred folks active/week (more during DH conferences); 160k+ posts. Anyone curious about DH can join:

Digital Humanities Slack!

tinyurl.com

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Kendra K. Levine @kklevine.bsky.social · 1d

Libraries have been moving to rely more on networks to fill the gaps of austerity, and now they are unraveling.

Shannon Mattern @shannonmattern.bsky.social · 1d

“ALL of Florida lost its [interlibrary loan] services as of October 1. This, of course, most harms those in rural communities. That means those with the most to lose and with the weakest access to education and entertainment materials are now wholly dependent on what their own library owns…”

The Current State of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (October 2025 Edition)

Grant money that should be going to library projects is going to state-sponsored propaganda, among other IMLS updates.

buttondown.com

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 4d

I went back to school after the PhD to become a librarian. Even tho I’m tenured faculty now, I don’t keep up with my original grad department (history). The department seems a little more interested in supporting folks who aren’t pursuing the professoriate, but I still doubt they would value my work

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 4d

You know it 😔

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 4d

Btw it’s really hard trying to focus on this external review on a beautiful Saturday (truly a perfect fall day). Especially with several writing deadlines looming + a tweaked back + a bout of insomnia last night 😭

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Ben Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 4d

AI in education amplifies student surveillance

AI in education makes surveillance companies into trusted educational providers

AI in education surveillance techniques always threaten to creep beyond their original scope of operations

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 4d

Imagine if academia wasn't wholly reliant on extractive labor practices, constantly asking us to do more with less. Imagine if academia wasn't rooted in vocational awe, where saying "no" to requests isn't considered a moral failing

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 4d

External reviews are an imp service to the discipline + a way to support folks' tenure/promotion bids. I accept requests whenever I can. But surely there are better ways to support each other w/out stretching us beyond our capacities (I ponder as I finish 1 review/consider accepting another request)

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🎃 a frightful hoxgoblin 🎃 @kellenhoxworth.bsky.social · 5d

Higher Ed in 2025 is opening your mailbox to see that your institution has sent you:

1. A Center for Teaching and Learning call to integrate AI into your classroom; and

2. An Office of Academic Integrity email encouraging you to crack down on students who use AI to cheat.

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Professa Murray @kalimurray.bsky.social · 4d

UNC ought to be very ashamed here, particularly b/c numerous courts have ruled that these federal guidelines are based on the President’s EO, which has been unconstitutionally vague under the First Amendment

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 4d

www.dailytarheel.com/article/e9c7...

UNC ends Black Student Movement's 52-year 'co-ownership' of Upendo Lounge

BSM President Adam Sherif said administrators cited new federal guidelines that instruct all federally funded entities to ensure they are not engaging in "discriminatory practices, including those lab...

www.dailytarheel.com

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 5d

SoCal sunset, double rainbow Halloween edition 🌈💀

Double rainbow in the eastern sky at sunset. The cloudy sky glows pink. Parts of tan houses are visible at the bottom of the frame

Several skeleton posed on a swing set. A rainbow appears to be emanating from one of the skulls. The eastern sky is pink, reflecting the sunset

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The Steady State @steadystatevets.bsky.social · 5d

MIT is the first university to reject Trump’s proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence.” MIT’s president: “Scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone,” and "the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences."

www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...

MIT Rejects Trump’s Sweeping ‘Compact’ Offering Colleges Funding Advantages

The school became the first university to reject the terms, saying they would undermine independence.

www.wsj.com

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Matthew Cheney @melikhovo.bsky.social · 6d

At an academic conference and the most common conversations I've had is stuff like, "How many faculty is your school trying to fire? Do you still have professional development funds? Do you still have an English department?" Fun times!

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Dr. Mag 🌿👾 @nobugsnous.bsky.social · 6d

I wrote this blog about how feeling like a killjoy whenever I talk about GenAI.
refusinggenai.wordpress.com/2025/10/09/o...

On Being a GenAI Killjoy

Maggie Fernandes, University of Arkansas Photo by Maksim Romashkin on Pexels.com At a recent teaching talk about GenAI refusal, an audience member asked Megan, Jen, and me this question: how d…

refusinggenai.wordpress.com

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 6d

Another incredible sunset here in SoCal 😍

A brilliant reddish-orange sunset over a SoCal backyard. Puffy clouds reflect a pinkish glow from the setting sun. Tree tops are partially visible in silhouette at the bottom of the frame

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Joshua Shapiro @josh.shapiro.foo · 6d

I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything by AI. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed with AI, or buy anything sold or processed with AI, or process anything sold, bought, or processed by AI, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed by AI.

Nancy Parmalee @nparmalee.bsky.social · 6d

I don’t want to generate or receive an email, document, manuscript, PowerPoint deck, post it note, grocery list, novel, film, or hit list that has been generated with AI.

Ned Resnikoff @resnikoff.bsky.social · 6d

I write because I love writing. I love writing even when I'm struggling with a writing problem that is killing me. Finding a way through that problem is both intensely rewarding and also helps me become a better writer. There is no reason for me to ever outsource that.

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 6d

Idk maybe we expect too much from our institutions? 😔

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 6d

Sooner or later, the college/uni you attend(ed) or work at will do something terrible re budget, academics, shared governance, labor rights, student rights, and/or protection of free speech/academic freedom. As much as I try not to be a doomsayer, it feels inevitable. Our institutions are failing us

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pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 6d

Or rather, there’s some dispute/confusion about whether this will be a School of AI or … something else that includes AI as a central focus? 🤔

University leadership announces development of new school at Carolina | UNC-Chapel Hill

The School of Information and Library Science and the School of Data Science and Society will be founding leaders of a new school to amplify and lead Carolina’s response to the information and data ne...

www.unc.edu

pam lach @plach.bsky.social · 6d

It’s telling when the Dean hops onto the alumni listserv to try to do damage control, spin the messaging, and smack talk the student paper for the supposed inaccuracies in its coverage (there’s some dispute about what this new school will be called?)

UNC schools of data science and information science to merge, forming unnamed ‘School of AI’

SDSS Dean Stanley Ahalt will be made dean of the new school while SILS Dean Jeffrey Bardzell will stand as the University’s Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Vice Provost for AI.

www.dailytarheel.com

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