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Reposted by S. Sommers

Tobias Wilson-Bates @phdhurtbrain.bsky.social · 2d

I don’t think a long book is even primarily about plot, or character, or any of the patterned information on its pages. A long book is practicing over time a way of being in the world. Reading even a very good summary is not the same as giving over some portion of your own life to that practice.

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Reposted by S. Sommers

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 2d

But not if you’ve got a union and a strong contract.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 2d

If you make "controversial statements" outside of classroom, that the President of the university dislikes, you can be summarily fired even if you are tenured.

Julie Greene @greeneland.bsky.social · 2d

I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...

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Reposted by S. Sommers

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 1d

Tenure is a rank and privilege the university grants to some of its employees. A contract is a legally enforceable agreement. If you don’t have contract protections, your academic freedom is at the pleasure of your employer.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 2d

If you make "controversial statements" outside of classroom, that the President of the university dislikes, you can be summarily fired even if you are tenured.

Julie Greene @greeneland.bsky.social · 2d

I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...

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Reposted by S. Sommers

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 1d

This is why I am #unionyes - a contractual right to due process and just cause termination is stronger than any tenure protection out there.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 2d

If you make "controversial statements" outside of classroom, that the President of the university dislikes, you can be summarily fired even if you are tenured.

Julie Greene @greeneland.bsky.social · 2d

I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...

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Reposted by S. Sommers

Johanna Mellis @johannamellis.bsky.social · 1d

Found the publicly-available version on the FSU website: provost.fsu.edu/sites/g/file...

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Reposted by S. Sommers

Johanna Mellis @johannamellis.bsky.social · 1d

Saw evidence that a major FL state university is requiring that profs check yes/no if the conference they’re applying for school funding to go to (or their presentation) tries to “divide” people according to race/gender/sex/etc and other similar “criteria.” if they select yes, then no funding

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S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 1d

Tenure is a rank and privilege the university grants to some of its employees. A contract is a legally enforceable agreement. If you don’t have contract protections, your academic freedom is at the pleasure of your employer.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 2d

If you make "controversial statements" outside of classroom, that the President of the university dislikes, you can be summarily fired even if you are tenured.

Julie Greene @greeneland.bsky.social · 2d

I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...

1 2

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 1d

This is why I am #unionyes - a contractual right to due process and just cause termination is stronger than any tenure protection out there.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 2d

If you make "controversial statements" outside of classroom, that the President of the university dislikes, you can be summarily fired even if you are tenured.

Julie Greene @greeneland.bsky.social · 2d

I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...

2 4

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 2d

But not if you’ve got a union and a strong contract.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 2d

If you make "controversial statements" outside of classroom, that the President of the university dislikes, you can be summarily fired even if you are tenured.

Julie Greene @greeneland.bsky.social · 2d

I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...

2 1

Reposted by S. Sommers

Nathan Kalmoe (he/him) @nathankalmoe.bsky.social · 4d

Same in higher ed. Admins have bent over backwards to welcome gaslighters and hate mongers who degrade education and endanger our campuses.

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 4d

The conventions of political reporting today are not well equipped to handle this concerted use of pretexts for instrumental purposes and the bottomless bad faith they employ. Grasping the industrial-scale deception at the core of MAGA politics is essential. 6/

newrepublic.com/article/2016...

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Reposted by S. Sommers

NightMar on Hicks Street, Part 4: The Rabbit’s Revenge @histoftech.bsky.social · 5d

The Virginia Senate just told UVA it’s not getting state funding if it accepts the compact since UVA exists to serve Virginia, its residents, & their interests—not be a tool of the federal govt. Scoop from our student newspaper, who’ve been doing vital reporting www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...

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Reposted by S. Sommers

AAUP–Penn @aaup-penn.bsky.social · 7d

Now and forever, AAUP-Penn stands in solidarity with GETUP-UAW. Read our public statement today, as GETUP members held a massive practice picket to show they are ready to win a fair contract aaup-penn.org/statement-of...

GETUP members in blue UAW shirts with picket signs gather near the entrance to College Green on Walnut St

picketers marching single-file in two lines that form a circle stretching across campus and around the block

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S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 24d

But not 🖐🏻?

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Reposted by S. Sommers

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 25d

Raise your hand if your public university employer instructed everyone on H1-B visas to return to the US immediately if currently abroad and to cancel all planned international travel in order to maximally comply with the Trmp regime 🙌🏻

Berna Devezer @devezer.bsky.social · 25d

so this h1b thing is not even an executive order but a presidential proclamation, and should "not have the force and effect of law" (as per the library of Congress) but that won't make any difference because we seem to be completely resigned to be living in a dictatorship, yes?

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Reposted by S. Sommers

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 25d

Raise your hand if your public university employer is so committed to anticipatory compliance that they prefer to foment panic than reassure H1-B workers that if they face any issue while traveling, the university will marshal their *considerable resources* to fight illegal proclamations. 🙌🏻

Berna Devezer @devezer.bsky.social · 25d

so this h1b thing is not even an executive order but a presidential proclamation, and should "not have the force and effect of law" (as per the library of Congress) but that won't make any difference because we seem to be completely resigned to be living in a dictatorship, yes?

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S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 25d

Raise your hand if your public university employer is so committed to anticipatory compliance that they prefer to foment panic than reassure H1-B workers that if they face any issue while traveling, the university will marshal their *considerable resources* to fight illegal proclamations. 🙌🏻

Berna Devezer @devezer.bsky.social · 25d

so this h1b thing is not even an executive order but a presidential proclamation, and should "not have the force and effect of law" (as per the library of Congress) but that won't make any difference because we seem to be completely resigned to be living in a dictatorship, yes?

1 2

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 25d

Raise your hand if your public university employer instructed everyone on H1-B visas to return to the US immediately if currently abroad and to cancel all planned international travel in order to maximally comply with the Trmp regime 🙌🏻

Berna Devezer @devezer.bsky.social · 25d

so this h1b thing is not even an executive order but a presidential proclamation, and should "not have the force and effect of law" (as per the library of Congress) but that won't make any difference because we seem to be completely resigned to be living in a dictatorship, yes?

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Reposted by S. Sommers

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 29d

I think it’s more than a category error to describe the practice of being disappeared by government agents to torture facilities in third countries as a “serious consequence”

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Reposted by S. Sommers

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 29d

“… the university had sent a list of 160 names to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights…names of students, staff, and faculty who may well suffer serious consequences, including the loss of jobs, expulsion, deportation, or harassment.”

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Reposted by S. Sommers

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 29d

Butler’s response to Berkeley “naming names” reminds us this was a McCarthy-era practice. But calling to mind televised congressional hearings and industry blacklists, I think, dangerously sanitizes the horrific violence of today’s authoritarian tactics.

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Reposted by S. Sommers

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 29d

In Butler’s response to Berkeley “naming names” they remind us this was a McCarthy-era practice. But calling to mind televised congressional hearings and industry blacklists, I think, dangerously sanitizes the horrific violence of today’s authoritarian tactics.

www.chronicle.com/article/when...

Opinion | When Universities Become Informants

A practice from the McCarthy era makes an ugly return.

www.chronicle.com

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S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 29d

In Butler’s response to Berkeley “naming names” they remind us this was a McCarthy-era practice. But calling to mind televised congressional hearings and industry blacklists, I think, dangerously sanitizes the horrific violence of today’s authoritarian tactics.

www.chronicle.com/article/when...

Opinion | When Universities Become Informants

A practice from the McCarthy era makes an ugly return.

www.chronicle.com

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S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 29d

I think it’s more than a category error to describe the practice of being disappeared by government agents to torture facilities in third countries as a “serious consequence”

1 4

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 29d

“… the university had sent a list of 160 names to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights…names of students, staff, and faculty who may well suffer serious consequences, including the loss of jobs, expulsion, deportation, or harassment.”

1 1 3

S. Sommers @printculture.bsky.social · 29d

Butler’s response to Berkeley “naming names” reminds us this was a McCarthy-era practice. But calling to mind televised congressional hearings and industry blacklists, I think, dangerously sanitizes the horrific violence of today’s authoritarian tactics.

1 1 4