Chris O’Kane
@budgetmotelabyss.bsky.social
Middle aged punk from a Quaker family.
Aspiring Danish Marxist
Working on finishing a book on A Critical Theory of Capitalist Social Domination while I train to be a clinical social worker.
Full Communism Now
Aspiring Danish Marxist
Working on finishing a book on A Critical Theory of Capitalist Social Domination while I train to be a clinical social worker.
Full Communism Now
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
one of the great, pernicious myths perpetrated about higher ed—which media, higher ed administrators, politicians, and a number of faculty are complicit in spreading—is that humanities departments close due to some combination of cratering student demand and unjustifiable cost. It’s not true
My humanities dept was relevant. Majors were up. Courses were 100% enrolled. Revenue positive, GE serving, etc etc. We were still eliminated.
The problem is ideological administrative destruction. Couldn’t write a report, a self study, or a spreadsheet against that.
The problem is ideological administrative destruction. Couldn’t write a report, a self study, or a spreadsheet against that.
'For humanities departments to continue to matter, they must challenge the modern world rather than accommodate it. Indeed, the most useful lesson the humanities have to offer today is a profoundly countercultural one: Difficulty is good, an end in its own right.' 2/2
December 15, 2025 at 1:37 PM
one of the great, pernicious myths perpetrated about higher ed—which media, higher ed administrators, politicians, and a number of faculty are complicit in spreading—is that humanities departments close due to some combination of cratering student demand and unjustifiable cost. It’s not true
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
Thank you @bradlander.bsky.social!
Please take two minutes and join our letter writing campaign, demanding the Board of Trustees take immediate action to STOP the MAGA-inspired violent austerity at The New School: actionnetwork.org/letters/stop...
Please take two minutes and join our letter writing campaign, demanding the Board of Trustees take immediate action to STOP the MAGA-inspired violent austerity at The New School: actionnetwork.org/letters/stop...
Stop the Cuts at the New School
The restructuring proposed by the New School’s upper administration
will harm faculty, students and the larger New School community. Faculty
and staff—who have given decades of their lives to the un...
actionnetwork.org
December 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Thank you @bradlander.bsky.social!
Please take two minutes and join our letter writing campaign, demanding the Board of Trustees take immediate action to STOP the MAGA-inspired violent austerity at The New School: actionnetwork.org/letters/stop...
Please take two minutes and join our letter writing campaign, demanding the Board of Trustees take immediate action to STOP the MAGA-inspired violent austerity at The New School: actionnetwork.org/letters/stop...
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
The New School is a beacon of higher education thanks to the labor of its faculty & staff.
I strongly urge @thenewschool.bsky.social to extend the deadline for faculty to consider separation packages, engage in good faith & protect the programs that make New School a globally renowned institution.
I strongly urge @thenewschool.bsky.social to extend the deadline for faculty to consider separation packages, engage in good faith & protect the programs that make New School a globally renowned institution.
December 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The New School is a beacon of higher education thanks to the labor of its faculty & staff.
I strongly urge @thenewschool.bsky.social to extend the deadline for faculty to consider separation packages, engage in good faith & protect the programs that make New School a globally renowned institution.
I strongly urge @thenewschool.bsky.social to extend the deadline for faculty to consider separation packages, engage in good faith & protect the programs that make New School a globally renowned institution.
Paying my respect to a number of different faiths by buying and eating their holiday chocolates.
December 15, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Paying my respect to a number of different faiths by buying and eating their holiday chocolates.
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
There is an absolute fucking scandal going down at The New School, wherein at appears that the university is funnelling to a MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL’S BOARD while purging faculty and staff.
This should be headline news.
x.com/uaw7902/stat...
This should be headline news.
x.com/uaw7902/stat...
December 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
There is an absolute fucking scandal going down at The New School, wherein at appears that the university is funnelling to a MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL’S BOARD while purging faculty and staff.
This should be headline news.
x.com/uaw7902/stat...
This should be headline news.
x.com/uaw7902/stat...
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
Yeah shit’s fucked up at The New School. It’s true. I’m living it. It’s a microcosm of what’s happening everywhere in America. gothamist.com/news/the-new...
The New School faces identity crisis amid planned layoffs, reorganization
The storied leftist university faces a $48 million deficit.
gothamist.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Yeah shit’s fucked up at The New School. It’s true. I’m living it. It’s a microcosm of what’s happening everywhere in America. gothamist.com/news/the-new...
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
STUDENTS:
REFUSE YOUR ROLES
REFUSE YOUR ROLES
December 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
STUDENTS:
REFUSE YOUR ROLES
REFUSE YOUR ROLES
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
WE WILL
BE YOUR
STUDENT
ADVISORS
BE YOUR
STUDENT
ADVISORS
December 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
WE WILL
BE YOUR
STUDENT
ADVISORS
BE YOUR
STUDENT
ADVISORS
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
Newest memo demonstrating the claims of financial exigency can‘t be taken seriously
drive.google.com/file/u/1/d/1...
drive.google.com/file/u/1/d/1...
December 13, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Newest memo demonstrating the claims of financial exigency can‘t be taken seriously
drive.google.com/file/u/1/d/1...
drive.google.com/file/u/1/d/1...
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
In 2015 I stayed as a Fulbright scholar at The New School for Social Research, as part of my PhD project on prefigurative politics. It was a formative experience to be surrounded by so many radical scholars and critical thinkers. This unique institution is of great significance, now more than ever!
So grateful for the amazing graduate students who wrote this 'Open Letter on The New School’s “Restructuring” Plans', published on @eflux.bsky.social (including link with petition to condemn admin!) @newschoolaaup.bsky.social www.e-flux.com/notes/678343...
Open Letter on The New School’s “Restructuring” Plans - Notes - e-flux
Signed by hundreds of faculty, students, and supporters, this letter refutes the claim that a radical “restructuring” of the The New School for Social Research is financially necessary.
www.e-flux.com
December 13, 2025 at 7:53 PM
In 2015 I stayed as a Fulbright scholar at The New School for Social Research, as part of my PhD project on prefigurative politics. It was a formative experience to be surrounded by so many radical scholars and critical thinkers. This unique institution is of great significance, now more than ever!
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
of the many fantastic articles in Viewpoint, the one I keep returning to most is The Border Crossing Us on the revolutionary force of migration:
viewpointmag.com/2018/11/07/f...
viewpointmag.com/2018/11/07/f...
The Border Crossing Us - Viewpoint Magazine
We must refuse to process the migrant caravan through a looking glass of fear or violent repulsion, but also refuse to relegate this event as a footnote to the supposed strategic core of electoral wor...
viewpointmag.com
December 14, 2025 at 11:38 AM
of the many fantastic articles in Viewpoint, the one I keep returning to most is The Border Crossing Us on the revolutionary force of migration:
viewpointmag.com/2018/11/07/f...
viewpointmag.com/2018/11/07/f...
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
Last week, the New School issued voluntary separation & early retirement offers to 40% of the full-time faculty & the majority of non-union staff. These cuts to the bone are an ideological attempt to decimate historic spaces of critical inquiry & social justice. Share our statement tr.ee/qQBIDCpIuj
OFFICIAL Statement from AAUP-TNS on Cuts to Faculty and Staff 12-9-25
The New School - Austerity Cuts to the Bone A Statement from the Leadership Council of AAUP-TNS On December 3, 2025, New School President Joel Towers and Provost Richard Kessler issued voluntary sep...
tr.ee
December 14, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Last week, the New School issued voluntary separation & early retirement offers to 40% of the full-time faculty & the majority of non-union staff. These cuts to the bone are an ideological attempt to decimate historic spaces of critical inquiry & social justice. Share our statement tr.ee/qQBIDCpIuj
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
Higher ed workers at The New School are rejecting the admin's strategies of divide and conquer to mount a unified challenge to austerity.
In this AAUP TV episode, Laura Liu of AAUP-TNS talks about how faculty, students & staff come together despite weaponized employment contracts that divide them.
In this AAUP TV episode, Laura Liu of AAUP-TNS talks about how faculty, students & staff come together despite weaponized employment contracts that divide them.
December 13, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Higher ed workers at The New School are rejecting the admin's strategies of divide and conquer to mount a unified challenge to austerity.
In this AAUP TV episode, Laura Liu of AAUP-TNS talks about how faculty, students & staff come together despite weaponized employment contracts that divide them.
In this AAUP TV episode, Laura Liu of AAUP-TNS talks about how faculty, students & staff come together despite weaponized employment contracts that divide them.
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
We need to flood them with letters now. Write today!
"Faculty and staff—who have given decades of their lives to the university—have been given less than two weeks to accept insulting “offers” and pack up as early as January 2, 2026."
Please support our colleagues at @newschoolaaup.bsky.social
actionnetwork.org/letters/stop...
Please support our colleagues at @newschoolaaup.bsky.social
actionnetwork.org/letters/stop...
Stop the Cuts at the New School
The restructuring proposed by the New School’s upper administration will harm faculty, students and the larger New School community. Faculty and staff—who have given decades of their lives to the univ...
actionnetwork.org
December 13, 2025 at 6:34 PM
We need to flood them with letters now. Write today!
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
This is basically EVERY university in the Anglophone world.
They claim financial exigency, but then turn down $4 million pledges to keep the PhD programs open and disregard financial analyses that point to the real problem—bad real estate deals, spending on consultants, and their own salaries 2/2
December 13, 2025 at 3:55 PM
This is basically EVERY university in the Anglophone world.
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
So grateful for the amazing graduate students who wrote this 'Open Letter on The New School’s “Restructuring” Plans', published on @eflux.bsky.social (including link with petition to condemn admin!) @newschoolaaup.bsky.social www.e-flux.com/notes/678343...
Open Letter on The New School’s “Restructuring” Plans - Notes - e-flux
Signed by hundreds of faculty, students, and supporters, this letter refutes the claim that a radical “restructuring” of the The New School for Social Research is financially necessary.
www.e-flux.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:47 PM
So grateful for the amazing graduate students who wrote this 'Open Letter on The New School’s “Restructuring” Plans', published on @eflux.bsky.social (including link with petition to condemn admin!) @newschoolaaup.bsky.social www.e-flux.com/notes/678343...
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
When higher ed is under attack by the twin forces of authoritarianism & austerity, institutions like the New School that have historically been bulwarks of critical education & anti-fascism should be strengthened rather than destroyed. What an utter failure of leadership & imagination
So grateful for the amazing graduate students who wrote this 'Open Letter on The New School’s “Restructuring” Plans', published on @eflux.bsky.social (including link with petition to condemn admin!) @newschoolaaup.bsky.social www.e-flux.com/notes/678343...
Open Letter on The New School’s “Restructuring” Plans - Notes - e-flux
Signed by hundreds of faculty, students, and supporters, this letter refutes the claim that a radical “restructuring” of the The New School for Social Research is financially necessary.
www.e-flux.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
When higher ed is under attack by the twin forces of authoritarianism & austerity, institutions like the New School that have historically been bulwarks of critical education & anti-fascism should be strengthened rather than destroyed. What an utter failure of leadership & imagination
These should be the core values of any place devoted to education imho
In 2009 as today, the leadership of The New School fails to live up to its founding values
December 13, 2025 at 1:28 AM
These should be the core values of any place devoted to education imho
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
Thx friends @adamtooze.bsky.social, @astra.bsky.social, @mollycrabapple.bsky.social, @alybatt.bsky.social, @stefeich.bsky.social, @danielloick.bsky.social & others who signed condemning malicious cuts at The New School @newschoolaaup.bsky.social @aaup.org Join them! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
TNS Community and Supporters Demand: Stop The Cuts!
To President Towers and The New School Board of Trustees: We, the undersigned members of The New School community and supporters, write to demand you put an immediate halt to planned downsizing, layo...
docs.google.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Thx friends @adamtooze.bsky.social, @astra.bsky.social, @mollycrabapple.bsky.social, @alybatt.bsky.social, @stefeich.bsky.social, @danielloick.bsky.social & others who signed condemning malicious cuts at The New School @newschoolaaup.bsky.social @aaup.org Join them! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
Happening now! Hear from @newschoolaaup.bsky.social faculty and @aaup.org national allies fighting back against austerity atracks on The New School www.youtube.com/live/RcTxJTd...
December 12, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Happening now! Hear from @newschoolaaup.bsky.social faculty and @aaup.org national allies fighting back against austerity atracks on The New School www.youtube.com/live/RcTxJTd...
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
The American Association of University Professors said 40% of full-time faculty members — or 169 academics — have received voluntary separation or early retirement offers, making it the “largest attempted firing of faculty currently taking place in the nation.” #AcademicSky
The New School faces identity crisis amid planned layoffs, reorganization
The storied leftist university faces a $48 million deficit.
gothamist.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The American Association of University Professors said 40% of full-time faculty members — or 169 academics — have received voluntary separation or early retirement offers, making it the “largest attempted firing of faculty currently taking place in the nation.” #AcademicSky
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
this is fucking insane
According to a new court filing, the Trump administration has a six-page list of banned words that Head Start locations are forbidden from using when describing their programs.
Among the censored words: "disability," "race," "women," "trauma," "Gulf of Mexico." Short thread with the full list. 🧵
Among the censored words: "disability," "race," "women," "trauma," "Gulf of Mexico." Short thread with the full list. 🧵
December 11, 2025 at 12:36 AM
this is fucking insane
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
The extreme, ideologically-driven, fast, furious, economically reckless decisions being made by New School president & provost are NOT the simple consequence of economic need. they're a malicious disaster and must be stopped... an assault on critical thought.
AAUP is livestreaming the rally and press conference against extreme austerity measures and the proposed termination of 40% of full-time faculty at The New School!
Join the livestream tomorrow, December 10 at 4pm ET.
Link below 👇
Join the livestream tomorrow, December 10 at 4pm ET.
Link below 👇
AAUP TV LIVESTREAM: Rally Against Extreme Austerity Measures Outside Board of Trustees Meeting
YouTube video by TheAAUP
youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:58 AM
The extreme, ideologically-driven, fast, furious, economically reckless decisions being made by New School president & provost are NOT the simple consequence of economic need. they're a malicious disaster and must be stopped... an assault on critical thought.
Reposted by Chris O’Kane
Against all the horrors and downsides of the neoliberal age, one counterweight was the steady global fall in child mortality rates. But now, catalysed by the rapid, surprise and malicious removal of US support for medicines and food aid, that trend too is headed into reverse. A moral catastrophe
Almost a quarter of a million more children are projected to die in 2025 than in 2024, for the first time in this century--despite the fact that these deaths are almost entirely preventable.
No wonder Trump is worried about getting into heaven: www.wsj.com/health/for-f...
No wonder Trump is worried about getting into heaven: www.wsj.com/health/for-f...
For First Time in Decades, Child Deaths Will Rise This Year
Almost a quarter of a million more children around the world are projected to die in 2025 than in 2024.
www.wsj.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Against all the horrors and downsides of the neoliberal age, one counterweight was the steady global fall in child mortality rates. But now, catalysed by the rapid, surprise and malicious removal of US support for medicines and food aid, that trend too is headed into reverse. A moral catastrophe