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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 2d

Since the compact speaks of "units," universities will be under pressure to "save" departments by removing individuals whose presence puts these units at risk of being perceived as violating the compact. In other words, schools will self-police = the end of academic freedom.

Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 2d

any university that signs this compact will be in effect committing themselves to firing any faculty or staff member and expelling any student who criticizes Trump, Project 2025, or any of the attacks on American freedoms we have been seeing and will no doubt see more of. 6/7

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 2d

"purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas." Any criticism of the Trump administration can be construed as "belittling conservative ideas" (note the vague formulation designed to invite a wide application). This means that 5/7

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 2d

And here's what the compact itself says: "Signatories commit themselves to revising governance structures as necessary to create such an environment, including but not limited to transforming or abolishing institutional units that [cont'd below] 4/7

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 2d

"The compact does require schools not to punish, intimidate or incite violence against conservative ideas. Those are not speech restrictions. They are restrictions on the suppression of speech." 3/7

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 2d

Marc Rowan's false claim in this @nytimes
piece: "Critics have charged that the compact threatens free speech. It does no such thing. It places no constraints on individual speech, nor does it intrude on academic freedom." [cont'd below] 2/7

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 2d

The @nytimes has fallen to a new low by printing these propagandistic lies by a co-author of Trump's "compact." I'll give just one example of his newspeak: Compare this false claim (below) with the actual text of the compact (further below). nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o... 1/7

Opinion | Academia Is Broken. Trump’s University ‘Compact’ Can Help Fix It.

nytimes.com

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Reposted by Susan Bernofsky

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 3d

Spoke with cnn while sitting on the floor of my hotel room hallway bc my family were asleep in the other room.

6a E Mark.mp4 - 6a E Mark - Frame.io

next.frame.io

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Reposted by Susan Bernofsky

RutgersAAUP-AFT @ruaaup-aft.bsky.social · 4d

This week, our colleague Dr. Mark Bray came under attack by Turning Point USA’s Rutgers chapter for his public scholarship. Rutgers AAUP-AFT and the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union condemn this campaign and stand in solidarity with our colleagues. Read our full statement here: https://loom.ly/BDXasRY

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Reposted by Susan Bernofsky

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 4d

“Someone” cancelled my family’s flight out of the country at the last second.

We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. Went through security. Then at our gate our reservation ‘disappeared.’

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 6d

It looks like I never got around to finalizing and publishing my translation of "Memories." I guess that's just another one of those things that disappear!

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 6d

You'll find my translation of "Palast der Republik" in @michiganquarterly.bsky.social (sites.lsa.umich.edu/mqr/2019/11/...), and "Cheese and Socks", "Mietzel," "Warsaw Ghetto," and "Youth" in The Brooklyn Rail (intranslation.brooklynrail.org/german/from-...).

“Palast der Republik”

Three days ago, as I was driving past the palace, I could already see right through it.

sites.lsa.umich.edu

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 6d

to compare different translations of the same work, I attach them here. I'm sure Kurt's done great things with these essays - and I'm sure his translations will differ quite a bit from mine, since we're not the same person and translations by different people always differ! You'll find my

“Palast der Republik”

Three days ago, as I was driving past the palace, I could already see right through it.

sites.lsa.umich.edu

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 6d

🧵This week, New Directions will publish a collection of essays by Jenny Erpenbeck, Things That Disappear, translated by Kurt Beals, a translator for whom I have the highest respect. Since this is a book I translated chunks of 15 years ago for magazines, and since I know some of you enjoy getting

Old Photograph of the Palast der Republik in East Berlin, with a parking lot full of Trabis (most common East German car)

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 18d

Civility Is a Fantasy www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...

Opinion | Civility Is a Fantasy

www.nytimes.com

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 19d

Grateful to my colleagues next door at Barnard, Professors Castelli and Callahan of the Barnard @aaup.org, and brilliant writer Jhumpa Lahiri for these clear and principled words. We all know what it means to support real freedom of speech on and off campus.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/o...

Opinion | Struggles for Free Expression on Campus

www.nytimes.com

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 21d

Can you help the Ali Forney Center provide meals for unhoused LGBTQ+ kids in NYC? Just $5 buys a meal for two young people. Please pitch in if you can! serve.aliforneycenter.org/twilight-twi...

Layout

Serve: Serve dance. Serve food. Serve love.

serve.aliforneycenter.org

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 23d

I'm looking forward to this event tonight with the great Katrine Øgaard Jensen and some exciting emerging writers you'll be hearing more about soon www.scandinaviahouse.org/sh/lectures-literary/writing-the-world-from-copenhagen-to-nyc/

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · 25d

I was so delighted to be asked to review Han Kang's new novel We Do Not Part, translated into English by e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris, for Korean Literature Now. It's a stunning book, beautifully translated. klwave.or.kr/klw/magazine...

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Reposted by Susan Bernofsky

Jeff Melnick @melnickjeffrey1.bsky.social · Sep 2

As the new semester starts, I want to keep the focus on the ongoing genocide in Gaza (and US complicity in it).

Honored to have the chance to co-write this with another parent whose child was suspended from Barnard/Columbia for protest activity.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Columbia punished our kids for protesting against the genocide in Gaza. We condemn the university’s cowardice

We are the parents of students who faced disciplinary actions for pro-Palestine activism. The struggle for liberation will not end with suspensions and expulsions

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Susan Bernofsky

Daniel Carlson @danielwcarlson.bsky.social · Aug 29

We built a calculator that doesn't work, but don't worry, it's also a plagiarism machine that will tell you to kill yourself. It runs on the world's oceans and costs 10 trillion dollars.

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · Aug 20

Excited to host the inimitable Jennifer Croft at Columbia next month. To attend, you MUST send in your RSVP as specified in the event description 48 hours in advance, otherwise you won't be allowed to access campus under current restrictions. In-person only.
arts.columbia.edu/events/being...

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · Aug 13

So looking forward to this!

Center for the Art of Translation @catranslation.org · Aug 12

Announcing the Center for the Art of Translation's DAY OF TRANSLATION 2025! Join us on 9/18 at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, NY. Registration open now for our 12-5 pm panels & tickets available for Jhumpa Lahiri and Katie Kitamura's 6 pm keynote.

Full announcement ➡️ mailchi.mp/catranslatio...

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Reposted by Susan Bernofsky

Center for the Art of Translation @catranslation.org · Aug 12

Announcing the Center for the Art of Translation's DAY OF TRANSLATION 2025! Join us on 9/18 at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, NY. Registration open now for our 12-5 pm panels & tickets available for Jhumpa Lahiri and Katie Kitamura's 6 pm keynote.

Full announcement ➡️ mailchi.mp/catranslatio...

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Susan Bernofsky @translationista.bsky.social · Jul 14

Defections matter:

“All authoritarian regimes rely on support from key institutions in society … When members of these pillars stop cooperating with the regime […] it becomes difficult or impossible for autocrats to stay in power.”
@mariajstephan.bsky.social

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · Jul 14

* U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT UNIT THAT DEFENDS TRUMP POLICY HAS LOST TWO-THIRDS OF ITS STAFF, FORMER STAFF LAWYERS SAY

* 69 LAWYERS HAVE LEFT FEDERAL PROGRAMS BRANCH SINCE TRUMP'S ELECTION, FORMER STAFF LAWYERS SAY

@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...

Two-thirds of the DOJ unit defending Trump policies in court have quit

The U.S. Justice Department unit charged with defending against legal challenges to signature Trump administration policies - such as restricting birthright citizenship and slashing funding to Harvard University - has lost nearly two-thirds of its staff, according to a list seen by Reuters.

www.reuters.com