Nicole Guenther Discenza

@ndiscenza1.bsky.social

1.6K followers 380 following 2.9K posts

Medievalist who loves reading, especially science fiction & fantasy. I don't speak for my employer or anyone else.
she/hers

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Philosophy 31%

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Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · Jun 1

Remember alt text, folks!
And if you're like me and sometimes forget, go to your Settings, find Accessibility, and have Bluesky remind you!

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Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 4h

'The fee is a notable increase from the $18 payment the T.S.A. was recently considering. In the document filed in the Federal Register, the agency said the new fee system would “address government-incurred costs” and that it expected some travelers to pay the fee more than once.'

Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 7h

This should be a scandal.

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/t...

TSA Imposes $45 Fee for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 2026 (Gift Article)

As of February, passengers without the government-approved identity card will be required to pay for alternative screening at U.S. airports.

www.nytimes.com

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 5h

It's a comment rather than a question, but I frequently get variations on "Why would you want to study the Dark Ages?"
I DON'T.
First, I don't use the term "Dark Ages" at all.
Secondly, those who use it properly use it for a much shorter time! And they do fascinating work.

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 5h

I love it! I didn't know there was a replica, let alone one in this country!

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 5h

Excellent thread here that I can't summarize. Take a couple of minutes and read it.

Charlotte Garden @charlottegarden.bsky.social · 11h

A quick thread on the academic freedom angle to the OU situation:

First, grading is part of academic freedom b/c it involves instructors applying their disciplinary expertise - both when they set assignments, and when they grade student work

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 5h

Congratulations again!

Reposted by Nicole Guenther Discenza

Tina Vasquez @tinavasquez.bsky.social · 7h

Nevermind that a reporter told me about cases they've encountered in which Venezuelan immigrants have used the CBP Home app to "self-deport," only to spend months in detention instead. It goes without saying that they also never received the promised $1,000 from DHS.

Reposted by Nicole Guenther Discenza

Tina Vasquez @tinavasquez.bsky.social · 7h

These are screenshots from an actual DHS press release that just went out offering "self-deportation" as a "gift" to "illegal aliens" this holiday season.

This administration is truly repugnant.

Reposted by Mark D. White, David Murakami Wood, Nicole Guenther Discenza

Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 7h

This should be a scandal.

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/t...

TSA Imposes $45 Fee for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 2026 (Gift Article)

As of February, passengers without the government-approved identity card will be required to pay for alternative screening at U.S. airports.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Benjamin I. Cook, Devon Greyson, Andrew Jacobs , and 7 more Benjamin I. Cook, Devon Greyson, Andrew Jacobs, Serge Egelman, James Goodwin, Brian Keegan, Sam Kamin, Patrick Stokes, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Dawn R. Gilpin

matt @windows98support.bsky.social · 10h

Oh shit waddup

Reposted by Nicole Guenther Discenza

Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 10h

It's 38%! And the deductible is higher! Wheeeeeeeeeee.

Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 1d

Really excited that tomorrow I get to find out what % increase my health insurance for next year will be, and at this point I will breathe a sigh of relief if it’s under 20%.

Reposted by Valerie Mueller, Michael Kevane, Ann Bartow , and 2 more Valerie Mueller, Michael Kevane, Ann Bartow, Daxton R. Stewart, Nicole Guenther Discenza

Charlotte Garden @charlottegarden.bsky.social · 11h

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 11h

It just keeps getting worse. The TA has been attacked on Twitter by the student's mother AND a state rep for OK, and I imagine it goes even further; I don't watch Fox News, OAN, etc. and am worried for this person.

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 11h

Again: an OK state rep is making public statements that make the TA's GENDER the issue.
Apparently the student's mom is making hay with this too.

The essay looks like an excuse to go after the TA.

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

Rep Woolley, to use political power to punish an instructor and aggressively dispute the instructor's gender after a student used religion as an excuse for not fulfilling the assignment is "inappropriate, unacceptable, and should be investigated for discrimination."

gwen howerton @kissphoria.bsky.social · 1d

gabe woolley, an oklahoma state rep, repeatedly misgenders the TA here and says the OU student that vaguely alluded to the bible in her essay "cited real science"

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 11h

For those who have lost track: Trump appointed Habba INTERIM US atty for NJ for 120 days. Judges then appointed federal prosecutor Desiree Grace.
But Bondi fired Grace and made Habba DEPUTY US atty, and then she was acting US atty because there was no one in the role.

www.msn.com/en-us/news/p...

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 12h

We have seen notes from the TA (labeled "Trans Prof") and the faculty member (labeled "Additional Prof"):
bsky.app/profile/kiss...

gwen howerton @kissphoria.bsky.social · 2d

idk not to mention how very nuanced and normal the actual response here was

Trans Professors comment
Mel Curth (She/They)
November 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Please note that I am not deducting points because you have certain beliefs, but instead I am deducting point for you posting a reaction paper that does not answer the questions for this assignment, contradicts itself, heavily uses personal ideology over empirical evidence in a scientific class, and is at times offensive.
While you are entitled to your own personal beliefs, there is an appropriate time or place to implement them in your reflections. I encourage all students to question or challenge the course material with other empirical findings or testable hypotheses, but using your own personal beliefs to argue against the findings of not only this article, but the findings of countless articles across psychology, biology, sociology, etc. is not best practice.
You argue that abiding by normative gender roles is beneficial (it is perfectly fine to believe this. but to then say that evervone should act
TPUSA OU

Trans Professors comment
the same, while also saying that people aren't pressured into gendered expectations is contradictory, especially since your arguments reflect a religious pressure to act in gender-stereotypical ways. You can say that strict gender norms don't create gender stereotypes, but that isn't true by definition of what a stereotype is. Please note that acknowledging gender stereotypes does not immediately denote a negative connotation, a nuance this article discusses.
Additionally, to call an entire group of people
"demonic" is highly offensive, especially a minoritized population. You are entitled to your own beliefs, but this isn't a vague narrative of
"society pushes lies," but instead the result of countless years developing psychological and scientific evidence for these claims and directly interacting with the communities involved. You may personally disagree with this, but that
TPUSA OU
2

Trans Professors comment
doesn't change the fact that every major psychological, medical, pediatric, and psychiatric association in the United States acknowledges that, biologically and psychologically, sex and gender is neither binary nor fixed.
I implore you apply some more perspective and empathy in your work. If you personally disagree with the findings, then by all means share your criticisms, but make sure to do so in a way that is appropriate and using the methodology of empirical psychology, as aligned with the learning goals in this class. If you have any additional questions or concerns about this or would like some additional educational resources, I would be happy to discuss this further and provide you with them.
3
TPUSA OU

Additional professor
Megan Waldron (She/Her/Hers)
November 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Samantha, I am the other instructor for this course, and I have also taken the time to read your paper. I concur with Mel on the grade you received. This paper should not be considered as a completion of the assignment.
Everyone has different ways in which they see the world, but in an academic course such as this you are being asked to support your ideas with empirical evidence and higher-level reasoning.
I find it concerning that you state at the beginning of your paper that you do not think bullying ("teasing") is a bad thing. In addition, your paper directly and harshly criticizes your peers and their opinions, which are just as valuable as yours. Disagreeing with others is fine, but there is a respectful way to go about it. That goes for discussion posts as well as reaction
papers.
Please employ more thoughtfulness in your future assignments
TPUSA OU

Reposted by Nicole Guenther Discenza

JJ in DC @jjindc.bsky.social · 13h

⚖️ DoD Law of War Manual, page 1075:

"For example, orders to fire upon the shipwrecked would be clearly illegal."

ogc.osd.mil/Portals/99/d...

18.3.2 Refuse to Comply With Clearly Illegal Orders to Commit Law of War Violations.

Members of the armed forces must refuse to comply with clearly illegal orders to commit law of war violations. In addition, orders should not be construed to authorize implicitly violations of law of war.

18.3.2.1 Clearly Illegal Orders to Commit Law of War Violations.

The requirement to refuse to comply with orders to commit law of war violations applies to orders to perform conduct that is clearly illegal or orders that the subordinate knows, in fact, are illegal. For example, orders to fire upon the shipwrecked would be clearly illegal.

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, David S. Cohen, Mary L. Dudziak , and 3 more Lisa W. Fazio, David S. Cohen, Mary L. Dudziak, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Jarome R. Ali

Jeanne Theoharis @jeannetheoharis.bsky.social · 14h

Today is the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks' arrest. Six myths: 1) She wasn't old or tired. 42 years old that day, she had a "life history of being rebellious" & had spent two decades helping to turn the Montgomery NAACP into a more activist branch alongside ED Nixon and Johnnie Carr.

Reposted by Lisa Diedrich, Nicole Guenther Discenza

Durham Institute for Medical Humanities @durhamimh.bsky.social · 16h

Applications are now open for our 2026 International Medical Humanities PhD Summer School!

The Summer School is held jointly with the Centre for Medical Humanities and Bioethics at @liu.se.

Apply by 16 February 2026 👉 tinyurl.com/Phd-summer-s...

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Melanie C. Green, Rebecca Tushnet , and 6 more Rosemary A. Joyce, Melanie C. Green, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, Eric D. Knowles, Jon Dean, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe

dr. caitlin m. green @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social · 1d

a lot of people debating the merits of that dogshit essay meanwhile the girl’s mom is retweeting demands to ban all trans people from teaching at any level. it’s forest for the trees shit

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

gwen howerton @kissphoria.bsky.social · 1d

gabe woolley, an oklahoma state rep, repeatedly misgenders the TA here and says the OU student that vaguely alluded to the bible in her essay "cited real science"

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

Again, here's the article with the essay: www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

I saw this egret this morning in the park, and they took my breath away.

Great white egret standing in a dock, visible between metal bars. Their neck is drawn in, making them look hunched

Reposted by Alessandro Rigolon, Daxton R. Stewart, Nicole Guenther Discenza

gwen howerton @kissphoria.bsky.social · 1d

gabe woolley, an oklahoma state rep, repeatedly misgenders the TA here and says the OU student that vaguely alluded to the bible in her essay "cited real science"

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

OW OW OW OW OW!

So sorry!

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

"As of November 5th, it estimated that U.S.A.I.D.’s dismantling has already caused the deaths of six hundred thousand people, two-thirds of them children."
The numbers are surely higher by now and will continue to grow, even as some funding restarts.

PREVENTABLE

www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

I hope you recover fast and fully!

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

"Is ND Catholic?" people mean, and I'm sure that's true of other Catholic unis.
I had excellent faculty, colleagues, and students while I was a grad student at ND for five years, contingent faculty for two.
Serious questions can be asked. People posing the question *that way* aren't serious.

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

stuff! When a young woman accused a football player of sexual assault and was then harassed by football players and others by texts until she died by suicide, and they handled both the original assault investigation and the bullying investigation, that was VERY BAD.
That's never what

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

As a Catholic who received two degrees from Notre Dame, I would like to say I don't understand the question, but I really do. I have heard for decades now that "Notre Dame has sold its soul!" for allowing too many non-Catholics and too much range in theological opinions.
ND has done some legit bad

Nicole Guenther Discenza @ndiscenza1.bsky.social · 1d

When I read this, I assumed the student had just entered college.
Nope: she's a junior. The article linked contains the criteria, which emphasize engagement with the article. The paper isn't about whatever article that may have been. It's about the Bible (and does not actually use proper citation).

gwen howerton @kissphoria.bsky.social · 2d

Turning Point at OU posted this girl's essay in full and man is it rough

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