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johnedwinmason.bsky.social
johnedwinmason
@johnedwinmason.bsky.social
12K followers 1.1K following 6.4K posts
Historian, curator, walker, player of antique French horns. Photography, music, South Africa. UVA Professor Emeritus.
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johnedwinmason.bsky.social
johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · Nov 13
"I hope and trust all will come out right in the end, but the immediate future looks dark and troubled. I cannot shut my eyes to the ugly facts before me."
--Frederick Douglass, Lessons of the Hour, 1894
Reposted by johnedwinmason
rabihalameddine.bsky.social
Hiroshige, "Plum Garden at Kameido" (From "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo"), 1857, Woodcut print on paper, 13 3/8" x 8 7/8"
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
rabihalameddine.bsky.social
Romare Bearden, Circe, collage, 1977
November 14, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
rabihalameddine.bsky.social
Billie Holiday ~ Paris, Olympia, November 1958
November 15, 2025 at 1:31 AM
johnedwinmason.bsky.social
A thoughtful thread that's a good starting point for thinking about how to reform UVA's governance to, as Steven says, keep this mess from ever happening again.
stevenljohnson.org Steven L. Johnson @stevenljohnson.org · 14h
I just finished up the commitments for my day job (an employer for whom I do not speak for or represent ), so I finally have the time to weight in a Question of the Day about UVa governance: how can we keep this kind of mess from happening ever again?
stevenljohnson.org Steven L. Johnson @stevenljohnson.org · 1d
👇🏽 this is just the start of the fireworks for today 👇🏽
November 15, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
stevenljohnson.org
👇🏽 this is just the start of the fireworks for today 👇🏽
katrinacallsen.com Delegate Katrina Callsen @katrinacallsen.com · 1d
The gaslighting is just wild. Youngkin is urging the BOV to, “take advantage of the most inclusive and successful Presidential search process in UVA’s history.”

🕵🏽‍♀️ Facts:
- Federal overreach
- Forced firings
- Hasty Appointments
- Votes of No Confidence
- Lawsuits
- Secret deals to appease Trump
The Honorable Abigail Spanberger Governor-elect Commonwealth of Virginia Richmond, Virginia 23219 Dear Governor-elect Spanberger: When we first met last week, I pledged to ensure that your transition as Governor-elect would not only be smooth, but that my Administration would do our part to ensure that you would be ready on your first day. We have been forthright with you and your team and made data and individual state officials available. In our private meeting in my office yesterday, we discussed a wide range of topics, including boards and university operations. You very briefly mentioned sending a letter about the University of Virginia (UVA), but moved to a different topic so quickly that it seemed unimportant at the time. It is disappointing to learn that just after our meeting started, your office shared this letter with the New York Times and other outlets. Whether done in error or in bad faith, I am compelled to address both the breach of protocol as well as the inaccuracies in your letter. I am advised that this was likely the first time in the history of our Commonwealth that a Governor-elect attempted to interfere with the governance of a university and the fiduciary duties of individual board members. Surprisingly, you have reached conclusions before you or your transition team have taken the time to learn all the facts surrounding the resignation of former UVA President Jim Ryan and the settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Your letter was riddled with hyperbole and factual errors and impugns both the Board of Visitors and the presidential search underway. I understand that this search has followed national best practices and been a model of transparency, including offering multiple opportunities for stakeholder input. The 28-person search committee met at four announced times in Charlottesville and has had dozens of listening sessions open to any who wished to be heard. Hundreds of comments, expectations and aspirations have… The Honorable Abigail Spanberger November 13, 2025 Page Two In addition, you challenged the Board's authority to choose a president and carry out its duties based on a statutory provision. That assertion is meritless and has been rejected by the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Furthermore, you criticized the University's agreement with the DOJ here and elsewhere. Again, had you waited until your transition team had the opportunity to learn all the facts behind this settlement, I believe you would agree with the many national experts who view it as extraordinarily fair and favorable to the University and Commonwealth. Unlike other universities such as Columbia, Brown, and Cornell, the University will not be required to pay tens of millions of dollars as a penalty nor be subject to a federal monitor. Equally important, the agreement suspended all federal investigations, did not recommend the suspension of any research or other federal grants and protects academic freedom. Make no mistake, the DOJ did not randomly or without a predicate select UVA when it started its formal investigation. The evidence is compelling that the University had repeatedly ignored the law. Former President Ryan made his intentions clear about not being committed to follow federal law, in letters and several speeches, including one to the faculty. In a moment of transparency, the former University counsel during former President Ryan's tenure confirmed in a public speech that the University "had some programs that crossed the legal line... we have, in certain schools or certain departments, numerical formulas and that was against the rules." It is also important to correct your mistaken belief about former President Ryan's resignation and dispel continuing and intentional misinformation. I have no desire to disparage Jim and have intentionally not addressed this issue previously. Over the past three years, I have worked with Jim on a variety of initiatives and have acknowledged that he accomplis… The Honorable Abigail Spanberger November 13, 2025 Page Three It's dangerous to wrongfully disparage committed individuals who volunteer to serve on university boards and the serious work they do. Further, the Governor of the Commonwealth should speak thoughtfully and honor the service of those individuals. My guidance to the UVA Board is to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities, take advantage of the most inclusive and successful presidential search process in UVA's history and not waste the great pool of candidates by unnecessarily delaying the search and losing them to other schools. Lastly, the Virginia Code allows for a transition period so that the incoming chief executive can be as prepared as possible and that the outgoing Administration can wrap up and transfer ongoing initiatives. As was wisely communicated to me by my predecessors, there is just one Governor of Virginia at any time. This ensures that the Commonwealth's operations continue unimpeded. Communicating with state agencies or boards of visitors is confusing and is inconsistent with proven, professional protocols. And certainly, efforts to bully or micromanage are inappropriate. Your Administration will start on January 17, 2026. Until then, as I have told you, we will work closely and productively with your transition. If you wish to communicate ideas or seck information with officials in state government, your team knows the process to do so. It's regretful that I must communicate to you in this manner, but your correspondence left no other choice. Sincerely,
November 14, 2025 at 1:30 PM
johnedwinmason.bsky.social
Happily, Amtrak says nothing about French horns. Or English horns, for that matter.
rorystolzenberg.bsky.social Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 13h
It is illegal to bring artwork, plants, or silverware onto an Amtrak train.

www.amtrak.com/prohibited-i...
Item Type: Household and automotive items, including but not limited to antiques, appliances, artwork, furniture, machinery and car parts, plants, powered tools, silverware, televisions, tires and tow bars. Carry-on Baggage: No Checked Baggage: No
November 15, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
rbreich.bsky.social
Remember: The richest 1% evade over $160 billion in taxes every year.

That amount would fund SNAP for a year with money to spare.

Ask yourself who the real freeloaders are.
November 14, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
johnpfaff.bsky.social
Omg.

The BU College Republicans guy who called ICE on car wash workers bc they are “stealing jobs from Americans” was born and raised in … another country.
drdind.bsky.social DrDinD.bsky.social @drdind.bsky.social · 18h
Zac Segal, Boston U runner and Young Republican alerted ICE to a car wash in Allston MA which had immigrants working - he said they were taking US jobs. ICE raided the car wash. All detained had legal status according to their lawyer.

Segal was born and schooled in London. 🙄
Student Republican who called ICE on car wash faces backlash
An attorney for those detained said, "Is he taking a college seat away from an American since he's from London?"
share.google
November 14, 2025 at 10:18 PM
johnedwinmason.bsky.social
Here's the thread you've been looking for re: former UVA president Jim Ryan's letter detailing his ouster by a governing board (BOV) that was in cahoots with Trump's DOJ & Virginia's MAGA governor & attorney general.
bakerdphd.bsky.social Dominique Baker @bakerdphd.bsky.social · 23h
Jim Ryan wrote a letter to UVA detailing his "resignation" and I'm gonna get some fresh tea before I read it because I feel pretty certain I'm gonna be filled with righteous anger by the end

I'll do a thread but here's the full letter provided by the chronicle

www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Jim Ryan letter
www.documentcloud.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
tframpton.bsky.social
UVA Pres. Ryan's letter isn't just about the DOJ though. It credibly details dubious conduct from many people who were supposed to put UVA's interests first and didn't (likely because they agreed with DOJ's far-right pressure campaign): the Board, the AG, outside counsel, etc.
brendannyhan.bsky.social Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 23h
Mafia governance in action

"the only offer on the table was that I needed to resign by 5pm that day or the DOJ would basically rain hell on UVA... If I did not resign that day, I was told that the DOJ would extract/block hundreds of millions of dollars from UVA before they would even negotiate."
November 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
uvapress.bsky.social
Happy #pubday to "Words Colliding: The Debate over Slavery and Black Exclusion in Nineteenth-Century America" by Andrew F. Hammann!

The long history and lasting impact of the rhetoric of Black exclusion in American politics and culture

#skystorians #readUP

www.upress.virginia.edu/title/10143/
November 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
uvapress.bsky.social
"Grounded in stellar research, and written with passion and clarity, 'Words Colliding' gives voice to the Black Americans who pushed not only for the end of slavery but for their place in the body politic."
—Justene Hill Edwards, University of Virginia
November 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
sivav.bsky.social
UVA president Jim Ryan resigned after sleazy, opaque machinations from only three right-wing board members. There was no board meeting or conversation about DoJ threats or Jim resigning. The whole saga is outlined in a memo Jim just released.

drive.google.com/file/d/1rgFz...
11.14.25_JER Resignation Facuty.pdf
drive.google.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
jamellebouie.net
my takeaway from this letter is that glenn youngkin, rector sheridan and their flunkies on the board are deeply dishonest people who are engaged, with the trump administration, in a mob-style shakedown against the university of virginia
joefore.bsky.social Joe Fore @joefore.bsky.social · 1d
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.

It's a surreal--and troubling--read.

drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
anildash.com
I give Catholic bishops a hard time often for all the obvious reasons, but this is beautiful and loving, and I'm deeply grateful to hear it. This can change hearts and save lives.
josephpolitano.bsky.social Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 1d
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
November 14, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
ips-dc.org
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.

And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*

Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
waldo.net
This was always where the right's "viewpoint diversity" schtick was going. A U.S. Senator said that the professor must be removed from teaching the graduate-level course because "one student in the classroom was uncomfortable." Love that viewpoint diversity. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
A professor who showed a graphic labeling the "Make America Great Again" slogan as covert white supremacy has been removed from teaching a class under a new Indiana law meant to foster "intellectual diversity."
November 14, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
jbc3.bsky.social
Hey Cville peeps: Starbucks union workers are ON STRIKE. Please go somewhere here else: we have LOTS of good locally owned coffee shops! Atlas Coffee, Grit, Cville Coffee, and JBird come to mind (not exhaustive, don’t @ me, but DO make other suggestions!).
sbworkersunited.org Starbucks Workers United @sbworkersunited.org · 2d
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.

Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Don't Buy Starbucks! At any location, today and beyond, while workers are on ULP strike!
November 13, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
solomonmissouri.bsky.social
I think what’s important to remember is every three months Thomas Chatterton Williams emerges from his neo conservative honey hole with more foolishness than an illiterate preacher
November 13, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
ebharrington.bsky.social
This is what male solidarity & collective action to oppress women looks like:

Artist Andres Serrano--successful, but nowhere near the same class as Thiel & other billionaires in the files--stating that he'll vote for Trump, despite his politics, out of *sympathy* with T's sexual assaults on women.
November 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
jennycohn.bsky.social
Shocking that so many young women don’t want to live under biblical patriarchy.
melissagiragrant.com Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 1d
"In 2025, 40% of women aged 15 to 44 say they would move abroad permanently if they had the opportunity. The current figure is four times higher than the 10% who shared this desire in 2014, when it was generally in line with other age and gender groups."
Record Numbers of Younger Women Want to Leave the U.S.
The percentage of younger women in the U.S. who express a desire to migrate permanently has surged in the past decade.
news.gallup.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
dailymaverick.co.za
South Africa has played a leading role in international efforts to prevent, stop and punish Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. Now, as the nation prepares to host the first G20 Leaders’ Summit on African soil, it has an important opportunity to step up that pressure and fill the ...
SA must seize the G20 Summit opportunity to show principled global leadership
www.dailymaverick.co.za
November 13, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Reposted by johnedwinmason
jmckeever.bsky.social
People are in jail for “liking” 15yo girls. And for good reason, as a society we say a child cannot consent to being “liked” by an adult. How difficult is this? Also this is some despicable rationalizing bullcrap. Complicit women need to stop with the internalized misogyny and “pick me” energy.
November 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
johnedwinmason.bsky.social
Three years ago today. I still get choked up when I think about these three beautiful young UVA men.
November 13, 2025 at 5:22 PM
johnedwinmason.bsky.social
A lot of people want to ignore the existence of this kind of faith.* Terence Lester's backstory is compelling. Good read.
November 13, 2025 at 4:43 PM