Eric J. Schmidt
@ejschmidt.bsky.social
ethnomusicologist at Babson College . researching music economies in NW Africa (Sahel/Sahara) . Californian survivor of the New England & North Texas taco dystopiae
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
This may be the best thing ive read yet on AI in higher ed, and its written by a Yale undergrad. Highly recommend.
Inside Yale’s Quiet Reckoning with AI | The New Journal
Amid ChatGPT's rising popularity and a computer science cheating scandal, Yale students, professors, and administrators wrestle privately with the proper role of AI in education. What happens when eve...
thenewjournalatyale.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This may be the best thing ive read yet on AI in higher ed, and its written by a Yale undergrad. Highly recommend.
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
You African Studies majors out there: you too can become mayor of New York City!!!
November 5, 2025 at 3:01 AM
You African Studies majors out there: you too can become mayor of New York City!!!
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
This is a fabulous and important essay.
"In the end, generative AI might be a blip in tech history, over-promising and under-delivering until finally the cash runs out. But it seems it’s arrived just in time to shove universities over a cliff edge they’d already walked themselves up to."
"In the end, generative AI might be a blip in tech history, over-promising and under-delivering until finally the cash runs out. But it seems it’s arrived just in time to shove universities over a cliff edge they’d already walked themselves up to."
Wrote a thing on the hot summer of uni AI adoption for @defector.com
A huge thanks to @nathankhensley.bsky.social and @anniemcc.bsky.social. @brandyjensen.bsky.social is a legend. And anything smart in hear is thanks to hours of discussion, texting, and draft reading by @smosment.bsky.social
A huge thanks to @nathankhensley.bsky.social and @anniemcc.bsky.social. @brandyjensen.bsky.social is a legend. And anything smart in hear is thanks to hours of discussion, texting, and draft reading by @smosment.bsky.social
Higher Ed’s Rush To Adopt AI Is About So Much More Than AI | Defector
If you don’t work at a university or have college-age kids, you may have missed the flurry of news stories and social media banter about AI adoption in higher ed, stories which have snowballed into th...
defector.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:57 PM
This is a fabulous and important essay.
"In the end, generative AI might be a blip in tech history, over-promising and under-delivering until finally the cash runs out. But it seems it’s arrived just in time to shove universities over a cliff edge they’d already walked themselves up to."
"In the end, generative AI might be a blip in tech history, over-promising and under-delivering until finally the cash runs out. But it seems it’s arrived just in time to shove universities over a cliff edge they’d already walked themselves up to."
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
The @aaup.org just shared guidance for academic workers on how to protect themselves online www.aaup.org/news/advisor...
Advisory to Academic Workers
In a moment when it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict the consequences of our online speech and choices, the AAUP and Faculty First Responders are issuing guidance to AAUP members and othe...
www.aaup.org
September 17, 2025 at 10:57 PM
The @aaup.org just shared guidance for academic workers on how to protect themselves online www.aaup.org/news/advisor...
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
Today is August 1.
Asking an academic how their book is going is a felony.
Asking an academic how their book is going is a felony.
August 1, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Today is August 1.
Asking an academic how their book is going is a felony.
Asking an academic how their book is going is a felony.
Since we're sharing Tom Lehrer faves, here's one I don't see come up often that my research methods students have enjoyed: "Plagiarize! Let no one else's work evade your eyes!" www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXlf...
Tom Lehrer - Lobachevsky (with lyrics) '1953
YouTube video by themisfitoddity
www.youtube.com
July 27, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Since we're sharing Tom Lehrer faves, here's one I don't see come up often that my research methods students have enjoyed: "Plagiarize! Let no one else's work evade your eyes!" www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXlf...
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
This is the highest quality of those 1 likes lists you’ll see.
Ok let’s do it. I’m on the boat and 1 1/2 h away from the continent, one like one history opinion
One like, one history opinion
July 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
This is the highest quality of those 1 likes lists you’ll see.
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
Ethiopian War Pigs cover!!!
Yes, that's pretty good. And I rarely disagree with you. But, really, this here is the best version and it ain't close:
youtu.be/8kVYdLjoyPE?...
youtu.be/8kVYdLjoyPE?...
uKanDanZ - WAR PIGS (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by ukandanz
youtu.be
July 22, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Ethiopian War Pigs cover!!!
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
If you're not writing your long book what are you even doing. It's the summer of writing your long book, not the summer of experiencing happiness
I'm going to tell you exactly how to write a book. Do you see that impenetrable brick wall ahead of you? You're going to ram your head into it until long book is long.
July 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM
If you're not writing your long book what are you even doing. It's the summer of writing your long book, not the summer of experiencing happiness
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
In addition to many other important programs, IU Bloomington is eliminating its Folklore and Ethnomusicology Department, one of the most storied and successful in the country.
So, here it is. Thanks to a new state law that was NEVER DEBATED, Indiana University has committed itself to abolishing majors in African-American/African Diaspora Studies: American Studies; Art History; French; Italian; Religious Studies etc. DOZENS of majors. www.ipm.org/news-section...
Indiana public colleges cut almost 20% of degrees
Public Indiana colleges and universities have eliminated 19 percent of their degree programs to meet requirements added to the state’s budget, according to the Commission for Higher Education.
www.ipm.org
June 30, 2025 at 9:46 PM
In addition to many other important programs, IU Bloomington is eliminating its Folklore and Ethnomusicology Department, one of the most storied and successful in the country.
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
📣 New SPECIAL ISSUE of Journal of Popular Music Studies on MUSIC, DIGITALIZATION & IP IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH! Articles by Geoff Baker, Alexandrine Boudreault-Fournier, Pablo Infante-Amate, Aditi Deo, Oliver Bown and me, w/an intro by Born and me. Dig in! online.ucpress.edu/jpms/issue/3...
Volume 37 Issue 2 | Journal of Popular Music Studies | University of California Press
online.ucpress.edu
June 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
📣 New SPECIAL ISSUE of Journal of Popular Music Studies on MUSIC, DIGITALIZATION & IP IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH! Articles by Geoff Baker, Alexandrine Boudreault-Fournier, Pablo Infante-Amate, Aditi Deo, Oliver Bown and me, w/an intro by Born and me. Dig in! online.ucpress.edu/jpms/issue/3...
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
Here's a long thread on an issue dear to my heart. This Tuesday evening I’m doing an Intellectual Publics with Macarena Gomez-Barris on publishing. Like last year’s conversation with Denise Cruz, or the prior year’s with Racquel Gates, we will talk about how to find a publisher, turn a thesis... 1/
Remember to register!
Ken Wissoker in conversation with Macarena Gómez-Barris
Tues June 3rd at 6:30pm ET via Zoom
bit.ly/impossibleti...
Ken Wissoker in conversation with Macarena Gómez-Barris
Tues June 3rd at 6:30pm ET via Zoom
bit.ly/impossibleti...
June 2, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Here's a long thread on an issue dear to my heart. This Tuesday evening I’m doing an Intellectual Publics with Macarena Gomez-Barris on publishing. Like last year’s conversation with Denise Cruz, or the prior year’s with Racquel Gates, we will talk about how to find a publisher, turn a thesis... 1/
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
Forthcoming from my fellow Norton author, Catherine Conybeare. wwnorton.com/books/978163...
May 10, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Forthcoming from my fellow Norton author, Catherine Conybeare. wwnorton.com/books/978163...
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
NPR and PBS' history starts in the 1920s, founded on the conviction that the general public--everyone--should have equal access to local, regional, and national news as well as educational programs such as Sesame Street. Shepperd's article offers crucial background for the battle over NPR and PBS.
As the President, FCC and Congressional Republicans consider ending public funding for NPR and PBS, a media historian revisits why public media was founded in the first place and how it contributes to equal access to information today: buff.ly/jQ1WuLf
@joshshepperd.bsky.social @colorado.edu
@joshshepperd.bsky.social @colorado.edu
Trump and many GOP lawmakers want to end all funding for NPR and PBS − unraveling a US public media system that took a century to build
The precursors of today’s public media programs consisted of professors giving lectures about history and finance.
buff.ly
May 3, 2025 at 10:41 PM
NPR and PBS' history starts in the 1920s, founded on the conviction that the general public--everyone--should have equal access to local, regional, and national news as well as educational programs such as Sesame Street. Shepperd's article offers crucial background for the battle over NPR and PBS.
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
When the history of this time is written down, the cowardice will be remembered as much as the fascism
March 14, 2025 at 12:41 PM
When the history of this time is written down, the cowardice will be remembered as much as the fascism
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
More info circulating.
March 12, 2025 at 9:06 PM
More info circulating.
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
Teaching Americans foreign languages, especially those they might not learn as much otherwise, is 1) cheap 2) good policy
Getting informal reports that as part of the mass layoffs at the Department of Education, the International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) Office has been "abolished."
IFLE administers Title VI and Fulbright-Hays grant and fellowship programs.
A disaster.
www.ed.gov/about/ed-off...
IFLE administers Title VI and Fulbright-Hays grant and fellowship programs.
A disaster.
www.ed.gov/about/ed-off...
International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE)
The International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) office administers Title VI (domestic) and Fulbright-Hays (overseas) grant and fellowship programs.
www.ed.gov
March 12, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Teaching Americans foreign languages, especially those they might not learn as much otherwise, is 1) cheap 2) good policy
This is so heartbreaking. The IFLE folks I've worked with are incredible colleagues, and these programs do so much to bring out the best in what the US can be as a community of informed, talented people who care about engaging the world collaboratively, rather than US-exceptionalist brutes.
Getting informal reports that as part of the mass layoffs at the Department of Education, the International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) Office has been "abolished."
IFLE administers Title VI and Fulbright-Hays grant and fellowship programs.
A disaster.
www.ed.gov/about/ed-off...
IFLE administers Title VI and Fulbright-Hays grant and fellowship programs.
A disaster.
www.ed.gov/about/ed-off...
International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE)
The International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) office administers Title VI (domestic) and Fulbright-Hays (overseas) grant and fellowship programs.
www.ed.gov
March 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
This is so heartbreaking. The IFLE folks I've worked with are incredible colleagues, and these programs do so much to bring out the best in what the US can be as a community of informed, talented people who care about engaging the world collaboratively, rather than US-exceptionalist brutes.
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
Students should study the humanities not because it makes them better workers but because it rips you open and breaks your brain and changes everything you thought you knew. I *promise* you this. I *promise* it has this ability, no matter how smart you think you are. I have seen it countless times.
Hearing the president of KU say that the way the humanities can protect itself - a question asked by a humanities professor of Spanish - is that her field should direct its public voice to how the Spanish language can impact AI versus the third study of an obscure play…. Just sigh.
December 5, 2024 at 10:15 PM
Students should study the humanities not because it makes them better workers but because it rips you open and breaks your brain and changes everything you thought you knew. I *promise* you this. I *promise* it has this ability, no matter how smart you think you are. I have seen it countless times.
Stumbled on this by accident, but I love it: a fantasy map of a Niamey metro system, 2058, submitted for an urban mapping competition. Hard to imagine what the city will be like in 35 years—it's already expanded so much in the short time I've been visiting.
metrorouteatlas.net/lmp/challeng...
metrorouteatlas.net/lmp/challeng...
December 4, 2024 at 1:03 AM
Stumbled on this by accident, but I love it: a fantasy map of a Niamey metro system, 2058, submitted for an urban mapping competition. Hard to imagine what the city will be like in 35 years—it's already expanded so much in the short time I've been visiting.
metrorouteatlas.net/lmp/challeng...
metrorouteatlas.net/lmp/challeng...
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
“76% of respondents said that they could no longer treat patients in accordance with evidence-based medicine.
21% said that they were either considering leaving the state or already planning to do so;
13% had decided to retire early.”
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
21% said that they were either considering leaving the state or already planning to do so;
13% had decided to retire early.”
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
November 30, 2024 at 4:25 AM
“76% of respondents said that they could no longer treat patients in accordance with evidence-based medicine.
21% said that they were either considering leaving the state or already planning to do so;
13% had decided to retire early.”
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
21% said that they were either considering leaving the state or already planning to do so;
13% had decided to retire early.”
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Eric J. Schmidt
Honestly, a curious move on the part of Macron.
If you'd like to learn more about the Thiaroye massacre....there are links to a recent documentary and a review in AfriqueXXI. Both are in French.
If you'd like to learn more about the Thiaroye massacre....there are links to a recent documentary and a review in AfriqueXXI. Both are in French.
In a letter the Senegalese govt, French President Emmanuel Macron for the first time recognised the killing of West African soldiers by the French Army in 1944 as a massacre
France's Macron acknowledges 1944 killings of West African troops by French was a massacre | Africanews
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said he received Emmanuel Macron's letter. In an interview aired on Thursday (Nov. 28) Faye said Macron's step should “open the door” so that the "whole trut...
www.africanews.com
November 29, 2024 at 2:51 PM
Honestly, a curious move on the part of Macron.
If you'd like to learn more about the Thiaroye massacre....there are links to a recent documentary and a review in AfriqueXXI. Both are in French.
If you'd like to learn more about the Thiaroye massacre....there are links to a recent documentary and a review in AfriqueXXI. Both are in French.
I'm glad to read that it sounds like migrants are safer in Niger now, but I’m curious how this is playing out in Libya if there’s no evidence of increasing arrivals in the EU.
The repeal of the 2015 anti-smuggling law was one of the more interesting things the military government in Niamey has done. This piece suggests that this may have made migrants safer by bringing transport activities back into the open.
Smuggling is back in the open in Niger. Are migrants safer?
After an anti-smuggling law was repealed, much of smuggling was decriminalised – research suggests migrants are safer
www.opendemocracy.net
November 26, 2024 at 9:56 PM
I'm glad to read that it sounds like migrants are safer in Niger now, but I’m curious how this is playing out in Libya if there’s no evidence of increasing arrivals in the EU.