Rebekah Modrak
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rebekahmodrak.bsky.social
Rebekah Modrak
@rebekahmodrak.bsky.social
artist, writer, prof at UMich, co-editor of Trouble in Censorville, and creator of RETHINK SHINOLA https://rethinkshinola.com/ and ReMade Co https://remadeco.org/
https://rebekahmodrak.com/
🔥🔥 piece about how @umich.edu weaponized the code of conduct against pro-Palestinian student activists.
From the Daily: The University's values on trial
specials.michigandaily.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
A @michigandaily.bsky.social investigation: hundreds of @umich.edu employees who looked to Work Connections for support/medical leave during an illness report years-long pattern of misconduct.

2 key complaints: WC disregarded physicians’ recommendations, and WC employees were hostile/demeaning.
Following injury and illness, hundreds of U-M employees relied on the University to facilitate their return to work. They say it failed them.
On Dec. 20, 2024, Marcellous Demps, a former patient-care provider at Michigan Medicine, was working the night shift when he slipped and fell in a dimly lit, wet hallway while carrying a 150-pound por...
www.michigandaily.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Reposted by Rebekah Modrak
The way he rubs his inhumanity in Americans” face never ceases to stun me.

He’s illegally refusing to pay food stamp benefits…

…while he throws a ridiculously over the top Gatsby party for his right wing millionaire and corporate friends.
November 1, 2025 at 3:36 AM
When I chaired the Faculty Senate last year, Regent Jordan Acker, enraged that he couldn’t control faculty voice, doxxed me on social media. UM police installed security cameras on my home to protect me from his threats. Now Acker wants to be re-elected. @aft.org is considering an endorsement
October 31, 2025 at 12:19 PM
UM Regents Paul Brown and Jordan Acker are trying to get on ballot for re-election. They refused to hear reports from Faculty. Dismantled DEI at UM. Stopped gender-affirming care at UM Medicine. Expelled students who criticized Israeli actions in Gaza
And yet, aft.org is considering endorsing them
AFT - American Federation of Teachers - A Union of Professionals
American Federation of Teachers public web site.
aft.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by Rebekah Modrak
When a billionaire pays the troops during a shutdown, it’s not charity, but leverage and control.
That’s not how republics survive. That’s how they’re bought, one crisis at a time.
Donor Who Gave $130 Million to Pay Troops Is Reclusive Heir to Mellon Fortune
www.nytimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Dartmouth rejects Trump’s attempts to control speech in higher education
October 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Gen Z’s willingness to poke fun at themselves and at phoniness is an endearing and hopeful quality. I ❤️ their performative male contests.
Red Flags and Tote Bags  - The Phoenix
Swarthmore's inaugural Performative Male Contest featured acoustic guitars, matcha lattes, ample feminist literature, and endless posturing.
swarthmorephoenix.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Why did U-M end gender-affirming care? President Grasso explains the Leaders and Best rationale: “Yale, U. Connecticut, U. Pennsylvania, U. Chicago, Washington U., Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Stanford all made the same decision.
Interim President Grasso discusses Look to Michigan, federal pressures
The Michigan Daily sat down with interim University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso to discuss Look to Michigan and concerns about accountability.
www.michigandaily.com
September 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
From the @michigandaily.bsky.social Editorial Board: “We now see [the University of Michigan administration’s changes to the student code of conduct] as a catalyst, accelerating the construction of a disciplinary apparatus that the University can aim at whoever it deems threatening.”
UMich weaponizes the rules in new student code of conduct
The administration has created a space where rules only cut one way. For those that still doubt the severity of the situation on campus, Grasso and the regents stated their intentions clearly — discip...
www.michigandaily.com
September 30, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Some public school teachers are courageously protecting kids rights to access all material, despite threats and retaliation. Thank you to @palan57.bsky.social at @forbes.com for shining a light on their remarkable stories. More than ever, we need heroes to be visible.
Book Shares Teacher Voices From The Culture Wars
Many of those stories have been covered by journalists, but the book Trouble In Censorville features educators who tell their own stories.
www.forbes.com
September 22, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I pledge allegiance to Jon Stewart.
Jon Stewart's Post-Kimmel Primer on Free Speech in the Glorious Trump Era | The Daily Show
YouTube video by The Daily Show
youtu.be
September 19, 2025 at 3:50 AM
“[David] Letterman joined the critics on Thursday, noting that he had beaten up on president after president over the years, and “not once were we squeezed by anyone from any governmental agency.”
David Letterman Says Kimmel’s Suspension Is ‘Just Not How This Works’
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2025 at 9:17 PM
When I was in Greece, my cab driver told us that poetry and philosophy developed during a prolonged period without war. When I read the news each day about Trump, authoritarian attacks, and billionaires usurping democratic processes, and not about poetry, I think of what is lost.
September 18, 2025 at 12:17 PM
This Tuesday in Ann Arbor. A reading about attempts to intimidate and silence academics.
September 13, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Rebekah Modrak
A reminder that a 2020 study by ABC news found 54 examples of violence, criminal violence in which actual charges had to be filed by state and federal authorities, inspired directly by Donald Trump.

0 such cases, ever, for Bush or Obama.

Ask Trump to answer for all 54 of those, then talk to Dems.
Elizabeth Warren on people who say Dems needs to tone down their rhetoric: "Oh, please. Why don't you start with the president of the United States? And every ugly meme he's posted and every ugly word."
September 11, 2025 at 2:59 PM
With new language to the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities (in defiance of students and faculty), U-Michigan’s regents, general counsel and Student Life enact a final coup to control how “violations” are defined and adjudicated.
September 11, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Rebekah Modrak
COLLEGE STUDENTS WALK OUT

In one week, students at American, Howard, Georgetown, UDC, and more will make it clear there is no cooperation with DC's occupation.

JOIN THE WALKOUT ON TUESDAY, SEPT 9. Sign your strike card and get connected to other students on your campus: bit.ly/free-dc-walkout
September 3, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Thanks to the Michigan Daily, faculty and staff at U Michigan share perspectives about the desirable values and actions of our next president.
U-M faculty and staff on the next University president
On May 4, University President Santa Ono announced that he was departing from the University of Michigan. His controversial tenure — from his handling of pro-Palestine activism to his decision to cut ...
www.michigandaily.com
September 2, 2025 at 12:19 PM
This brought me to tears.
I stand in solidarity with Chicago.
I stand with Chicago. I stand with Mayor Johnson.

🚨 NEW: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson just signed an executive order to resist Trump’s federal invasion and occupation of the city.

Details in 🧵
August 30, 2025 at 7:04 PM
“President Trump accused the Smithsonian Institution on Tuesday of focusing too much on ‘how bad slavery was’ and not enough on the ‘brightness’ of America as his administration conducts a wide-ranging review of the content in its museum exhibits.”
Trump Says Smithsonian Focuses Too Much on ‘How Bad Slavery Was’
www.nytimes.com
August 20, 2025 at 3:35 AM
For ethical, independent journalism these days, look to student journalists. The Michigan Daily editorial board has been excellent. Here, they condemn the capitulation of the corporate media.
@michigandaily.bsky.social
From The Daily: A free press means freedom from corporations
This Editorial Board unequivocally condemns corporate control over media and journalism. We strongly encourage people to stay informed by way of public journalism and reputable independent media outle...
www.michigandaily.com
August 10, 2025 at 3:58 PM
correcting the maddening dishonesty
August 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM