Ben Fisher
@benwfisher.bsky.social
Associate Prof of Civil Society and Community Studies @UW-Madison
Researching how to make schools Safe-with-a-capital-S and Just-with-a-capital-J
Researching how to make schools Safe-with-a-capital-S and Just-with-a-capital-J
Reposted by Ben Fisher
This exciting resolution from Rutgers University Senate is exactly the kind of model I think higher ed needs: a mutual defense pact of, in this case, Big 10 schools. They call for member institutions to create a joint defense fund and make resources available to any member institution under attack.
March 30, 2025 at 2:47 PM
This exciting resolution from Rutgers University Senate is exactly the kind of model I think higher ed needs: a mutual defense pact of, in this case, Big 10 schools. They call for member institutions to create a joint defense fund and make resources available to any member institution under attack.
Reposted by Ben Fisher
Tuberville: "Zelenskyy's gonna play hardball, but you know what? He's not even in the game. It's gonna be Putin and President Trump and the people on our side that will end up making this decision for the future of Ukraine."
March 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Tuberville: "Zelenskyy's gonna play hardball, but you know what? He's not even in the game. It's gonna be Putin and President Trump and the people on our side that will end up making this decision for the future of Ukraine."
Me when they just brought out order #87 and I’m still waiting for my #84
March 1, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Me when they just brought out order #87 and I’m still waiting for my #84
Reposted by Ben Fisher
The Ed Dept is launching an “End DEI” portal and asking people to share “concerning practices”
February 27, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The Ed Dept is launching an “End DEI” portal and asking people to share “concerning practices”
Reposted by Ben Fisher
BREAKING: Mexican President Sheinbaum argues that if cartels are deemed terrorist orgs, then the suppliers of weapons—over 74% of which come FROM the U.S.—should ALSO face accountability for enabling terrorism.
As a result, Mexico is expanding its lawsuit targeting U.S gun manufacturers. 🇲🇽
As a result, Mexico is expanding its lawsuit targeting U.S gun manufacturers. 🇲🇽
February 23, 2025 at 11:09 AM
BREAKING: Mexican President Sheinbaum argues that if cartels are deemed terrorist orgs, then the suppliers of weapons—over 74% of which come FROM the U.S.—should ALSO face accountability for enabling terrorism.
As a result, Mexico is expanding its lawsuit targeting U.S gun manufacturers. 🇲🇽
As a result, Mexico is expanding its lawsuit targeting U.S gun manufacturers. 🇲🇽
Reposted by Ben Fisher
Atlanta police have set up secret surveillance cameras outside of Stop Cop City activists' houses and gathering spots––and they refuse to answer any questions about the cameras
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Cameras have appeared outside homes of Atlanta’s ‘Cop City’ activists. Why are they there?
Cameras are hidden in unmarked boxes on utility poles in a move residents and advocates call ‘creepy’ and ‘corrosive’
www.theguardian.com
February 14, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Atlanta police have set up secret surveillance cameras outside of Stop Cop City activists' houses and gathering spots––and they refuse to answer any questions about the cameras
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Wisconsin showing out with the backronyms!
BREAKING: Rep. Mark Pocan has introduced the ELON MUSK act which would ban "special" government employees like Musk from having federal contracts.
The full title of the bill is the Eliminate Looting of Our Nation by Mitigating Unethical State Kleptocracy Act.
The full title of the bill is the Eliminate Looting of Our Nation by Mitigating Unethical State Kleptocracy Act.
February 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Wisconsin showing out with the backronyms!
Reposted by Ben Fisher
In the federal government, administrative leaves are supposed to be used for employees accused of wrongdoing, and for a max of 10 days.
They are being used for ideological purges, indefinitely.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/u...
They are being used for ideological purges, indefinitely.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/u...
Education Officials Placed on Leave in Trump’s Sprawling Effort to Curb D.E.I.
The Education Department told employees of the suspensions in letters on Friday. Some of those put on leave said they had only a minimal connection to diversity or equity efforts.
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
In the federal government, administrative leaves are supposed to be used for employees accused of wrongdoing, and for a max of 10 days.
They are being used for ideological purges, indefinitely.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/u...
They are being used for ideological purges, indefinitely.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/u...
Reposted by Ben Fisher
The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey has monitored the wellbeing of America’s high school students since 1991.
Since 2015, it’s been a vital source of data on LGBQ youth. In 2023, it provided the first ever nationally representative sample of transgender teens.
As of this morning, it’s gone.
Since 2015, it’s been a vital source of data on LGBQ youth. In 2023, it provided the first ever nationally representative sample of transgender teens.
As of this morning, it’s gone.
January 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey has monitored the wellbeing of America’s high school students since 1991.
Since 2015, it’s been a vital source of data on LGBQ youth. In 2023, it provided the first ever nationally representative sample of transgender teens.
As of this morning, it’s gone.
Since 2015, it’s been a vital source of data on LGBQ youth. In 2023, it provided the first ever nationally representative sample of transgender teens.
As of this morning, it’s gone.
Reposted by Ben Fisher
Assuming we make it through the next couple of decades, this will be an incredible image for future historians/students of the Trump era
January 30, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Assuming we make it through the next couple of decades, this will be an incredible image for future historians/students of the Trump era
Thinking of all the brave educators who will continue to stand up for their kids. This is so hateful. So harmful.
1. Breaking News: Donald Trump has signed an executive order targeting trans youth and teachers in schools who teach for them.
It goes after "social transition" and threatens arrests.
I will go through line by line, as I have the last 3 nights.
Find the EO here:
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
It goes after "social transition" and threatens arrests.
I will go through line by line, as I have the last 3 nights.
Find the EO here:
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling – The White House
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose and
www.whitehouse.gov
January 29, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Thinking of all the brave educators who will continue to stand up for their kids. This is so hateful. So harmful.
Reposted by Ben Fisher
This thread will be stories of how people hold the line--continue to behave responsibly and ethically.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pushed back Thursday on Trump administration plans to review a newly negotiated police-reform agreement with the city: “Regardless of the Trump administration’s announcement, we will be moving forward with the terms outlined in the consent decree.” buff.ly/3Eb8PE8
Trump threatens Minneapolis police agreement; Frey pushes back
President Trump’s new civil rights division head issued a memo that puts the implementation of the Minneapolis consent decree in question.
buff.ly
January 23, 2025 at 8:48 PM
This thread will be stories of how people hold the line--continue to behave responsibly and ethically.
Reposted by Ben Fisher
This is only the beginning.
January 27, 2025 at 3:05 PM
This is only the beginning.
Reposted by Ben Fisher
Department of Education slowly culling their website of resources for families with disabled kids...
January 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Department of Education slowly culling their website of resources for families with disabled kids...
🤚 school security researcher here. We can not spend our way out of this. We can not fortress our way out of this.
The school shooting in Nashville is a tragedy. So is the frequency of school shootings. So is the lack of meaningful efforts to address the root causes of shootings. In recent years, districts often respond to school shootings by adopting surveillance tech.
www.cbsnews.com/news/school-...
www.cbsnews.com/news/school-...
Inside the $3 billion school security industry as deadly shootings continue
Products like AI surveillance monitoring and collapsible safe rooms have hefty price tags for schools, while bulletproof backpacks and school supplies are marketed to fearful parents.
www.cbsnews.com
January 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM
🤚 school security researcher here. We can not spend our way out of this. We can not fortress our way out of this.
Reposted by Ben Fisher
Breaking: DOJ freezes all cases in civil rights division. "It’s unprecedented. We’ve never seen this before at this scale with any transfer of power, regardless of the ideology of any incoming president or administration." Story w/ @perrystein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Justice Department freezes all cases in civil rights division
The directives halt ongoing civil rights cases and could jeopardize police reform agreements finalized in recent months in Minneapolis and Louisville.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 23, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Breaking: DOJ freezes all cases in civil rights division. "It’s unprecedented. We’ve never seen this before at this scale with any transfer of power, regardless of the ideology of any incoming president or administration." Story w/ @perrystein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Ben Fisher
The NC General Assembly allocated $5.5 million for two pilots of AI-enabled school surveillance in New Hanover County and Davidson County. The funds can be used for facial recognition tech, license plate readers, video gun detection, among other surveillance.
pro.stateaffairs.com/nc/news/ai-s...
pro.stateaffairs.com/nc/news/ai-s...
NC General Assembly AI-powered school safety pilot program set to launch in coming months %%sep%% %%sitename%%
New Hanover and Davidson County Schools were the recipients of $3.2 million and $2 million respectively in funding from the 2023 budget for a school safety pilot program powered by artificial intellig...
pro.stateaffairs.com
January 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The NC General Assembly allocated $5.5 million for two pilots of AI-enabled school surveillance in New Hanover County and Davidson County. The funds can be used for facial recognition tech, license plate readers, video gun detection, among other surveillance.
pro.stateaffairs.com/nc/news/ai-s...
pro.stateaffairs.com/nc/news/ai-s...
Reposted by Ben Fisher
Wisconsin Supreme Court holds that the state’s current legislative maps violate the state constitution’s requirement that all districts be “contiguous.” A 4–3 split, as expected, with Judge Janet Protasiewicz casting the key vote. New maps required for 2024. www.wicourts.gov/sc/opinion/D...
December 22, 2023 at 9:15 PM
Wisconsin Supreme Court holds that the state’s current legislative maps violate the state constitution’s requirement that all districts be “contiguous.” A 4–3 split, as expected, with Judge Janet Protasiewicz casting the key vote. New maps required for 2024. www.wicourts.gov/sc/opinion/D...
Had one last meeting with the research lab today. Thankful for such a thoughtful, grounded crew that’s willing to challenge and be challenged 🤗🤗🤗
December 22, 2023 at 8:16 PM
Had one last meeting with the research lab today. Thankful for such a thoughtful, grounded crew that’s willing to challenge and be challenged 🤗🤗🤗