Laura Helferstay
@jackerstay.bsky.social
✨ Education researcher at UVA | Connecting data + people for impactful learning ✏️ |🌱 Raising the next generation (and a little hell) with anti-fascist values | Mostly lurking - all opinions my own
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
This guy got a PhD to become a university president.He got a PhD in "Higher Ed Admin" & wrote a diss./book about "non traditional presidents" aka consultant class experts who believe that faculty and students have too much say. Fullest expression of the BOV contempt for UVA &especially faculty.
Breaking: The University of Virginia's Board of Visitors named a new president Friday: Scott Beardsley, dean of UVA's Darden School of Business since 2015.
Beardsley called the selection "the honor of my life."
Beardsley called the selection "the honor of my life."
UVA board selects Scott Beardsley as new president
Beardsley, a longtime consultant, has led the Darden School of Business since 2015.
www.vpm.org
December 19, 2025 at 9:47 PM
This guy got a PhD to become a university president.He got a PhD in "Higher Ed Admin" & wrote a diss./book about "non traditional presidents" aka consultant class experts who believe that faculty and students have too much say. Fullest expression of the BOV contempt for UVA &especially faculty.
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
To my mind, the speed of this search is the definition of *malfeasance.*
It was politics over the health and integrity of the university from beginning to end--from firing President Ryan to now.
The appointees have consistently put the desires of Trump and Youngkin over UVA.
It was politics over the health and integrity of the university from beginning to end--from firing President Ryan to now.
The appointees have consistently put the desires of Trump and Youngkin over UVA.
December 19, 2025 at 10:40 PM
To my mind, the speed of this search is the definition of *malfeasance.*
It was politics over the health and integrity of the university from beginning to end--from firing President Ryan to now.
The appointees have consistently put the desires of Trump and Youngkin over UVA.
It was politics over the health and integrity of the university from beginning to end--from firing President Ryan to now.
The appointees have consistently put the desires of Trump and Youngkin over UVA.
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
Spanberger should remove the whole board on day 1.
December 19, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Spanberger should remove the whole board on day 1.
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
The Board ignored our staff, faculty, students, and alumni ….everyone whose day-to-day life makes the University what it is.
They also ignored the Governor-Elect and the General Assembly.
They also ignored the Governor-Elect and the General Assembly.
December 19, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The Board ignored our staff, faculty, students, and alumni ….everyone whose day-to-day life makes the University what it is.
They also ignored the Governor-Elect and the General Assembly.
They also ignored the Governor-Elect and the General Assembly.
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
The White House claims the vote to rename the Kennedy Center was “unanimous.” That is false. I was muted on the call and denied the opportunity to speak or register my opposition. That is not consensus. That is censorship.
December 18, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The White House claims the vote to rename the Kennedy Center was “unanimous.” That is false. I was muted on the call and denied the opportunity to speak or register my opposition. That is not consensus. That is censorship.
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
The dean of the University of Virginia’s business school has emerged as the top candidate in the search for the flagship’s next president ahead of a board meeting Friday.
U-Va. board likely to name president Friday amid calls to pause search
A vote by the University of Virginia’s board would come after Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) and others urged members to halt the search until she takes office.
wapo.st
December 19, 2025 at 1:15 AM
The dean of the University of Virginia’s business school has emerged as the top candidate in the search for the flagship’s next president ahead of a board meeting Friday.
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
those who predicted authoritarianism were both dismissed, & deeply misunderstood, by the media
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
The Americans Who Saw All This Coming—but Were Ignored and Maligned
Call them the Cassandras: the people—mostly not white and male—who smelled the fascism all over Trump from jump street. Why were they “alarmists,” and how did “anti-alarmism” become cool?
newrepublic.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
those who predicted authoritarianism were both dismissed, & deeply misunderstood, by the media
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
my latest for @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2042...
This should be a crime
December 14, 2025 at 6:06 PM
This should be a crime
Based on the number of locals who seemed shocked that there was snow in the forecast today, I feel obligated to report that my 2 for 2 weather app is predicting more wintery stuff in Cville on Friday...
December 9, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Based on the number of locals who seemed shocked that there was snow in the forecast today, I feel obligated to report that my 2 for 2 weather app is predicting more wintery stuff in Cville on Friday...
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
What is wrong with you!? By what mechanism do you intend to have the Republican House vote on this?? A "promise" 🙄🙄🙄
My statement on the funding deal to reopen government, protect federal employees, and vote to protect health care:
November 10, 2025 at 1:51 AM
What is wrong with you!? By what mechanism do you intend to have the Republican House vote on this?? A "promise" 🙄🙄🙄
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
Primary all of them, man. Don't know what else to say.
November 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Primary all of them, man. Don't know what else to say.
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
It’s hard to believe but there was a cartoon about an immigrant mouse and it was seen as totally fine and not controversial and not woke because it was an aspirational and nice thing about America that people could come here and find a better life
November 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
It’s hard to believe but there was a cartoon about an immigrant mouse and it was seen as totally fine and not controversial and not woke because it was an aspirational and nice thing about America that people could come here and find a better life
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
CAN NOT leave Miyares in place
i hope that a governor spanberger and a democratic general assembly uses its authority to discipline the university for its capitulation and to remove these BOV members who have decided that they work for donald trump and not the people of the commonwealth
October 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM
CAN NOT leave Miyares in place
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
The UVA deal is linked below. I'll have more later, but it seems like this clause here (UVA agreeing to "internally" accept this really dubious DOJ guidance) as is the critical part.
federalinfo.virginia.edu/sites/federa...
federalinfo.virginia.edu/sites/federa...
October 22, 2025 at 9:57 PM
The UVA deal is linked below. I'll have more later, but it seems like this clause here (UVA agreeing to "internally" accept this really dubious DOJ guidance) as is the critical part.
federalinfo.virginia.edu/sites/federa...
federalinfo.virginia.edu/sites/federa...
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
UVA says no to the compact
October 17, 2025 at 8:40 PM
UVA says no to the compact
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
If you're in Charlottesville, there's a rally against the compact this Friday at noon at the Rotunda!
And now Brown University has rejected the Trump Loyalty Oath. Two down and seven to go! @aaup.org @aaupbrownchapter.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
Brown University Rejects White House Deal for Special Treatment
www.nytimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:25 PM
If you're in Charlottesville, there's a rally against the compact this Friday at noon at the Rotunda!
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.
America is on the brink of martial law.
Do not be silent.
America is on the brink of martial law.
Do not be silent.
This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
October 6, 2025 at 2:03 AM
This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.
America is on the brink of martial law.
Do not be silent.
America is on the brink of martial law.
Do not be silent.
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
Trump’s proposed “compact” with the selected institutions “demands a near-complete surrender of core academic freedoms of the university.”
balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Balkinization: The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal
A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics
balkin.blogspot.com
October 5, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Trump’s proposed “compact” with the selected institutions “demands a near-complete surrender of core academic freedoms of the university.”
balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
reminder that public comment signup for Thurday’s ACPS Board meeting opens at 8:30am tomorrow through a form on the Board’s website, if you would like to speak in support of Allison Spillman as she handles the disingenuous right wing campaign against her
yeah the repeatedly failed state legislature candidate who moved here in 2020, the right wing radio host who faildoxes people under a pseudonym, and the candidate Allison trounced for her spot on the Board are all trying to make this a thing. really think it’s important to nip this in the bud.
want to boost this. guarantee TPUSA is going to try and stack it, but they simply do not have the local numbers to do so *if* we recognize it’s coming and respond in kind. I think it’s critical to set a tone that we will back our local officials against disingenuous right wing bullshit.
October 5, 2025 at 9:18 PM
reminder that public comment signup for Thurday’s ACPS Board meeting opens at 8:30am tomorrow through a form on the Board’s website, if you would like to speak in support of Allison Spillman as she handles the disingenuous right wing campaign against her
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
for any UVA folks that follow me you should circulate this among your networks balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Balkinization: The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal
A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics
balkin.blogspot.com
October 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM
for any UVA folks that follow me you should circulate this among your networks balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
Reposted by Laura Helferstay
UVA Faculty Senate passed a resolution strongly opposing the Trump “Compact.” We, at least, remain committed to the historic values and mission of the university.
October 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
UVA Faculty Senate passed a resolution strongly opposing the Trump “Compact.” We, at least, remain committed to the historic values and mission of the university.