K. Chad Clay
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kchadclay.bsky.social
K. Chad Clay
@kchadclay.bsky.social
750 followers 1K following 60 posts
Human Rights Person (@humanrightsperson.bsky.social). Co-Founder, HRMI (@rightstracker.bsky.social). Center Director & Associate Professor. Music Enthusiast. Views are my own and are not endorsed by my employer; reposts & likes are not endorsements. He/Him
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kchadclay.bsky.social
Vote!
A sticker that says "I'm a Georgia Voter" on top of a peach, with "I SECURED MY VOTE!" written in bold below it.
November 4, 2025 at 7:21 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
I'm on research leave from teaching this semester (still have admin duties for GLOBIS), and it's great. I'm really getting a lot done. At the same time, @brennanleemulligan.bsky.social (as GRRM) wasn't completely wrong about this.
September 16, 2025 at 4:37 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
This afternoon's work time vinyl: American Aquarium (@americanaquarium.bsky.social) - Lamentations
The cover of American Aquarium's album, Lamentations, which shows a drawing of a house painted with a stylized cowboy, face obscured under hat and hands, multi-colored tears rubbing down the arms. Sitting on a stand that says: "NOW PLAYING"
July 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
I'm happy to present Dr. Meridith LaVelle! Dr. LaVelle successfully defended her dissertation this morning. She will be a Humboldt Research Fellow at the University of Mannheim this fall. A huge thanks to her other committee members, Amanda Murdie, Danny Hill, and Jeffrey Berejikian.
Image of 5 people on Zoom: Amanda Murdie, K. Chad Clay, Daniel Hill, Jeffrey Berejikian, and Meridith LaVelle
June 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
For reasons that are probably obvious, this section of Lincoln's Lyceum Address has been living rent free in my head recently.
Segment from Lincoln's Lyceum Address: "How then shall we perform it?--At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?-- Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!--All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."
May 30, 2025 at 4:00 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
Bartees Strange (@barteesstrange.bsky.social) & Ekko Astral (@ekkoastral.bsky.social) were phenomenal at Terminal West in Atlanta tonight. Just a fantastic show all around.
Bartees Strange plays guitar and sings on stage Ekko Astral playing music on stage
May 3, 2025 at 5:39 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
I'm happy to present Dr. Shelby Hall! Dr. Hall is Fire Analysis Research Manager at the NFPA, where she oversees the production of crucial fire statistics across the US. Big thanks to her @ugaintl.bsky.social committee members, Amanda Murdie and Danny Hill. Can't wait to celebrate at Commencement!
Picture of Dr. Shelby Hall on Zoom with her dissertation committee, K. Chad Clay, Amanda Murdie, and Danny Hill
April 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
There is some evidence that this may have been slightly worse under the previous Trump administration, and with the current changes, every reason to suspect it will get worse now. rightstracker.org/country/USA?...
Graph of respect for freedom from forced disappearance in the United States over time. It hits its low point in 2020, at a score of 6.8. Scores were slightly higher than that from 2017-2019, and overall, at their highest in 2021 and 2022, with a small dip coming in 2023, when the score was 7.6.
March 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
In HRMI's data, the US never receives a "good" score on forced disappearance, largely because of the incommunicado detention of immigrants and migrants. rightstracker.org/country/USA?...
Graph showing HRMI's scores for the US across physical integrity rights. The US receives a 5 out of 10 overall on "Safety from the State," while receiving scores of 5, 7.6, 5.9, 5.3, and 4.6 on arbitrary arrest, forced disappearance, death penalty, extrajudicial execution, and torture and ill-treatment, respectively. All of those scores fall in the "Bad" range of HRMI's scale (ranging from Very bad to Good), except for disappearance, which falls in the "Fair" range. Screenshot from HRMI's Rights Tracker that shows that 33% of human rights experts in the US said migrants and/or immigrants were at risk for forced disappearance.
March 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
Got to see all four members of R.E.M. on stage at the 40 Watt tonight, playing Pretty Persuasion with Jason Narducy and Michael Shannon (and a killer band that included Jon Wurster and John Stirratt). Athens, y'all.
The stage at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA. All four members of R.E.M. are visible on stage, with Bill Berry playing tambourine, Michael Stipe and Mike Mills singing, and Peter Buck on guitar. Michael Shannon is also singing, and Jason Narducy is playing guitar and singing. Jon Wurster can be seen in the background on drums, and Dag Juhlin is playing guitar.
February 28, 2025 at 5:02 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
Caught @americanaquarium.bsky.social at The Foundry in Athens last week, and as always, they put on a great show.
BJ Barham of American Aquarium singing and playing guitar on stage at the Foundry in Athens, GA. Members of American Aquarium performing on stage at the Foundry in Athens, GA
February 26, 2025 at 10:53 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
Just a taste of "She's Leaving You"
February 1, 2025 at 10:41 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
January 31, 2025 - MJ Lenderman & the Wind and Wild Pink at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA. A fantastic show from two bands I really enjoy.
MJ Lenderman playing guitar on stage at the 40 Watt Club Wild Pink playing on stage at the 40 Watt Club Outside of the 40 Watt Club with a line waiting to enter. Marquee reads, "FRI: MJ LENDERMAN AND THE WIND - WILD PINK - SOLDOUT - 7 PM"
February 1, 2025 at 10:41 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
Tonight's vinyl: The Format - Dog Problems. My favorite breakup album of all time. If The Format ever decides to reschedule the reunion shows they had planned in 2020, I'll travel however far I have to in order to see them.
The album cover of The Format - Dog Problems on a wooden stand that says "Now Playing." The cover itself shows a dozen cartoon dogs on blue background
January 28, 2025 at 3:17 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
Tonight's vinyl is an underrated classic that more folks should hear: Hayes Carll, Little Rock.
Cover of Hayes Carll's Little Rock vinyl, showing Hayes Carll seated.
January 20, 2025 at 1:59 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
Tonight's vinyl is a stone cold classic that brings back many college memories for me - The Roots Come Alive
The album cover of The Roots Come Alive showing a microphone in a performing venue A red vinyl, side A of The Roots Come Alive
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
UGA Commencement Day! Huge congrats to Dr. @mattrains.bsky.social and a lovely, wise speech from UGA SPIA's own John Maltese!
Chad Clay and Matt Rains in academic regalia Chad Clay and Matt Rains in academic regalia John Maltese giving a commencement address at the University of Georgia. John Maltese giving a commencement address at the University of Georgia.
December 14, 2024 at 1:03 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
This week's Sunday night vinyl - Titus Andronicus, The Will to Live
The cover of Titus Andronicus' The Will to Live vinyl, showing a Nicole Rifkin illustration of lions attacking buffalo with a bird flying overhead Titus Andronicus' The Will to Live silver and black vinyl on a turntable
December 9, 2024 at 1:00 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
This week's Sunday night vinyl
Cover of the album Majesty Shredding by Superchunk. Shows a beach with a giant cartoon vacuum tube in the foreground
November 25, 2024 at 4:14 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
Followed it up with this gem, MJ Lenderman's Manning Fireworks
Album cover of MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks. Painting of three men with a line of fire in the background.
November 18, 2024 at 4:14 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
This week's Sunday night album
Album cover of Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism. Features a bird tangled in red string.
November 18, 2024 at 3:37 AM
kchadclay.bsky.social
I'm happy to present Dr. Matthew Rains (@mattrains.bsky.social)! Dr. Rains defended his dissertation this morning over Zoom from his new home at Whitworth U. A big thank you to his UGA SPIA and INTL committee: Amanda Murdie and Danny Hill. Looking forward to celebrating in person at Commencement!
Picture of Matthew Rains, Chad Clay, Danny Hill, and Amanda Murdie on Zoom
August 28, 2024 at 3:53 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
My amazing friend, colleague, and co-author, Amanda Murdie, brought the house down with her Charter Lecture this morning. We're so lucky to have her at UGA and SPIA!
Picture of Amanda Murdie standing at a lectern
March 27, 2024 at 7:11 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
Empowerment rights in Hong Kong, 2019-2022. The scores were never good over this time period, but they have certainly worsened, falling from what HRMI would typically call "bad" to "very bad." rightstracker.org/country/HKG?...
Graphs showing measures of rights to assembly and association, opinion and expression, and participation in government falling from just under 5 on a 10 point scale in 2019, to 3.1 or lower in 2022.
March 25, 2024 at 7:58 PM
kchadclay.bsky.social
According to this word cloud based on my Google Scholar page (made using scholargoggler.com ), I might be a little focused on one particular topic.
A word cloud containing all of the words from titles of my papers on Google Scholar, sized according to how frequently they are used. The largest words by far are "human rights." Others are much smaller.
February 14, 2024 at 9:58 PM