Russell T. McCutcheon
@mccutcheonsays.bsky.social
I’m University Research Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama. I was a longtime Dept Chair but now teach, read, write, weed the yard on the weekends and have opinions on the fate of higher ed.
Reposted by Russell T. McCutcheon
Proofing. @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Proofing. @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Russell T. McCutcheon
my Dean (who used to chair the English department) sends an email to William & Mary faculty every F & divides it into a top part everyone should read & a “below the line” creative musing that is optional. I look forward to it each week.
I wish more administrators were creatives.
I wish more administrators were creatives.
November 14, 2025 at 10:10 PM
my Dean (who used to chair the English department) sends an email to William & Mary faculty every F & divides it into a top part everyone should read & a “below the line” creative musing that is optional. I look forward to it each week.
I wish more administrators were creatives.
I wish more administrators were creatives.
Reposted by Russell T. McCutcheon
I feel the same way about my field. The only answer I have found so far is to just create something (with other brilliant collaborators who are willing) so that what we do will continue to exist. But it is a very very heavy lift, and I'm starting to lose energy and hope, even in these efforts.
November 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I feel the same way about my field. The only answer I have found so far is to just create something (with other brilliant collaborators who are willing) so that what we do will continue to exist. But it is a very very heavy lift, and I'm starting to lose energy and hope, even in these efforts.
Reposted by Russell T. McCutcheon
Yes. Absolutely. And by centering the conversation on what's happening in HE, it would be even better to include effective ways to support student care and well-being.
a group of people applauding with barbarosgif written in the corner
ALT: a group of people applauding with barbarosgif written in the corner
media.tenor.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Yes. Absolutely. And by centering the conversation on what's happening in HE, it would be even better to include effective ways to support student care and well-being.
November 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
“Personalized echo chamber” = monetization strategy. After all, the customer’s always right.
"Emotional conversations were also common in the conversations analyzed by The Post... In some chats, the AI tool could be seen adapting to match a user’s viewpoint, creating a kind of personalized echo chamber in which ChatGPT endorsed falsehoods and conspiracy theories."
How people really use ChatGPT, according to 47,000 conversations shared online
What do people ask the popular chatbot? We analyzed thousands of chats to identify common topics discussed by users and patterns in ChatGPT’s responses.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:49 AM
“Personalized echo chamber” = monetization strategy. After all, the customer’s always right.
Just published, with 20 new entries + all of the original chapters. @equinoxpub.bsky.social
equinoxpub.com/projects/abs...
equinoxpub.com/projects/abs...
November 11, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Just published, with 20 new entries + all of the original chapters. @equinoxpub.bsky.social
equinoxpub.com/projects/abs...
equinoxpub.com/projects/abs...
A new initiative from @seedpods.bsky.social — for programs in our field working to secure a place on their campus. Contact him for more info.
religion.ua.edu/blog/2025/11...
religion.ua.edu/blog/2025/11...
religion.ua.edu
November 10, 2025 at 4:21 PM
A new initiative from @seedpods.bsky.social — for programs in our field working to secure a place on their campus. Contact him for more info.
religion.ua.edu/blog/2025/11...
religion.ua.edu/blog/2025/11...
Sunday vibes
November 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Sunday vibes
Reposted by Russell T. McCutcheon
I’m a product of big government. Everyone likes to shitpost the government. California taxpayers and the regents of the University of California saved my ass. fortune.com/2025/11/06/s...
Scott Galloway says he’s a product of big government: ‘Taking bets on unremarkable people pays off’ | Fortune
Galloway credits UCLA for his success, despite an initial rejection: “California taxpayers and the regents of the University of California saved my ass.”
fortune.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I’m a product of big government. Everyone likes to shitpost the government. California taxpayers and the regents of the University of California saved my ass. fortune.com/2025/11/06/s...
“Whole kit and caboodle” used by the lady at the checkout in the student center today. Refreshingly old school.
November 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
“Whole kit and caboodle” used by the lady at the checkout in the student center today. Refreshingly old school.
Recent conversation with Raj on the future of the field now posted.
newbooksnetwork.com/our-primary-...
newbooksnetwork.com/our-primary-...
Russell T. McCutcheon, "Our Primary Expertise: A Future for the Study of Religion" (Rutgers UP, 2025) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Recent conversation with Raj on the future of the field now posted.
newbooksnetwork.com/our-primary-...
newbooksnetwork.com/our-primary-...
Camille & Jeff, our newest colleagues, staffing the dept table at the annual faculty research day, promoting digital work in the dept.
October 28, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Camille & Jeff, our newest colleagues, staffing the dept table at the annual faculty research day, promoting digital work in the dept.
Poached from our Dept’s site
October 27, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Poached from our Dept’s site
Reposted by Russell T. McCutcheon
New ICE recruiting methods have resulted in half of this group of absolute winners failing AN OPEN BOOK TEST
October 23, 2025 at 7:51 AM
New ICE recruiting methods have resulted in half of this group of absolute winners failing AN OPEN BOOK TEST
Odd coz I thought the blue jays want to win and see the dodgers as being in their way.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have put all the chips in on their pursuit of being baseball's first back-to-back champions since 2000. The Blue Jays and their red-hot lineup won't go down easy. n.pr/4qgTXHT
The Dodgers want to win another World Series. The Toronto Blue Jays are in their way
The Los Angeles Dodgers have put all the chips in on their pursuit of being baseball's first back-to-back champions since 2000. The Blue Jays and their red-hot lineup won't go down easy.
n.pr
October 21, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Odd coz I thought the blue jays want to win and see the dodgers as being in their way.
Reposted by Russell T. McCutcheon
as an English professor, I’d go as far to say these days I’m excited to see typos & fragments & run on sentences & page-long paragraphs & awkward word choices & any imperfection that suggests a human being sat down to do the very hard thing of writing a college paper.
October 18, 2025 at 11:08 PM
as an English professor, I’d go as far to say these days I’m excited to see typos & fragments & run on sentences & page-long paragraphs & awkward word choices & any imperfection that suggests a human being sat down to do the very hard thing of writing a college paper.
Reposted by Russell T. McCutcheon
“You can’t shoot ‘em in the head (with pepper balls),” the judge said. “You can’t deploy tear gas. You can’t use flash-bang grenades. You can’t drive a car through a crowd.”
www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/u...
Federal judge demands answers from Trump admin on following order to avoid violent encounters with Chicago protesters | CNN
A judge in Illinois said she has “serious concerns” over whether federal law enforcement agents are following her order to avoid violent encounters with protesters and journalists in Chicago.
www.cnn.com
October 17, 2025 at 12:52 AM
“You can’t shoot ‘em in the head (with pepper balls),” the judge said. “You can’t deploy tear gas. You can’t use flash-bang grenades. You can’t drive a car through a crowd.”
www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/u...
Reposted by Russell T. McCutcheon
Poached a pic from my Dept—Sierra (right) came to our MA from Iowa and Julianne from Georgia, and now they’re knee-deep in an array of new things, like social theory & podcasting.
October 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Poached a pic from my Dept—Sierra (right) came to our MA from Iowa and Julianne from Georgia, and now they’re knee-deep in an array of new things, like social theory & podcasting.