Pepper Glass
@pepperglass.bsky.social
Sociologist of urban and community, race, social movements, interaction, author of "Misplacing Ogden, Utah: Race, Class, Immigration, and the Construction of Urban Reputations," player of doom metal
Pinned
Pepper Glass
@pepperglass.bsky.social
· Nov 24
University of Utah Press | Misplacing Ogden, Utah
uofupress.com
Who am I and what am I up to? I wrote a book about how we define places as "ghettoes" or "bad neighborhoods," arguing that a place's bad reputation does not reflect crime and disorder as much as it is a tool for people to separate from stigmatized communities and unite with those of higher status.
This is also where sociology is currently. Administrators, overinterpreting state law, are strangling sociology by not replacing any of our multiple retirees. Once six people, we are being asked to survive with two full time professors, all while being evaluated for how “efficient” we are.
Weber State Censors, Then Cancels, Censorship Conference
University officials said that several planned presentations violated an Utah state law banning diversity, equity and inclusion at public universities. https://bit.ly/3J2HUgi
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEe
University officials said that several planned presentations violated an Utah state law banning diversity, equity and inclusion at public universities. https://bit.ly/3J2HUgi
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEe
October 9, 2025 at 3:39 PM
This is also where sociology is currently. Administrators, overinterpreting state law, are strangling sociology by not replacing any of our multiple retirees. Once six people, we are being asked to survive with two full time professors, all while being evaluated for how “efficient” we are.
So much respectability politics, as if the only thing holding back Los Angeles' working class, poc, and immigrant communities is their inability to protest correctly, and your instructions to them about how to do it the right way are totally not reproducing dominant/subordinate power relations.
I would love to see orders of magnitude more discussion about what "swing voters" should figure out, deal with, suck up, get a clue about, etc and orders of magnitude less discussion about how protestors should coddle random third party's hallucinations about this section of the electorate
June 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
So much respectability politics, as if the only thing holding back Los Angeles' working class, poc, and immigrant communities is their inability to protest correctly, and your instructions to them about how to do it the right way are totally not reproducing dominant/subordinate power relations.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
say it again:
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
ROI for NIH and NSF for local economies is conservatively 4x, often close to 10x
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
ROI for NIH and NSF for local economies is conservatively 4x, often close to 10x
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
There is a false dichotomy drawn between "the ivory tower" and "the real world," and I'm here to report that in a post-industrial society, your real-world economy absolutely hinges on the university.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
A must read
May 18, 2025 at 1:45 PM
say it again:
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
ROI for NIH and NSF for local economies is conservatively 4x, often close to 10x
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
ROI for NIH and NSF for local economies is conservatively 4x, often close to 10x
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
Reposted by Pepper Glass
Why did Grok suddenly start talking about “white genocide in South Africa” even if asked about baseball or cute dogs?
Because someone at Musk’s xAi deliberately did this, and we only found out because they were clumsy.
My piece on the real dangers of AI.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/o...
Because someone at Musk’s xAi deliberately did this, and we only found out because they were clumsy.
My piece on the real dangers of AI.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/o...
May 17, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Why did Grok suddenly start talking about “white genocide in South Africa” even if asked about baseball or cute dogs?
Because someone at Musk’s xAi deliberately did this, and we only found out because they were clumsy.
My piece on the real dangers of AI.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/o...
Because someone at Musk’s xAi deliberately did this, and we only found out because they were clumsy.
My piece on the real dangers of AI.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/o...
I do wish that online rankings listed standard deviations too. There’s a big difference between a dull movie that’s a 5.5 out of 10 and a 5.5 where those rating it either absolutely loved or hated it.
Horror films, pretty much designed to turn off some of their audience, especially suffer from this.
Horror films, pretty much designed to turn off some of their audience, especially suffer from this.
May 14, 2025 at 12:36 AM
I do wish that online rankings listed standard deviations too. There’s a big difference between a dull movie that’s a 5.5 out of 10 and a 5.5 where those rating it either absolutely loved or hated it.
Horror films, pretty much designed to turn off some of their audience, especially suffer from this.
Horror films, pretty much designed to turn off some of their audience, especially suffer from this.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
This international student is incredibly brave for going on the record about his visa suddenly being revoked, including how he has one semester left and his mom has terminal cancer: www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/n...
Carnegie Mellon student with one semester left learns his visa was revoked with no explanation
Local universities and colleges across the country continue to report international student visas being revoked.
www.cbsnews.com
April 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
This international student is incredibly brave for going on the record about his visa suddenly being revoked, including how he has one semester left and his mom has terminal cancer: www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/n...
Reposted by Pepper Glass
a thread re DOGE cuts
When I was doing dissertation fieldwork I was struck by how often well-off white people talked about trash in Benton Harbor. A newly-formed "parks conservancy" had been granted control over park maintenance as one of the last acts of the departing emergency manager,
When I was doing dissertation fieldwork I was struck by how often well-off white people talked about trash in Benton Harbor. A newly-formed "parks conservancy" had been granted control over park maintenance as one of the last acts of the departing emergency manager,
March 17, 2025 at 12:27 PM
a thread re DOGE cuts
When I was doing dissertation fieldwork I was struck by how often well-off white people talked about trash in Benton Harbor. A newly-formed "parks conservancy" had been granted control over park maintenance as one of the last acts of the departing emergency manager,
When I was doing dissertation fieldwork I was struck by how often well-off white people talked about trash in Benton Harbor. A newly-formed "parks conservancy" had been granted control over park maintenance as one of the last acts of the departing emergency manager,
Reposted by Pepper Glass
This is Utah in case anyone’s wondering how pissed off people are. I have never seen anything like this.
April 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
This is Utah in case anyone’s wondering how pissed off people are. I have never seen anything like this.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
On saving higher education: ““I think that labor needs to fill the vacuum of leadership we’re seeing in the sector,” said Todd Wolfson, national president of the AAUP. “I don’t see another way forward.””
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
As Universities Yield to Trump, Higher Ed Unions Fight Back
From lawsuits to protests, labor organizations representing faculty, grad students and other workers are resisting. Discussions about what to do next continue.
www.insidehighered.com
April 4, 2025 at 1:51 PM
On saving higher education: ““I think that labor needs to fill the vacuum of leadership we’re seeing in the sector,” said Todd Wolfson, national president of the AAUP. “I don’t see another way forward.””
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
When people don't understand math, they blame themselves.
When people don't understand sociology, they blame sociology.
When people don't understand sociology, they blame sociology.
April 1, 2025 at 3:14 PM
When people don't understand math, they blame themselves.
When people don't understand sociology, they blame sociology.
When people don't understand sociology, they blame sociology.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
It’s so weird how we’re all just working like this is still a normal country.
March 31, 2025 at 9:25 PM
It’s so weird how we’re all just working like this is still a normal country.
This is the Utah Board of Education in 2025. Kids wanting wheelchair ramps so that they can enter their schools in order to learn with other students is a soviet era communist plot.
March 31, 2025 at 7:59 PM
This is the Utah Board of Education in 2025. Kids wanting wheelchair ramps so that they can enter their schools in order to learn with other students is a soviet era communist plot.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
Local police leaders have feared the erosion of public trust as a result of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts. Many officials say they're seeing signs that's happening.
Police say ICE tactics are eroding public trust in local law enforcement
Local police leaders have feared the erosion of public trust as a result of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts. Many officials say they're seeing signs that's happening.
www.npr.org
March 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Local police leaders have feared the erosion of public trust as a result of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts. Many officials say they're seeing signs that's happening.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
My wife attended a Tesla protest in Salt Lake City today and of course MAGA was there with rifles...yes, brandishing rifles and the protest broke up and this is your country today.
March 29, 2025 at 8:08 PM
My wife attended a Tesla protest in Salt Lake City today and of course MAGA was there with rifles...yes, brandishing rifles and the protest broke up and this is your country today.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
I was a commercial fisherman in a past life and American fisheries *exist* because of regulation. Fishermen know that without regulation we don't have fish and we don't have fisheries. It's not just a nice thing - it's existential.
🧵ICYMI yesterday, there are so many 🔥 quotes in this @reuters.com story: www.reuters.com/world/us/how...
How Trump’s regulatory freeze is disrupting the US fishing industry
From the Atlantic to Alaska, fishermen say overfishing and fleet delays are shaking up a $320 billion industry.
www.reuters.com
March 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I was a commercial fisherman in a past life and American fisheries *exist* because of regulation. Fishermen know that without regulation we don't have fish and we don't have fisheries. It's not just a nice thing - it's existential.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
UPDATE: Here's where we're at w/ NIH grant terminations:
❌ 429 NIH grants terminated*
❌ 137 related to HIV/AIDS prevention
❌ 27 on cancer
❌ 16 on Alzheimer's
The full Airtable, thanks to wizardry of @noamross.net👇
*This is just what we know. There are certainly more we don't know about yet.
❌ 429 NIH grants terminated*
❌ 137 related to HIV/AIDS prevention
❌ 27 on cancer
❌ 16 on Alzheimer's
The full Airtable, thanks to wizardry of @noamross.net👇
*This is just what we know. There are certainly more we don't know about yet.
Airtable | Everyone's app platform
Airtable is a low-code platform for building collaborative apps. Customize your workflow, collaborate, and achieve ambitious outcomes. Get started for free.
airtable.com
March 28, 2025 at 3:20 PM
UPDATE: Here's where we're at w/ NIH grant terminations:
❌ 429 NIH grants terminated*
❌ 137 related to HIV/AIDS prevention
❌ 27 on cancer
❌ 16 on Alzheimer's
The full Airtable, thanks to wizardry of @noamross.net👇
*This is just what we know. There are certainly more we don't know about yet.
❌ 429 NIH grants terminated*
❌ 137 related to HIV/AIDS prevention
❌ 27 on cancer
❌ 16 on Alzheimer's
The full Airtable, thanks to wizardry of @noamross.net👇
*This is just what we know. There are certainly more we don't know about yet.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
I fear this will soon be the standard for all red states' public universities, and also suspect that the feds will force private colleges and blue states public schools to follow similar guidelines by threatening funding (see how they acted at Penn, Columbia etc.).
The introductory classes that all Utah college students must take will get a major rewrite — starting with Utah State — to focus on Western civilization, under a bill Gov. Spencer Cox signed into law.
Utah college courses will focus on Western civilization and ‘rise of Christianity’ after Gov. Cox signs controversial bill
The introductory classes that all Utah college students must take will get a major rewrite — starting with Utah State — to focus on Western civilization, under a bill Gov. Spencer Cox signed into law.
www.sltrib.com
March 25, 2025 at 5:17 PM
I fear this will soon be the standard for all red states' public universities, and also suspect that the feds will force private colleges and blue states public schools to follow similar guidelines by threatening funding (see how they acted at Penn, Columbia etc.).
While praising the DEI efforts at Costco, let's not forget that their hummus selection remains a crime against all people of the Middle East.
March 16, 2025 at 2:53 PM
While praising the DEI efforts at Costco, let's not forget that their hummus selection remains a crime against all people of the Middle East.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
“Love Knows No Gender”: The Utah Pride Center organized a protest at the Utah Capitol Friday afternoon over HB77, a bill that bans pride flags from Utah schools and government property.
(Photos by Francisco Kjolseth)
(Photos by Francisco Kjolseth)
March 7, 2025 at 11:58 PM
“Love Knows No Gender”: The Utah Pride Center organized a protest at the Utah Capitol Friday afternoon over HB77, a bill that bans pride flags from Utah schools and government property.
(Photos by Francisco Kjolseth)
(Photos by Francisco Kjolseth)
Reposted by Pepper Glass
Great thread! Makes me wonder if our parallel is more the 1870s than the 1930s... Expect we're a much more indispensable nation on the world stage then we were back then...
Trump yesterday, repeating something he’s been saying for years (re: tariffs, which he said would make the US “rich’): “it’s going to stop us from being a laughingstock all over the world because we have been taken advantage of like no country has been taken advantage of.” Let’s unpack this a bit./1
February 28, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Great thread! Makes me wonder if our parallel is more the 1870s than the 1930s... Expect we're a much more indispensable nation on the world stage then we were back then...
This former professor, along with the vice provost over undergraduate education at @utahstate.bsky.social, are looking to turn the talking points of white supremacists into reality at #Utah universities.
This Utah lawmaker wants required college courses to focus on ‘Western civilization’ and ‘the rise of Christianity’
A Utah lawmaker is pushing to overhaul required general education coursework for college students, shifting the focus back, he says, to great books “predominantly from Western civilization” and about ...
www.sltrib.com
February 28, 2025 at 2:36 PM
This former professor, along with the vice provost over undergraduate education at @utahstate.bsky.social, are looking to turn the talking points of white supremacists into reality at #Utah universities.
Reposted by Pepper Glass
Pediatrician for ~20 yrs & chief med officer: 1st time experiencing w/ a measles outbreak. Health system has had ~20 unvaxxed pts hospitalized--most are kids w/trouble breathing linked to pneumonia
Austin pediatrician: "numerous calls at our office," asking if kids can get an early measles shot. 🛟😷
Austin pediatrician: "numerous calls at our office," asking if kids can get an early measles shot. 🛟😷
Measles death of unvaccinated child in Texas outbreak is 1st fatality in US in a decade
An unvaccinated school-aged child in Texas has died of measles, the first associated with an outbreak that has infected more than 100 people.
abcnews.go.com
February 27, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Pediatrician for ~20 yrs & chief med officer: 1st time experiencing w/ a measles outbreak. Health system has had ~20 unvaxxed pts hospitalized--most are kids w/trouble breathing linked to pneumonia
Austin pediatrician: "numerous calls at our office," asking if kids can get an early measles shot. 🛟😷
Austin pediatrician: "numerous calls at our office," asking if kids can get an early measles shot. 🛟😷
“Under peaceful conditions, the warlike man attacks himself.”
― Freidrich Nietzsche
― Freidrich Nietzsche
February 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
“Under peaceful conditions, the warlike man attacks himself.”
― Freidrich Nietzsche
― Freidrich Nietzsche
Reposted by Pepper Glass
How we did it: Texas Won’t Study How Its Abortion Ban Impacts Women, So We Did
Texas Won’t Study How Its Abortion Ban Impacts Women, So We Did
Since Texas banned abortion, no one has studied the statewide effects on pregnant women experiencing complications. Here’s how we sifted through data on millions of pregnancy hospitalizations and anal...
www.propublica.org
February 20, 2025 at 12:11 PM
How we did it: Texas Won’t Study How Its Abortion Ban Impacts Women, So We Did
Given recent purges of federal workers, it's such a crazy coincidence that a certain demographic group is greatly overrepresented in the federal workforce.
February 20, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Given recent purges of federal workers, it's such a crazy coincidence that a certain demographic group is greatly overrepresented in the federal workforce.