Stephanie Ahrens, PhD
@sahrens.bsky.social
Political theory and philosophy, democracy, trust, pop culture, cats, typos
Are you contingent faculty (adjuncts, lecturers, anyone not TT) at Columbia? Talk to me or visit https://cfcu-uaw.org.
Views my own, not reflective of my employer, etc.
Are you contingent faculty (adjuncts, lecturers, anyone not TT) at Columbia? Talk to me or visit https://cfcu-uaw.org.
Views my own, not reflective of my employer, etc.
Past weekend projects: grading, voting, Frankenstein, and an oratorio
November 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Past weekend projects: grading, voting, Frankenstein, and an oratorio
A few signs from NYC. The start was tough as people didn’t realize or struggled to go down from a huge mass that needed to be funneled onto one street after Duffy Square. We eventually went around to move forward. A lot of people probably waited a while at that bottleneck.
October 18, 2025 at 9:39 PM
A few signs from NYC. The start was tough as people didn’t realize or struggled to go down from a huge mass that needed to be funneled onto one street after Duffy Square. We eventually went around to move forward. A lot of people probably waited a while at that bottleneck.
22 boxes closer to NYC
July 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
22 boxes closer to NYC
First big dinner party (~10 people) in a while since the job market was all consuming this year. I missed it. Cooking, gathering, eating…that’s the stuff.
June 12, 2025 at 1:53 AM
First big dinner party (~10 people) in a while since the job market was all consuming this year. I missed it. Cooking, gathering, eating…that’s the stuff.
Finally getting around to reading @cjdenial.bsky.social A Pedagogy of Kindness thanks to the wonders of ILL! What a balm.
May 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Finally getting around to reading @cjdenial.bsky.social A Pedagogy of Kindness thanks to the wonders of ILL! What a balm.
Every time our shouts of “hands off” echoed through the plaza reminded us of our community’s strength. I caught the tail end of one (which uploaded before as just a photo…oops):
April 5, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Every time our shouts of “hands off” echoed through the plaza reminded us of our community’s strength. I caught the tail end of one (which uploaded before as just a photo…oops):
It’s been a morning. I can’t adequately describe what it felt like to be amid a throng of people protesting in support of democracy. Our shouts echoed through the streets.
April 5, 2025 at 8:54 PM
It’s been a morning. I can’t adequately describe what it felt like to be amid a throng of people protesting in support of democracy. Our shouts echoed through the streets.
After weeks of organizing, it’s time to march! See you in Boston.
pic from @bensilverstein.bsky.social
pic from @bensilverstein.bsky.social
April 5, 2025 at 1:07 PM
After weeks of organizing, it’s time to march! See you in Boston.
pic from @bensilverstein.bsky.social
pic from @bensilverstein.bsky.social
At least one position at Columbia with an active search has been withdrawn.
March 10, 2025 at 6:02 PM
At least one position at Columbia with an active search has been withdrawn.
Teaching Locke’s Second Treatise, chapters 8-16 tomorrow and he has thoughts about the extent of executive power, sec. 151. (We do usurpation and tyranny next week).
February 19, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Teaching Locke’s Second Treatise, chapters 8-16 tomorrow and he has thoughts about the extent of executive power, sec. 151. (We do usurpation and tyranny next week).
Small delights: cosmic purple carrots from the week’s CSA box, hummus and snow (which has been scarce since I moved to Boston in 2022)
December 20, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Small delights: cosmic purple carrots from the week’s CSA box, hummus and snow (which has been scarce since I moved to Boston in 2022)
When they scan your ticket and say “nice, you’ll be here all day”
November 20, 2024 at 1:27 PM
When they scan your ticket and say “nice, you’ll be here all day”
I don’t drink a ton of coffee, but when I do it’s Intelligentsia’s decaf espresso beans in a moka pot.
November 19, 2024 at 1:32 PM
I don’t drink a ton of coffee, but when I do it’s Intelligentsia’s decaf espresso beans in a moka pot.
Today’s writing companion from Clear Flour Bread: a s’mores tart.
November 2, 2024 at 3:57 PM
Today’s writing companion from Clear Flour Bread: a s’mores tart.
A recent antidote to *gestures wildly* everything going on? Time with my mom. An 8ish-hour supercommute (great for getting work done) roundtrip on Amtrak for 6ish precious hours of reunion. Worth it.
October 30, 2024 at 2:08 AM
A recent antidote to *gestures wildly* everything going on? Time with my mom. An 8ish-hour supercommute (great for getting work done) roundtrip on Amtrak for 6ish precious hours of reunion. Worth it.
The US Senate commissioned a survey on trust that ran in September 1973. For some measures, they surveyed the public *and* a mix of government officials. This chart shows the percentage of respondents who have “a great deal of confidence in people in charge of running [institution].”
October 22, 2024 at 12:12 AM
The US Senate commissioned a survey on trust that ran in September 1973. For some measures, they surveyed the public *and* a mix of government officials. This chart shows the percentage of respondents who have “a great deal of confidence in people in charge of running [institution].”
If I weren’t already into bike and other micromobility activism, finding this on my bike would almost certainly motivate me. Snacks? Easy QR code? Sold.
September 28, 2024 at 3:22 PM
If I weren’t already into bike and other micromobility activism, finding this on my bike would almost certainly motivate me. Snacks? Easy QR code? Sold.
Are the leaves turning early in Boston? It feels like they are.
September 22, 2024 at 12:58 AM
Are the leaves turning early in Boston? It feels like they are.
Agreed. This was at Coolidge Corner Theatre, a similar art deco movie palace.
September 16, 2024 at 11:10 AM
Agreed. This was at Coolidge Corner Theatre, a similar art deco movie palace.
The only way to edit job docs
August 16, 2024 at 6:09 PM
The only way to edit job docs
My previous cat was not a box cat, but this girl certainly is. She wants boxes everywhere.
She has also started noticing the neighbor’s cat who sometimes sits in the window. The windows come out a bit and then the facade of the building sinks back, so the cats can see each other.
She has also started noticing the neighbor’s cat who sometimes sits in the window. The windows come out a bit and then the facade of the building sinks back, so the cats can see each other.
August 3, 2024 at 5:53 PM
My previous cat was not a box cat, but this girl certainly is. She wants boxes everywhere.
She has also started noticing the neighbor’s cat who sometimes sits in the window. The windows come out a bit and then the facade of the building sinks back, so the cats can see each other.
She has also started noticing the neighbor’s cat who sometimes sits in the window. The windows come out a bit and then the facade of the building sinks back, so the cats can see each other.
It’s been a good day and kitty agrees that enough to-dos have been crossed off.
July 30, 2024 at 10:35 PM
It’s been a good day and kitty agrees that enough to-dos have been crossed off.