Sam
@searchingforsam.bsky.social
they/them. college English instructor in Alabama. literature MA. queer studies, Af Am lit, and modernism. speculative fiction enthusiast. just trying to survive capitalism and expand horizons.
Reposted by Sam
History repeats itself - and so does politicians’ language when they’re trying to win people over
MAGA’s rhetoric about violence in Minnesota parallels an English king trying to gain control of Scotland
So what is that language meant to do?
1/3
#medievalhistory #iceout #minneapolis #politics
MAGA’s rhetoric about violence in Minnesota parallels an English king trying to gain control of Scotland
So what is that language meant to do?
1/3
#medievalhistory #iceout #minneapolis #politics
January 27, 2026 at 5:05 AM
History repeats itself - and so does politicians’ language when they’re trying to win people over
MAGA’s rhetoric about violence in Minnesota parallels an English king trying to gain control of Scotland
So what is that language meant to do?
1/3
#medievalhistory #iceout #minneapolis #politics
MAGA’s rhetoric about violence in Minnesota parallels an English king trying to gain control of Scotland
So what is that language meant to do?
1/3
#medievalhistory #iceout #minneapolis #politics
Reposted by Sam
one of many reminders you’ll get on MLK day that he was a radical. do not cherry-pick his quotes about love today, especially if you are white:
January 19, 2026 at 1:13 PM
one of many reminders you’ll get on MLK day that he was a radical. do not cherry-pick his quotes about love today, especially if you are white:
Remember that people you know voted for this. All of it.
January 8, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Remember that people you know voted for this. All of it.
Reposted by Sam
Do we need a whole new model for writing instruction? Or do we need to stop pretending that AI is a problem for individual professors to solve through responsible pedagogy and not a symptom of systemic issues in higher education that can only be addressed through collective action?
January 7, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Do we need a whole new model for writing instruction? Or do we need to stop pretending that AI is a problem for individual professors to solve through responsible pedagogy and not a symptom of systemic issues in higher education that can only be addressed through collective action?
The situation with the University of Oklahoma is not something for people outside of Oklahoma to ignore. In addition to the grad student's experience being quite telling for trans people in the US even as we move into 2026, this event within an academic institution was not isolated or accidental.
December 31, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The situation with the University of Oklahoma is not something for people outside of Oklahoma to ignore. In addition to the grad student's experience being quite telling for trans people in the US even as we move into 2026, this event within an academic institution was not isolated or accidental.
Reposted by Sam
Also, if allies do not understand the importance of advocating for healthcare, recognition, and safety for trans people, they do not fundamentally understand bodily or personal autonomy - and that is going to be a flaw in all organising.
People vastly underestimate how important trans* rights are in the contemporary fight for freedom.
If you cannot make your own choices for your body, the name you go by, or even the very clothes that you wear, then you are not, in any sense, meaningfully free.
If you cannot make your own choices for your body, the name you go by, or even the very clothes that you wear, then you are not, in any sense, meaningfully free.
November 27, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Also, if allies do not understand the importance of advocating for healthcare, recognition, and safety for trans people, they do not fundamentally understand bodily or personal autonomy - and that is going to be a flaw in all organising.
Very proud of @lucyelm.bsky.social for getting her first PhD program acceptance!
November 26, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Very proud of @lucyelm.bsky.social for getting her first PhD program acceptance!
Reposted by Sam
Can't believe I missed the one-year anniversary of the publication of my monograph on contemporary Black women's poetry last fall! I appreciate all support of the work so far and would love to speak to people about the book, available here: ohiostatepress.org/books/titles...
November 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Can't believe I missed the one-year anniversary of the publication of my monograph on contemporary Black women's poetry last fall! I appreciate all support of the work so far and would love to speak to people about the book, available here: ohiostatepress.org/books/titles...
Reposted by Sam
“I want you to understand what it is like to live in Chicago during this time.”
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 5:26 PM
“I want you to understand what it is like to live in Chicago during this time.”
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Apropos of nothing, of course, but measles is a preventable disease. There is documented evidence of its preventability. There is a history of it being prevented.
October 16, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Apropos of nothing, of course, but measles is a preventable disease. There is documented evidence of its preventability. There is a history of it being prevented.
Something we lose in language arts/reading/English classes by stressing things like grammar, standardized testing, AP exams, etc. is the joy and curiosity and wonderment of trying new ideas and experimenting with style and thought because failure is punished instead of treated as a stepping stone.
September 14, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Something we lose in language arts/reading/English classes by stressing things like grammar, standardized testing, AP exams, etc. is the joy and curiosity and wonderment of trying new ideas and experimenting with style and thought because failure is punished instead of treated as a stepping stone.
Relevant also to conversations around servicing the AI industry/workplaces turning toward AI by teaching toward "AI literacy" in humanities classrooms.
My job as a professor is not to create a serviceable worker. My job is to help foster thoughtful citizens or community members.
If that sounds fanciful it’s bc corporate interests have spent decades framing how we talk about education so they don’t take the heat for immiserating labor conditions.
If that sounds fanciful it’s bc corporate interests have spent decades framing how we talk about education so they don’t take the heat for immiserating labor conditions.
Do not accept the premise that education is to blame for abysmal jobs outcomes.
“The fantasy economy's framing of economic inequality… focuses exclusively on education…deflects attention away from decades of public policies and changing business practices that have…contributed to stagnating wages”
“The fantasy economy's framing of economic inequality… focuses exclusively on education…deflects attention away from decades of public policies and changing business practices that have…contributed to stagnating wages”
August 19, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Relevant also to conversations around servicing the AI industry/workplaces turning toward AI by teaching toward "AI literacy" in humanities classrooms.
Once again screaming about AI, but now focusing on the environmental impacts. Specifically, who is most hurt by such impacts? And who suffers the most in the academic structures that are set up now? And who stands to benefit the most in either situation? These things aren't coincidences.
August 15, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Once again screaming about AI, but now focusing on the environmental impacts. Specifically, who is most hurt by such impacts? And who suffers the most in the academic structures that are set up now? And who stands to benefit the most in either situation? These things aren't coincidences.
Reposted by Sam
This is maybe the worst part about being an educator in the AI era.
AI companies are *stealing your time* by making you work around it/find it/adjudicate it. Time that, 4 years ago, you would have used to improve your materials, or stay up-to-date on some area of research.
AI companies are *stealing your time* by making you work around it/find it/adjudicate it. Time that, 4 years ago, you would have used to improve your materials, or stay up-to-date on some area of research.
“Educators now spend a significant amount of their time detecting AI-generated work and seeking ways to assess whether students are developing essential skills.”
Yes. Everywhere.
Yes. Everywhere.
August 12, 2025 at 7:04 AM
This is maybe the worst part about being an educator in the AI era.
AI companies are *stealing your time* by making you work around it/find it/adjudicate it. Time that, 4 years ago, you would have used to improve your materials, or stay up-to-date on some area of research.
AI companies are *stealing your time* by making you work around it/find it/adjudicate it. Time that, 4 years ago, you would have used to improve your materials, or stay up-to-date on some area of research.
One of the most exciting things about college teaching is that I can a) continue unlearning so many unhealthy biases and habits around education and grading and b) practice that in the classroom with my students!
August 8, 2025 at 7:36 AM
One of the most exciting things about college teaching is that I can a) continue unlearning so many unhealthy biases and habits around education and grading and b) practice that in the classroom with my students!
The rise in attitudes like "Let's show students how to use AI since it's here to stay" is moderately concerning for academia and severely concerning for society at large. Discouraging students'/learners' willingness to experiment, fail, and develop critical thinking is disastrous in all disciplines.
August 3, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The rise in attitudes like "Let's show students how to use AI since it's here to stay" is moderately concerning for academia and severely concerning for society at large. Discouraging students'/learners' willingness to experiment, fail, and develop critical thinking is disastrous in all disciplines.
Call me an extremist, but I think using AI for "simple" things like correcting grammar is still a terrible use of AI in a learning context (i.e. for a composition class) because it still removes learning opportunities. (And also grammar is not black and white.)
July 9, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Call me an extremist, but I think using AI for "simple" things like correcting grammar is still a terrible use of AI in a learning context (i.e. for a composition class) because it still removes learning opportunities. (And also grammar is not black and white.)
Gen AI corporations that steal and rip off published works to train their AI are winning lawsuits brought by these works' authors. We should be terrified of the impacts these acts are having on creative publications and the continued growth of AI. It doesn't stop there.
June 26, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Gen AI corporations that steal and rip off published works to train their AI are winning lawsuits brought by these works' authors. We should be terrified of the impacts these acts are having on creative publications and the continued growth of AI. It doesn't stop there.
I am begging teachers to stop using/allowing/encouraging generative AI in courses (especially lower level) where students are still developing their own HUMAN critical thinking skills and applying their own HUMAN touch to work that is meant to be HUMAN. (Plus, Gen AI is not good at this stuff.)
June 23, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I am begging teachers to stop using/allowing/encouraging generative AI in courses (especially lower level) where students are still developing their own HUMAN critical thinking skills and applying their own HUMAN touch to work that is meant to be HUMAN. (Plus, Gen AI is not good at this stuff.)
I lost my beloved furbaby on June 20, 2020. It has been difficult navigating the world without her, but every year, I choose to celebrate the joy she brought me--and still brings me. Here's to another year amid the stars. 💜
June 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I lost my beloved furbaby on June 20, 2020. It has been difficult navigating the world without her, but every year, I choose to celebrate the joy she brought me--and still brings me. Here's to another year amid the stars. 💜
The Associated Press using the passive voice to cover an American police officer shooting an Australian reporter (with a rubber bullet) and diminishing the reality of what happened is a perfect example of how not to report things that are happening. (1/5)
June 11, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The Associated Press using the passive voice to cover an American police officer shooting an Australian reporter (with a rubber bullet) and diminishing the reality of what happened is a perfect example of how not to report things that are happening. (1/5)
As queer rights are coming under fire regularly, pay close attention to the trends of which companies are "rainbow capitalizing" right now and which ones are not, especially compared to previous years.
June 3, 2025 at 7:38 PM
As queer rights are coming under fire regularly, pay close attention to the trends of which companies are "rainbow capitalizing" right now and which ones are not, especially compared to previous years.
Gender and sexuality are so beautifully varied and multidimensional. We must all remember that there is no "one size fits all" for queerness. The + in LGBTQ+ must not simply be a footnote: these expressions and identites must be warmly welcomed to the table. Happy Pride Month!
June 1, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Gender and sexuality are so beautifully varied and multidimensional. We must all remember that there is no "one size fits all" for queerness. The + in LGBTQ+ must not simply be a footnote: these expressions and identites must be warmly welcomed to the table. Happy Pride Month!
These old, wealthy Ivies might very well have these problems, but this administration doesn't give a flying anything about antisemitism. Their actions and supposed goals shouldn't be fooling anyone.
May 24, 2025 at 1:02 AM
These old, wealthy Ivies might very well have these problems, but this administration doesn't give a flying anything about antisemitism. Their actions and supposed goals shouldn't be fooling anyone.
We have witnessed many atrocities in the past few months, but I need people to really sit with what the aftermath would be of the Supreme Court delivering a decision against Birthright Citizenship. This case is bigger than immigration.
May 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
We have witnessed many atrocities in the past few months, but I need people to really sit with what the aftermath would be of the Supreme Court delivering a decision against Birthright Citizenship. This case is bigger than immigration.