Susan H
@susanh.bsky.social
English prof and union activist. Culture wars, academic freedom, and the novel. Oh Florida. Opinions, when I offer them, are my own. @uffuf.bsky.social
Reposted by Susan H
We @uam-umd.bsky.social won. Faculty packed town halls, talked to their colleagues and collected hundreds of petition signatures. Now UMD is coughing up $8.75m, during a deficit, to fund faculty whose research is under attack. Not enough, but a helluva thing for a union the state calls illegal.
$8.75M Investment Supports ‘Research Resilience’… | Maryland Today
UMD, MPower Funds Combine to Help Preserve Institutional Capabilities, Lab Operations and More
today.umd.edu
November 25, 2025 at 2:32 PM
We @uam-umd.bsky.social won. Faculty packed town halls, talked to their colleagues and collected hundreds of petition signatures. Now UMD is coughing up $8.75m, during a deficit, to fund faculty whose research is under attack. Not enough, but a helluva thing for a union the state calls illegal.
Reposted by Susan H
The vast body of research that Ken Burns relied upon to make his new documentary on the American Revolution would be practically impossible to be produced today, what with the defunding of humanistic scholarship, the collapse of stable academic jobs, the attack on public history & academic freedom.🗃️
November 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
The vast body of research that Ken Burns relied upon to make his new documentary on the American Revolution would be practically impossible to be produced today, what with the defunding of humanistic scholarship, the collapse of stable academic jobs, the attack on public history & academic freedom.🗃️
Very excited to read this! @pietrobianch1.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Very excited to read this! @pietrobianch1.bsky.social
Reposted by Susan H
Every word of this interview needs reading and rereading
"The administration ballooned, and inside the administration the financial technocrats took over. There was less and less sympathy with Columbia as a place of thought. It was more about Columbia as an enterprise..."
www.chronicle.com/article/mahm...
www.chronicle.com/article/mahm...
Mahmood Mamdani Doesn’t Want to Talk About Zohran
The Columbia scholar, and father of the mayor-elect, on politics, academe, and antisemitism.
www.chronicle.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Every word of this interview needs reading and rereading
Reposted by Susan H
Happening Now: 100+ people rally outside of Apollo Management Group headquartered in NYC to protest its CEO Marc Rowan, the conservative billionaire behind Trump's Higher Ed compact deal that undermines universities ‼️
November 7, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Happening Now: 100+ people rally outside of Apollo Management Group headquartered in NYC to protest its CEO Marc Rowan, the conservative billionaire behind Trump's Higher Ed compact deal that undermines universities ‼️
Reposted by Susan H
Humanities programs have 3 perfect tools here:
"There's a reason they don't want you studying it" paired with
"The only way to tear this down and rebuild is by practicing the empathy, understanding, and critical thought that can come with studying the humanities" and
"We're already doing it."
"There's a reason they don't want you studying it" paired with
"The only way to tear this down and rebuild is by practicing the empathy, understanding, and critical thought that can come with studying the humanities" and
"We're already doing it."
Major in Africana Studies or any humanities course like English Literature! You could be mayor of New York City. You could do anything.
November 5, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Humanities programs have 3 perfect tools here:
"There's a reason they don't want you studying it" paired with
"The only way to tear this down and rebuild is by practicing the empathy, understanding, and critical thought that can come with studying the humanities" and
"We're already doing it."
"There's a reason they don't want you studying it" paired with
"The only way to tear this down and rebuild is by practicing the empathy, understanding, and critical thought that can come with studying the humanities" and
"We're already doing it."
Reposted by Susan H
There it is.
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
October 31, 2025 at 1:30 PM
There it is.
Reposted by Susan H
I keep thinking about this passage from THE AGE OF INNOCENCE.
October 30, 2025 at 1:57 PM
I keep thinking about this passage from THE AGE OF INNOCENCE.
Reposted by Susan H
And to be clear: a huge reason, maybe the reason, that presses like Graywolf, Coffee House, Copper Canyon, even Dalkey (now under Deep Vellum) are what they are today—that the nonprofit field is as it is today—is b/c of Mellon and Wallace in 91. 34 years ago. This fund can do big, big things.
Enormous news for US literature. A new, Mellon-led, $50 million fund for nonprofit literary orgs and publishers. Closest thing we've ever had to it was Mellon and Wallace in 1991, which, in today's dollars, was still less than half this. Open call begins Nov 10. literaryartsfund.org/about/
About | Literary Arts Fund
The Literary Arts Fund advances support for the nonprofit literary arts field toward ensuring creative writers’ contributions to American literature for generations to come.
literaryartsfund.org
October 28, 2025 at 8:14 PM
And to be clear: a huge reason, maybe the reason, that presses like Graywolf, Coffee House, Copper Canyon, even Dalkey (now under Deep Vellum) are what they are today—that the nonprofit field is as it is today—is b/c of Mellon and Wallace in 91. 34 years ago. This fund can do big, big things.
Reposted by Susan H
The DOE's "partners":
October 26, 2025 at 11:32 AM
The DOE's "partners":
Reposted by Susan H
ICYMI, the DOE is working with far-right groups to package white supremacist propaganda, pro-MAGA conspiracies, a false history, and Christianity as "civics."
U.S. Department of Education, AFPI, TPUSA, Hillsdale College, and Over 40 National and State Organizations Launch America 250 Civics Coalition
The U.S. Department of Education, alongside the America First Policy Institute, Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and more than 40 leading national and state-based organizations today announced th...
www.ed.gov
October 26, 2025 at 11:32 AM
ICYMI, the DOE is working with far-right groups to package white supremacist propaganda, pro-MAGA conspiracies, a false history, and Christianity as "civics."
Reposted by Susan H
Just so many bananas demands in this “draft proposal”, but it’s hard to top this one
October 25, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Just so many bananas demands in this “draft proposal”, but it’s hard to top this one
Reposted by Susan H
Wrote a thing on the hot summer of uni AI adoption for @defector.com
A huge thanks to @nathankhensley.bsky.social and @anniemcc.bsky.social. @brandyjensen.bsky.social is a legend. And anything smart in hear is thanks to hours of discussion, texting, and draft reading by @smosment.bsky.social
A huge thanks to @nathankhensley.bsky.social and @anniemcc.bsky.social. @brandyjensen.bsky.social is a legend. And anything smart in hear is thanks to hours of discussion, texting, and draft reading by @smosment.bsky.social
Higher Ed’s Rush To Adopt AI Is About So Much More Than AI | Defector
If you don’t work at a university or have college-age kids, you may have missed the flurry of news stories and social media banter about AI adoption in higher ed, stories which have snowballed into th...
defector.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Wrote a thing on the hot summer of uni AI adoption for @defector.com
A huge thanks to @nathankhensley.bsky.social and @anniemcc.bsky.social. @brandyjensen.bsky.social is a legend. And anything smart in hear is thanks to hours of discussion, texting, and draft reading by @smosment.bsky.social
A huge thanks to @nathankhensley.bsky.social and @anniemcc.bsky.social. @brandyjensen.bsky.social is a legend. And anything smart in hear is thanks to hours of discussion, texting, and draft reading by @smosment.bsky.social
Reposted by Susan H
So UVA rejects the Compact but still makes an odious side deal. We invite all UVA faculty and staff to join Stand Together for Higher Ed. It’s free, and we’re building community and strategies to stop this madness www.standtogetherhighered.org
UVA reaches deal with Trump administation that ends the government’s civil rights investigations. #AcademicSky #HigherEd www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
University Of Virginia Strikes Deal To End Federal Investigations
The University of Virginia has reached an agreement to end the Trump administration’s investigations of what the government alleged were various civil rights violations.
www.forbes.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:22 AM
So UVA rejects the Compact but still makes an odious side deal. We invite all UVA faculty and staff to join Stand Together for Higher Ed. It’s free, and we’re building community and strategies to stop this madness www.standtogetherhighered.org
Reposted by Susan H
Public universities that sign onto Trump's "Loyalty Oath" will violate the constitutional rights of their students.🤯
AAUP General Counsel Veena Dubal breaks down why in this clip from our recent AAUP TV update.
@veenadubal.bsky.social
#DefendHigherEd
AAUP General Counsel Veena Dubal breaks down why in this clip from our recent AAUP TV update.
@veenadubal.bsky.social
#DefendHigherEd
October 22, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Public universities that sign onto Trump's "Loyalty Oath" will violate the constitutional rights of their students.🤯
AAUP General Counsel Veena Dubal breaks down why in this clip from our recent AAUP TV update.
@veenadubal.bsky.social
#DefendHigherEd
AAUP General Counsel Veena Dubal breaks down why in this clip from our recent AAUP TV update.
@veenadubal.bsky.social
#DefendHigherEd
Reposted by Susan H
🔥 WashU in STL rejects Trump’s loyalty oath compact! 🔥
The resistance cannot be stopped!
AAUP chapters and organized higher ed workers across the nation are unified in spearheading this fight—let’s keep it up!
The resistance cannot be stopped!
AAUP chapters and organized higher ed workers across the nation are unified in spearheading this fight—let’s keep it up!
WashU in STL just announced, in a university-wide email, that we will NOT be signing The Compact.
This statement, I believe, exists thanks to the tremendous energy generated w/in our community by, among others, the Faculty Senate, the revived AAUP, and student journalists. I'm proud of everybody.
This statement, I believe, exists thanks to the tremendous energy generated w/in our community by, among others, the Faculty Senate, the revived AAUP, and student journalists. I'm proud of everybody.
October 22, 2025 at 7:34 PM
🔥 WashU in STL rejects Trump’s loyalty oath compact! 🔥
The resistance cannot be stopped!
AAUP chapters and organized higher ed workers across the nation are unified in spearheading this fight—let’s keep it up!
The resistance cannot be stopped!
AAUP chapters and organized higher ed workers across the nation are unified in spearheading this fight—let’s keep it up!
Reposted by Susan H
Florida’s Social Studies standards are getting another update next month.
No, those terrible African American History standards will stay, but there’s a huge update to our Anti-Communism education.
This is just one page.
No, those terrible African American History standards will stay, but there’s a huge update to our Anti-Communism education.
This is just one page.
October 22, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Florida’s Social Studies standards are getting another update next month.
No, those terrible African American History standards will stay, but there’s a huge update to our Anti-Communism education.
This is just one page.
No, those terrible African American History standards will stay, but there’s a huge update to our Anti-Communism education.
This is just one page.
Reposted by Susan H
Canvas, the course management platform used by my university (and many others), has been down all day due to the AWS outage. It has prompted some good discussions about how much critical infrastructure is now outsourced to a few companies.
Amazon Web Services outage shows internet users ‘at mercy’ of too few providers, experts say
Amazon Web Services outage shows internet users ‘at mercy’ of too few providers, experts say
Crash that hit apps and websites around world demonstrates ‘urgent need for diversification in cloud computing’
*
Business live – latest updates
Experts have warned of the perils of relying on a small number of companies for operating the global internet after a glitch at Amazon’s cloud computing service brought down apps and websites around the world.
The affected platforms included Snapchat, Roblox, Signal and Duolingo as well as a host of Amazon-owned operations including its main retail site and the Ring doorbell company. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Canvas, the course management platform used by my university (and many others), has been down all day due to the AWS outage. It has prompted some good discussions about how much critical infrastructure is now outsourced to a few companies.
Reposted by Susan H
How many classes today were canceled because a whole suite of EdTech services are built atop AWS?
You know what platform never crashes?
You know what platform never crashes?
October 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
How many classes today were canceled because a whole suite of EdTech services are built atop AWS?
You know what platform never crashes?
You know what platform never crashes?
Reposted by Susan H
BREAKING: USC HAS JOIN THE RESISTANCE!
That’s four (MIT, Brown, Penn, USC) of the nine schools Trump targeted.
Stay tuned! 🍿
#DefendHigherEd
#StandUpFightBack
That’s four (MIT, Brown, Penn, USC) of the nine schools Trump targeted.
Stay tuned! 🍿
#DefendHigherEd
#StandUpFightBack
USC rejects Trump education compact aimed at shifting the university to the right
USC interim President Beong-Soo Kim said in a statement that he had sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education turning down the Trump offer.
www.latimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:01 PM
BREAKING: USC HAS JOIN THE RESISTANCE!
That’s four (MIT, Brown, Penn, USC) of the nine schools Trump targeted.
Stay tuned! 🍿
#DefendHigherEd
#StandUpFightBack
That’s four (MIT, Brown, Penn, USC) of the nine schools Trump targeted.
Stay tuned! 🍿
#DefendHigherEd
#StandUpFightBack
Reposted by Susan H
I've said this before but the purpose of teaching at the college level is not the knowledge itself but modeling a relation to a field of knowledge. And well if your model is "just ask the lie bot" I can tell you that's not worth very much at all
Wow. Just wow.
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
When Knowledge is Free, What are Professors For?
Higher Education Must Stop Competing with AI on Information and Start Teaching What Machines Can’t Do
www.forbes.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:13 PM
I've said this before but the purpose of teaching at the college level is not the knowledge itself but modeling a relation to a field of knowledge. And well if your model is "just ask the lie bot" I can tell you that's not worth very much at all
In case some BOT member cares: this is a trap. Higher ed's brand is severely damaged from years of capitulating to neoliberal cant about the university's mission. The deal with Trump will destroy the shred of credibility/prestige you hang onto.
NO
The Trump administration is inviting all US colleges to participate in a compact that would grant preferential federal funding in return for commitments to specific policy changes like DEI bans, according to a source
October 13, 2025 at 11:29 PM
In case some BOT member cares: this is a trap. Higher ed's brand is severely damaged from years of capitulating to neoliberal cant about the university's mission. The deal with Trump will destroy the shred of credibility/prestige you hang onto.
Reposted by Susan H
The 11th annual Post45 Graduate Symposium will be hosted by Duke University's Department of English, February 20-21, 2026! Check out the CFP (post45.org/graduate/202...) and please share with anyone who might be interested.
Abstracts are due November 14.
Abstracts are due November 14.
October 9, 2025 at 12:46 AM
The 11th annual Post45 Graduate Symposium will be hosted by Duke University's Department of English, February 20-21, 2026! Check out the CFP (post45.org/graduate/202...) and please share with anyone who might be interested.
Abstracts are due November 14.
Abstracts are due November 14.
Reposted by Susan H
Tear of ice
Blåisvatnet, Sápmi, Troms, Norway
#WhiteReindeer #Blåisvatnet #Ivguvuotna #Lyngen #Ittuvárit #LyngenAlps #Romsa #Troms #Tromsø #Sápmi #Norway #tears #snow #blue #ice #lake #Arctic #summer #mountains #scape #SkyAndEarth #travel #chatgpt
Video/Credit: @ma-tuo.bsky.social
Blåisvatnet, Sápmi, Troms, Norway
#WhiteReindeer #Blåisvatnet #Ivguvuotna #Lyngen #Ittuvárit #LyngenAlps #Romsa #Troms #Tromsø #Sápmi #Norway #tears #snow #blue #ice #lake #Arctic #summer #mountains #scape #SkyAndEarth #travel #chatgpt
Video/Credit: @ma-tuo.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Tear of ice
Blåisvatnet, Sápmi, Troms, Norway
#WhiteReindeer #Blåisvatnet #Ivguvuotna #Lyngen #Ittuvárit #LyngenAlps #Romsa #Troms #Tromsø #Sápmi #Norway #tears #snow #blue #ice #lake #Arctic #summer #mountains #scape #SkyAndEarth #travel #chatgpt
Video/Credit: @ma-tuo.bsky.social
Blåisvatnet, Sápmi, Troms, Norway
#WhiteReindeer #Blåisvatnet #Ivguvuotna #Lyngen #Ittuvárit #LyngenAlps #Romsa #Troms #Tromsø #Sápmi #Norway #tears #snow #blue #ice #lake #Arctic #summer #mountains #scape #SkyAndEarth #travel #chatgpt
Video/Credit: @ma-tuo.bsky.social
Reposted by Susan H
i've been stung by one of these despicable things. dropped out of an oak tree on my arm. it was hellish, felt like i laid my arm on a hot stove burner. center for poison control advised hospitilization. i used tape to remove the imbedded stingers, recovered well, but avoid if at all possible.
According to researchers at the University of #Florida, Puss Caterpillars seem to be covered in soft hairs. However, those hairs hide stiff spines attached to poison glands on the bug’s body. www.clickorlando.com/news/florida...
Don’t touch this fuzzy Florida bug. Here’s why it’s so dangerous
It’s that time of year again. And we’re not talking about hurricane season.
www.clickorlando.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:54 PM
i've been stung by one of these despicable things. dropped out of an oak tree on my arm. it was hellish, felt like i laid my arm on a hot stove burner. center for poison control advised hospitilization. i used tape to remove the imbedded stingers, recovered well, but avoid if at all possible.