Mastodawn

Angry U of Alaska workers Mar 14

I am saying it once more.

If #academia and #highered do not QUICKLY develop a coordinated strategy of resistance, then MAGA will pick them off one by one.

“Half of this stuff you can’t just do and the other half is insane,” said Joseph Howley, a professor of classics at Columbia. “If the federal government can show up and demand a university department be shut down or restructured, then we don’t have universities in this country.”

#uspol #democracy

https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-arrests-1921e26f6b5a8585ad5cbda790846324

Trump intervention at Columbia alarms defenders of academic freedom

The Trump administration has delivered an extraordinary ultimatum to Columbia University, threatening to permanently end federal funding to the school unless it cedes control of an international studies department and implements sweeping changes to other policies. Federal officials wrote in a letter Thursday that the university must immediately place its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department under “academic receivership for a minimum of five years.” It must also ban masks on campus meant to hide the wearer's identity, adopt a new definition of antisemitism and abolish its current process for disciplining students. The letter marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to impose sweeping changes on academic institutions.

AP News

Alexander Karn Mar 14

What could this look like?

The most direct way for #highered and #academia to hit back is through military contracts and biotech.

Basically, R1 schools would need to halt all cooperation with the government and starve them of tech transfer and technical competencies they need to maintain national security and compete with rivals.

Ask Americans, would they like to see China vault head ahead of them and assume the mantle of global hegemon because Trump wanted to own the libs?

Alexander Karn Mar 14

There is a collective action challenge here.

Can faculty move without support of administrative leaders?

Can administrators move without support of trustees, regents, etc.?

I don’t claim that this is an easy strategy to implement, and I don’t imagine we can bring every major institution into perfect alignment.

I AM saying that we’ll all be destroyed on the tarmac if we don’t plan and execute a proactive strategy/mission very soon.

@xankarn Interesting idea. They would be less dependent but they don’t control the PI’s though

Dawn Nafus Mar 14

@xankarn I can't like this hard enough and one thing to do could be for AI researchers to make *very* clear in this RFI that closes in 24 hours that they will NOT be participating in any federal-related, federal-involved AI research until they stop harassing universities.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/06/2025-02305/request-for-information-on-the-development-of-an-artificial-intelligence-ai-action-plan

#AI #StopTheCoup #academia

(also, fascists doing RFIs is just so weird. I think it's code for 'tell me which grift you prefer.')

Federal Register :: Request Access

Mark Aylward 🇨🇦Mar 14

@xankarn clearly the time for talking has passed. More action and demonstrations are needed. Good luck. 💔✊

Phogna Bologna Mar 14

@xankarn when you remember the Ivy "League" was a mediocre football organization, not a university alliance. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Bssr4 (TЯ☭M₽ )Mar 14

TanekRune Mar 14

@Bssr4 @xankarn
And a russian asset to boot!

Bredroll Mar 14

@xankarn I am shocked at the lack of high profile organised opposition. Thus is foul destroying to watch from over here in Europe

Alexander Karn Mar 14

The approach to this point has been “institutional neutrality” and “let’s keep our heads down,” both of which are hopelessly naive in the face of MAGA’s Kulturkampf.

MissConstrue Mar 22

@xankarn @Bredroll Appeasement doesn't work, it never has.

If I were a student, I would unenroll and demand my money back. There are lots of universities all over the place, find one that isn't going to make people look at your degree like it's toxic.

Professors, unless you're ancient enough to have tenure...take an ethical stand and walk. If tenured, talk about how bad this is to everyone...classes, administration, media outlets.

Administrators, as a rule at the top echelon, you are overpaid vichy yes men to whomever has the biggest checkbook. Quit, go on a retreat, try to find the soul you probably once had.

They should shut the university down, and use their endowments to pay facilities staff to keep up the buildings until the regime backs down or is overthrown. Fuck all of this appeasement.

MissConstrue Mar 22

@Bredroll @xankarn

There's been a lot more action on the streets than is being reported by the billionaire owned media.

That said, I'm an old and I protested Thatcher at some events that got pretty rowdy, and I've been at more protests in the US than I can count, and I'm not kidding when I tell you that at the last round of BLM protests, we went knowing there was a non-zero chance a cop would shoot us.

Protesting in America is a whole different kettle of fish than protesting somewhere where everyone isn't armed and the cops have don't have full immunity for torture and murder.

Azor Lad Mar 14

@xankarn
Why would a president do this?
I am not in the middle of a university, but immediately think every university should band together to support every other university from letting a president determine the courses taught.

sheislaurence Mar 15

@xankarn an obvious one would be exile. There are sadly plenty of recent examples like NAUKMA's foreign campuses (Toronto/Glasgow/NIessen/Viadrina) following the #Ukraine war.
https://www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/the-role-of-universities-in-times-of-war.

No doubt #EU #universities & research institutes are seeing this as "a sad opportunity, but it is an opportunity all the same," to quote the head of the Pasteur Institute. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250309-french-research-groups-urged-to-welcome-scientists-fleeing-us

We have collective experience of complex international funding & collaboration models : let's use it!

The Role of Universities in Times of War

Feb 24, 2023 // The university has always played an important role in guaranteeing the future of society. That role is expanded and more important than ever in times of war, as illustrated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, write Drs. Nina Chala, Olga Voropai, and Kateryna Pichyk.

Stephen Elliott~Buckley Mar 15

We need to get past the if's

#mairikkka is already a fascist state

Act accordingly

#cdnpoli #canada #mexico #fascism #antifa

Join #elbowsup while you still can

@xankarn This is a serious problem. I hope Universities stand up, and don't let federal funding decide their fate. Trump won't be president forever, unless they let him. Dear Lord! His executive orders haven't even gotten through Judicial system. Why are universities, etc enacting his ridiculous orders?

SamuelJohnson Mar 15

@xankarn The US university in which I did a graduate degree has closed its diversity & inclusion program, laid off staff, cancelled a black alumni reunion and suspended a women's history month event.

The fragility of white male supremacy in America is something to behold. I will be removing myself from the alumni mailing list.

@samueljohnson @xankarn first make sure you tell them why, and that you won't be donating any time or money to them or recommending anyone go there as a result. We have to stand up and be counted, not silently disappear

SamuelJohnson Mar 16

@wilbr @xankarn It would be dishonest. There was never any chance I'd donate. I will, however, see if I can donate to some of the causes whose windows they've smashed to appease Donald Trump and his fascist lackeys, if I can invoke a Krystallnacht metaphor. So much for not obeying in advance.

Bssr4 (TЯ☭M₽ )Mar 15

@xankarn Chinese Mao Zedong also targeted the high education institutions and the intelligent with obvious results.