Mastodawn

David J. Atkinson

During the McCarthy era, my dad — a University of Michigan professor — was asked by the FBI to name communists or other subversives at the University. He refused. He told us they came several times to his office to pressure him, even threatening him with being called before the Committee (a career-ending event everyone feared). He refused every time. The University administration backed him up. A decade later I overheard some faculty (partygoers at our house) talking about the events with respect.

I never thought those days would come again.

Don’t be a snitch on friends and colleagues. Don’t cooperate. Keep your self respect and earn the esteem of others. Plus it is the right thing to do.

David J. Atkinson Jan 17

Thank you everyone for your attention and support of this post. It’s more recognition than I ever anticipated. I am humbled that my memories can evoke this reaction in you. I hope that, whatever your conclusions , you share them with others.

David J. Atkinson Jan 17

Thank you everyone for your attention and support of this post. It’s more recognition than I ever anticipated. I am humbled that my memories can evoke this reaction in you. I hope that, whatever your conclusions , you share them with others.

Louis Chartrand Jan 19

@meltedcheese I like how it frames the current era. This too shall pass; our sacrifices might stand for themselves long after the dust has settled.

@meltedcheese this is wonderful

respect to your dad

David J. Atkinson Jan 16

@dannotdaniel Thanks. He’s been gone for many years, but stories about him carry on. I’m pretty sure the nature of immortality is the impact we have on the lives of others.

@meltedcheese absolutely how I feel about that as well. in fact I made this exact statement to my dad yesterday regarding one of our shared heroes, Turlough O'Carolan

he was a blind harp player & traveling composer, with hundreds of tunes to his name 🎶☘️

Not trying hard enough 🦎Jan 16

@meltedcheese
> The University administration backed him up.

This is what has changed. Now Universities sell out their staff & students at the drop of a hat.

David J. Atkinson Jan 16

@lonelystone Seems that way from what I hear. How can administration be so out of touch with the values dear to higher education?

Brad Rosenheim Jan 18

Here in Florida, where we are unfortunately ahead of the curve in succumbing to fascism, university administrations have caved to a hostile state government by telling us, "It is far better that we acquiesce because, if we don't, they will replace us (the administrators) with something worse." What's worse is that the faculty, who have had tenure protections removed, fall for it hook, line, and sinker. With tenure being taken away by what is called post tenure review (a review with possible termination every 5 years), it has made the administration more powerful, the faculty much weaker, and the university system corrupted by the whims of politics.

Misuse Case Jan 18

@meltedcheese @lonelystone Because so many institutions of higher education have just become rent-seeking and financialization enterprises that do a little education on the side.

Passenger Jan 18

@MisuseCase @meltedcheese @lonelystone

I think this is the answer.

(A lot of universities are, to a lesser or greater extent, just real-estate businesses which run an education business on the side. This is genuinely bizarre but I think strengthens your point.)

Misuse Case Jan 19

@passenger @meltedcheese @lonelystone Yeah Columbia is the poster child for this. Biggest landlord in Manhattan, and acts like a shitty landlord in every way.

David J. Atkinson Jan 19

@MisuseCase @[email protected] @lonelystone Very distressing to me, but I’ve never been a professor. I have an idealist perspective of academia.

Ben Rosengart Jan 18

@meltedcheese @lonelystone I think it has to do with universities being less and less funded by governments, and more and more by rich donors.

The donors don’t want informed, empowered citizens; they want indebted workers with vocational training.

Assimilateborg Jan 16

@meltedcheese what about instead naming the nazis you know?

David J. Atkinson Jan 16

@assimilateborg I’m all for public naming and shaming Nazis. It doesn’t seem like the current government is much interested tho.

DanDan420 Jan 16

@meltedcheese That's a reminder that America has been fascist for a long time.