W. Carson Byrd
@wcbyrdphd.bsky.social
4.1K followers 1.2K following 730 posts
Sociologist of higher ed inequalities & racism @ Michigan Probably staring at data instead of writing, but at least there’s a stack of books & articles beside me. More info: https://wcarsonbyrd.com
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Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
zachschermele.bsky.social
NEW: These are all the Education Dept. offices that staffers and managers say have been impacted by layoffs since Friday, according to the union for the agency’s employees.

They include workers that supported HBCUs, tribal colleges, charter schools, civil rights reviews, special ed & more.
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
victorerikray.bsky.social
Attacks on the federal workforce are also attacks on Black workers, who are overrepresented in the public sector.

Black unemployment is 7.5%. I'm reminded of Coates' observation that Black Americans regularly experience conditions that would be considered a crisis if whites faced them.
Black Unemployment Is Surging Again. This Time Is Different.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
joshuasweitz.bsky.social
New reporting: many apparently fired at CDC in 'error'. This is a failure by design given that the admin does not care about fulfilling agency missions. This is the kind of error that should have political consequences.

Unserious people cause real-world harm.

🎁
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...
Trump Administration Will Rehire Scores of Experts Fired in Error
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
victorerikray.bsky.social
I've been saying this exact thing in talks. They are breaking things that aren't easy to fix. And in some cases, like civil rights, destroying a legacy that took a couple of centuries to build, and don't have a ton of buy-in from dems, even if they get power back.
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
jessicacalarco.com
They know they won't be in power forever. So, they're breaking as much as they can right now, in the hope that whoever follows them won't be able to put it all back together.
lenasun.bsky.social
NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
louiseseamster.bsky.social
**always follow the money**
PE firm behind for-profit universities using its WH influence to handwrite terms that will eviscerate, hamstring and control its own competitors in higher ed…and NY Times giving space to the CEO to come out and admit this influence in a pro-Compact piece
As someone who played a part in the compact’s initial formulation, working alongside an administration working group, I would like to offer what insight I can into the motivation and need for the compact and to address its detractors.
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
louiseseamster.bsky.social
Private equity gets its toothhold into firms through economic squeezing, devalues them, then breaks them into parts to sell off. This compact is the squeeze that will simultaneously advantage for-profit ed *and* make it easier to PE-ify non-profit ed. The ideological component is a means to an end.
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
bakerdphd.bsky.social
Here's a snippet from the MIT president's letter to ED
Screenshot from link that reads: The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.

In our view, America’s leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that free marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education.
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
histoftech.bsky.social
The Virginia Senate just told UVA it’s not getting state funding if it accepts the compact since UVA exists to serve Virginia, its residents, & their interests—not be a tool of the federal govt. Scoop from our student newspaper, who’ve been doing vital reporting www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
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victorerikray.bsky.social
More of this. Signing this authoritarian devil’s bargain would betray higher education’s independence and the pursuit of knowledge.
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
reuters.com
'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
leahlitman.bsky.social
Indicting political opponents & critics because they are political opponents & critics is terrifying.

It's completely inconsistent with the rule of law & democracy.

It should scare everyone - and (hopefully) will get people to realize that we all need to stand against this.
Reposted by W. Carson Byrd
profsamperry.bsky.social
Job posting! OU Sociology is looking to hire a TT Assistant Professor or an accelerated TT or tenured Associate Professor, teaching criminology, criminal justice, & race/ethnicity courses. OU is OK's flagship R1, PhD program, 2-2 load with TA help. Please share!

Details: apply.interfolio.com/174925