Michael J. Murphy, PhD🏳️🌈
@emmjaymurphee.bsky.social
•Prof., Gender & Sexuality Stds., U. Illinois Springfield uis.edu/wgs
•Founding member, UIS United Faculty uisufinfo.wordpress.com/
•LGBTQIA+ studies, critical men's/masculinity studies, U.S. art/visual culture history, faculty unions.
•Founding member, UIS United Faculty uisufinfo.wordpress.com/
•LGBTQIA+ studies, critical men's/masculinity studies, U.S. art/visual culture history, faculty unions.
Pinned
This is a professional account where I skeet in my capacity as a University of Illinois professor and in my areas of subject matter expertise or interest. The university does not pay me enough to be its spokesperson.
Glad some courts recognize fascism and authoritarianism when they see it!
Win in AAUP v. Trump: Court Blocks Attacks on University of California System
In a historic wall-to-wall labor union lawsuit led by the AAUP, a judge has issued a preliminary injunction that will stop the Trump-Vance administration’s attempt to unlawfully stifle free speech and...
www.aaup.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Glad some courts recognize fascism and authoritarianism when they see it!
Reposted by Michael J. Murphy, PhD🏳️🌈
Texas A&M Requires Approval for Courses That ‘Advocate’ Certain Ideologies
Many faculty members decried the new restrictions on race- and gender-related courses as an assault on academic freedom. Meanwhile, the board also discussed a ... https://bit.ly/48dnStf
#AcademicSky #EDUSky #HigherEd
Many faculty members decried the new restrictions on race- and gender-related courses as an assault on academic freedom. Meanwhile, the board also discussed a ... https://bit.ly/48dnStf
#AcademicSky #EDUSky #HigherEd
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Texas A&M Requires Approval for Courses That ‘Advocate’ Certain Ideologies
Many faculty members decried the new restrictions on race- and gender-related courses as an assault on academic freedom. Meanwhile, the board also discussed a ... https://bit.ly/48dnStf
#AcademicSky #EDUSky #HigherEd
Many faculty members decried the new restrictions on race- and gender-related courses as an assault on academic freedom. Meanwhile, the board also discussed a ... https://bit.ly/48dnStf
#AcademicSky #EDUSky #HigherEd
The entirety of academic Women's and Gender Studies would be out of bounds if this is enforced. Distinguishing between sex and gender, then complicating what those things mean, is WGS 101.
Also, not sure how you teach U.S. history without talking about structural White supremacy...
Also, not sure how you teach U.S. history without talking about structural White supremacy...
Texas A&M University professors now need approval for some race and gender topics
Texas A&M University System regents on Thursday adopted a new policy requiring professors to first get approval to discuss some race and gender topics.
apnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The entirety of academic Women's and Gender Studies would be out of bounds if this is enforced. Distinguishing between sex and gender, then complicating what those things mean, is WGS 101.
Also, not sure how you teach U.S. history without talking about structural White supremacy...
Also, not sure how you teach U.S. history without talking about structural White supremacy...
Reposted by Michael J. Murphy, PhD🏳️🌈
“[The decision] forces the university to respect the concept of shared governance...It’s a reminder to the university that they can’t simply make arbitrary administrative decisions without involving the faculty.”
— Bill Knight, President of AAUP Portland State University
@psuaaup.bsky.social
— Bill Knight, President of AAUP Portland State University
@psuaaup.bsky.social
Portland State Ordered to Reinstate Some Laid-Off Faculty
An independent arbitrator ordered Portland State University to reinstate 10 faculty members after determining the university violated its collective bargaining agreement with the Portland State Univer...
www.insidehighered.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:31 PM
“[The decision] forces the university to respect the concept of shared governance...It’s a reminder to the university that they can’t simply make arbitrary administrative decisions without involving the faculty.”
— Bill Knight, President of AAUP Portland State University
@psuaaup.bsky.social
— Bill Knight, President of AAUP Portland State University
@psuaaup.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael J. Murphy, PhD🏳️🌈
This Trans Awareness Week, we honor the right of every person to live authentically, safely, and with dignity.
November 13, 2025 at 7:26 PM
This Trans Awareness Week, we honor the right of every person to live authentically, safely, and with dignity.
Reposted by Michael J. Murphy, PhD🏳️🌈
Tonight at 7p et @chenjerai.bsky.social and I are doing @aaup.org TV to discuss building a broad and militant coalition fighting for the future of higher education. Join us!
November 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Tonight at 7p et @chenjerai.bsky.social and I are doing @aaup.org TV to discuss building a broad and militant coalition fighting for the future of higher education. Join us!
Reposted by Michael J. Murphy, PhD🏳️🌈
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Gonna encourage unis to be very thoughtful about what information they collect from students and employees through "climate surveys" and how that info potentially could be used by the current fascist regime...
November 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Gonna encourage unis to be very thoughtful about what information they collect from students and employees through "climate surveys" and how that info potentially could be used by the current fascist regime...
The degree to which higher-ed administrators don’t understand the basics of human resource management for highly educated creatives is truly astonishing. In no other sector would they keep their jobs. None.
November 12, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The degree to which higher-ed administrators don’t understand the basics of human resource management for highly educated creatives is truly astonishing. In no other sector would they keep their jobs. None.
Higher ed has become such a depressing place to work…😞
November 12, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Higher ed has become such a depressing place to work…😞
Reposted by Michael J. Murphy, PhD🏳️🌈
The Studio Museum in Harlem has a new, stunning home. The 57-year-old New York institution, dedicated to artists of African descent, inaugurated its new building in a press preview ahead of its grand public reopening next Saturday.
A Look Inside the Studio Museum’s New Home
After a seven-year closure, the beloved Harlem institution is opening its new building to the public on November 15.
hyperallergic.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:19 PM
The Studio Museum in Harlem has a new, stunning home. The 57-year-old New York institution, dedicated to artists of African descent, inaugurated its new building in a press preview ahead of its grand public reopening next Saturday.
Another sad capitulation to fascism:
Cornell University settles with Trump administration to restore $250m in funds
Upstate New York institution is the fifth university under government investigation to bow to White House demands
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Another sad capitulation to fascism:
My uni doesn't pay staff a living wage (for the county it's in) but that doesn't stop the chancellor from mass-mailing all employees urging donations to local food charities. Honey! Who do you think is using those charities, if not the unis janitors, food workers, and secretaries?!
November 4, 2025 at 3:36 PM
My uni doesn't pay staff a living wage (for the county it's in) but that doesn't stop the chancellor from mass-mailing all employees urging donations to local food charities. Honey! Who do you think is using those charities, if not the unis janitors, food workers, and secretaries?!
“Do not obey in advance.”–Tim Snyder, On Tyranny
U of Illinois System Bans Consideration of Race, Sex in Hiring, Tenure, Student Aid https://bit.ly/3L4duuL
#EDUSky #HigherEd #AcademicSky
#EDUSky #HigherEd #AcademicSky
November 3, 2025 at 1:08 AM
“Do not obey in advance.”–Tim Snyder, On Tyranny
Reposted by Michael J. Murphy, PhD🏳️🌈
That U.S. academics didn't collectively develop strong labor consciousness is really going to bite them in the ass as universities bend the knee to this administration. Politely worded letters to presidents and trustees are not going to count for much of anything.
October 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
That U.S. academics didn't collectively develop strong labor consciousness is really going to bite them in the ass as universities bend the knee to this administration. Politely worded letters to presidents and trustees are not going to count for much of anything.
Reposted by Michael J. Murphy, PhD🏳️🌈
Husband and I were just comparing pay. He’s in a unionized faculty and his salary has increased 14% over 2 years. I’m in a non-union position and mine has increased 7.5% in 4 years (plus my retirement matching has been cut in half).
🙃🙃 as if there weren’t a million reasons to unionize already
🙃🙃 as if there weren’t a million reasons to unionize already
October 25, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Husband and I were just comparing pay. He’s in a unionized faculty and his salary has increased 14% over 2 years. I’m in a non-union position and mine has increased 7.5% in 4 years (plus my retirement matching has been cut in half).
🙃🙃 as if there weren’t a million reasons to unionize already
🙃🙃 as if there weren’t a million reasons to unionize already
Gender studies was also killed by years of faculty and administrators who stopped defending it or actively aimed to destroy it.
Move over, gender studies: the conservative tide coming for US universities
Deeming universities too leftwing, outside donors and state governments are sponsoring curricula that center the classics, Christianity and the ‘great books’ of western civilization
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Gender studies was also killed by years of faculty and administrators who stopped defending it or actively aimed to destroy it.
So many lies in the linked video but it gave rise to this great thread on the intersection of clothing and labor history. Union? Yes! ✊
JD Vance claims that diversity weakens unions, as people end up distrusting each other and not organizing.
Let me tell you two menswear stories related to this claim. 🧵
Let me tell you two menswear stories related to this claim. 🧵
October 30, 2025 at 4:08 PM
So many lies in the linked video but it gave rise to this great thread on the intersection of clothing and labor history. Union? Yes! ✊
Reposted by Michael J. Murphy, PhD🏳️🌈
UPDATE: Following court order, UC has posted the UCLA settlement proposal on its website: ucop.edu/communicatio...
October 25, 2025 at 12:07 AM
UPDATE: Following court order, UC has posted the UCLA settlement proposal on its website: ucop.edu/communicatio...
No university administrator should make more than its highest paid professor. Period. #AcademicSky
October 25, 2025 at 2:19 AM
No university administrator should make more than its highest paid professor. Period. #AcademicSky
Me (advising my queer students to not participate in a campus climate survey)
a cartoon character says run run for your lives !!!
Alt: a muppet character saying run for your lives!!!
media.tenor.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Me (advising my queer students to not participate in a campus climate survey)