James S. Murphy
@jamessmurphy.bsky.social
Sometimes I write slow, sometimes I write quick. Mostly about college stuff.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.jamessmurphy.com
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.jamessmurphy.com
Pinned
James S. Murphy
@jamessmurphy.bsky.social
· Nov 20
What states get the biggest benefit from the US Department of Education (@usedgov)
Reposted by James S. Murphy
Game recognize game
January 18, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Game recognize game
Reposted by James S. Murphy
it's more or less impossible to find issues that poll this badly and he's decided to make it a major, public priority www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-tru...
January 18, 2026 at 2:48 PM
it's more or less impossible to find issues that poll this badly and he's decided to make it a major, public priority www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-tru...
This paper shows similar effects for TO that @chrisbennettedu.bsky.social did.
Test optional college admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic and campus diversity www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
"increases of 1.1 percentage points each for enrolled Black and Hispanic students and decreases of 1.5 percentage points for Asian students"
"increases of 1.1 percentage points each for enrolled Black and Hispanic students and decreases of 1.5 percentage points for Asian students"
www.tandfonline.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:34 PM
This paper shows similar effects for TO that @chrisbennettedu.bsky.social did.
The 3 factors referred to here are legacies, athletes, and students from expensive private high schools.
"The 3 factors that give children from high-income families an admissions advantage are uncorrelated or negatively correlated with postcollege outcomes, whereas academic credentials such as SAT/ACT scores are highly predictive of postcollege success." academic.oup.com/qje/article-...
Diversifying Society’s Leaders? The Determinants and Causal Effects of Admission to Highly Selective Private Colleges*
Abstract. We use anonymized admissions data from several colleges linked to income tax records and SAT and ACT test scores to study the determinants and ca
academic.oup.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:32 PM
The 3 factors referred to here are legacies, athletes, and students from expensive private high schools.
A good paper to read in the context of the furor over the UCSD math report.
Marginal Returns to Public Universities academic.oup.com/qje/article/...
"cost-benefit calculations show internal rates of return of 26% for the marginal students themselves, 16% for society (which must pay for the additional education), and 7% for the government budget"
"cost-benefit calculations show internal rates of return of 26% for the marginal students themselves, 16% for society (which must pay for the additional education), and 7% for the government budget"
Marginal Returns to Public Universities*
Abstract. This article studies the returns to enrolling in U.S. public universities by comparing the long-term outcomes of barely admitted versus barely re
academic.oup.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:30 PM
A good paper to read in the context of the furor over the UCSD math report.
Reposted by James S. Murphy
BREAKING: This dog is named Susan From Accounting
January 17, 2026 at 3:49 AM
BREAKING: This dog is named Susan From Accounting
It's wild how much of contemporary American history can be summed up as "A few billionaires funded a bunch of weirdos obsessed with Leo Strauss so they could do to America what they did to the internet."
January 17, 2026 at 12:55 AM
It's wild how much of contemporary American history can be summed up as "A few billionaires funded a bunch of weirdos obsessed with Leo Strauss so they could do to America what they did to the internet."
Was talking with a friend a while back who was an editor at a big magazine. I said something like, "I guess getting out now makes sense, since magazines are in such bad shape."
He replied, "Magazines? I'm worried about websites existing in a few years!"
He replied, "Magazines? I'm worried about websites existing in a few years!"
Google traffic to publishers dropped by ONE THIRD in 2025 pressgazette.co.uk/media-audien...
Global publisher Google traffic dropped by a third in 2025
Google search traffic was down globally by a third in the year to November, according to new Chartbeat data.
pressgazette.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Was talking with a friend a while back who was an editor at a big magazine. I said something like, "I guess getting out now makes sense, since magazines are in such bad shape."
He replied, "Magazines? I'm worried about websites existing in a few years!"
He replied, "Magazines? I'm worried about websites existing in a few years!"
Reposted by James S. Murphy
This is your reminder that Hungarian-Jewish scientist George de Hevesy dissolved two Nobel Prizes in aqua regia to keep them out of the hands of the Nazis.
He then left the dissolved solution on his shelf and fled to Sweden.
(After the war he un-dissolved the gold and the prizes were re-cast.)
He then left the dissolved solution on his shelf and fled to Sweden.
(After the war he un-dissolved the gold and the prizes were re-cast.)
January 16, 2026 at 4:14 AM
This is your reminder that Hungarian-Jewish scientist George de Hevesy dissolved two Nobel Prizes in aqua regia to keep them out of the hands of the Nazis.
He then left the dissolved solution on his shelf and fled to Sweden.
(After the war he un-dissolved the gold and the prizes were re-cast.)
He then left the dissolved solution on his shelf and fled to Sweden.
(After the war he un-dissolved the gold and the prizes were re-cast.)
Reposted by James S. Murphy
After Charlie Kirk's death, a wave of universities fired or censured academics for social media posts tied to the conservative speaker and frequent college critic. Months later, some professors are returning. And one is $500k richer, my latest: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
January 16, 2026 at 3:28 PM
After Charlie Kirk's death, a wave of universities fired or censured academics for social media posts tied to the conservative speaker and frequent college critic. Months later, some professors are returning. And one is $500k richer, my latest: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
The board chair at University of Austin told "all staff and faculty of UATX [they] must subscribe to the four principles of anti-communism, anti-socialism, identity politics, and anti-Islamism." People quit.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
They Wanted a University Without Cancel Culture. Then Dissenters Were Ousted.
Inside the civil war at the anti-woke university backed by Bari Weiss.
www.politico.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:05 PM
The board chair at University of Austin told "all staff and faculty of UATX [they] must subscribe to the four principles of anti-communism, anti-socialism, identity politics, and anti-Islamism." People quit.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Reposted by James S. Murphy
In every state we’ve studied, private schools demand deposits and fees well before ESA $ are available. Call it what it is: school choice with a cover charge, rationing access by who can pay up front.
January 16, 2026 at 11:30 AM
In every state we’ve studied, private schools demand deposits and fees well before ESA $ are available. Call it what it is: school choice with a cover charge, rationing access by who can pay up front.
Creepy
January 15, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Creepy
Reposted by James S. Murphy
America has tried to be a real multiracial democracy for just over 60 years and that attempt has been contested at every step along the way.
The dinner has been held every year, without fail, since 1969.
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
The dinner has been held every year, without fail, since 1969.
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
Indiana University Cancels MLK Celebration Dinner
Indiana University in Indianapolis canceled a dinner in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. hosted annually in January by the Black Student Union, Mirror Indy reported.
www.insidehighered.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:08 PM
America has tried to be a real multiracial democracy for just over 60 years and that attempt has been contested at every step along the way.
The dinner has been held every year, without fail, since 1969.
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
The dinner has been held every year, without fail, since 1969.
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
Reposted by James S. Murphy
Imagine my absolute shock to hear someone from this administration describe the Institute of Education Sciences as "the gem in the crown of the Dept of Ed." 🤯
The NYT has numbers on the cuts at the Dept of Education.
Almost 800 people have been cut at Federal Student Aid. That's a lot larger than I expected. And IES has been gutted.
Almost 800 people have been cut at Federal Student Aid. That's a lot larger than I expected. And IES has been gutted.
January 14, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Imagine my absolute shock to hear someone from this administration describe the Institute of Education Sciences as "the gem in the crown of the Dept of Ed." 🤯
Reposted by James S. Murphy
This is 10th-grader Arnoldo Bazan.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
January 13, 2026 at 10:20 PM
This is 10th-grader Arnoldo Bazan.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
Reposted by James S. Murphy
Perhaps more importantly, grocery prices are up 30% since the start of the pandemic. That cumulative inflation is a big part of why things feel so expensive. #NumbersDay
January 13, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Perhaps more importantly, grocery prices are up 30% since the start of the pandemic. That cumulative inflation is a big part of why things feel so expensive. #NumbersDay
Reposted by James S. Murphy
If you add up all the freshmen with Pell Grants at the 19 Ivy League and NESCAC conference colleges, you still come up with 500 fewer students than Arizona State enrolled all on its own.
January 12, 2026 at 4:31 PM
If you add up all the freshmen with Pell Grants at the 19 Ivy League and NESCAC conference colleges, you still come up with 500 fewer students than Arizona State enrolled all on its own.
Reposted by James S. Murphy
Note that the fascist is not using the pepper spray for crowd control. He is entering a vehicle unimpeded to depart. He is simply using the pepper spray to physically punish an unarmed citizen he doesn't like.
Big clash this afternoon between DHS agents and protesters in a residential street in Minneapolis, following a DHS agent hitting another vehicle. Tear gas was deployed in people’s yards and agents pepper prayed people.
January 12, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Note that the fascist is not using the pepper spray for crowd control. He is entering a vehicle unimpeded to depart. He is simply using the pepper spray to physically punish an unarmed citizen he doesn't like.
Footage from the Stanford Board meeting to decide whether to keep providing a legacy preference after California banned it.
January 12, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Footage from the Stanford Board meeting to decide whether to keep providing a legacy preference after California banned it.
I'm happy to share my latest post at Class Action. It's a topic I've been covering for years: Pell enrollment shares. We focused on freshmen as a way to track changing priorities more rapidly. www.joinclassaction.us/post/what-th...
What the Pell is Going On: 2023-24 Pell Shares
What is a Pell Share and Why Do We Care?The Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) has recently published enrollment numbers for Pell-eligible students for ac...
www.joinclassaction.us
January 12, 2026 at 4:31 PM
I'm happy to share my latest post at Class Action. It's a topic I've been covering for years: Pell enrollment shares. We focused on freshmen as a way to track changing priorities more rapidly. www.joinclassaction.us/post/what-th...
Reposted by James S. Murphy
A video of ICE agents conducting door-to-door searches today in Minneapolis
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
January 12, 2026 at 1:42 AM
A video of ICE agents conducting door-to-door searches today in Minneapolis
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
Reposted by James S. Murphy
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Reposted by James S. Murphy
One of the last actions of the first Trump administration was to release a report that claimed, “The civil rights movement was almost immediately turned to programs that ran counter to the lofty ideals of the founders.”
When asked whether protections that began in the 1960s, spurred by the passage of the Civil Rights Act, had resulted in discrimination against white men, Mr. Trump said he believed “a lot of people were very badly treated.” @nytimes.com
Trump Says Civil Rights Led to White People Being ‘Very Badly Treated’
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:07 AM
One of the last actions of the first Trump administration was to release a report that claimed, “The civil rights movement was almost immediately turned to programs that ran counter to the lofty ideals of the founders.”