Kathy Roberts Forde
@krforde.bsky.social
3.5K followers 560 following 200 posts
Co-chair Stand Together for Higher Ed, journalism professor at UMass Amherst, historian of US press/democracy/political struggle, dog lover, reader, trekker. Southerner in New England. I do not speak for my institution.
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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde
mehdirhasan.bsky.social
Thoughts and prayers for Donald J Trump
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
krforde.bsky.social
And then, if you are faculty or staff at a US college or university, please join our movement to defend and renew higher education. It's free, and we're doing great things. www.standtogetherhighered.org We need you, and we think you need us! Let's Stand Together
Stand Together
www.standtogetherhighered.org
Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde
freedom.press
"It’s not the journalists’ burden to keep the government’s secrets for it," @seth-stern.bsky.social told @columjournreview.bsky.social. "That is the opposite of the press’s job, which is to tell the public what the government doesn’t want the public told."
The Pentagon press gears up for a fight.
“None of us are signing this pledge,” said one reporter.
www.cjr.org
krforde.bsky.social
Yes to all of this! Stand Together for Higher Ed is building a resistance strategy. Faculty and staff across US higher education: please join! It's free and we must all stand together. www.standtogetherhighered.org
cdelawalla.bsky.social
Pressure to reject the compact should come from all sides:

Alumni, students, current employees, AND anyone who engages with people or work from the institution, high school students looking to attend, etc.

We say NO.

@standupforscience.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
krforde.bsky.social
Please join Stand Together for Higher Ed if you are faculty or staff at these institutions--or any other higher ed institution in the US. We are building a campaign to resist. Joining is free. www.standtogetherhighered.org
lizneeley.bsky.social
Some problems have simple solutions. This new “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” is one. The answer is simply saying no.

Simple does not mean easy. But Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Vanderbilt, Univ of AZ, UPenn, USC, UT Austin & UVA must understand what they’ll lose if they sign on.
krforde.bsky.social
We are organizing to resist The Compact. Faculty and staff at all US higher ed institutions: stand with us. It's free. www.standtogetherhighered.org #academicsky #highered www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Sign ‘Compact’ to Get Funding Preference
www.nytimes.com
krforde.bsky.social
Are you frustrated that the NYT isn't covering the actions of this Trump administration as authoritarian consolidation? Consider reading my Substack posts on the subject. The NYT needs to cover democratic erosion plainly and clearly. kathyrobertsforde.substack.com/p/more-on-wh...
More on Why the New York Times Should Create a Democracy Desk.
The consolidation of authoritarian power in the United States is the biggest political story of our era. When will the New York Times approach it that way?
kathyrobertsforde.substack.com
Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde
markpachucki.bsky.social
“Some faculty, student and alumni groups, however, have begun to stand up and make their voices heard.” Yes we have. Stand with us; we commit to educating for freedom. Thank you, Michael S. Roth. @standhighered.bsky.social
insidehighered.com
Opinion | Education as Freedom

As a new academic year begins, Michael S. Roth writes that colleges must redouble their commitment to educating for freedom—including freedom from governmental intrusion. https://bit.ly/4mfneiG

#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
A drawing of a woman standing with a telescope on top of a stack of books in the mountainous outdoors, suggesting education as a path to freedom.
krforde.bsky.social
Wouldn't it be great if the New York Times created a Democracy Desk to cover so much of what's happening as what it clearly is: the rise of an authoritarian regime and the rapid erosion of democracy? Would love to get your thoughts on my Substack on the subject open.substack.com/pub/kathyrob...
Why Doesn’t the New York Times Have a Democracy Desk?
The warning lights are flashing. The paper of record has the reach and resources. Will it help readers track, and have the language to discuss, the rise of authoritarianism in the US?
open.substack.com
krforde.bsky.social
Stand Together for Higher Ed stands with Emory AAUP. If you’re faculty at Emory, please join. AAUP is fighting for higher ed. We are not powerless!!! Please consider joining standtogetherhighered.org (staff welcome, too!). Free and we don’t share names or teams publicly.
krforde.bsky.social
Stand Together for Higher Ed stands with UT Austin AAUP President Pauline’s defense of free inquiry and against state repression of institutional autonomy, free speech, and freedom to learn. If you are #highered faculty or staff, join our movement: standtogetherhighered.org
aaup.org
AAUP @aaup.org · 22d
"Enough is enough. Texas must allow faculty and college students to explore freely the breadth of human knowledge, and administrators must support us in that time-honored quest."

– Pauline Strong, President @utaustinaaup.bsky.social

#AcademicFreedom
#AcademicSky
@texasaaup.bsky.social
Manufactured outrage is killing academic freedom in Texas | Opinion
Enough with the "gotcha" attacks like the recent firing of a Texas A&M instructor. Let professors teach. Let students learn, writes Pauline Turner Strong.
www.statesman.com
Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde
Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde
perrybaconjr.bsky.social
"What's happening now is what happened in Hungary and Turkey, which is using regulatory threats and lawsuits as a way to capture the media,
and to capture the information ecosystem. We should be all very, very concerned," says @krforde.bsky.social. newrepublic.substack.com/p/kimmels-su...
Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde
perrybaconjr.bsky.social
"Ownership matters. When you've got Paramount that has all these other business interests, they have made deals to protect their other interests. Same thing with Bezos. Same thing with the Walt Disney Company. I'm hoping the New York Times is going to hold the line," says @krforde.bsky.social.
krforde.bsky.social
@perrybaconjr.bsky.social always asks such great questions. His writing is great, too—smart & incisive &pro-democracy all the way. Read him @newrepublic.com
perrybaconjr.bsky.social
"What's happening now is what happened in Hungary and Turkey, which is using regulatory threats and lawsuits as a way to capture the media,
and to capture the information ecosystem. We should be all very, very concerned," says @krforde.bsky.social. newrepublic.substack.com/p/kimmels-su...
krforde.bsky.social
Join us at Stand Together for Higher Ed, if you're faculty or staff at an HSI or any US college or university. We are building the defense, for HSIs and other institutions, too. Membership free. And we don't publicly share names. standtogetherhighered.org www.chronicle.com/article/hisp...
Opinion | Hispanic-Serving Institutions Must Be Defended
These colleges matter more than ever.
www.chronicle.com