Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 2h

Go Jays!!

Reposted by Abigail Swingen

Siva @sivav.bsky.social · 14h

The “compact” for higher ed is an unserious document written by unserious people from a position of spectacular ignorance. No one should take it seriously. Sadly, my bosses are taking it seriously.

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down

How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

newrepublic.com

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Reposted by Abigail Swingen

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 4h

Bray is a historian at Rutgers who received death threats after landing on Turning Points USA's Professor Watchlist. As a result, he announced he was moving to Europe. And then this happened.

This kind of harassment and abuse of scholars is Charlie Kirk's legacy and it's only getting worse.

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 5h

“Someone” cancelled my family’s flight out of the country at the last second.

We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. Went through security. Then at our gate our reservation ‘disappeared.’

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 1d

I say this as a New Englander.

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 1d

That's insane.

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 1d

The only thing worse than the Yankees are Yankees fans.

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 1d

He's locked in!

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Reposted by Abigail Swingen

Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 1d

The Tribune spoke with several Texas Tech professors about new restrictions on instruction related to gender identity.

They described a system where politics shapes what can be taught and faculty have little protection if they resist.

Texas Tech system’s vague guidelines on gender identity spur more questions than answers

Faculty have spent weeks seeking clarity on new restrictions, which have often been issued by word of mouth. A written Q&A was rescinded.

www.texastribune.org

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 3d

Beautiful.

CJ Fogler @cjzero.bsky.social · 3d

The admiration, the bat flip, the zoom to Fried 🫡

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Reposted by Abigail Swingen

Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 3d

They’re using American tax dollars to fund infrastructure in Argentina because that’s where they’re all going to flee when we kick them out of office

Ryan Grim @ryangrim.bsky.social · 7d

After announcing a $20 billion bailout of Argentina, the White House now says it's pausing $18 billion in funding for NYC infrastructure projects

Russ Vought would love nothing more than to tear this country down to its studs

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 4d

YAY BLUE JAYS!!!

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 4d

Oh yeah!!

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Reposted by Abigail Swingen

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 4d

This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 5d

UT has no Faculty Senate anymore, unfortunately.

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 5d

I'm sure the Faculty Senate at the University of Texas would do this, too, if it still existed.

Patrick Jackson @pehjackson.bsky.social · 5d

UVA Faculty Senate passed a resolution strongly opposing the Trump “Compact.” We, at least, remain committed to the historic values and mission of the university.

Resolution Opposing the "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education"
WHEREAS the United States Secretary of Education has requested that the University of Virginia enter into a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”, and
WHEREAS the Compact contains provisions antithetical to the mission and traditions of the University, and
WHEREAS the Compact contains provisions which endanger the independence and integrity of the University, and
WHEREAS the compact likely violates state and federal law, and infringes upon the constitutional rights of members of the University community, and
WHEREAS the University of Virginia exemplifies American academic values of the highest standard, including universal right to free speech and the cultivation of academic freedom; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of the University of Virginia firmly opposes this Compact as written and calls upon Interim President Mahoney and the Board of Visitors to also reject this Compact outright as well as any similar proposal compromising the mission, values, and independence of the University.

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Reposted by Abigail Swingen

God @thegodpodcast.com · 6d

The people who’ve been calling you baby murderers your whole life want you to turn down the temperature.

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 6d

Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government…

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 6d

Man things are grim. Oof.

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Reposted by Abigail Swingen

Claire Zagorski, MSc, EMT-P @clairezagorski.bsky.social · 6d

The word “enthusiastically” is killing me. Enthusiastically cozying up to fascism.

Thanks to @jessicapriest.bsky.social for this reporting.

Every day gets scarier for me to be at UT.

www.texastribune.org/2025/10/02/u...

UT-Austin considering offer to adopt Trump priorities for funding advantages

The funding deal would reportedly ask the university to adopt a stricter definition of gender and a tuition freeze, among other conditions.

www.texastribune.org

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Reposted by Abigail Swingen

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 6d

“It was heartbreaking to watch,” said Watson. “Even if you’re not a mother, seeing kids coming out buck naked and taken from their mothers, it was horrible.”…

“Stuff was everywhere…people’s birth certificates, and papers thrown all over. Water was leaking into the hallway. It was wicked crazy.”

Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated'

The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Abigail Swingen

Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם) @bestonetx.bsky.social · 11d

Universities are moving rapidly to comply with laws that don't exist.

Texas Conference of the AAUP @texasaaup.bsky.social · 12d

“I’m emotionally shellshocked right now,” said one professor in the Texas Tech system. “What does it say about academic freedom? It says we don’t have it.” The professor spoke by phone from the inside of a car to avoid being overheard by colleagues.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...

Texas Tech Moves to Limit Academic Discussion to 2 Genders

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Abigail Swingen

Karin Wulf @kawulf.bsky.social · 10d

There are moments when essential to pause the focused specialist thing you're doing and attend to the situation writ large. And others when it's really important to put your head down and keep working on the focused specialist thing you do. The historian's constant calculus now.

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Reposted by Abigail Swingen

Texas AFT @texasaft.org · 12d

Good news to your end your week ✊ Dr. Thomas Alter is set to be reinstated at Texas State University after an initial court victory.

Statement from @texasaaup.bsky.social President Dr. Brian Evans and Texas AFT President @zephcapo.bsky.social 👇

www.texasaft.org/membership/h...

Judge’s Order Clears Way for Fired Texas State University Professor’s Reinstatement

A Union of Professionals

www.texasaft.org

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 12d

TTU makes the NYT.

John S. Huntington @johnshuntington.bsky.social · 12d

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...

Texas Tech Moves to Limit Academic Discussion to 2 Genders

www.nytimes.com

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Abigail Swingen @abigailswingen.bsky.social · 12d

Thanks!

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