Beth Lowder
bethlowder.bsky.social
Beth Lowder
@bethlowder.bsky.social
Social work + public health in higher ed. Elder millennial. Here for the news, camaraderie, and book recommendations. Obviously my opinions are only my own. 🏳️‍🌈📚🎓
Pinned
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June 29, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
The Mob Boss isn’t happy with Tillis voting against his budget.
June 29, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
In case folks missed it, many UVa departments, including mine, posted this statement on our websites a month or two ago:
June 27, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
NYC friends—we have an exciting piece of news to add to your day: Registration for our anti-criminalization Communiversity is officially LIVE! 🎊

Workshops and classes will take place this August to November, and are for NYC-based folks. Learn more: www.interruptingcriminalization.com/communiversity
June 24, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
Oh gosh. This is LITERALLY 95% of all Central Asian and Caucasus language education in the US and Canada (and like 75% of US+Canada+Western Europe) happens. This is an actual national security issue, beyond the academic loss. All of us that study former USSR went through their programs.
This is very, very bad.

A new state law will likely force the closure of hundreds of low-enrollment programs at Indiana University. The cutoff is 15 graduates/year for undergrad majors, 7 for Masters programs, and 3 for PhD programs, averaged over 3 years.

wfiunews.wordpress.com/2025/06/24/h...
Hundreds of IU degree programs at risk of disappearing
By Ethan Sandweiss Indiana University could lose hundreds of degree programs as part of compliance with an array of new laws affecting higher education that passed at the 11th hour of the legislati…
wfiunews.wordpress.com
June 25, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
The 2025 Summer Institute presents a crucial opportunity for AAUP & AFT members to learn how to fight back against attacks on higher ed while continuing to advance our shared vision for the future.

Attendance is FREE for AAUP & AFT members!

Join us!

Register Here! ⬇️

www.aaup.org/event/2025-a...
June 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
This is very, very bad.

A new state law will likely force the closure of hundreds of low-enrollment programs at Indiana University. The cutoff is 15 graduates/year for undergrad majors, 7 for Masters programs, and 3 for PhD programs, averaged over 3 years.

wfiunews.wordpress.com/2025/06/24/h...
Hundreds of IU degree programs at risk of disappearing
By Ethan Sandweiss Indiana University could lose hundreds of degree programs as part of compliance with an array of new laws affecting higher education that passed at the 11th hour of the legislati…
wfiunews.wordpress.com
June 24, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
The dismantling of the research apparatus that made America the science and tech giant it's been over the past century is the greatest own-goal in history. We haven't even begun to calculate or feel the losses
NEW: NSF will be kicked out of their building. Announcement will be made tomorrow by HUD Sec. and Governor of VA. HUD will take over the NSF building over the next two years.

NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
June 24, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Can’t let effective state governance get in the way of your summer vacations.
June 24, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
This is oligarchy. This is obscene.

While 60% live paycheck to paycheck & kids go hungry, Jeff Bezos, worth $230 billion, goes to Venice on his $500 million yacht for a $20 million wedding & spends $5 million on a ring while his real tax rate is just 1.1%.

End this oligarchy.
June 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
We are posting this placard at all of our offices and asking our union contract farms to post as well.

We encourage our friends to put up similar placards at their business as immigration agents do not have the right to go on private property without permission.
June 23, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The mood at our university is widespread uncertainty and fear. First we faced huge funding cuts as federal agencies and research programs were dismantled by Trump. Now we are at the mercy of our state legislature and university leadership who are taking the opportunity to cut funding even further.
June 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Poor staff morale because of widespread layoff fears isn’t great for “operational effectiveness” or cost savings.
“While cost-savings is one of the drivers of this initiative, operational effectiveness is the primary goal,” a UNC-CH spokesperson told me. “We know this process may cause concern for people around campus, but it is too soon to say which positions will be impacted.”
June 19, 2025 at 3:03 PM
UNC staff are an integral part of our campus communities and are vital to the successful function of our programs. “Centralization” in the name of efficiency has been tried before and failed. UNC leadership should find other ways to cut costs that won’t result in mass job losses.
June 19, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
Make no mistake: whether you use Medicaid or not, you will feel the impacts of cuts to the program. The budget bill the Senate is considering right now would kick 16 MILLION people off their health insurance, & health care costs could go up by up to $485 per year for most people.
June 19, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
I wrote a whole dissertation and she just tweeted it out
June 18, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
Insightful piece on the future of the many different sectors within US higher education

www.chronicle.com/article/what...
Opinion | What Will Be Left of Higher Ed in Four Years?
The Trump administration’s moves are impoverishing the sector.
www.chronicle.com
June 19, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
June 18, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
Hi, this is Meg Barnette, Brad's wife.

While escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE.

This is still developing, and our team is monitoring the situation closely.
June 17, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
Hi, it’s Meg again. Brad is still in ICE custody.

We are grateful to the many friends, supporters, and allies who have gathered in Federal Plaza.

Together we are standing up for those with no voice.
June 17, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
I still can't get past the idea that people in America are now supposed to accept that this is a valid form of law enforcement and just assume it's fine when random dudes in groups with face-coverings, no ID, no warrant, & no uniform grab people off the street and force them into unmarked vehicles
Not an original point but worth saying again - there is not a single element in this picture that identifies any of these folks as law enforcement agents. No badges, no uniforms, no vests. Out of context it just looks like a bunch of random guys are kidnapping a mayoral candidate.
Breaking News: Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller who is running for mayor, was detained by ICE agents at an immigration court as he tried to escort a migrant out of the courthouse to prevent his arrest. nyti.ms/4jWkANE
June 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
After ruling the NIH grant cuts were illegal yesterday, Judge Young, a Reagan appointee on the bench since 1985, ended the hearing with a blistering 15-minute speech.

I've cleaned up my notes — here are his remarks in full. 🧵
Judge rules against NIH grant cuts — and calls them discriminatory
The decision means that the US biomedical agency has to restore funding to hundreds of research projects, but the government will likely appeal.
www.nature.com
June 17, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Beth Lowder
I am excited to share that @standupforscience.bsky.social is growing!

We are looking to hire several positions including:
- Event and volunteer coordination
- Copywriting (press releases, emails, website, blogs, some social media)
- Data analytics and research (marketing, not science 😉)

🧵
June 16, 2025 at 8:38 PM