Catherine
@caevans.bsky.social
Queer Media Histories & Activist Cultures • PhD Candidate in Literary & Cultural Studies @CarnegieMellon • (she/her) • views my own, duh 💅
Pinned
Opinion | A Coup at Carnegie Mellon?
The university is replacing the humanities with more computers.
www.chronicle.com
No one wants to watch their PhD program be eliminated. It’s nearly the same story when it’s “innovated” away.
Me & @seeshespeak.bsky.social in the Chronicle. Read it below ⬇️
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Me & @seeshespeak.bsky.social in the Chronicle. Read it below ⬇️
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Reposted by Catherine
I had a lot of fun writing this short piece for @lawcha.bsky.social about Severance! Read it here today: read.dukeupress.edu/labor/articl...
The Cost of Compliance: Unpacking Worker Identity in Severance
Severance, an original series created by Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller, has struck a nerve with audiences by encapsulating what it is like to be a worker under late-stage capitalism. Set against the ba...
read.dukeupress.edu
December 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I had a lot of fun writing this short piece for @lawcha.bsky.social about Severance! Read it here today: read.dukeupress.edu/labor/articl...
Reposted by Catherine
“Sunsetting: How Universities Naturalize Ideologically Motivated Cuts and Closures,” forthcoming from a university press probably on its way to being sunsetted
December 18, 2025 at 3:15 AM
“Sunsetting: How Universities Naturalize Ideologically Motivated Cuts and Closures,” forthcoming from a university press probably on its way to being sunsetted
Reposted by Catherine
"universities are being infiltrated by a commercial industry that exploits students+faculty as data mines
frenzy w/o consulting their faculty, collecting empirical data on whether gen AI is pedagogically useful, or pausing to inquire about the long-term impact"
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
frenzy w/o consulting their faculty, collecting empirical data on whether gen AI is pedagogically useful, or pausing to inquire about the long-term impact"
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Four Frictions: or, How to Resist AI in Education - Public Books
We are calling for resistance to the AI industry’s ongoing capture of higher education.
www.publicbooks.org
December 16, 2025 at 7:05 PM
"universities are being infiltrated by a commercial industry that exploits students+faculty as data mines
frenzy w/o consulting their faculty, collecting empirical data on whether gen AI is pedagogically useful, or pausing to inquire about the long-term impact"
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
frenzy w/o consulting their faculty, collecting empirical data on whether gen AI is pedagogically useful, or pausing to inquire about the long-term impact"
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Even Momo is disturbed by the state of my graduate school budget Christmas tree 🫣
December 16, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Even Momo is disturbed by the state of my graduate school budget Christmas tree 🫣
Reposted by Catherine
pouring one out for everyone in my academic literary and cultural studies networks who'd said during my critical university studies PhD "well at least universities provide us with jobs, i'm grateful for that" -- sincerely
Carnegie Mellon’s literature PhD is being liquidated in favor of “computation,” casualized labor, and AI.
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Opinion | A Coup at Carnegie Mellon?
The university is replacing the humanities with more computers.
www.chronicle.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:08 PM
pouring one out for everyone in my academic literary and cultural studies networks who'd said during my critical university studies PhD "well at least universities provide us with jobs, i'm grateful for that" -- sincerely
Reposted by Catherine
University administrations are eliminating the best critical theory programs on purpose.
Carnegie Mellon’s literature PhD is being liquidated in favor of “computation,” casualized labor, and AI.
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Opinion | A Coup at Carnegie Mellon?
The university is replacing the humanities with more computers.
www.chronicle.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:36 PM
University administrations are eliminating the best critical theory programs on purpose.
Reposted by Catherine
Carnegie Mellon’s literature PhD is being liquidated in favor of “computation,” casualized labor, and AI.
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Opinion | A Coup at Carnegie Mellon?
The university is replacing the humanities with more computers.
www.chronicle.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Carnegie Mellon’s literature PhD is being liquidated in favor of “computation,” casualized labor, and AI.
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
No one wants to watch their PhD program be eliminated. It’s nearly the same story when it’s “innovated” away.
Me & @seeshespeak.bsky.social in the Chronicle. Read it below ⬇️
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Me & @seeshespeak.bsky.social in the Chronicle. Read it below ⬇️
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Opinion | A Coup at Carnegie Mellon?
The university is replacing the humanities with more computers.
www.chronicle.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
No one wants to watch their PhD program be eliminated. It’s nearly the same story when it’s “innovated” away.
Me & @seeshespeak.bsky.social in the Chronicle. Read it below ⬇️
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Me & @seeshespeak.bsky.social in the Chronicle. Read it below ⬇️
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
When I leave for campus, Momo sits on his bread toy like this and blocks the door. Let the semester end so he can live in peace and I can stop answering to these big eyes!
December 3, 2025 at 3:26 AM
When I leave for campus, Momo sits on his bread toy like this and blocks the door. Let the semester end so he can live in peace and I can stop answering to these big eyes!
Don’t mind me. Just thinking about @kippdawson.bsky.social seeing her shirts on display for the first time 🥹
November 12, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Don’t mind me. Just thinking about @kippdawson.bsky.social seeing her shirts on display for the first time 🥹
Reposted by Catherine
Again, it is worth keeping in mind when comparing the rate of discoveries that public funding for medicine and the sciences is orders of magnitude larger than for the humanities. We work slow in part because we work on a shoestring.
October 13, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Again, it is worth keeping in mind when comparing the rate of discoveries that public funding for medicine and the sciences is orders of magnitude larger than for the humanities. We work slow in part because we work on a shoestring.
Reposted by Catherine
🚨🚨 @utaustin.bsky.social is working to eliminate its Black studies, Latin studies, and gender studies depts -- utterly reneging on its mission and depriving students of the full educational opportunities they deserve. Please--scholars AND publishers--share & write to UT leaders. #SaveUT
October 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
🚨🚨 @utaustin.bsky.social is working to eliminate its Black studies, Latin studies, and gender studies depts -- utterly reneging on its mission and depriving students of the full educational opportunities they deserve. Please--scholars AND publishers--share & write to UT leaders. #SaveUT
Oh hey. I curated this show all about feminist tshirts at Chatham University. Please come through! Opening reception (Oct 15) will feature a talk by Dawson which will also be live-streamed. Register for the opening here: chatham.edu/events/detai...
Design by the very talented Megan Urban
Design by the very talented Megan Urban
October 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Oh hey. I curated this show all about feminist tshirts at Chatham University. Please come through! Opening reception (Oct 15) will feature a talk by Dawson which will also be live-streamed. Register for the opening here: chatham.edu/events/detai...
Design by the very talented Megan Urban
Design by the very talented Megan Urban
Everytime I travel for work, this exact image of Zuko greeting me after a trip pops into my head and I suddenly feel immense guilt. Shout out to @rachaelvm454.bsky.social for giving him all the pets while I’m gone. 🫶
August 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Everytime I travel for work, this exact image of Zuko greeting me after a trip pops into my head and I suddenly feel immense guilt. Shout out to @rachaelvm454.bsky.social for giving him all the pets while I’m gone. 🫶
“Scab Terminator” mutt circa 1980s picket line from @kippdawson.bsky.social’s Solidarity Scrapbooks.
August 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM
“Scab Terminator” mutt circa 1980s picket line from @kippdawson.bsky.social’s Solidarity Scrapbooks.
Reposted by Catherine
Our co-founder @prisonculture.bsky.social is also running a summer book drive to help support Bluestockings in keeping their doors open. 📚 Drop off or mail new or gently used social justice focused books! More details in the flyer.
July 18, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Our co-founder @prisonculture.bsky.social is also running a summer book drive to help support Bluestockings in keeping their doors open. 📚 Drop off or mail new or gently used social justice focused books! More details in the flyer.
1967. “The Medium is the Message.”
Carnegie Mellon’s Fence
Carnegie Mellon’s Fence
July 18, 2025 at 2:34 PM
1967. “The Medium is the Message.”
Carnegie Mellon’s Fence
Carnegie Mellon’s Fence
T’was the night before D*n*ld Tr*mps visit to Carnegie Mellon, and I’m here to remind you CMU students have always been anti-fascist. Some of my personal favorite CMU responses to fascism on campus through the eyes of student journalists. 1/7
July 14, 2025 at 10:31 PM
T’was the night before D*n*ld Tr*mps visit to Carnegie Mellon, and I’m here to remind you CMU students have always been anti-fascist. Some of my personal favorite CMU responses to fascism on campus through the eyes of student journalists. 1/7
Reposted by Catherine
Y'all know I love publishing industry mess and The Crimson is delivering today! I had no idea Harvard University Press was publishing so little.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
May 2, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Y'all know I love publishing industry mess and The Crimson is delivering today! I had no idea Harvard University Press was publishing so little.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Catherine
"It’s time to stand our ground: not only against homophobia, transphobia and censorship, but for diverse public media, libraries, schools and other institutions," writes @lilmisshotmess.bsky.social. www.huffpost.com/entry/marjor...
Marjorie Taylor Greene Showed My Photo In A DOGE Hearing And Called Me A Monster. Here's Why I’m Fighting Back.
“It was the first time that I had been directly referenced in the halls of Congress.”
www.huffpost.com
April 9, 2025 at 8:31 PM
"It’s time to stand our ground: not only against homophobia, transphobia and censorship, but for diverse public media, libraries, schools and other institutions," writes @lilmisshotmess.bsky.social. www.huffpost.com/entry/marjor...
Reposted by Catherine
virginia tech's ETD repository has been crashing so often from being scraped by so many bots that they've had to close off external, non-university access. In case you needed more evidence of how LLM training hurts open access.
April 11, 2025 at 1:44 AM
virginia tech's ETD repository has been crashing so often from being scraped by so many bots that they've had to close off external, non-university access. In case you needed more evidence of how LLM training hurts open access.
Reposted by Catherine
FORTY remain active. Almost FIFTEEN HUNDRED canceled.
ACH has updated our Impact Database with info about canceled NEH grants as of 4/8/25. We understand around 40 grants remain active, with a small number reinstated. The $ amounts reflect awarded funds. The total amount is a fraction (~.000037%)of the 2024 US budget. Learn more: impact.ach.org
NEH Grants 2025
NEH Grants 2025
impact.ach.org
April 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
FORTY remain active. Almost FIFTEEN HUNDRED canceled.
Reposted by Catherine
Not all activism is meant for public consumption. If you think all activism requires that everyone know what you're doing, are you doing work for others or for yourself?
April 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Not all activism is meant for public consumption. If you think all activism requires that everyone know what you're doing, are you doing work for others or for yourself?
Reposted by Catherine
The 2024 NEH budget: $207M.
One F-35 jet: ~$100M.
The cost of two jets exceeds the entire NEH budget.
One F-35 jet: ~$100M.
The cost of two jets exceeds the entire NEH budget.
April 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
The 2024 NEH budget: $207M.
One F-35 jet: ~$100M.
The cost of two jets exceeds the entire NEH budget.
One F-35 jet: ~$100M.
The cost of two jets exceeds the entire NEH budget.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
1/ I need to say something a little more personal about the NEH. A 🧵
April 4, 2025 at 9:31 PM
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️