Chris Ruotolo
@cjruotolo.bsky.social
Director of Arts & Humanities, University of Virginia Libraries. Digital humanities, literary studies, popular culture, crafting/making.
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
Bad for students. Bad for instructors. Bad for universities. Good for private equity.
Universities are increasingly jumping on the "one price course materials" scam in which students all pay the same fee and have access to digital versions of their reading. Maybe this is a good idea in a world where the biochem text is $250. I hate it for specific reasons. >
December 20, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Bad for students. Bad for instructors. Bad for universities. Good for private equity.
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
Former Rep. Tom Perriello, a Virginia Democrat who won his sole term in a huge 2008 upset, unexpectedly announces campaign against GOP Rep. John McGuire. Trump carried the current version of #VA05 56-43, but it could look a lot different if Democrats convince voters to approve a new map this spring.
Tom Perriello For Congress Launch Video
YouTube video by Tom Perriello
www.youtube.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Former Rep. Tom Perriello, a Virginia Democrat who won his sole term in a huge 2008 upset, unexpectedly announces campaign against GOP Rep. John McGuire. Trump carried the current version of #VA05 56-43, but it could look a lot different if Democrats convince voters to approve a new map this spring.
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
Read this NYT piece by Sam Kriss about AI's distinctive writing style - especially "It's not X - it's Y" - and then look at this horror of an AI-generated article, which uses all the tropes he identifies, over and over again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/m...
December 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Read this NYT piece by Sam Kriss about AI's distinctive writing style - especially "It's not X - it's Y" - and then look at this horror of an AI-generated article, which uses all the tropes he identifies, over and over again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/m...
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
New issue of my newsletter: "The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition" — One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved, and it's a good use of AI newsletter.dancohen.org/archive/the-...
The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition
One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved
newsletter.dancohen.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
New issue of my newsletter: "The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition" — One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved, and it's a good use of AI newsletter.dancohen.org/archive/the-...
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
When I think about how exquisitely careful NEH staff were to be fair, impartial, and rigorous, and how much work people put into grants so small they’re pocket change…I just want to scream.
Fired Scholars and Big Grants to Favored Projects: Inside Trump’s N.E.H.
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:12 PM
When I think about how exquisitely careful NEH staff were to be fair, impartial, and rigorous, and how much work people put into grants so small they’re pocket change…I just want to scream.
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
Gov.-Elect Spanberger Calls On UVA Board of Visitors to Pause Presidential Selection; "As it will be a priority of my administration to stabilize & normalize the leadership of our public colleges & universities, I will make appointments soon after my inauguration." bluevirginia.us/2025/11/gove...
Governor-Elect Abigail Spanberger Calls On UVA Board of Visitors to Pause Presidential Selection
Good to see this from Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger: Governor-Elect Abigail Spanberger Calls On UVA Board of Visitors to Pause Presidential Selection RICHMOND, Va. — Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger ...
bluevirginia.us
November 12, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Gov.-Elect Spanberger Calls On UVA Board of Visitors to Pause Presidential Selection; "As it will be a priority of my administration to stabilize & normalize the leadership of our public colleges & universities, I will make appointments soon after my inauguration." bluevirginia.us/2025/11/gove...
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
“Using your hands and your imagination stretches the brain!”
Zines offer a creative, low-barrier way to express, connect, & advocate. Read about the year-long Zines Now project happening now! #ZinesNow #Zines
library.virginia.edu/news/2025/zi...
@scholarslab.bsky.social @literaturegeek.bsky.social
Zines offer a creative, low-barrier way to express, connect, & advocate. Read about the year-long Zines Now project happening now! #ZinesNow #Zines
library.virginia.edu/news/2025/zi...
@scholarslab.bsky.social @literaturegeek.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 5:49 PM
“Using your hands and your imagination stretches the brain!”
Zines offer a creative, low-barrier way to express, connect, & advocate. Read about the year-long Zines Now project happening now! #ZinesNow #Zines
library.virginia.edu/news/2025/zi...
@scholarslab.bsky.social @literaturegeek.bsky.social
Zines offer a creative, low-barrier way to express, connect, & advocate. Read about the year-long Zines Now project happening now! #ZinesNow #Zines
library.virginia.edu/news/2025/zi...
@scholarslab.bsky.social @literaturegeek.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
Hey, can we talk about JOY?
Join your local progressive groups, y'all!
Working with neighbors to help us all can be one of the most joyful things in everyday life. Every time I join anything, I see these kinds of smiles.
Here's a 🧵 of photos to inspire you.
blacksky.community/profile/did:...
Join your local progressive groups, y'all!
Working with neighbors to help us all can be one of the most joyful things in everyday life. Every time I join anything, I see these kinds of smiles.
Here's a 🧵 of photos to inspire you.
blacksky.community/profile/did:...
Your pal @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social at the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn. Genuinely hard to take a bad picture of this dude.
That's the @nywfp.bsky.social float behind him - follow them and let's make this man mayor and get him the progressive caucus he needs to get things done, NYC!
That's the @nywfp.bsky.social float behind him - follow them and let's make this man mayor and get him the progressive caucus he needs to get things done, NYC!
November 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Hey, can we talk about JOY?
Join your local progressive groups, y'all!
Working with neighbors to help us all can be one of the most joyful things in everyday life. Every time I join anything, I see these kinds of smiles.
Here's a 🧵 of photos to inspire you.
blacksky.community/profile/did:...
Join your local progressive groups, y'all!
Working with neighbors to help us all can be one of the most joyful things in everyday life. Every time I join anything, I see these kinds of smiles.
Here's a 🧵 of photos to inspire you.
blacksky.community/profile/did:...
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
Job alert: the University of Illinois Library is hiring a Humanities Librarian to serve as liaison to African-American Studies and English Literatures. I’m sure someone here would be a great fit for this job—& we’ve got a pretty phenomenal community here
Please share!
Please share!
Humanities Librarian - (African American Studies and English Literature)
Duties & Responsibilities
illinois.csod.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Job alert: the University of Illinois Library is hiring a Humanities Librarian to serve as liaison to African-American Studies and English Literatures. I’m sure someone here would be a great fit for this job—& we’ve got a pretty phenomenal community here
Please share!
Please share!
This is gonna be good
I am teaching my first graduate course in the Department of English at the University of Virginia in the spring! Here is the description. It’s called Reading AI.
October 20, 2025 at 3:44 PM
This is gonna be good
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
BREAKING: UVA rejects the Trump Administration's Compact.
October 17, 2025 at 8:40 PM
BREAKING: UVA rejects the Trump Administration's Compact.
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
From "Artist's Books" and "Borges" to "Yearbooks" and "Zines" — the ABCs of the UVA Library is on display now! A host of entries are in Special Collections, with outposts at other libraries.
library.virginia.edu/news/2025/le...
@rareuva.bsky.social
library.virginia.edu/news/2025/le...
@rareuva.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 2:57 PM
From "Artist's Books" and "Borges" to "Yearbooks" and "Zines" — the ABCs of the UVA Library is on display now! A host of entries are in Special Collections, with outposts at other libraries.
library.virginia.edu/news/2025/le...
@rareuva.bsky.social
library.virginia.edu/news/2025/le...
@rareuva.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
for any UVA folks that follow me you should circulate this among your networks balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Balkinization: The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal
A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics
balkin.blogspot.com
October 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM
for any UVA folks that follow me you should circulate this among your networks balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
It's often overlooked, but PhilPapers is a hugely important project in the history of open humanities research. Its a really comprehensive archive with loads of open access materials, working papers, preprints, etc.
October 1, 2025 at 8:52 AM
It's often overlooked, but PhilPapers is a hugely important project in the history of open humanities research. Its a really comprehensive archive with loads of open access materials, working papers, preprints, etc.
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
#CFP: Critical Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence in Librarianship
sites.google.com/view/critlib...
#libraries #librarians #ai
sites.google.com/view/critlib...
#libraries #librarians #ai
Crit Lib AI Book - Call for Proposals
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
sites.google.com
August 7, 2025 at 10:40 PM
#CFP: Critical Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence in Librarianship
sites.google.com/view/critlib...
#libraries #librarians #ai
sites.google.com/view/critlib...
#libraries #librarians #ai
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
Just gave. Please consider helping if you can. Right now is an incredibly important time. Right now.
After a five-day halt due to a lack of supplies, our team at WCK’s Deir al-Balah Field Kitchen has resumed limited hot meal service in Gaza. #ChefsForGaza (1/3)
World Central Kitchen | WCK Resumes Limited Hot Meal Service in Gaza After 5-Day Pause
After a five day pause, limited cooking operations resumed today at World Central Kitchen's Deir al-Balah Field Kitchen in Gaza.
This marks the second time in 2025 our hot meal program has been force...
wck.org
July 26, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Just gave. Please consider helping if you can. Right now is an incredibly important time. Right now.
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
UPDATE: Thanks to @clancyny.bsky.social I am now able to read the ruling, which you too can read here. It's worth it because of how it details the consequences of NEH chair Michael McDonald's cruel and probably illegal actions.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
July 26, 2025 at 2:48 AM
UPDATE: Thanks to @clancyny.bsky.social I am now able to read the ruling, which you too can read here. It's worth it because of how it details the consequences of NEH chair Michael McDonald's cruel and probably illegal actions.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
!!!
JUST IN: A federal judge has blocked the cancelation of $175 million in National Endowment for the Humanities grants, mass terminated by DOGE in April. She says the effort was transparent viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.
July 26, 2025 at 3:59 AM
!!!
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
I've seen some talk about how we are witnessing the end of the professoriate as we know it and this may be true, but I think it's bigger: it's the decimation of the mission-oriented profession.
Want to make a middle-class living serving the public good? Capitalism doesn't want that for you.
Want to make a middle-class living serving the public good? Capitalism doesn't want that for you.
July 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I've seen some talk about how we are witnessing the end of the professoriate as we know it and this may be true, but I think it's bigger: it's the decimation of the mission-oriented profession.
Want to make a middle-class living serving the public good? Capitalism doesn't want that for you.
Want to make a middle-class living serving the public good? Capitalism doesn't want that for you.
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
Stop asking billionaires questions, recording their answers and sharing their uninformed and/or racist and/or otherwise bigoted and nonsense ideas as journalism. It’s ridiculous. They are the most boring people. Oh wah I am a white man who has more money than I can spend and I’m so mad about it!
July 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Stop asking billionaires questions, recording their answers and sharing their uninformed and/or racist and/or otherwise bigoted and nonsense ideas as journalism. It’s ridiculous. They are the most boring people. Oh wah I am a white man who has more money than I can spend and I’m so mad about it!
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
*sigh* It's too soon, but on the day of his retirement from public service, I think that it's important to recognize the contributions of Brett Bobley to the work of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the field. #ThanksBrett for your leadership, your good cheer & your home-baked goods.
June 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
*sigh* It's too soon, but on the day of his retirement from public service, I think that it's important to recognize the contributions of Brett Bobley to the work of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the field. #ThanksBrett for your leadership, your good cheer & your home-baked goods.
Reposted by Chris Ruotolo
This is really the perfect use of generative AI: to create a report whose purpose is solely to exist as A Report, which no one is supposed to read because no one involved in its creation even pretends to have the slightest genuine interest in the actual facts at issue.
Seven of the sources cited in MAHA commission's report do not exist:
“The paper cited is not a real paper that I or my colleagues were involved with," says one researcher.
www.notus.org/health-scien...
“The paper cited is not a real paper that I or my colleagues were involved with," says one researcher.
www.notus.org/health-scien...
The MAHA Report Cites Studies That Don’t Exist
The Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” report misinterprets some studies and cites others that don’t exist, according to the listed authors.
www.notus.org
May 29, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This is really the perfect use of generative AI: to create a report whose purpose is solely to exist as A Report, which no one is supposed to read because no one involved in its creation even pretends to have the slightest genuine interest in the actual facts at issue.