Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Nora Newcombe

Sherman Dorn @shermandorn.com · 14h

U Ariz faculty senate approves resolution asking university NOT to sign compact. Paywalled,...

www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

UA Faculty Senate votes against proposed compact

In its Oct. 6 faculty senate meeting, faculty voted in favor of a resolution calling upon UA President Suresh Garimella and the Arizona Board of Regents to reject the proposed contract and any similar proposals "compromising the mission, values and independence of the University."

The vote passed 40-8, with one abstention. Faculty members raised several questions about how the university can find a path forward, whether leaders choose to sign the compact or not.

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redrum scare(d) corncob (no one said it made sense) @inquiline.myatproto.social · 14h

Faculty show support for USC to reject the federal government’s "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education"... the USC @aaup.org chapter sent a petition rallying for USC to reject the compact

www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2025/10/06/r...

‘Reject the Compact’ petition urges USC not to sign Trump’s contract

Faculty show support for USC to reject the federal government’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.

www.uscannenbergmedia.com

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Koraly @drkoraly.bsky.social · 14h

The HBCD-START (Scientific Training in Addiction Research Techniques) program is now recruiting its 1st cohort of scholars!

This 1-year course is open to 4 graduate students, 4 postdoctoral fellows, & 4 junior faculty.

For more information: uclahs.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · 15h

Learn to tell your story with urgency and hope at our PUBLIC NARRATIVE TRAINING on 10/14!

We're preparing to share why we're standing up for science & democracy at No Kings Day Rally, and you can too!

Sign up, tell your story, and bring it to your No Kings Rally on 10/18! zurl.co/LM0QK

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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 21h

Thrilled to see this paper out! It's the culmination of a project begun in the depths of the pandemic with Sabrina Karjack and @zoengo.bsky.social . We continue our exploration of how children generalize when their episodic memory is not yet mature.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The dependence of children’s generalization on episodic memory varies with age and level of abstraction - Nature Communications

Children’s ability to generalize from episodic memories varies by both age and the level of abstraction. Here, the authors show that lower level generalization increasingly depends on episodic memory with age, whereas higher level generalization shows no such relationship.

www.nature.com

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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 1d

Dense longitudinal neuroimaging reveals individual brain change trajectories: Trends in Cognitive Sciences www.cell.com/trends/cogni...

Dense longitudinal neuroimaging reveals individual brain change trajectories

Longitudinal measurements of brain structure and function are critical for understanding how humans change over time. Traditional longitudinal approaches sample sparsely across large windows of time t...

www.cell.com

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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 1d

“It is far from a point of pride to have been included,” Bok said.
www.inquirer.com/education/up...

Wharton advisory board chair Marc Rowan had a hand in crafting ideas used in Trump’s university compact, report says

Marc Rowan and his allies were instrumental in developing ideas for the compact that President Donald Trump’s administration asked nine colleges including Penn to sign, according to the New York Times

www.inquirer.com

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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 1d

Excellent article in @inquirer.com When the press is free to do its job, it does well.
www.inquirer.com/health/cance...

Medicaid cuts could be dangerous for cancer survivors

Cancer care and preventive screenings could be at risk when Medicaid cuts take effect in the coming years under a new federal law, worrying patients and those who advocate for healthcare access.

www.inquirer.com

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Joannes Laveyne @jolaveyne.bsky.social · 1d

It may have escaped your attention, but the Belgian energy system has quietly passed an important test. During the weekend of 4-5 October 2025, our consumption was almost entirely covered by renewable energy. And yet the system ticked like a Swiss watch. /

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Adrienne Wood @adriennewood.bsky.social · 1d

Over 400 faculty and staff from the #uva College of Arts and Sciences convened for an emergency vote. 97% of eligible voters endorsed a resolution demanding President Mahoney refuse to consider the Trump admin's Compact for Academic Freedom!!

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Dannagal Goldthwaite Young @dannagal.bsky.social · 1d

Brilliant arguments against universities joining the so called “compact” in this oped from @lkfazio.bsky.social and @brendannyhan.bsky.social

www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

Moreover, giving preferential treatment to submissive institutions would undermine the excellence of American science. To reach goals like curing pediatric cancer and developing better treatments for opioid addiction, we need to invest in the best research ideas, not divert support to weaker studies from universities whose leaders traded away their independence for cash. Government funding should reward scientific merit.

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Kathryn Paige Harden @kph3k.bsky.social · 1d

My friend @lkatfield.bsky.social has a book coming out that I think is essential reading for everyone. A starred review in Publisher's Weekly called it a "formidable debut ... a meticulous and unsettling revelation of a right-wing plan for a 'new old-fashioned world.'"

Furious Minds

The story of the radical conservative intellectual movement shaping Donald Trump’s agenda—and how it threatens American freedoms, values, and democracy

press.princeton.edu

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Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 1d

Every crisis is an opportunity. This is the moment for Dems on Capitol Hill to call a news conference and make clear: Not one dime to fund the federal government until Trump withdraws his unlawful orders and agrees not to send troops to occupy Democratic-run cities

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 2d

The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.

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David Gilbert @davidgilbert.bsky.social · 2d

Over the weekend, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller repeatedly attacked judges, calling them part of an "organized terrorist attack" on the US government....

On Saturday, the home of a judge who ruled against Trump, went up in flames

time.com/7323442/sout...

House of South Carolina Judge Criticized by Trump Administration Set Ablaze

Authorities are investigating a fire at the home of a South Carolina judge who had reportedly received death threats in what could be the latest incident of political violence across the country.

time.com

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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 2d

Maybe it's later in the 1930s than 1933?
State Terror, American Style open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...

State Terror, American Style

Forget about “soft autocracy”

open.substack.com

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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 2d

She lived a good life.

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 3d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

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Reposted by Nora Newcombe

Christina Bergmann @chbergma.bsky.social · 2d

This weekend I gave another workshop on #ShamelessSelfPromotion and now you all can apply what I am preaching by self-nominating as new Max Planck Director, for example in psycholinguistics

Go for it, especially if you think you aren't 'good enough'

www.mpg.de/directors
www.mpi.nl/news/help-sh...

Directors

The Max Planck Society offers Directors a unique platform for groundbreaking research and leadership in diverse scientific fields.

www.mpg.de

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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 2d

Good!
www.inquirer.com/education/up...

Penn ‘seeks no special consideration,’ president Jameson says in response to Trump proposal

Penn has until Oct. 20 to respond to the compact, which would give the Trump administration wide-ranging influence over core university operations including hiring, admissions and tuition setting.

www.inquirer.com

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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 2d

College newspapers, still doing real journalism! dailynorthwestern.com/2025/10/03/l...

What Northwestern has changed on DEI-related websites

In recent decades, Northwestern has touted its efforts to support students through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. “At Northwestern, we believe that diversity — of background, identity, ...

dailynorthwestern.com

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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 2d

“It’s 1933 not 1939.” But will it be 6 years before we get to 1939? So to speak.

Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 2d

Trump and Vance want badly to stop you from using the f-word

That's because if we accurately call out rising fascism from the streets of Chicago to the waters of the Caribbean, we will understand that we must fight back with the moral strength of war

My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...

Why we can’t allow Trump to ban that other f-word | Will Bunch

The column the Trump regime wants to ban: America has to call out surging fascism in order to defeat it.

www.inquirer.com

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Patrick Jackson @pehjackson.bsky.social · 4d

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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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 4d

www.inquirer.com/education/up...

Trump seeks influence over hiring and admissions at Penn in exchange for federal funding

The “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” would give Trump wide-ranging influence over hiring, admissions, tuition pricing, and even curriculum. Nine colleges were asked to sign on.

www.inquirer.com

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Nora Newcombe @noranewcombe.bsky.social · 4d

Hurray for Dartmouth and Sian Beilock!!

Niles Donegan @happypig.bsky.social · 4d

Dartmouth says no.

Dartmouth’s president declines trumps compact.

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Rosa Lafer-Sousa @rosalafersousa.bsky.social · 4d

🚨 Are you an alum from one of the 9 universities Trump is attempting to extort right now?

✍️ Sign this petition to defend your university, free speech, and democracy. I signed.

This is a time for courage, not capitulation.
#JustSayNo #Compact 🧪🧠🧬

(context in thread)

Trump attacks 9 universities: Sign the alumni petition to defend your school now

Are you an alum outraged by Trump's attacks on universities? Defend your school now by signing this alumni petition in support of these 9 universities as well as campus communities across America.

alumni.controlshift.app

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Grace Lindsay @neurograce.bsky.social · 4d

@sciencehomecoming.bsky.social has tools for finding local newspapers and writing for them!

Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 5d

Here's the assignment folks. Write op-eds for your local papers and campus newspapers too. Just. Say. No. This is a classic authoritarian move and risks the future of higher education and science and innovation in the US. Speak out today. No time to lose. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion

www.nytimes.com

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