R Newman
@rnewmannd.bsky.social
89 followers 180 following 120 posts
ecologist, there is still beauty in the world, how do we keep it that way... building a better future by helping students succeed... opinions my own. 316 ppm. Liberty and Justice for *ALL*
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Reposted by R Newman
jacquelyngill.bsky.social
A student told her professor “President Trump’s laws state that there are two genders,” and that the lesson was “illegal” for contradicting that. It’s not. Executive orders are not laws.

Compliance with authoritarianism will not protect universities. Either we stand up for our missions or we fall.
asociologist.bsky.social
Texas A&M’s President just removed a dean and department head from their positions after they supported a professor whose lesson on gender was challenged by a student. www.kbtx.com/2025/09/09/a...
A&M Dean removed following student complaints over curriculum
The Department of Justice has also acknowledged the situation and said it would be investigating.
www.kbtx.com
Reposted by R Newman
heatherrandell.bsky.social
Another day, another dystopian headline.

“Federal data shows wind turbines cause significantly fewer bird deaths than buildings, cats or oil pits. The Audubon Society says that climate change poses a bigger threat to birds than wind power.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/c...
Trump Cracks Down on Bird Deaths, but Only From Wind Turbines
www.nytimes.com
rnewmannd.bsky.social
Chanda would be a good person to get to know. long time (lifelong) powerful voice against oppression. I've never met her, but read a lot of her (non-technical) writings. I think she is also a JVP (as am I).
rnewmannd.bsky.social
Maybe “conjecture”
rnewmannd.bsky.social
happening in real time in broad daylight 😡
rnewmannd.bsky.social
also says a lot for the prospect of "going back to normal" after the current congress/administration.
rnewmannd.bsky.social
I agree. When we did the Future of HE task force a few years ago, a few of us were thinking about that, but that just translated into different ways of generating revenue. I want a model that does a better job of scaling costs to what people can realistically afford to pay, without going into debt
rnewmannd.bsky.social
and this at a time when states (and now the fed gov DoE) are specifically making it harder to direct assistance to those who need it most…
rnewmannd.bsky.social
I'm with both of you - I think we always need explicitly to couple our emotional/rational feelings with "we HAVE to ACT NOW" emphasizing turning off/reducing the carbon spigot asap because the bathtub is already overflowing. waking needs to lead to action.
rnewmannd.bsky.social
is this the latest ccs analysis you are aware of? it's literally a multibillion $ smoke screen in ND to keep coal alive (project Tundra) or justify ethanol overproduction (aka corn growers). they tout ND's perfect geology and brag about how this will enhance/sustain oil production from the Bakken
rnewmannd.bsky.social
this is what I fear and the S.C. has not stood in the way of much. midterms will be the next test...
rnewmannd.bsky.social
beyond the intentional multiplicity of harms of such a plan, it is a recipe for corruption and fraud, that much money with no real place to go. 😠
rnewmannd.bsky.social
personal spaceships, a practical gift for any 21st century billionaire
rnewmannd.bsky.social
love it. More scientists should be doing it because it gives our work meaning and impact.
And academia needs to evolve, meaning the capitalist model of merit that counts productivity in papers published and grant dollars awarded as the only thing that matters needs to go. New paradigm.
rnewmannd.bsky.social
he has a fur coat on and limited ability to evaporatively cool. early morning walks if cool enough, lots of cool water, limited exertion, shade. but never in high heat. We have sled dogs. they stay inside their giant dog house (barn) when temps exceed 80F. just gotta wait it out.
rnewmannd.bsky.social
I think the Mayans might have something to say about this too.
rnewmannd.bsky.social
I like the image, but for the spatiotemporally / geographically confused the immediate reaction might be that west TX is cool and east Tx is hot 🥵
rnewmannd.bsky.social
there were a bunch in ND, which is pretty amazing for ND. NYT shows 1. not serious journalism... again .