Rob Wisc
@robwisc.bsky.social
US educational policy | political economies | community organizing | labor
This week UNC System President Hans said he was committed to academic freedom.
This same week, he is working to steal the intellectual property of instructors.
Pay attention to what Hans does, not what Hans says.
This same week, he is working to steal the intellectual property of instructors.
Pay attention to what Hans does, not what Hans says.
December 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
This week UNC System President Hans said he was committed to academic freedom.
This same week, he is working to steal the intellectual property of instructors.
Pay attention to what Hans does, not what Hans says.
This same week, he is working to steal the intellectual property of instructors.
Pay attention to what Hans does, not what Hans says.
As faculty have highlighted: this intellectual theft—considering syllabi the product of "work for hire"—will severely limit teaching and learning. The UNC System is claiming that it has the ultimate control over all course syllabi.
December 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
As faculty have highlighted: this intellectual theft—considering syllabi the product of "work for hire"—will severely limit teaching and learning. The UNC System is claiming that it has the ultimate control over all course syllabi.
This flies in the face of what many university leaders have been telling instructors: that syllabi represent instructor's work.
See screenshots below for statements from a UNC-CH media spokesperson and UNC-CH's Interim Provost Jim Dean.
See screenshots below for statements from a UNC-CH media spokesperson and UNC-CH's Interim Provost Jim Dean.
December 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
This flies in the face of what many university leaders have been telling instructors: that syllabi represent instructor's work.
See screenshots below for statements from a UNC-CH media spokesperson and UNC-CH's Interim Provost Jim Dean.
See screenshots below for statements from a UNC-CH media spokesperson and UNC-CH's Interim Provost Jim Dean.
Another aspect of UNC System President Hans's push to create an online repository for all syllabi:
Hans claims that the university system owns the copyright to any syllabi created by instructors.
Hans claims that the university system owns the copyright to any syllabi created by instructors.
December 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Another aspect of UNC System President Hans's push to create an online repository for all syllabi:
Hans claims that the university system owns the copyright to any syllabi created by instructors.
Hans claims that the university system owns the copyright to any syllabi created by instructors.
What is the explicit goal of Mike Howell and the Oversight Project?
In his words: "Our goal ultimately is to get this garbage out of colleges and universities..."
In his words: "Our goal ultimately is to get this garbage out of colleges and universities..."
December 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
What is the explicit goal of Mike Howell and the Oversight Project?
In his words: "Our goal ultimately is to get this garbage out of colleges and universities..."
In his words: "Our goal ultimately is to get this garbage out of colleges and universities..."
And HANS KNOWS THIS!
Earlier this semester, Oversight Project President Mike Howell submitted open records requests for syllabi and any course materials including phrases like "gender," "sexuality," "racial equity," and "intersectionality," among others.
Earlier this semester, Oversight Project President Mike Howell submitted open records requests for syllabi and any course materials including phrases like "gender," "sexuality," "racial equity," and "intersectionality," among others.
December 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
And HANS KNOWS THIS!
Earlier this semester, Oversight Project President Mike Howell submitted open records requests for syllabi and any course materials including phrases like "gender," "sexuality," "racial equity," and "intersectionality," among others.
Earlier this semester, Oversight Project President Mike Howell submitted open records requests for syllabi and any course materials including phrases like "gender," "sexuality," "racial equity," and "intersectionality," among others.
UNC System President Hans also bemoans a "culture of digital surveillance" and the way discussions become "viral controversies" while saying that the UNC System is working to mitigate these issues.
Creating a searchable, online repository of all syllabi IS NOT mitigating digital surveillance!
Creating a searchable, online repository of all syllabi IS NOT mitigating digital surveillance!
December 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
UNC System President Hans also bemoans a "culture of digital surveillance" and the way discussions become "viral controversies" while saying that the UNC System is working to mitigate these issues.
Creating a searchable, online repository of all syllabi IS NOT mitigating digital surveillance!
Creating a searchable, online repository of all syllabi IS NOT mitigating digital surveillance!
In his op ed, UNC System President Hans states that the system "will do everything we can to safeguard faculty and staff who may be subject to threats or intimidation simply for doing their jobs."
What will the UNC System do? He makes no commitments. The system is only putting instructors at risk.
What will the UNC System do? He makes no commitments. The system is only putting instructors at risk.
December 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
In his op ed, UNC System President Hans states that the system "will do everything we can to safeguard faculty and staff who may be subject to threats or intimidation simply for doing their jobs."
What will the UNC System do? He makes no commitments. The system is only putting instructors at risk.
What will the UNC System do? He makes no commitments. The system is only putting instructors at risk.
The procedures outline two sets of interim measures: one for students and another for non-student employees. I am not sure which of these measures university admin are applying, but both require additional determinations by admin before placing someone on leave.
November 30, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The procedures outline two sets of interim measures: one for students and another for non-student employees. I am not sure which of these measures university admin are applying, but both require additional determinations by admin before placing someone on leave.
Roughly 47% of those employed in Blowing Rock in 2000 were management, professional, and related occupations.
Roughly 30% of those employed worked in sales and office occupations.
Roughly 30% of those employed worked in sales and office occupations.
November 17, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Roughly 47% of those employed in Blowing Rock in 2000 were management, professional, and related occupations.
Roughly 30% of those employed worked in sales and office occupations.
Roughly 30% of those employed worked in sales and office occupations.
From reading this article, you might think that Bovino grew up in a podunk mountain town. Ask folks in NC and they will tell you Blowing Rock is a tourist spot.
Blowing Rock ain't podunk.
The 2000 US Census lists the median household income in Blowing rock as $54k compared with $39k across NC.
Blowing Rock ain't podunk.
The 2000 US Census lists the median household income in Blowing rock as $54k compared with $39k across NC.
November 17, 2025 at 9:27 PM
From reading this article, you might think that Bovino grew up in a podunk mountain town. Ask folks in NC and they will tell you Blowing Rock is a tourist spot.
Blowing Rock ain't podunk.
The 2000 US Census lists the median household income in Blowing rock as $54k compared with $39k across NC.
Blowing Rock ain't podunk.
The 2000 US Census lists the median household income in Blowing rock as $54k compared with $39k across NC.
If we want to compare teachers and nurses, it seems important to highlight the difference in salary between the professions.
The report notes that the median nurse is paid roughly $30k more each year than the median teacher!
The report notes that the median nurse is paid roughly $30k more each year than the median teacher!
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 AM
If we want to compare teachers and nurses, it seems important to highlight the difference in salary between the professions.
The report notes that the median nurse is paid roughly $30k more each year than the median teacher!
The report notes that the median nurse is paid roughly $30k more each year than the median teacher!
National Parents Union and Ed Reform Now note that teachers are undervalued and underpaid!
It is strange to argue for increasing pay disparities for "high need" teachers—while taking time to name and shame teacher unions—rather than focusing as much attention on increasing teacher pay overall.
It is strange to argue for increasing pay disparities for "high need" teachers—while taking time to name and shame teacher unions—rather than focusing as much attention on increasing teacher pay overall.
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 AM
National Parents Union and Ed Reform Now note that teachers are undervalued and underpaid!
It is strange to argue for increasing pay disparities for "high need" teachers—while taking time to name and shame teacher unions—rather than focusing as much attention on increasing teacher pay overall.
It is strange to argue for increasing pay disparities for "high need" teachers—while taking time to name and shame teacher unions—rather than focusing as much attention on increasing teacher pay overall.
The paper also cites Kraft & Lyon (2024), who argue that rhetoric targeting teacher unions (mentioned in Bartanen et al. below) and targeting teachers are components of decreased interest in teaching since 2010.
November 12, 2025 at 7:47 PM
The paper also cites Kraft & Lyon (2024), who argue that rhetoric targeting teacher unions (mentioned in Bartanen et al. below) and targeting teachers are components of decreased interest in teaching since 2010.
Re: Kavanaugh – Katyal did not endorse Kavanaugh, but he spoke highly of him during a Heritage Foundation event during the nomination process. Sen. Thune used these statements to rally support for Kavanaugh before his confirmation hearing:
![Screenshot of a part of the website: https://www.republicanleader.senate.gov/newsroom/research/even-liberal-legal-experts-admit-judge-kavanaugh-is-a-superstar
The text in the screenshot reads:
NEAL KATYAL, Former Obama Administration Solicitor General: “I think it’s very hard for anyone who’s worked with [Judge Kavanaugh], appeared before him, to frankly say a bad word about him. I mean this is a[n] incredibly brilliant, careful person … [H]e’s legendary for his preparation … Judge Kavanaugh reads every one of those [Supreme Court] opinions, sits down with his clerks on Fridays and goes through them. Each one. Every single opinion.” (“Scholars & Scribes Review the Rulings: The Supreme Court's 2017-2018 Term,” The Heritage Foundation, 7/10/2018)
KATYAL: “In my practice we basically have a rule: if there’s a Kavanaugh clerk who applies, we hire that person.” (“Scholars & Scribes Review the Rulings: The Supreme Court's 2017-2018 Term,” The Heritage Foundation, 7/10/2018)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:zkzlgc2ck4h64y7sk7j5ljif/bafkreibagwh624rlyfqbxfyoj5ld5m4mbqcli7xmro2vfdqvdvycsmjjm4@jpeg)
November 5, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Re: Kavanaugh – Katyal did not endorse Kavanaugh, but he spoke highly of him during a Heritage Foundation event during the nomination process. Sen. Thune used these statements to rally support for Kavanaugh before his confirmation hearing:
Oct 7 – D'Abrosca writes another article for Fox News, drawing on the same 2018 Harvard panel to allege Dixon's participation in coordinated domestic terrorism.
D'Abrosca's proof? Dixon mentioned organizations working together in "developing new kinds of horizontal organizing."
D'Abrosca's proof? Dixon mentioned organizations working together in "developing new kinds of horizontal organizing."
October 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Oct 7 – D'Abrosca writes another article for Fox News, drawing on the same 2018 Harvard panel to allege Dixon's participation in coordinated domestic terrorism.
D'Abrosca's proof? Dixon mentioned organizations working together in "developing new kinds of horizontal organizing."
D'Abrosca's proof? Dixon mentioned organizations working together in "developing new kinds of horizontal organizing."
Oct 2 – D'Abrosca co-authors a piece on Dixon, the 2018 Harvard panel, and a public rally at UNC to support Dixon. The article alleges "members of the community rallied in favor and against Dixon being placed on leave."
October 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Oct 2 – D'Abrosca co-authors a piece on Dixon, the 2018 Harvard panel, and a public rally at UNC to support Dixon. The article alleges "members of the community rallied in favor and against Dixon being placed on leave."
Oct 2 – D'Abrosca writes another piece about the same 2018 panel, this time claiming that Dixon calls for left-wing political violence. D'Abrosca also pivots in this article to ask individual Harvard professors to condemn political violence before celebrating Trump's attacks on Harvard.
October 15, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Oct 2 – D'Abrosca writes another piece about the same 2018 panel, this time claiming that Dixon calls for left-wing political violence. D'Abrosca also pivots in this article to ask individual Harvard professors to condemn political violence before celebrating Trump's attacks on Harvard.
Updates to this attempt to manufacture outrage:
Oct 1 – D'Abrosca writes another piece attacking Dixon. In a panel with Harvard's Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, Dixon argues for armed self-defense against rightwing violence; D'Ambrosca attempts to equate Dixon's words with political violence.
Oct 1 – D'Abrosca writes another piece attacking Dixon. In a panel with Harvard's Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, Dixon argues for armed self-defense against rightwing violence; D'Ambrosca attempts to equate Dixon's words with political violence.
October 15, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Updates to this attempt to manufacture outrage:
Oct 1 – D'Abrosca writes another piece attacking Dixon. In a panel with Harvard's Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, Dixon argues for armed self-defense against rightwing violence; D'Ambrosca attempts to equate Dixon's words with political violence.
Oct 1 – D'Abrosca writes another piece attacking Dixon. In a panel with Harvard's Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, Dixon argues for armed self-defense against rightwing violence; D'Ambrosca attempts to equate Dixon's words with political violence.
Minor framing quibbles:
Petrilli bemoan's the "polarization" of gifted programs. One paragraph earlier, he says that conservatives were triggered by headlines about Mamdani's critique of NYC's gifted programs because the discourse "harkens back to the Great Awokening."
Wtf?
Petrilli bemoan's the "polarization" of gifted programs. One paragraph earlier, he says that conservatives were triggered by headlines about Mamdani's critique of NYC's gifted programs because the discourse "harkens back to the Great Awokening."
Wtf?
October 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Minor framing quibbles:
Petrilli bemoan's the "polarization" of gifted programs. One paragraph earlier, he says that conservatives were triggered by headlines about Mamdani's critique of NYC's gifted programs because the discourse "harkens back to the Great Awokening."
Wtf?
Petrilli bemoan's the "polarization" of gifted programs. One paragraph earlier, he says that conservatives were triggered by headlines about Mamdani's critique of NYC's gifted programs because the discourse "harkens back to the Great Awokening."
Wtf?
Join the rally and sign the petition today!
Wed, Oct 1 – 12:30pm
UNC South Building
200 E Cameron Ave
Link to petition: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Wed, Oct 1 – 12:30pm
UNC South Building
200 E Cameron Ave
Link to petition: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
October 1, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Join the rally and sign the petition today!
Wed, Oct 1 – 12:30pm
UNC South Building
200 E Cameron Ave
Link to petition: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Wed, Oct 1 – 12:30pm
UNC South Building
200 E Cameron Ave
Link to petition: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
If you are on UNC campus, join an anti-racist rally to support Professor Dixon today at 12:30pm at UNC South Building! More details in image below from the Instagram of Triangle Radical Events.
Sign the petition linked in that image here: docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/...
Sign the petition linked in that image here: docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/...
October 1, 2025 at 3:40 PM
If you are on UNC campus, join an anti-racist rally to support Professor Dixon today at 12:30pm at UNC South Building! More details in image below from the Instagram of Triangle Radical Events.
Sign the petition linked in that image here: docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/...
Sign the petition linked in that image here: docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/...
Heartened to see colleagues across North Carolina standing up against UNC compliance with rightwing attacks on antifascism!
Image of statement reposted with alt text.
Image of statement reposted with alt text.
October 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Heartened to see colleagues across North Carolina standing up against UNC compliance with rightwing attacks on antifascism!
Image of statement reposted with alt text.
Image of statement reposted with alt text.