Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Steven (with a PH) @sjksalisbury.bsky.social · 17h

Turns out that when Americans said "If it weren't for us you'd be speaking German now..." their objection was to learning a second language, not fascism.

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21 Group @21group.bsky.social · 7h

Swansea University staff have voted no confidence in Vice Chancellor after announcement of £30m in cuts, £25m from staffing

400 staff have already left through voluntary severance & 200 vacancies frozen

The destruction of Welsh universities accelerates

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Vote of no confidence in Swansea University vice chancellor over job cuts

UCU members at Swansea University pass a vote of no confidence in its vice chancellor due to job cuts.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Aieee-Iain Clark @iainjclarkart.com · 22h

Wife suggests the new Conservative slogan should be "BRITIAN DOESN'T NEED ENGLISH DEGREES."

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 1d

Badenoch and Co see education only as a means to a massive income in some soul destroying career.

Devoid of imagination and the power of knowledge they view life entirely through the prism of the CV.

My advice always is to study what interests you and the rest will follow

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Lisa Rullsenberg @rullsenberg.bsky.social · 1d

Excellent newsletter ❤️💜🩷💜

UCU Commons @ucucommons.bsky.social · 1d

The first issue of our fortnightly newsletter has landed!

Featuring @markpendleton.bsky.social’s discussion paper to this Friday’s HEC, @hagenilda.bsky.social’s plea to Frances Corner’s successor and other interesting links and news. #UCU #UKHE #AcademicSky

ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...

UCU Commons newsletter #1

A new fortnightly round-up of union and sector specific news

ucucommons.substack.com

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Chris Schilling @schillingc.bsky.social · 1d

A good friend has submitted this brilliant model of the library from Buffy to Lego Ideas. I’d be very grateful for your help in getting her to 5k supporters: beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Library | LEGO® Ideas

"Sunnydale High isn't really like other high schools. A lot of weird stuff happens here." Buffy the Vampire Slayer first exploded onto our TV screens in the lat…

beta.ideas.lego.com

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 1d

"If you see something that doesn't look right, report it to staff or British Transport Police".

Okay then: I'd like to report the entire rail network. That's not right at all.

Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 1d

A paean to privatised public transport.

Today I had to go from Stockport to Salisbury. So I bought a ticket

Stockport > Bristol > Salisbury

The drive to Stockport should have taken 35 minutes. Satnav said it would take 2 hours, and I'd miss my train.

So I went to Macclesfield, where I found...

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Frank Collins @cathode-ray-tube.bsky.social · 2d

Whatever you think of RTD, he knows television and knows the warning flares need to be sent up. Television and journalism need to start questioning and pushing back. Pushing back hard.

Aieee-Iain Clark @iainjclarkart.com · 2d

Part of Russell T Davies' speech on being awarded Outstanding Contribution to Television at the Bafta Cymru awards. (via www.instagram.com/baftacymru)

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Aieee-Iain Clark @iainjclarkart.com · 2d

Part of Russell T Davies' speech on being awarded Outstanding Contribution to Television at the Bafta Cymru awards. (via www.instagram.com/baftacymru)

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

The Secret Barrister @barristersecret.bsky.social · 2d

This is a lie.

There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.

But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.

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Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · 2d

I see pieces like this a lot, often w/ a spin of lamenting cultural degeneration, but reading is a LABOR issue, it’s declined because so many people are working overtime or two jobs & employers expect after hours work. France has Earth’s highest reading rate b/c long lunch breaks & labor protections

After Dinner Conversation® @afterdinnerconversation.com · 2d

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2d

'Whatever the cause, deregulated competition has created a tragedy of the commons, whereby individual universities pursue short-term gains while the sector as a whole bears the cost when international confidence is shaken.'

The UCL admissions chaos will damage UK HE’s global reputation

Future crises can be averted if government and universities share data and plans in a more timely and transparent fashion, says Doug Sprecht

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Wagatwe Wanjuki @wagatwe.com · 3d

he got banned for alt text saying "a negative consequence follows" REALLY????

Aveta👾🇭🇹 @aliafonzy.blacksky.app · 3d

Unfortunate update: Link reached out to BlueSky and got email back now on reason.

His appeal is denied. He will remain permanently banned on BlueSky’s side.

Here are the screenshots he just sent me as of 8:22 AM EST(my time)

A screenshot of an email from the Bluesky Moderation Team with the subject line “Bluesky Account Behavior” sent at 22:15. The email states that a Bluesky account controlled by the recipient, with the handle @spacelawshitpost.me, posted a reply with an image where the alt text reads: Charlie Kirk sitting in a white T-shirt that says “Freedom.” A negative consequence follows. The email indicates this post violates Community Guidelines regarding violent or threatening speech, specifically listing threats of violence or physical harm against individuals, groups, institutions, or the general public, and incitement of self-harm or suicide.

A screenshot of an email continuation from the Bluesky Moderation Team displaying a bulleted list of Community Guidelines violations. The first bullet point describes threats of violence or physical harm as including threats or encouragement of violence against individuals, groups, institutions, or the general public. The second bullet point defines incitement of self-harm or suicide as content that encourages self-harm or suicide. The third bullet point explains wishes of harm as expressions of a desire for harm directed at a specific person or group. Below the bullets, a paragraph states that users may not use Bluesky to break the law or cause harm to others and that all users must be treated with respect. The next paragraph informs the recipient that as a result of these violations, your account has been taken down. A closing paragraph thanks the user for doing their part to keep Bluesky a welcoming and empowering place for all users and instructs them to email moderation@blueskyweb.xyz if they have questions or wish to appeal the decision. The email ends with the signature Bluesky Moderation Team.

A screenshot of an email from the Bluesky Moderation Team sent at 08:11 with the subject line Re: Bluesky Account Behavior addressed To: Hide My Email. The email reads:

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to appeal the takedown of your account on Bluesky. We have carefully reviewed your case, including the information you provided and the activity that led to the suspension of your account.

After investigating, we have determined that your account activity was in violation of our community guidelines, specifically promoting hateful content or being disruptive to other users. We take these guidelines seriously to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all our users.

As a result, we regret to inform you that your appeal has been denied, and your account will remain suspended. This decision is final and cannot be reversed. We understand that this may be disappointing news, but we must prioritize the well-being of our community and maintain a consistent enforcement of our policies. We encourage you to review our community guidelines to better understand the expectations we have for user behavior on our platform. Please do not create new accounts, since those will be taken down for ban evasion.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Alex Brown 🇵🇸 (they/them) @bookjockeyalex.bsky.social · 3d

Reminder from your resident high school lubrarian: if you plan to do a Banned Books Week display and programming, prioritize living marginalized authors. Use this time to help those who need it the most.

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Lisa Rullsenberg @rullsenberg.bsky.social · 3d

Yeah, it is WILD how UKHE is currently 🤦🏼‍♀️

a black and white photo of a woman wearing a necklace and earrings looking up

Alt: a black and white photo of Lucille Ball wearing a necklace and earrings looking up blowing a raspberry in disdain

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Carla Denyer @carladenyer.bsky.social · 3d

It's a miracle nobody was hurt. Sending solidarity to the Muslim community in Sussex and across the UK, as well as the Jewish community who are still grieving from the appalling attack in Manchester. No one should EVER feel unsafe in their place of worship
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Police urged to seek clarity on whether hate crime fire at mosque was terrorism

The Green Party has called on police to seek clarity over the motives of the hate crime fire at Peacehaven’s mosque.

www.independent.co.uk

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Lisa Rullsenberg @rullsenberg.bsky.social · 3d

1 and 2???? 🤣

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Preeti Chhibber @runwithskizzers.bsky.social · 10d

Banned Books Week starts on Sunday, October 5—there are a ton of ways to support!

Find ways to get involved here: www.ala.org/bbooks/banne...

(If you're overwhelmed, even just checking out, buying, or elevating a banned book is helpful! Talking about them w/ the ppl in your life is an action!)

A graphic that reads BANNED BOOKS WEEK, Oct 5 - 11, 2025.

Censorship is so 1984. Read for your rights. ala.org/bbooks

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Prof Nisreen Alwan @nisreenalwan.bsky.social · 3d

If you’re apprehensive that what you say or do now could come to haunt you in a more authoritarian environment in the future then this is your absolute cue that you absolutely must say or do something now.

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Paula Barker MP @paulabarkermp.bsky.social · 4d

There was an arson attack at Peacehaven Mosque last night.

The hatred & division in our communities has to stop.

Once again, thanks to our emergency services.

Peacehaven: Fire at East Sussex mosque probed as 'hate crime'

Video appears to show two people in balaclavas at the mosque before a large blaze spreads.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Nadine Batchelor-Hunt @nadinebh.bsky.social · 4d

1/3 Because progressive spaces have failed to be unequivocal on antisemitism repeatedly, the far-right have tried to pretend to be Jewish allies in that vacuum of accountability

They use the Jewish fears about antisemitic Islamists to demonise all Muslims by using our community’s trauma as a weapon

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Rob Hawkes @robbhawkes.bsky.social · 6d

As more of my valued colleagues face the threat of redundancy, here’s a quick reminder that it takes years and years of public investment to train an academic. Cutting someone with this wealth of experience loose isn’t “saving” anything. It is a massive waste of our collective resources.

UK Universities in Crisis? Time to Transform Higher Ed Finance

by Rob Hawkes and Scott Ferguson Universities in the UK are in crisis. Job cuts in the sector are reaching ‘cataclysmic’ levels, with an estimated 10,000 already lost and many more at risk. Just da…

moneyontheleft.org

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Ben Whitham @drbenwhitham.bsky.social · 4d

Men in balaclavas set fire to a mosque in East Sussex last night. It's only appearing on the BBC's local coverage, rather than its main national headlines, despite coming just a week after the (also under-reported) firebombing of an asylum hotel in London last week
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Peacehaven: Fire at East Sussex mosque probed as 'hate crime'

Video appears to show two people in balaclavas at the mosque before a large blaze spreads.

www.bbc.co.uk

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historianmemory.bsky.social @historianmemory.bsky.social · 4d

Just found out this is appening today (5 October) in Bristol. This Black mum from Wales, will be sick with worry. 'Anti-inmigration' is code for anti Black and Brown and those wearing the hijab if you didn't know. Thanking Claire, people and places like The Watershed for offering shelter. 🙏🏾

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Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 5d

"Now Rae — a PhD student and science communicator who grew up in a small Scottish town before moving to London — says he finds himself constantly weighing risks and assessing where it is safe — or unsafe — for him to be." www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...

'Where am I safe?': U.K. court ruling leaves trans people's lives in turmoil

The U.K. Supreme Court ruled in April that "sex" refers to biological sex, and transgender people say the judgment has made them feel less safe.

www.nbcnews.com

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Reposted by Lisa Rullsenberg

Bijan Parsia @bparsia.bsky.social · 5d

Condolences to the family and friends of Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, taken far too soon. They were killed defending others:

“They have both been commended by authorities for their efforts in preventing the attacker from gaining entry to the synagogue.”

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx...

Manchester synagogue attacker was on bail after rape arrest, police say

Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, had not been charged with the offence before launching a car ramming and stabbing attack on Thursday.

www.bbc.co.uk

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