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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 8h

Dear Journalists,

PLEASE stop saying that Trump's #highered "Compact for Academic Excellence..." offers "preferred treatment" to signatories. That is false. Instead, it promises to revoke all funding, visa approvals, and tax-exemptions from any who don't agree to its outrageous fascist demands.

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Reposted by Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴

Rosa Lafer-Sousa @rosalafersousa.bsky.social · 5d

🚨 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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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 20h

Bill Murray in Ghostbusters in the scene where he says "Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!"

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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 20h

I'm concerned this statement doesn't actually state that Dartmouth won't sign...

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Lisa Fazio @lkfazio.bsky.social · 1d

New from me and @brendannyhan.bsky.social

Why Trump's "Compact for Academic Excellence" is a devil's bargain and should be rejected in all forms

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

Trump sent a 'compact' to our universities. They should reject this devil's bargain.

Any institution that yields to these broad and intrusive demands would forever be subservient to the whims of the government.

www.msnbc.com

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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 1d

How it's going:

Last week, 9 colleges received gov't demands to abolish departments that "belittle" conservative ideas, survey and report on faculty ideologies, enforce belief in only 2 genders, and report on int'l students.

So far ZERO have stated outright refusal to sign.

#edusky #academicsky

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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 2d

It's getting harder for all of us to see through the fog now.
Remember what is real.

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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 2d

He might believe some of it, but I think he mainly doesn't care whether what he says is true.

This is a feature of authoritarian regimes -- the leader dictates reality. Trump is happy to play that role, creating uncertainty and fear, undermining the press, and making truth itself bend to his will.

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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 3d

So agree with you -- the media coverage on this has been SO wrong it makes me worry that many journalists have not even read the document, even though it's only a few pages long and is very easy to understand!

Reposted by Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴

Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 5d

News coverage of the Trump administration's proposed "compact" with universities has been, so far, shockingly bad.

I hate to pick on NPR reporter Elissa Nadworny, who's usually a solid reporter, but almost every important thing I heard her say this morning about the proposed "compact" was false.

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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 3d

This is so true. Media coverage is describing this as a voluntary agreement to receive "preferential access" to federal "benefits".

All FALSE!

The document is only a few pages long, READ IT. It is an existential threat to revoke all funding, financial aid, tax benefits, and even visas.

Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 5d

News coverage of the Trump administration's proposed "compact" with universities has been, so far, shockingly bad.

I hate to pick on NPR reporter Elissa Nadworny, who's usually a solid reporter, but almost every important thing I heard her say this morning about the proposed "compact" was false.

Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 4d

This IS a stick.

IDK where media headlines calling this a "deal" for "preferential access" to "benefits" are coming from, but that is FALSE. Document directly threatens to crush universities that don't comply by revoking all federal funding, visas, tax benefits...

Universities still MUST refuse.

www.washingtonexaminer.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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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 4d

Would you agree to FORMALLY SURVEY THE IDEOLOGIES OF FACULTY IN EVERY DEPARTMENT OF YOUR COLLEGE, and to "transform or abolish" any that "belittle" "conservative ideas"?

That's what Trump's "Compact for Academic Excellence." demands.

#edusky #academicsky

www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/u...

" Signatories commit themselves to revising governance structures as necessary to create such an environment, including but not limited to transforming or abolishing institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas. Given the importance of academic freedom to the marketplace of ideas, signatories shall adopt a policy protecting academic freedom in classrooms, teaching, research, and scholarship. Such policies also shall recognize that academic freedom is not absolute, and universities shall adopt policies that prevent discriminatory, threatening, harassing, or other behaviors that abridge the rights of other members of the university community. Signatories commit to rigorous, good faith, empirical assessment of a broad spectrum of viewpoints among faculty, students, and staff at all levels and to sharing the results of such assessments with the public; and to seek such a broad spectrum of viewpoints not just in the university as a whole, but within every field, department, school, and teaching unit. "

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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 5d

"It is not hyperbole to say that the future of higher education in America requires that every university reject it. If any schools capitulate, the pressure will be enormous on all to fold. The only solution is solidarity and collective action against this effort..."

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 5d

Hear! effing Hear!

[Gift link]

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

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

www.nytimes.com

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Khashoggi's Ghost @urocklive1.bsky.social · 5d

Good. This is the way.

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KP @gokp.bsky.social · 6d

I know it's Texas, and we left bc I had a pretty solid idea of what was coming down the pike, but this is still a brutal kick in the gut to see the state's flagship university and my alma mater "honored" and "enthusiastic" to cement its place in history as a fascist collaborator.

Screenshot of a news article. Date: October 2, 2025. Headline: "UT named in Trump's new higher education funding compact." Body of the text: "The Trump administration has selected the University of Texas at Austin as one of nine schools eligible for federal funding advantages if it agrees to cap international student enrollment, recognize only two genders, freeze tuition for five years, and protect conservative speech under a new 'Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.'"

Screenshot from an article about the fascist collaborators that reads: "UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife said in a statement shared first with the American-Statesman on Thursday that the system is 'honored' to be selected and is 'enthusiastically' working with UT to review the demands."

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Alex Wild @alexwild.bsky.social · 6d

The most effective way to oppose this political takeover is collective action from the academic community. If the first universities that sign Trump contracts face strong academic boycotts- no talks, no manuscript reviews, no interviews of graduates- that should dissuade others from signing.

AAUP chapter @UT Austin @utaustinaaup.bsky.social · 6d

www.wsj.com/us-news/educ... UT Austin is one of the 9 schools offered a deal: accede to White House demands and get funding priority

Exclusive | White House Asks Colleges to Sign Sweeping Agreement to Get Funding Advantage

An initial round of nine schools is being asked to sign a wide-ranging accord.

www.wsj.com

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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 6d

WTF.

I hope 100% of the faculty at UT Austin immediately make it known that they refuse to put up with this.

These are lines that no University can cross and still remain a legitimate academic institution.

#edusky #academicsky

KP @gokp.bsky.social · 6d

I know it's Texas, and we left bc I had a pretty solid idea of what was coming down the pike, but this is still a brutal kick in the gut to see the state's flagship university and my alma mater "honored" and "enthusiastic" to cement its place in history as a fascist collaborator.

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Will Tattersdill @tattersdill.bsky.social · 7d

This should also be how universities reply to the AI thing btw

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 7d

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

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Caroline Bartman @cbartman.bsky.social · 6d

So if there’s no portal to submit the NSF GRFP yet and the government is shut down…..

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Science Vs @sciencevs.bsky.social · 7d

This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥

We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪

Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇

open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...

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AAUP @aaup.org · 7d

Introducing “Faculty on the Frontlines,” a new series from the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom that documents the stories of AAUP members!

Over the next 2 weeks, we will spotlight the stories of 10 AAUP members fighting to defend academic freedom.

Check out our teaser 🔥

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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 7d

"a series of trade schools would be “run by Harvard.”

“And they’ll be operating trade schools, and they’ll be teaching people how to do AI and lots of other things. Engines, lots of things,” he added.

“They’ve put up $500 million...It’s a big investment in trade school done by very smart people.”

Trump Claims White House Is Nearing a Deal With Harvard | News | The Harvard Crimson

President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday in the Oval Office that the White House had “reached a deal” with Harvard, before cautioning that the agreement had not been finalized.

www.thecrimson.com