Michael Givel

University of Oklahoma Eyes Closure of African American Studies OU move comes amid political attacks on DEI; critics say dissolving African American Studies dishonors Clara Luper’s legacy.

thebwstimes.substack.com/p/university...

Rep. Jasmine Crockett calls Trump “Temu Hitler” amid Texas gerrymander Texas Republicans unveil new voting map that adds five white-majority districts—erasing Black and Latino voters, despite 4 million new residents of color.

thebwstimes.substack.com/p/rep-jasmin...

See also regarding this post-racial caste policy in the USA: www.researchgate.net/publication/...

(PDF) Pluralist public policy process theories without hierarchical racial caste and post-racial caste: Is this America? PDF | Classic pluralist theorists, based on Enlightenment ideals of democracy, equality, and individual rights, posit that interest groups engage in... | Find, read and cite all the research you need ...

I am pleased to announce that my peer-reviewed article "Pluralist public policy process theories without hierarchical racial caste and post-racial caste: Is this America?" has been published by the journal Ethnicities. www.researchgate.net/publication/...

"This is a resounding victory for academic freedom and high-quality classroom learning for OU students. It sends a direct message that censorship of topics like systemic racism, patriarchy, and the legal and power bases of race and gender discrimination are no longer restricted in OU classrooms."

"This attempt to censor classroom discussion ran contrary to the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, as well as the 1970 Interpretive Comments of the American Association of University Professors, which OU Board of Regents officially adopted in the OU Faculty Handbook."

"Norman – From the very outset, Oklahoma House Bill 1775 (HB 1775), due to its vagueness, was a deliberate attempt to censor scientifically based coverage of race and gender topics taught in OU and public college and university classrooms throughout Oklahoma."

Press Release for July 23, 2025 July 23, 2025 PRESS RELEASE: UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA CHAPTER OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS (OU-AAUP) Norman – From the very outset, Oklahoma House Bill 1775 (HB 1775), due to its va...

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

In Win for Academic Speech, Oklahoma Supreme Court Says Higher Ed is Off-Limits from Censorship Law | American Civil Liberties Union The court also left in place a preliminary injunction preventing K-12 schools from implementing confusing bans on speech related to race and gender

www.aclu.org/press-releas... “Almost four years since the initial filing, students and professors at Oklahoma’s universities and colleges have a clear answer: HB 1775 does not apply in Oklahoma’s higher education classrooms,” said Adam Hines, legal fellow at the ACLU of Oklahoma. "

Excellent thread by @rgoodlaw.bsky.social re Trump’s 6/7/25 EO federalizing the National Guard and authorizing domestic use of regular armed forces over Governor’s objection.

<thread> Hegseth expands Guard's orders dramatically today

Declaration by California Military Department (CMD) Deputy GC:

"CMD was informed ... Guard units would be providing support for counter-immigration operations across Los Angeles, in communities during immigration enforcement operations..."

Trump Aides Solicit Ideas to Raise Birthrate, From Baby Bonuses to Fertility Planning Baby bonuses and menstrual cycle classes are among the ideas pitched to Trump aides as they consider plans to try boosting the birthrate.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/u... This pro-natalist version is based on eugenics or scientific racism, ending reproductive rights, opposing immigration, and increasing the number of native-born (white) children. The alt-right so-called "Great Replacement Theory" is a version of this.

(PDF) Pluralist Public Policy Process Theories Without Hierarchical Racial Caste and Post-Racial Caste: Is This America? PDF | What is next for Punctuated Equilibrium Theory (PET) and Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF)? Theoretical conceptualizations of elite pluralism in... | Find, read and cite all the research you ne...

www.researchgate.net/publication/...

Trump is seeking to deport another graduate student who is legally in the country, lawsuit says Badar Khan Suri, a fellow at Georgetown, says he is being punished because of the suspected views of his wife, a U.S. citizen with Palestinian heritage.

SCOOP: Hooded ICE agents snatched Indian-born Georgetown postdoc Badar Suri from Rosslyn street Monday, per court filing. Like Khalil, linked to pro-Palestinian views & Rubio 'foreign policy' power, lawyer says. Then whisked to Louisiana. w/ @kyledcheney www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

What direction next is a photo of deep uncertainty in the inky dark.

What direction next in the inky dark?

A recent abstract fused glass art creation of mine. This art creation is a 21st century continuation of the art symbolism of the Blue Rose art group. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Rose_(art_group)

A recent abstract fused glass art creation of mine. This art creation is a 21st century continuation of the art symbolism of the Blue Rose art group. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ro...

P.S. Regarding #5 above. Demonstrations can provide good community education and boost morale. We need to ask ourselves though if they will by themselves change laws and policy. I think some have and most have not. What do you think?

Trump Will Overplay His Hand. Here’s How to Be Ready. I lived through the rise of authoritarianism in Turkey. Here’s what I learned.

www.politico.com/news/magazin... Yes, the incoming far-right U.S. regime is unnerving. What's next? 1. Don’t Panic — Autocracy Takes Time. 2. Don’t Disengage. 3. Don’t Fear the Infighting. 4. Charismatic Leadership Is a Non-Negotiable. 5. Skip the Protests and Identity Politics. 6. Have Hope"

'Inside a Deep Space Nebula' (In fused glass)

'Inside a Deep Space Nebula'

(In fused glass)

YouTube video by LarriveeMedia Space Oddity - Chris Hadfield video onboard ISS with Larrivée Guitar

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc8B...

International Space Station Commander, Chris Hadfield, playing a rousing version of David Bowies 'Space Oddity.'

YouTube video by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Titan Touchdown

Landing on Titan. A moon of Saturn and methane world. www.youtube.com/watch?v=msiL...

YouTube video by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Sounds of Mars: NASA’s InSight Senses Martian Wind

The Winds of Mars. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT50...

Demonizing and attacking anyone due to religion, race, and national origin, Superman once said, is un-American. And, now?

sm-img.instaimgs.com/wp-content/u...

Demonizing and attacking others due to religion, race, and national origin, Superman once said, is un-American. It continues to be.

Remember That Time Superman Fought the KKK? - IGN The new podcast Superman vs. the KKK sheds light on the Man of Steel – and America’s – battle against an insidious enemy.

Once upon a time in America, Superman defeated the insidious white supremacist and terrorist KKK. And now?

www.ign.com/articles/rem...

Dr. Seuss warned America of the ideological and political links between 'America First' and Nazism. Fast forward to today and not much has changed too much with the anti-NATO 'America Firsters" in the incoming and far-right U.S. governmental regime.

pbs.twimg.com/media/EwIE-K... Dr. Seuss warned us about the fascistic origins of 'America First.' Some things have not changed too much related to the incoming in January 2025 far-right US government regime.

Trump Pentagon pick attacks UN and Nato and urges US to ignore Geneva conventions Revealed: Pete Hegseth writes scathingly of key institutions and says ‘If you love America, you should love Israel’

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024... Starting in 1915 and into the 1920s during the second revival of the violent white terrorist KKK, they promoted xenophobic and nativist 'America First.' The broader context of this story is a modern-day and morphed version of 'American First.'

www.npr.org/2022/08/19/1... Did you know? On Aug. 19, 1958, 17 months before famous Greensboro, N.C. lunch counter action, Okla. City history teacher Clara Luper & 13 students integrated Okla. City lunch counter at Katz Drug Store. This brave action launched a new phase in US civil rights movement.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma is the Woody Guthrie Center: woodyguthriecenter.org Oklahoma's Woody Guthrie is an important American folk singer whose political sympathies were farmer-labor, populist, & anti-fascist. I'm quite sure he wouldn't have liked what is happening in Washington, D.C. Not one little bit.

Sign the Petition Oppose the Removal of Foreign Language Gen Ed requirements at the University of Oklahoma

This attempted action by Univ. of Oklahoma has national importance related to preserving First American languages disappearing due to forced colonialism & assimilation. Sign petition to stop removal of First American language classes at the University of Oklahoma here: www.change.org/p/oppose-the...

OU reviews College of Arts and Sciences language requirements; faculty, staff express anxiety for potential cuts OU’s language community is reacting to a request by the OU Provost’s Office to evaluate the foreign language requirements for the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, expressing anxiety

www.oudaily.com/news/ou-coll... "According to the Administration for Native Americans, there are 245 distinct Indigenous languages in the United States, but 65 are already extinct and 75 are nearing that point." www.change.org/p/oppose-the...

The first anniversary image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope - Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex