OptionalStephanie

In Sweden for AY 24/25. Post-election, Swedes are giving me that head tilt and sad-eyed look, as if to say they'll feed me at the door this time, but I'm going to have to go back home eventually. From Sweden, btw, the US looks like apocalyptic fan fic being workshopped in an incel's basement..

I just found my password! I forgot to tell you that I'm in Sweden for a year, and also I quit my job at West Virginia University and then I took a job at the University of Vermont and I have a lot of feelings and not that many characters left so I'm keeping it descriptive for now.

In a hotel room with my Jack Russell terrier. I want to sleep. He wants to trash talk the teacup poodle two doors down. I feel like hotels that take dogs should also offer free beer

The Evisceration of a Public University West Virginia University is being gutted, and it’s a preview for what’s in store for higher education.

I wrote this piece in The Nation about the cuts at WVU and how small states will crush their R1 unis to cash grab for big tech. WVU is the only R1 in WV and these cuts will shred higher ed in the state. Please read and share.

I have a few essays in progress and a few about to drop but tbh I’d really appreciate it if an editor would contact me and ask me to fold a fitted sheet. That mofo would be thunderstruck and would found a religion in my name.

Real talk! Neil Gaiman crushes it for queers and trans folk in Good Omens 2. I love you @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com and not in a gay way, in a VERY gay way.

Kind of day I'm having so far: everything is everything. 800 Venn diagrams that look like a single perfect circle.

Second this!

Amazing!! Thank you!

Planet is dying, my university is collapsing, the pipeline is going through WV even though so many activists struggled against it. I need this site. I can just get on here and find out what Neil Gaiman had for lunch today and you know, that’s somehow very soothing.

Forlorn Jack Russell terrier on white bedspread

Yeah my university is crashing and the planet is dying but I can read the Wolf Hall trilogy for the millionth time while Goodtime Rudy stares at me and waits for dinner and no man

West Virginia has been screwed over so often. It deserves better from its legislators, who just can't stop colluding with every extractive force they see.

Currently in yet another meeting about the slow/fast/slow death of my university and the lack of transparency is stunning. Today's news was about a secret committee that will be making decisions after the other secret committees meet.

85% trying to keep up with AI and ChatGPT debates. 15% secretly relieved that I probably will never again have to read a truly bad essay on The House of Mirth.

letters of reappointment at my university essentially required adhering to a speech code in which we acknowledge that the university is acting for the greater good. It's ludicrous and yet chilling.

I'm applying for a lot of jobs right now, none of which I can get. Not using words like "leverage," which are boring, in favor of words like "enervate," "languish," and "defibrillate," and "decay." Will keep you updated via my upcoming GoFundMe.

I don’t know about this! I just like telling long pointless stories that go nowhere on the other platform so is this for me? I had a whole big thing I wanted to say about these weird toys I had when I was a kid and now I’m out of space so poignant funny weird poignant tedious are you the same done