Kyle Frackman 🇺🇦🇨🇦

The end of academic freedom, Flowchart Edition.

Email from the "PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE" to Kate Starbird asking for all emails from Jan 1 2021 through July 30 2025 with any of the following keywords: "diversity and inclusion" "DEIA" "DEI" "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging" "DEIB" "gender identity" "racial preference" "ESG" "organizational equity" "intersectionality" "anti-racism" "critical race theory" "LGBTQ+" "transgender" "cisgender" "gender ideology" "white privilege" "privilege walk" "cultural humility" "equity audit" "restorative justice" "racial equity" "implicit bias" "microaggressions" "inclusive pedagogy" "identity-based oppression" "systems of oppression" "queer" "non-binary" "sexuality" “Trump” “fascist”

If anyone is curious about the current list of search terms being used by right wing activist organizations to harass university professors, here's a public records request I received today from Mike Howell of the Heritage Foundation. Not intimidating or meant to curtail by my speech at all, right?

UBC's Financial Planning Process for 2026/27 The purpose of this update is to give our leadership community a clear view of the financial environment we are operating in, the expectations for Faculties and Administrative Units as we begin the 20...

Some of the 🚩🚩🚩 in UBC's financial planning announcement:

"This is also our opportunity to rethink how we work together, *harness new technologies*, and pursue innovation.";

"align evolving needs with available resources"

Astonishing betrayal of both academic freedom and institutional autonomy

Danielle Smith uses notwithstanding clause to declare herself premier of B.C. Prime Minister Mark Carney disagrees with the concept of a premier of one province unilaterally taking over a different province, but his hands are tied by his unwillingness to do anything about it.

thebeaverton.com/2025/11/dani...

Tiny ink drawing of a cottage with a pencil next to it for scale

A roaring fire is just the thing for a chilly Tuesday in November. Doodle found inside the 1672 'New Rules' for the regulation of cities and towns in Ireland.

A six-panel comic. In the first panel, a yellow warbler says "Hey so I'm going to go out on a limb here." In panels two through five, the warbler hops along a long branch against a blue sky with clouds. In panel 6, it stops at the end of the branch and sings.

As the year comes to an end, I'm reposting some of the comics I made this year, including this ridiculous thing.

Sunlight falls through windows, adding to the geometric pattern on floor. A woman is playing music. And a man listens from the shadowed bed. Painted by Emanuel de Witte, whose day is today.

I Set A Trap To Catch Students Cheating With AI. The Result Was Deflating "I am no stranger to students trying to cut corners by copying and pasting from Wikipedia, but the introduction of generative AI has enabled them to cheat in startling new ways."

"The right to literacy came at a heavy cost for many Americans. Power recognised that oppression is best maintained by keeping the masses illiterate.
Dont surrender to AI your ability to read write+ think when others once risked their lives and died for it."

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/set-tr...

A cartoon person with 'UBC' on their shirt holding their empty pockets out

UBC FACULTY! Interested in advocating, gathering, commiserating, learning about the university's poor financial condition? I don't know what we'll do yet, but I would like to see who might be interested. DM me.

sally out in canoes to give chase to the Leviathan

Description: Alice Wong smiling sweetly. Beneath her the words EAT THE FUCKING COOKIES!!!

I miss her

I'm glad @ubyssey.ca has some reporting on this. Unfortunately, the article repeats a lot of the university's budgetary euphemisms. Units in the Faculty of Arts are being crushed by devastating budget cuts (called "savings targets" by the administration). Cuts affect student services and jobs.

Photo of Alice Wong, an Asian American disabled woman in a power chair. She is wearing an orange and black tiger-striped sweater, black pants, a bold red lip color, and a trach at her neck. In the background is a gray cement wall with greenery. (Photo credit: Eddie Hernandez Photography)

This is Alice’s friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice’s wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing. Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years if things work out. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more. As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin. We need more stories about us and our culture. You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.

So saddened by the news that we have lost Alice Wong. It was an honor to know her and learn from her. May the lessons she shared continue to guide us for years to come.

UBC has announced its search for a new University Librarian. Please circulate widely. academic.ubc.ca/academic-com...

NEW: Footage of a US citizen in Chicago being rammed then dragged from her car on her way to work.

Abducted, with no warrant, her family couldn’t find her for hours.

She was later released with NO CHARGE.

A DHS statement said she “violently resisted arrest, injuring two officers”.

You decide…

If you are a Canadian humanities researcher this motion also pertains to SSHRC (and CIHR). Please consider signing this letter! I have.

we had a good run while it lasted, academia, and you let me write a few books, dozens of articles etc., win prizes, secure a million and a bit more of funding for research projects, and you let me work as a professor in 4 cities for the the last 11 years, but you never invited me to stay for good.

Close-up photo of a green leaf and its veins

Join us for an online lecture by Prof. Lori Emerson (@loriemerson.net) on "How to Activate the Potential of Imaginary Networks" in our Ziegler Lecture Series hosted by UBC's @ubc-cenes.bsky.social. Registration info here: cenes.ubc.ca/events/event...

People without History are Dust - University of Toronto Press

Hot off the presses and available now in English. A major contribution from @ankahajkova.bsky.social. I was honoured to write the forward.

utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....

a live look at the demolition of the White House's East Wing for Trump's ballroom

Ist das nicht Chicago (17th ed.)? Aber der Titel wird kursiv geschrieben.

Also academia

This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.

Community action works.

Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...

Picture of office with two desks, one covered with piles of books and a bookshelf in the background.

UBC peoples: if anyone is interested in free books, DM me and we can arrange a time for you to browse. Because of space issues I have to downsize my office library. Primarily 18th-21st century literature, philosophy, literary history/theory. Much of it in German but also in English and French.

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My post was flagged and hidden (presumably by AI) for promoting "self-harm." I appealed and it looks like it has been restored.