Jann Matlock (formerly @autopsiesgroup in the Other Place)

FYI happening this Thursday—free and open to all. Just click the link to register. Featuring @dwcongdon.com, @dawnd.bsky.social, and Alyssa Napier talking all things diss to book—what’s the diff b/w them, how to find a press/approach an editor, tips for proposal writing. Join us & spread the word!

***Job Opportunity***

Open Rank Professor, History of Technology, University of California - Irvine

39/

networks.h-net.org/jobs/69257/u...

ACLS Statement Regarding White House “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” ACLS stands firmly against this latest White House effort to divide faculties by giving special privileges to students in “hard science programs” and its demand that institutions abolish “units that p...

"No institution that is committed to the free pursuit of knowledge should submit to the degradation of autonomy and academic freedom contained in it." @acls1919.bsky.social statement on the White House "compact" proposed to universities. www.acls.org/news/acls-st...

Surprise, surprise

The Unconstitutional Conditions Doctrine and the Compact for Excellence Members of the Trump administration love to say that federal funding is a privilege not a right and therefore something that can be granted or withheld based on changing administrative priorities.

“The fact that so many of its provisions infringe on the protected 1st A rights of the universities…makes the Compact almost certainly unconstitutional.”

Must read by @genevievelakier.bsky.social

blog.dividedargument.com/p/the-uncons...

Just Say No to Trump's Compact for Academic Extortion Yesterday, the University of Pennsylvania was one of nine targets of the Trump Administration's "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." Through it, Trump asks once again for universitie...

Sign the AAUP petition urging Penn to JUST SAY NO to Trump's Compact for Academic Extortion

actionnetwork.org/petitions/ju...

Cfp for special issue of J19, "Adaptations."

We've extended the deadline for submissions to our special issue, "Adaptations," to January 15th, 2026. Attaching the cfp here: please submit!

The compact is *very explicit* about the point that if you don't join it, you "elect[] to forego federal benefits"—not NEW benefits, but the "benefits" to which you are entitled now under federal law, from foreign students getting visas to all students getting loans to the school's 501(c)(3) status.

The question journalists need to be asking is: WHY is the government trying this?

It’s because they want to control universities in unlawful ways that courts will not allow; it’s not working; so they’re trying to get universities to sign up “voluntarily” for unlawful levels of government control.

A poster announcing a teach-in in washington DC. Sunday, October 26th - Sunup to Sundown Washington, DC - The National Mall “AMERICA’S FRONT YARD” FEATURING KELLIE CARTER JACKSON, NICOLE HEMMER, DEREK MUSGROVE, NATE DIMEO, TRESSIE MCMILLAN COTTOM, AMANDA SEALES, JODY AVIRGAN, JAMES FALLOWS, MARTHA JONES, MARCIA CHATELAIN, PAUL BUTLER, NATHAN CONNOLLY, AND MORE

Announcing a good ol’ fashioned Teach-In in Washington, DC on Sunday, October 26th.

We’ll convene for a series of lectures, stories, and conversations to celebrate and stand up for the work of history and museums.

Shoutout to @natedimeo.bsky.social for bringing this idea to us.

See you in DC!

Office of the President Dear Dartmouth community, As many of you know, Dartmouth was one of nine universities asked by the White House to give feedback by Oct. 20 on a draft of its “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” I am deeply committed to Dartmouth’s academic mission and values and will always defend our fierce independence. You have often heard me say that higher education is not perfect and that we can do better. At the same time, we will never compromise our academic freedom and our ability to govern ourselves. Best, Sian Leah Beilock President

It appears that my employer, Dartmouth, one of the Trump 9, has said no to the compact. All the better given that our president is cited within it. But she’s saying no. Count the small victories when they come.

Trump & the GOP are not just saying they don’t want undocumented immigrants to have health care — they’re saying they don’t want millions of Americans to have health care if it means any undocumented immigrant gets cared for in an ER.

Not “pro-life”. #TrumpShutdown

This is The Chronicle's Editor: brad.wolverton@chronicle.com To cancel a subscription to the Chronicle of Higher Education, you can begin by phoning 800-728-2803 There is no universe in which I want to subscribe to a periodical that describes this man as "winning." What's next, @chronicle.com ?

Just confirmed I'm one of the author victims of the blood sucking company Anthropic that stole my book to train it's LLM. I filed a claim and it felt really good. If you're an author who may have been victimized, you can find out here:

secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/?_gl=...

Gift version of this article. a must read. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/u...

Opinion | Trump makes colleges an offer they can refuse Universities need to change, but a proposed federal compact creates more trouble than it’s worth.

Trump makes colleges an offer they can refuse.

Universities need to change, but a proposed federal compact creates more trouble than it’s worth.

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

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.

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.

This. This. This.

Ghouls.

This is horrific. The Prime Minister bluntly accusing LEGAL IMMIGRANTS of having done “incalculable damage” to the country. They have gone quite mad.

And they use “open borders” rhetoric taken directly from the extreme right…

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion (Gift Article) There seems to be no limit to the president’s odious attempts to control higher education.

Trump’s university “compact” is extortion.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

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.

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/petitions/tr...

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.

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/petitions/tr...

Yale Announces 2025 Frederick Douglass Book Prize Finalists

The finalists for this year's Frederick Douglass book prize have been announced @yaleglc.bsky.social. 🗃️ macmillan.yale.edu/glc/stories/...

This might be a good time to ask your department to revisit whether this is a periodical to which they wish to subscribe.

This is The Chronicle's Editor: brad.wolverton@chronicle.com To cancel a subscription to the Chronicle of Higher Education, you can begin by phoning 800-728-2803 There is no universe in which I want to subscribe to a periodical that describes this man as "winning." What's next, @chronicle.com ?

Yes. No time to lose. Several of these universities had already caved. Contact your Congresspeople. Contact your alma mater. Gift article for the below: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

The Trump regime has ordered nine top universities to agree to its demands or lose access to federal funds.

Reminder for any school dealing with Trump's extortion: You can't appease a tyrant.

Don’t forget to check if your works are part of the settlement and file a claim: www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com

Trump offers top universities funds if they boost conservative ideas Brown and MIT among nine schools told to back conservative views or risk losing federal support, sparking free speech fears

First Trump blackmailed universities into suppressing free speech. Now he’s bribing them with taxpayer dollars to enforce his agenda. Corruption and authoritarianism, plain and simple.

No university should cave to this blatantly unconstitutional coercion.