Storm Watch: June 2026
The most striking pattern in the storm cloud gathering over higher education since I last scanned the skies is a
Campus Novel
Dispatches from the Higher Ed Front
Featured
Successions: The Presidents of Our Lives
On Monday three weeks ago, I woke to a summons to attend an emergency meeting. Such a message never portends
Digital Hygiene & the Ivory Scare
Part 2: Everything Else
For many of us working in higher education, email commands more hours in our working day
Towards a Human-Powered AI
Part 2. AI, Take the Wheel
This is part of a series of meditations on the crisis and opportunities presented
A Crossroads for Shared Governance
I used to like to point out that all top public universities have faculty or university senates. As of September
The Culling and the End of Empathy
I lost a week to work travel and so did not post my weekly bulletin updating the ongoing assaults on
To Teach and Research without Fear, Part 1: Academic Freedom
Since well before the current crisis, I have been concerned by how little understanding there is among many faculty regarding
Latest
Apr 10
To Teach and Research without Fear, Part 1: Academic Freedom
Since well before the current crisis, I have been concerned by how little understanding there is among many faculty regarding
13 min read
Mar 30
Weekly War Bulletin: March 30
[NOTE: In the interests of transparency, when I add or change writing after publishing I will note it in the
10 min read
Mar 25
Notes towards a history of academic freedom (part 1)
The concept of academic freedom in the U.S. famously finds its origins in Germany in the 19th century, and
13 min read
Mar 24
Finding Footing in a Storm
I have mentioned that this newsletter was originally going to be something else, and hopefully one day will be: more
2 min read
Mar 23
Weekly War Bulletin March 23, 2025
Every Sunday I will summarize the news from the previous week’s assaults on education. There is a lot, and
8 min read
Mar 16
Weekly War Bulletin: March 16
Federal Cuts & the Beginning of the Administration
In the few short weeks since the inauguration, higher education in the
9 min read
Jan 15
novel-gazing: a prologue
It is easy to lose track of time as we grow older. One minute your child is teething, the next
13 min read