Bradford Vivian

My latest, on the historic Student List victory in Serbia. bradfordvivian.substack.com/p/it-began-i...

Ohio State Civics Center Professor Who Tackled Cameraman Resigns www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...

The "learning outcomes" of the new state-created civic centers: www.thelantern.com/2026/10/ohio...

The "learning outcomes" of the new state-created civic centers: www.thelantern.com/2026/10/ohio...

Why authoritarians attack universities.

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Why authoritarians attack universities.

Wow! I did not see that one coming. "Serbia’s strongman leader Vucic concedes defeat to student-led movement in seismic political shift" reports @apnews.com #Serbia

The soaring costs of public universities is a political decision. When these schools predominantly served white students, they tended to be free (UC, CCNY, etc.) But as the number of students of color has increased, funding for the public universities has decreased. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/25/b...

I haven’t posted here for a few months, so I’m writing to share some news, thoughts, and resources. As always, I’m eager to exchange information, connect to other networks, and offer arguments in defense of academic freedom, higher ed, and democracy. bradfordvivian.substack.com/p/its-been-a...

More than 200 complaints regarding sexual violence at schools have been filed with the Education Department since the start of Trump’s second term. The department has investigated only 29 of these, finding fault with a school district only once. www.propublica.org/article/civi...

I haven’t posted here for a few months, so I’m writing to share some news, thoughts, and resources. As always, I’m eager to exchange information, connect to other networks, and offer arguments in defense of academic freedom, higher ed, and democracy. bradfordvivian.substack.com/p/its-been-a...

Reactionaries argue that centers of conservative thought are needed on college campuses because conservative scholars are excluded from the liberal arts. So the CIF at Iowa picks a distinguished conservative poli sci professor with ties to Duke, Princeton, Nebraska, etc., to lead it.

Reactionaries argue that centers of conservative thought are needed on college campuses because conservative scholars are excluded from the liberal arts. So the CIF at Iowa picks a distinguished conservative poli sci professor with ties to Duke, Princeton, Nebraska, etc., to lead it.

The interim director of the CIF has inadvertently done a public service with his 400 page report: give away the whole game. It's clear that the goal of these "conservative centers/institutes" is to create private political think tanks, . . . 1/2 www.thegazette.com/news/center-...

The UNC flagship chose to strike a deal before the government found any violations of civil-rights laws, according to a university statement. www.chronicle.com/liveblog/her...

“Held to higher standards. Left off invitations. Pointed to as “diversity” but ignored. These are just some of the hundreds of examples of devaluation women faculty in the United States shared” www.science.org/content/arti...

One of the major challenges that newspapers face today is figuring out which party currently controls the entire federal govt and enjoys outsized influence in state legislatures by choice of “the electorate.”

One of the major challenges that newspapers face today is figuring out which party currently controls the entire federal govt and enjoys outsized influence in state legislatures by choice of “the electorate.”

This is the first article of its kind I’ve seen that tries to understand what students are actually doing on their screens instead of just assuming they’re all uninterested in learning and negatively stereotyping them in the process. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...

This is the first article of its kind I’ve seen that tries to understand what students are actually doing on their screens instead of just assuming they’re all uninterested in learning and negatively stereotyping them in the process. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...

Now published: plato.stanford.edu/entries/acad...

Turns out the “censorship industrial complex” was less a criticism than an aspiration

Excellent Michael Roth piece on the obvious correlation (insurers know, as he notes) between fraternities & sexual assault/dangerous intoxication — and the vast improvement to campus life & safety that followed Wesleyan’s decision to make them go co-ed or shut down. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/16/o...

"Faculty must maintain strict political neutrality at all times. Otherwise, we just risk becoming yet another frontline in the culture wars. We cannot pose yet another existential threat to the prevailing political order by discussing historical facts." buff.ly/hjUfwPr

academicfreedomontheline.substack.com/p/sociology-...

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academicfreedomontheline.substack.com/p/sociology-...

Former “free speech” crusaders have ushered in an unprecedented campaign of censorship in Texas universities, resulting in pulitzer winning books being banned, medical and scientific facts being suppressed, and entire fields of study deemed “woke” being eliminated www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/1...

MESA’s Academic Freedom Initiative finds that all categories of academic workers are at risk. "The report shows clearly how the issue of Palestine has been used by university leaders, trustees, donors, & politicians…to consolidate authoritarian power for themselves.” afi.mesana.org/resource/les...

Worried about how to speak up while staying safe online during the U.S. midterm elections? Join PEN America’s safety team on 10/15 at 2pm ET to learn how to protect yourself and your community, what to do when harassment happens, and how to support others under attack: pen.org/event/2026-m...

My nephews study in a big tent surrounded by bombed-out houses. They have no access to chairs or tables, so they sit on the dirt. www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...

It’s like an entire university decided to subscribe to the Reader’s Digest Book-of-the-Month Club.

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It’s like an entire university decided to subscribe to the Reader’s Digest Book-of-the-Month Club.

🚨🚨🚨 BREAKING: The AAUP is suing the Trump administration over new policies that threaten green card applicants with family separation. 1/

There's still time to register for this year's Academic Freedom webinar this Wednesday. Join panelists Etana Laing, LeRoy LaFleur, and Carrie Hill and be a part of the discussion. Register here: https://ow.ly/WYAR50ZUrSS

In times like these, it’s vital to know who will stand up for democracy and justice and who will cower and capitulate. Students, faculty, alumni and staff are on the right side of history. The Yale president and trustees are collaborators and their names will live in infamy.

It's worth remembering (esp. re: Cornell): when a network of pundits + think tank reps chose to deride "safe spaces" on college campuses, they by default derided the idea that universities should better protect vulnerable student groups from assaults + fully investigate their credible reports. 1/2