"It is not hyperbole to say that the future of higher education in America requires that every university reject it. If any schools capitulate, the pressure will be enormous on all to fold. The only solution is solidarity and collective action against this effort at federal control over higher" ed.

Please enjoy my cartoon for Wednesday's Toronto Star

Let's be clear tho: Carney abandoned climate change policy as a cynical means to get elected, not because there are other crises.

Breaking News: The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein.

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

Could add further switches turned off: Common sense Decency International relations Unity Respect …

Yup

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday warned he would strip “billions” in state funding from any university that signs onto a Trump administration compact, which ties priority access to federal dollars to the adoption of conservative campus policies. www.newsweek.com/gavin-newsom...

But some workplaces differ. Universities, for instance, have no business punishing faculty for lawful tweets, regardless of how 'controversial' they might.

Mathematician Chad Topaz's new book looks at America's criminal legal system through the lens of data science. Pre-order at www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Ju...

The workplace is really embracing competence diversity these days

I feel like there should be a few additional travel warnings about the US...

Today is #OrangeShirtDay, and also the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. There may be many days in which you recognize the importance of this day - e.g. listening to survivors, taking part in action, making donations, and reading the TRC report irshdc.ubc.ca/orange-shirt...

Academics love our fine distinctions between concepts, like "it's not really fascism, it's a hybrid regime, or it's 'competitive authoritarianism'." Uh huh. Not technically wrong, but if you don't see all the fascism in your competitive authoritarianism, you're equivocating on democracy's grave.

Wouldn't a less "risk-averse" approach be to invest in things *beyond* natural resource extraction?

Yukon-based First Nations education advocacy organization says it ended the rural nutrition program after its Jordan’s Principle funding was cut.

What does the "sovereign citizen" movement look like in Canada? www.theage.com.au/national/vic...

From the weekend, my Toronto Star op-ed on the notwithstanding clause. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

War-ravaged Portland

My op-ed, in today's Toronto Star, on the notwithstanding clause. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

The exponential growth of residential real estate prices is an important consideration. We are at price points where the disconnect between this growth (~8% p.a. long term) and the much lower wage growth (~ 2% p.a. long term) means there is little hope the average earner can purchase a home.

The only surprise to me in this post is the fact UBC receives only 300 to 400 FOI requests per year. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of the nature of these requests. How many are so substantial that they reasonably could require more than the 30-day expected response time?

For the past few months, Pete Fry has been very lukewarm about running for Mayor of Vancouver. But at the UBCM conference, he’s seemed much more open to the idea, and supporters in other municipalities are talking him up to me. Here’s my story on the speculation, and what comes next.

Ousted B.C. Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko is calling for more investigation into allegations that fraudulent party memberships were “manufactured” in advance of a vote to review John Rustad’s leadership. #bcpoli

People quote responses from ChatGPT or Grok as actual truths and that alone explains to me the current state of the world.

Dear Rest of the World - please view this devastating situation as a major opportunity and argument to step up your investments - NOT as a signal to make your own cuts to research activities.

Remind me again what counts as "political violence" we are all supposed to abhor.

My institution tried to scrub DEI language from the faculty handbook. They wanted it passed with "simple review." There was objection, and by a NARROW (WTAF!!) margin, faculty voted to send it back for "substantive review." Reminder: we are a *rich*, powerful PRIVATE institution. #AcademicSky

You cannot simply delete scientific progress and deny human benefits, whether you are a despot or self-declared king.

Getting mail from international rectuitment staff telling me they've been told to recruit more this year, but are forbidden to travel. Canadian institutions' inability to grasp the notion that it takes money to make money is just staggering.

The minister responsible for universities publicly spoke about pressing U of T to act. His action created intense pressure on the U of T administration. U of T's admin has a positive obligation to protect its faculty members' academic freedom encoded in a collective agreement. Did it do so?

AI will eat itself. Pundits advocating AI into education already proving it's the plagiarism machine we all said it is. #AI #AcademicSky #AcademicBluesky arstechnica.com/ai/2025/09/e...

My department @uwmadison.bsky.social is hiring an assistant professor with expertise in environmental politics. Send us your application. jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...

U of T prof's tweet on Charlie Kirk killing was bad, but so is the University's reaction share.google/WWwBuy0i2AQ1...