Emma Whitford

Wow. I assume they didn't get the grant? 😅

Wow! Thanks for sharing. It's spooky how realistic they are

#AcademicSky: Have you come across AI-generated citations that attach your name to nonexistent papers? Have you reviewed papers that cite made-up published works? If so, tell me your story below 👇

A cousin!

Duke professor Dan Ariely had longstanding friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, newly released files show Ariely is named in 636 of the some 3 million newly released files. He was a prominent professor at Duke over the course of his correspondence with Epstein.

The @dukechronicle.bsky.social did a thorough analysis of professor Dan Ariely's comms with Epstein, and also published an op-ed by Ariely on the topic.

dukechronicle.com/article/duke...

Harvard Expands Epstein Probe to Include Donors, Faculty Named in New Justice Department Records | News | The Harvard Crimson Harvard will expand its probe into its ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey E. Epstein to include major University donors identified in the newly released Department of Justice records, a Harvard sp...

The @theharvardcrimson.bsky.social has published several stories exploring the ties between Epstein and Harvard profs, donors, and former president Larry Summers.

Here's their most recent update: www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...

University Trustee Thomas Pritzker Named in New Epstein Documents The notorious financier and sex offender wrote in a text message that UChicago Trustee Thomas Pritzker (M.B.A. ’76, J.D. ’76) was “like family,” according to documents released by the House Oversight ...

I was really impressed by this story on trustee Thomas Pritzker from the @chicagomaroon.bsky.social. It's an excellent layout that makes it easy to look at Pritzker's correspondence with Epstein without diving into the clunky DOJ site.

chicagomaroon.com/49435/news/u...

The Yale Daily News has been all over David Gelernter's years-long friendship with Epstein, which he's said he has no regrets about. They've dropped a story with every new development. Most recently: yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...

Professors in the Epstein Files Begin to Face Consequences Several faculty members who spoke regularly with Epstein have been stripped of their titles or teaching duties.

Shout out to the student journalists that have tirelessly covered their professors' ties to Epstein. My job would be much harder without them. See thread for some of my favorite recent student news pieces.

www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
#AcademicSky #HigherEd

If this *didn't* surprise you, DM me. I want to know what you know.

Tenure Under Threat A spate of firings in the fall revealed just how corroded tenure protections have become. How did we get here?

I published my feature on the erosion of tenure last week. While I expected this was coming, I did not expect it so soon, and I didn't expect Oklahoma to lead.

www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

Tenure Eliminated at Oklahoma Colleges Regional and community colleges professors will no longer receive tenure; research university faculty are spared, with some exceptions.

Oklahoma Gov. ended tenure at regional and community colleges. Research university faculty may still earn it, with regular review.

www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

#AcademicSky @insidehighered.com

Plato Censored as Texas A&M Carries Out Course Review A&M officials have also instructed English faculty not to teach books in core classes that have major plotlines concerning gay, lesbian or transgender identities.

From @emmawhitford.bsky.social: Texas A&M is also telling English faculty to not teach books in core classes that have major plotlines concerning gay, lesbian or transgender identities.

… So no “Heated Rivalry” then?

www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

Any tricks you recommend?

Good point, thanks Matthew

Cool strategy, thanks!

Hello #academicsky, I'm working on a piece about how students are more comfortable refusing to participate in discussion than they used to be. I've seen a lot of complaints from professors about the so-called Gen Z stare. Do you have experience with this? Think the concern is overblown? Let me know!

A photo illustration of a student shopping and a sign on a window that reads "we accept EBT."

Trump Partially Funds SNAP as Colleges Scramble to Feed Students

After court orders, the Trump administration agreed to use emergency reserves to pay for food stamps during the government shutdown. But the funds cover only half of what’s needed. https://bit.ly/4nCXpKb

#EDUSky #AcademicSky

Cautious or Protesting, Foreign Scholars Skip U.S. Conferences As President Donald Trump deploys National Guard troops to American cities and ICE arrests pick up, some international scholars are opting out of U.S. travel.

As we head into a busy winter season for academic conferences, international scholars are deciding to skip them, part in protest against the Trump administration's attacks on higher ed, and part in caution for their own safety at the border.

New from me:
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

If your institution is also doing this re: transgender identity or other course content, let me know at emma.whitford@insidehighered.com or on Signal @emmawhitford.96

Unwritten Policies Sow Faculty Fears. Are They Enforceable? A growing number of institutions are censoring faculty speech and instruction through murky verbal directives that sow fear and confusion. Can they be enforced?

A growing number of universities are using spoken "policies" to scrub transgender identity from course content and scare faculty members into compliance with legally fuzzy rules that violate academic freedom. More at @insidehighered.com: www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

#AcademicSky

Hi I'm an @insidehighered.com reporter writing about which universities are cutting travel expenses, freezing hiring or slashing other costs citing the fed government shutdown. Please DM me or email me any examples at ryan.quinn@insidehighered.com today (especially statements on websites)!

Breaking: Brown University has declined the invitation to join the Trump administration's proposed "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." Brown is now the second to do so after MIT rejected the proposal last week.

Hi Mark, I'm a faculty reporter with IHE. I'd love to talk with you about your experience. Reach me on Signal at emmawhitford.96 or at emma.whitford@insidehighered dot com

Don't think I can, are you able to message me? Or email at emma.whitford@insidehighered dot com

Hi David--I'm a reporter with Inside Higher Ed. Curious to hear more about your thinking on this, would you be open to a phone call?

Fighting Back Against “The War on Tenure” Deepa Das Acevedo’s new book is a response to the erosion of tenure protections that has become all too clear in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death.

Deepa Das Acevedo, author of The War on Tenure, talks to @emmawhitford.bsky.social of @insidehighered.com about the erosion of tenure protections.

#AcademicSky #EduSky #LawSky 🗺️ 🗃️

https://cup.org/4nuLmQ0

I want to learn more about the experiences of trans and other genderqueer faculty, staff and students at Texas public universities for a potential feature. If this is you and you're open to talk anonymously, get in touch via email (in bio) or on Signal at emmawhitford.96 #academicsky

Texas Ban on Transgender Course Content Sows Chaos Verbal-only policies prohibiting academic discussions of trans identity appear to be extending beyond the Texas Tech system and now include anti-trans curricular reviews.

Texas Tech isn't the only university system handing down chilling, verbal-only directives banning discussions about transgender identity. If this is happening at your institution, I want to know about it--reach me on Signal at emmawhitford.96

www.insidehighered.com/node/192421/...

Angelo State Reportedly Banning Pride Flags, Pronouns The new policies, if fully implemented, will also prohibit any discussion of transgender topics. It’s the latest assault on academic freedom at Texas public institutions.

As of Monday, it appears that Angelo State has softened its policies to allow preferred names and LGBQ content, but not transgender discussions. If anyone at Angelo State wants to chat with me about it, I'm on Signal at emmawhitford.96

www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...