drmarcspooner.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Missed our 2024 conference on university governance? We’ve captured the most compelling discussions, insights, & stories in our latest report. We synthesized the wisdom of our speakers into useful lessons & actionable advice for a stronger, inclusive university governance cufa.bc.ca/announcing-p...

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

“America is a huge cultural exporter, so we tend to see the conversation happening there spread very quickly and widely.” - Marc Spooner #congressh @universityaffairs.bsky.social

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

“I can see how youth are alienated when tuition is so high, when you’re expected to graduate with a mortgage on your house of knowledge” - Marc Spooner #congressh @universityaffairs.bsky.social

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

Well, this is absolutely ludicrous. Not just uncertified, but didn't even complete high school. And the recommended solution is more monitoring?! These publicly funded private schools have proven time and time again why they should not exist. Another case in point.

submitted 2 days ago • 5 comments

Ontario Bill 33 undermines university autonomy and access to education, critics say JOE FRIESEN, Postsecondary Education Reporter Globe and Mail

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

You may remember the Ford Govt from such policy triumphs as "Mass Slaughter in Long-term Care Facilities" and "Housing? What's That?". Now it wants to remove universities' right to select their own students. Biggest assault on uni autonomy in Canadian history. higheredstrategy.com/code-red-on-...

submitted 4 days ago • 2 comments

"They want to turn these institutions into propaganda mills." @adamserwer.bsky.social on why the Trump administration has launched an attack against universities and knowledge itself.

submitted 7 days ago • 7 comments

I don't think anyone outside of universities, pharma and biotech, independent research institutions have any idea of what is happening right now. If you haven't sounded the alarm among your friends, family and colleagues, now is the time to do it.

submitted 7 days ago • 66 comments

There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd. It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.

submitted 7 days ago • 461 comments

This smoke in the air from the forest fires is apocalyptic. I can taste it and I am indoors.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

WTF America? RFK Jr threatens ban on federal scientists publishing in top journals US health secretary calls leading medical journals such as Lancet ‘corrupt’ and pushes to create state-run alternatives www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

RFK Jr. is reportedly going to forbid government scientists from publishing in the world’s most respected medical journals — the Lancet, The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, etc. It’s going to take decades to repair the damage done by this administration.

submitted 9 days ago • 1224 comments

The difference between Manitoba’s and Saskatchewan’s reactions to the catastrophic fires demonstrates, I think, the differences between a right wing provincial gov’t that hates Indigenous Peoples and an Indigenous premier who cultivates relationships with the North.

submitted 8 days ago • 1 comment

Had the pleasure of taking part in this latest To Save The World Episode 683 (tosavetheworld.ca) hosted by Metta Spencer (she's 93!) and shared the guesting with Robert Quinn the founding Exec Director of Scholars at Risk. youtu.be/hlsRgmPrNmA

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

“It’s a lot easier to destroy a thing than to build a thing.”

submitted 14 days ago • 256 comments

ICYMI

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

Opinion: Canadian democracy needs universities — now more than ever What happens to democracy when universities come under attack? …the answer should concern all of us. edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu... @joelwestheimer.bsky.social

submitted 23 days ago • 1 comment

Opinion: Canadian democracy needs universities — now more than ever What happens to democracy when universities come under attack? …the answer should concern all of us. edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu... @joelwestheimer.bsky.social

submitted 23 days ago • 1 comment

BAM! Opinion: Faculty, staff rebuke University of Saskatchewan ex-president What Peter MacKinnon characterizes as an “ideological mission” is actually the University of Saskatchewan becoming more inclusive and more just. leaderpost.com/opinion/colu...

submitted 23 days ago • 0 comments

Pierre Poilievre went from a 25-point lead and being a lock for next prime minister to losing the election — and his seat. Canadian politics…twists.

submitted 39 days ago • 112 comments

Can someone explain how Saskatchewan sent a strong message for change when the Conservatives have one less MP now?

submitted 38 days ago • 0 comments

Pierre Poilievre staying on to what exactly?

submitted 39 days ago • 1 comment

More mimicking Trump from Poilievre “And Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre mentioned in a speech last month in Quebec that he intends to put a stop to “woke” influence in federal support for research. The campaign did not reply to a request to clarify what that would mean.

submitted 42 days ago • 0 comments

Please be correct!

submitted 44 days ago • 1 comment

Ridiculous Trump mimicry www.ctvnews.ca/federal-elec...

submitted 45 days ago • 0 comments

Universities at a political crossroads Canadian universities are facing uncertain prospects as they weigh the Liberal Party’s mixed record on postsecondary education against Conservative threats to EDI initiatives and research funding. universityaffairs.ca/features/uni...

submitted 50 days ago • 0 comments

The court system is a coequal branch of government. If the administration isn’t going to follow their orders it’s time to hold some senior officials in contempt.

submitted 53 days ago • 256 comments

“No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Alan Garber, Harvard’s president, said about President Trump's demands. nyti.ms/4jzSS9W

submitted 53 days ago • 162 comments

Never thought I’d be lauding Harvard, but here we are… Harvard Says It Will Not Comply With Trump Administration’s Demands New York Times By Vimal Patel “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/u...

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

Universities At A Political Crossroads Canadian universities are facing uncertain prospects as they weigh the Liberal Party’s mixed record on postsecondary education against Conservative threats to EDI initiatives and research funding www.universityaffairs-digital.com/universityaf...

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

"Feedback from teachers ... suggests that the #philosophy sessions created an opportunity to engage with pupils and develop a whole #school #culture of #thinking, #listening, #speaking, using #logical #arguments" sciencealert.com/teaching-chi... #Semantics #SharedFacts #EmotionLogic

submitted 58 days ago • 9 comments

My whole life I’ve mostly been disappointed with election results at all 3 levels of government— with a few beautiful exceptions to keep me hopeful— but what I have never doubted was the integrity of the process (except for the Regina chickadee vote, but that’s another story) 1/4

submitted 57 days ago • 1 comment

It's long past time to ban insider trading in Congress.

submitted 58 days ago • 1227 comments

An absolutely terrible idea- the Gov of Saskatchewan has lost the plot when it comes to education. Getting rid of a reasonable exam supporting non-accredited teachers & students & replacing them with costly & failed American style standardized testing. www.saskatchewan.ca/government/n...

submitted 63 days ago • 0 comments

"More than 1,200 scientists who responded to a Nature poll — three-quarters of the total respondents — are considering leaving the United States following the disruptions prompted by Trump. Europe and Canada were among the top choices for relocation." www.nature.com/articles/d41...

submitted 69 days ago • 0 comments

Disappointed to read (again) that security is interfering in the work of journalists at UBC's student newspaper.

submitted 70 days ago • 0 comments

Americans of all political affiliations will miss the checks and balances that Donald Trump is trying to dispense with.

submitted 69 days ago • 30 comments

Canadian airlines are eliminating tens of thousands of seats to the U.S. this April, while industry data shows that bookings have declined significantly.

submitted 70 days ago • 285 comments

Why aren’t you wearing a suit? Have you said “Thank you” to Greenland and Denmark for allowing you to have a base on Greenland?

submitted 70 days ago • 1190 comments

I’m hoping our next government creates a special fund to take in as many highly qualified personnel fleeing, unwilling, or unable to remain or go to the USA Professors/researchers, Scientists, Medical, etc

submitted 69 days ago • 0 comments