Department of Navel Gazing: My Year in Blogging and some Highlights

I have written 283 blog posts this year (so far!). Last December, I went on an official 6-week hiatus in order to finish my book, then came back on 2/12 in order to talk about the consequences of debating truth-claims about abuse in public. In 2013, my highest monthly viewership was about 17,000. In 2014, … Continue ReadingDepartment of Navel Gazing: My Year in Blogging and some Highlights

#DontreHamilton – No Charges in Milwaukee Killing of Black Man with Disability

Picture by @deray on Twitter. Used with permission.“I have a mental illness. Am I next” Today news broke that the Milwaukee Country D.A. will not be charging a police officer who killed Dontre Hamilton. Hamilton was black, unarmed, and had psychiatric disabilities. Hamilton was sleeping in a courtyard/park near a Starbucks, when Officer Christopher Manney came … Continue Reading#DontreHamilton – No Charges in Milwaukee Killing of Black Man with Disability

Disability and the Murder of Two NYPD Officers

Yesterday, Ismaaiyl Brinsley made an incendiary Instagram post, shot his girlfriend, traveled to NY area, killed two police officers, and then killed himself. The simple narrative is that this was about Garner and Brown.  Melissa McEwan and others would like us to keep all three victims in mind, and perhaps that complicates the narrative. In the meantime, … Continue ReadingDisability and the Murder of Two NYPD Officers

Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan, public intellectual

Today in the Chronicle of Higher Education I have a profile of Michael Roth, the president of Wesleyan University. I’m interested in his work as a public intellectual and defender of the traditions of liberal learning. There are lots of other people who make similar arguments (which is not a criticism. They are GOOD arguments!). … Continue ReadingMichael Roth, president of Wesleyan, public intellectual

Disabled Black Man Holding Spoon Killed by Police. Racists Cheer.

In Texarkana on Monday, a woman called 911 (click for the call) at around 2 AM to report a person in her garage. The woman was frightened and said that she heard banging on the windows from the person in the garage. A police office came to investigate, and found an African-American man holding something in … Continue ReadingDisabled Black Man Holding Spoon Killed by Police. Racists Cheer.

Me and Voldemort (Why Academic Freedom in Extramural Utterances Matters)

I had a new piece at the Chronicle yesterday about offensive speech and academic freedom. Deborah O’Connor, a Florida State lecturer, resigned after saying some really nasty things on a public Facebook page. In my piece, I compare her speech to the un-hiring of Steven Salaita, a case on which I’ve written a lot over … Continue ReadingMe and Voldemort (Why Academic Freedom in Extramural Utterances Matters)