19 Comments

I really enjoy reading your articles, but there should be tons of people like you leaving higher ed because of the stench, but if they are leaving, we aren't hearing about it.

Move to Florida and work in higher ed. It is going to take over from the Northeast for sure.

Expand full comment

Very interesting, thanks. It seems that there are a small number of courageous students and faculty who are willing to swim against the tide, and simply the encouragement from letting them know they are not alone is very valuable.*

* https://www.theharvardsalient.com/p/6-spencer-sindhusen-president-of

Expand full comment

It was nice to meet you there.

-Terry

Expand full comment

Yes! Hope to see you in Brooklyn next year!

Expand full comment

I hope to see you there too! Are we sure it's in Brooklyn? I know they said it in Chicago, but it says New York? I guess it's the same, but also very confusing for a Canadian!

Expand full comment

The concluding Powerpoint slide said NYC '25, but Tomasi said Brooklyn. So I presume they've already reserved some Brooklyn location to be hepper/cheaper than one of the old convention hotels in Manhattan. (Which will mean much longer subway rides for me!)

Expand full comment

I hope they release the details soon. Oh, where do you subway in from? I'm spoiled because Montreal's subway network is not very large.

Expand full comment

I'll be heading down from pretty far uptown Manhattan, it'll likely entail at least a transfer or two and a lot of waiting especially on the weekend.

Expand full comment

That's a bit of a pain in the ass, but it'll be worth it. It's usually an interesting crowd. It'll be my first time in Brooklyn. Really looking forward to it. Gnite! :)

Expand full comment

The Heterodox Academy sounds intriguing.

Also, in that typical St. Louis way, I am smitten you grew up in Clayton ~ my nextdoor neighbor (RH).

Expand full comment

As it happens, my Dad lived in Richmond Heights (on Hoover St. near the Esquire theater), in the little sliver of town that's in the Clayton school district, which is what allowed me to remain in Clayton schools when my mother moved from Clayton to U. City! (She's back in Clayton now.)

Expand full comment

Here's a related question that popped into what's left of my old mind today.

https://polistrasmill.com/2024/06/18/where-do-they-learn/

Expand full comment

Good questions... the lowest common denominator conclusions just seem like where the funding inevitably leads!

Expand full comment

Good read! I attended the last HxA conference and also felt that sense of optimism you seem to have gotten this time around.

Expand full comment

There were about 400 people this time, and they're up to something like 7000 members. Hope to see you next year!

Expand full comment

I'm glad to hear the optimistic report on the conference. This is how things can change.

Expand full comment

The promise:

Have some standards! We're trying to build a great academic project here, and there's no room for rough edges and inaccessible or exclusive mentalities!!! Act in accordance with everybody else, and you could go far...

The reality:

most conferences are there to net you a bullet point on the CV and have the spots be fought over.

https://argomend.substack.com/p/the-middle-system

Expand full comment

I am also a member of HxA. Glad you are on board.

Expand full comment

Right on!

Expand full comment