Global Crisis

I have a bunch of pieces out in various stages of edits, and hope to have 3 or 4 pieces published next week. This week I had only one, a new Game of Thrones piece for Vice. I think the changing relationship between the books and the show is interesting. Eventually, the show will become canon, if indeed it hasn't already. Of course, Game of...

The Trigger Warning debate is back. Did it ever really go away?Here's my new piece of the argument: Trigger Warnings preserve access to offensive content that, nevertheless, has educational value.A year ago I wrote this piece for CNN in the context of the TW discussion. I argued that best practices for teaching any content requires preparation...

According to Strategy Analytics, there are more than 2.3 billion smartphones in use globally, and that number continues to rise. And on the road, customers are demanding better integration between phones and their vehicles. Whether they have an Apple or Android phone, Chevrolet...

I like TV shows, books, and movies that are imperfect matches for my values. They are produced in societies that are, likewise, imperfect, and few cultural creations can withstand any kind of purity test.That doesn't mean that you just get to ignore the problem. It also doesn't necessarily mean you have to stop enjoying something that is problematic....

Troll Warning: Image of a troll silhouette in a red triangle. From WikiCommons.Trolls are happy to be trolls, mostly. They like the term; it conveys power. They have driven a lot of good people off the internet in their large-scale acts, and just made it an unsafe place in an everyday,...

Windshield wipers are an often overlooked part of your car's safety system. If your windshield wipers are not working properly, it can be difficult to see when it rains. Faulty windshield wiper blades can smear your windshield, creating visibility hazards. So, it's important...

This week I had one published piece - Low Cost College Isn't Enough (CNN.com, 5/20/15)Over the next 18 months of the presidential election, there's going to be a lot of conversation about lowering the cost of college. I am asking you to help me make sure we also talk about high quality, which for me begins with a discussion of adjunctification, excellent...

Ford Motor Company, through its Warriors in Pink campaign, launched The Good Day Project – a powerful call to action to bring more good days to those living with breast cancer.For more than two decades, Ford Warriors in Pink has been committed to the fight and continues to inspire...

Last month I wrote a piece for Al Jazeera America on zero tolerance, restraint, abuse, and the cult of compliance in our schools. I started with a report from the Center for Public Integrity and the story of Kayleb Moon-Robinson.Kayleb Moon-Robinson is a 12-year-old boy who lives in Virginia. One day at school, he kicked a trash can and was charged...

The 2015 Lexus CT 200h is an unique choice for a premium-brand hybrid car, its comes equipped with great fuel economy and sporty handling. But in comparison to other Lexus vehicles I have reviewed it's also one of the slowest cars in its class.LED Daytime Running Lights/Fog LightsGear...

UPDATE: My NYT piece has been delayed. Still in the works but probably 10 days or so from now, for various reasons. Stay tuned!Today I am going to have a piece in the New York Times about Autism Speaks and a recent parenting dilemma. I thought it might be useful to have some resources here. I'll post the link to the piece when it's up.Here's the...

In my recent CNN piece, I wrote about my university with both pride and realism. We are a relatively low-cost private school that does some things exceptionally well. Those things that we do well cost money, though. I wrote:The Pell Institute's publication "Moving Beyond Access:...

NOTE - This piece has been updated to remove a sentence in which I attributed ideas to Goldrick-Rab which she doesn't hold. I regret the error.Yesterday I wrote a new piece for CNN, offering my take on the expanding debate about the cost of college.Today, Bernie Sanders is going to file a 70 billion $ bill in the Senate to offer free public education...

Being a racist is not enough to invalidate academic freedom.Jerry Hough, a Duke Professor, left a racist comment on a New York Times page. He is now reportedly on leave. Hough has denied he's a racist. From Slate:Hough told both the local ABC and Fox affiliates that he was on...

I had three essays and seven blog posts this week, moderated a twitter chat, and went to a conference to give a talk and learn from my colleagues. Busy!Here's the piece you probably didn't read:Zoo Camp for All (Belt Magazine, 5/12/15)My son is going to Zoo Camp. The Brookfield Zoo has a fantastic, fully inclusive, summer program which is based...

To institutions: if you want the reputational currency of public scholars you'd better have institutional processes & courage to go with it— Tressie Mc, PhD (@tressiemcphd) May 12, 2015Almost a year ago, I wrote about Steven Salaita being un-hired by the University of Illinois. I argued:I come to this topic not as a partisan in the specifics of...

One definition of feminism: A critique of the gendered nature of power in a given society and a seriesCharlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa  in 'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015). She holds arifle and is in front of an armored truck.Courtesy of Warner Brothers Picturesof actions stemming...

Image: The word "Love" in redstamped over the word "tweet." This weekend around three thousand medievalists - scholars and fans alike - will descend on the 50th Annual International Medieval Congress, a massive, interdisciplinary and relatively egalitarian academic gathering....