A Q&A with the Vibrator Nation author: “They led with sex education not titillation, and worked to advance a social mission that included putting a vibrator on the bedside table of every woman, everywhere, because they believed that access to accurate sexual information and quality products had the potential to make everyone’s lives better.”

Longtime WordPress.com blogger Cathy O’Neil advocates for morality in algorithms in her new TED Talk, “The era of blind faith in big data must end.”

From Fiona Greenland: “You don’t have to be a Near Eastern specialist to be concerned about the broader outcomes of a private group, with a pronounced political and religious agenda, having the power to control the empirical underpinnings of a discipline.”

From the Trump Syllabus 2.0 to the Native Lives Matter Syllabus, crowd-sourced syllabi have popped up as resources for educators and readers looking for background about complex current events.

The language of higher-education procedure and bureaucracy in verse form, with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

“There are students who will be assumed capable without the need to list their credentials in the beginning of a reflective piece. How many degrees do I need for someone to believe I am an academic?” After receiving feedback on a paper, Tiffany Martínez reflects on her work and place in academia.

“I will never give in to fear that is based on Twitter logic. I will never develop policy with bigots who masquerade as Twitter experts. I will not connect random dots between violence downtown and the brown neighbour next door.” Reflections on violence, Twitter, and politics, from a Canadian looking south.

Melissa Hillman on the struggle for real diversity in academia, theater, and beyond: “The problem with diversity without equity is that diversity can be accomplished in ways that entirely preserve the white male power structure.”

College campuses are once again humming with life — what better time to revisit our Q&A with writer and blogger Rebecca Schuman, an outspoken critic of the American university?

“If you think we’re putting academic work on social media to please our university or to appear enthusiastic, then you need to pull your head out of a cave.” Terry McGlynn responds to a “serious academic” who says academics shouldn’t share their work on social media.

Dr. Kate Thomas explores the similarities between medieval prayer memes and the popular Facebook memes of today.

“It’s the hard days — the days that challenge you to your very core — that determine who you are.” Sheryl Sandberg gives the 2016 commencement address at UC Berkeley.

At Zócalo Public Square, Irina Dumitrescu argues against the notion that a liberal arts education is a luxury, sharing stories of political prisoners whose knowledge of languages and poetry proved crucial to their survival.

Tseen Khoo at The Research Whisperer on over-writing: “Don’t be seduced into thinking that a massive word count stands in for productive academic writing. It’s not about the quantity.”

“When I picture myself in a comfortable, tenure-track job, I feel no excitement or joy or anticipation or comfort. I don’t daydream about what a nice life that would be.” Susan Zakaib, a PhD candidate in history, explains why she’s done with academia.