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Benjamin Bland

@benjamin-bland.bsky.social

Historian (identity, race, popular culture, cities, memory, politics) trying to survive the times. Writing a book about transatlantic hip-hop. Work at @yorknsc.bsky.social‬ but views own.

60 Posts245 Follower213 Folgt
Glen O'Hara@gsoh31.bsky.social · 4d ago

So it's farewell to the History subject area at the University of Hertfordshire, not the first nor the last to go. One of the best departments in the country, just extinguished like a snap of the fingers. Think of the waste. (1/2)

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Cordelia Beattie@cordeliabeattie.bsky.social · 4d ago

I see some people are reading this post as being about Exeter but it’s referring to the University of Hertfordshire. And that’s Owen’s point. Less coverage about the axe falling there but it’s equally sad.

Owen Davies@odavies9.bsky.social · 4d ago

So a whole lot of my talented Humanities colleagues are now unemployed as of today. A lot of understandable concern over Exeter. But for over two decades my Hums colleagues were in the top quartile for their research contribution to society. History top 10. Now gone with only a national whisper.

Bianca Michelle Parker@bumblebigirl.bsky.social · 3w ago

Feels bad that a director of a major studio film is perfectly comfortable saying that casting non-white actors is just something you do to look woke and otherwise isn't remotely necessary

Andy Serkis Gets Asked Why New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Cast Is All White Actors: ‘I Don’t Think We’ll Be Doing a Politically Correct Casting-for-the Sake-of-Casting Version of the Film’

Andy Serkis' 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' has only announced white actors for its cast, following the lack of diversity in other flms.

variety.com

elia ayoub@ayoub.bsky.social · 3w ago

Jesus. 35 UK universities quietly- without debate - joined the Ministry of Defence’s “Battlefield Alliance” which seeks to “reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security” They’re destroying the social sciences and humanities while militarising the institutions

• Durham University • Newcastle University • Northumbria University • Lancaster University • University of Cumbria • University of Lancashire • University of Liverpool • University of Manchester • University of Huddersfield • University of Sheffield • University of York • Loughborough University • University of Lincoln • University of Nottingham • Aston University • University of Birmingham • University of Warwick • King's College London • Kingston University • Queen Mary University of London • University College London • University of Oxford • University of Portsmouth • University of Surrey • University of Bath • University of Bristol • University of Exeter • University of Plymouth • University of Edinburgh • University of Glasgow • University of Strathclyde • Cardiff University • Swansea University • Queens University Belfast • Cranfield UniversityFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 14 July 2026 UK Universities Betray Public Trust by Joining MoD's 'Battlefield Advantage' Alliance Without Debate A coalition of campaign groups has accused UK universities of quietly integrating themselves into Britain's defence infrastructure after 35 institutions signed up to the Ministry of Defence's Defence Universities Alliance (DUA). The Ministry of Defence says the alliance aims to "reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security", strengthen links between universities and the defence sector, and translate research into "battlefield advantage". Campaigners say the move represents a significant shift in the role of higher education and has taken place without meaningful public debate. Among the founding members are the University of Oxford, University College London, King's College London, the University of Manchester, the University of Edinburgh, Cardiff University and Queen's University Belfast. "We are witnessing the formal incorporation of Britain's universities into the defence ecosystem," said Jinsella Kennaway, Founder and Executive Director of Demilitarise Education. "The Ministry of Defence is explicit about its intentions. Universities exist to advance knowledge and foster critical inquiry, not to become pipelines for military research and defence recruitment. Students and staff deserve to know who agreed to this and why." Campaigners are calling on all 35 universities to publish the governance documents and board minutes relating to their decision to join the alliance, and to explain whether staff and students were consulted. Many UK universities already maintain relationships with major defence companies, including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo, Thales, Lockheed Martin and QinetiQ. Critics argue that the DUA formalises and accelerates the integration of academia, industry and the state. The coalition warns that, at a time of rising defence spending, universities risk becoming increasingly aligned with governme…
London Review of Books@lrb.co.uk · last mo.

‘Margaret Busby acknowledges the importance of anthologists and editors in championing overlooked or underrepresented writers, but also recognises that their selections sometimes give the impression of being definitive.’ Christine Okoth on the Black British publisher. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Christine Okoth · How Things Should Go: Margaret Busby’s Books

Margaret Busby acknowledges the importance of anthologists and editors in championing overlooked or underrepresented...

lrb.co.uk

Shubranshu شبھرانشو@shubranshu.bsky.social · last mo.

Scholars from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & beyond stand in solidarity with 500 colleagues at Exeter facing potential redundancy - deeply concerned about the damage these cuts would do to the scholarship & international partnerships that have taken years to build. #DefendExeterUni shorturl.at/sNnAb

Statement of Solidarity from South Asian Scholars against redundancies at Exeter

To add your signature to this letter, please fill out the signatory form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXrQ3bi3TADQwObWC34MnYPCUzXNGg8gRFD7kzaNqGhIz20g/viewform?usp=publish-editor. From...

docs.google.com

Royal Historical Society@royalhistsoc.org · last mo.

And behind the accessible *quality* content now available you'll repeatedly find higher education: students who benefit and go on to create content, and academic researchers whose expertise and training make possible such content. It's rightly a dialogue, though one increasingly at risk #Skystorians

Peter Whitewood@pwhitewood.bsky.social · last mo.

This misses the point. Self-education has become more accessible in the last 20 years than at any point in history, though not through ‘amateur reading’. The problem isn’t access to information but learning how to evaluate it critically - and that brings us back to universities (and Humanities)

Theo Williams@theo-williams.bsky.social · last mo.

*Anti-racism in Britain: Traditions, histories and trajectories, c. 1880-present* is out now in paperback AND half price in the @manchesterup.bsky.social summer sale! 50% discount applied automatically at checkout manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526199775/

Manchester University Press - Anti-racism in Britain

Anti-racism in Britain - Browse and buy the Paperback edition of Anti-racism in Britain by Saffron East

manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk

Mark Williams@mrfw17thc.bsky.social · last mo.

This is it: there's no coherent logic driving these changes. It's an ideological choice in the guise of a financial crisis. As Kent proved post-REF 2021, you can top all the tables and jump through all the hoops. The vandals are still not going to listen or respect you. Because they're vandals.

Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · last mo.

Struggling to parse this. Exeter is celebrating its overall global ranking to 136th, comprised (it reports) of 151st (Natural Sciences), 131st (Life Sciences & Medicine) and 76th (Arts & Humanities) while announcing plans to make 25% of Arts & Humanities staff redundant. Does this compute?

History Workshop@historyworkshop.org.uk · last mo.

📣 Call for Applications 📣 History Workshop is seeking to appoint one Editorial Fellow in 2026, with specialism in pre-1800 CE history from any part of the globe. This is a part-time, paid role. Application deadline: 7 August 2026. Please share widely!

Call for Applications: Editorial Fellowship at History Workshop, 2026

History Workshop is seeking to appoint one Editorial Fellow in 2026, with specialism in pre-1800 CE history from any part of the globe.

historyworkshop.org.uk