South Korean Opposition Protest Outside Parliament After Martial Law (CNBC)

 

Defending DEI Programming at the University of Michigan

More than 500 people have signed a petition in favor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programming that has been part of the University of Michigan for years, and a rally was held yesterday in support of the programs. 

According to the petition:

It has been confirmed by multiple sources that the Regents met earlier this month in a private meeting with a small subgroup of central leadership members, and among the topics discussed was the future of DEI programming at UM, including possibly defunding DEI in the next fiscal year. Our understanding is that the Regents may announce or vote to implement the plan as early as December 5th (their next scheduled meeting), before the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Diversity, equity, and inclusivity are imperative to address systemic and structural inequities. They are also stated core values of the University of Michigan. We must remind the Regents that changes to DEI are not in their mandate, which is purely financial oversight, and we must remind them of the importance of shielding our ethical commitments from political pressure.

Support Higher Education Labor United this Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday While HELU is primarily funded by solidarity pledges from our member organizations, individual contributions allow us to expand our programming and capacity to react in the moment. Higher education will be a site of struggle in 2025 and beyond. We must build our power and that requires increasing the funding available to our movement. Please consider making a contribution to HELU today. You can read more about HELU's 2024 work in our previous newsletters and monthly Chair's Messages from Mia McIver. Contributions will support HELU's programming in 2025, including national and statewide coalition-building, in-person events, policy development, organizing trainings and political education events, and much more. For longer-term impact, you can make your donation monthly. Donate to HELU Stand in Solidarity with Higher Ed WorkersCommunity Petition: Reverse Course Cancellations and Faculty Layoffs That Hurt Students at UM-Dearborn UArts Union faculty & staff still need support- Donate to the Solidarity Fund! Contribute to the MUWU Solidarity Fund Community Letter for United Academics of University of Oregon Donate to the CGE-OSU Strike Fund Stop the Layoffs. Support Students and Workers at Portland State HELU Member Union UCW Arizona Seeks Organizing Coordinator HELU Solidarity Asks come from higher education labor organizations looking to build solidarity with workers on a national or regional basis, to drive participation in a particular action or campaign that supports higher ed workers. This can include (but is not limited to) contributing to strike funds, writing letters to policy-makers, signing petitions, participation in actions, and more. To submit a solidarity ask, please complete the form here.

The Roaring 2020s and America's Move to the Right

In December 2024, the Roaring 2020s are already here. The stock market is near an all-time high and Bitcoin has gained enormous value, waiting for Donald J. Trump to become President again, to make America Great Again. 

In 2025 US citizens should expect markets to continue growing, and the costly war in the Ukraine to be settled. Deregulation, interest rate cuts, and tax cuts, which provide economic stimulus, will be at the heart of the new Trump Administration, good enough to pump up the economy for years. Threats to raise tariffs on China and other nations (which are costly to consumers) may only be threats.  

Mr. Trump promises a new Golden Age. And many of those who are clever enough and ambitious enough should expect to get rich. But those who do not agree with President Trump may face increased scrutiny, harkening back to a century ago.  

Let's see how long this new era lasts, how it is remembered by different people, and how it is retold in history books.