this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2025

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Three prominent Yale professors depart for Canadian university, citing Trump fears (yaledailynews.com)

submitted 3 days ago by TokenBoomer@lemmy.world to c/progressivepolitics@lemmy.world

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History department power couple Timothy Snyder and Marci Shore and philosophy professor Jason Stanley will begin teaching at the University of Toronto’s renowned Munk School in fall 2025.

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[–] adm@lemm.ee 44 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Must be nice to have the means to flee.

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 30 points 3 days ago

I said the intellectuals, aka scientist are always the first to flee from fascist states, because they know better. Also professors are shortages in some universities thats not the USA, USA is too bloated from the university standpoint in terms faculty, even to the point phds.cant get permanjobs

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 9 points 3 days ago

As another "not dealing with this shit" (non-American) expat, yes, yes it is.

[–] ElectricAirship@lemmy.dbzer0.com 38 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Timothy Snyder is a Russian historian and has a number of books that discuss the rise of Russian oligarchy. Just thought that might be important.

[–] Aliktren@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago

Everyone should watch his youtube series on ukraine

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 34 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

It can't be overstated how much Columbia has fucked up this moment. They caved to Elise 'Great Replacement Theory' Stefanik's fake antisemitism hearings stoked that fire, their original unnecessary crackdown on students is largely the cause of the broader unrest on campuses, and now their capitulation signals the weakness of American educational institutions.

It doesn't look like they're going to course correct any time soon either, so hopefully people will reevaluate their position as an elite school.

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 17 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Also their alleged revoking of people's degree essentially makes Columbia's diplomas being this close to be ignored by employers

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

I expect it makes students think twice about enrolling too, if your degree can be taken away because the university doesn't like something you said.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I'm gonna grammar MAGA (Make America Grammatical Again) and say that it's course correct, not coarse correct.

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

Of coarse!

[–] Wilco@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

They are doing it because they are smart.

That's it ... that's my response. College professors are smart ... I'm leaving now.

[+] surph_ninja@lemmy.world -9 points 3 days ago (2 children)

So are they not paying attention to fascism spreading in Canada?

It’s infected all western countries. Globalization leads to global problems.

[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yes. But our fascist is largely a laughing stock who is actually likely to lose his own seat in parliament in a month if the polls hold. His association with Trump is resoundingly hated both on the left and most people on the right. He's a twerp that (hopefully) isn't long for this world (politically speaking of course)

[–] surph_ninja@lemmy.world -2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

LoL. You think Canada’s government has a problem with just one fascist?! It’s infested.

[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Not really. They're mostly clustered in a couple of prairie provinces, which have a very small impact on elections. Ontario and Quebec basically determine the election. So as long as the Eastern conservatives stick to their fiscal bitching and moaning and generally shy away from the culture war bullshit (which they generally do), we'll be fine. Poppinfresh and his gang of Maple Maga are trying to take over the party, but for now at least, his own party has expressed annoyance as his rules about what they can and cannot say.

[–] surph_ninja@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago

Weird that isolated clusters are the only sources of fascism in Canada, when the PM’s office had multiple Nazi sympathizer scandals, and indigenous people across the entire country live in fear for their lives.

How are isolated clusters controlling national politics?

[–] damdy@lemm.ee 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Canada gained 3 non fascists, so it's going down.

[–] surph_ninja@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago

Freeland’s going for the PM spot. A politician with multiple Nazi sympathizer scandals.

[+] johny@feddit.org -41 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Weak and contemptible people, they just fall over when the only penalty is slight career inconvenience for a few years.

What do they think happens when real fascism shows up instead of the racist clown car that is the Trump administration.

[–] VieuxQueb@lemmy.ca 18 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I don't think people like Timothy Snyder are dumb enough to wait until he is disappeared by plainclothes armed forces. He has a series about Ukraine on YouTube. If an opinion piece can make you disappear imagine a whole Channel.

[+] johny@feddit.org -13 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

The people that are being disappeared are all of middle eastern descent, non US born citizens, and protesting for Palestine, Timothy Snyder of all people should be familiar with the poem „First they came for the Communists and I did nothing…“ and understand what it means, and understand that now is the time to act and stand your ground.

[–] Charapaso@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

...or now is the time to leave while/if you can. Maybe they've decided they can fight the regime more effectively from outside the country. That they can use their voice and experience unburdened by fear they'll be arrested. What do you suggest they do that they can't from Canada?

Truly, I can't fault people for leaving. Especially people that are being targeted. I'm a scientist that works fighting against climate change, so I get it.

[–] johny@feddit.org 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Their career is being targeted, their position of being a really influential and highly regarded tenured professor is being targeted. But having this career is not a human rights, it‘s a privilege. And they can use this privilege to protect weaker members of society, like students whose rights are actually threatened.

If Norman Finkelstein is not in danger then they are definitely not in danger.

[–] Charapaso@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Again I ask: what do you suggest they do that they cannot do from Canada?

[–] johny@feddit.org -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They could stay at Yale, they could keep writing and doing research to their best conscience, and then make as much noise as possible if someone tries to stop them.

They could help organize, help protest when academic freedoms are being attacked, or anything else, except flee at the slightest bit of resistance.

Bernie Sanders and AOC have shown that there are tens of thousands of people in almost every US city willing to get onto the streets to resist Trump. So they will not be alone, and then if things get really hairy, then they can flee.

And besides that, they are the self-proclaimed fascist experts, so they should be able to think of many more effective strategies to resist authoritarianism. But I doubt any of their proscribed strategies is for the elite to pack their bags at the first inconvenience.

[–] Charapaso@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Thank you for a good reply, but I'll still push back on your general conclusion. They can do nearly all of that from Canada, the only exception that they won't face arrest for doing so.

The larger point: I think "slightest bit" is way underselling what we've seen over the last couple months. Attacks on the academic systems, legal systems, and of course on the most vulnerable people in society. I think we're already at "really hairy", and waiting to "flee" until the administration is executing professors in the street is too late.

To make a different point: not everyone can do their best resisting while under serious pressure. Not everyone is a fighter. We need medics, we need logistics, we need reporters, we need people abroad supporting us. If they can't handle the pressure, but will keep up the flight from afar, then more power to them. It doesn't necessarily make them cowards, but cognizant of their own needs and how they can best help. Maybe they are fleeing out of cowardice, but the point I'm trying to make is that it isn't a given.

[–] Alph4d0g@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 days ago

Purportedly. Nothing is independently verifiable outside of a black box.

[–] ChristmasApe@discuss.online 13 points 3 days ago (1 children)

What happens when real fascism shows up?

Probably think to themselves “Glad I got the fuck out of there when I did.”

[+] johny@feddit.org -14 points 3 days ago (1 children)

There is no evidence that they are in any form of physical danger whatsoever, they can use their elevated voice to defend the institution and defend civil liberties, instead they choose to save their career. That is a choice that they are allowed to make, but I find it weak and contemptible.

[–] ChristmasApe@discuss.online 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Or they don’t want to deal with the bullshit and are taking their talents elsewhere.

[+] johny@feddit.org -10 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Yes and I find that weak and contemptible. Especially when it concerns people that have been very loud about not being silent when a Genocide happens. The situation in Palestine has been considered a genocide or likely genocide by many institutions, and students protesting this are being racially targeted and silenced, and they choose to safe their careers. I don’t understand how anyone can defend that.

[–] ChristmasApe@discuss.online 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Their rights to live their lives as they see fit apply only when you say it’s OK.

Got it, thanks.

[–] johny@feddit.org -2 points 2 days ago

How does my comment in any way infringe their rights to leave?

[–] pleasegoaway@lemm.ee 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

“Hurr durr how DARE people with means try to protect themselves when a dangerous regime is taking over”

Give me a break.

[–] johny@feddit.org -2 points 2 days ago

The only thing they are protecting is their own career which is weak. What makes it contemptible is that they built their career on sitting on their high horses about what to do during an authoritarian power grab, and then do exactly the opposite of what they have been preaching. Choosing this field of study means (in my opinion (with which you can disagree (and most people here apparently do))) that you have extra responsibilities.

[–] pleasegoaway@lemm.ee 5 points 3 days ago

Please go away.