#neoliberalhellhole — Public Fediverse posts

Things that should shock people, but don't seem to: UC Davis is urging its underpaid grad students and adjuncts, among others, to donate to a food drive to support UC Davis staff & retirees who are food insecure.

Of course, UC could have prevented things like this by hiring real educators from within instead of chasing CEO-types to be chancellors, and downsizing overpaid management and not super-sizing UCPD, but instead we have a #NeoliberalHellhole

https://hr.ucdavis.edu/events/uc-davis-staff-retiree-food-drive #USpol

UC campuses used to have actual career centers with qualified human employees.

Now UC Davis uses Handshake for everything, even internal positions.

I just got an email from the "Handshake Matchmaker" saying it had the perfect position for me - a mobile swim instructor.

#NeoliberalHellhole

"According to Moak, the administrative decisions relating to the GLN stem from “catastrophic” budget cuts which have resulted in language departments across UCSB needing to lay off faculty and replace them with “computer programs or robots.” "

https://dailynexus.com/2026-04-02/ucsb-contends-with-proposed-systemwide-shift-to-online-language-courses/ #SantaBarbara #HigherEd #NeoliberalHellhole

I do believe that someone at UC Davis just blocked me from seeing the seminar Zoom. My display name said "UC Access Now" because I used to pay for UC Access Now's acct and that's what Zoom defaults to. I gather someone saw that and thought, "Not that uppity disabled person" and blocked me.

So just as it was when I was a grad student there, I don't have access. #Ableism #NeoliberalHellhole #PlantScience

Public paid for the research:

"This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (HD094623, HD059205, MH084164) and National Science Foundation (DRL-2024856) to V.M. and Stanford Maternal & Child Health Research Institute Postdoctoral Support Award to H.C. and P.M."

And the journal it's published in has a box on the front page thanking reviewers for working for free.

Yet it's behind a paywall.

https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2026/01/30/JNEUROSCI.2385-24.2025

#AcademicChatter #Science #NeoliberalHellhole

UC Davis Library Resources Cancelled Due to Budget Cuts

https://library.ucdavis.edu/leadership-mission-and-strategy/budget/resources-cancelled/ #NeoliberalHellhole

Hey, the UC President who didn't respond to or credit UC Access Now (while coopting a few things we pushed for), who enabled right-wing types by appeasing them on UC campuses and not taking a strong stand against them is getting something named after him, and it's not a teeter-totter.

This ophthalmologist presided over a UC that wasn't even highest common denominator for those with vision disabilities, much less other kinds...

https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/news/recognizing-uc-president-emeritus-michael-drake #Ableism #NeoliberalHellhole

It was already bad enough that University of California was using Box to post what should be publicly available documents instead of using publicly-owned servers, but this?

Who "ideated" this?

#NeoliberalHellhole #California #FuckAI

"“This is a revenue-generating opportunity for UC San Diego,” says Pollak. “Every school has its own branding and name, but we’re running it as a software service for them, augmenting our team to be able to support these other universities that may not have the same environment or resources to create a product like this.”"

Remember what our public university was like before neoliberalism? Where public higher education was a public good and where UC wouldn't have its left hand charging its right hand to do something? #NeoliberalHellhole

Sacramento State freshmen must live on campus for 2 years starting next year, under new policy

Community colleges in California need housing, but requiring freshman to use it for a given period is the wrong approach, IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsr9JcHgiGw #Housing #NeoliberalHellhole

It was already suspect that UC puts so many documents that should be public on Box instead of UC-owned servers.

Now this is even worse because Box has added agentic AI. Who is going to hold UC accountable, though? #NeoliberalHellhole

@grimalkina Sadly, many university chancellors and presidents and boards are among those who are convinced nothing is worth anything unless it involves AI. #NeoliberalHellhole

Because of neoliberal shitfuckery, transcript orders, which used to be filled by the university itself once upon a time...can now only be fulfilled through Parchment, owned by Instructure.

So you have to agree to Parchment's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and be subject to yet another vector for data leakage in order to get your transcript. Which, of course, other institutions require of you because they don't trust your own copy.

#NeoliberalHellhole #HigherEd #Privacy

It used to be that looking at job listings was a free part of your alumni membership. But every since UC got in bed with Handshake, it now costs additional money to see job listings as an alumni assoc member. #NeoliberalHellhole

As UC mulls yet another tuition hike, the public subsidy of multi-billion sports corp employee development continues...

"At public universities, such as UC Berkeley or UCLA, schools could use taxpayer dollars to make these payments. State or institutional funds already support roughly 30% of UC Berkeley’s athletic budget, according to one analysis by Syracuse University and the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics."

https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2025/07/college-athletes-california/ #NeoliberalHellhole #California

UC regents may consider more tuition increases for 2027-28 school year

https://edsource.org/updates/uc-may-consider-more-tuition-increases-for-2027-28-school-year #NeoliberalHellhole #HigherEd #California

UCSC is Downsizing and Downgrading The COVE, a Life-Saving Resource

"The COVE has been an on-campus recovery resource for more than 10 years. It supports students affected by alcoholism, substance abuse, and other addictions. The COVE welcomes students in recovery, individuals with loved ones struggling with addiction and their allies. It also serves as a sober space for any students seeking a substance-free community."

https://cityonahillpress.com/2025/07/16/ucsc-is-downsizing-and-downgrading-the-cove-a-life-saving-resource/ #NeoliberalHellhole #Ableism #Capitalism #UCAccessNow

The public beta test known as UC Path is getting re-done again. And it will include known downtime.

https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/employee-news/ucpath-is-getting-a-new-look-heres-what-to-expect-including-downtime/ #NeoliberalHellhole #UniversityOfCalifornia

SHIP premiums to increase this August due to rising health care costs

https://www.dailycal.org/news/campus/ship-premiums-to-increase-this-august-due-to-rising-health-care-costs/article_79617d19-816c-4c72-b290-842c3d58a23d.html #NeoliberalHellhole #Healthcare #UCAccessNow #USpol

"UC bans student government boycotts of Israel following federal pressure"

More "profiles in courage" from the University of California.

https://www.dailycal.org/news/uc/uc-bans-student-government-boycotts-of-israel-following-federal-pressure/article_e6d13ca4-34c9-465d-a416-fc0db42e29ab.html #NeoliberalHellhole #Collaborateur #Cowardice #USpol

University unions have to pick up the slack here and get that into union contracts. The UC arm of the State of California too often exempts itself from California laws. #NeoliberalHellhole #HigherEd #WFH #California

"A state appeals panel has rejected an attempt by a professor to force California's public university system to reimburse his work-from-home costs during the Covid campus shutdowns.

The decision marks the latest ruling again finding labor laws that the state of California imposes on private employers don’t necessarily extend to government agencies."

https://www.legalnewsline.com/state-courts/ca-labor-rules-requiring-employers-to-reimburse-work-expenses-dont-apply-to-ca-public-universities/article_5fc4a88e-e115-422b-a3bd-08e1291b581c.html #NeoliberalHellhole #HigherEd #WFH #California

Such diversity. Much inclusion.

Given the repeated slashing of academic budgets, and the constant excuses about not being "able to afford" full accessibility, where did they find nearly 1.5M?

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/university-texas-chancellor-named-president-university-california-121417446 @academicchatter #UCAccessNow #NeoliberalHellhole #WhiteSupremacy

"UCI students voiced concern over impacts on student preparations for housing and course arrangements after experiencing a weeks-long financial aid delay before the start of the fall 2024 quarter due to FAFSA complications. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships extended the fall 2024 quarter fee deadline by a month as a result." #UCIrvine #NeoliberalHellhole

You have a helluva time trying to reach a human being and getting them to relate to you as a human being at UC Health.

But at least your data saved money that can be tacked onto overpaid administrators' salaries and benefits.

"University of California Health saving $15 million through pooled surgery data
The improvements are the result of performing advanced analytics on 200 data elements from each patient. "

https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/university-california-health-saving-15-million-through-pooled-surgery-data #UCAccessNow #NeoliberalHellhole #Healthcare

AKA how UC Davis Health approaches healthcare: https://infosec.exchange/@johntimaeus/113859124543512921

#UCAccessNow #NeoliberalHellhole

University administrations dump the results of their bad management onto faculty and students. It results in more overwork for all.

Resist the temptation to make courses even less accessible by insisting on in-person only. Band together with other faculty, lecturers, TAs, and student unions to communicate to the public what is going on, make common cause with extramural groups doing similar work, and fight university administration.

mas.to/@brian_gettler/113600617012447039 #Accessibility #NeoliberalHellhole

Audrey Boochever wrote this guide for grad students at UC Davis.

"Navigating Chronic Health Challenges & Autoimmune and
Mysterious Illnesses While in Graduate School:

A Resource Guide"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RZ2yipL0p5nCtfuwCMU770jnJ1dyLIOi/view #MedicalAbleism #NeoliberalHellhole #UCAccessNow

Audrey Boochever wrote this guide for grad students at UC Davis.

"Navigating Chronic Health Challenges & Autoimmune and
Mysterious Illnesses While in Graduate School:

A Resource Guide"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RZ2yipL0p5nCtfuwCMU770jnJ1dyLIOi/view #MedicalAbleism #NeoliberalHellhole #UCAccessNow

Audrey Boochever wrote this guide for grad students at UC Davis.

"Navigating Chronic Health Challenges & Autoimmune and
Mysterious Illnesses While in Graduate School:

A Resource Guide"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RZ2yipL0p5nCtfuwCMU770jnJ1dyLIOi/view #MedicalAbleism #NeoliberalHellhole #UCAccessNow

Audrey Boochever wrote this guide for grad students at UC Davis.

"Navigating Chronic Health Challenges & Autoimmune and
Mysterious Illnesses While in Graduate School:

A Resource Guide"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RZ2yipL0p5nCtfuwCMU770jnJ1dyLIOi/view #MedicalAbleism #NeoliberalHellhole #UCAccessNow

Audrey Boochever wrote this guide for grad students at UC Davis.

"Navigating Chronic Health Challenges & Autoimmune and
Mysterious Illnesses While in Graduate School:

A Resource Guide"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RZ2yipL0p5nCtfuwCMU770jnJ1dyLIOi/view #MedicalAbleism #NeoliberalHellhole #UCAccessNow

Re this year's open enrollment for UC employees. https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/employee-news/letter-from-systemwide-hr-vp-cheryl-lloyd/ #Greedflation #Capitalism #NeoliberalHellhole #Healthcare

UC Davis page about "Broketober" and what options are to get through something they're so far unwilling to change.

https://grad.ucdavis.edu/fall-quarter-payment-solutions #NeoliberalHellhole

UC President Drake's letter to the UC Board of Regents: https://news.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Letter-from-President-Drake-Chancellors-Policies-Impacting-Expressive-Activity.pdf

Here's UC Access Now's list of UC decisionmakers to contact. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MGJVlTA2RdWwnpLgRt3MP2lN81MLtHMBYXapqDu8S3U/edit?usp=sharing

You can also call/write your CA assembly member and senator, if you're living in California. https://whoaremyrepresentatives.org/

#UCAccessNow #StudentSpring #Ableism #NeoliberalHellhole

Meaningless platitudes from outgoing UC Berkeley Chancellor Christ, who cares so much about "shared humanity" that she lied to those who wrote to her in 2020 urging her to read & act on the Demandifesto steps. https://archive.org/details/disability-equity-and-justice-demands

Even the unsolicited flaccid offer to book UC Access Now to speak during October's #NDEAM (in response to emails sent in JULY) was a lie. #UCAccessNow #HigherEd #NeoliberalHellhole #Ableism

These are the people of People’s Park
A civil rights lawyer, UC Berkeley students and grads, artists, travelers and social workers all have a story to tell about their experiences and memories at People’s Park.

https://www.berkeleyside.org/2023/11/28/people-of-the-park-profiles #PeoplesPark #UniversityOfCalifornia #Berkeley #NeoliberalHellHole

"He said the university did not notify residents or drivers about its plans to avoid alerting park supporters about the start of the operation.

“We did not want there to be a large protest scene,” Gibson said. “We wanted things to be as safe and smooth as possible, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Berkeley typically requires “no parking” signs be posted 72 hours before parking limits can begin. The city of Berkeley’s media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon."

Typical "laws are for YOU, not for us" UC attitude.

https://www.berkeleyside.org/2024/01/04/peoples-park-berkeley-neighborhood-lockdown-police #UniversityOfCalifornia #PeoplesPark #NeoliberalHellHole

"it suited the University's interest to make People's Park look bad because it was 'dirty'. And people don't like it..and there are people on the Left who don't like it. And they don't realize they're being manipulated by the University" - James Chanin

#UniversityOfCalifornia #PeoplesPark #NeoliberalHellHole

"On Wednesday, May 14, 1969, UC Berkeley Chancellor Roger W. Heyns announced definitively that he intended to construct a fence around “People’s Park” so that it might be converted, as the University planned, into an athletic field."

James Rector, fatally shot by police on May 15, 1969

https://revolution.berkeley.edu/james-rector-wounded/ #UniversityOfCalifornia #PeoplesPark #NeoliberalHellHole

Chanin used to live/rent on the land that became People's Park and recounts UC's violence in fighting People's Park.

"James Chanin speaks out to save People’s Park in Berkeley.

James Chanin, nationally prominent attorney, specializing in civil rights, police misconduct, personal injury and business litigation

From: Speak Out: Save People’s Park
June 6, 2022 at Noon
at California Hall, UC Berkeley"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q2nOy8LCbc #UniversityOfCalifornia #PeoplesPark #NeoliberalHellHole

Ah, the usual UC modus operandi!

"By starting the exercise under the cover of darkness and during students’ winter break, university leaders hoped to minimize a conflict with activists adamant the park should remain open space, a living tribute to free speech and student activism."

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-04/uc-berkeley-launches-operation-to-wall-off-peoples-park #UniversityOfCalifornia #PeoplesPark #NeoliberalHellHole