It has been a busy few months and my updates have been lax. Travel took me to the American Studies Association's 2014 Meeting in Los Angeles and then, just days later, to New York City for the Digital Labor 2014 conference at The New School. Both were extraordinary events and wonderful opportunities to talk about… Continue reading Digital Labor Video Series (and a few updates)
Author: Sarah R.
WIRED Publishes Piece on Commercial Content Moderation (CCM) in Philippines; US
After many months of anticipation, journalist Adrian Chen's piece on commercial content moderation as practiced in BPO (business process outsourcing) sites in the Philippines is out in WIRED magazine today. In it, Chen focuses on the employees of a US firm, TaskUs, whose employees are laboring on behalf of Silicon Valley social media startup Whisper and… Continue reading WIRED Publishes Piece on Commercial Content Moderation (CCM) in Philippines; US
CAPAL 2015: Academic Librarianship and Critical Practice Keynote Speaker
I am pleased and honored to announce that I have been asked to serve as one of two keynote speakers at the 2015 Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians' annual meeting, to be held in Ottawa, ON May 31-June 2, 2015. The call for papers for this exciting event, whose timely theme is "Academic Librarianship and… Continue reading CAPAL 2015: Academic Librarianship and Critical Practice Keynote Speaker
Digital Labor: Sweatshops, Picket Lines, Barricades [#dl14]
The third in a series of conferences focused on digital labor will take place from November 14-16 in New York City. The event is open to to all and registration is free. Trebor Scholz, the visionary behind the series, shared the following words about his hopes for this fall's conference, which I have reprinted below. My… Continue reading Digital Labor: Sweatshops, Picket Lines, Barricades [#dl14]
In Error, The University of Illinois Stands Alone: A Letter to the Board of Trustees
Esteemed Board of Trustees: My name is Sarah Roberts; I am a University of Illinois alumna and now an Assistant Professor at another institution. On the morning of August 6th, I wrote to Chancellor Wise to share my grave concern over the situation of Steven Salaita, and her unwillingness to honor his signed contract just… Continue reading In Error, The University of Illinois Stands Alone: A Letter to the Board of Trustees
Reinstate Steven Salaita–a letter from US scholars who have traveled in Palestine
From: Cynthia Franklin Date: August 12, 2014 at 4:35:43 PM CDT To: pmwise@illinois.edu, rwarrior@illinois.edu, ais@illinois.edu Subject: Reinstate Steven Salaita--a letter from US scholars who have traveled in Palestine August 12, 2014 Dear Chancellor Wise: We write as American academics who have traveled to Palestine to establish scholarly connections with our colleagues in Palestinian universities and… Continue reading Reinstate Steven Salaita–a letter from US scholars who have traveled in Palestine
Steven Salaita: The University of Illinois Is Not an Island
Dear Chancellor Wise: It is with shock and great sadness that I write to you today, upon learning that you have rescinded a faculty position for Dr. Steven Salaita, intended to begin in just days. I will keep my comments brief, as I have little doubt that you are receiving a number of communiqués related… Continue reading Steven Salaita: The University of Illinois Is Not an Island
Steven Salaita: L’université d’Illinois n’est pas une île
version originale (langue anglaise): https://drsarahtroberts.com/2014/08/06/steven-salaita-the-university-of-illinois-is-not-an-island/ Chère Madame la Chancelière Wise : C'est avec un sentiment de choc et de grande tristesse que je vous écris aujourd'hui, en apprenant que vous aviez annulé une position universitaire pour le Dr. Steven Salaita, qui devait commencer dans quelques jours. Je serai brève, parce que je ne doute pas que… Continue reading Steven Salaita: L’université d’Illinois n’est pas une île
The Battle for Justice in Evanston? Abunimah Book Talk Back On at Evanston Public Library
Yesterday morning, after reading a tweet from Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada describing how his book talk at the Evanston Public Library on August 11th had been summarily cancelled, I drafted a letter to the EPL's director, Karen Danzcak Lyons. In it, I expressed my concerns about this cancellation, which appeared to be without… Continue reading The Battle for Justice in Evanston? Abunimah Book Talk Back On at Evanston Public Library
A Letter to Evanston Public Library on the Cancellation of Ali Abunimah’s Book Talk
EDITED - I posted a follow-up to this letter on 8/4. This morning, I learned of a disturbing situation unfolding in the northern Chicago suburbs - the backyard, it's worth noting, of the American Library Association. According to accounts by the Electronic Intifiada's Ali Abunimah, his upcoming book talk there, scheduled by an Evanston community… Continue reading A Letter to Evanston Public Library on the Cancellation of Ali Abunimah’s Book Talk