Reading and Signing with Tressie McMillan Cottom: "Lower Ed: The Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy"

Friday, April 14th 2017, from 7-8pm, at Chop Suey Books (2913 West Cary Street, Richmond VA), there will be a book talk and signing with Tressie McMillan Cottom, author of "Lower Ed: the Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy." From the event description: 

"More than two million students are enrolled in for-profit colleges, from the small family-run operations to the behemoths brandished on billboards, subway ads, and late-night commercials. These schools have been around just as long as their bucolic not-for-profit counterparts, yet shockingly little is known about why they have expanded so rapidly in recent years--during the so-called Wall Street era of for-profit colleges. In Lower Ed Tressie McMillan Cottom--a bold and rising public scholar, herself once a recruiter at two for-profit colleges--expertly parses the fraught dynamics of this big-money industry to show precisely how it is part and parcel of the growing inequality plaguing the country today."

Free, open to the public. Parking is available on the street and in various public free parking garages, the nearest being located at 18 South Colonial Avenue. For more information and to RSVP, see this link. 

Mark Warner: Are you with us to fight Trump?

Tomorrow, December 1st 2016, from 9-10am, at the corner of North 10th Street and Bank Street in Richmond, there will be a demonstration to encourage Virginia's Democratic senator Mark Warner to oppose the agenda of the Trump presidency, beginning by publicly denouncing the appointment of Jeff Sessions, a man so racist the senate voted not to confirm him for a federal judgeship. I usually include only an excerpts of event descriptions, but in this case, I think you really have to read everything the organizers put together:

As our nation looks towards the next four years, we need to fight tooth and nail to oppose Trump's agenda. But are Democrats with us? For too long, Democrats like Mark Warner took young voters and people of color for granted, and sold out working class people in favor of Wall Street. Once again, they’re putting our lives and democracy on the line by considering compromises with Trump. They may be bought by Wall Street - but we won’t let them sell us out to an authoritarian.

Our Demands:
1. Democrats - like Mark Warner - must pledge to block Donald Trump's racist and fascist agenda.
2. Warner should publicly denounce Jeff Sessions’ appointment.
3. As long as Bannon is Chief Strategist, refuse to meet with Trump.

For a year and half, Donald Trump pushed a hateful vision of America. Now, Donald Trump is appointing a leadership team whose values align with Trump’s dark and dangerous promises. 

Democrats, you must pick a side: Trump or all of us. If you negotiate with a racist fascist and his klan, we will support primary challengers against you.

For more info and to RSVP, see this link. 

"Money, Cash, VCU: Wealth Hoarding and the Corporate University" with Divest VCU for Climate Justice

This Thursday, October 27th 2016, from 8-9:30pm, in VCU's Founder's Hall (827 West Franklin Street, Richmond VA), Divest VCU for Climate Justice is holding an informative presentation on neoliberalism, the capitalist freedom-means-liberty-to-pursue-profit ideology of modern America, and how it influences universities. DivestVCU will propose means for students to get involved in fighting the deleterious influences of the corporate university.

Free. Though this event is of specific interest to students, it is open to the general public. The venue is accessible from the Shafer Court entrance.

For more information and to RSVP, see this link.