Teaching, at its core, is about trust. For a student to actually learn, in a meaningful way, they have to allow themselves to be pushed out of their comfort zone and to take risks. And they have to trust the teacher will provide an environment where they can do that safely. 1/x

They have to trust that the teacher has their best interest at heart and will help them grow, especially when things get difficult. It is a week into the semester. I am just starting to try to build that trust with my students, who are first-semester freshmen. 2/x

But those students were just deeply betrayed by their university. And in the eyes of my students, I represent that university. Even though I fought this plan, it still reflect on me, because I, not Michael Crow, am the institutional representative they see every day. 3/x

I can teach via Zoom. I can teach in ASU's half-assed in-person/Sync setup. I could teach under a tent if I had to. But I can't teach in an environment where the students have been made to feel unsafe by the institution that is supposed to be educating them. 4/x

But starting Monday, that's what I'll try to do. Hundreds of contingent faculty like me, as well as grad students and the handful of TT faculty who give a shit about teaching, will try to salvage this mess and make a good experience for our students in spite of this disaster. 5/x

As a non-tenure track faculty member, I long ago gave up the hope that university administration would actually help me in my mission to support our students and take their lives and their work seriously. But I wish they would quit actively making it more difficult. 6/6