In this gripping episode of Paranoia and Rage, host UnionBell sits down with an adjunct professor from USC to dissect the crumbling solidarity within academia. The "Rage" portion of the show shines a light on how even tenured faculty—despite their privilege—are too afraid to stand with adjuncts, part-timers and other precarious workers. The guest argues that fear, manufactured by reactionary forces, has turned potential allies into silent bystanders, threatening the very future of public education.
But this isn’t just about labor— it’s about survival. As institutions bow to political pressure and curriculum czars reshape what we teach, the question remains: Will academia rise in unity, or fade into irrelevance?
Tune in for a raw, unfiltered conversation that bridges the gap between the "Rage" of the working class.
Host: UnionBell
Guest: [Name Redacted], Adjunct Professor at USC
UnionBell (0:04): Do you have any experiences as a worker, as a professor, that you’d want to share with other workers— whether positive or negative?
Guest (0:13): My experience as a worker at USC has made it clear that a lot of our tenured friends will rhetorically support the things I support—but when the rubber meets the road, those commitments tend to evaporate.
UnionBell (0:42): So, what are those things they claim to support, and why do you think they don’t follow through?
Guest (0:51): I think it’s a societal issue, not just in academia. Everyone feels precarious—even those making $100k, $150k, or $200k a year. They feel like they’re on a ledge. And because of that, they’ve been cowed.
UnionBell (1:31): So you’re saying even those with security are afraid to stand up?
Guest (1:31): Exactly. And that’s what reactionary forces want— to make sure anyone who could resist oppression stays silent. We’ve seen institution after institution fail in 2025. Wealthy, powerful universities have ceded their independence, letting political appointees dictate curriculum. What hope do public institutions in the South have if the elite ones won’t lead?
UnionBell (2:20): So it’s a feedback loop— no one stands up, so everyone feels alone.
Guest (2:29): Yes. And tenured faculty often see adjuncts not as allies, but as threats—"rats in the walls."
UnionBell (4:05): If you could say one thing to tenured faculty to encourage solidarity, what would it be?
Guest (4:19): Look around. When I was in grad school in 2015, I was called an alarmist. Now, all those warnings have come true. Unless we band together, higher education as we know it won’t survive. The current leadership doesn’t value education— they want to eliminate us.
UnionBell (5:26): So you’d encourage staff to join the UAW?
Guest (5:30): Absolutely.
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