New Memoir 'The Burn List' Recounts Abuse Survivor's Story in Higher Ed

Julie Cruse's debut book examines the personal and professional consequences she faced after reporting misconduct

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:03pm

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In her new memoir 'The Burn List,' Julie Cruse recounts an abusive childhood and the personal and professional consequences she says followed her into higher education. The book examines the psychological and professional control university systems can exert, the costs Cruse says she paid for speaking out, and the challenges survivors face when seeking recourse.

Why it matters

Released amid ongoing public debate about accountability in higher education, 'The Burn List' sheds light on how college stakeholders can prioritize self-preservation over ethical duties of care, leaving people reporting harm isolated and vulnerable to professional consequences.

The details

In the memoir, Cruse describes experiences she says were exploitation, retaliation, and violations of her rights, and she recounts how those experiences contributed to her leaving a doctoral program and derailing her career. To protect privacy, the memoir uses pseudonyms for individuals and fictional names for some universities. Cruse argues that when college stakeholders, including mandatory reporters and complaint personnel, prioritize self-preservation over ethical duties, people reporting harm can be left isolated and vulnerable.

  • The memoir 'The Burn List' was published on March 17, 2026.
  • The book is Cruse's debut memoir.

The players

Julie Cruse

A writer, advocate, instructional designer, and former academic with an MFA and MA. Over two decades, her educational work has served Ivy League, public, and community college settings. She is the creator of VICKiTM, described by Dance Magazine as a 'pioneer of computational choreography.'

Maria Caponi

Author of 'An Accidental Pilgrim' and praised Cruse's memoir as 'raw, detailed, and searingly honest.'

Jennifer Bourland

Author of 'Hidden Shadow' and wrote that 'The Burn List' exposes consequences of protecting image, power, and money over people.

AcademicAbuse.com

A survivor-led initiative dedicated to documenting misconduct in higher education, aggregating reports, and amplifying survivor voices.

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What they’re saying

“This isn't just my story. It's a blueprint for how higher education's power structures protect abusers and silence victims. I wrote 'The Burn List' to burn that silence down.”

— Julie Cruse

“Raw, detailed, and searingly honest, Julie's memoir lays bare the structures that crush the powerless and the resilience required to keep standing.”

— Maria Caponi, Author of 'An Accidental Pilgrim'

“'The Burn List' exposes consequences of protecting image, power, and money over people, in a world where success is not guaranteed, surrender is inevitable, and the cost of speaking out may be survival itself.”

— Jennifer Bourland, Author of 'Hidden Shadow'

What’s next

Cruse's work extends beyond the book with AcademicAbuse.com, a survivor-led initiative dedicated to documenting misconduct in higher education, aggregating reports, and amplifying survivor voices.

The takeaway

Cruse's memoir 'The Burn List' shines a light on the challenges survivors of abuse face when reporting misconduct in higher education, and calls for greater transparency and external reporting pathways to reduce retaliation against those who speak out.