"The president of Connecticut’s Wesleyan University wrote a piece in Slate that described some of the Trump administration’s rhetoric as authoritarian. He consistently reposts articles criticizing Trump’s decisions. He speaks and blogs firmly in defense of diversity, equity and inclusion, transgender rights and immigration...
"When I asked Roth whether he was nervous about agreeing to my interview request, he laughed.
"'I laugh because of course I’m nervous,' he said. 'This is an administration that is prioritizing loyalty and attacking people who stand, not against them necessarily, but for their own ideals and missions. That is the authoritarian playbook. If I were hiding — Wesleyan is a small school — maybe they would never notice us.'
"He added, 'But that’s how tyranny gets instituted in a country. … I’m a professor, a teacher. I don’t look for trouble. But I would feel ashamed if I didn’t speak up for the values that have guided my institution and many others.'"
https://wapo.st/3ENVtxX
While many protests on college campuses have been peaceful and many of the arrested are not students, this week has seen a series of escalating confrontations, occupations and shutdowns. That led President Biden to condemn violence and disorder following the latest developments at UCLA. Geoff Bennett discussed the largely peaceful encampment at Wesleyan University with President Michael S. Roth.
The Supreme Court’s decision to limit the use of race in admissions was a game-changer for colleges. While the ruling's biggest impact is on the most selective schools, a survey found nearly a quarter of all colleges considered race to some degree before the pandemic. Special correspondent Hari Sreenivasan looks at how some schools are reevaluating admissions for our series, Rethinking College.
The Times of Central Asia
The Times of Central Asia
John Refior
James Sims
