Episodes

  • Before There Was ‘Woke,’ There Was PCU

    Before There Was ‘Woke,’ There Was PCU
    Dec 10 2024
    In 1994, a little movie called PCU opened in theaters to little fanfare. But three decades on, the cult classic feels like an on-the-nose satire of the kinds of identity politics, liberal extremism, and right-wing intolerance that fuel many of today’s hottest disputes in higher education. In conversation with The Chronicle’s Jack Stripling, Zak Penn, a co-writer of PCU, talks about how the film looks in 2024. Later, Chronicle staff share their impressions of the film. Related Reading: A Decade of Ideological Transformation Comes Undone: What the congressional antisemitism hearing really means. What Does ‘Woke’ Mean Anyway? The Oral History of PCU, the Culture Wars Cult Classic Guest: Zak Penn, a co-writer of PCU For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.
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    51 mins
  • Is That Our Chancellor in the Porno?

    Is That Our Chancellor in the Porno?
    Dec 3 2024
    Months after he’d announced his coming retirement as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, Joe Gow made a fateful decision: He posted on the internet pornographic videos of himself and his wife. Wisconsin’s Board of Regents promptly fired him as chancellor and, more recently, terminated him as a tenured professor. His case presents some thorny First Amendment questions that are expected to play out in court. Meantime, Gow spoke with The Chronicle’s Jack Stripling about how he balanced his X-rated private hobby with his important public job — and what motivated him to release those videos. Related Reading: A Chancellor is Fired for Porn Videos I Made Porn. That Shouldn’t Cost Me Tenure. U. of Wisconsin System President Reprimands La Crosse Chancellor for Bringing Porn Star to Campus Guest: Joe Gow, former chancellor of the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters.
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    59 mins
  • Meet Professor Robot

    Meet Professor Robot
    Nov 19 2024
    Office hours with an android? We’re not quite there yet, but the science-fiction future of higher education is closer than you might think. Thanks to a slew of new products known as courseware, college professors can practically run a class on autopilot. Related Reading: The Substitute Teacher: Millions of students have to use courseware. Often, the product replaces the professor. The Homework Tax: For students already struggling to afford college, courseware can add to the burden. The ‘Textbook’ That Reads You: When students use courseware, how much personal data is it collecting? Guest: Taylor Swaak, tech and innovation reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.
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    31 mins
  • Is Loneliness as Bad for Students as Smoking?

    Is Loneliness as Bad for Students as Smoking?
    Nov 12 2024
    Cap down. Earbuds in. Eyes on phones. Despite what you may see in college viewbooks, many students say they feel lonely on campus — isolated in dorm rooms or walled off in tech bubbles. But talking about student loneliness is a tricky issue for colleges. Related Reading: Overcoming Student Loneliness: Strategies for Connection (Full Report) Fighting the Mental-Health Crisis Narrative: Do young people misunderstand everyday stress? Guest: Alexander C. Kafka, senior editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters.
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    43 mins
  • Trump's Pet-Eating Claim Meant Crisis for This Campus Leader

    Trump's Pet-Eating Claim Meant Crisis for This Campus Leader
    Nov 5 2024
    During his September debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump amplified a debunked rumor that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating people’s pet cats and dogs. Soon, Wittenberg University, a private institution in Springfield, began receiving violent threats. Michael Frandsen, the university’s president, feared the worst — and got an education in the viral power of misinformation. Related Reading: At 2 Colleges, the Fall Semester Has Been Disrupted by Trump’s Lies About Eating Pets If Trump Wins … His allies are preparing to overhaul higher education. The sector is woefully ill-prepared to defend itself. 4 years of Fighting: Trump vs. Higher Ed Guest: Michael Frandsen, president of Wittenberg University For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.
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    40 mins
  • Harris, Trump, and Higher Ed

    Harris, Trump, and Higher Ed
    Oct 29 2024
    You may not have heard much about higher education in the presidential campaign, but it’s definitely on the ballot. Related Reading: Rhetoric and Records Shape the Presidential Race College for All? Not Anymore. Obama’s Legacy: An Unlikely Hawk on Higher Education Guest: Rick Seltzer, senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.
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    40 mins
  • The Consultants are Coming!

    The Consultants are Coming!
    Oct 22 2024
    Outside consultants are helping cash-strapped colleges cut majors, like foreign languages, that once seemed essential — and are taking the heat for those unpopular decisions. Related Reading: When Cost-Cutting Universities Hire Consultants, Who’s Really Making the Decisions? Is Higher Ed Growing or Shrinking? Gordon Gee’s Last Stand Guest: David Jesse, senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.
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    32 mins
  • Ben Sasse’s $38K Sushi Bill

    Ben Sasse’s $38K Sushi Bill
    Oct 15 2024
    As president of the U. of Florida, Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator, steered millions of dollars toward consultants and hired his Republican allies to serve in lucrative jobs. And he threw some expensive parties. Related Reading: Sasse’s spending spree: Former UF president channeled millions to GOP allies, secretive contracts (The Independent Florida Alligator) Lavish Catering Under Ex-UF President (Fresh Take Florida) Ben Sasse Spent Far More Than His Predecessor. Including on These Reports. Ben Sasse is U. of Florida’s Next President. His Critics are Seeing Red. Guest: Garrett Shanley, reporter for The Independent Florida Alligator / intern at The Chronicle of Higher Education For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters.
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    40 mins