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UNDER THE RADAR with Host Frank Fear

UNDER THE RADAR with Host Frank Fear

By Frank Fear

Important issues and interesting people fly under the radar. Let's explore them together.
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"Duley Noted," Celebrating John Duley's 100th Birthday

UNDER THE RADAR with Host Frank FearSep 10, 2020

00:00
02:29:53
Denny Brown, Difference-Maker

Denny Brown, Difference-Maker

Dennis (Denny) Brown had a fabulous career spanning multiple pursuits. He was a star high school athlete, an All-Big Ten quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines, a UM assistant coach, WVU Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach, Arizona State Defensive Coordinator, high school head coach and administrator, and U of Michigan assistant athletic director. Denny Brown was a difference-maker no matter what he did or where he did it. Mentored along the way by giants of the game--including Bump Elliot, Bo Schembechler, and Don Nehlen--Denny Brown helped elevate average programs, and he transformed successful programs into great ones.

Denny Brown, difference-maker.


Cover photo of Brown in 1981 as WVU DC, courtesy of Denny Brown and Scott (Dave) Voithofer.

Dec 16, 202349:29
Christopher A. Snyder on a Liberal Arts Education

Christopher A. Snyder on a Liberal Arts Education

We are pleased today to welcome Christopher Snyder, professor of history and founding dean of Mississippi State’s Honor College, who is joining us from the University of Oxford, where he is a visiting research fellow and working on a book manuscript associated with today’s topic.

Professor Snyder will speak today on the principles of a liberal arts education, drawing in his talk on an article published by Inside Higher Education in October 2023, entitled, A Liberal Arts Education in Name Only. The article is a response to administrative actions being taken across the country that are remaking what it means to use the words higher education, college, university, and what a college education is for. Too much is at stake to permit this trend to continue.

We are also pleased to welcome discussant Adrian Lenardic, professor in the Department of Earth, Environment, and Planetary Sciences at Rice University, who has written extensively on neoliberal influences in higher education and is a frequent contributor to Future U.  Also offering commentary today are Ruben Martinez, professor and director emeritus, Michigan State University and founder of FutureU; and Nathan Rousseau and Lewis (Terry Dibble), professor and senior lecturer, respectively, at Indiana University Purdue University Columbus. 

Today's forum is hosted and produced by Frank A. Fear, Michigan State University professor emeritus and FutureU's Managing Editor.

Follow FutureU: Conversations about Values and Change in Higher Education.

The Forum was taped on Friday, November 24, 2023.

Nov 27, 202301:25:15
FAF interview with Dimitri, Living Dangerously

FAF interview with Dimitri, Living Dangerously

Taped on September 12, 2023

Oct 06, 202313:42
Moundsville Promo

Moundsville Promo

Moundsville promo

Sep 29, 202300:59
Samuel H. Johnson Talks About His Life, Book Writing Experiences, and His Newest Offering, "HBCUs The Living Legacies"

Samuel H. Johnson Talks About His Life, Book Writing Experiences, and His Newest Offering, "HBCUs The Living Legacies"

In 2020, I referred to Samuel H. Johnson as a Renaissance Person. By that, I mean a person with wide-ranging interests/knowledge who draws on both attributes to create new and valuable things for public consumption. That description fits Sam to a "T." He has been a radio host, award-winning public TV producer, Hollywood actor, activist, trailblazing Federal staff writer, and (in retirement) a novelist and author of children's books. His ability to pivot from one endeavor to another--and do each well--is one reason (among many) why I hold Sam in high regard. Today, Sam discusses his personal background, including the impact of his collegiate years at Miami University (Ohio). He then talks about his book writing projects (two in particular), The Cherokee and the Slave (2013) and Gabriel's Favorite Angel (2018), before focusing on the centerpiece of today's program, HBCUs The Living Legacies, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2022). (All three books are available on Amazon.com.) I know you will enjoy getting to know Samuel H. Johnson. (You can read my review of his HBCU book here.)

Sep 22, 202327:37
Jim Holland: "The Investment Was Worth Every Minute"

Jim Holland: "The Investment Was Worth Every Minute"

The title of this episode was written by today's guest, Jim Holland. The words are drawn from the end of his memorable autobiography, My Fortunate Detour: Making a Right Turn into a Baseball Career Among the Mountains of West Virginia. The book describes how Holland made a "fortunate detour" from a general business career into an executive management career in minor league baseball. In one sense, his is a baseball book. But as my recent book review emphasized, it's about that and much more. The autobiography tells us much about Jim Holland and what makes him tick, and I found the sports-personal narrative connection incredibly appealing. I hope you will too. You can purchase Jim's book at ⁠⁠⁠Amazon.com with Kindle and paperback options available.⁠

Cover photo: Jim Holland's photo as enshrined in the Appalachian League Hall of Fame (2019), lauded (among other things) for serving as General Manager of the Princeton, WV Appalachian League franchise for 24 years, earning the League's Award of Promotional Excellence five times, and being named Appalachian League Executive of the Year in 1993.


Aug 31, 202341:53
Mark Parsons, "The Person Behind the Feed"
Aug 27, 202345:25
Will the University Survive? Austerity, Political Repression, and the Attack on Academic Freedom

Will the University Survive? Austerity, Political Repression, and the Attack on Academic Freedom

Our guest today is Professor Ellen Schrecker, and she will speak on highly concerning issues in higher education today--the impacts of fiscal austerity, political repression, and the diatribe regarding academic freedom.

For over fifty years, American higher education has been attacked by a powerful right-wing network of libertarian billionaires, ideologues, and ambitious politicians engaged in rolling back its efforts to provide the inclusive, high-level public education a democratic society requires. At the same time, because the academy has also had to cope with the austerity brought on by a neoliberal polity that seeks to defund the public sector, its leaders adopted corporate practices that have undermined the university’s ability to defend itself against the current culture wars. This presentation explains how this situation developed and how the academic community can fight back effectively against the most serious threat it has ever faced.

Professor Emerita Ellen Schrecker of Yeshiva University is one of America’s most persistent and determined voices on the described matters. She has written extensively about McCarthyism, political repression, and American higher education. Her latest book is The Lost Promise: American Universities in the 1960s (2021). Earlier work, especially No Ivory Tower: McCarthyism and the University (1987) and Many Are the Crimes: McCarthyism in America (1998), resonates today. Her forthcoming publication, The Right to Learn: Resisting the Right-wing Attack on Academic Freedom, is a collection of essays co-edited with Valerie C. Johnson and Jennifer Ruth and will be published by Beacon Press in 2024.

Today, she is joined by Professor Jennifer Ruth, film professor at Portland State University’s College of the Arts. FutureU’s founder Dr. Rubén O. Martinez, Michigan State University professor emeritus and FutureU's founder, hosts the forum.

Today's program was produced by Emeritus Professor Frank Fear for FutureU, Conversations about Values and Change in Higher Education.

Aug 19, 202301:30:32
WVU "Band of Brothers" Tribute to Greg Crist
Aug 17, 202358:55
Against Entrepreneurship

Against Entrepreneurship

Our guest today is Professor Kirsty Morrin. Rather than view entrepreneurship as a uniformly positive concept/practice, something that is beyond the need for investigation and evaluation, Professor Morrin critically examines a subject matter and approach that has become a movement (if not rage) in higher education. Today, colleges and universities worldwide offer entrepreneurship majors, minors, and programs. However, analysis reveals (as Dr. Morrin puts it) that "entrepreneurial agendas conceal precariousness and reproduce inequalities." She argues against the current discourse for entrepreneurial initiatives in education and suggests the need for a critical conversation about its repeated failures.

Professor Morrin is a lecturer in sociology at the University of Liverpool, England. Her research explores social inequalities and focuses on public-private partnerships in state education. Kirsty has published on many issues, including educational inequalities, entrepreneurship education, social inequalities (race, class, and gender), and critical social theory. She is a co-author with Christy Kulz and Ruth McGinity of Inside the Education Lab: Critical Ethnographic Perspectives on the Academies Experiment (Manchester University Press, 2022). Dr. Morrin is also the author of the forthcoming Academies, Entrepreneurship, and Inequality: The Politics of Successful Failure, scheduled to be published by Bristol University Press in 2024.

Joining Professor Morrin today is Professor Rubén O. Martinez, professor emeritus of sociology and director emeritus of the Julian Samora Research Institute at Michigan State University, and FutureU’s founder. Professor Martinez is today's program host. Dr. Nathan Rousseau, professor of sociology at Indiana University Purdue University Columbus and frequent FutureU contributor, will serve as the session discussant.

Today's program was produced by Emeritus Professor Frank Fear for FutureU, Conversations about Values and Change in Higher Education.

Aug 10, 202301:28:53
The Quantification of Quality in Higher Education

The Quantification of Quality in Higher Education

We welcome guest speaker John W. Traphagan to our audio series. Today's presentation, Neoliberalism and the Quantification of Quality in Higher Education is based on his recently published FutureU commentary, So You Want to be a University Administrator? 

Professor Traphagan analyzes the ongoing infusion of metrics into all aspects of “measuring” quality in higher education. From course surveys to rubrics, the overarching approach is to quantify all aspects of higher ed around a simple equation: good metrics —> good optics —> marketing opportunities.

Dr. J. W. Traphagan is an anthropologist and a Visiting Professor at the Center for International Education at Waseda University in Tokyo. He is also a Professor Emeritus in the Program in Human Dimensions of Organizations at the University of Texas at Austin. His research has appeared in numerous scientific journals. His most recent books on Japan include Cosmopolitan Rurality, Depopulation, and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in 21st Century Japan (2020) and The Blood of Gutoku: A Jack Riddley Mystery in Japan (2021). His popular podcast series, How to Be Wrong, is available on the New Books Network.

Joining Dr. Traphagan today is Forum host Rubén O. Martinez, professor emeritus of sociology and director emeritus of the Julian Samora Research Institute at Michigan State University, and FutureU’s founder. George Styles a biochemist with broad-ranging interests, including critical thinking, philosophy, and science, offers commentary as a discussant. Dr. Style’s podcast, The Socratic Method, is available on YouTube. Lewis (Terry) Dibble, a humanities professor at Indiana University Purdue University Columbus, offers comments.

Frank Fear produced the program for FutureU on June 20, 2023. The cover graphic is courtesy of Curatti.


Jun 21, 202301:25:11
Resisting the Neoliberal University

Resisting the Neoliberal University

For those of us who have long been concerned about the neoliberalization of North American and other universities, now is a particularly disheartening time. Not only do longstanding issues of managerialism, commercialization, audit culture, surveillance, precarity, and others persist, but there are renewed assaults on tenure, academic freedom, and the discussion – let alone remediation – of inequality and social injustice. After so many years of dealing with, critiquing, and challenging neoliberalization, why our resistance is so seemingly ineffective is worth asking. In this talk, I answer this question by critiquing our general approach to making change and highlighting an important missing piece in our activism. I also encourage collective discussion of alternatives to enhance our resistance’s scope and effectiveness.

Today's guest and speaker is Professor Claire Polster. Dr. Polster is a Sociology and Social Studies Professor at the University of Regina. Her research focuses on the ongoing transformation of Canadian (and other Western systems of) higher education and its implications for the public interest. She has published widely on, and worked collectively with others to redress, various higher education issues, including government policy and policy-making related to universities, the privatization and commodification of academic research, and the erosion of university autonomy, democracy, and collegialism. Along with Janice Newson, she is co-editor of Academic Callings: The University We Have Had, Now Have, and Could Have and co-author of A Penny For Your Thoughts: How Corporatization Devalues Teaching, Research, and Public Service in Canada’s Universities. She was also a co-founder of the University of Regina Faculty of Arts’ Community Research Unit. Dr. Polster may be reached at claire.polster@uregina.ca.

Rubén O. Martinez hosted today's program. He is a professor emeritus of sociology and director emeritus of the Julian Samora Research Institute at Michigan State University. Dr. Martinez launched FutureU in 2015. Nathan Rousseau, professor of sociology at Indiana University Purdue University Columbus and frequent FutureU contributor, served as the session discussant.

READINGS:

Thomas Frank, What's the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America.

James Hillman and Michael Ventura, We've Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy and the World's Getting Worse.

Kevin Kumashiro, Surrendered: Why Progressives are Losing the Biggest Battles in Education.

The Res-Sistas Manifesto, taken from I’m an Early Career Feminist Academic: Get Me Out of Here?” Encountering and Resisting the Neoliberal Academy, published in Rachel Thwaites and Amy Pressland, Being an Early Career Feminist Academic: Global Perspectives, Experiences, and Challenges.

Frank A. Fear produced today's program for FutureU. The cover graphic (STOP Neoliberalism) is reproduced courtesy of KBOO, Portland, Oregon's volunteer-personed, non-commercial, and listener-sponsored community radio.


(This program was recorded on Friday, May 19, 2023)

May 22, 202350:51
The Culture War on Higher Education

The Culture War on Higher Education

The Political Right has Public Higher Education in its sights. A series of actions undertaken by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature lead the way, and similar actions are underway in North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and Ohio, among other states. The legislative overreach includes reconstituting governing boards, restricting/delisting campus-based Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and Critical Race Theory (CRT). A proposal before the Ohio Legislature would mandate what and how American history is taught to all state public university students. The incursion is akin to what is happening in K-12 education. School board races have become one of America’s most highly contested political sectors, and battles rage nationally about censoring books in public libraries. There is much to discuss, and we are pleased to have a panel of experienced educators with us today. Marty Ambrose completed her M.Phil. at the University of York (England) and has taught English at Florida Southwestern State College for over three decades. Her specialty is nineteenth-century British literature, and she has authored many historical fiction books set around the Byron/Shelley circle. Roger Barbee, a retired educator from North Carolina, has extensive experience as a public and private school English teacher and administrator. He has contributed to the Washington Post and Birmingham Arts Journal, and his poetry chapbook, Applewood Street (2022), was published by Plan B Press. Cindy Banyai earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and graduate degrees (master’s and Ph.D.) from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. A program evaluator, community developer, and community organizer, she has served as president of the international Community Development Society and was a candidate (Democratic Party) for the U.S. House of Representatives (FL-19) in 2020 and 2022. Banyai was an outspoken critic of the Trump Administration and is now speaking out against the DeSantis Administration. Nathan Rousseau is an associate professor of sociology at Indiana University Purdue University Columbus. He has published widely on various topics associated with social change, emphasizing neoliberalism's impact on individuals and society. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Between Past and Future: The Struggle to Transform Race Relations in the United States. Rubén O. Martinez will host today's program. A professor emeritus of sociology and former director of the Julian Samora Research Institute at Michigan State University, his scholarly interests include environmental justice, neoliberalism, academic freedom, and institutional and societal change. Frank A. Fear, emeritus professor at Michigan State University, produced today's program for FutureU, Conversations about Values and Change in Higher Education. (The program was taped on March 29. 2023)

Mar 31, 202301:19:26
Professor Adrian Lenardic, "Humility in the Age of Attention"

Professor Adrian Lenardic, "Humility in the Age of Attention"

The drive for attention is central to the quest for success as colleges and universities compete for students, faculty, and funding. The branding/marketing mania is reaching into the faculty, too. Many colleagues feel increasing pressure to generate attention and visibility for their work, and they find that intellectual humility has become a hindrance. Academic work has always been based on balancing individual and community interests, and the need for attention is fostering hype, overselling, and the need to publish "sellable" research output.  Today's discussion will focus on how a drive for attention is reshaping the purpose of higher education, including academic practice, how contemporary forces are undermining public trust in higher education and science, and what can be done to restore intellectual humility and community balance, both of which are central to the pursuit of knowledge.  

ADRIAN LENARDIC teaches modeling & design, skateboard videography, visualizing nature, and planetary science at Rice University. He was born in Zagreb, Croatia (he rarely misses a Croatian soccer match). His undergraduate degree is from UW-Madison, where he started as an art major before switching to physics (he still co-teaches a class in the art department). His Ph.D. is from UCLA, where he was introduced to planetary science (as well as learning to surf). Before coming to Rice, he was a president's postdoctoral fellow at UC Berkeley (the snowboard days). Adrian's scientific research relates to understanding interactions between the Earth's interior and surface environment, model development and uncertainty assessment, and multiple tangent meanderings. He is part of a first prize-winning art-car team and the recipient of the mayor's award, from the Jamail skate park, for the most improved skateboarder over 30.  

Today's forum, sponsored by FutureU at https://futureu.education/, is hosted by Ruben O. Martinez, and the audio was produced by Frank Fear on behalf of FutureU.

Sep 16, 202233:10
Interlude

Interlude

A book project is keeping me away from the microphone. I’ll be back in 2023. Until then, be well, and thanks for listening. Frank


Aug 11, 202200:08
Jim Carlen Deserves to be in the College Football Hall of Fame

Jim Carlen Deserves to be in the College Football Hall of Fame

Jim Carlen, head football coach at West Virginia, Texas Tech, and South Carolina, 1966-1981) is on this year's ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Leadership set Jim Carlen apart, not just leadership in the football sense, but in terms of leadership writ large. Carlen was adept at doing the things that great leaders do, including visioning, personnel selection/deployment, establishing/reinforcing group norms and performance expectations, and day-to-day-management. Being a consummate leader translated into Jim Carlin being a great football coach (career record of 109-67-6). This audiocast is designed to offer testimony to that assertion, voiced by those who played under and coached with him at West Virginia University from 1966 to 1969. Those you'll hear include John Hale, Tom Kucer, Dick Roberts, Mickey Plumley, Phil Callicut, Richard Bell, Ken Juskowich, and Danny Wilfong. This 30-minute audiocast is a companion piece to the article, COMMENTARY: Great Leadership Set Jim Carlen Apart, published in The Sports Column. (Cover photo courtesy of WV Sports Now) 

Jun 19, 202230:08
Conversation with Mike Balow, Candidate, MSU Board of Trustees
Jun 10, 202240:22
"So Lucky in My Life to be Supported by People Who Believe it is Possible to Strive for Greatness on Multiple Fronts," Cassidy Krug

"So Lucky in My Life to be Supported by People Who Believe it is Possible to Strive for Greatness on Multiple Fronts," Cassidy Krug

It is impossible to describe Cassidy Krug without using the word "success." A high-profile athlete in the sport of diving, Cassidy was an All-America (high school and college), a 10-time national champion, a member of Team USA, and a participant in the 2012 London Olympics. But when you listen to Cassidy talk about how and why success came her way, you will be hard-pressed to hear the word "me." Instead, "we" is her word choice--her parents, coaches, teammates, and others with whom she engaged, and all those who supported, mentored, and enabled her development. Listen as Cassidy talks about her life and other issues, including her thoughts about the status and future of Olympic-style college sports. She also briefs us about her interviews (for a book) with former Olympians, and what she has learned regarding their transition from the intensity of training and competing to post-Olympic life. Uplifting and inspiring--that is Cassidy Krug. 

(This program was produced by Frank Fear for The Sports Column. The cover photo is courtesy of the U.S. Olympic Diving Team) 

#character #swimminganddiving #TeamUSA #Olympics #collegeathletics #Stanford

May 27, 202232:23
Massacre of Black Buffalonians Puts Segregation in Spotlight

Massacre of Black Buffalonians Puts Segregation in Spotlight

When it comes to social issues, America isn't willing to do what needs to be done. Instead, America puts individual rights over social responsibilities and elevates "me" over "we." Even trying to change that formula elicits calls of radical, socialist, and un-American. So we have racism, a gun problem, and segregated cities--three things that came together in Buffalo, New York, and a murderer took ten lives. (cover photo courtesy of The Buffalo News)

May 24, 202224:60
Understanding America's Political Divide Through the Lens of History

Understanding America's Political Divide Through the Lens of History

With sociopolitical identities on steroids these days, the overarching proposition is us versus them, and heaven help those who seek to bridge the political divide. How did we get here and what can be done? We'll tackle that question with the help of Cassandra and an Old Testament story, the Tower of Babel.

May 16, 202215:50
(Film Review) "Master," Watch What You Wish For

(Film Review) "Master," Watch What You Wish For

Here is my review of the film Master (2022), written and directed by Mariama Diallo, produced by Animal Kingdom/Big Indie Pictures, and distributed by Amazon Studios. Starring Regina Hall, Zoe Renee, and Amber Gray the film focuses on the cutural and social dynamics facing three African American women at an elite college. "It is a tricky proposition to be "in" but not "of" an oppressive culture—to derive benefits without absorbing toxicity, interpreting everyday life as "normal," and (perhaps) becoming a cheerleader or (worse yet) an active agent." You can read the text version of this audiocast at Hollywood Progressive. Go here.
Apr 23, 202217:42
Larry Busch on “What Good is Higher Education?”

Larry Busch on “What Good is Higher Education?”

Larry Busch delivered this keynote address at the conference Neoliberalism and Public Higher Education, which was held at Michigan State University on March 27-28, 2015. Professor Busch, who held the title of distinguished professor, passed away in December 2019. “Thank you for all the moments that have made my life an excellent one.” Larry wrote a few days before he passed away. We say the same thing to Larry, He will continue to teach and inspire us. "His ideas and love of humanity are carried on by those who knew him." wrote Professor Ruben Martinez recently. Martinez organized and convened the 2015 conference.

Apr 12, 202258:24
John S. Levin on the Interplay of Academic & Market Values in Higher Ed
Mar 31, 202201:10:17
Performance Check--First Round NCAA Mid-Major Picks

Performance Check--First Round NCAA Mid-Major Picks

When it comes to March Madness, I focus exclusively on Mid-Major teams that might spring first-round upsets. Here’s how I did this year. (Cover photo, Getty Images; basketball stats cited in this audiocast courtesy of NCAA NET, ESPN, and Caesars Sportsbook)
Mar 27, 202225:30
Tribute to County Mayo's Terry Gallagher

Tribute to County Mayo's Terry Gallagher

Terry Gallagher, community developer and activist, cared deeply about County Mayo Ireland and its people. I was blessed to work and learn from him. Terry passed away in February 2022 at 89 years, a month shy of his 90th birthday. This audio was to have been part of Terry's birthday celebration. Now it is my memorial to him. So here are my reflections on Terry's life--a life lived with purpose, passion, and perseverance--dedicated to putting people first, especially small farm, non-farm rural, and village families in the Irish West. 

Mar 10, 202211:32
"The Line" Keeps Gets Crossed in Revenue-Generating College Sports

"The Line" Keeps Gets Crossed in Revenue-Generating College Sports

Just when you think you've seen more than enough money and commercialization in major college football and basketball -- in what was intended to be amateur competition — you see even more money and commercialization enter the system. The line gets crossed again and again. To explore this subject and to address what might be done in response, FutureU is pleased to welcome a panel of knowledgeable and distinguished guests. Jason Kelly is associate editor of the Notre Dame Alumni Magazine, and he serves as acting director of Notre Dame's journalism school. His recently published "The (Next) Line that Can’t Be Crossed" ends with a quote from ND's Athletic Director, Jack Swarbrick: "We better be asking what we want college football to be, and how we make sure it still fits inside a university environment." Ellen Staurowsky, a professor in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, is a nationally prominent author. A fellow of the North American Society for Sport Management, her co-authored book with Allen L. Sack, College Athletes for Hire: The Evolution and Legacy of the NCAA’s Amateur Myth, is a seminal contribution to the literature. Jared Good, a third-year law student at Penn State Law (Penn State University), is keenly interested in legal and ethical issues associated with college and professional sports. He has written a number of articles on the Olympics, Formula 1 racing, the NFL, college sports, and other topics. Our panel also includes legacy college athletes — Mickey Plumley, Dick Roberts, Charlie Fisher, and Bob Zitelli -- who played football at West Virginia University during a different time and era, the late 1960s. They are adept at comparing the game played then with the game played today. The program is hosted by Frank Fear, professor emeritus, Michigan State University, and managing editor of FutureU. 

Feb 25, 202201:29:41
My Annual Predilection: Scoping out Mid-Major Bracket-Busters (Take 1)

My Annual Predilection: Scoping out Mid-Major Bracket-Busters (Take 1)

I love screening not-so-big colleges that might spring upsets in the opening round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament and then sharing the outcomes of my research. I've been doing it for about five years with fairly good results, and I'm back at it again in 2022. This is the first of two takes. The second take will come at conference tournament time in late February/very early March.

Jan 31, 202229:31
My Review of Netflix's "Don't Look Up!"

My Review of Netflix's "Don't Look Up!"

The film invites us to answer an all-important question: How will I respond? The answer is for each of us to do the responsible and constructive thing, each in our own way. It requires us to do both of those things now — before the proverbial comet hits.

Jan 19, 202217:59
Review of Andrew Yang's New Book, FORWARD: NOTES ON THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY

Review of Andrew Yang's New Book, FORWARD: NOTES ON THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY

Andrew Yang announced recently that he was leaving the Democratic Party. In a crisply written piece entitled “Breaking Up with the Democratic Party,” Yang declared, "I believe I can reach people who are outside the system more effectively. Making partisan arguments—particularly expressing what I often see as performative sentiment—is sometimes uncomfortable for me. I often think, 'Okay, what can we actually do to solve the problem?' I'm pretty sure there are others who feel the same way I do." To understand more about Yang’s substantive trajectory, I picked up a copy of his new book, Forward: Notes on the Future of our Democracy (New York: Crown, 2021). I found it to be an excellent read, especially for Progressives. Here's why.

Jan 09, 202213:28
The Economics of Commercialized College Sports

The Economics of Commercialized College Sports

I am pleased to welcome Professor Andrew Zimbalist, Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College. Dr. Zimbalist is a national leader in studying and writing about the money side of revenue-generating college sports—an enterprise that has migrated over the years from an amateur to a professionalized status with pro-like commercialization. His book titles include Unpaid Professionals: Commercialism and Conflict in Big-time College Sports (1999), Equal Play: Title IX and Social Change (2007), Unwinding Madness: What Went Wrong with College Sports and How to Fix It (2017), and most recently, Whither College Sports: Amateurism, Athlete Safety, and Academic Integrity (2021, Rutgers University Press). Dr. Zimbalist is also president-elect of The Drake Group, a national network dedicated to defending academic integrity in higher education from the corrosive aspects of commercialized college sports. Michigan State University colleagues Ruben Martinez and Steven Miller join Dr. Zimbalist and me in today's program. (The program was produced in collaboration with FutureU: Conversations about Values and Change in Higher Education.)

Dec 29, 202101:01:10
"The Quantified Scholar"

"The Quantified Scholar"

Professor Juan Pablo Pardo-Guerra, the University of California, San Diego, discusses his forthcoming book, The Quantified Scholar (Columbia University Press, 2022). The Quantified Scholar provides a compelling account of how scores, metrics, and standardized research evaluations altered the incentives of scientists and administrators by rewarding forms of scholarship closer to established disciplinary canons. In doing so, research evaluations amplified publication hierarchies and longstanding forms of academic prestige to the detriment of diversity. Slowly but surely, they reshaped academic departments, the interests of scholars, the organization of disciplines, and the employment conditions of researchers. This FutureU presentation was hosted by Dr. Zachary Kaiser, Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Experience Architecture, Michigan State University. Dr. Ruben Martinez, Professor of Sociology, and Dr. Frank Fear, Professor Emeritus, both of Michigan State University, served as discussants. Dr. Fear produced the program for FutureU.
Dec 08, 202101:10:09
"The Entrepreneurial Intellectual in the Corporate University" with Professor/Chair Clyde Barrow and Dean/VP Emeritus Fred Poston

"The Entrepreneurial Intellectual in the Corporate University" with Professor/Chair Clyde Barrow and Dean/VP Emeritus Fred Poston

While much has been written and discussed regarding the impact of neoliberal philosophies/practices on contemporary higher education, far less available are compelling interpretations of the circumstance linked directly to practical responses. That is where Professor Clyde W. Barrow and his work stand out. Barrow's impressive array of scholarly contributions includes the 2019 book, The Entrepreneurial Intellectual in the Corporate University (Palgrave Macmillan).

In a series of essays, Professor Barrow offers a contrarian take to dominant views of how to attack institutional neoliberalism in higher education. Barrow argues that it is necessary to stop viewing college/university institutionally as the focal point for change efforts. That’s because bureaucratic structures and cultural practices–endemic to the corporatization and politicization of higher education–“thwart and suppress” those efforts. Instead, Barrow contends that faculty should conduct a good share of their work in self-organized/-governed enclaves situated beyond the boundaries of traditional structures, such as schools, departments, and colleges. While actualizing that outcome requires boundary-spanning leadership (skill, creativity, persistence, and administrative endorsement), Barrow’s own experience at UMass Dartmouth shows that it can be done successfully. In addition, that approach “does not require a massive social movement to initiate.”

Professor Barrow chairs the Department of Political Science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He received his Ph.D. in political science at UCLA and served earlier (1987-2014) in various academic/administrative roles at UMass Dartmouth. 

Barrow is joined by dean and vice president Fred Poston, emeritus, Michigan State University. Known for creating space for interdisciplinary and cross-campus initiatives, Poston focuses in this session on work associated with spearheading MSU's sustainable campus initiative. 

The program is hosted by Professor/Director Rubén Martinez. Professor emeritus Frank Fear serves as discussant. 

(This program was organized and produced by FutureU, Conversation about Values and Change in Higher Education).

Nov 13, 202101:27:16
The "Band of Brothers" that Changed the Course of WVU Football

The "Band of Brothers" that Changed the Course of WVU Football

Over fifty years ago, a group of coaches and players changed the course of WVU football, migrating the Mountaineers from the Southern Conference to a national-level program that today is in the Top 20 of all-time wins among major college teams. But their story is more than a football story. It’s about a group of men who bonded, achieved, and remain connected to this day. First players. Then brothers. Mountaineers always. Listen as they talk about what it was like during this pivotal era in the annals of Mountaineer football and an important time in their personal lives, too. (This oral history features the voices of Phil Callicutt, John Hale, Ken Juskowich, Tom Kucer, Mickey Plumley, Mike Sherwood, Dick Roberts, Danny Wilfong, and Bob Zitelli, and was produced for the WVU Alumni Association, Fort Myers Chapter)

Nov 04, 202101:44:44
That Netflix Blockbuster Called "Squid Game"

That Netflix Blockbuster Called "Squid Game"

The juxtaposition of an iconic American love song playing in the background with contestants falling dead, murdered as part of a 'game,' should tell us all we need to know about this nasty brew. But for every person who tells me they have clipped the program from their viewing schedule, another says they'll keep viewing. In Squid Game, the camera is on us.
Oct 23, 202109:46
Reclaiming Education from Corporate Capture

Reclaiming Education from Corporate Capture

Politically motivated donors are exerting undue influence on K-12 and higher education. UnKochMyCampus is responding by seeking to protect education from those who seek to privilege private interests over public good. Learn about how and what with Jasmine Banks, Executive Director, and collaborator Professor Sharon J. Kirsch, Arizona State U. and Save our Schools AZ. Professors Nathan Rousseau and Zach Kaiser join the conversation. Today’s program, co-hosted by Frank A. Fear and Rubén Martinez, is an educational offering of FutureU, Conversations about Values and Change in Higher Education. 

Oct 08, 202101:16:41
Want To Be College Football's #1 Team? (Think Again)

Want To Be College Football's #1 Team? (Think Again)

Playing to be 'the best' in college football is a futile game because only a few schools (and, I would argue, only one conference, the Southeastern Conference) are primed to win. The SEC's acquisition of Oklahoma and Texas, and the decision to form a 'football alliance' among the PAC-12, Big Ten, and Atlantic Coast conferences (leaving out the Big 12), illustrate why.
Sep 27, 202115:50
Politically Engaged Scholars: Focus on Industrial-Scale Agriculture in California

Politically Engaged Scholars: Focus on Industrial-Scale Agriculture in California

Listen to co-authors Daniel J. O'Connell and Scott J. Peters discuss their new book, In the Struggle: Scholars and the Fight Against Industrial Agriculture in California. O'Connell and Peters are joined by discussants Raymond A. Jussaume, Jr. and Adalberto Aguirre, Jr. Jim Bingen and Joe Scrimger also offer comments. (This audio was produced by FutureU and was hosted by Ruben Martinez and Frank Fear. Cover photo Ernesto Galarza courtesy of AFL-CIO.)
Sep 18, 202101:28:18
In Netflix's, "The Chair," There's a Moral To The Story

In Netflix's, "The Chair," There's a Moral To The Story

Chairperson Kim (Sandra Oh) and Professor Dobson (Bill Duplass) are faculty members, first and foremost, even when that choice comes with personal and professional costs. Neoliberalism loses in The Chair. The Collegium triumphs.
Aug 27, 202110:02
The Bobby Bowden I Knew
Aug 13, 202110:34
America's Struggle with Truth-Telling & Critical Race Theory
Jul 25, 202101:29:48
John & Jim Magee: "It's Not About the Deal."

John & Jim Magee: "It's Not About the Deal."

Michigan St. U. peeps may remember John Magee. John held several positions at the U, including Exec Staff Assistant, College of Arts and Letters, and staff assistant in Ag & Nat Resources. Today, John serves as Assistant VP & Chief International Officer at Madonna University, Lavonia, MI. John and I continue to get together (he introduced me to his brother Jim along the way), and we talk about a range of issues. One issue (the focus here) is what John and Jim (also an internationalist) have learned about working internationally. "It's not about the deal," they argue, and it's certainly not about mining other countries for money and students. Rather, it's about establishing meaningful relationships and creating partnerships that benefit all parties involved. Not earth-shattering, you say? Well...ego, hubris, arrogance, and institutional self-centeredness (what another colleague calls "The Organization First" syndrome) make it more difficult (than easier) to put into practice. So here are John and Jim on "It's Not About the Deal."

Jul 18, 202135:20
In Higher Education, It's 'Follow the Money,' Too

In Higher Education, It's 'Follow the Money,' Too

Politically motivated philanthropy can influence who gets hired, who is awarded tenure/promoted, and what is taught/researched. Subject-matter priorities include promoting the primacy of free-market capitalism and safeguarding the ethic of American Exceptionalism. Recent efforts have focused on restricting teaching the legacy of racism in America, including rejecting Critical Race Theory as a legitimate framework for interpreting U.S. history.  Thankfully, academics across the country are responding to these pernicious activities. We feature two of those colleagues in today's program--ISAAC KAMOLA, Trinity College, and BETHANY LETIECQ, George Mason University. Kamola’s recent article in Inside Higher Education, "Where Does the Bizarre Hysteria About CRT Come From? Follow the Money!," has received nationwide acclaim. Kamola’s new book (out in November), "Free Speech and Koch Money: Manufacturing a Campus Culture War" (with Ralph Wilson), examines how the Koch donor network funds the student groups, campus provocateurs, think tanks, litigation organizations, and the right-wing media outlets responsible for manufacturing the so-called ‘campus free speech crisis.’ Letiecq is a faculty activist at one of America’s most infiltrated universities. She serves on the GMU Faculty Senate and is president of the campus chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). In her GMU-AAUP role, she partnered with student leaders and worked to expose undue donor influence at GMU, and she has also challenged the privatization of presidential searches and working conditions of contracted workers during COVID. Letiecq wrote about GMU and donor influence in "George Mason University’s Donor Problem and the Fight for Transparency," which was published in AAUP’s Academe. (This podcast was produced by Frank Fear for FutureU, July 2021, and was transcribed for transmission here.)

Jul 15, 202101:29:03
Elevating Eulogy Virtues in Today's Resume-Driven World
Jun 24, 202127:51
Politically Divided America Is Likely to Stay That Way … Unless

Politically Divided America Is Likely to Stay That Way … Unless

Nobody defends America's political divide, and most call it out emphatically. And yet, it not only persists, but it is arguably getting wider, deeper, and hotter. One reason is that millions of Americas make a habit of contributing to the divide. Dysfunctional? ‘Understandable’ is another way of looking at it. Here's why and what we can do to heal America--before it is too late.

Jun 09, 202122:45
Stupid Is as Stupid Does? “There Is More to It Than That.”

Stupid Is as Stupid Does? “There Is More to It Than That.”

What are they thinking? How many times have we heard ourselves or others speak those words? A lot, I'm sure. But what we don't say or hear as much is this: “I’m not sure why they believe and act as they do. I need to understand.” An exploration of the phenomenon 'stupidity' says that would be a good idea.
Jun 04, 202119:12
Neoliberalism in Higher Education in the Age of Trump

Neoliberalism in Higher Education in the Age of Trump

The five-decade-long evolution from institution to industry widened and accelerated during the Age of Trump–an era that persists–and the outcome has changed what higher education represents, how it operates, and what it offers. Drawing on their book, Neoliberalism and Academic Repression, co-editors Erik Juergensmeyer and Anthony J. Nocella II discuss the impact and consequences of higher education in the Age of Trump and comment on what can be done to reverse this pernicious shift. Erik and Anthony are joined by discussants Jason Del Gandio and Amy Jamison. Co-hosted by Frank Fear and Ruben Martinez. This audio brought to you by FutureU: Conversations about Values and Change

May 28, 202101:26:08
REBROADCAST (5/30/20): As Eyes Are on Minneapolis, Tulsa’s Experience Is Instructive

REBROADCAST (5/30/20): As Eyes Are on Minneapolis, Tulsa’s Experience Is Instructive

America's indefensible storyline includes mass killings of African Americans—not by police, but by fellow Americans. One such event--in Tulsa, OK--took place a century ago this week. The story didn't end there; it continues, and very differently from how it started. What happened in Tulsa a century ago was disgraceful. What’s happening today in Tulsa gives hope.

May 26, 202111:35
Affiliation's Blind Eye

Affiliation's Blind Eye

We all devote time and attention to affiliations, and there is great joy and fulfillment to be experienced that way. By the same token, there are times when it is important to step back, raise questions, and take counter-positions to prevailing choices. “It's harder to do than it sounds,” wrote Jennifer Finney Boyton recently. Here's why. 

May 22, 202117:02
What Can We Learn From Agatha Christie?

What Can We Learn From Agatha Christie?

Agatha Christie observed human nature in its various forms and proclivities. She wrote using an unpretentious platform—the mystery novel--too easily viewed for its entertainment value and too easily sold short as a portrait of human behavior and society. Today, I'll focus on the portrait.
May 05, 202117:02
Major College Athletics Today: Pay the Head Football Coach $4 Million, Build an Addition to the Basketball Arena, and Eliminate Track & Field Because "We Don’t Have Enough Money"

Major College Athletics Today: Pay the Head Football Coach $4 Million, Build an Addition to the Basketball Arena, and Eliminate Track & Field Because "We Don’t Have Enough Money"

That distorted picture, which mocks the purpose of athletics in higher education, privileges intercollegiate athletics in commercialized and quasi-professionalized forms. It's time to put an upside-down system right-side up. 

Apr 22, 202134:59