The result of the US Presidential election is impacting college campuses in a variety of ways. Student activism and protests have erupted on numerous campuses including Yale, Stanford, UCLA, and the University of California at Berkeley.
There is also uncertainty about what kinds of policy implications may be in store for the higher education community under a Trump presidency. Questions about funding for student loans, impact on international students, consequences for federal funding of research, and the future of the Department of Education are all on the minds of people associated with higher education today.
I find myself reflecting on what the profound political divide in the United States says about the ways in which we conduct our politics. Among the many objectives of a college education is preparing students to be thoughtful and engaged citizens. Colleges espouse free, open, and respectful dialogue as core values, and promote campus life as a laboratory in which students can learn, practice, and develop the skills of citizenship. Continue reading “College and the 2016 Election: Protests, Policy, and a Better Brand of Politics”