College Disorientation [ This American Life ]

Episode 867

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/867/college-disorientation 

Day Trips: The University of Texas McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis [ austinchronicle.com ]

The flava:

The University of Texas McDonald Observatory high on Mt. Locke in the Davis Mountains is an internationally recognized center for astronomical research. It also invites the public to experience the wonders of looking into space.

To get to the observatory from Fort Davis, take Spur 118 north. The winding 15.5-mile two-lane highway is one of the most scenic roads in Texas. Near the summit of Mt. Locke at 6,791 feet it becomes the highest paved road in Texas.

The article:

https://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2025-09-12/day-trips-the-university-of-texas-mcdonald-observatory-fort-davis/

UC Berkeley shares 160 names of students, staff with Trump administration in ‘McCarthy era’ move [ Berkeleyside ]

The flava:

UC Berkeley has provided 160 names of students, staff and faculty to the federal government, which has been conducting a probe into alleged antisemitism on college campuses nationwide.

UC Berkeley provided the personal information of these students and staff at the direction of the University of California’s Office of the President, according to The Daily Californian, UC Berkeley’s student paper. Affected students received an email on Sept. 4 notifying them that their names had been released.

An anonymous graduate student told the newspaper that the names targeted seem to be Muslim and Arab individuals who expressed support for Palestine.

Among those accused of “potential connection to reports of alleged antisemitism” is noted feminist theorist Judith Butler, who has previously said that their Jewish upbringing drove her to speak out against the state of Israel through Jewish Voice for Peace.

Butler told the San Francisco Chronicle that UC’s compliance has “echoes of McCarthyism.” . . .

The article:

https://www.berkeleyside.org/2025/09/12/uc-berkeley-shares-names

THE LIBRARIANS | Official Trailer

Horrifying Moment Captures Charlie Kirk's Assassination at Utah Valley University [ Republic World ]

66-year-old achieves dream of making the LSU marching band [ CBS Evening News ]

Why Do So Many Americans Not Know How Their Government Works? [ PBS ]

A largely invisible role of international students: Fueling the innovation economy [ The Hechinger Report ]

The flava:

International students make up more than a third of master’s and doctoral degree recipients in science and engineering at American universities. Two-thirds of U.S. university graduate students and more than half of workers in AI and AI-related fields are foreign born, according to Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology. 

“A real point of strength, and a reason our robotics companies especially have been able to grow their head counts, is because of those non-native-born workers,” said Luther, in Pittsburgh. “Those companies are here specifically because of that talent.”

International students are more than just contributors to this city’s success in tech. “They have been drivers” of it, Mawhinney said, in his workspace overlooking the studio where the iconic children’s television program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was taped. 

“Every year, 3,000 of the smartest people in the world come here, and a large proportion of those are international,” he said of Carnegie Mellon’s graduate students. “Some of them go into the research laboratories and work on new ideas, and some come having ideas already. You have fantastic students who are here to help you build your company or to be entrepreneurs themselves.” 

The article:

https://hechingerreport.org/a-largely-invisible-role-of-international-students-fueling-the-innovation-economy/

Three Bay Area College and University Presidents Reflect on Their Mounting Challenges [ KQED ]

https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101911106/three-bay-area-college-and-university-presidents-reflect-on-their-mounting-challenges

Guests:

Roger Thompson, president, Saint Mary's College of California

Lynn Mahoney, president, San Francisco State University

Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, president, West Valley College

How Small College Presidents Are Leading Through Uncertainty [ Small College America ]