Brian Lerer on WNYC, and for the last segment of the show today, we know that this is a week

when many colleges are beginning their school year, and we assume most college students,

at least those who go away to college,

are not listening right now as you're in this transition. Maybe some of you are. And if you are,

you're invited to call in on the following question. But we think this is going to be primarily

for parents of college students. And the question is, what kind of conversation did you have with your

student in the last few days about going away to school or returning to school in the context of

campus politics and national politics today? 212-433 WNYC, 212- 433, 9692. What kind of conversation did you have with your student about going away to school for the first time or returning to school in the context of campus politics and national politics today?

212, 433, WNYC, 212, 433-9-6-9-2, call or text. And if you are the student yourself,

you can obviously call too and tell us just what your own thoughts are about being on campus,

any campus at this particular moment in the United States.

212-433-9692. And you all know the array of things that are so hot right now. President Trump pressuring colleges to end diversity programs and teach history and politics in ways that

Trump likes, the pressure to elevate conservative speech and marginalize LGBTQ, especially

trans or non-binary, students, whatever pressures on speech you might feel come from progressives

for that matter, faculty, fellow students, whatever.

Maybe you talk to your college student kid about pro-Palestinian protests

versus the pressures to limit those protests.

And depending on what side you're on about some of that,

maybe your conversation was about asserting their right to free speech.

Maybe it was about protecting against anti-Semitism if your child is Jewish or against

Islamophobia if your child is Muslim. There's also the funding cuts for medical and other

research. What if your student is a science major? So this is shaping up to be another intense school year for colleges and universities in the context of American politics.

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