Universities charged into the culture wars. Now they’re fighting to get out.
Until recently, universities were widely seen as places for asking questions, debating ideas and accessing upward mobility. Now, they’re just as likely to be seen as battlegrounds in the culture wars. As public trust eroded and political scrutiny intensified, a bigger question emerged: When did this shift happen? And more importantly, can it be repaired? Host Megan McArdle is joined by Daniel Diermeier, chancellor of Vanderbilt University. He is trying to answer those questions not just in theory but in practice. Drawing on his experience leading a university, Diermeier shares where he thinks universities have gone off course, what needs to change and what’s still worth protecting — and whether they can once again become places where more people feel they belong.
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Show Notes
Until recently, universities were widely seen as places for asking questions, debating ideas and accessing upward mobility. Now, they’re just as likely to be seen as battlegrounds in the culture wars. As public trust eroded and political scrutiny intensified, a bigger question emerged: When did this shift happen? And more importantly, can it be repaired?
Host Megan McArdle is joined by Daniel Diermeier, chancellor of Vanderbilt University. He is trying to answer those questions not just in theory but in practice. Drawing on his experience leading a university, Diermeier shares where he thinks universities have gone off course, what needs to change and what’s still worth protecting — and whether they can once again become places where more people feel they belong.
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