How Universities Can Rise to the Challenge of Trumpism

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FEATURING DR. BEVERLY DANIEL TATUM - Nearly all schools reopen the day after Labor Day and, as students and teachers go back to school in the fall of 2025, on top of many people’s minds are the perils that modern-day conservatism poses to higher education in particular.

From the push-back against affirmative action and diversity initiatives, to the attacks on campus free speech, politicians seem hell-bent on attacking colleges for precisely the reasons that make them centers of learning: critical thinking and the freedom to explore ideas.

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum is president emerita of Spelman College, and author of four books, including the bestseller Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? Her latest book is Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times. She spoke with Sonali Kolhatkar about her new book.

ROUGH TRANSCRIPT:

Sonali Kolhatkar: I don't want to spend too much time on the problems on the perils part of this question because this show is one that focuses on solutions, so I'm really interested in the promise, but how do you summarize the problems? I threw out a few things that are really impacting college campuses today, particularly the experiences of students, which is ultimately the most important thing. How do you summarize what you as President Emerita of Spelman are most concerned about what kids are facing, what young people are facing on campuses today? 

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum: It's a great question because as you mentioned, there are many challenges that administrators, college leaders have to think about. But from a student perspective, I think what is probably most important is having access to education, both from an affordability point of view but also from a sense of belonging. 

If you enter into a campus community and don't feel like you belong there, you're not likely to stay there. And if you don't stay, you're not likely to complete.