When protests against the Israel-Hamas war swept across college campuses this past spring, student activists were joined in some cases by their professors. That’s what happened at Indiana University, where state police led a particularly aggressive crackdown on demonstrators. The professors’ reasons for participating were varied and complex, but their decisions point toward a thorny and persistent question: Do faculty members have any business joining student protests?Guest: Kate Hidalgo Bellows, staff reporter at The Chronicle of Higher EducationRelated Reading:  Mideast War, Midwest Crisis: Indiana U. made a series of unpopular decisions. Then it called the police on protesters.  ‘These Terms are Just Absurd’: How One University Disciplined Professors Accused of Assisting an Encampment As an 8-Day Protest Shut Down a University, Administrators and Faculty Sparred Over What to Do Cooley law firm’s review Indiana University’s handling of protests.  For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters.

In this discussion, senior writer Eric Hoover from The Chronicle of Higher Education delves into the chaos surrounding the new FAFSA rollout. He highlights the emotional strain on students and families facing financial aid uncertainties. Hoover explores the alarming drop in FAFSA completion rates, particularly among low-income and mixed-status families. He shares compelling stories, including the struggles of a homeless student desperately seeking support. The conversation raises important questions about equity and trust in higher education amidst this crisis.

Beth McMurtrie is a senior writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education, known for her insights into education trends. In their discussion, they dive into why Gen Z students struggle with reading endurance and motivation, exacerbated by distractions from social media. Professors express frustration over students' waning engagement with complex texts. The conversation also touches on the pressures of modern education, exploring the need for innovative teaching methods to reconnect students with reading and critical thinking.

Everything happening in the world converges in one place: higher education. College Matters from The Chronicle, coming September 10.