Watchers of the Skies: Recent Episodes
Carlos Campo
The podcast "Watchers of the Skies" (the title comes from John Keats' poem, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer" and references the wonder of learning any new thing) is a collaboration of Ashland University president Dr. Carlos Campo and the Journalism and Digital Media Department at Ashland University. The purpose of the show is to look closely ("Watchers") at contemporary events ("the Skies") that are relevant to higher education, and provide commentary on these topics from an Ashland University perspective. Dr. Campo is joined by his co-host and friend Dennis Monokroussos.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss technology and social media and how it affects the younger generation.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss and welcome the new president and Dr. Campos new plans.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the different areas students can study and what difference it makes.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss philosophy and why students should study it.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss with two senior students their experience at Ashland and what they plan to do after.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss what Tik Tok is and some of the political discussion that follows Tik Tok.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how football players that had head injuries are having bigger issues as they age.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the Congressman's, Greg Murphy, concerns on the DEI oath for doctors.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss his podcast and how Dennis got brought back to Ashland.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss with a special guest, Yoe Suarez, his story from Cuba and how he got to the United States.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss, with a special guest Doctor Olga Manasal, the Ukrainian Scholars program.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the upcoming eclipse.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss international students at universities throughout America.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss a high controversial funeral.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss what the most important factors are for students when choosing a college/university.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss and revisit events that had happened in 2023.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how old is too old within politics and other jobs.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss truth and ethics within universities.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the SAT and how it is starting to come back.
In this episode Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the resurgence of the SAT's for college admissions post COVID.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss if it is possible to be view point neutral.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss humanities and whether or not defense is the right choice to make.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Alumni Dawn Swit discuss her journey at Ashland and what brought her to Ashland over other schools.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the American academy and what it is.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss cancel culture and what should and shouldn't be tolerated.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the 3 Ivy League president's response to antisemitism.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss journalism and the question of where can you find true unbiased news.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how donors are going away from certain universities and no longer donating to them.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the war the has been happening and the different countries involved.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how abortion and different health care laws are effecting high education.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the wealth and wage gap considering higher education and other factors.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how Grandparents are more likely to pay for their grandchild's tuition then the child's parents.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the decline of students coming into high education and why.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the Florida state governor and what he is doing for education.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the 2nd, the most recent, republican presidential debate.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the issue of the fact that people of color were not finding their way into higher education.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss misogyny and its opposite term by describing them and giving examples.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the newest Barbie movie and the message throughout the movie.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss tittle nine and how it is affecting sports and other things for both men and women.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the two sides of people changing their pronouns or are transgender and how some peoples experience.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the tuition and money issues within different universities.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how education has changed and grown from the classical education.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss what students have as actual skills and knowledge after they graduate college.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how a professor in Texas is using his freedom of speech by chritisizing the universities president and others.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how Sandford invited a judge to speak which resulted in many people within the school to be upset and speak against the judge.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how students, educators, and speakers have freedom of speech and how Ashland University does not conform to shutting down how students think.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the changes Wellesley College has made to be more inclusive towards trans women and non-binary people.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss wether or not humanity majors, like English, are coming to an end or if they still provide the skills needed to get a job.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how college students are being pushed away from their original political beliefs due to being told what to think instead of how to think.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss Kate Forbes' rise to politics and the issues she has recently been faced with while running for the position of First Minister.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss Roald Dahl and how his texts have been reread and reframed from their original works to be tailored to the public. Publishers are able to change and alter the text before the work is published which often results in the original message from the author being lost in translation.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the name change of the University of Richmond School of Law and the controversy regarding the change.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the direction AI and Chat GPT are going. A secret was leaked in an interview discussing the testing of chat GPT. Two pair discuss the scary side of AI and the dangers that come with the technology.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the direction that higher eduction is moving in. The two analyze the issue between a professor and a student over a piece of religious artwork. Students are standing up against cancel culture in academia and supporting academic freedom. Does religious history have a place in an higher education classroom?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) on college campus's and the issue regarding Flordia blocking certain teachings from state schools. MFE (merit, fairness, and equality) is countering DEI to reward merit rather than implementing DEI statements and scorecards. MFE or DEI?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how AI and Chat GPT are taking over in both good and scary ways. Chat GPT is able to take a prompt and immediately respond with a developed answer - can be used to write essays, program, etc. Could AI and Chat GPT have a place in the classroom or even the courtroom?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos take part in a special holiday episode! The two discuss holiday pasts and the history behind their origins.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how WOKE law could affect higher education institutions if passed. Mandatory sessions teaching critical race theory are being prohibited in workplaces and in education. Should the government have a say in what is taught at the higher education level?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the future of social media and the direction Elon Musk is taking twitter. Social media has created a false sense of the world making finding ones identity difficult for today's youth. What direction will media platforms take in the future and what will be the next new media?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the importance that educated citizens bring to a country in what they stand for. Bias teams are becoming more popular and they anonymously report against institutions, people, groups and practices that they perceive as bias. Does a bias team hinder free speech?
In this episode, Dr. Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss whether companies and social media platforms have the right to police their own speech. Should social media platforms with millions of users have the right to censor certain political speech?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss COVID's impact on education and how students are falling behind due to lost years of in-person classes. Standardized test scores are down, dropping dramatically, across the state. How will these students catch up and what support is needed?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the Kindness Matters initiative. They pair also compare niceness or friendliness to etiquette and where kindness takes place. Should kindness be deeply rooted in a person's beliefs, such as religion?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos are joined by a special guest and discuss affirmative action. Cases being brought to the supreme court depict affirmative action as reverse discrimination when it comes to college admissions. Should race be a factor in college admissions?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss Jon Stewart's show which presented news in a narrative fashion. How does fake news skew people's views?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the Free Speech Conference at Stanford and the silent majority on college campuses. Does cancel culture inhibit free speech on college campuses and scare the younger generation into silence?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss a controversial tweet from a Carnegie Mellon Professor and how free is free speech in higher education. How much of a place should there be for polemics, or controversial debate on social media? Is there a time and place?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss a student speaking on racially questionable murals from the 1930s in LSU buildings. How should we address historical works of art that do not align with our country's values today?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the UnRedacted, by Meg Smaker and the controversy surrounding the film. After its first showing at Sundance, the screening was canceled and awards were retracted after a moral criticism. Should producers limit an artist's ability to create because of critics?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss an event at Oxford that has now ended up in court. How does the First Amendment's right to Freedom of Speech apply at Universities?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Diversity statements are an applicant's likeliness to take an extra step to support or sponsor minority groups. Should Universities and Companies require signed diversity statements from applicants?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss what values companies align with and how they may express those beliefs. Do companies have a duty to be a force for good or just to not be a force for evil?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss what is acceptable to say or do in 2022. Where do we draw the line between religious organizations and Universities? Dr. Campo and Mr. Monokroussos debate how religious beliefs work together with the law of the land and when one takes precedence over the other.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss current issues facing public education. Are rising truancy rates a reflection of public education? More and more parents are opting to send their kids to private schools or even homeschool them instead of putting their children in public schools.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the higher education reform ideas and which way higher education will move. Are traditional four-year degrees in the 25:1 ratio still the most effective way to conduct higher education? The two discuss how employers and job fields will also have an impact on further education and skills learned.
In the first episode of Season 2, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos debate both sides of student loan forgiveness. How will student loan forgiveness affect inflation, our economy, and the future of education?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss parental rights and education. New bills currently being considered include rules for age appropriate discussion around identity and orientation, as well as parental access to all student health records. When should these issues be brought into discussion?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss "The Libs of TikTok" social media accounts and how political platforms are making their way into the classroom. Are reporters able to publish the personal information of others? How is social media play a role in polarization and freedom of expression?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss Elon Musk's idea to take over and improve the social media platform, Twitter. Is there free speech on Twitter? Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how Twitter may filter certain ideas from the public and promotes a specific agenda on their site.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss H+ (superhuman) being and living through technology in the transhumanism movement. Since the beginning of time human desire has been to live forever and as technology continues to develop, Dr. Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the possibility of this desire becoming a reality.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the legal system and the trend of lawyers refusing to defend certain cases. Is everyone entitled to legal representation and defense? Dr. Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how demographics may play a role in the court room bringing up the question, is blind justice real?
In this episode Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss Jordan Peterson, a clinical physiologist, and his rules for life described in his books. "A bad plan is better than no plan at all", the importance of critical thinking, and the ideal of teaching students How to Think not What to Think, which Ashland University emphasizes, all show a movement towards finding a purpose.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss whether people are truly virtuous when tested. How far does love is love go? Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how the love is love movement and the Me Too movement can include both vice and Virtue.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the backlash J.K. Rowling received after tweeting about identity and biological sex. Where does free speech come into play? Can anyone identify as anything on a college application?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos are joined by special guest Senator Rob Portman to discuss leadership in higher education. Senator Rob Portman explains his support for the expansion of the Pell Grant for many different types of education, including trade schools. What does the future of leadership look like?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos are joined by distinguished guest, Dr. Christian Miller. The three discuss the expectations of virtue. Is true virtue attainable? "The Character Gap" by Dr. Christian Miller is analyzed with the elements of virtue being a primary topic.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss how sustainability and social factors affect how companies are being run. What is ESG and how does this affect investments? Dr. Carlos brings up how both, company and individual values affect how investments happen and what to invest in.
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos dive into the Sarah Palin v. The New York Times suit. Carlos and Dennis discuss the background of the case as well as the future of the claims. Does the press play a role in how court cases are perceived to the jury?
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss political movements. Results of the 2020 election are analyzed and the evidence discussed. Rallies are still currently being held in respect to the election with extremist views, Dr. Campo and Dennis Monokroussos speak about how Christianity plays into these events. Are Church and State really separate? Things are always more complicated than they seem.
Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos introduce special guests and discuss intellectual traditions. Is China embracing Western philosophy, such as Strauss, more than students in the United States? Is all philosophy political? Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos dive into these topics and embrace Ashland University's core value of teaching students "how to think, not what to think".
Earlier this month, students on the George Washington University campus noticed a new set of posters hung up in a public area. These posters depicted artwork of Chinese Olympic athletes but with a twist. The images were quickly deemed racist by the Chinese community and the president, however, upon further investigation, it was revealed that the artist was a Chinese-Australian man who defended his work as political statements.
In this episode of Watchers of the Skies, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos ask themselves: are these posters protected under free speech even though the community took great offense to their implications? Should action be taken?
Ashland University president Dr. Carlos Campo and colleague Dennis Monokroussos are back to discuss the hot topics of 2022. On this episode, the two engage in conversation regarding the Joe Rogan podcast controversy and Spotify censorship. Joe Rogan had recently been under fire for his controversial statements including the frequent use of the n-word on his podcast.
At what point can one be defended when your life has been in the eyes of the public?
With recent controversy regarding anti-Semitism on a college campus in Ohio, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos saw it important to discuss how to foster a safe environment for all students regardless of background on college campuses while also still upholding the idea of free speech.
All who reside in the United States know how important freedom of speech is to their nation. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and practices. However, when it comes to donors of higher educational facilities having stipulations on their gift giving, do the cons outweigh the pros? If a donor redacts their gift due to a campus culture shift, are they upholding this freedom at the expense of students? If a controversial figure is invited and attends campus events, what can be done about the expected backlash in relation to freedom of speech? Dr. Carlos Campo and colleague Dennis Monokroussos tackle this difficult topic and everything in between in this episode of Watchers of the Skies.
It is not hard to see the plethora of "Help Wanted" signs posted in the windows of many businesses lately. With the Covid-19 pandemic came a surge in worker shortages for many reasons. In relation to higher education, are colleges and universities putting forth enough money and focus on the right areas to ensure their students’ success post-graduation?
In this episode of Watchers of the Skies, Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss if higher education facilities are doing enough to ensure students who graduate with a degree are filling those empty positions and embarking on their chosen career path.
Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the points made by Israeli undergraduate turned University of Notre Dame alum Hadar Hazony (@HAHazony) in his Twitter thread on integralism and liberalism in higher education. What is it about seeking higher education that typically churns out more liberalized students? Does higher education strip students of their cultural background or is this mere circumstance?
Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos invite Executive President of Ashland University's Student Senate, Yosolajesu Olujide-Ajibade, in this episode of WotS. The team engages in a discussion about mental health in relation to the pandemic, diversity and inclusion, and what it's like to be a student at AU.
Forget what you knew about citations. A new movement is on the rise amongst scholars. Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos discuss the concept of citational justice, that is being aware of exactly who you integrate into your research. This hot topic begs the question, is this equitable or unnecessary?
Dr. Carlos Campo and Dennis Monokroussos are joined by Dr. Judy Alston, graduate education courses professor at Ashland University, author, and activist to discuss the effects the Covid-19 pandemic had on optimism and rigor. Further, what has AU done to preserve the graduation and employment rate of their future educators in the College of Education?
Dr. Carlos Campo is joined again by Dennis Monokroussos to discuss the unavoidable topic of Critical Race Theory (CRT). What does it mean to be anti-racist? Is there a link between CRT and Marxism? What is the relationship between anti-racism and anti-capitalism? Campo and Monokroussos tackle these questions and other difficult topics in this episode of Watchers of the Skies.
A widely discussed topic in higher education is the gender gap of students and graduates. According to statistics, 60% of college graduates are female and 40% are male. What is the cause? How can universities try to close the gap? Dr. Carlos Campo and co-host Dennis Monokroussos discuss these questions, topics of diversity, and more in this episode of Watchers of the Sky.
There is a crisis occurring. A replication crisis in the field of psychology. Dr. Carlos Campo is joined by co-host Dennis Monokroussos and special guest, distinguished professor of psychology at Ashland University, Dr. Christopher Chartier to discuss the issues that arise when conducting psychological research.
Carlos and Dennis take on a monster. . . the monster of diversity of thought in higher education. It seems as if during a time of cancel culture, censorship, and more, higher education should be a place where there is freedom of expression and diversity of thought. In this episode, Carlos and Dennis talk about the struggle of diversity of thought in higher ed and why it matters.
It is no secret, having football, baseball, basketball and other sports at a university is not cheap. Some universities have incredibly large budgets for their programs. In this episode, Carlos and Dennis discuss the cost of sports in higher education. Should universities have sports programs?
Laïcité is a term too big to define and engage within in just one episode. So, Dr. Carlos Campo and his guest, Dennis Monokroussos, again discuss laïcité (secularism) but this time focus on religious freedom in relation to higher education.
Dr. Carlos Campo and his guest, Dennis, talk about the raising cost of higher education, why it keeps increasing, and how it affects those who desire to go to college.
Dr. Carlos Campo and his guest, Dennis Monokroussos, discuss laïcité (secularism) and higher education and its commitment to liberal ideas affect culture.
Welcome to this new podcast presented by Ashland University, Watchers of the Skies. Dr. Carlos Campo, President of Ashland University and host of this new podcast series, introduces this podcast whose title derives from John Keat's poem, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer".
Join us as Dr. Campo and his guest speak to higher education and current culture.