Understanding Motivation

In 2016, nearly 45,000 Americans committed suicide. The strongest increase is in the rate for girls aged 10 to 14. Kathleen Baynes, an assistant professor of psychiatry and a psychiatrist at UR Medicine Mental Health & Wellness, Michael Scharf, chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and Cassie Glenn, an assistant professor of psychology and psychiatry and faculty member at the URMC Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, talk about trying to stem the tide.

As Rochester prepares for its 169th Commencement, four graduating students talk about their aspirations for the future and share some of their favorite memories as YellowJackets. From favorite professors to landing the dream job, Class of 2019 members Gillian Gingher, Gabriel Guisado, Beatriz Gil, and Benton Gordon use this memorable milestone to look forward—and look ahead. Meliora!

Higher education is often thought of as the place where students expand their minds and prepare themselves for their lives and careers. That often means freedom of inquiry and freedom of speech. For some, the tenets of the First Amendment are sacrosanct. Others consider free speech at its strongest when we protect more marginalized and vulnerable voices. Dean of students Matt Burns and political science professor David Primo shed light on this growing debate.

From smartphones and social media to online learning and virtual reality, digital technologies are changing the ways we connect with each other and interact with our world. Students on today's college campuses are digital natives and bring with them expectations when it comes to learning and interacting on electronic platforms. Joan Rubin, Jayne Lammers, and Emily Sherwood discuss being educators and being human in the digital age.

If you look at social media, or just simply read, watch, or listen to the news, it’s easy to get the sense that America is more polarized than ever. Three university experts: Joan Saab, David Primo, and Kevin Meuwissen discuss the nature of America's current political and social divide and offer ideas on how higher education might help bridge the widening gap.

Professor of religion and classics Nora Rubel, assistant professor of history Thomas Fleischman, and assistant professor of psychology Laura Elenbaas sit down for an academic and interdisciplinary conversation about how we understand hate and intolerance. Together, they discuss recent incidents of racism and antisemitism and offer insights from their fields.

WRUR is celebrating 70 years of being on the air. Like many college radio stations, the University of Rochester’s station has long been a mainstay on campus and in the wider community. As much a place for learning as it is a spot on the dial that delivers the news, the music, and the events that shape our world, WRUR is an important part of Rochester’s history. Listen to clips from some of the station’s memorable moments, hear from past and present personalities, and join the celebration of seven incredible decades.

Economics factor into almost every part of our professional, social, and personal lives; yet many of us have little understanding how economics shape our world and our places in it. In this episode, we look at economics from a more universal perspective and discuss how understanding the discipline can be as empowering as it is informative.

Original theme music "Roots and Wings" by Billy Petito ’18E.

Last spring, the leadership in Arts, Sciences & Engineering introduced a restorative practices initiative to help members of the University community move forward after allegations of sexual misconduct challenged one of its most respected departments and affected the institution as a whole. Led by AS&E dean for diversity Beth Olivares, the initiative includes restorative practices workshops and training by consultants Toni McMurphy and Duke Fisher, as well as important insights from associate professor of anthropology Kristin Doughty, a restorative justice scholar and director of the University of Rochester’s Susan B. Anthony Institute. Beth Olivares, Toni McMurphy, Duke Fisher and Kristin Doughty join us to talk more about restorative practices and what they hope to accomplish with the ongoing initiative.

In July 2018, Donald Hall became the University of Rochester's Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering. Responsible for a unit that includes more than 350 faculty members, over 5000 undergraduate students, and over 1,300 graduate students, Hall's leadership will have a significant impact on the University and the College. He sits down to talk about his priorities and his vision for the future.