How Can We Fix Our Universities Without Burning Them Down? With Michael Roth Ep 37

Trust in universities has cratered, ideological divisions are deepening, and the future of higher education is hotly contested. How do we repair our academic institutions without tearing them down entirely? Today on Heterodox Out Loud, host John Tomasi welcomes Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan University, historian, and esteemed thought leader on liberal education, for a frank and probing dialogue. Drawing on recent Gallup polling data, Michael and John examine the collapse of public trust in higher education, particularly among conservatives, and the orchestrated efforts across the spectrum to delegitimize academic institutions. Michael discusses the double bind facing universities: the hard-won gains in gender, racial, and religious inclusion overlaying a stark decline in viewpoint and ideological diversity among faculty and students. The discussion traverses the enduring tensions between diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and the imperative of open inquiry. Roth critiques both anti-elitist grievance-mongering and the insularity of academic circles, arguing for an educational environment that prizes rigorous debate, intellectual pluralism, and genuine mutual respect. Together, Tomasi and Roth confront thorny questions: How do universities maintain their relevance in a polarized society? Is the narrowing of acceptable discourse stifling academic innovation? And what role should university leaders play amid mounting political interventions and societal pressures? In This Episode: 💥 Declining trust in higher education due to perceptions of elitism and delegitimation 💥 Grievance politics influencing perspectives from both the left and right 💥 Reduced viewpoint and ideological diversity among faculty members 💥 Overreaching DEI initiatives leading to unintended consequences 💥 Structural barriers hindering ideological pluralism in hiring and admissions practices 💥 University leadership's role in managing political pressure and rebuilding trust through debate About Michael: Michael S. Roth, a historian, curator, and advocate for liberal education, has served as the 16th president of Wesleyan University since July 1, 2007. An alumnus of Wesleyan (Class of 1978), graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, before earning a Ph.D. in history from Princeton University in 1984. Before returning to Wesleyan, Roth held several prominent academic positions, including president of the California College of the Arts, associate director of the Getty Research Institute, and founding director of the Scripps College Humanities Institute. His scholarly work focuses on how individuals and societies interpret the past, and he has authored numerous books, such as Beyond the University: Why Liberal Education Matters and Safe Enough Spaces: A Pragmatist’s Approach to Inclusion, Free Speech, and Political Correctness on College Campuses. A vocal proponent of academic freedom, Roth has been recognized for his defense of higher education institutions against political pressures. In 2025, he received the PEN/Benenson Courage Award for his commitment to upholding the independence of colleges and universities. Follow Michael on X: Follow Heterodox Academy on: Twitter: Facebook: LinkedIn: Instagram: Substack: 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at:

You can listen to How Can We Fix Our Universities Without Burning Them Down? With Michael Roth Ep 37 online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

How Can We Fix Our Universities Without Burning Them Down? With Michael Roth Ep 37 is an episode from Heterodox Out Loud by Heterodox Academy.

This episode is 00:56:20 long.

This episode was published on Jun 3, 2025.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Heterodox Out Loud when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.