Bipodisan Bipodisan

The national news hosts Juls Paine, Lily Bass, and Jered Cooper talk to Adjunct Professor Mary Kate Cary about the viability of an independent candidate in the 2024 election. The hosts speak on the rise of a third party, whether or not RFK Jr has a shot, and who might be the most attractive president in American history.

Alex and Kristin talk to Professor Brian Williams and his research assistant Zach to examine how the University of Virginia is responding to concerns about student safety given the growing crime rate in Charlottesville. They unpack community alerts, the role of ambassadors, and how independent organizations are preemptively stopping crime. The episode was filmed on Halloween, so the heavy discussion is balanced with a healthy debate about candy, costumes, and even the possibility of a haunting in the studio.

Alex and Kristin sit down with professor of politics Gerard Alexander to discuss the state of free speech at the University. They talk about UVA’s #6 slot on this year’s FIRE rankings (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression), the extent to which students censor themselves in the classroom, and their openness to speakers they might disagree with. Professor Alexander is president of the Blue Ridge Center, a group whose mission is to expand intellectual diversity on Grounds.