On the next episode of the Critical Conversations podcast, we delve into "The Hidden Cost of Free Speech." Recent events have brought this classic topic back to the forefront, and together, we'll unpack how the national sentiment around free speech impacts the student experience, how we respond to various forms of on-campus expression, and how we share the Oakton story with the broader community.

Host: Dr. Rick Daniels, Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion
Guests: Will Crawford, Distinguished Professor of English
Keith Simonds, Assistant Professor of Political Science
Steve Butera, Director of Communications and External Relations
Coordinator: Brenda Cruz, Coordinator of Institutional Equity and Inclusion
Producer: Erick Rohn, Distinguised Professor of Design

In this episode of Critical Conversations, Dr. Rick Daniels cuts through the noise around “civil discourse” and gets real about what it actually means. Respectful debate isn’t just about sharing opinions, it’s about the skill, care, and discipline we bring into dialogue. Too often, what’s framed as free speech is really provocation disguised as debate. Dr. Daniels challenges that notion and introduces four practical tools designed to help us sharpen our ability to disagree without disrespect, and to debate without demeaning.

Host: Dr. Rick Daniels, Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion
Coordinator: Brenda Cruz, Coordinator of Institutional Equity and Inclusion
Producer: Erick Rohn, Distinguised Professor of Design

Have you ever felt like you had to shrink yourself to fit in? Been the “only one” in the room? Or felt pressure to speak for your whole community?

In Season 3, Episode 2 of Critical Conversations, we begin our new series Who Switched My Code? by exploring tokenism as a form of social adaptability. Together, we’ll walk through the three phases: Adaptation, Reaction, and Representation. I also tell my own personal story with tokenism and reflect on how I moved from survival to authentic leadership. Code-switching has a cost; let’s unpack it together.

#CriticalConversations #WhoSwitchedMyCode #Authenticity #RepresentationMatters #EquityInAction #Belonging

Host: Dr. Rick Daniels, Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion
Coordinator: Brenda Cruz, Coordinator of Institutional Equity and Inclusion
Producer: Erick Rohn, Distinguised Professor of Design