Groveland

Our letters don’t just disappear when we put them in the mailbox. They stick around, even years after we’ve written them. They tell our histories. On Part 2 of Letters, a love story told through letters and a conversation with someone who delivers them.

For one year now, she’s been the president of Macalester–one year that’s felt like a decade. Today, an interview with President Suzanne Rivera.

In this two-part series, we answer the question: Why mail? What is it about letters that brings people together? On this episode, a love letter that starts a conversation and a postcard that keeps one going.  

Family. Identity. Loss. Joy. These are the little stories that make us who we are. Voices of color at a predominantly white institution. Introducing Here We Are, a special, limited-run series. Listen wherever you get Groveland.

There’s been a lot of news about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Brown and Indigenous people. But this history of racism and medicine goes much deeper than the coronavirus. Produced by Brian Zou.   Sign up for our audio trainings (coming soon): https://forms.gle/pYyZhpz1EfqJJV2m7

On Tuesday, we decide the next president of the United States. And the stakes are higher than any presidential race in our lifetime. This week: political science professor Julie Dolan on the uncertainty surrounding Election Day.

In 1904, a devastating blight wiped out the American chestnut tree. 100 years later, a team of researchers is on the verge of bringing it back to the wild. From The Mac Weekly, this is The Abstract: Stories of scientific research, from profuse failures to precious moments of triumph. Subscribe to our new series wherever you listen to Groveland.

Like many other parts of this country, journalism has deep ties to America’s history of racism and white supremacy. Now, as many in the US confront that history, journalists of color across the country are pushing for change. This week, Gabe Schneider on how American newsrooms fail to cover stories about race. The Objective: theobjective.substack.com Gabe Schneider: twitter.com/gabemschneider Isolation Diaries project interest form: forms.gle/S6VASkVtXbAvzRga7

Like most of the country, college administrators were completely unprepared for the coronavirus. And it spread too fast for them to do anything but send everybody home. Now, it's the fall. Classes are back in session. And this time, colleges had a head start.   The question is whether their plans will be enough to keep everybody safe.   Guest: Benjy Renton (@bhrenton), digital editor of The Middlebury Campus Off the Silk Road, Benjy's newsletter on the coronavirus and higher ed

Like so many other businesses, the coronavirus pandemic has hit the photography industry hard. Events have been cancelled, weddings have moved online, and parents don’t have the money for the usual senior portraits. But in a small town in Wisconsin, one photographer is learning to adapt. Producer: Kira Schukar

Across the country, coronavirus infection rates are surging. Doctors, nurses, and other medical staff have been working nonstop to control the virus, but experts are now warning that some hospitals are again on the verge of being overwhelmed. Today, the story of one of those healthcare workers—who’s been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic since the beginning. Producer: Shania Russell  

As people took to the streets to demand justice for George Floyd and others killed at the hands of police, many business owners closed their shops and raised plywood boards over their windows. And where those storefronts used to be, local artists like Valendice Payne found themselves with dozens of blank canvases instead. Producer: Kira Schukar

Across the country, healthcare workers are putting their lives on the line going to work each day. But a lot of healthcare workers are also parents. And with schools closed, many of them don't have anyone to take care of their kids. This episode is part of our series on the coronavirus pandemic: A gap in America's childcare system and the students stepping in to help. Minnesota CovidSitters: mncovidsitters.org

They’re not household names. But for protestors from Minneapolis and Saint Paul, their calls for justice are a familiar sound. -- Some places to donate: We Love Lake Street Reclaim the Block Black Visions Collective Drop-Off/Pick-Up Sites (Credit: BLM at Macalester) Some resources: Ways to Take Long-Term Political Action From Home (Credit: BLM at Macalester) Anti-Racism Resources (Credit: Amy Martin, Threshold) Code Switch from NPR 1619 from The New York Times

For 17 years, he’s been the president of Macalester. This year, he’s stepping down. A final interview with Brian Rosenberg. Guests: Brian Rosenberg, President of Macalester College Further reading: Controversial party reviewed by College Harassment Committee Green Sheikh appearance cancelled amid protests Macalester campus unites for walk-in against hate Board says no new fossil fuel investments in victory for student activists Six years later, Neill’s name stripped from Humanities Building    

Across the country, states are ordering people to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Two weeks ago, Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz issued an executive order that people need to stay inside except for essentials like groceries and exercise. In the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing you updates as the crisis continues to unfold. This is part three: Tips for social distancing, working from home, and staying connected. Guests: Morgan Doherty, Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Mac Weekly

Across the country, states are ordering people to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Two weeks ago, Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz issued an executive order that people need to stay inside except for essentials like groceries and exercise. In the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing you updates as the crisis continues to unfold. This is part three: Tips for social distancing, working from home, and staying connected. Guests: Morgan Doherty, Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Mac Weekly

Across the world, the pandemic has brought economic activity to a halt. In the last week, the stock market has crashed. Local businesses have been forced to close. And in the US, more than three million people have lost their jobs. In the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing you updates as the crisis continues to unfold. This is part two: What you need to know about the coming recession. Guests: Liang Ding, Associate Professor of International Finance at Macalester; Pete Ferderer, Edward J Noble Professor of Macroeconomics and Economic History Resources: https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-money-unemployment.html https://www.uimn.org/applicants/needtoknow/news-updates/covid-19.jsp https://www.usa.gov/unemployment

Across the world, the pandemic has brought economic activity to a halt. In the last week, the stock market has crashed. Local businesses have been forced to close. And in the US, more than three million people have lost their jobs. In the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing you updates as the crisis continues to unfold. This is part two: What you need to know about the coming recession. Guests: Liang Ding, Associate Professor of International Finance at Macalester; Pete Ferderer, Edward J Noble Professor of Macroeconomics and Economic History Resources: https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-money-unemployment.html https://www.uimn.org/applicants/needtoknow/news-updates/covid-19.jsp https://www.usa.gov/unemployment

In the last three months, the rapid spread of the coronavirus has overloaded hospitals, forced borders to close, and killed thousands as countries struggle to slow it down. In the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing you updates as the crisis continues to unfold. This is part one: Why our ability to fight the virus depends on what you do.   Guests: Devavani Chatterjea, Professor of Immunology and Global Health at Macalester   Resources: Minnesota Department of Health: www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

In the last three months, the rapid spread of the coronavirus has overloaded hospitals, forced borders to close, and killed thousands as countries struggle to slow it down. In the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing you updates as the crisis continues to unfold. This is part one: Why our ability to fight the virus depends on what you do.   Guests: Devavani Chatterjea, Professor of Immunology and Global Health at Macalester   Resources: Minnesota Department of Health: www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

For the first time in 60 years, Minnesota lawmakers are changing the rules for the state's presidential primary. Less than a week before the vote, some of those rules are still being written. Guests: Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State; Sarah West, Professor of Economics at Macalester; Erik Larson, Professor of Sociology at Macalester

College athletics is a $14 billion dollar-industry, but student athletes have never been paid. Now, California says that should change. How the state's Fair Pay to Play Act could remake college athletics across the country.   Guests: Liam McMahon, Managing Editor at The Mac Weekly

The major climate disaster burning through Australia. Macalester’s new sustainability coordinator. And, what you can expect from the podcast this semester. This is a new series from the Groveland team: Five minutes every month about the latest on the stories we’ve covered in the past.

A federal judge rules to uphold affirmative action. The Board of Trustees vote to rename Neill Hall. And how The Mac Weekly’s reporting this semester shows the power of local news. This is the first episode of our new series: Five minutes every month about the latest on the stories we’ve covered in the past.

We all play a part in contributing to climate change, and we can all play a part in stopping it. The big question is how. Today, two perspectives on the best way to fight climate change. This is part three of our series on the climate crisis: What you can do about it.   Guests: Zoe Chinander-McFaul, Associate Producer

A lot of people think about climate change as a universal issue. But it's also a civil rights issue—and that's something the mainstream environmental movement is starting to recognize. This is part two of our series on the climate crisis: What we talk about when we talk about the environment. Guests: Roopali Phadke, Professor of Environmental Studies; Abe Asher, Editor-in-Chief of The Mac Weekly

A white supremacist former president. A building named after him. The question of whether or not to keep that name. This is the story of Neill Hall here at Macalester. But it’s also the story of Coffman Memorial Union, just a couple miles away. How this same debate over whether or not to rename buildings played out last year at the University of Minnesota. Guests: Austen Macalus, form. reporter at The Minnesota Daily This episode was reported as part of a special investigation by The Mac Weekly.

Hundreds of demonstrations around the world led by students. Days later, an urgent UN summit in New York. Both with one focus. This is part one of three episodes on the climate emergency: What you need to know about the current state of climate change.   Guests: Louisa Bradtmiller, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies

It's been nine months since we launched Groveland and we've got two updates for the end of the school year.

Local newspapers are an important part of communities across the country. But the newspaper industry is changing. 30 years ago, there was a lot of money in journalism—but now, many local papers are struggling to stay in business. So why is one company trying to buy as many of them as it can? Guests: Nick Ferraro, Dakota Country Reporter, Saint Paul Pioneer Press; Michael Griffin, Professor of Media & Cultural Studies; Hannah Catlin '21, News Editor, The Mac Weekly

A group of students are suing Harvard, saying they were discriminated against for being Asian American. How a lawsuit about discrimination is part of the fight against affirmative action. Guests: Jeff Allen, Vice President of Admissions; Donna Maeda, Professor of American Studies & Chair of Kofi Annan Institute; Patrick Schmidt, Professor of Political Science; Henry Aoki, Political Science major.

Most Macalester students are confident in the ability of the school to effectively address reports of sexual assault. But how well does the Title IX process work in practice? This is one student's experience. This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault.

It started as a bill to protect gender equality in college sports. It became the legal basis for confronting sexual assault on college campuses. How does Title IX actually work at Macalester?

Global warming is becoming increasingly visible across the world. But some people have been dealing with its effects for a while. This week: One Wisconsin farmer's experiences with climate change.

On Tuesday, November 6th, Minnesota voters will play a key role in deciding partisan control of Congress. This week: why Minnesota will be a battleground state in the upcoming midterm elections.

Former-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was Macalester's most prestigious alumnus. He died one month ago on August 18th. What legacy will he leave behind?

From The Mac Weekly, this is Groveland, a podcast bringing you in-depth news stories from City Hall to the Campus Center. Powered by student journalism.