Perspective.

****** This is the final episode of "Perspective" ****** Ever since the first white men set foot on North America there have been problems with indigenous people – problems that continue to this day. Perhaps the worst aspect of those problems is that they are very similar problems in Australia and elsewhere around the world. Too often we either don’t know or refuse to recognize problems presented by Native Americans…or that beset native Americans. Guest: Maggie Walter, professor of sociology and pro vice-chancellor at the University of Tasmania, and an Oz to Oz visiting Fulbright Scholar at Kansas State University. Perspective has been a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades – Richard Baker produced the program from 1978, until its final episode in 2018. ****** This is the final episode of "Perspective" ****** The program h

When we think of philanthropy, we tend to think of a desire to promote the welfare of others, of benevolence, generosity, social conscience, charity, and brotherly love, all promoted by the generous donation of money to good causes. However, one expert and worker in the field, says that is simply not the case. Guest: Edgar Villanueva, vice president of Programs and Advocacy at the Schott Foundation for Public Education.   Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed

Both sides during the Cold War worked very hard to manipulate science to their advantage. That effort came despite a cherished belief by many in the United States that science should not serve a political agenda. On today’s Perspective, a look at the Cold War struggle to control science, and the impact that struggle left us today.  Guest: Audra Wolfe, a historian whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and the podcast, American History Tellers. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Coop

Thanksgiving, an annual event centered on the myth that forms the beginnings of the United States of America, is once again behind us. The idea of friendly natives who ventured forth and helped the European settlers in their time of need…and then sat down around a communal table to celebrate their efforts and friendship. However, the history of the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina tells a different story.  Guest: Malinda Maynor Lowery, an associate professor of history and director of the Center for the Study of the American South at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑S

A Gallup Poll conducted between 2001 and 2007 revealed that 93 percent of the world’s Muslim population believed the 9-11 Attacks were unjustified. Another study found that one-in-three al-Qaeda terrorist plots were disrupted with the aid of Muslim Americans. Muslims speak out against terrorism all the time, yet, public officials often ask the same question: “Why don’t Muslims speak out against terrorism?” According to one professor, it really isn’t a question but a condemnation, because it “wrongly assumes Islam is the driving force behind terrorism.” Guest: Todd Green, an associate professor of religion at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades.  The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions o

A former educator believes the K-12 grading system must be changed to reflect equity. He says that system, for the most part, has systemically retained achievement and opportunity gaps – even though they are thought to benefit students and be neutral – actually enable teachers’ unconscious biases to infect the system. On today’s Perspective, a look at ways to minimize any negative impact on learning, especially on students who are vulnerable. Guest: Joe Feldman, an author who has worked in education at the local and national levels for over 20 years as a teacher, principal and district administrator. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to

How often have you laid under a night sky and wondered what is or might be out there in the endless tracts of space? Are there neutrinos passing through your body as you lay there? Are there places just like earth far beyond what you can see…are there other beings there, and will we ever be able to converse with them – or do we need to fear them? We delve into some of those thoughts on today’s Perspective.  Guest: Dr. Jo Dunkley, professor of physics and astrophysical sciences at Princeton University. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agri

There have been various warnings of a global food crisis for almost 10 years. In fact, many believe that by 2050, worldwide production of food will have to increase by 70 percent. However, one expert feels that is not accurate, and that the food crisis could arrive as soon as 2027.  Guest: Sara Menker, founder and CEO of Gro Intelligence, a company that pulls and consolidates data from around the world as it pertains to agriculture. She is also a trustee of the Mandela Institute for Development Studies and a trustee of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑State Resear

Despite the fact that whites, both male and female, comprise only 63 percent of the U.S. population, 81 percent of Congressional members are white males. Those numbers are also closely mirrored in elected officials in state and local offices. However, one activist feels that could very well change in this year’s elections. Guest: Sayu Bhojwani, founder and president of New American Leaders, the only national organization focused on preparing immigrant leaders to run for public office. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experime

The freedom to vote in the United States is under attack, and according to one advocate, many Americans – young and old alike—are already finding it harder to enter a voting booth. She says not only do we need to begin to take our civic responsibilities seriously, we also have to do a much better job of teaching civics in our public schools. Guest: Carolyn DeWitt, president and executive director of Rock the Vote. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades.  The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to gen

Real American History   On this week’s Perspective program a bestselling and award-winning author examines American history … what we know and what we don’t know … what is right and what is wrong … and why. My guest today is the author of “Lies My Teacher Told Me: What Your American History Textbook Got Wrong,” a book he first wrote as a critical survey of the 12 leading American history textbooks, a number he later expanded to 18. On this week’s Perspective program, a look at American history that may surprise you or may anger you … or both.     Guest: James W. Loewen is the bestselling and award-winning author of “Lies My Teacher Told Me.”  He is also the author of “Lies Across America,” “ Sundown Towns,” “Lies My Teacher Told Me About Christopher Columbus,” “Teaching What Really Happened,” “The Mississippi Chinese,” and “The Confederate and Neo-Confederate Reader.”  Loewen is also a professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Vermont.

Today’s program was originally to be about string theory and the teaching of physics in the United States. Instead, a well-known physicist and newly-elected American Physical Society vice president, leads us from string theory to how America stands in the study of physics worldwide, and then into American racial problems. Guest: S. James Gates Jr., an American theoretical physicist and Ford Foundation professor of physics and affiliate professor of mathematics at Brown University.   Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment

The world’s population currently stands at somewhere around seven-and-a-half billion people – a number we often struggle to feed adequately. Experts say the population will double to about 15 billion by 2050. The question then becomes, if we struggle to provide adequate food now, what will we do in 32 years? A four million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation has been awarded to a team led by Kansas State University to address that question.  Guest: Stephen Welch, a professor of agronomy at Kansas State University. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the K

For more than 40 years, there has been a call from certain sectors for police departments in the United States to become more proactive. However, along with that call comes some questions. First, what is meant by proactive policing? And secondly, does it work? On today’s Perspective, one national expert says there is evidence that a number of proactive policing practices are successful in reducing crime and disorder, at least in the short term, and that most of these strategies do not harm communities’ attitudes toward police. Guest: David Weisburd, a Distinguished Professor at George Mason University and Director of the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send co

The memories of World War II lead us down lots of different paths, some of which many would rather forget, while in others we find unsung heroes…some of which will never be remembered. But thanks to three Kansas high school students and their teacher, one of those unsung heroes has been immortalized. Guest: Marzanna Pogorzelska, an assistant professor at the University of Opole in Poland and the European director for the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Project, which is headquartered in Fort Scott, Kansas. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State Uni

Most of us have absolutely no idea what a short line railroad is – or its importance to the economy. According to an economist at Kansas State University, short line railroads have historically played an important role in the transportation of agricultural products. A study he conducted examined who the short lines are, where they are, the current state of the short line industry, its role in the grain logistics system, which agricultural products they ship, and in what amounts. Guest: Dr. Michael Babcock, a professor of Economics at Kansas State University with an expertise in transportation.   Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksren

A professor of African-American Studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago says something happens in schools – especially elementary schools – that forms and changes people in racial terms. And those changes lead to some interesting questions, such as “why are there racial gaps in achievement, despite the fact that racist theories of genetic inferiority have been disproven?” Additionally, a growing body of literature shows minorities value education as much, if not more, than their higher-achieving white peers. On today’s Perspective, a look at what goes on inside school buildings and in schoolyards.  Guest: Dr. Amanda Lewis, professor of African-American Studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and t

Have you ever wondered how we learn about race or where our perceptions and understandings about race, racial differences, and racial problems come from? More specifically, what do white parents teach, or not teach, their children about race? And just how all of that goes into how white kids come to see black and brown people as different? On today’s Perspective, some thoughts and answers from a study of white children in upper-middle-class white families in a medium-sized mid-western city…thoughts and answers that may surprise you.  Guest: Margaret Hagerman, an assistant professor of Sociology at Mississippi State University. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for

In 1846, James McCune Smith, an African-American physician, abolitionist and author, told a white friend what had to be done to convince Americans of, as he put it, “the eternal equality of the Human race.” He said, “the hearts of the whites must be changed…thoroughly, entirely, permanently…changed!” In other words, whites had to understand what it was like to be Black…they had to attain a Black heart! However, an assistant professor of history says that simply hasn’t happened. On today’s Perspective, a look at how religion created race, and how that legacy still affects society today. Guest: Katharine Gerbner, an assistant professor of History at the University of Minnesota. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around th

In April of 1986, a devastating explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant laid the groundwork for many problems that continue to haunt us today. According to Harvard professor Serhii Plokhii, the immediate cause of the Chernobyl accident was a turbine test gone wrong. But he says the roots of that disaster lay in the interaction between major flaws in the Soviet political system, as well as in the nuclear power industry.  Guest: Serhii Plokhii, professor of Ukrainian History and Director of the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University. Perspective is a weekly public affairs program hosted by Richard Baker, communications professor at Kansas State University. Perspective has been continuously produced for radio stations across the nation by K-State for well over six decades. The program has included interviews with dignitaries, authors and thought leaders from around the world. Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu. K‑State Research and Extension is