Roe v. Wade
NIU Political Scientist Mitch Pickerill has researched, written about and taught on the history and significance of the Roe v. Wade decision and its impact on politics. He can discuss:
- The history of Roe v Wade and how it became a cornerstone of the Culture Wars
- Why and how the decision is in danger of being overturned now
- The likely political backlash of the decision
NIU Professor of Communication Dr. Kathryn Kady, whose specialties include feminist theory, has studied Roe v Wade in her classes for many years and often encourages the debate on the topic as she teaches rhetoric. Among the topics she can address are:
- Why a woman’s right to an abortion is important
- The potential consequences if Roe v Wade is overturned
- How the leaked decision reveals the partisan nature of the current court
Mental Illness/Suicide
The recent suicides of country music legend Naomi Judd and a college softball player highlight the ongoing difficulties we face in confronting, or even talking about, mental health and suicide. Dr. Suzanne Degges-White, chair of Counseling and Higher Education, suggests that changing our mindsets from Toxic Positivity to one of Tragic Optimism may help. She can discuss:
- What are Toxic Positivity and Tragic Optimism?
- How pretending that heartache and suffering don’t exist harms us
- How to use struggle and trauma as learning opportunities
- Ways to find meaning in the tragedies of your life and put them in perspective
Kentucky Derby
The intrigue of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby goes beyond figuring out who to bet on, says NIU Communication Dr. Bill Cassidy, who formerly wrote for the Racing Forum. Among the topics he can discuss are:
- How banned trainer Bob Baffert may still influence the race.
- The nature of the violation that got Baffert banned and its significance
- How putting your money on the favorite may not be your best bet
