Freedom of expression is generally upheld as a core American value and a key ingredient for a functioning democracy! At the same time, we are constantly debating the limits to speech. Especially when speech is abrasive, hateful, deceiving, or simply careless, it becomes difficult to stand by our free speech principles. And on many college campuses, recent studies have found, students would rather not be exposed to views they oppose.

Have we lost our way? Have we maybe unlearned the skills needed to live in a society where speech is supposed to be free? For this episode, cohosts Ashley Lumbala, Sion Hardy, and Dr. Babette Faehmel reached out to five guests who think a lot about "speech" as part of their academic and professional role.

Joining us are Lonny Davenport, Communication Concentration student at SUNY Schenectady; Professor Richard Hamm, Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of History at SUNY Albany; Nikita Bowen-Hardy, the President of the Schenectady Chapter of the NAACP; Rae Doyle, Professor of Communication at SUNY Schenectady; and, by Zoom from his office at Monroe Community College in Rochester, Professor Joseph Scanlon, Associate Professor of Political Science.

To learn more about the fascinating topic of "how free is free speech," feel free to consult the following sources:

Samantha Barbas, "The Enduring Significance of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan" (March 18, 2024).

Zach Goldberg, Ryan Owens, & Lynn Woodworth, "Americans’ Troubling Views on Speech, Harm, and Violence" (November 2025).

American Civil Liberties Union, "Freedom of Expression" (March 1, 2002).

The views voiced on this episode reflect the lived experiences and uncensored opinions of the guests; they do not necessarily capture the full diversity of attitudes within a larger community, nor do they express an official view of SUNY Schenectady.

Veterans only make up between 4 to 5 % of the overall student population. In experience, skill sets, and mindset, however, this group stands out prominently. For this episode, the co-hosts Ashleylucie Ntumba Lumbala, Sion Hardy, and Dr. Babette Faehmel met with current and former student veterans to talk about how they navigated the transition from military service to college, the challenges they face and faced, and the unique strengths they brought with them to higher education.

Joining us to share their personal views and experiences are Francis Edward Brown IV, a Navy veteran and current student in the School of Music at Schenectady County Community College; Schenectady City Councilman Carl Williams; Stephen Onley with the Veterans Resource Outreach Center (VET-ROC) at Hudson Valley Community College; and Kevin Dean, Executive Director of ASAP in the Office of Strategic Planning at SUNY Schenectady.

Assisting us with the recording, editing, and mixing of this episode were School of Music students Aileen Alverado, Carter Maxon, Sebastian McHenry, Dylan Bruce, and Cole Schilling.

A special thanks goes out to Anna Westerman, Assistant Director of Academic Advisement and Retention, and Dr. David Clickner, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Planning, for their help and support with thinking through this particular topic.

If you want to learn more about -- and from -- student veterans, you may start with these resources:

• The "Resource Hub" at the Center for Veteran Transition and Integration at Columbia University; the "go-to destination for free, game-changing military to civilian resources."
• Psych/Armor: a military-connected community offering online courses and other educational resources "for military, Veterans, their families, and caregivers ... and organizations who want to more effectively engage with them."

For more information about supports for student veterans at SUNY Schenectady County Community College, please visit the Veterans Resource Office, located in ELS 222.

The views voiced on this episode reflect the lived experiences and uncensored opinions of the guests; they do not necessarily capture the full diversity of attitudes within a larger community, nor do they express an official view of SUNY Schenectady.

In spite of some recent studies indicating a decrease in the prevalence of major depression, mental health remains a significant concern among community college students. Many report that anxiety and stress harm both their well-being and academic success, with some even withdrawing from classes. The constant stress from trying to balance college, work, and family responsibilities is "also associated with a host of adverse conditions, including a higher prevalence of eating disorders, suicidality, and substance abuse compared to the adult, noncollege-student population."(1) Stigma, limited awareness of services, and barriers like work and caregiving make accessing support especially difficult for students in two-year colleges.

For this episode, please join two new student co-hosts -- Ashleylucie Ntumba Lumbala and Sion Hardy -- faculty host Dr. Babette Faehmel, and their guests, for an intense conversation about stress, doubt, and fear of the future; but also for an inspiring talk about self-care, wellness, and --- surprisingly --- the healing power of the martial arts.

Contributing to this episode are: Current students Brittany Bowie and Khalim Hannah; former student and current CEO of JMurrayAthletics, John Murray; Sean Mullen, Counselor in SUNY Schenectady's Wellness and Support Services office; and Maria Farina, Adjunct Instructor of Psychology and Civic Engagement at SUNY Schenectady.

For more information about mental health supports, please visit SUNY Schenectady's Wellness and Support Services, which includes the Disability Resource Office, the Resource Hub, supportive counseling, and the Food Pantry. If you want to reach out to Sean Mullen, send an email to sean.mullen@sunysccc.edu or give him a call at 518-381-1336.

(1) Bonilla, Sade, and Veronica Minaya. (2024). Challenges and opportunity: An examination of barriers to postsecondary academic success. (EdWorkingPaper: 24-925). Retrieved from Annenberg Institute at Brown University: https://doi.org/10.26300/0cw6-fe07

The views voiced on this episode reflect the lived experiences and uncensored opinions of the guests; they do not necessarily capture the full diversity of attitudes within a larger community, nor do they express an official view of SUNY Schenectady.