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In their lively and entertaining weekly discussion of issues related to higher education, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger explore the topics of higher education, lifelong learning, and exercising the brain. Ed and Jennifer practice what they preach, too, by introducing math puzzlers and brain teasers to keep listeners on their toes.

Higher Ed: Has It Become 'Cool' to be Mad?

Social media such as Twitter allow people to draw attention to situations and problems that might not otherwise get much focus. It also lets people share information and connect quickly and easily. But what has happened to the value we place on interacting and connecting in person? In this week's episode of KUT's podcast Higher Ed, KUT's Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss the immediacy and emotion of social media and the value of personal interactions.

The idea for this episode came from Ed. He says he's sensed something among young people (and he would know - he's been teaching and working with young people for decades). Ed wonders if it has become "cool" to be angry. And, he wonders if that phenomenon is fueled by the emotions often displayed on social media and the responses they elicit. Clickhere for Ed and Jen's discussion about the immediacy and emotion of social media, and what we may be losing in the realm of personal, intellectual engagement. Also, hold onto your hats; you'll get the solution to last week's puzzler about who's wearing what hat.

This episode was recorded on October 4, 2016.

For all of the Higher Ed episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on itunes here!

Jennifer Stayton is the local host for NPR's "Morning Edition" on KUT. Got a tip? Email her at jstayton@kut.org. Follow her on X @jenstayton.