How does Lyndon Johnson State College sound? With the Vermont State College System struggling to keep up with rising costs, officials have recommended merging Johnson State and Lyndon State Colleges.Jeb Spaulding, the chancellor of the state college system, says consolidation will reduce administrative overhead while protecting the long-term viability of both northern Vermont campuses. On Sept. 24, he'll seek the Board of Trustees' approval when he presents them with a report on how to unify the two schools over the next year. Spaulding joins us to discuss what the plan may mean for students, staff, faculty and the state college system as a whole.
Also on the show, passenger rail service in Vermont. Advocates of train travel have long argued for a faster route to New York City and easy links direct to Montreal. We learn if those ideas are any closer to reality.
And, the art of politics – literally. We visit a pop-up art space at the DNC in Philadelphia where a Burlington man is playing a key role in raising political awareness through art. VPR's Emily Alfin Johnson talks with Luis Calderin of Rock the Vote. You can view our Facebook album of Emily's photos from the "Truth to Power" art exhibition.
Broadcast live on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
