Dome Pondering

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. Chandika Shrestha I found so much of this story this week to be fascinating. Chandika Shrestha, a 64-year-old woman, was found alive - ALIVE! - after ten days below a collapsed house among the Nepal flood wreckage. The human spirit element and the sheer will to survive, combined with what can only be divine intervention. So much there to the spirit of life and an unexplainable reasoning.  Western Michigan vs. Michigan Ending Look, I'm as casual as they come when it comes to the college football space, culture, and fandom.  Nonetheless, somehow, I found myself (with my wife - who has about 3,485 things she would rather do before watching football) watching the final five minutes of this game on Saturday night. Little did we realize what we would witness.  I have no dog in the fight. But I fe...

I came across this recent poll and found it deeply thought-provoking. What heightens this so much is the timing of it all, as I prepare to welcome the Class of 2030 (I know...insane, right?) to campus as a student-affairs practitioner. As the days move toward on-campus move-in day, new student orientation, and so many transitional moments for higher education students, I've also found my inbox at work slowly being taken over by, yes...parents.  Over the past couple of years, I've experienced a steady increase in parent participation in student life. This summer has been particularly significant. stark rise in parents asking questions and seeking answers regarding on-campus life - not the incoming students. Most of my emails before classes began have been from parents asking about student expectations.  And yes, part of that is due to the current distrust in the higher education space.   Nonetheless,  the recent findings from this poll have started to feel a bit mor...