University of Memphis students will have an opportunity to express their views on the air today during a live radio broadcast of the Mike Fleming show.
The show will be broadcast from the main lounge of the University Center from 3-7 p.m. on WREC 600 AM.
The U of M is the first scheduled stop for the show during a regional tour of college campuses in an effort to capture viewpoints and discuss current issues from the perspective of the higher education community.
“Young people are the leaders of tomorrow and what they have to say about change in our world is important and should be heard,” Fleming said.
Fleming added that the show’s discussion will partly focus on the sweeping changes in the local and worldwide social landscapes since Sept. 11.
Fleming said he chose The U of M to kick off the tour due to its large size and educational importance and impact in the region.
Fleming is encouraging students and faculty to take part in the broadcast in the hopes of shedding some light on the landslide of turbulent issues that have had an impact on the Memphis area.
“I hope [students and faculty] will come and ask tough questions, I never want to do a comfortable show,” Fleming said.
Fleming said he expects some of the conversation to center around the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, and he is looking forward to debating and discussing the students’ viewpoints.
Fleming said that anthrax and the developing conflict in Afghanistan are daily topics on his show. He said that the past month and a half have changed Americans’ way of life more than any event since Pearl Harbor.
“Americans have been using the Atlantic and Pacific as buffer zones to keep this type of thing away, but we are now beginning to realize that the oceans are not going to keep us immune to the troubles that affect the rest of the world any longer,” Fleming said.
Patriotism is running high and Fleming is happy to see it.
“I just hate it took an event of such magnitude and tragedy to make everyone to become more patriotic and kinder toward each other,” Fleming said.
Fleming said the United States should maintain an aggressive attack on the Taliban.
“People are scared for their overall safety; we have been backed into a corner and our fight or flight responses are taking over, and we’ve chosen to fight,” Fleming said.
“There is no question we must take action as a nation actions speak louder than words.”
