Author: Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig
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When the floodwaters surged through Kerr County, Texas, they didn’t just wash away homes, roads, and vehicles. They swept away years of warnings, missed opportunities, and the dangerous illusion that preparedness can wait. This wasn’t a surprise. It was a preventable tragedy. Officials in Kerr County had studied the need for a flood warning system—in…
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On July 4th, beneath a flyover of B‑2 bombers and the thunderous applause of a partisan audience, President Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law. In doing so, he delivered not just a pageantry-laden salute to right-wing governance, but also a decisive blow to America’s already fragile higher education ecosystem. Framed…
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On the Fourth of July, we wave flags, light fireworks, and celebrate a vision of freedom rooted in the idea of citizenship—of liberty and justice for all. But this year, I’m not just thinking about parades and cookouts. I’m thinking about the meaning of citizenship, the cost of silence, and what happens when a country…
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Let’s tell more truth today: NDAs are the duct tape of dysfunction. When a organization feels threatened by dissent, exposure, or accountability, the quickest fix isn’t change—it’s silence. Enter the Non-Disclosure Agreement. Once a tool for protecting intellectual property or trade secrets in the corporate world, NDAs have morphed into a powerful muzzle for equity advocates, whistleblowers, and…
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Behind closed doors, I’ve heard presidents and vice presidents describe their boards in terms that are hard to forget: “Severely inexperienced.” “Unprepared for complexity.” “More dangerous than helpful.” Although the examples in this post are drawn from higher education, the underlying issues I highlight resonate far beyond universities. The concerns and insights apply just as…
Cloaking Inequity 