The Faculty Association of Monmouth University (FAMCO) held a teach-in on Tuesday, Mar. 4 in the Great Hall Auditorium to discuss President Donald Trump’s first month in office.
The first session was held from 10:05am to 11:25am, where students Nashalie Garcia and Rafael Martinez Ponce moderated the faculty panel that included Professor Stephanie Bobbitt, Associate Dean Catherine Duckett, Specialist Librarian Laura Giacobbe, Specialist Librarian Lisa Iannucci, Specialist Professor Mark Ludak and Chair of the Department of Communications Deanna Shoemaker. The first session featured a “Faculty MC”, Professor Sanjana Ragudaran.
The second session was held from 1:15pm to 2:35pm, where Garcia and Marisa Chiarini served as the student moderators. The second session featured Professor Kerry Carley-Rizzuto, Professor Anne Deepak, Professor Johanna Foster, Senior Lecturer Elizabeth Gilmartin-Keating, and Professor Hettie Williams. The “Faculty MC” was Professor Maryanne Rhet, Chair of the Department of History and Anthropology.
The second session began with Garcia discussing Trump’s impact on students, including potential cuts to federal student aid and Pell Grants, as well as crackdowns on transgender students’ rights and immigration concerns with international students. Dr. Anne Deepak of the School of Social Work spoke on how, “every aspect of our profession is impacted” with a new list of words banned in certain areas of the federal government which include “female” and “hate speech.” Deepak went on to discuss Trump’s executive orders, “All these executive orders are about leaving people behind intentionally.”
Dr. Kerry Carley-Rizzuto from the School of Education discussed how Trump’s plans to eliminate the Department of Education will, “likely come to fruition.” Linda McMahon, a former WWE executive, was just confirmed as the next Secretary of Education. Carley-Rizzuto also talked about the potential for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arresting people at schools, “schools are no longer a safe haven…a child can not learn if they don’t feel safe.”
Dr. Hettie Williams of the History & Anthropology Department discussed the potential for funding freezes to higher education institutions, “Some of the major universities in the country have closed their admissions offices,” due to funding uncertainty. She named Stanford University, Ohio State and Iowa State universities. She ended her opening speech with, “We have no kings here,” and emphasized that the United States was, “Built on protest…that is who we are as a people.”
Dr. Johanna Foster, of the Department of Political Science and Sociology and President of FAMCO, said, “When it comes to education…we have seen a move, even before Trump, to capture public education for private use.” Foster stated privatization of education has two goals; to make profit and control the curriculum. Foster spoke on the political atmosphere in America, “It’s not surprising to any of us who study fascism that we’re in this moment.” However, Foster said her greatest concern was that, “The country is being run by folks who have not been elected by the people,” referring to Elon Musk and others.
Dr. Elizabeth Gilmartin-Keating of the English Department spoke on the state of free speech and book bans, “It’s really quite frightening.” She talked about a new executive order signed by Trump designating English as the official language of the United States. Gilmartin-Keating said, “What that does is all federal information will only be in English. So, anyone who doesn’t speak English will not have access to tax forms, immigration forms, college applications and FAFSA.” She closed with, “It just feels like everyday we get barraged by new executive orders we need to be worried about.”
In the Jan. 29, 2025 edition of “The Outlook,” Dr. Johanna Foster wrote an open letter to students on behalf of the FAMCO Executive Committee. One section of the letter read, “We are here to support you in whatever way we can as you navigate the impact of the repressive wave of Executive Orders President Donald Trump issued in his first week of office, and the expected onslaught of additional authoritarian policy changes to come.” Foster also wrote, “In these dangerous times ahead, FAMCO is committed to using our power to do our best to protect you.”
The second session drew approximately 50 students and faculty and was sponsored and coordinated by FAMCO. President Trump is set to deliver his annual State of the Union address to the nation on Tuesday, Mar. 4. The theme of his speech is the, “Renewal of the American Dream” as he lays out his vision for his second term and his first year back in office.
