Reading Groups

Global Trade: Myths, Realities, and Controversies

Thursdays 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Location: Richard H. Barry Hall, Downtown Campus

Led by Dr. Alfredo Roa-Henriquez

Free trade is often praised as a driver of economic growth, innovation, and consumer choice. Supporters argue that open markets reduce costs, increase efficiency, and foster global cooperation. Trade agreements are seen as tools to strengthen international ties and promote development through competition and specialization. Supporters maintain that restricting trade leads to inefficiency, stagnation, and isolation. They believe that global integration, despite its flaws, remains the best path toward shared prosperity.

Critics, however, view free trade as a source of economic instability and inequality. They point to job losses, factory closures, and weakened national industries. Trade deals are accused of favoring corporations, undermining environmental standards, and limiting national sovereignty. Some critics also argue that wealthy nations built their economies through protectionism and government support, not free-market policies. They claim that imposing liberalization on developing countries ignores historical realities and creates dependency rather than growth.

In this reading group, we will discuss these controversies as well as myths and realities surrounding trade.

The Ethics of Earning

Mondays 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Richard H. Barry Hall, Downtown Campus

Led by Brett Bantle

In a world where success is often measured by salary, title, or shareholder value, the moral dimensions of business are too often overlooked. Yet behind every financial decision lies a deeper question: What kind of person am I becoming? As future leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals, today’s students will be faced with ethical trade-offs that are rarely black and white, but rather decisions about integrity, influence, responsibility, and what they’re ultimately working toward.

This reading group will explore the intersection of business, ethics, and identity. Through reflective analysis and story-driven discussion, participants will confront the deeper purpose of professional life: not just how to succeed, but how to do so honorably. Can you pursue profit and still lead with character? What happens when your values are at odds with your employer’s incentives? How do you define “earning” … as income, or as contribution?

AI, Education, and the Future of Learning

Fridays 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Location: Richard H. Barry Hall, Downtown Campus

Led by Dr. Ahmad Al Asady

In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping nearly every aspect of society, education stands at a crossroads. AI offers powerful tools that can enhance learning, but its misuse—particularly as a shortcut to bypass intellectual effort—raises profound ethical and practical concerns. Are students still learning if they outsource thinking to machines? What happens when AI-generated work is indistinguishable from human effort? And how will a generation accustomed to AI assistance navigate a workforce that demands critical thinking, diligence, and problem-solving skills?

This reading group will explore the intersection of AI, academic integrity, and the evolving role of education. Through thought-provoking readings and discussions, participants will critically examine the ethical dilemmas, unintended consequences, and potential reforms necessary to ensure that AI serves as a tool for empowerment rather than a crutch for intellectual disengagement. Rather than approaching AI as inherently good or bad, we will grapple with the nuances of how technology shapes learning behaviors, work ethic, and the broader cultural value of effort and mastery.