The Washington Post‘s “Maryland Schools Insider” blog reports that UMBC’s David H. Murray ’14, economics, is running for a seat on the Prince George’s County Board of Education. Murray has previously served as a member of the Maryland State Board of Education and educational liaison for former Councilman Tom Dernoga and Senator C. Anthony Muse. Murray told the Post that he entered the race because the “school system is not up to par. We are lagging behind our peers. You shouldn’t get a different level of education because you live in the side of Laurel that’s in Prince George’s, over… Continue Reading David H. Murray, Economics Student, in the Washington Post
UMBC students from SOCY/HAPP 354, “The Social Basis of Community and Public Health,” regularly visit Baltimore’s Port Discovery Children’s Museum to discuss health issues with young visitors (ages 2-10) and their families. This semester, the students shared public health messages at Port Discovery’s March 3rd “Healthy First Saturday” (photos now online). The course, taught by Andrea Kalfoglou, is part of UMBC’s Health Administration and Policy Program. It explores the history, major concepts and practice of public health in the U.S and abroad. Students also learn about health disparities and how government, the private sector, NGOs and social entrepreneurs address public… Continue Reading UMBC Students Promote Healthy Living at Port Discovery
“[T]he 2012 presidential election is effectively over right now,” suggests political science professor Thomas Schaller in a provocative new Salon column this week. Despite the twists and turns of the GOP primary, he argues, “All of the available data indicate that Romney will be the Republican nominee by end of spring, and Barack Obama will be the victor come fall.” So what is at stake in the GOP primary in Schaller’s eyes? The identity and future prospects of the Republican party. Schaller’s latest Baltimore Sun column focuses on Rush Limbaugh’s remarks about Sandra Fluke and his later apology to her,… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Salon and the Baltimore Sun
It’s been a busy week in the media for Donald Norris, UMBC public policy chair and director of the Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research. Norris offered expert comments for four articles on public policy in Maryland, focusing on current debates in the state legislature. In “Some State Agencies Want More of Your Money,” Norris explains that proposed state fee increases face an uphill battle as “[p]aying anything for government goods and services has become conflated with taxes.” Norris argues that alternative doomsday budget plans based on severe cuts are unlikely to pass in another Sun article, later suggesting… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun and Gazette
Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher, editorial cartoonist for The Economist and UMBC artist-in-residence, was featured on WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi Show last week (interview begins 19 minutes in). KAL discussed his coverage of the 2012 presidential election, the power of caricature and global importance of freedom of expression, and his own career trajectory as a cartoonist. At UMBC KAL advises student bloggers in their coverage of current events and politics on USDemocrazy.
AP’s latest coverage of Maryland’s same-sex marriage bill focuses on both Gov. O’Malley’s message in signing the legislation and the referendum effort now underway to repeal it. Donald Norris, professor and chair of public policy at UMBC, suggests that liberal voters who come out to support Obama’s re-election could offset those who turn out in support of the referendum. He further argues that a weak GOP presidential candidate could fail to inspire conservative voters to show up at the polls, decreasing votes for the referendum. Read the full article via USA Today, The Washington Post, NPR or ABC News.
“As Maryland and Washington join six other states in approving same-sex marriage, it’s clear that the era of politicians exploiting the issue for political game appears over,” argues UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller in his latest Salon column.Schaller traces shifting positions on same-sex marriage over the last 16 years — among both voters and politicians — focusing particularly on conservative Ken Mehlman. A former Republican strategist who managed Bush’s 2004 campaign, Mehlman now argues in favor of same-sex marriage rights, which he sees as consistent with conservative beliefs in the economic freedom, personal responsibility and family values.Schaller concludes that… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Salon
When he retired this week from Howard County’s fire service, as the department’s deputy chief for operations, Charles Sharpe told the Baltimore Sun that his favorite part of the job was training new emergency responders on special-operations work, which he first studied at UMBC 20 years ago.Sharpe says his training in water and rope rescues “truly proved to be of tremendous value” during his work as a search manager responding to Hurricane Katrina. He still returns to UMBC’s Emergency Health Services department annually to instruct students in a three-day search and rescue training program, a tradition which he plans to… Continue Reading Charles Sharpe, Emergency Health Services, in the Baltimore Sun
The Hilltop Institute at UMBC — a non-partisan health research organization dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations — has released a new issue brief in a series examining hospital community benefits after the Affordable Care Act. The brief, titled “Partnerships for Community Health Improvement,” discusses a variety of options for collaboration in assessment, planning, priority setting and implementation of health improvement initiatives. It also provides examples of diverse collaboration models already in place among public health agencies, nonprofit hospitals and communities, and examines their efficacy as “powerful forces for promoting community health improvement and systemic change.”… Continue Reading Hilltop Releases New Brief on Community Health Partnerships
UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller appeared on MSNBC’s “Up w/Chris Hayes” on Saturday, February 25.Schaller frequently comments on national politics in his regular Baltimore Sun column, on Salon and through TV and radio. On “Up w/Chris Hayes,” Schaller contributed to a segment about legislative battles on social issues in Arizona, alongside Megan McCain, James Poulos and Victoria Defrancesco Soto. Schaller also appeared live on the “Nicole Sandler Show” Tuesday, February 28, discussing his latest Sun column, “An American recipe for class immobility,” and the GOP primary season.
The Maryland Senate this week followed the Maryland House of Delegates in passing legislation allowing same-sex marriage, but opponents are planning a voter referendum. In the Gazette’s coverage of the issue, UMBC professor and chair of public policy Donald Norris argues that the referendum vote might depend on who is nominated as the GOP presidential candidate — a more extreme or more centrist candidate — and who comes out to vote as a result. Either way, says Norris, “It’s going to be a squeaker.” UMBC assistant professor of political science Laura Hussey also offered her comments for the article, as well as… Continue Reading Laura Hussey, Political Science, and Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Gazette
UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller will appear on MSNBC’s “Up w/Chris Hayes” on Saturday, February 25. The morning show airs 8:00-10:00 a.m. Schaller frequently comments on national politics in his regular Baltimore Sun column, on Salon and through programs such as Current TV’s “The Young Turks.” He is the author of Whistling Past Dixie.
