Policy & Society

UMBC public policy professor and chair Donald Norris offers insight on Maryland political developments for both the Baltimore Sun and Patch this week. The Sun reports that possible contenders for Howard County executive are already raising campaign funds. Although the current size of their bank accounts might not indicate electability at this point, Norris suggests, viable candidates should begin fundraising soon. In Patch, Norris reflects on the opposition to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s state redistricting plan, arguing that the issue will likely end up in court. On the impact of public opinion Norris notes “it is unlikely any of the letters… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in Baltimore Sun and Patch

Ellen Handler Spitz, honors college professor of visual arts, spent her winter break traveling to the Czech Republic, for research, and to India, where she gave the first annual alumni lecture to English Alumni Association of Ravenshaw University in Cuttack and the keynote address at the International Seminar on Children’s Literature and Politics. Spitz shared an account of her journeys on Talking Heads, UMBC’s faculty expert blog.  Her post can be read here.

A number of Baltimore County public officials use Twitter, Owings Mills Patch noted. Rebecca Adelman, assistant professor of media and communication studies, predicts Twitter use among public officials will soon become the norm. “I could see how that could be a real benefit for someone trying to maintain a relationship with their constituents,” she said. The story, “Baltimore County Public Officials To Follow on Twitter,” appeared on the website on January 17.

WYPR’s Sheilah Kast interviewed UMBC political science professor Roy Meyers today on “Maryland Morning,” discussing the Maryland state budget. The Maryland General Assembly convenes for their 2012 session this week. As they review the first version of the 2013 state budget, they’ll need to begin reckoning with a deficit over $1 billion.Meyers discusses the options for filling this budget gap, including one-time savings, tax increases and spending cuts. He also notes the difficulties associated with state budgeting at a time of uncertainty regarding Congressional tax policy decisions and global economic trends. Meyers explores the issue of balancing the general fund… Continue Reading Roy Meyers, Political Science, on WYPR and PolitiFact

Constantine Vaporis, professor of history and director of the Asian studies program, has published a new book. Voices of Early Modern Japan: Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life during the Age of the Shoguns is part of  ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Press’s “Voices of an Era” series.  The book spans an period of Japanese history ranging from the unification of the warring states under Tokugawa Ieyasu in the early 17th century to the overthrow of the shogunate just prior to the mid-19th century opening of Japan by the West.  Much of what we think of as quintessentially Japanese emerged during the time of the… Continue Reading Constantine Vaporis, History and Asian Studies, Publishes New Book