Policy & Society

Robert Provine, Psychology, in New Scientist

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Robert Provine, professor of psychology, is a contributor to the recent “Body Issue” of New Scientist magazine. Provine’s piece, “It’s Only Natural,” discusses the curious behaviors of our bodies. “It’s your body, and you like to think you’ve got it under control. But underneath the calm exterior lurk unruly instincts and urges that are struggling to escape, putting you at risk of embarrassment or ridicule. These disreputable behaviours – the likes of the fart, hiccup, itch and yawn – are familiar to us all, yet they are also decidedly curious. Although they have been the source of folklore and puzzlement since antiquity,… Continue Reading Robert Provine, Psychology, in New Scientist

Christopher Corbett, English, in the Washington Post

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Christopher Corbett, professor of the practice of English, recently reviewed a new book about Davy Crockett for the Washington Post. In “Born on a Mountaintop,” author Bob Thompson visits sites associated with Crockett to discover the man behind the legend. Corbett, who is the author of “Orphans Preferred: The Twisted Truth and Lasting Legend of the Pony Express” and “The Poker Bride: The First Chinese in the Wild West,” used his own knowledge of the West’s legends to evaluate the book. “[Thompson’s] book also shows a fine appreciation of the truth, half-truth and no truth at all that connoisseurs of… Continue Reading Christopher Corbett, English, in the Washington Post

John Rennie Short Presents Workshop at Michigan State University

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Public policy professor John Rennie Short will present the talk “Restless Urban Landscape” at Michigan State University on Friday, March 29th, through MSU’s Global Urban Studies Program. The talk will be at 2:00 p.m. in MSU’s Eustace Cole Hall 207/208. John Rennie Short is an expert on urban and environmental issues, globalization, political geography and the history of cartography. He is the author of over 30 books, founding co-editor of the journal Society and Space, and founding editor of both the Space, Place and Society book series and Critical Introduction to Urbanism book series. His most recent books include Korea:… Continue Reading John Rennie Short Presents Workshop at Michigan State University

Amy Bhatt, Gender and Women’s Studies, on “International Examiner”

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Amy Bhatt, assistant professor of gender and women’s studies, was recently interviewed by the “International Examiner” about her new book, “Roots & Reflections: South Asians in the Pacific Northwest.” The book traces the regional history of the South Asian community in the Northwest from the early 1900s to today. It also offers a crucial voice and perspective that’s been missing from the story of Asian migration to the greater Seattle area. “One of the reasons this book is important is that it offers individuals who are actually part of the community the opportunity to write their own histories,” explains Bhatt.… Continue Reading Amy Bhatt, Gender and Women’s Studies, on “International Examiner”

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun, on Sabato’s Crystal Ball and on CBS DC

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Political science professor Thomas F. Schaller’s latest Baltimore Sun column takes a personal approach to examining the selection of Jesuit Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as pope, now known as Pope Francis. After reflecting on his own Catholic upbringing and how his religious identity has changed over time, Schaller highlights Pope Francis’ reputation for humility and what it might mean for the Catholic Church. “It’s encouraging to have a humble, fresh face from the ‘new world’ heading the Catholic Church,” writes Schaller, continuing, “What’s unclear is whether Pope Francis’ background and temperament can actually reform the Vatican and the church, and guide… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun, on Sabato’s Crystal Ball and on CBS DC

Ryan Bloom, English, Awarded Fellowship

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Ryan Bloom ’03, visual and performing arts, and English lecturer, was recently awarded a fellowship at Yaddo, an artists’ community in Saratoga Springs, New York. Yaddo’s mission is to nurture the creative process by providing an opportunity for artists to work without interruption in a supportive environment. Bloom is an internationally-recognized translator of Albert Camus. He has written for The New Yorker, The Arabesques Review, The Baltimore Sun, The Current, Horizon Magazine, The Orlando Sentinel, and other publications

Manil Suri, Mathematics, on “The Daily Beast”

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Manil Suri was deep into writing his latest novel, “The City of Devi,” when he realized something alarming: the novel was impossible to finish. The mathematics professor even used a mathematical construct, a possibility tree, to arrive at his conclusion.  He described the process of creating this mathematical “proof” in an essay for “The Daily Beast.” Of course, Suri did eventually finish the novel, which was published earlier this year. Despite the fact that he disproved his own proof, Suri feels that his mathematical conclusion was a worthwhile endeavor, because it allowed him to reach the insights he needed about… Continue Reading Manil Suri, Mathematics, on “The Daily Beast”

Judah Ronch, Erickson School, in the New York Times

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The New York Times today examined the experiences of older students — in their 60s and beyond — at colleges and universities. The article cites many reasons for retirees taking college courses, including tuition waivers, social connections and an interest in lifelong learning. “Novelty is something the brain thrives on,” said Erickson School Dean Judah L. Ronch, commenting on the physiological and psychological health benefits that older students experience. “It helps connections between nerve cells form, and that’s the basis of new knowledge and ability. Research now supports the idea that at any age these connections can continue to be made.”… Continue Reading Judah Ronch, Erickson School, in the New York Times

Robert Provine, Psychology, on Midday with Dan Rodricks

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On Tuesday, March 12, Robert Provine, professor of psychology, talked to WYPR’s “Midday with Dan Rodricks” about his new book, “Curious Behavior: Yawning, Laughing, Hiccuping, and Beyond.” Rodricks asked Provine why he chose to research mundane – and even occasionally embarrassing – behaviors such as yawning, belching and farting. “It’s fun to do, and it’s something that can get junior science students involved right away. It also has a lot of rewards for the serious scientist, which is what got me interested in it in the first place,” he said. “By looking at elemental behaviors, such as the instincts of yawning,… Continue Reading Robert Provine, Psychology, on Midday with Dan Rodricks

UMBC’s Hilltop Shares New Hospital Community Benefit Resource

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The Hilltop Institute’s Hospital Community Benefit Program has just released a new online resource: the Community Benefit State Law Profiles. The profiles are a compilation of hospital community benefit laws and regulations across the United States, analyzed in the context of the Affordable Care Act’s community benefit framework. They include data on tax exemptions that most states make available to nonprofit hospitals. Readers can access this information through a new interactive map, or see a summary table for side-by-side comparisons of different state policies. A companion issue brief, “Hospital Community Benefits after the ACA: The State Law Landscape” (pdf), presents… Continue Reading UMBC’s Hilltop Shares New Hospital Community Benefit Resource

T.H. Gindling, Economics, and Marvin Mandell, Public Policy, in Governing Magazine

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A new Governing magazine article examines a recent study by UMBC professors T.H. Gindling (economics) and Marvin Mandell (public policy) on the economic impact of Maryland’s Dream Act, which extended in-county/in-state tuition at local community colleges and public universities to undocumented immigrants who graduate from Maryland high schools and meet other requirements. The article notes that 13 states have similar “tuition equity” laws in place and more than a dozen additional states are considering proposals for them. “As state lawmakers think about offering in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants,” suggests J.B. Wogan, “the UMBC study could offer a model for weighing… Continue Reading T.H. Gindling, Economics, and Marvin Mandell, Public Policy, in Governing Magazine

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

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Thomas F. Schaller’s new Baltimore Sun column critiques the concept of “liberal media bias.” Schaller writes, “Yes: The opinion media generally skew liberal on social issues related to abortion, gay rights, religion and maybe — maybe — guns. But that’s about the extent of it. On issues of war and peace, taxes and spending and government regulation, the corporate-owned American media are frequently anything but liberal.” Read the full column on the Baltimore Sun website.

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