CAHSS

News and Updates about UMBC’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

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Thomas F. Schaller, professor of political science, writes in his latest Baltimore Sun column, “As Washington politicians search for budget solutions, imagine if there were a magical revenue source that operated not unlike a national consumption tax that many conservatives prefer and would mitigate global warming to please liberals, all while helping repair America’s infrastructure and strengthening our national security, to the delight of almost everyone. Actually, such a tax already exists: It’s called the federal gasoline tax, and it’s been stuck at 18.4 cents per gallon for two decades. We’re long overdue to increase it — maybe even double… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun, Gazette and BBJ

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Today’s Baltimore Sun suggests the next 90 days will likely be the most important that remain in Martin O’Malley’s tenure as Maryland governor. Reporters Michael Dresser and Erin Cox write, “As the General Assembly opens its 2013 session Wednesday, O’Malley will be looking to cap a record that many people believe he will use as a springboard for a future presidential run.” Key issues to be debated include the death penalty repeal, assault weapons ban and offshore wind power, all of which have national resonance. Donald F. Norris, professor and chairman of UMBC’s Department of Public Policy, told reporters, “Objectively,… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun, Gazette and BBJ

For All the World to Hear Featured in Baltimore Beacon

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The Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture’s oral history project, For All the World to Hear: Stories of the Struggle for Civil Rights, is featured on the front page of this month’s Beacon. The article explores the nature of the project and features interviews with its coordinator and CADVC Curator of Collections and Outreach, Sandra Abbott, and two speakers, Shirley and John Billy, whose harrowing story is detailed within the piece. The related gallery exhibition currently on display in the CADVC, For All The World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights, is also mentioned. Read the article, “Civil… Continue Reading For All the World to Hear Featured in Baltimore Beacon

Robert Provine’s “Curious Behavior” named a top book of 2012

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A book by psychology professor Robert Provine, “Curious Behavior: Yawning, Laughing, Hiccupping, and Beyond,” was named by the Library Journal as one of the “Best Books of 2012.” The book is filled with research conducted by undergraduate students at UMBC working in Provine’s lab.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun and NYT

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In the last week of December, UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller published a year-in-review in the Baltimore Sun, highlighting Maryland’s legalization of same-sex marriage, the rise of Gov. Martin O’Malley on the national stage, decreasing rates of violent crime and property crime in Maryland, and improvements in Maryland students’ performance on national education tests. He then recognized the achievements of UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski, who in 2012 received the Heinz Award for Human Condition and was appointed by President Obama to the new Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans. Schaller also appeared in a New York Times blog post… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun and NYT

Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on the Marc Steiner Show

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Kimberly Moffitt, assistant professor of American Studies, was a guest on the “Marc Stenier Show” on Wednesday, January 2, where she looked back at the year in politics and discussed the fiscal cliff.  She was joined by Bob Somerby, editor of the Daily Howler, Richard Vatz, professor in the Department of Mass Communication and Communication Studies at Towson University, Lenny McAllister, conservative media personality, public speaker and writer, and Cheri Honkala, co-founder of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union and co-founder and former vice presidential candidate for the Green Party. “From a media critic perspective, I’ve just been irritated by the… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on the Marc Steiner Show

Roy T. Meyers, Political Science, Writes Baltimore Sun Op-Ed

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Rather than voting for or against a debt ceiling increase, lawmakers should vote to eliminate the debt ceiling entirely, suggest UMBC political science professor Roy T. Meyers and colleague Philip G. Joyce in a recent Baltimore Sun op-ed. The scholars call the debt ceiling “an anachronism that causes more harm than good” and “a distraction from any reasonable debate on taxes and spending.” They suggest Congress should vote to repeal it, set reasonable targets for debt reduction over a multiyear period, and then use performance data to identify which government programs do and don’t work. Such data could inform arguments… Continue Reading Roy T. Meyers, Political Science, Writes Baltimore Sun Op-Ed

Dennis Coates, Economics, in Bloomberg Businessweek

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A new Bloomberg Businessweek article sheds light on tax subsidies that benefit college athletic programs, including hundreds of millions in funding for stadium construction and sports departments’ exemptions from taxes on ticket, television and other income generated by their stadiums. UMBC’s Dennis Coates, professor of economics, argues that college sports may not be the best use of tax exemptions. “When one thinks of charity, they don’t think of charity flowing to the head football coach of a big state university.” Questioning municipal  financing for stadiums Coates notes, “Using the borrowing power of the state and tax-exempt interest to build stadiums… Continue Reading Dennis Coates, Economics, in Bloomberg Businessweek

Donald F. Norris, Public Policy, in Capital News Service Article

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In the wake of Maryland’s recent vote to expand gambling locations and allow table games, Capital News Service asked Donald F. Norris, professor and chairman of UMBC’s Department of Public Policy, if sports gambling is in the state’s future. “It’s always possible that somebody could pursue it,” Norris said, “I just can’t foresee that happening.” Norris further commented, “I’m willing to guess that the current governor is so fed up with the gambling issue that I’m sure he will not support anything.” To move sports betting forward, he suggests, there would have to be more active support for such legislation… Continue Reading Donald F. Norris, Public Policy, in Capital News Service Article

Eric Zeemering, Public Policy, in the Windsor Star

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Canadian newspaper The Windsor Star has featured new research from UMBC’s Eric Zeemering, assistant professor of public policy, on how government and NGOs in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan form cross-border cooperative relationships to promote economic development and create sustainable communities (see full article in the Journal of Urban Affairs). Zeemering told reporter Dave Hall that although there are great opportunities for collaboration between Windsor and Detroit, the international border often serves to keep the communities apart and “there needs to be a concerted effort to forge those relationships.” Zeemering notes, “The danger in creating cross-border relationships at the political level… Continue Reading Eric Zeemering, Public Policy, in the Windsor Star

Robert Deluty, Graduate School, Publishes His 39th Book

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Robert Deluty, associate dean of the graduate school and associate professor of psychology, has published a new volume of poetry, “The Inventor as Observer.” In his review, Richard M. Berlin writes: “In his 39th book, Robert Deluty continues his long record as the contemporary poet whose work is guaranteed to make me laugh out loud one minute and bring tears to my eyes the next.  His craft has evolved to what seems like an effortless level of mastery in poems filled with sly observations, surprise, word play, and his trademark warmth and wit.  Who else could write a book that… Continue Reading Robert Deluty, Graduate School, Publishes His 39th Book

Department of American Studies Receives Grant

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The department of American studies has received a civic engagement grant from the Maryland Humanities Council for the project, “Looking Forward from the 45th Anniversary of the Catonsville Nine Actions.”Civic Engagement Grants support public programs that promote informed dialogue and civic engagement about critical issues identified by the grant applicant. The Catonsville Nine were nine activists who burned draft files to protest the Vietnam War. On May 17, 1968 they went to the draft board in Catonsville, Maryland, took 378 draft files, brought them to the parking lot, poured home-made napalm over them, and set them on fire. The project… Continue Reading Department of American Studies Receives Grant

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