Donald Norris, Public Policy, in Election Coverage

Nov 5, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

Donald F. Norris, professor and chairman of UMBC’s Department of Public Policy, has offered insight on topics from Maryland ballot measures to the advertising wars throughout the election season. He recently commented in a Patch article on early voting, stating: “There is little or no evidence that early voting matters in overall turnout or in overall turnout among sub groups of voters—elderly, young, minorities, etc. So I am not inclined to say anything about this except that turnout is up.” Why the increase in turnout of early voters? Norris told WBAL, “We’ve got at least three ballot questions that are… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in Election Coverage

Thomas Schaller in Salon and the Baltimore Sun

Nov 2, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

U.S. voters frustrated by competing claims of who will win the upcoming presidential election and why can turn to political science professor Thomas F. Schaller’s latest Salon column—“Why Obama/Romney will win/lose”—for insight on election theories. Schaller’s top theories for why Obama will win include: (1) He’s got a huge field advantage in the swing states. (2) No matter what Romney does, it all comes down to one state, Ohio—and Obama has it locked. (3) The Latino vote is being undercounted. (4) Cell phone users are being undercounted. (5) The 2012 electorate will look similar to 2008. (6) Nate Silver is… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller in Salon and the Baltimore Sun

Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Daily Record and Gazette

Nov 2, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

According to the Daily Record, the Maryland Democratic Party is accusing MDPetitions.com (used to help petition three state laws to referendum over the last year) of violating campaign finance laws. Website founder Del. Neil C. Parrott has responded by saying, “Here we have the Maryland Democrat party trying to use scare tactics” to prevent voters from striking down the referenda. Donald F. Norris, professor and chairman of UMBC’s Department of Public Policy, comments that with so many hotly debated issues on the ballot this year, Maryland is getting a taste of types of accusations that more politically-diverse states experience regularly… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Daily Record and Gazette

Robert Deluty, Graduate School, in The Faculty Voice

Nov 1, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

Robert Deluty, associate dean of the Graduate School, has published 23 poems in the October 2012 issue of The Faculty Voice. All of the poems have an academic theme and all previously appeared in one of Dr. Deluty’s published books. The poems are written in senryu, a form of short poetry of Japanese origin similar to haiku. Poems include: inquiring how to reference tweets. in his term paper and young art student struggling to control the strokes. painting his first nude All of the poems, which appeared in the October 30 issue of the newsletter, can be read here.

Laura Hussey, Political Science, in the Gazette

Oct 26, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

Today’s Gazette reports on clergy in Prince George’s County who are encouraging parishioners to vote against the referendum to expand gambling in Maryland and in Prince George’s County in particular. But Laura Hussey, assistant professor of political science, remarks in the article that clergy who talk politics from the pulpit are less common than some might expect. Hussey suggests that this is in part because the multifaceted nature of ballot questions, such as the gambling referendum, can make it difficult to take a clear religious stance. “It’s an issue that doesn’t lend itself to being easily decided by the average… Continue Reading Laura Hussey, Political Science, in the Gazette

Eric Zeemering, Public Policy, Shares Research in New Video

Oct 25, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzVW-RaTDiY&w=560&h=315] In a new UMBClife video, Eric Zeemering, assistant professor of public policy, explores how local governments, constrained by tight budgets, find partners to deliver public services and achieve policy goals. Zeemering’s work focuses on public management, intergovernmental relations and urban policy, including policy relating to the sustainability of cities. He was recently named recipient of both the Clarence Stone Young Scholar Award and the Norton Long Developing Scholar Award from the Urban section of the American Political Science Association, in recognition of his scholarship, teaching and public service.

UMBC Study on Economic Impact of Dream Act in TIME

Oct 25, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

Maryland voters will soon decide whether to allow undocumented immigrants who graduate from Maryland high schools and meet other requirements to pay in-county/in-state tuition at local community colleges and public universities. A recent study on the Dream Act’s economic impacts by UMBC professors T.H. Gindling (economics) and Marvin Mandell (public policy) has received significant media attention and today appeared on TIME magazine‘s online coverage of the referendum. TIME notes that Gindling and Mandell’s study concludes, “the Dream Act would generate $66 million in economic activity for each incoming new class of undocumented students.” See the website of UMBC’s Maryland Institute… Continue Reading UMBC Study on Economic Impact of Dream Act in TIME

Anne Rubin, History, Named President of the Society of Civil War Historians

Oct 23, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

Anne Rubin, associate professor of history, has been named the president of the Society of Civil War Historians. Rubin is the author of A Shattered Nation: The Rise and Fall of the Confederacy, 1861-1868 The Society of Civil War Historians (SCWH) is an association of scholars dedicated to exploring slavery, the sectional crisis, Civil War, emancipation, and reconstruction roughly from the 1830s through 1880. SCWH’s goal is to bring greater coherence to the historical field by encouraging the integration of social, military, political, and other forms of history and generally to promote the study of the Civil War era. In… Continue Reading Anne Rubin, History, Named President of the Society of Civil War Historians

Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Washington Post

Oct 22, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

Donald F. Norris, professor and chairman of UMBC’s Department of Public Policy, commented Sunday on the Washington Post‘s finding that out-of-state gambling companies and their allies have spent $56 million in the fight over Question 7, which would allow a Las Vegas-style casino to be built in Prince George’s County. A Post poll revealed that 51% of likely voters say Maryland’s existing slots program has been a “good thing” for the state, but that 55% are not confident that the plan to expand gambling will produce more money for schools, as proponents suggest. “I think one has to conclude the ads… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Washington Post

George Derek Musgrove, History, on The Root

Oct 19, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

An op-ed by George Derek Musgrove, assistant professor of history, recently appeared on The Root DC blog on the Washington Post website. In the piece, Musgrove and co-author Chris Myers Asch discuss why current discussions of gentrification in the Washington D.C. region can be so heated. “Simply put, people do not want to be gone or forgotten,” they write. “Displacement and struggles over who “owns” the city have a long history in Washington. Ours is a city both Southern and transient, where the constant churn of newcomers has amplified the importance of place and rootedness.” The authors conclude that “We… Continue Reading George Derek Musgrove, History, on The Root

School Board Candidate David Murray ’14, Economics, in the Gazette

Oct 18, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

Today’s Gazette highlights the Prince George’s County Board of Education race between District 1 candidates David H. Murray ’14, economics, and Zabrina Epps, CCBC academic adviser. Murray told the Gazette, “One of most important things we have to do is try to recruit the most effective teachers we can.” He supports an external audit on the school system’s operating budget, to redirect funds toward increasing teacher pay. As one of three candidates in Prince George’s County who are currently university students, Murray argues that his age and familiarity with the school system as an alumnus afford him an important perspective… Continue Reading School Board Candidate David Murray ’14, Economics, in the Gazette

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

Oct 17, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

A new Salon column by UMBC political science professor Thomas F. Schaller responds to what Romney strategist Eric Fehrnstrom called “hit[ting] a reset button for the fall campaign.” Moving from the primary to the general election, Fehrnstrom remarked, “everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch-A-Sketch. You can kind of shake it up, and we start all over again.” Schaller argues that the Etch-a-Sketch metaphor is apt in that Romney aspires to “invite all center-right voters, be they hardcore conservatives or libertarian Republicans or fence-sitting moderates, to compose whatever sketch of him they find most appealing — and then vote, accordingly, for… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Salon and the Baltimore Sun

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