Top Story Additional Features Faculty Authors Expertise
AU Newsmakers 8.12- 8.19, 2016
Top Story
2016 Election Predictions
History Professor Allan Lichtman spoke about his election prediction system, The 13 Keys, on C-SPAN. Lichtman said, “Elections are primarily referenda on the strength and performance of the party holding the White House and the opposition party doesn't matter much.” The 13 Keys, which Lichtman has used to correctly predict every presidential election since 1981, are a series of simple true/false questions. Lichtman also said this election is difficult to call because of the ambiguity of the “party contest key.” (8/9)

Additional Features
John Delaney Officially Steps Into Role as Kogod Dean
MetroMBA featured the new Kogod School of Business Dean John Delaney and his goals for American University's business school. According to the article, Delaney believes that prioritizing student outcomes means that graduates secure better jobs, which eventually generates more opportunities for their peers. (8/16)
How To Cultivate Plants Using Just Water, Nutrients And A Steady Diet Of D.C. Punk
Art Professor Naoko Wowsugi's project, Permacounterculture, was featured on WAMU-FM. Permacounterculture combines locally grown food with locally grown music. Wowsugi said, “We cultivate the wheatgrass, while D.C. local punk bands play punk music.” (8/12)

Faculty Authors
'Does This Have to Go through the IRB?'
Patricia Aufderheide, communication professor, wrote an article for The Chronicle of Higher Education about student and faculty impressions of the institutional review board. Aufderheide wrote, “The two basic questions facing campus IRBs are: How is the potential harm to the human subjects balanced by the larger public good to be gained from the research results? And how can researchers mitigate any potential harm?” (8/17)
Building bridges In an Uncomfortable Time
Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, authored an article for New Age Islam about building bridges across religious differences through interfaith dialogue. Ahmed wrote, “During my talk, I introduced the essence of Islam, which to my mind revolves around the definition of God.“ (8/15)
J-Lo's Narco Drama Needs To Dig Deep To Avoid Colombian Cocaine Stereotypes
For The Guardian, Juliana Martinez, assistant professor of World Languages and Cultures, wrote an article on Jennifer Lopez's upcoming HBO biopic on Colombian drug-trafficking legend, Griselda Blanco. Martinez wrote, “These shows present Colombians as the bearers of a cocaine-filled Trojan horse and obscure the global dynamics that create and uphold the international drug trade.” (8/16)

Expertise
Fox News' structure is changing – but don't expect its coverage to do the same
For The Guardian, Communication Professor Jane Hall spoke about changes at Fox News after the departure of Roger Ailes. Hall said, “Don't expect them to make a big change in their coverage. It's a highly successful formula.” Hall also spoke to Wisconsin Public Radio about television coverage of Trump and Clinton. (8/13, 8/16)
Sunni and Shia Muslims: Differences and Similarities
Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, spoke to PBS's Religion & Ethics Newsweekly about the differences and similarities between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Ahmed said, “The Shia tend to be more hierarchical and centralized in terms of spiritual authority.” (8/12)
National Security Briefings for Presidential Nominees
Stephen Tankel, assistant professor in the School of International Service, spoke to WTTG Fox 5 about the national security briefing that presidential candidates receive. Tankel said, “This is a one-time briefing provided by career intelligence officers on a broad array of topics.” Tankel also appeared on WTTG Fox 5 earlier in the week.
The Era of 'The Bitch' Is Coming
Director of the Women and Politics Institute Jennifer Lawless spoke to The Atlantic about presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Lawless said of Donald Trump, “He has really motivated a lot of his supporters to be concerned and sort of feed on this gender resentment—the idea that women are getting too far, that Hillary is getting too far and is not really qualified, and that the only reason she has been successful is because she is a woman.” Lawless also spoke to Vox about the presidential election.
Conducting Civil Discourse on Social Media During a Divisive Presidential Election
For WTOP, communication professor Scott Talan spoke about social media and the divisive presidential election. Talan said of the visceral dialogue on Facebook and other social media platforms, “Keep in mind that yes your friends reflect you, but if you're claiming to be a tolerant person, how far does that tolerance extend?” (8/16)
Faded Zapatista Legacy Lingers in Chiapas
For National Catholic Reporter, Ernesto Castaneda, assistant professor of sociology, spoke about the Zapatista legacy in Chiapas. Castaneda said, “It is good the Pope is going to Chiapas because the issues raised by the Zapatistas have not been resolved.” (2/10)



''Online,consumer'' news refers to online news outlets and blogs such as Huffington Post, NY Times
"Online,consumer" news refers to online news outlets and blogs such as Huffington Post, NY Times
Both charts are based on the week's Newsmakers highlights only, not total AU mentions for the week
Both charts are based on the week's Newsmakers highlights only, not total AU mentions for the week

Prepared by University Communications

American University's faculty, staff, students and programs appear in regional, national and international print, online and broadcast media regularly. Each week, AU Newsmakers provides highlights of AU in the news. For prior weeks, go to: http://www.american.edu/media/inthemedia.cfm

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