Top Story
| American University Launches New Policy, Politics Institute |
| President Sylvia Burwell appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe to announce the launch of the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics. Burwell said, “What we hope to accomplish is to convene, collaborate and communicate, and do that in a way that is around the substance and in a nonpartisan way. What we're hopeful for is that our students, our scholars and practitioners… can come together and shape policy as well as the leaders of tomorrow.” The announcement was followed by the institute's first event, a discussion with Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn). POLITICO Pro and Diverse Issues in Higher Education featured the announcement and C-SPAN broadcast live from the launch event. (9/24, 9/25) |
Additional Feature
| Study: High School Grade Inflation Pervasive |
| Inside Higher Education featured Associate Professor of Public Affairs Seth Gershenson's research into grade inflation, which found more evidence of grade inflation occurring in wealthy high schools. Gershenson's research was also mentioned in a Washington Post article comparing the value of grades and standardized testing. (9/24, 9/21) |
Faculty Authors
| Educators Must Prepare for the Dismantling of Affirmative Action |
| Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, dean of the School of Education, wrote an opinion piece for the Hechinger Report about the future of affirmative action. Holcomb-McCoy wrote, “The recent attacks on affirmative action are leading some to question whether we have made progress in diversifying higher education.” (9/25) |
Expertise
| Democrats' Enthusiasm to Blunt Trump Soar for Congressional Election: Reuters/Ipsos Poll |
| Jan Leighley, professor of public affairs, spoke to Reuters about Democratic efforts leading up to the midterm election. Leighley said that this year's midterm elections are important to Democrats because “[Trump's] undoing everything Obama did- just trashing Obama's record. That's going to raise the stakes for Democrats.” The story ran in 58 outlets, including The New York Times. (9/21) |
| Trump Will Address World Leaders, but His Audience Is Voters |
| Ken Conca, professor in the School of International Service, and Paul Bledsoe, adjunct professorial lecturer of public affairs, spoke to Climate Wire News about the upcoming UN General Assembly. Bledsoe said, “Without an aggressive global leader like President Obama, everybody's backsliding, including China.” Conca added, “… the politics is tricky, and it requires careful, coalition-building diplomacy, which we are not seeing from the U.S.” (9/25) |
| Use of Female Prosecutor in Blasey Ford Hearing |
| Leonard Steinhorn, professor of communication, appeared on WUSA-9 to discuss the GOP's decision to hire an outside prosecutor in the hearing involving Christine Blasey Ford. Steinhorn said, “You know as well as I, this is all optics, this is all politics. They don't want to say something that could turn off some voters, they are terrified of this sort of ‘big, blue wave' that's being driven by female voters around this country.” Capri Cafaro, executive-in-residence in the School of Public Affairs, spoke to NPR about the Kavanaugh hearings. (9/25, 9/26) |
| Your College Major Does Not Define Your Career |
| Gihan Fernando, executive director of AU's Career Center, spoke to U.S. News and World Report about choosing college majors. Fernando said, “Employers are moving away from looking at major as the first thing.” (9/24) |
| Struggling to Sell Tax Cuts to Voters, House GOP Looks to Make Them Permanent |
| Kogod Tax Policy Center Managing Director Caroline Bruckner spoke to Sinclair Broadcasting Group about Republican tax policies. Bruckner said, “I think this is something that is part of Republican ideology much more so and is much more of a unifying policy than some social issues.” The story appeared in 57 syndicated outlets, including WJLA-TV. (9/25) |
| Rosenstein Set to Meet Trump Thursday With Fate Uncertain |
| Washington College of Law Professor Jennifer Daskal appeared on MSNBC to discuss Rod Rosenstein's place in the administration, and what it means for the Robert Mueller investigation. Daskal said, “It's important to have someone in there who is independent and will support the continuing investigation into the Trump campaign.” (9/25) |
| Effects of Tax Cuts and Deficits |
| Donald Williamson, executive director of the Kogod Tax Policy Center, appeared on Russia Today to discuss the effects of tax cuts and deficits. Williamson said, “We see that tax cuts in the short term have created growth in the economy, there's no question about that. But in the long term, we just don't know.” (9/25) |
| Seasonal 'Plague' Hits College Freshman |
| David Reitman, medical director of AU's Student Health Center, spoke to the Voice of America to discuss what students can do to prevent illnesses while living in the dormitories. Reitman advised students to “wash your hands often, including your wrists. Use a hand sanitizer, especially before eating. This, as well as avoiding behaviors like sharing drinks or food, can improve one's odds against contracting viruses.” (9/26) |
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