Top Story Faculty Authors Expertise
AU Newsmakers 10.12-10.19, 2018
Top Story
American University Experts Weigh In on the Midterm Elections
Jan Leighley, professor of public affairs, spoke to The Associated Press about the impact local races may have on the outcome of the midterm elections. Leighley said, “The old phrase of ‘all politics is local,' the Tip O'Neill statement? These local races are not so local anymore.” The story ran in 212 outlets, including The New York Times. Leighley also discussed the midterm elections on C-SPAN. Professor of Sociology and Education Cynthia Miller-Idriss appeared on NBC News' TODAY show to discuss white nationalism in U.S. politics. David Barker, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, spoke with USA Today about Paul Ryan's campaigning efforts. David Lublin, professor of public affairs, discussed voter registration trends in Maryland with The Baltimore Sun. Professor of Communication Jason Mollica and Assistant Professor of Public Affairs Andrew Ballard discussed President Trump's effect on the midterm elections with Sinclair Broadcasting and The Chicago Tribune. (10/12, 10/15, 10/16, 10/17, 10/18)

Faculty Authors
What is the Global Magnitsky Act, and Why Are U.S. Senators Invoking This on Saudi Arabia?
Jordan Tama, associate professor in the School of International Service, wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post about the invocation of the Global Magnitsky Act by U.S. senators regarding the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi. Tama wrote, “In short, this week's challenge to Trump from many of the Senate's leading voices on international matters is no anomaly, but rather the continuation of a pattern of lawmakers working across the aisle in certain areas of foreign policy.” (10/12)
Has Trump Read His Own Counterterrorism Strategy?
Stephen Tankel, associate professor in the School of International Service, wrote an opinion article for Foreign Policy about the Trump administration's counterterrorism strategy. Tankel wrote, “The question, however, is not just whether Trump is aware of his team's ideas but whether his rhetoric and actions will continue to undermine them.” (10/12)
Out of Matthew Shepard's Tragic Murder, a Commitment to Punishing Hate Crimes Emerged
Lara Schwartz, professorial lecturer of public affairs, wrote an article for The Conversation about the anniversary of Matthew Shepard's murder. Schwartz wrote, “Twenty years after Shepard's murder, hate crime legislation has come a long way. Nonetheless, reports of hate crimes have ticked up in recent years, and those trying to enforce these laws still face a number of obstacles.” The article ran in seven outlets, including The Raw Story. (10/12)
Hidden Hunger Affects Nearly 2 Billion Worldwide- Are Solutions in Plain Sight?
Morten Wendelbo, research fellow in the School of Public Affairs, wrote an article for The Conversation about the global hunger crisis. Wendelbo wrote, “The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization reports that since 2014, the number of people experiencing hunger is on the rise around the world. Conflict and climate change are the likely culprit behind most of this deterioration.” The article ran in 13 outlets, including U.S. News & World Report. (10/12)

Expertise
A Poetry Museum That Eschews Having a Home
Kyle Dargan, director of the Creative Writing Department, spoke to The Washington Post about the ‘American Poetry Museum,' a center dedicated to developing poetic talent in Washington, D.C. Dargan said, “That has always been my question about American Poetry Museum: How is it a museum? It's something more of a counter-museum.” (10/12)
Remembering John Wicks, a U.K. Pop Genius Who Once Called Virginia Home
Mike Harvey, director of the Audio Technology Program, spoke to The Washington Post about the legacy of musician John Wicks. Harvey said, “There was always a bit of Nigel Tufnel in [Wicks]. He was funny. We laughed about ‘Spinal Tap.'” (10/14)
Trump Says Drug Companies Should Include Prices in TV Ads. Good Luck With That
Jamie Raskin, professor in the Washington College of Law, spoke to The Los Angeles Times about transparent advertising in the drug industry. Raskin said, “We're living in the Citizens United era, where the rights of corporations have been inflated to the size of a blimp. The government will struggle to define what the precise public interest is in this case and how a brief flash of a price on a TV screen advances that interest.” (10/18)
Why a Silicon Valley Venture Fund Thinks Baltimore Can Be an East Coast Tech Hub
The Washington Post referenced a cybersecurity study done by The Initiative for Business in the Capital through the Kogod School of Business. The article notes the study found a “‘profound lack' of cybersecurity companies building cybersecurity products for the commercial business world.” (10/18)
Football, the Anthem, and Taking a Knee: One All-Black High School Team Takes a Stand
Washington College of Law Professor N. Jeremi Duru spoke to NBC News about high school football players taking the knee during the national anthem. Duru said that there is a decline in high school players taking the knee this season, which can be attributed to “[students beginning] to pursue progress in other ways in their communities.” (10/13)
Iconic 'Black Power' Salute at Olympics Marks 50th Anniversary
Assistant Professor of Communication Sherri Williams spoke to Voice of America about the 50th anniversary of the ‘Black Power' salute at the 1968 Olympics. Williams said, “We do see that when athletes do stand up, and step up, that it really does make a difference, and it causes systemic change.” (10/16)
The Black Activist Running to Be Oakland's Next Mayor Has a Plan to Win- Even if She Loses
Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center, spoke to Mother Jones about activists running for elected office. Kendi said, “With the Black Panther Party in particular, there was a decision… to shift its resources to running towards local office in the Oakland area.” (10/15)
Blind Cavefish Shed Light on the Dark Days of Mammalian Evolution
Associate Professor of Biology David Carlini spoke to Smithsonian about new findings about cavefish creatures that shed photoreactivation. “It's showing up in these fish, in fungi, in [crustaceans]… it's going to be something that people find consistently,” Carlini said. (10/12)



''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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