Elon University in the News – Winter Term 2012

Media turned often in recent weeks to faculty for analysis of North Carolina politics and a rising tide against Internet regulation, among other issues.

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Elon University faculty, students and alumni appeared often in the media over Winter Break for their research and service both on campus and around the nation. Forbes.com, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and National Journal are just a few of the news organizations that included Elon in their coverage of current events.

The following list should not be considered exhaustive and does not include athletics news.

12/14: The (Durham, N.C.) Herald-Sun: “Occupy makes inroads” includes statistics cited by Professor Tom Tiemann on income distribution in the United States.

12/15: News 14 Carolina: “Group files lawsuit to keep state out of marriages” contains an interview with Professor Scott Gaylord at the Elon University School of Law. Gaylord offered legal analysis on a lawsuit spearheaded by a local register of deeds.

12/17: (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “Elon University commencement speaker announced” offers brief coverage of Steve Schuckenbrock ‘82’s selection as the May 2012 Commencement speaker.

12/18: St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “Haith: From ‘Frank who?’ to molding Mizzou” profiled Frank Haith ’88, the head coach of the Missouri men’s basketball program.

12/20: High Point Enterprise: “Coble’s illness may have political impact” cites Assistant Professor Mileah Kromer on the standing U.S. Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) has in the Republican Party as a recent illness called into question whether he would seek re-election.

12/21: The (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “An Inspired Display” profiles Elon plumbing supervisor Jimmy Curiazza’s efforts to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by hosting a light display at his home in Gibsonville, N.C. RELATED from the New York Daily News (which ran an online wire story): “Gibsonville light display in a fundraiser, memorial” (A related community calendar item appeared in the (Greensboro, N.C.) News & Record)

12/21: BethesdaPatch.com: “Building a Green Career” profiles Elon alumnus Braeden Bumpers and his paid internship with the Rock Creek Conservancy in Maryland (via the Chesapeake Conservation Corps).

12/21: JURIST.com: “Government Speech and North Carolina’s ‘Choose Life’ License Plate” is a guest column by Elon Law Associate Professor Scott Gaylord, who analyzes a federal district court judge’s decision to stop the state from issuing pro-life license plates while denying the option of obtaining a “respect choice” plate.

12/22: The (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “Local musicians rally to support the arts” is a review of the “Make Art Happen” CD produced by senior audio producer Bryan Baker at Elon, who completed the project through a Project Pericles Service Sabbatical.

12/23: SCOTUSblog: “Legal scholarship highlight: Analyzing the candor of Supreme Court nominees,” co-authored by Assistant Professor Dion Farganis, is a post on one of the most widely read blogs to cover the U.S. Supreme Court. Farganis and his colleague analyze nominee responses during confirmation hearings dating to 1955.

12/24: ESPN’s Page 2: “Saturday’s Web video of the day” showcased a student-produced video from Elon University that promoted the club baseball team and the motivation of its team members.

12/24: (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer: “’Life’ on the home front, then and now” is a personal column by Professor Rosemary Haskell on the lessons that can still be drawn from the holiday class “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

12/26: (Greensboro, N.C.) News & Record: “Hitchens a model for atheists today” was a column by Professor Tom Arcaro on the public role author and atheist Christopher Hitchens played for nonbelievers. Hitchens died Dec. 15, 2011.

12/26: Rock Hill (S.C.) Herald: “Rock Hill church’s Christmas lunch feeds bodies, souls” includes mention of recent Elon alumna Meghan Lintner, who is looking for ways to serve her community as she awaits word on a Fulbright application.

12/27: The First Perspective (Canada): “Reconciling Christianity and Native Beliefs: Bridging the Gap” quotes Professor Clyde Ellis on how church leaders and politicians in the 19th and early 20th centuries thought that converting indigenous people to Christianity was the easiest way to solve social and political problems involving such groups.

12/28: New York Times: “What We Think About When We Think About the Court,” a column by reporter Linda Greenhouse in the Times’ online Opinionator section, cites a description used by Assistant Professor Dion Farganis on the way the public views the U.S. Supreme Court.

12/30: WFMY News 2: “Iowa Caucus Battle Heating Up” includes a morning show analysis by Assistant Professor Mileah Kromer, assistant director of the Elon University Poll, on why the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3 will be pivotal to selecting a GOP nominee for president.

1/3: WFMY News 2: “The State’s Presidential Primary in May is One of the Last” features a lengthy interview with Assistant Professor Mileah Kromer on the political implications of changing North Carolina’s primary election date.

1/3: Playbill.com: “PLAYBILL.COM’S CUE & A: Rent Star Matt Shingledecker” profiles a 2008 music theatre alum who has made a name for himself in the off-Broadway production.

1/4: WFMY News 2: “Political Scientist: Social Media is Key” reports on the way politicians use Twitter and Facebook to engage the public, and the segment featured extended analysis by Assistant Professor Mileah Kromer, who researches lawmakers’ use of social media platforms.

1/8: (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “Crowd shows up to audition for a role in local film” reports on a film in production by Elon University alumnus Cornelius Muller ‘93 inspired by the life of an Alamance County high school football quarterback who died in 2011.

1/8: (Greensboro, N.C.) News & Record: “Resolutions that are easy to keep and appreciate” is the monthly business leadership column by Professor Emeritus David Noer. In it, he lists 10 positive resolutions, such as experiencing local greenway trails and visiting the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, to keep in 2012. (Link is to Noer’s personal website)

1/10: (Greensboro, N.C.) News & Record: “Downtown Greensboro may get 2nd campus” explains how the success of Elon University School of Law is leading Greensboro civic leaders to explore other ways to recruit college programs to the downtown area. (Available to public online via subscription)

1/10: Business Journal of the Triad: “Choate Construction chosen for Elon multifaith center” updates the regional business community on building plans for the Numen Lumen Pavilion at Elon.

1/11: NPR affiliate WUNC (91.5 FM): “Free speech and license plates” featured Associate Professor Scott Gaylord in the Elon University School of Law discussing a federal court issuing an injunction against North Carolina from producing “Choose Life” license plates. Gaylord was interviewed in December on news radio programs broadcast in California (KBRT), Idaho (KBAR), Missouri (KZIM), Montana (KBLL), North Carolina (WTKF), Virginia (WRVA), and West Virginia (WTZE) for the same issue.

1/19: Forbes.com: “Web Darkness, the Day After: Why the SOPA Protests Matter” is a guest blog post to the CIO Network on Forbes.com in which Elon Law Professor David Levine assess the impact and influence of grassroots opposition to proposed federal laws governing Internet content and distribution.

1/20: Business Journal of the Triad: “Seasoned labor: Many over age 55 head back to school to extend career” was a special report on executive education that quotes Professor Bill Burpitt, chair of the MBA program at Elon and associate dean of graduate studies, on the needs and interests of students studying in the university’s program. (Available to public online via subscription)

1/22: (Greensboro, N.C.) News & Record: “The Art of Political Leadership & Our New Mayor” was a special guest column by professor emeritus David Noer on the leadership style of Greensboro Mayor Robbie Perkins. (Link is to Noer’s personal website)

1/23: Doctor Radio (SiriusXM Satellite Radio): “Healthy Aging,” a show hosted by Dr. Michael Pershkin, welcomed Associate Professor Caroline Ketcham for an hour discussion on how technology is encouraging older adults to exercise. (Not posted online)

1/24: WFMY News 2: “Candor Controversy Continues After Four Police Officers Are Fired” cites Elon Law professor Eric Fink on state personnel laws that would require leaders of a small North Carolina town to explain why they terminated most of their police force.

1/24: TradeArabia News Service: “30 US students visit Intercoil” is a brief account of a visit by students in the Winter Term course “Business & Culture of the Indo-Gulf” visiting a Dubai-based company during their studies.

1/26: (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “Royals hire past intern for front-office spot” tells of Ryan Keur ’12, who completed his degree requirements over Winter Term 2012, being hired as assistant general manager for the Burlington minor league baseball team.

1/26: National Journal (Hotline On Call): “Perdue Not Running for Second Term” cites approval numbers from a September Elon University Poll on North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue; Perdue has announced she will not run for re-election. RELATED from ABC News (via The Note): “Good News for Obama From N.C.: Dem Gov. Declines to Run in ’12”

1/26: WGHP Fox 8: “Bev Perdue Will Not Seek Re-election in 2012,” an extended report on a surprise political announcement from North Carolina’s governor, includes extended commentary by Assistant Professor Mileah Kromer, the assistant director of the Elon University Poll. (Kromer gave related interviews live from the news set of WFMY News 2 in Greensboro, N.C., later in the day. Those interviews are not currently available online.) RELATED from the (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “Local Democrats surprised by Perdue announcement”

1/26: (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “Elon grad in the running to have commercial run during Super Bowl” features Jason Walston ’07, who filmed an ad for Doritos that is one of five finalists to possibly be aired during the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, 2012. RELATED from WGHP Fox 8: “Elon Alumnus Finalist in Super Bowl Commercial Competition”

1/28: The Spokesman-Review: “Shawn Vestal: How about sharing the NCAA wealth?” quotes Assistant Professor Tony Weaver on the difficulty that colleges face in using money from TV broadcasting of sports to fund academic improvements.

1/29: WFMY News 2: “Expert: Greensboro Is A Battleground In North Carolina Politics” includes extended remarks by Assistant Professor Mileah Kromer on the political strategies behind the many recent visits to the Triad by some of the state’s biggest names seeking higher office.

1/30: WFMY News 2: “N.C. Politics” was a live segment on the local CBS affiliate’s “Good Morning Show” in which Assistant Professor Mileah Kromer shared additional reflections on how “Greensboro could be North Carolina’s battleground.”

1/30: WFMY News 2: “Who’s Asking for Your Opinion?” informed viewers of the science to public opinion polling; it included extended remarks from Assistant Professor Mileah Kromer.