A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Professor and Chair of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman
A rematch — this time with abortion at the forefront (Reckon News)
“I don’t know that there’s any real fidelity to any stance on an issue unless it’s perceived to be useful — abortion being one of a very long list,” said Rosalyn Cooperman, who studies Republican candidates and political leaders at the University of Mary Washington. “If you look at what he has said over time, it is what is politically expedient.” Read more.
Professor of Psychological Science and Department Chair Miriam Liss
“Increasing wealth does not make you happier, but the experience of poverty can definitely make you unhappy ,” says Miriam Liss , professor of psychology at the University of Mary Washington. That’s because basic needs for housing, food, clothing, security, health care and transportation are difficult to meet when people are not financially secure, she adds. Read more.
Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth
Lucas: Alexandria arena deal is dead as far as she’s concerned (Virginia Business)
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor and director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, said Monday that he thinks “greater deference and a sweeter deal are necessary to make this package happen. At some point, if Youngkin wants this deal, he will have to bend on important Democratic priorities, including more funding for education.” Read more.
In Virginia, 15 candidates are vying to replace Spanberger in Congress (The Washington Post)
“Open congressional seats don’t happen very often, and when they do, everyone who imagines themselves a congressman or congresswoman is going to be looking at that seriously,” said Steve Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “That’s happening for both parties because this is a really competitive district.” Read more.
Why did Virginia Democrats vote to advance an abortion restriction? (WVTF)
“It puts Republicans in a tough spot,” said University of Mary Washington Professor Stephen Farnsworth. “They either have to vote for this extreme position and then face whatever backlash might exist, or not vote for it and run the risk of losing a primary to someone who says they’re not conservative enough.” Read more.
How to Watch The Daily Show: Stream Season 29 Premiere Live, TV Channel (Sports Illustrated)
“The world has changed a great deal politically, and late-night comedy has changed along with it,” said Stephen Farnsworth, author of Late Night With Trump: Political Humor and the American Presidency. “It is a much darker and more cynical environment than it was before Donald Trump became president. Read more.
General Assembly reaches midpoint, with fights ahead over arena, cannabis, guns and taxes (Cardinal News)
“The midterm grade is an incomplete,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “So far Republicans have been doing what Republicans do, and Democrats have been doing what Democrats do, each side doing what they can to lock in their base voters, but the hard questions have yet to be answered.” Read more.
The Cost of the Potomac Yard Arena “Has Just Gone Up” for Youngkin (Washingtonian
“The odds of success right now are bleak, well under 50/50,” University of Mary Washington political science professor and longtime Virginia General Assembly watcher Stephen Farnsworth tells Washingtonian in an e-mail. “A deal often can be had across partisan lines, but the cost for the governor of securing the support of Democratic legislative majorities has just gone up.” Read more.
The Alexandria Arena Deal Was A Slam Dunk…Until It Wasn’t (DCist)
That’s the more likely scenario for this deal to get done, according to Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s going to be a deal that it happens at the 11th hour in the budget bill, where Democrats get the things that they want in exchange for the governor getting what he wants,” Farnsworth says. Read more.
Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao
Professor of Communication Anand Rao contributed to an article titled “Teaching Tip: Navigating AI in the Classroom,” published by Inside Higher Education. In the article, Rao said he introduces students to low- and no-code options to build their own generative AI tools in his special topics course on digital studies. Read more.
Professor and Chair of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman
Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman spoke with Voice of America for a segment titled “Issues in the News: The Strategic Importance of Africa.” On the show, Cooperman discusses how the 2024 U.S. Presidential election is shaping up? Listen to the episode.
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson wrote an essay titled “NATO should be ambitious with its new Southern Flank Strategy” for the Atlantic Council’s online publication, The New Atlanticist. The article begins: When the leaders of NATO member states gather for the Alliance’s seventy-fifth anniversary summit in Washington in July, they will have several high-profile items on the agenda. Read more.
Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jennifer Barry
This spring, Jennifer Barry, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, will present material from her research project Gender Violence in Late Antiquity. She will present a chapter of the book at the Boston Patristics Society on February 15, 2024, and will give a public lecture at the University of Denver on February 29, 2024. As a Harvard, Classical Loeb Fellow for the 2023-2024 academic year, Barry has used her leave to finish her monograph. She has also started work on a number of additional publication opportunities as well as her next book-length project on Scandalous Christian Histories.
James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Christopher Williams
James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams and Victoria Matthews with Fredericksburg Tourism talked with B101.5’s Town Talk host, Ted Schubel, about the importance of new stories revealed by the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail, ‘Freedom, A Work in Progress.’ Listen to the episode.
Associate Professor of Psychological Science Jennifer Mailloux
Associate Professor of Psychological Science Jennifer Mailloux received a mention for her supporting research contributions in an article titled “VCU-led research shows effectiveness of new technique to detect ovarian cancer marker peptides,” published by VCU News. Read more.
Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of Political Science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently presented a research paper, “Constructing Conservative Late-Night Comedy: Fox News and the Rise of Gutfeld!” at the annual meeting of the Northeastern Political Science Association in Boston. The paper was part of a chapter of Professor Farnsworth’s new coauthored book, Late-Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency, recently published by Routledge.
In addition, recent media mentions for Farnsworth include:
