May 3, 2024

Farnsworth, Seltzer and Burkley Present Research Paper on Political Humor

October 7, 2021 by
Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, Kate Seltzer, a 2021 graduate of UMW with degrees in Political Science and in Communication and Digital Studies, and Sally Burkley, a senior Political Science and Communication and Digital Studies double major at UMW, are coauthors of a research paper entitled, “Winning (and Losing) on Late Night: Political Humor and the 2020 Presidential Campaign,” which was presented recently at the American Political Science Association Pre-conference in Political Communication [online].

Dr. Farnsworth also commented in the following news stories:

McAuliffe: Critical Race Theory Controversies Are ‘Made Up’ by GOP to ‘Divide People’ (National Review; Daily Magazine)

Northern Virginia early voting sends possible warning signs for Democrats, McAuliffe campaign (WUSA 9)

VA-Gov: Turns Out That Trump’s GOPer Actually Supported Critical Race Theory Before He Went Full MAGA (Daily Kos)

With Dems’ Advantage in Virginia Slipping Away, Terry McAuliffe Turns to Taylor Swift (MSN; Olt News)

Negotiations break down at Virginia Redistricting Commission (Middletown Press; KOB4; NBC 4)

House Seat Shuffle (Connection Newspapers)

Several campaign events planned locally (Fauquier Times)

Biden Agenda in Balance (CTV News Channel)

Virginia’s governor race heats up with less than a month left (Courthouse News Science)

Democrats on defense as their new House majority faces its first electoral test (Virginia Mercury)

With Trump sidelined and Biden floundering, has the Virginia GOP found its mojo? – Bob Lewis (Wall Street Window)

In Virginia, no Trump on the ballot and a toss-up governor’s race only 1 month away (WUSA 9)

U.S. Government Shutdown Averted (CTV News Channel)

In tight governor’s race, Virginia GOP targeting critical race theory to draw votes (The Washington Post; Laredo Morning Times)

With Trump sidelined and Biden floundering, has the Virginia GOP found its mojo? (Virginia Mercury)

Filed Under: Professional Notes Tagged With: , , ,

Larus Discusses All Things China on Podcast

October 7, 2021 by
Professor and Chairman of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus

Professor and Chairman of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs discussed her book Politics & Society in Contemporary China (Lynne Rienner 2020) on Ryan Ray’s Inside the War Room podcast. Professor Larus shared her insight on pressing issues in China’s politics, economy, foreign relations, and China-U.S.-Taiwan relations.

Listen to the podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/60-elizabeth-freund-larus/id1566250068?i=1000537665276

 

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Virginia Schools Receive Largely Positive Marks for COVID Response

September 29, 2021 by
A new University of Mary Washington statewide survey revealed that Virginia’s local school districts have generally handled the COVID-19 crisis effectively. Photo by Caleb Oquendo from Pexels.

A new University of Mary Washington statewide survey revealed that Virginia’s local school districts have generally handled the COVID-19 crisis effectively. Photo by Caleb Oquendo from Pexels.

Virginia’s local school districts have generally handled the COVID-19 crisis effectively, a new University of Mary Washington statewide survey reveals.

Asked to rate COVID policies in their local school districts on an A-to-F scale, where A is excellent, C is adequate and F signifies a failure, 12 percent of respondents gave their local districts an A, 22 percent said B, and 27 percent favored a C grade. Only 11 percent offered an F grade, while 11 percent said their local district deserved a D grade for its COVID policies. The rest were undecided.

The 1,000-person poll of Virginia adults was conducted for UMW by Research America Inc. from Sept. 7 to 13.

“For weeks we have been seeing and reading in the news about parents angrily protesting local COVID policies,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. “This survey demonstrates that those loud voices are very unrepresentative ones.” Read more.

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Gubernatorial Candidates Locked in Close Contest, UMW Survey Shows

September 29, 2021 by

Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin remain locked in a tight contest for governor of Virginia, a University of Mary Washington statewide survey shows. The poll, conducted by Research America Inc. Sept. 7-13, included 1,000 Virginia adults. Of those, 885 were registered voters and 528 were likely voters.

Among likely voters, 48 percent favored Youngkin and 43 percent backed McAuliffe.

Liberation Party candidate Princess Blanding received the support of 2 percent of likely voters, with others undecided.

Among registered voters in the survey, McAuliffe had the support of 46 percent, compared to 41 percent for Youngkin. In the entire survey, 43 percent backed McAuliffe compared to 38 percent favoring Youngkin. Blanding received the support of 2 percent of registered voters and among all respondents.

The differences between the two major party candidates among all adults, among registered voters, and among likely voters are all within the margins of error, meaning neither candidate has a clear lead.

“To borrow from Mark Twain, the reports of the end of Virginia’s status as a swing state are greatly exaggerated,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies. “The large number of undecided voters at this stage demonstrates that either major party candidate can become the next governor of Virginia.” Read more.

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Virginia Schools Receive Largely Positive Marks for COVID Response

September 23, 2021 by
Virginia’s local school districts have generally handled the COVID-19 crisis effectively, a new University of Mary Washington statewide survey reveals. Asked to rate COVID policies in their local school districts on an A-to-F scale, where A is excellent, C is adequate and F signifies a failure, 12 percent of respondents gave their local districts an […]
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Davidson’s Costs of War Project Cited in Article

September 22, 2021 by
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson’s Costs of War project was cited in an article on EUReporter.com entitled, “Afghanistan Insurgency: Cost of War on Terror.” Read more.

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Farnsworth Comments in the News

September 21, 2021 by
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of UMW's Center for Leadership and Media Studies

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently commented on the following news stories:

Virginia governor race is close, UMW survey says (The Free Lance-Star)

Virginia Governor’s Debate (WAMU Radio; WHRV 89.5)

Youngkin Takes the Lead over McAuliffe in New Virginia Gubernatorial Poll (yahoo.com; National Review)

UMW poll shows Youngkin with slight lead in Governor’s race (WINA)

University of Mary Washington Poll Finds Tight Race For Governor (WVTF)

Mary Washington poll shows tight contests for statewide races, with GOP boosts among likely voters (Richmond.com)

Virginia gubernatorial race pretty much a toss-up says new polling data (Los Angeles Blade)

University of Mary Washington Poll Finds Tight Race For Governor (Virginia Public Radio)

Republicans aim to reverse Virginia’s blue shift as gubernatorial polls tighten (WSET; abc6onyourside.com; abcnews4.com)

How Late-Night Comedy Evolved from Trump to Biden (Harvard Politics)

Cook Political Report puts Virginia Governor’s race at “toss up” (WINA; Newsmax)

The race for governor is a dead heat (VA Scope)

Youngkin leads McAuliffe for the first time in a Virginia governor’s race poll (The Washington Times; Breitbart)

Youngkin has 5-point lead in UMW governor’s race poll (Virginia Business Magazine)

Survey finds most Virginians approve of K–12 schools’ COVID-19 response (The Free Lance-Star)

Haitian Migrant Crisis (CTV News Channel)

Election in Virginia (The Vince Coglianese Show)

Democrats harness vaccinated Americans’ ire at holdouts as a political force (The Washington Times)

God, COVID and the Rage Against the Unvaccinated (Bacon’s Rebellion)

Youngkin’s calls for bagging Virginia’s grocery tax may hit home for economy-minded voters (The Washington Times; Washington Dailies)

Filed Under: Professional Notes Tagged With: ,

UMW to Host Public Debates for House of Delegates Seats

September 16, 2021 by

The University of Mary Washington will host a public political debate between candidates for Virginia’s 28th District House of Delegates seat on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.

UMW will host two public political debates, beginning next week, via YouTube.

UMW will host two public political debates, beginning next week, via YouTube.

Incumbent Del. Joshua Cole (D) will face off against opponent Tara Durant (R) live via Zoom, with public viewing accessible through YouTube. Viewers may submit questions for consideration for inclusion in the debate using an online form until 11 a.m. on the day of the event. The 28th district covers Fredericksburg and parts of Stafford County.

UMW will host a second House of Delegates debate, for the 88th District seat, on Tuesday, Oct. 26, with Democrat Kecia Evans, Republican Phillip Scott and Libertarian Timothy Lewis. The 88th district covers part of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania, Stafford and Fauquier counties.

“While COVID has forced us to debate online this fall, we can look forward to vigorous discussions about the path forward for Virginia,” said moderator Stephen Farnsworth, UMW professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.

Del. Joshua Cole

Del. Joshua Cole

The events are being hosted by Mary Washington’s College Republicans, Young Democrats and Student Government Association (SGA). “Such debates make an investment in student participation and increase excitement for civic engagement,” said UMW SGA President Brianna Reaves. “Including students in this process is crucial to the grassroots activism we see on campus.”

The debates are co-sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Free Lance-Star and the League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area. News Director Ted Schubel of WFVA Radio and Editorial Page Editor Barbara Hollingsworth of The Free Lance-Star will ask questions of the candidates during the hourlong debate.

Elected to represent Virginia’s 28th District in 2019, Cole has been appointed to serve on the State Commission on Youth, Autism Advisory Council, and the Rappahannock River Basin and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial commissions. He was elected in 2020 as one of Virginia’s five Democratic National Committee representatives. Former president of the Stafford County NAACP, Cole is a member of the Greater Fredericksburg Area Interfaith Council, associate pastor at Stafford’s Union Bell Baptist Church and chairman of the House of Clergy for the Union of Charismatic Orthodox Churches.

Tara Durant

Tara Durant

Tara Durant is an elementary school teacher, mother, Marine wife and breast cancer survivor, making her first run for public office. She has served on the boards of the Fredericksburg Area Service League and the PTO, as well as the Citizens Review Panel with United Way. Durant also has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and been a supporter of local sports teams and St. Mary’s Church in Fredericksburg.

Occurring less than a week before National Voter Registration Day, a celebration of democracy that encourages participation in the political process, the first of two 2021 UMW debates shines a spotlight on local elections.

“One of my favorite traditions at Mary Washington is our ability to host candidate debates for area elected offices,” Farnsworth said, “and the willingness every year of those candidates to join us to discuss the future of our region.”

Submit questions, which must be received by 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, via an online form at umw.edu/sept2021debatequestions.

Watch the live debate on YouTube at umw.edu/sept2021debate.

Filed Under: What's New @ UMW Tagged With: ,

Larus Comments on Vice President Harris’ Visit to SE Asia

September 15, 2021 by
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Political Science Elizabeth Freund Larus.

Professor and Chairman of the Department of Political Science Elizabeth Freund Larus.

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs, commented on U.S. Vice President Harris’ visit to Singapore and Vietnam. Professor Larus indicated that The visit demonstrates the good relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam, which has become more substantive, trusting, and effective.

View her commentary at https://vnews.gov.vn/video/quan-he-viet-nam-hoa-ky-tiep-tuc-phat-trien-tot-dp-10297.htm

 

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Davidson Discusses New Book Through Panel Webinar

September 11, 2021 by
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Jason Davidson recently shared insights from his book, America’s Entangling Alliances: 1778 to the Present, in a panel webinar presented by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“What I hope will be an important consequence of this book is pointing out that some of the many reasons the United States has entered into new alliances in the post-Cold War period … was because of the benefits those allies provide that have nothing to do with their aggregate defense spending, have nothing to do with their payments for offsetting U.S. expenses for basing on their territory.” Watch here.

Dr. Davidson also commented on the following news stories:

Is a new war starting? The West could launch military attacks against Al Qaeda and the Islamic State (Capital)

“The West could reject all economic aid and launch periodic military attacks against Al Qaeda and the Islamic State” (La Razon)

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