In the Media

BU social science faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates are doing necessary research that helps to improve human lives. Check back regularly to see the latest media coverage of this work. Heighten your own media presence by becoming part of BU’s expert database.

BU Professor Explores Inequality On College Campuses In New Book About Harvard (Boston Globe, September 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (WED, Higher Education Leadership & CISS Affiliate) discusses his new book, Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality and Students Pay the Price.

As Mainstream Media Faces Unprecedented Challenges, Can It Save Itself? (New York Times, September 2024) Michelle Amazeen (COM, Mass Communication, Advertising and Public Relations & CISS Affiliate) shares her experience surveying students who mostly engage in “passive news consumption” as increasingly social media has become a major news source for many students.

Trump Leads, and His Party Follows, On Vaccine Skepticism (CNN, September 2024) Matthew P. Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) is quoted discussing the drastic shift in anti-vaccine policy from followers of Trump as preliminary data shows that states enacted at least 42 anti-vaccine bills in 2023 — nearly a ninefold surge since 2019.

A Tapeworm May Have Changed The Lives Of Caesar, RFK Jr., and Millions Of Others (Boston Globe, September 2024) Pria Anand (Chobanian & Avedisian SOM, Neurology & CISS Affiliate) reveals the world-changing history of the larval form of a pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, endemic to much of South and Southeast Asia, South and Central America, and sub-Saharan Africa, including Cape Verde and why it matters now.

Easing Africa’s Debt Burdens: A Fresh Approach, Based On An Old Idea (The Conversation, September 2024) Kevin P. Gallagher (Pardee, Global Development Policy & CISS Affiliate) co-authors this article outlining the researchers’ recommendations to ease debt burdens by using the IMF’s existing resources to meet both the bondholders’ preferences for immediate cash and the developing countries’ need to reduce their debt burdens in a transparent and principled way.

Women Are Increasingly Using Firearms In Suicide Deaths, CDC Data Reveals (USA Today, September 2024) Hyeouk Chris Hahm (SSW, Social Research & CISS Affiliate) is quoted referencing the increased stress and responsibility forced onto women during the pandemic and how increased access and sale of firearms to women can be correlated to the usage of firearms in committing suicide.

Harvard Haves and Have-Nots: Anthony Abraham Jack’s Important, Critical New Book On Crimson Undergraduates (Harvard Magazine, September 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (WED, Higher Education Leadership & CISS Affiliate) discusses his new book, Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality and Students Pay the Price, examining how racial and ethnic minority students and students from low-income backgrounds navigate elite higher education at Harvard College, specifically during the pandemic from January to October 2021, with follow-up conversations in late 2022.

America is Increasingly Dependent on Foreign Doctors − but Their Path to Immigration is Getting Harder (The Conversation, September 2024) Selma Hedlund (GRS ’23, Sociology and postdoctoral associate, Center for Forced Displacement) explains why it’s becoming harder for foreign-born doctors to work in the U.S., despite the U.S. health care system’s dire need for health care providers.

Essay: Is Polarisation Really So Bad? (Dawn, September 2024) Farah Adeed (GRS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) examines the assumption in scholarship of “polarisation as the biggest threat to democracy at this point” as “this ignores that social progress often stems from conflict, and politically motivated unrest can sometimes serve a democratising purpose…

The IMF Must End Its Destructive Surcharges (Project Syndicate, September 2024) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) & Marilou Uy (Global Development Policy Center) discuss the International Monetary Fund’s surcharge policy and concerns that about countries in financial distress.

The Pandemic Threw Americans Into a ‘Dating Recession,’ New Stanford Study Says (Bloomberg, September 2024) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS director) reflects on the financial cost of being single, when expenses are not shared and the chances of accumulating savings are lessened.

As Millions Leave Organized Religion, Spiritual and Secular Communities Offer Refuge (USA Today, September 2024) Nancy Ammerman (CAS, Sociology) shares the growing interest of people to be involved in non-religious communities “where volunteer energy gets mobilized and inspired.”

How Do Small, Independent Motels Stay in Business? (Minnesota Public Radio, Marketplace, September 2024) Makarand Mody (SHA, Marketing & CISS Affiliate) comments on strengths found in the motels and indie hotel industry to help keep business efficient and successful.

Presidential Historian: ‘Kamala Harris Will Be the Next President’ (WCVB-5, September 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) discusses his prediction for the upcoming 2024 Presidential election following the September 10th debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

MAGA vs. Science Is No Contest (New York Times, September 2024) Matthew Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy & Management & CISS Affiliate) Motta is quoted in this article discussing “the partisan divisions in the electorate over the legitimacy of science result in large part from divisions among elites.”

The Histories of Enslaved People Were Written by Slavers. A BU Researcher Is Working to Change That (BU Today, September 2024) Andreana Cunningham (CAS, Archeology & CISS Affiliate) combines bioarchaeology, African diaspora studies, and archival research to better understand the lives of enslaved people.

What’s Driving Dating App Fatigue In 2024—And What Relationship Experts Want You To Do About It (Women’s Health, September 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) discusses user “disenchantment” and “burnout” with dating apps.

CityLine: Campaigns focused on getting the Black Vote (WCVB, September 2024) Christine Slaughter (CAS, Political Science) explain the latest poll data on black voter preferences and engagement.

Why Referring to Kamala Harris by Her First Name Could Hurt Her Campaign. (Newsweek, August 2024) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses the gendered double-standard in how we refer to political candidates’ names.

What’s in a Name? How Kamala Harris’ Surname Could Make History. (Newsweek, August 2024) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) comments on the reasons why professional women do or don’t retain their maiden names.

An Arm and a Leg: Don’t Get ‘Bullied’ Into Paying What You Don’t Owe (Physician’s Weekly, August 2024) Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS affiliate) shares his legal expertise for a conversation about health care costs.

Elite Colleges Are More Diverse Than Ever. They’re Still Unequal (Chronicle of Higher Education, August 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (SED & CISS Affiliate) discusses inequality in elite colleges.

Examining the Stigma and Barriers Behind Ozempic For Overweight, Obese Patients. (Washington Examiner, August 2024).  Weight stigma is rampant and harmful, confirming the research of Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) and others.

Local Professor Previews This Week’s Democratic National Convention (Boston 25 News, August 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) discusses the Democratic National Convention.

Can Taylor Swift Sue Donald Trump? What Legal Analysts Say (Newsweek, August 2024) Jessica Silbey (LAW & CISS Affiliate) & Woodrow Hartzog (LAW) are quoted in this article discussing Taylor Swift’s options for suing Donald Trump for false endorsements.

75 Years Ago, The KKK and Anti-Communists Teamed Up to Violently Stop a Folk Concert in NY (The Conversation, August 2024) Nina Silber (CAS, History) shares information on a little-known, significant turning point in the political landscape of the post-World War II era.

Older Adults Redefine Love to Combat Loneliness (WebMD , August 2024) Deborah Carr (CISS Director and CAS, Sociology) is quoted in discussion of older adults and dating.

The Surprising Legacy of Watergate in Today’s Politics (TIME, August 2024) Bruce Schulman (CAS, History) discusses Watergate and its legacy via today’s political lens.

Bursting the Idea of the ‘Campus Bubble’ (Inside Higher Ed, August 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (SED & CISS Affiliate) discusses his new book and the diverse experiences of Harvard undergrads during the COVID-19 pandemic 

Class Dismissed, New Book By Anthony Jack, Explores Challenges for Low-Income Students (Teen Vogue, August 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (SED & CISS Affiliate) introduces his new book, Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality and Students Pay the Price, and addresses the issue of unpaid labor and how it illuminates how students’ time is differentially rewarded and differently taxed.

Class Dismissed: Q&A with Anthony Abraham Jack (Contexts Magazine, August 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (SED & CISS Affiliate) celebrates the publication of his new book, Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality and Students Pay the Price, with blog editor Elena van Stee and chats about the unequal world college students inhabited before, during, and since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Think You’ve Planned for Retirement? Beware the Tax Torpedo (New York Times, August 2024) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) comments on retirement planning and taxes.

Shoppers, Businesses Prepare for Tax Free Weekend in Massachusetts (CBS News , August 2024) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) encourages shoppers to spend on Massachusett’s tax-free weekend (Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024). “It’s I think a great thing for a consumer because you can buy lots of products that you’re going to be using over the course of the year for 6.2% less” he says.

‘Class Dismissed’ Explores How Universities Fail Students of Color (WBUR, August 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (SED & CISS Affiliate) joins host Deepa Fernandes on “Class Dismissed’ to discuss his new book, his findings and the students he heard from.

When Elder Care Is All in the Stepfamily (New York Times, August 2024) Deborah Carr (CISS Director and CAS, Sociology) discusses elder care and the affects on stepfamilies.

‘An effective communicator’: Local historian Tom Whalen reacts to Harris choosing Walz as running mate (Boston 25 News, August 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) reacts to Vice President Harris’ choose of Tim Walz as a 2024 running mate, and how that may help or hurt her campaign.

Disaggregating DEI (Times Higher Ed, August 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (SED & CISS Affiliate) comments on the question: Is “DEI” the catch-all term doing a disservice to worthy interventions?

New Yorkers Increasingly Seek In-Person Social Events Over Online Connections (VOA, August 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) speaks to disenchantment with dating apps and how in-person meetings allow people for more connection.

What Now for DEI in the US? (Times Higher Ed, August 2024 Anthony Abraham Jack (SED & CISS Affiliate) speaks to how universities might continue to support minority students and staff, in light ofshuttering of DEI offices and curbs on teaching and research.

It’s Not Just You. Dating Apps Really Have Gotten Worse. (Washington Post, July 2024)  Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) comments on how dating apps have become more frustrating and manipulative, resulting in user unhappiness.

Identity Groups Are Mobilizing for Kamala Harris. That Shows Progress (TIME, August 2024) Koritha Mitchell (CAS, AAABDS & English) discusses the support for Kamala Harris and her campaign and why it means people have chosen to reject the lie that they must keep their distinct experiences to themselves.

Biden Drops Out (NBC Boston, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) discusses President Biden’s recent stepping down from the 2024 election race.

Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race (NBC Boston, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) discusses President Biden’s recent stepping down from the 2024 election race.

Boston University’s Thomas Whalen on Biden Dropping Out of the Race for U.S. President (CBC, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) speaks to CBC about President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 race.

Presidential Historian and BU Professor Tom Whalen Speaks about Biden’s Decision to Drop Out (Boston 25 News, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) speaks on President Biden’s choice to drop out of the 2024 race.

Presidential Historian Weighs in on Biden, Republican Party Pressure (Boston 25 News, July 2024) “It seems that ‘none of the above’ is really the winner heading into the fall,” Thomas Whalen (CGS) tells Boston 25 Saturday.

Political Science Professor Looks at Harris’ Early Momentum, Challenges Facing Trump-Vance (WCVB, July 2024) Virginia Sapiro (CAS, Emerita Political Science) says Harris may have an important advantage when it comes to women’s issues that could motivate voters, while Trump doesn’t have “much of an avenue” on some important issues.

CBC News Network’s Deana Sumanac-Johnson Speaks with Presidential Historian Thomas Whalen (CBC, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) speaks with CBC News Network’s Deana Sumanac-Johnson about the current presidential race.

Vance Unlikely to Upend Race, but Beard Could Be Factor, Historians Say (Newsweek, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) suggests former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who was Trump’s final GOP primary challenger, would’ve been a savvier selection.

‘It’s Never Happened Before;’ Presidential Historian Reacts to Biden’s Decision (WCVB, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) explains why he thinks President Biden’s move may be an advantage to the Democrats.

What a JD Vance Presidency Could Look Like (Newsweek, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) predicts Vance would take a harder line on abortion and immigration than Trump if he assumes the presidency, and would also pull the United States out of the NATO alliance.

Presidential historian weighs in on Biden, Republican Party pressure (Yahoo News, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS)weighs in on Biden, Republican Party pressure.

The Challenges of Navigating an Unrelenting News Cycle (CBS News, July 2024) Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) talks relentless headlines and their effects.

Judge Dismisses Trump Classified Documents Case (Boston 25 News, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) is interviewed on Boston 25 News regarding Donald Trump’s classified documents case.

Boston University’s Thomas Whalen Discusses the Political Climate After Shooting at Trump Rally (CBC News, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) discusses the political climate after shooting at Trump Rally.

Trump Could See Support Grow After Assassination Attempt, Even in Blue Massachusetts (CBS News, July 2024) Thomas Whalen (CGS) comments on the political effect of assassination attempts and how it may help Donald Trump in his election efforts.

The City of Today is a Dying Thing: In Search of the Cities of Tomorrow (Town Planning Review, June 2024) Loretta Lees (CAS, Sociology) reviews Des Fitzgerald’s book and finds it “intelligent without suffering from intellectualism”.

Construction Underway on €8 Billion ‘Smart City’ (Newsweek, June 2024) Loretta Lees (CAS, Sociology) was recently interviewed by Newsweek for a new Smart City in development in Greece. 

How Voting Advice Tests Run By EU-Skeptic Parties May Mislead Voters in the EU Elections (Logically Facts, June 2024) Michelle Amazeen (COM) is featured in Logically Facts where she explains how voting advice tests from EU-skeptic parties could mislead voters.

Ever Feel Exhausted By Swiping through Dating Apps? You Might Be Experiencing Burnout (Associated Press, June 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) discusses dating app burnout which may be intensified by the fact there’s an app for just about every part of our daily lives.

Deadly Kenya Protests Spurred By International Debt Woes (Voice of America, June 2024) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) speaks to Kenya’s financial woes, which owes billions of dollars to Western countries and the IMF as well as China.

NASA Map Shows ‘Sweltering’ US Temperatures Under Heat Dome (Newsweek, June 2024) Deborah Carr (CISS Director and CAS, Sociology) discusses how extreme heat worsens common age-related health conditions.

‘I Love This Work, But It’s Killing Me’: The Unique Toll of Being a Spiritual Leader Today (The Conversation, June 2024) Steven Sandage (STH & CISS affiliate) and his co-author discuss the unacknowledged personal toll that clergy work takes on spiritual leaders.

Voter Suppression Tops Black Women’s Concerns About Democracy (Good Authority, June 2024) Christine Slaughter (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) and her co-author discuss the Voting Rights Amendment and why it is essential for democracy for Black women.

‘The Interloper’ Author Michel Anteby on Overcoming Pushback to Questions (France 24, June 2024) Michel Anteby’s (Questrom & CISS Affiliate) new book, “The Interloper: Lessons from Resistance in the Field”, is discussed in this piece.

Surviving Father’s Day When Dad Is Gone (Psychology Today, June 2024) Deborah Carr (CISS Director and CAS, Sociology) shares suggestions on how those who have lost their father can survive the Father’s Day holiday. 

Extending the Sustainable Development Goals to 2050 — A Road Map (Nature, June 2024) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment, director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, & CISS Affiliate) and his co-authors offer a roadmap to extending the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through 2050.

For an Older Homeless Population, A New Type of Care (New York Times, June 2024) Thomas Byrne (SSW) is featured in this article discussing the older homeless population.

Strangers Are Temporarily Swapping Homes to Save Cash and Live Like Locals (Washington Post, June 2024) Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) comments on a new kind of home swapping to save money.

Everyone You Know Will Eventually Be Highly Vulnerable to Extreme Heat (BNN Bloomberg, June 2024) Deborah Carr (CISS Director and CAS/Sociology) is quoted discussing the “cooling systems” of older adults.

How Brazil’s Lula Is Trying to Win Over Evangelicals Who Rejected Him (Bloomberg, May 2024) Taylor Boas (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) comments on evangelicalism and right-wing populism in Brazil.

Essay: Heat Waves Can Be Deadly for Older Adults – An Aging Global Population and Rising Temperatures Mean Millions Are at Risk, As Asia Is Experiencing (Sight Magazine, May 2024) Giacomo Falchetta (CISS visiting scholar), Ian Sue Wing (CAS/Earth & Environment & CISS), and Deborah Carr (CISS Director and CAS/Sociology) suggest what older adults, their caregivers and policymakers can do about rising temperatures and the threat to  the aging population.

More Older Adults Are at Risk of Heat Stress as remperatures Rise. What Can Be Done? (Fast Company, May 2024) Giacomo Falchetta (CISS visiting scholar), Ian Sue Wing (CAS/Earth & Environment & CISS), and Deborah Carr (CISS Director and CAS/Sociology), along with their colleagues, explain why more older adults are at risk of heat stress.

‘It Breaks an employer’s Control’: The Tragic Disappearance of the American Lunch Hour (The Guardian, May 2024) Megan Elias comments on the history of the lunch hour.

Seniors More Vulnerable to Heat Waves and Hurricanes, Both Forecasted to Be Severe this Summer (Inside Climate News, May 2024) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) is quoted in discussion of senior vulnerability to extreme heat.

Trump’s Mass-Deportation Plan Would Have Big Economic Consequences for South Florida (Miami Herald, May 2024) Tarek Hassan (CAS, Economics) comments on Donald Trump’s mass-deportation plan and it’s economic consequences for the Florida economy.

Heat Waves Can Be Deadly for Older Adults: An Aging Global Population and Rising Temperatures Mean Millions Are at Risk (The Conversation, May 2024). Giacomo Falchetta (CISS visiting scholar), Ian Sue Wing (CAS/Earth & Environment & CISS), and Deborah Carr (CISS Director and CAS/Sociology) discuss new research identifying global “hotspots” of rising temperatures and steep population aging.

‘A Sobering Statistic’: The Typical House Here Now Costs $950,000 (Boston Globe, May 2024).  Adam Guren (CAS, Economics) explains why Boston-area housing costs are increasing so steeply.

Week of Protests Over Equinor’s Media Sponsorship Greenwashing (DeSmog, May 2024) Michelle A. Amazeen (COM, Director of the Communication Research Center & CISS Affiliate) comments on oil and gas sponsorships, stating that, “While the sponsorship gives the impression of caring about the environment, it’s a veneer that’s like an oil slick obscuring the actual conduct of the fossil fuel industry.”

What’s Behind the Grad Student Strike at Boston University? (The Christian Century, May 2024) Nicolette Manglos-Weber (STH & CISS Affiliate) discusses the BU graduate student strike.

Raw Milk Sales Are Up Despite Bird Flu Outbreak in Dairy Cows (Fast Company, May 2024) Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) discusses the CDC’s recent warnings about raw milk and the threat of bird flu.

There’s Bird Flu in US Dairy Cows. Raw Milk Drinkers Aren’t Deterred (Associated Press, May 2024) Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) discusses the CDC’s recent warnings about raw milk and the threat of bird flu.

Bird Flu and Health Warnings Won’t Stop Raw Milk Drinkers Getting Their Fix (The Independent, May 2024) Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) discusses the CDC’s recent warnings about raw milk and the threat of bird flu.

Raw Milk Sales Spike Despite CDC’s Warnings of Risk Associated with Bird Flu (PBS, May 2024) Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) discusses the CDC’s recent warnings about raw milk and the threat of bird flu.

Raw Milk Sales Rise Despite Bird Flu Warnings (NBC, May 2024) Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) discusses the CDC’s recent warnings about raw milk and the threat of bird flu.

More Than 200 Million Seniors Face Extreme Heat Risks in Coming Decades, Study Finds (NPR, May 14, 2024). Giacomo Falchetta (CISS visiting scholar) and Deborah Carr (CISS director and CAS/Sociology) discuss new research showing that the number of older people regularly exposed to both chronic and acute heat will grow by about 200 million people worldwide by mid-century—a number that could increase further without effective climate action.

Want to fix Social Security? The Well-Off Must Accept Smaller Checks (New York Times, May 2024)  Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) comments on ways to fix social security for all.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference Explores Issue at a Time of Polarization (Wisconsin Examiner, May 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (SED & CISS Affiliate) is quoted from his Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS) conference keynote address highlighting the barriers that low-income and first generation students often face within higher education. 

How to Survive Mother’s Day When Your Mom Is Gone (Psychology Today, May 2024) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS director) shares strategies for handling the Mother’s Day holiday while facing your loss.

Pressure Mounts Against IMF Surcharges (Nation News, May 2024) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) is quoted as arguing that IMF surcharges were found to worsen potential outcomes for both the borrowing country and its investors, with gains accruing to the IMF at the expense of both.

US TikTok Ban: How the Looming Restriction Is Affecting Scientists on the App (Nature, May 2024) TikTok differs from other social-networking apps due to how how its algorithm curates content from across the platform, according to Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate), which can be harnessed for good.

Immigration Pushes Germany-Carolinas Record FDI (fDi Intelligence, May 2024) Tarek Hassan (CAS, Economics) comments on the German investment into North and South Carolina.

‘Social Security Is Broke Beyond Belief’: Economist Says the US Retirement Safety Net Is Full of Holes — How to Protect Yourself and Secure Your Golden Years (Moneywise, May 2024) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) supports economics-based financial planning to get you through retirement.

4.95 Million People Die From Treatable Infections Annually. A New Project Tells Their Stories (Forbes, May 2024) Kevin Outterson (LAW & CISS Affiliate) shares his perspective on treatable infections and needless deaths.

The Global Antimicrobial Resistance Diary Puts A Face On Serious Infections (Forbes, May 2024) According to Kevin Outterson (LAW & CISS Affiliate) infection is the second leading cause of death for people with cancer and points out that studies and reports [about bacterial infections] contain too many stats for people to absorb.

Barbra Streisand, Melissa McCarthy and the Problem with Asking about Ozempic, Weight Loss (USA Today, May 1, 2024).  Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS director) points out the harmful ways that larger bodies are judged and marginalized.

My AI Chatbot Thinks Your AI Chatbot Is Cute (Boston Globe, May 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) discusses chatbots in today’s dating scene.

Women on Bumble No Longer Have to Make the First Move (New York Times, May 2024) In this article, Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) comments on Bumble and today’s dating norms.

Popular Dating App, Bumble, Tries to Rekindle People’s Love for Swiping (KCBS Radio, May 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) comments on Bumble’s couple matching system.

Brainstorming Solutions to Disinformation (National Academies, April 2024) Michelle A. Amazeen (COM, Director of the Communication Research Center & CISS Affiliate) discusses disinformation on social media and concerning research

Police Crackdown on Nationwide Protests (Diverse Education, April 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (SED & CISS Affiliate) expresses concern for the swiftness of these institutional “crackdowns” on college campus protests.

Opinion: ‘The Golden Bachelor’ Divorce Did Us A Favor (CNN, April 2024) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS director) shares what we can we learn from “The Golden Bachelor” divorce.

U.S. Supreme Court Anti-Camping Case Could Impact Mass. Homeless Residents (MassLive, April 2024) Molly Richard (CISS Postdoctoral Fellow) talks homelessness, pointing out that getting homeless people into housing so they can begin to rebuild their lives frequently end up costing governments the same or even less than emergency response and criminalization policies like campsite removals.

What the Supreme Court Case on Tent Encampments Could Mean for Homeless People (Vox, April 2024) Katherine Levine Einstein (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) “Using this very reactive and criminalizing approach for homelessness may actually be more expensive than engaging in long-term preventative planning,” says Levine Einstein.

Cisneros Institute Celebrates Dr. Villareal’s Groundbreaking Research (Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, April 2024) Ana Villarreal (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) was celebrated on Friday, March 1st at the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute where Villarreal, joined by Cisneros Affiliate Faculty Gema Kloppe-Santamaría and Omar Garcia Ponce, narrated the impact fear and violence have on social ties, routines, and everyday life.

How to Make the Most of resistance in Research Subjects (Times Higher Education, April 2024) Michel Anteby (Questrom & CISS Affiliate) discusses the challenges of ethnographic research and techniques and solutions for working with subjects. 

‘Social Security Is Broke Beyond Belief’: Boston University Prof Says Retirement Safety Net Is Full of Holes (Yahoo Finance, April 2024) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) says Social Security retirement safety net is “full of holes”.

15 Best Places in Nebraska for A Couple to Live On Only Social Security (Yahoo Finance , April 2024) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) comments on delaying retirement age and Social Security privatization.

Gentrification Study of Central Square Finds Independent Spirit That’s Being Sorely Tested (Cambridge Day, April 2024), The research of Boston University’s MetroBridge program (Initiative on Cities, Loretta Lees, Director) is covered in this article about how the pace of change disrupts communities’ abilities to survive and thrive.

America Is Sick of Swiping (The Atlantic, April 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) is quoted discussing modern dating online.

What’s Off Limits From AI? (Inside Higher Ed, April 2024) Dean Stan Sclaroff (CAS, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences) shares “creative ways” that faculty are adapting to the BU graduate student strike, including using generative AI tools to give feedback or facilitate discussion on readings or assignments.

After the Genocide: What Scientists Are Learning from Rwanda (Nature, April 2024) Timothy Longman (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) discusses insights gained that could help to prevent other atrocities and enable healing.

How to Age Better Than Your Parents (Washington Post, April 2024). This article offers five tips for aging well, drawing on Aging in America, a recent book by Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS director).

The Most Laid-Back Cities Across the U.S. (Finance Buzz, April 2024). Is your city stressed out or laid-back? Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS director) offers reasons why cities rank in the top and bottom  on the “laid back” rankings.

Advances In Archaeology Allow Us To Understand Political Evolution And Social Change In Deep Time – OpEd (Eurasia Review, March 2024) David Carballo (CAS, Archaeology & CISS Affiliate) and his co-author suggest that we should focus on case-specific variation and acknowledge that human cooperative patterns, and the resultant institutions that are founded, have more situational and contingent histories and that sequences of change were often impacted by open networks of exchange, conquest, and warfare that fomented new challenges and opportunities

A Very Royal Scavenger Hunt (The New York Times, March 2024) In this article, Arianne Chernock (CAS, History & CISS Affiliate) comments on mass online sleuthing efforts, but those efforts do not always return a good result.

What Do Dating Apps Owe Us, Really? (POPSUGAR, March 2024) “Users have a lot of ability to decide how they engage with technology,” says Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate), when discussing dating apps and their addictive qualities.

A Solution to the Retirement Crisis? Americans Should Work for More Years, BlackRock CEO Says (CBS News, March 2024) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) points out the sales pitch behind BlackRock CEO Larry Fink’s recent suggestion that the answer to the strain on the U.S. retirement system.

With Charles and Catherine Sidelined, It’s Camilla’s Time to Shine (The New York Times, March 2024) Arianne Chernock (CAS, History & CISS Affiliate) comments on Camilla’s role in the, currently sidelined, royal family’s presence.

What Is Owed? Episode 6 – That Reluctant Conversation (GBH, March 2024) Ibram X. Kendi (Founder/Director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research) weighs in on race and reparations.

Towns Settling for ‘Bare Minimum’ with Housing Law, Advocates Say. Why They’re Upset (MetroWest Daily News, March 2024) Katherine Levine Einstein (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) comments on towns settling in regard to housing law.

Move Over, Tinder: Three Local Dating Apps Are Looking to Sidestep Swiping Fatigue (Boston Globe, March 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) discusses three new local dating apps.

Social Security Chief Testifies in Senate About Plans to Stop ‘Clawback Cruelty’ (California Healthline, March 2024) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) discusses the Social Security Administration’s new plan to tackle overpayments and clawbacks.

From AI Dating to Flirt Coaches: How AI Is Changing Dating, For Better or Worse (CBC, March 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) talks about dating and AI, and what is changing.

This Is Your Brain on Dating Apps (National Geographic, March 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) discusses dating app companies and their goals to increase funding by keeping users on the site.

Examining Trump’s Alternate Reality Pitch (The New York Times, March 2024) Tarek Hassan (CAS, Economics) comments on Donald Trump.

Airbnb Just Banned Security Cameras Inside Rentals (AFAR, March 2024) Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) discusses AirBnb’s recent ban on owners utilizing security cameras in their rental properties.

Tinder May Be Swiping Left On Its Most Famous Feature (WAtoday, March 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) comments on the struggles of online dating services finding young paying customers.

A Century of Coalitions in Battle (Faculti, March 2024) Rosella Cappella Zielinski (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) and Ryan Gruaer examine the 492 battles during interstate wars (1900-2003), revealing how battlefield coalitions fare compared to solo belligerents. 

Dating Apps Have Hit a Wall. Can They Turn Things Around? (New York Times, March 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) speaks about dating apps and their future.

Congress Is Using More Science, But the Two Parties Rarely Cite the Same Studies (Science Magazine, March 2024) Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) comments on a recent study that shows that Democrats were almost twice as likely to cite technical papers as panels led by Republicans.

Florida Colleges Fire Staff Amid Anti-“Woke” Crusade. Expert Warns “This Tactic Will Backfire” (Salon, March 2024) Anthony Abraham Jack (SED & CISS Affiliate) comments on the recent stripping of Florida higher education institutions of DEI efforts.

Why Do the Biggest Hotel Chains Create So Many Different Brands? (Morning Brew, March 2024) Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) is interviewed and discusses large hotel chains and the benefits of the ALBM (Asset Light Business Model).

Biden Opens Doors to Government Jobs for Military Spouses (Marketplace, February 2024) Rosella Cappella Zielinski (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) speaks to the economic struggles of military families and suggest pending reforms might help.

Tinder, Hinge Lawsuit Raises Question: Can Dating Apps Be Considered Addictive? (Live Science, Febraury 2024) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) comments on the addictiveness of dating applications, and technology in general, admitting that dating apps are particularly motivated to keep users swiping, but “hesitat[ing] to act like users don’t have a sense of control or determination over the technology.”

Ready to Claim Social Security? Here’s the Best Time to Start Collecting Payments (Aol, February 2024) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) comments on the benefits of maxing out your Social Security.

Partisan Gerrymandering Is A Political Scourge. These Experts Designed A Better Way (Fast Company, Februry 2024) Maxwell Palmer (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) and his co-authors discuss their system that lets politicians pick their voters, without partisan gerrymandering.

Covid Death Toll in US Likely 16% Higher Than Official Tally, Study Says (The Guardian, February 2024) Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) comments on discrepancies in Covid death tolls and tracking.

How Politicians Can Draw Fairer Election Districts − The Same Way Parents Make Kids Fairly Split A Piece of Cake (The Conversation, February 2024) Maxwell Palmer (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) and his colleagues discuss their method, Define-Combine Procedure (DCP), which delivers fairer voting maps than either party would draw on its own.

Higher Ed Got It Wrong — The SAT Still Matters (WBUR, February 2024) Ibram X. Kendi (Founder/Director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research) is mentioned in discussion of SATs and their usefulness.

The Friends Who Are Caring for Each Other in Older Age. (The Atlantic, February 12, 2024). Deborah Carr (CAS/Sociology and CISS director) explains why some older adults are turning to friends rather than family as their caregivers.

How to Get Back on Track with Your New Year’s Resolutions. (NBC News, February 11, 2024). Deborah Carr (CAS/Sociology and CISS director) shares thoughts on how people can get their resolutions back on track.

Dartmouth Is Right to Bring Back SATs — It’s the No-BS Test That Gives Everyone the Same Chance (New York Post, January 2024) Ibram X. Kendi (Founder/Director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research) is quoted sharing his concerns around SATs and standardized testing.

The Race to a Battery-Powered Future (The Brink, January 2024) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment, director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, & CISS Affiliate) speaks about batteries and sustainable solutions.

Best and Worst Places to Retire, 2024 (Wallet Hub, January 2024) Deborah Carr (CAS/Sociology and CISS director) weighs in on the factors that shape the retirement plans of U.S. adults.

Falling Domestic Fares and an A.I. Arms Race: What Travelers Can Expect in 2024 (New York Times, January 2024) Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) Mody shares his opinion about what the upcoming year will bring to travelers.

Will Hotels Finally Beat Rentals in the Lodging Tug of War? (New York Times, January 2024) Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) Mody comments about the battle between hotels and Airbnb rentals.

Men, We Need to Talk (About Prostate Cancer). (Psychology Today, January 12, 2024). Deborah Carr (CISS director and CAS/Sociology) observes that men’s reluctance to talk about their illness can undermine their recovery and emotional well-being.

Why Can’t Today’s Young Adults Leave the Nest? Blame High Housing Costs (NBC, January 2024) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) comments on the benefits of multigenerational households.

Death of ‘Parasite’ Star Highlights South Korea’s Crackdown on Drugs (New York Times, December 2023) Hyeouk “Chris” Hahm (SSW & CISS Affiliate) comments on the crackdown on drugs in South Korea.

Neoliberalism and Education (The American Prospect, December 2023) Cathie Jo Martin (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) speaks with Robert Kuttner about the roots of a neoliberal versus a more social view of education.

Vermont’s Unwelcome Distinction: Residents known for Being ‘Green’ Spew Out More Greenhouse Gases (Boston Globe, December 2023) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment, director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, & CISS Affiliate) comments on “green” residents and greenhouse gas creation.

Presidential historian thinks Trump ballot ruling could also affect Biden (WCVB, December 2023) Thomas Whalen (CGS) speaks about the significance of the Trump ruling and whether it could make any difference.

‘I Haven’t Slept in a Year’: Grieving Family Members Advocate for Medical Civil Rights Bill (MassLive, December 2023) Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS affiliate) comments on the need for a medical civil rights bill.

China Turns to Households in Fight to Slash Carbon Emissions (Reuters, November 2023) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment, director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, & CISS Affiliate) comments on China’s efforts to slash carbon emissions.

China Offers Citizens Incentives to Slash Carbon Emissions (Business Day, November 2023) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment, director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, & CISS Affiliate) comments on China offering citizens incentives to slash carbon emissions.

After a Lifetime Together, Surviving Spouses Can Be Vulnerable in Grief (CNN, November 27, 2023). Professor Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses spousal grief after very long-term marriages like Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter.

The Disability Care Crisis and Direct Care Jobs (Psychology Today, November 2023) Nazli Kibria (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) offers a personal perspective on the devaluation of direct care workers and how that is creating a care system crisis.

‘Rabies Is Nearly Fatal’: Many Local Dog Owners Hesitant About Mandatory Vaccine, Study Finds (Boston 25 News, November 2023) Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) comments on the increase of wildlife in urban areas, and the resultant potential of spreading diseases, such as rabies.

In California Schools, Palestinian History Is Off–Limits (The Nation, November 2023) “What does it mean if we’re not recognizing Palestine as a place?” Heba Gowayed (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) is quoted asking.

Why This Widespread Form of Homelessness Is Often Overlooked And Unsupported (PBS News Hour, November 2023) Molly Richard‘s (CISS Postdoctoral Fellow) research on “doubled-up homelessness”, those in a temporary housing situation such as with a friend or family member, quotes more than 1 percent of the entire U.S. population doubled-up homeless on any night in 2019.

Suddenly We’re Talking About ‘Deflation.’ Here’s What That Means for You (The Messenger, November 2023) According to Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) “…we may be stuck with an inflation rate in the 3s for too long.”

The Secret to Finding Love After 60. (Wall Street Journal, November 12, 2023). Professor Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) weighs in on older women’s goals for their new romantic relationships.

Five Oldster Rom Coms That Are Actually Sexy. (Oprah Daily, November 6, 2023). Professor Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) describes the unique attributes of older romantic couples.

When Did Humans Start Waging Wars? Organized warfare appears to have started in the Neolithic Age and then ramped up during the Bronze Age. (History.Com, November 2023) Luke Glowacki (CAS, Anthropology) is quoted  about early humans efforts to engage in warfare.

New York City Is Enforcing A ‘de Facto Ban’ on Airbnb. Will Travelers Be Better Off Without It? (Insider, November 2023) Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) comments on New York City’s new regulations on Airbnb.

The Best Way to Convince Healthy People to Get Insurance Is Not ‘Because It’s in Your Financial Interest’ (STAT, November 2023) According to Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS affiliate) and his co-author, individual responsibility and community messages were the most effective in getting people to enroll in an insurance policy.

Explainer: Can Solar Geoengineering Stop Global Warming? (Reuters, November 2023) Scientists are studying whether atmospheric geoengineering could help limit climate warming, such as marine cloud brightening which Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment, director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, & CISS Affiliate) states would be less intrusive and less potentially damaging than stratospheric aerosol injection, but could be more expensive and too energy-intensive.

In East Texas, Living with Diabetes and No Health Insurance (Tyler Morning Telegraph, November 2023) Timothy Callaghan (SPH & CISS Affiliate) is quoted clarifying that health insurance encourages users to seek health care sooner than later.

Taylor Swift Headed to This Law School, In Theory (Reuters, November 2023) “…students tend to be more engaged when they study subjects such as sports, new technology and celebrities,” according to professor Jessica Silbey (LAW & CISS Affiliate), who covers the singer’s album rerecordings in her copyright class to teach about contract law in the music business. 

Menstrual Care Product Companies’ Crusade Against ‘Tampon Tax’ Falls Short of Meaningful Progress (Ms. Magazine, October 2023) Graduate student Bahar Aldanmaz Fidan (GRS, Sociology) argues “If we want to make meaningful change, we must broaden the scope of menstrual activism beyond just the product and its taxation.”

Elvis? Madonna? Michael Jackson? What Makes Taylor Swift the Pop Icon She Is? (BU Today, November 2023) Attorney Jessica Silbey (LAW & CISS Affiliate) comments on the Taylor Swift’s “really impressive business maneuver”, the remaking of her earlier albums and the copyright laws that make that possible.

A Slow Killer: East Texans Are Diagnosed With Diabetes at a Higher Rate Than The National Average (Texas Tribune, November 2023) Timothy Callaghan (SPH & CISS Affiliate) speaks to the importance of health insurance.

Bariatric Surgery at 16 (New York Times, October 2023) The research of Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) in obesity and death rates is highlighted in the discussion of those under 18 years of age and bariatric surgery.

Only Newsom Can Go to China? California Governor Takes His Show on the Road (Washington Examiner, October 2023) California Governor Gavin Newson’s recent trip to China is an effort to elevate the governor’s political status, according to Thomas Whalen (CGS), “building a foreign policy resume not unlike George W. Bush…” did.

Will Social Security Be There for Me when I Retire? Here’s How the Agency’s Chief Actuary answers that Common Question (CNBC, October 2023) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) offers his expertise on social security and why its generally best to wait to claim retirement benefits.

States Where Employers Are Struggling the Most in Hiring (Wallet Hub, October 2023) Laurence A. Bloom Professor of Economics Kevin Lang (CAS, Economics & CISS Affiliate) Lang comments on the current status of hiring and the labor market.

UHC Is the Right Goal, but Is Not the Same as the Right to Health (The Lancet Global Health, October 2023) Joseph Harris (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) offers his opinion on the difference between universal health coverage (UHC) and the right to health. “The two concepts are not the same thing, and they should not be conflated,” he says.

China’s Belt and Road Gets ‘Green’ Geboot and Spending Boost (Climate Change News, October 2023) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) comments on the Green Investment and Finance Partnership (GIFP), a climate change effort, focused on “green energy pathways”.

China Marks Ten Years of Belt & Road Forum, Though Interest Is Waning (RFI, October 2023) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) speaks about China’s efforts to fill a gap left by lenders shiftig to areas such as health and education and away from infrastructure after coming under criticism for the impact major building projects can have on the environment and local communities.

WATCH LIVE: Biden Discusses Economy, Unions and Clean Energy During Philadelphia Visit (PBS, September 2023) Cathal Nolan (CAS, History & Director of BU International History Institute) comments on the effects of President Joseph Biden’s recent speech in Pennsylvania.

Biden Is Talking about Green Energy and Jobs in Pennsylvania Again. Will His Message Break through? (The Boston Globe, September 2023) Cathal Nolan (CAS, History & Director of BU International History Institute) speaks about President Joseph Biden’s recent speech in Pennsylvania.

When the Turner Prize Came to ‘God’s Waiting Room’ (The New York Times, September 2023) Professor Loretta Lees (CAS, Sociology) speaks to British efforts to utilize culture to change the views, and economic outlook, of small England communities.

The World Bank Is Ignoring A Key Step In Fighting Climate Change (Yahoo News, September 2023) “This inconvenient truth isn’t getting the attention it deserves,” according to Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) in acknowledgement of debt issues around climate change.

Experts: How Will The Next Decade of China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ Impact Climate Action? (CarbonBrief, September 2023)  Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) speaks about what China could do to move their efforts toward climate change.

RFK Jr. Is Running as an Independent, So Who Does That Hurt? An Expert Weighs In. (Boston.com, September 2023) According to Thomas Whalen (CGS), “RFK Jr. potentially could have a huge impact in what surely is going to be a close presidential contest next fall.”

Kari Lake’s Arizona Senate Chances Dismissed: ‘One-Note Candidate’ (Newsweek, September 2023) Thomas Whalen (CGS) argues that Kari Lake would be a poor candidate for Arizona Republicans.

Clergy Burnout Is A Growing Concern in Polarized Churches. A Summit Offers Coping Strategies (Independent, September 2023) Steven Sandage (STH & CISS affiliate) clarifies the importance of developing strategies to tackle mental health distress in the article.

Is Love After Loss Possible? (Psychology Today, October 7, 2023). Professor Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) shows how The Golden Bachelor can teach us five surprising facts about widowhood, grief, and moving forward.

Democrats May Have Already Picked Joe Biden’s Successor (Newsweek, September 2023) Thomas Whalen (CGS) points out that there seems to be a growing alliance between Biden and Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, which could be Biden signaling he’d like to have Newsom as his 2024 running mate.

A First-Generation Tale of Strife and Success (The New Yorker, September 2023) Anthony Abraham Jack’s (SED & CISS Affiliate) work “The Privileged Poor” is quoted as finding that first-generation students’ experiences diverged depending on whether they went to under-resourced public high schools or to élite private schools.

Five Warning Signs Republicans Are Heading for Electoral Disappointment (Newsweek, September 2023) Thomas Whalen (CGS) comments on Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown’s chances of relection.

Opinion: ‘The Golden Bachelor’ Has a Lot to Teach Us (CNN, September 2023) In this article, Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) offers her thoughts about what “The Golden Bachelor” might teach us about finding love in one’s “golden years”.

There’s A Good Chance You’re Not Planning for Retirement Correctly. Here’s Why. (CBS News, September 2023) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) notes that Americans “jinx themselves” by underestimating their lifespans, and claiming social security too early.

Care Work, Gender Equality, and Abortion: Lessons from Comparative Feminist Constitutionalism (Family Law The Journal of Things We Like (Lots), September 2023) Linda C. McClain (LAW, WGS) opines on Julie Suk’s ambitious book, After Misogyny: How the Law Fails Women and What to Do About It.

Africa Climate Summit Seeks Changes to Global Financial Architecture (France 24, September 2023) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) discusses Africa’s ballooning debt and how that might affect their climate efforts.

Divorce Skyrocketing Among Aging Boomers (AARP, September 2023) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) explains the effects of divorce on the emotional health of older adults.

Economist: ThisIs The No. 1 Best and Worst Money I Ever Spent (CNBC, September 2023) Economist Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) explains why not all money we spend has to produce an immediate return on investment. Some purchases are just meant to make you happy, and that’s okay.

‘Future-Ready’: Some Mass. Schools Embracing Artificial Intelligence to Transform Way Kids Learn (Boston 25 News, September 2023) “We have to figure out how to handle it, not by ignoring it or banning it because that doesn’t work,” says Wesley Wildman (CAS, Philosophy, Theology & Ethics & CISS Affiliate) as some schools ban the use of  chatbots like ‘ChatGPT’, while others embrace the tool with the goal of preparing students for the future.

Since Their Foundings, HBCUs Have Been A White Supremacist Target (The Guardian, September 2023) According to Professor Saida Grundy (CAS, Sociology, African American & Black Diaspora Studies, and WGS), black colleges represent a threat that white supremacists seek to thwart: political, economic and social competition from people who emerged from 250 years of slavery as politicians, intellectuals, freedom fighters and self-sufficient community members.

Brookline’s Japonaise Bakery & Cafe Is Back, And Loyalists Are Lining Up (Boston Globe, August 2023) Merry White (CAS, Anthropology) comments on Brookline’s Japoinaise Bakery & Cafe’s return.

Airbnb’s Impact on NYC Hotels: Winners, Losers, and Dueling Forecasts of New Law (Skift, August 2023) Professor Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) comments on New York City’s short-term rental regulations and their potential affect on hotel bookings.

Opinion: Retirees just wanted a little sun and warmth. With climate change, they’re getting more than they bargained for (CNN, August 2023) Professors Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director), Ian Sue Wing (CAS, Earth & Environment and CISS affiliate) and their co-author share their thoughts on heat exposure and retirees, sharing careful research and planning can help retirees find a home where they can live out their golden years in relative safety and comfort.

The World Is Going Bust: What Is the Sovereign Debt Crisis and Can We Solve It? (The Brink, August 2023) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) speaks about what some are calling one of “the biggest threats to global peace and security.”

Pressley Condemns Ramaswamy Over KKK ‘Grand Wizards’ Comparison: ‘It Is Deeply Offensive’ (Boston Globe, August 2023) In this article, Ibram X. Kendi (Founder/Director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research) speaks out against political candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’ comments comparing him and congresswoman Ayanna Pressley to the “grand wizards in the KKK.”

How to Keep Saving for Retirement When Student Loan Payments Restart (CNBC, August 2023) “Paying down your debt is a form of saving”, says Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) as “it’ll free up more money for you down the road. So don’t worry excessively about saving less in the short term” for retirement. However, be sure to maximize your employers matching benefits, he points out, as you won’t be able to get that kind of return anywhere else.

Welcome to the Republic of Cows (WIRED, August 2023) Catherine West (CAS, Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this article about animals inhabiting Chirikof, an island in the Gulf of Alaska.

This Is What Happens When Feral Cows Take Over A Remote Alaskan Island (Popular Science, August 2023) Catherine West (CAS, Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this article about animals inhabiting Chirikof, an island in the Gulf of Alaska.

POV: Disinformation Researchers Are under Attack by Government Legislators (BU Today, August 2023) Michelle A. Amazeen (COM, Director of the Communication Research Center & CISS Affiliate) compares the current attacks on disinformation researchers to historical uses of governmental suppression.

Claiming Social Security Retirement Benefits Is a High-Stakes Decision. Don’t Let These 5 Myths Get in Your Way (CNBC, August 2023) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) offers advice on avoiding Social Security mistakes by falling for false myths.

Inside the Pro-DeSantis Debate Strategy (The Hill, Augusta 2023) “Trump’s special treatment in the courts highlights failings in our legal system”attests Russell Gold, an associate professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, and Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS affiliate).

Ghana’s Plans for a National Cathedral Are Mired in Controversy and Delays − But Also Reflect Religion’s Strong Role in the Nation’s Identity (The Conversation, August 2023) Nicolette Manglos-Weber (STH & CISS Affiliate) Manglos-Weber writes about how Ghana’s political and cultural leaders are using Christianity to try to unify their ethnically diverse nation.

After Hottest Summer on Record, Heat-Related Illnesses Are Now Being Tracked Nationwide (The 19th, August 2023). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) explains why older women are so vulnerable to extreme weather, and resources to help them.

Deciding Where to Retire as the Planet Heats Up (WCBS Radio, August 14, 2023). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses why and how older adults should factor climate change into their retirement relocation plans.

Well-Meaning Parents Kill Thousands of Kids Each Year Due to Mistakes. What Can Be Done? (USA Today, August 9, 2023). Professor Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director)  comments on the guilt and stigmatization that parents may experience after their children die of accidents or violent causes.

Who Gets to Decide Who Receives Experimental Medical Treatments? (MIT Technology Review, August 2023) Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS affiliate) comments on the legalities behind access to experimental treatments and the concept of safety and efficacy of such.

Donald Trump’s Right – He Is Getting Special Treatment, Far Better Than Most Other Criminal Defendants (The Conversation, August 2023) In this article, attorney and professor Christopher Robertson (LAW and CISS affiliate) and his co-author assert that Donald Trump is, as he attests, being treated differently than other defendants. In fact, prosecutors are treating Mr. Trump considerably better than the average criminal defendant, they state.

Just 10% Plan to Wait Until Age 70 to Claim Social Security, Survey Finds. Why Experts Say It’s Often Best to Delay (CNBC, August 2023) “Retirement benefits taken at age 70 are 76% higher, adjusted for inflation, than retirement benefits taken at 62”, according to Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics), only about 10% wait until age 70 to claim benefits according to research.

Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Celebrates Black Queer Joy. O’Shae Sibley’s Killer Tried to Strip That Away. (The 19^th, August 2023) Daniel Jacobson López (SSW & CISS Affiliate) acknowledges the violence, including childhood abuse and sexual abuse, that black queer men face due to the country’s current political climate.

Still Dreaming of Retirement in the Sun Belt? (New York Times, August 2023) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director)  comments on the migration of older Americans to warmer climates, which can be dangerous for older bodies, while acknowledging the increase in temperatures happening even in typically moderate areas such as New England. The article features Carr’s collaborative research with Ian Sue Wing (CAS, Earth & Environment and CISS affiliate).

BU Historians Weigh In on Ron DeSantis’ Slavery Remarks and His Defense of Florida’s Controversial Social Studies Curriculum (BU Today, July 2023) Paula Austin (CAS, History and African American Studies), John Thornton (CAS, History and African American & Black Diaspora Studies), and Takeo Rivera (CAS, English) comment on Ron DeSantis’ comments and what they represent within a broader context in the country.

Archaeology Is Flipping the Script on What We Know About Ancient Mesoamerica (Sri Lanka Guardian, June 2023) David Carballo (CAS, Archaeology & CISS Affiliate) and his co-author are flipping the script of public understanding about the people and institutions that inhabited precolonial Mesoamerica.

Summer plans? Queer Adults Are Heading to Camp and Finding Community (July 2023) According to Japonica Brown-Saracino (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate), alternatives to bars like cafés and bookstores have existed for the LGBTQ+ community for decades, alternatives such as Camp Camp, which started in 1997 and is among the first adult camps of its kind.

Is This the Earliest Known Phallic Art? (Smithsonian Magazine, July 2023) Professor Curtis Runnels (CAS, Archaeology) raises question as to whether a pendant from northern Mongolia may be the earliest known example of phallic art, stating it is a “small and rather shapeless object.”

Without a Plan to Fight Superbugs, The Cancer Moonshot Will Never Achieve Liftoff (STAT, July 2023) Kevin Outterson (LAW & CISS Affiliate) and his co-author suggest that new antibiotics are needed to fight “superbugs”, the second leading cause of death for cancer patients, in order to meet the lofty goals of President Biden’s “Cancer Moonshot” initiative.

Gave the World a Gift’: Henrietta Lacks’ Family Gets Justice 70 Years After Cells Taken Without Consent (CBS Boston, August 2, 2023). Christopher Robertson (LAW and CISS affiliate) discusses the Lacks’ case, a landmark decision in bioethics and law.

As Churches Shrink and Pastors Retire, Creative Workarounds are Redefining Ministry (Washington Post, July 31, 2023).  Steven Sandage (STH & CISS affiliate) suggests ways to support pastoral leaders once they graduate.

Opinion: Watch Our for Factors That Make Older Adults Extremely Vulnerable to Deadly Heat. (Los Angeles Times, July 25, 2023). Professors Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) and Ian Sue Wing (CAS, Earth & Environment & CISS Affiliate) and their colleague Giacomo Falchetta show how older adults are especially at risk during heatwaves.

Can Campus Diversity Counter The Myth Of Meritocracy? (Futurity, July 2023) Jonathan Mijs (CAS, Sociology professor & CISS affiliate) describes his recent study, published in Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, on how people’s understandings of meritocracy evolve during college, finding that having a roommate from a different racial or ethnic group is associated with students developing a less meritocratic understanding of America.

‘Excess Deaths’ Tied to COVID Have Plummeted in America — What Does That Mean? (Live Science, July 2023) Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) comments on individuals who are still COVID unvaccinated or under-vaccinated.

BU Economist Ray Fisman Finds Insurance Fascinating. Really. (The Brink, July 2023) Ray Fisman (CAS, Economics & CISS Affiliate) talks with The Brink staff to discuss his new book Risky Business: Why Insurance Markets Fail and What to Do About It, which focuses on the ever-present, existential threat to insurers: the problem of selection.

Extreme Heat Is Particularly Hard on Older Adults – An Aging Population and Climate Change Are Putting Ever More People at Risk (The Conversation, July 2023) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) and Ian Sue Wing (CAS, Earth & Environment & CISS Affiliate) and their colleague discuss how increasing temperatures can be for deadly older adults.

The Pandemic Changed How We Eat, Travel, Tip. Now Things Are Changing Again (BU Today, July 2023) Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) comments on the status of home-sharing vs. hotel use since the pandemic officially ended and the future of business travel.

After Supreme Court Affirmative Action Ruling, Renewed Focus on First-Generation Students (Aol., July 2023) Abraham Anthony Jack (SED, Education & Human Development & Faculty Director Newbury Center) comments on the limits of utilizing first generation status as an alternative to affirmative action in college admissions decisions.

Analysis – Two Kennedys On Covid (The Washington Post, July 2023) “It is impossible to reconcile the exceptionally strong inverse relationship between vaccination and excess mortality with the possibility that the Covid-19 vaccines [have] contributed to the large toll of excess mortality in the second year of the pandemic,” according to Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate), comments prompted by alternative outlooks on Covid vaccines and “excess deaths”.

In 2021, Excess Deaths Rose in Rural America (www.futurity.org, July 2023) Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) sits down to discuss his research which shows that the actual pandemic death toll could be 20% higher than the formal count due to excess deaths, “the difference between what was observed versus what we would have expected”, in rural areas due to vaccine being harder to obtain, increased vaccine skepticism, and more limited access to health care.

Seniors Are Migrating to States that Face America’s Most Extreme Heat (The Washington Post, July 2023) The migration of seniors to southern states, with their milder winters and lower costs of living, continues to grow despite an increase in heat exposure “which could more than double by 2050”, according to a study published by Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) and Ian Sue Wing (CAS, Earth & Environment & CISS Affiliate). Additionally, an aging population, increasing temperatures due to climate change, and preexisting health conditions add to the struggle.

The Rise of the Maccabees (Biblical Archeology Review, July 2023) In this article, Andrea M. Berlin (CAS, Archeology) tells the story of their rise, using archaeology to place the story within a larger historical and political context.

How Clarence Thomas Orchestrated a New Obstacle for Black Students (The Guardian, July 2023) In her op-ed, Saida Grundy (CAS, Sociology, African American Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies) comments on the Supreme Court’s ruling ending race-conscious admissions

Affirmatively Unjust (with Saida Grundy) (Stuck With Damon Young Podcast, July 2023) Saida Grundy (CAS, Sociology, African American Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies) joins host Damon Young to discuss the historical context and future implications of the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action decision.

How Universities Are Addressing Ongoing Collegiate Mental Health Difficulties (The Boston Globe, July 2023) Hyeouk “Chris” Hahm (SSW & CISS Affiliate) comments on mental health issues in the collegiate world and how universities are working to address those concerns.

For a President and a King, the View From the Top Is Curiously Similar (The New York Times, July 2023) Arianne Chernock (CAS, History & CISS Affiliate) Chernock discusses the similarities in the experiences of country’s leaders.

Social Security: 4 Ways To Bulletproof Your Retirement Against Potential Benefit Cuts (Nasdaq, July 2023) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) speaks to the benefits of delaying your Social Security benefits.

Ashley Mears, Sociologue Dans La Jet-Set (Translated: Ashley Mears, A Sociologist in The Jet-Set) (Le Monde, June 2023) Ashley Mears (CAS, Sociology) is interviewed by Le Monde about the September 14, 2023 release of a translation of her 2020 publication Very Important People, in which she “strives to decipher the formation of gender inequalities and the circulation of stereotypes“. The publication will be released by La Découverte.

The Battle for I-95 (The Atlantic, June 2023) In this article, Katherine Levine Einstein (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) comments on issues around the care and repair of route I-95.

US Talks Sanctions Against Uganda After A Harsh Anti-Gay Law – But Criminalizing Same-Sex Activities Has Become A Political Tactic Globally (The Conversation, June 2023) Nicolette Manglos-Weber (STH & CISS Affiliate) discusses the increase in anti-gay laws globally, which she agues are merely “moral panics”, or manipulations by political leaders to “distract from material problems and failures of governance”.

Harvard Morgue Case: Why the Interest in Body Parts? Experts Explain (Boston.com, June 2023) “If proven true, the sale of body parts is not only illegal, but most importantly, truly horrific for those who trusted the school to properly handle their remains,” states Michel Anteby (Questrom & CISS Affiliate) in this article, and clarifies there are more secure ways for institutions to handle donated cadavers.

Analysis: Common Framework, Familiar Problems: Hopes of Debt Breakthrough Fade (Reuters, June 2023) “There was a bit of misreporting about a breakthrough,” says Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center), about China’s indication of willingness to work with all parties on the Common Framework, indicating there is question about how much concessional lending multilateral development banks can give.

Lesbian Bars Have Endured — With Community, Grit and A Little Reinvention (The 19th, June 2023) Japonica Brown-Saracino (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) comments on the struggles of sustaining a business that is supported by a constituency with limited income due to pay gaps, as found in a 2022 report from the Human Rights Campaign.

Boston University Professor Discusses Historical Significance of Trump Indictment (NECN, June 2023) Thomas Whalen (CAS, History) says we have to look all the way back to 19th century at VP Aaron Burr, who was acquitted of treason, to find a comparison.

BU Today: Question of the Week: How Will Inflation Affect the Economy in 2023? (BU Today, June 2023) In this episode Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) sits down with Doug Most (BU Today) to discuss inflation and the changing economic landscape, domestically and globally.

Where Does Trump’s Case Fall against Past Presidential Scandals Involving Sex, Power, Profit? (BU Today, June 2023) Despite former president Donald J. Trump’s arraignment on 37 charges this week, he remains the leading Republican contender to become president again. According to Thomas Whalen (CAS, History), “The other presidential scandals were due to personal corruption, lack of character. This is about betraying one’s country.”

Zillennials: Don’t Underestimate This Overlooked Generation (The Future of Commerce.com, June 2023) According to Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director),  while attaching generational labels is limited in its reliability, they do create a sense of community among groups with similar experiences in their lifetimes. Therefore, “brands and employers would be wise to understand” how generations, such as Zillenials, tick.

NPR’s ‘Planet Money’ creates an episode using artificial intelligence (NHPR, June 2023) James Feigenbaum (CAS, Economics) takes part in an experiment with using AI to generate a ‘Planet Money’ podcast. 

How New York State Could Unlock Billions for Climate Finance (The New Republic, June 2023) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) comments on a pending bill which could “change the rules for private creditors—and stop them from milking poorer countries for money” for fiscal relief from climate-fueled disasters. According to Gallagher, the bill is “a great attempt to try to get the creditors to be responsible for this period of debt distress that they have a big hand in causing.”

How the Mixed Messaging of Vaccine Skeptics Sows Seeds of Doubt (WFMZ, May 2023) Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) speaks to the concerns around how vaccine skepticism can spread distrust beyond vaccine skeptics.

As Republican Contenders Start to Line Up for the White House in 2024, Social Security May Be Key Issue (CNBC, May 2023) Laurence Kotlikoff’s (CAS, Economics) plan to replace the current Social Security system is discussed in light of the current systems financial woes. Supported by a 2024 presidential hopeful, Steve Laffey, the plan gradually phases out the FICA tax and replaces it with new Personal Security System accounts, to which workers would contribute 10% of their pay. Those balances would be invested in a weighted index of global stocks, bonds and other securities.

‘Stamped From The Beginning’: History of Racism in America Gets Graphic Novel Adaptation (Screen Rant, May 2023) Ibram X. Kendi (Founder/Director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research) and Joel Christian Gill (CFA’04) have adapted Kendi’s 2016 book of the same name with the goal making information about race and racism accessible to all readers, some who may have little exposure to this topic.

Can the West Keep Supplying Ukraine With Enough Artillery? (Vox, May 2023) Kaija Schilde (Pardee) comments on the United States’ supply of ammunition to Ukraine and what it will take to continue doing so.

Human Health Is Suffering Because of Climate Change (The Brink, May 2023) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment, director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, & CISS Affiliate), along with Jonathan Levy (SPH, Environmental Health) and Pamela Templer (CAS, Biology), will be conducting research and providing support to the new BUSPH-HSPH CAFÉ Research Coordinating Center (RCC), a new collaboration between Boston University’s School of Public Health and Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health which aims to “confront the massive health threats posed by climate change by spurring global research cooperation, action, and knowledge sharing. focusing on climate change”.

Ibram Kendi, Joel Christian Gill Team Up for New Graphic Version of Kendi’sStamped From the Beginning (BU Today, May 2023) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) and BU colleague Joel Christian Gill (CFA’04) have collaborated on a new, graphic version (which comes out June 6 from Ten Speed Press) of Kendi’s Stamped From the Beginning, a National Book Award-winning history of US racism.

Are Lesbian Bars Making a Comeback? As Iconic Haunts Close Doors, New Spaces Take Root (Aol., May 2023) Japonica Brown-Saracino (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) comments on the post-pandemic resurgence of lesbian bars.

Because Social Scientists Must Have a Seat at the Table: Reflections from COSSA’s 2023 Social Science Advocacy Day (Why Social Science?, COSSA, May 2023) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) speaks to her experience as part of COSSA’s Social Science Advocacy Day.

World Bank’s New Chief Asks Staff to ‘Double Down’ on Development, Climate Efforts (Reuters, May 2023) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) comments on the challenges faced by Ajay Bang, the World Bank’s new president.

Tree Rings Hint at the Fall of the Hittite Empire (Discover Magazine, May 2023) John M. Marston (CAS, Archaeology and Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) was quoted in this article about the Hittite Empire decline and potential evidence from juniper trees.

Tweets, Ads, and Lies: Researchers Are Fighting against Climate Misinformation (BU Today, May 2023) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment & CISS Affiliate) was quoted speaking about misinformation in media and the Boston University Data and Misinformation in an Era of Sustainability and Climate Change Crises project.

Who Does Inflation Hit Hardest? Experts Weigh In on How Higher Prices Impact Households (CNBC, May 2023). Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) weighs in on the effects of inflation on low-income households.

The Painful Secret That Gen X Women Need to Talk About (Psychology Today, May 26, 2023) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses arthritis and its challenges for Gen X women.

writes that women in their 40s and 50s are at increasing risk of osteoarthritis and offers tips for managing and adapting to  this painful degenerative condition.

‘It’s Not Their Money’: Older Americans Worried Debt Default Means No Social Security (ABC News, May 2023) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) expresses concerns about the debt ceiling crisis, Social Security shortfalls, and how these fiscal issues present U.S. Treasuries to investors and the rest of the world.

A Decade Later, A Murder Charge in the Jeremiah Oliver Case (The Boston Globe, May 2023) Mary Elizabeth Collins (SSW & CISS Affiliate) says “more robust societal supports” are needed for vulnerable families and comments on the effects of tragedies on child welfare policy.

Bar for Lesbian and Non-Binary Communities Set to Open in Boston Later This Summer (WBUR, May 2023). Japonica Brown-Saracino  (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) discusses why there are so few bars in the Boston area catering to the LGBTQ community and how local groups are filling that void.

Advocates Push for Medical Civil Rights (The Bay State Banner, May 2023). Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS Affiliate) discusses a new bill pending before Massachusetts Legislature which requires police officers to request EMS at the first sign, or indication of need, when interacting with constituents.

Talkin’ with Teachers: Boston University’s Makarand Mody (Marketing Brew, May 2023). Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) sits down with Marketing Brew to talk about teaching marketing and his AirBnB research.

Raising the Social Security Retirement Age Would ‘Haunt Young People,’ Says Expert. Here’s Why (CNBC, May 2023).  Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) comments on the importance of younger generations addressing proposed changes to Social Security due to the likelihood that they will ultimately bear the burden of those changes.

Here’s What to Know About ‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ (The New York Times, May 2023). Arianne Chernock (CAS, History & CISS Affiliate) speaks to the controversy around Queen Charlotte and the possibility that she was biracial. According to Chernock, however, the controversy misses “the point that Britishness, whatever the color, is not a fixed thing”.

Zillennials: The Newest Micro-Generation Has a Name (CNN, May 2023). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) explains the term “zillennial” and what makes them a unique and valuable generation.

America Has Decided That Homeless People Aren’t People (VICE, May 2023). In this article, Boston University’s Initiative on Cities’ 2021 Menino Survey: Mayors and America’s Homelessness Crisis is quoted in regard to mayoral responses to homelessness and transiency.

Tree Rings Hint at the Fall of the Hittite Empire (Discover Magazine, May 2023). John M. Marston (CAS, Archeology & Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) weighs in on the work of Cornell University scientists who analyzed samples from juniper trunks used to construct the outer wall of the oldest standing wooden building in the world which showed a sustained period of drought, potentially leading to the collapse of the Hittite empire.

Donald Trump Called Joe Biden ‘Very Disrespectful’ for Skipping King Charles’ Coronation, But No U.S. President Has Ever Attended One (Insider, April 2023). Arianne Chernock’s (CAS, History & CISS Affiliate) May 2023 The Conversation article is referenced in discussion of Donald Trump’s comments about President Biden’s decision to send First Lady Jill Biden to King Charles’ coronation, rather than attend himself. 

 A Conversation with Author Ibram X. Kendi (WBUR Radio Boston, May 2023). Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) speaks with Radio Boston about about his life and work and why he sees himself as a scholar, rather than an activist.

The Coronation of King Charles III: 5 Essential Reads on the Big Royal Bash – And What It All Means (The Conversation, May 2023). Arianne Chernock (CAS, History & CISS Affiliate) weighs in on the importance of the American delegate being sent to attend King Charles’ coronation and why President Biden’s pass may not be that big of a surprise.

Historians Tell the Story of Boston’s Little Syria, Which Was Home to a Thriving Arab American Community (The Boston Globe, April 2023). Chloe Bordewich (CAS, Center for Antiracist Research) and Lydia Harrington (MIT) strive to share stories of the Arab American experience in Boston and their contributions to the American experience.

Months After ChatGPT’s Noisy Debut, Colleges Take Differing Approaches to Dealing with AI (The Boston Globe, April 2023). Wesley Wildman (CAS, Philosophy, Theology & Ethics & CISS Affiliate) comments on using embracing AI as a tool to help students learn. 

Ask Larry: What Rate Determines My Wife’s Social Security Spousal Benefit? (Forbes, April 2023). Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) explains the importance of the primary insurance amount (PIA),which is used to calculate spousal benefits.

Update on China’s Role in the Burgeoning Global South Debt Crisis (China Global South, April 2023). Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center), economist and director of the Global Development Policy Center, comments on China’s role in the global south debt concerns.

Biden’s Coronation No-Show Is No Snub – More Telling Is Whom He Sends to King Charles’ Big Day  (The Conversation, April 2023). In this article, professor Arianne J. Chernock (CAS, History & CISS Affiliate), points out the importance of First Lady Jill Biden’s leading of the American delegation to King Charles’ coronation, rather than a presidential visit, and how that decision might be clarifying “American ideas and aspirations”.

‘Love You Brother, But Despite Your Politics’: How Families Can Teach Us to Get Along (The Boston Globe, April 2023). Nazli Kibria (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) speaks on how our differences, particularly in politics, can teach families about acceptance.

Major Shakeups in American Media (CVT News, April 2023). In this video, Michelle A. Amazeen (COM, Director of the Communication Research Center & CISS Affiliate) comments on recent changes in media staffing.

Carlson’s Departure from Fox Is ‘Earth-Shaking,’ Comes at Critical Time for the Network, Experts Say (The Boston Globe, April 2023). Michelle A. Amazeen (COM, Director of the Communication Research Center & CISS Affiliate) comments on Tucker Carlson’s departure from the Fox network and the changes ramifications.

Could Helicopter Parenting Jeopardize Kids’ Success – And Fuel Inequality? (The Boston Globe, April 2023). In this article, Nazli Kibria (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate), observes that struggling parents often pressure themselves to keep up with families with greater means in order to give their children an equal footing. As well, she says, this may put the parents in the place of needing to decide which child might be given opportunities based on limited finances. 

Dignity Therapy: Making the Last Words Count (Freethink, April 2023). According to Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director), end-of-life conversations are important to enable those passing to ensure “that their loved ones are able to say goodbye without regret.”

Distrusted in America: Small Mistakes, Deep Fear – And Gunfire (Associated Press, April 2023) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) speaks with the Associated Press about the need for Americans to unlearn fears based on skin color or race. “The more we unlearn that idea and realize that we can’t attach danger to skin color in any way,” he said, “the less likely people are going to be to use lethal force against a 16-year-old child who is ringing their doorbell.”

CDC didn’t say it gave out deadly COVID-19 shots in red states (Associated Press, April 2023). Professor Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) helps debunk false claims about the dangerousness of Covid vaccines by clarifying the use of the VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) database.

Green Brady Bonds FTW (Financial Times, April 2023) In this article, Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) at Boston University, speaks on getting the IMF and World Bank to “get down to earth” to avoid a climate catastrophe as “costs of inaction are mounting”.

How to Avoid Another Global Debt Crisis (The New York Times, April 2023) Economist Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center)  weighs in on the global debt crisis.

Covid Is Still A Leading Cause of Death As the Virus Recedes (The Washington Post, April 2023). Boston University’s Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) comments on the current state of the Covid pandemic, despite public perception and media coverage.

Kinlessness: Older Adults without Relatives (To the Contrary, April 14, 2023). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses with host Bonnie Erbe the challenges and opportunities facing those growing old alone.

IMF, World Bank Meet as Calls for Reform Grow Louder (E&E News, April 2023). Kevin Gallagher (Pardee & director of the Global Development Policy Center), reflects on experts’ efforts to revamp an almost 80-year-old mission to support the financial challenges of the 21st century.

The IMF Needs Reforming As A Matter of Urgency (Le Monde, April 2023). As the IMF faces an inability to deal with the debt problem of poor countries, director of the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University, Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center), comments on the need for change.

BU Creates Standards for Chatbots in the Classroom (The Boston Globe, April 2023) Professor Wesley Wildman (CAS, Philosophy, Theology & Ethics & CISS Affiliate), comments on BU’s efforts in the creation of standards for artificial intelligence systems use.

The New York Times Why Are Taxpayers Propping Up the Fossil Fuel Industry? (The New York Times, April 2023) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee, director of the Global Development Policy Center) shares insights into the fossil fuel industry.

‘Abortionists.’ ‘Unborn human.’ Legal experts blast ‘incendiary’ rhetoric of Texas ruling on abortion pill. (The Boston Globe, April 2023). Professor Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS Affiliate) weighs in on the abortion pill ruling in Texas.

Aging in America (New Books Network, April 2, 2023). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director), discussed her new book Aging in America with host Rachel Pagones on the New Books Network podcast.

Club Med Aims to Shift Upmarket With New Resorts and Ad Campaign (Skift, April 2023). Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) comments on brands capitalizing on the current interest in and appetite for luxury and ponders the extent to which some brand evolution decisions are research-based.

Parents and Kids Disagree on the Right Age to Become Financially Independent, Report Finds (CNBC, April 2023) With the challenges of inflation, lower wages, and increased student loan debt and housing costs, it can be harder for young adults to become financially independent these days. Professor Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics), points out that continued parental support is often a quid pro quo in that young adults are ultimately expected to care of their parents later in life in exchange for additional support in their early adult years. He suggests starting, and maintaining, the conversation early.

A Pop Culture Pop Quiz on Antiracism (WCVB, April 2023). Phillipe Copeland (BUSSW & CISS Affiliate) provides criteria for evaluating racism in tv and movies and discusses his test that can help you identify antiracism in popular culture.

Ask Larry: How Will Lower Income Affect My Social Security Benefit Amount? (Forbes, April 2023). Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) explains reducing one’s annual may, or may not, effect Social Security calculations.

Harvard Professor Lobbied SEC on Behalf of Oil Firm That Pays Her Lavishly, Emails Show (The Guardian, April 2023). Nathan Phillips (CAS, Earth and Environment) comments on revelations that a Harvard environmental law professor may have lobbied on behalf of an oil and gas company to which she has financial ties.

8 Bold Agenda Items for the World Health Organization As It Turns 75 (NPR, April 2023). Ensure that WHO staff understand the local language and  culture of countries in which they are working, suggests Muhammad Zaman, director of Center on Forced Displacement, to ensure their ability to serve the community.

Up to $520 Billion in Debt Write-offs Needed for Emerging Nations’ Climate Goals (Reuters, April 2023). Research by Global Development Policy Center at Boston University, and the Debt Relief for a Green and Inclusive Recovery (DRGR) Project, has discovered that up to $520 billion in debt needs to be written off to help developing nations meet climate goals. Delays to those efforts, according to Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center and DRGR project co-chair, could be disastrous.

A Look Into How AP African-American Studies Is Taught at a Cambridge School (The Boston Globe, April 2023). Two pilot high schools in Massachusetts have opted to teach an unaltered version of an AP African-American studies course. John Thornton (CAS, History), a consultant in the development of the course, believes that the course could inspire other history teachers to expand their teachings to include more discussion of people of African descent.

Video Shows Holbrook Selectman Slinging Racial Slurs. (NBC10 Boston, April 2023). Spencer Piston (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) comments on a disturbing video which surfaced showing a Massachusetts leader using racial slurs.

Experts Warn World Bank Reforms Might Leave the Poor Behind. (Devex, March 2023). The Director of the Global Development Policy Center, Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center, weighs in on the World Bank’s reform efforts pointing out that countries borrowing from the Bank “need a voice” in the coming reform.

Rupert Murdoch is Tying the Knot (Again). Why the Blowback is Misplaced. (CNN, March 2023). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) explains why so many Americans are finding new love in old age, and what problems late-life newlyweds need to confront.

When the War in Ukraine Comes to Classrooms in New England. (The Boston Globe, March 2023). As is becoming more common in higher education, Timothy Longman (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) often includes literature about genocide in his seminars because it reinforces the human element behind such atrocities. “It can be easy to get numbed by the numbers,” he says.

Capitalizing on Market Crashes Is Key to Retiring on Time. Many Millennials Are Still Looking For Their First Chance (Insider, March 2023). At least 60% of Boomers could enter retirement without sufficient savings, Boston University economist Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) previously told Insider, based on his research of the generation’s retirement challenges. And he said there’s “every reason to think the situation will get worse’” for younger generations.

Why Ethiopia Is Taking Its Debt Relief Case Directly to China, Bypassing the G20 (South China Morning Post, March 2023). Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center, comments on Ethiopia’s application for help under the Group of 20’s Common Framework, and how there has been no progress so far.

Cash-Strapped Countries Face IMF Bailout Delays as Debt Talks Drag On (Business Recorder, March 2023). Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center, comments on the unprecedented delays of financial help for countries in debt distress as China and Western economies clash over how to provide debt relief.

Analysis: Cash-Strapped Countries Face IMF Bailout Delays as Debt Talks Drag On (Reuters, March 2023). China and Western economies clash over how to provide debt relief to countries in debt distress such as Zambia and Sri Lanka. “They are part of the reason why these negotiations are so painfully slow,” said Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of the Boston University Global Development Policy Center. “It’s not just the Paris Club and a few New York banks anymore.”

Florida Lawmakers Need to Answer Important Questions About Permitless Gun Carry | Column (Tampa Bay Times, March 2023). This article mentions “The impact of state firearm laws on homicide and suicide deaths in the U.S.A?” written by Dr. Michael Siegel, professor (SPH), and his colleagues.

Sibling Aggression and Abuse Go Beyond Rivalry – Bullying Within a Family Can Have Lifelong Repercussions (The Conversation, March 2023). Tanya Whitworth (CISS Postdoctoral Affiliate) coauthors this article focusing on how hurting a sibling is not the same thing as healthy rivalry.

Celebrating Black and African American Cuisine Means Eating Around the World (GBH, February 2023). Throughout the African American and African diaspora, food takes on as many different forms and traditions as the people who make it up. Paula Austin (CAS, History and African American and Black Diaspora Studies) described Black food as diverse, and a “cultural explosion” that varies from region to region. Mac and cheese in one state might not be the same recipe in another state, or another part of the world even.

Ask Larry: Is There Really an Age Limit on Social Security’s Child-In-Care Spousal Benefit? (Forbes, February 2023). Larry Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) addresses questions about whether child-in-care spousal benefits time out, taking retirement benefits before spousal benefits and what effects living and working outside the US might have on Social Security benefits.

How Russia’s War Shattered Global Energy Routes (E&E News, February 2023). The economic crisis means Pakistan lacks the creditworthiness to attract private investment in renewable energy infrastructure, said Rishikesh Ram Bhandary, assistant director of the Global Economic Governance Initiative at Boston University. That speaks to the need for international financing to help address the country’s energy and climate challenges, he said. “If you’re Pakistan and you’re actually in debt distress, you’re not going to be able to borrow to build these gigantic things,” Ram Bhandary said.

Biden Gets Chance to Redefine World Bank Role (Politico, February 2023). Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center, comments on Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who in recent months repeatedly and publicly pressured the bank to deliver on reforms.

Exclusive: World Bank May Loosen Loan Ratio to Free Up $4 Billion a Year (Reuters, February 2023). Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center, comments on lowering the equity-to-lending ratio. “It’s an important step in the right direction, but it’s only $4 billion of the hundreds of billions of dollars that G20 says can be stretched to meet our shared climate goals,” he said. “If this is all they do, then it’s a failure.”

Race Relations Expert Explains Why It’s Important to Understand the History of American Racism (MSNBC, February 12, 2023). Nearly three years after George Floyd’s death sparked a nationwide movement for social change, America has yet to come to a true racial reckoning. Just last month another unarmed Black man, Tyre Nichols, was fatally beaten by police officers. Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) recently released a book entitled How To Be A (Young) Antiracist). He joined American Voices to discuss what it will take for the U.S. to have a true racial reckoning that prompts systemic change.

Green Subsidies: What About the Global South? (Social Europe, February 2023). Rachel Thrasher (Global Development Policy Center Researcher) is the author of this article on the new green race between the United States and the European Union threatens to leave developing countries behind.

China Continues to Shrink Overseas Development Finance (Global Trade Review, February 2023). Rebecca Ray (Boston University Global Development Policy Center Senior Academic Researcher), the author of the GDP Center’s report on the China Development Bank (CDB) and the Export-Import Bank of China (Chexim), provides insight into the trends and meaning of the report in this article.

‘It Is Important for the EU to Be Among the First to Lead on Climate Change’ (Le Monde, February 2023). Three members of the Task Force on Climate, Development and the International Monetary Fund – Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of the Global Development Policy Center, Xiaobei He and Ma Jun – explain why it is essential to make the carbon adjustment mechanism at the European Union’s borders an element of just transition on a global scale.

The Triple Assault (The Tribune, January 2023). Muhammad Hamid Zaman (SPH) published this article in The Tribune about how there is little empathy towards those who are addicted and a lack of understanding. “A just society cannot be imagined if we are unwilling to even acknowledge the existence of the most vulnerable among our midst.”

China Hasn’t Given Up on the Belt and Road (Foreign Affairs, February 2023).This article mentions Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center and its database that focuses on BRI investment in Africa.

Airbnb Regulations Will Make Your Next New York City Trip Even More Expensive (The Points Guy, February 2023). This article discusses Airbnb’s latest regulation in New York City, which requires hosts to register with the city or run the risk of not having listing platforms process their payment. Boston University’s Makarand Mody (SHA & CISS Affiliate) thinks the enforcement of this law is a real challenge, saying “For that reason, I don’t think it’s going to have as big an impact as a fourth of the inventory going off the market.”

Why Aren’t College-Educated Black Women Meeting Their Match? (Insider, February 2023).  “Black women often face a double standard when they date outside their race because sexuality and intimate decisions are more policed among other Black community members, Black men for example. Whereas Black men might not face the same type of gendered policing that Black women do,” says Celeste Currington (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) in this article that discusses the challenges Black women face in dating environments.

Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone Discuss Their New Book, ‘How to Be a (Young) Antiracist’ (The Boston Globe, February 2023). The Boston Globe sits down with Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) and Nic Stone to discuss their new teenager-friendly book which leapfrogs from Kendi’s seminal How to Be an Antiracist.

Is Partisan Conflict Over COVID-19 Vaccination Eroding Support for Childhood Vaccine Mandates? (Nature, February 2023). Boston University’s Matt Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy & Management & CISS Affiliate) discusses how ​​politicized COVID-19 vaccine spillover could challenge evidence-based vaccine policy, and a research strategy for assessing politicized COVID-19 vaccine spillover in this article.

Ibram X. Kendi: ‘Racist’ Is an Adjective, Not a Noun. Understanding Why Is Important (TIME, February 2023). This TIME Magazine article features an interview with Boston University’s Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) where he discusses his new book “How To Be A (Young) Antiracist.”

Wait Until Age 70 to Claim Social Security: ‘the Return on Being Patient Is Huge,’ Says Economist (CNBC, February 2023). Estimates from Larry Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) are mentioned in this article. “The rich have the most to lose by screwing this decision up,” Kotlikoff says. “But the poor have relatively more to lose because they’re more dependent on Social Security.”

Few Mayors Connect the Dots Between Zoning and Homelessness (Governing, January 2023). This article draws on a report by the Boston University Initiative on Cities made in January 2023 and expresses that only 1 in 5 mayors felt they had more than “moderate” control over homelessness in their cities.

Impact of Race in the Case of Tyre Nichols’ Death (CBS News, January 2023). Another Memphis police officer was suspended over the violent arrest of Tyre Nichols. CBS News racial justice contributor and Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) joins CBS News to discuss the issue of race in the case, and his new book “How To Be A (Young) Antiracist.”

Why We Are Heading Back to Hotels (The Age, January 2023). Hotels are making a strong comeback now that vaccination rates have increased and with COVID restrictions removed. Boston University’s Makarand Mody (SHA, & CISS Affiliate) says hotel occupancy levels and rates are back to, or higher than, pre-COVID levels.

Fairtax, the GOP Plan for a 30 Percent National Sales Tax, Explained (Vox, January 2023). This article references a working paper written by Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) and co-authors responding to William Gale and the Bush tax reform panel.

10 Tips to Stop Elder Fraud Before It Happens. (Psychology Today, January 2023). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) explains why some older adults are especially vulnerable to the “grandparent scam” and how we can stop this cruel victimization.

China’s Lending Debacle: Development Loans Hit 13-Year Low (ANI, January 2023). A study from Boston University Global Development Policy Center is mentioned to explain how loans committed by China to 100 developing nations fell to a 13-year low of USD 3.7 billion in 2021 due to Beijing curtailing funding for large-scale oil projects.

COVID-19 Deaths in the US Continue to Be Undercounted, Research Shows, Despite Claims of ‘Overcounts’ (The Conversation, January 2023). In this article, professors Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) and Dielle Lundberg (SPH) assess whether the undercounting of COVID-19 deaths has occurred, and if so in which parts of the country.

China’s Exim Bank Gives Sri Lanka Debt Extension (Reuters, January 2023). A study from Boston University Global Development Policy Center is mentioned to explain why commitments made to 100 developing nations by China’s two main policy lenders fell to a 13-year low of $3.7 billion in 2021.

Tanks, Chips and Infrastructure: Democracies Get Their Act Together (Politico, January 2023). The Boston University Global Development Policy Center’s new China’s Overseas Development Finance Database looks at the likelihood of Beijing returning to large scale lending levels, and a new policy brief puts those insights and trends into the broader context of what’s changed in China’s aid financing since 2008.

China Cites Us Debt Issue to Deflect Pressure on Africa Debt (Associated Press, January 2023). This article mentions information from Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center about Chinese development banks.

China Development Loans to Emerging Economies Hit 13-Year Low in 2021 – Study (Reuters, January 2023). Loans committed by China’s two main trade policy banks fell to a 13-year low of $3.7 billion in 2021 due to Beijing curtailing funding for large-scale oil projects, a study from Boston University Global Development Policy Center showed.

China Loans to Emerging Nations Hit 13-Year Low in 2021: Study (Asia Financial, January 2023). Research from Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center is mentioned to explain how lending by the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China was cut back even before the COVID pandemic. “We expect an overall shift toward lower volume, higher quality investment from China,” Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of the Global Development Policy Center, said.

Most U.S. Mayors Don’t Want to Ban Gas Stoves, Leaf Blowers Over Climate Change Impact, Survey Finds (Yahoo! News, January 2023). This article mentions a survey of mayors conducted by the Boston University Initiative on Cities that was released last week, and quotes David Glick (CAS, Political Science).

China Overseas Loan Commitments Dwindle as Firms Adapt “Small Is Beautiful” Approach (Asian Banking & Finance, January 2023). The China Overseas Development Finance (CODF) database is managed by Boston University Global Development Policy Center. In a late study, the research center noted a change in Chinese economic engagement in recent years, which it touted as the “small is beautiful” approach.

China’s Overseas Development Finance Totaled $10.5 Billion in 2020-21, Lowest in Recent Years (China Global South, January 2023). In this article, research by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center and their Senior Academic Researcher Rebecca Ray demonstrates that China’s Overseas Development Finance (CODF) Database recorded 28 new loan commitments in 2020 and 2021 worth a combined value of $10.5 billion, the lowest in recent years.

When Lyndon B. Johnson Chose the Middle Ground on Civil Rights—and Disappointed Everyone (Smithsonian Magazine, January 2023). Bruce Schulman (CAS, History) comments on the actions of Lyndon B. Johnson and the effects of the Civil RIghts Act of 1957 on his presidency.

Here is Why Hawaii has the Longest Life Expectancy in the Country (The Hill, January 2023). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) provides reasons why residents of Hawaii live longer lives than others in the U.S.

Ask Larry: Will Filing Early Lower My Wife’s Social Security Spousal Benefit? (Forbes, January 2023). In this column of Ask Larry,  Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics), addresses questions about possible effects of taking retirement benefits early on a spouse’s benefits, making sure benefits begin the month you turn 70 and accounting for continued income after filing.

Report: Regardless of Party, Mayors Are United in Concern About Climate Change — And What’s Causing It (American City & County, January 2023). This article references a new report published by the Boston University Initiative on Cities, that demonstrates mayors are universally clear about what’s driving climate change and are unanimous in their concern about its detrimental impact on American cities.

The Best — And Worst — Social Media Reactions to ‘the Embrace’ (Boston.com, January 2023). Thoughts from Boston University’s Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) are mentioned in this article.

China Denies Creating ‘Debt Trap’ for African Countries (South China Morning Post, January 2023). This article references data from Boston University’s Global Development Policy Centre focused on Chinese Loans to Africa.

Twitter Has Always Been a Hotspot for Climate Change Misinformation. On Musk’s Watch, It’s Heating Up (USA Today, January 2023). Dr. Michelle A. Amazeen (CAS, director of the Communication Research Center & CISS Affiliate) comments on the actions of Musk and critics on Twitter that have affected the distribution of accurate information on climate change.

This 1 Move Could Boost Your Social Security Benefits by 76% (The Motley Fool, January 2023). This article highlights analyses done by  Laurence Kotlikoff, (CAS, Economics) David Altig, and Victor Yifan Ye related to how much money Americans sacrifice by claiming Social Security benefits early.

The Art of the Denial (The Emancipator, January 2023). Phillipe Copeland (SSW & CISS Affiliate) focuses this article on how racism deniers obscure the reality of racism, minimizing its significance.

How Michelle Wu Can Become a Global Mayor on Climate (The Boston Globe, January 2023). In this article, Loretta Lees, BU Initiative on Cities’ Director, urges Michelle Wu to now become a global mayor on the world stage, learning from other mayors and showcasing the great work she is doing in Boston.

Why Recession Fears Are Growing and What a Downturn Could Look Like (ABC News, December 2022). Recession fears are growing, even as households strained by inflation begin to find some relief. However, some economists think the U.S. will likely avert a recession altogether. Recession fears “are not particularly warranted,” Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics), told ABC News.

Emigrants From a Small Corner of China are Making an Outsize Mark Abroad (The Economist, December 2022) Joseph Fewsmith, Professor of International Relations and Political Science and expert on Chinese domestic policy, is cited from his work in Mao’s Invisible Hand to help describe the Wenzhounese, a prosperous sect of Chinese immigrants known for their affinity for family and commerce that has allowed them to succeed in outsized fashion in distant, foreign nations.

Yes, Filling Out Race on Forms Is Tiresome. Here’s Why It Matters (The Emancipator, December 2022). Neda Khoshkhoo, associate director of policy at the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, and Jasmine Gonzales Rose, a law professor and policy chair, focus in this article on the idea that to root out racism, we need to talk about race even more than we already do.

Born of Eugenics, Can Standardized Testing Escape Its Past? (Popular Science, December 2022). High-stakes testing has struggled with overt and implicit biases. Should it still have a place in modern education? Boston University’s Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) shares his thoughts on standardized testing in this article.

From Harmless Fun to Bipartisan Security Threat (Politico, December 2022). Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University, told Global Insider that Pakistan, in the aftermath of historic flooding, is paying steep surcharges. “The IMF should pick up where the House of Representatives left off and suspend surcharges for all countries,” he said.

Reimagining the Police (The Boston Globe, December 2022). Spencer Piston (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) focuses on how alternatives to public safety are gaining momentum, but activists worry many of these ‘alternatives’ still involve police and don’t address root causes.

Age-Related Memory Loss: Can We Prevent or Even Reverse It? (Medical News Today, December 2022). Dr. Robert Reinhart (CAS, Psychological & Brain Sciences), was a corresponding author on a study focused on improving memory function. Reinhart explained: “We developed two brain stimulation protocols — one for selectively improving short-term memory via low-frequency parietal stimulation, and another protocol for selectively improving long-term memory via high-frequency prefrontal stimulation.”

How Will Inflation Affect the Economy in 2023? (BU Today, December 2022). Laurence Kotlikoff, A William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor (CAS, Economics), talks about inflation and the ever-changing economy as we head towards 2023.

IMF Shareholders Deeply Divided on Whether to Suspend Surcharges on Some Loans (Reuters, December 2022). Kevin Gallagher (Pardee Global Development Policy Center), says big shareholders should rethink their opposition, given the global economic outlook.

Don’t Do This With Your Retirement Funds — Unless You Want to Pay Tax (Los Angeles Times, December 2022). New research by economists at Boston University and the Federal Reserve has found that virtually all American workers ages 45 to 62 should wait beyond age 65 to start Social Security and more than 90% should wait until age 70.

Chinese Port Projects Along Africa’s Coasts Come with Environmental Costs, Study Finds (VOA, December 2022). Researchers from the Boston University Global Development Policy Center and other Universities conducted a study looking at the risks from 114 Chinese-funded coastal development projects over a 10-year period until 2019. “There are growing concerns regarding the potential deleterious impacts of this initiative on the environment and local and indigenous communities,” the study said.

How Native Advertising Misleads Readers and Damages Credibility (The Edge, December 2022). Michelle Amazeen (CAS, director of the Communication Research Center at Boston University & CISS Affiliate), demonstrates how poor enforcement and standardization of native advertising damages journalistic integrity and muddles real reporting. 

Gen Zers are taking on more debt, roommates, and jobs as their economy gets worse and worse (Insider, December 2022). Professor Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) discusses that due to savings challenges and rising costs, “over half of Gen Z could enter retirement without sufficient savings.”

Who Will Care for ‘Kinless’ Seniors? (The New York Times, December 2022). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) finds that “All the pathways to singlehood have grown.” The growing number of kinless seniors, who sometimes call themselves “elder orphans” or “solo agers,” worries researchers and advocates, because this group faces numerous disadvantages.

New Delhi must capitalise on Asean’s eagerness to engage (Hindustan Times, November 2022). Manjari Chatterjee Miller, associate professor of international relations in the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, highlights that Asean’s success can be largely attributed to member-countries’ choice to band together and integrate their economics. Their collective unity wields more clout than each individual member could hope to assert.

Biden is reviving a lost Democratic industrial policy playbook (The Washington Post, November 2022). In this op-ed, BU History Ph.D. candidate Henry Tonks suggests an important question: Why was the Democratic industrial policy playbook abandoned? He scaffolds his argument with a useful explanation of the playbooks’ origins in the 1980s.  

Why is Marriage Consistently Disappointing for Women? (BU Arts & Sciences, November 2022). Opting Out, a new book co-edited by Professor Joanna Davidson (CAS, Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) reveals conditions that make the widespread phenomenon of women opting out of marriage possible in places where marriage has long been obligatory. In celebration of the book’s launch, Davidson shares insight as to how a group of women came together to document and share the cultural shift in perspective on marriage around the world. 

Waiting to Collect Social Security Can Net You an Extra $180,000 (Money, December 2022). BU researchers within the College of Arts and Sciences (David Altig, Laurence J. Kotlikoff & Victor Yifan Ye) share findings that reveal “hundreds of millions of workers are making arguably highly inappropriate collection decisions — decisions that significantly reduce their lifetime Social Security benefits and, consequently, their lifetime spending.”

Gen Z wants equality, diversity, and flexibility at work, but it may cause them to sacrifice financial security (Insider, December 2022). Professor Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) speaks on the consequences of Gen Zers’ focus on a company’s mission and job security during their job searches. He warns “over half of Gen Z could enter retirement without sufficient savings because of savings challenges and rising costs.”

China’s infrastructure loans are putting overseas marine habitats and locals at risk, study warns (South China Morning Post, December 2022). Senior Academic Researcher at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center Rebecca Ray discusses the rise in recent concern over harm to marine habitats and local communities from China’s overseas infrastructure investments. 

Globalization has been breaking down for a while – here’s what could end it (CNBC, December 2022). Economist Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University, illustrates why economists think globalization is fragmenting – and what lies ahead. “I think there’s been a globalization bubble, and we’re trying to correct it.”

Royal troubles cast shadow over William and Kate’s US tour (The Guardian, December 2022) History professor Arianne J. Chernock, whose research focus includes British history and the monarchy, describes how racially tinged blow-ups and Harry and Meghan’s relationship have necessitated “savvy and humility” from William and Kate that “perhaps the royal family is not accustomed to.”

‘The Crown’: The Story of Mohamed Al-Fayed and His Valet (The New York Times, November 2022) Arianne J. Chernock—Boston University history professor and scholar of modern Britain—comments on the portrayal of the historical Al-Fayeds in popular television series The Crown and the Royal Family’s unique relationship with outsiders.

Prince and Princess of Wales to Visit Boston as the Royal Family Recasts Itself (The New York Times, November 2022) History professor Arianne J. Chernock, whose research focus includes British history and the monarchy, shares her detailed interpretation of how the Prince and Princess’s visit to Boston is being used to redefine how both their image will be seen globally and at home.

Will and Kate’s Big Night Out (In Boston) (The Cut, December 2022) Arianne J. Chernock—Boston University history professor and scholar of modern Britain — told the New York Times that the future king and queen’s “tall task” is to show how in tune this new era of Windsors is with “core, weighty issues and maintain a sense of relevance, as well as a connection with their subjects and global population to justify their existence.”

Boston City Council Moves to Lower Voting Age for Municipal Elections (CBS Boston, December 2022). Boston University law professor Kate Silbaugh says teens may be mature enough to vote but lowering the vote could cause legal issues by causing a clash between the Constitutional rights of parents and protected political speech.

Prince and Princess of Wales Arrive in Boston With Eye on Environment Prize (WBUR, November 2022). Boston University professor Arianne Chernock, an expert in modern British history, provides insight on William and Kate’s visit to Boston. “We have to pay really careful attention to the ways, in the absence of Queen Elizabeth, that they present themselves to the public anew,” says Chernock.

Hero Worship: What Happens When Jobs Are Suddenly Moralized (Knowledge at Wharton, November 2022). Michel Anteby, Professor of Management & Organizations at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, co-authored the paper “Heroes from Above but Not (Always) from Within? Gig Workers’ Reactions to the Sudden Moralization of Their Work,” the latest in a series of studies Lindsey Cameron (Wharton management professor) has conducted on the gig economy.

This Frequently Used Social Security Strategy Could Cost You $182,000 (CBS News, November 2022). Laurence J. Kotlikoff (CAS Economics) provides insight on Social Security and financial strategies that can help delay when Social Security is claimed, “which will boost lifetime discretionary income”.

Districts Are Spending More Per Student. Here’s How to Make Sure All of Them Benefit (Education Week, November 2022). Andrew Bacher-Hicks (SED) analyzed Massachusetts teacher licensure records after June 2020. As a result, Bacher-Hicks found Black and Hispanic students are now 12 percentage points more likely to have a teacher of their same racial or ethnic background.

My Son’s Autism Is Profound — And More Common Than You Think (WBUR, November 2022). Nazli Kibria (CAS Sociology) discusses the life of herself and her son, and the overlooked crisis of care for adults with profound autism, stating how it is largely invisible in our society, making it easier for us to overlook and neglect their needs.“For the adults with disabilities (and their families) who rely on them, the absence of services is like an earthquake …”.

A Major Hedge Fund Fears ‘Hyperinflation’ in Some Developing Nations. This Is Why It Could Still Affect America. (Insider, November 2022). The director of Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center Kevin Gallagher (Pardee) tells Insider that a combination of factors leading to hyperinflation could set off a set of events that stretch across the global economy and back to the States.

COP27 Roundup: What Went Wrong and What Happens Next (The Conversation, November 2022). Adil Najam, Dean Emeritus of the Pardee School of Global Studies and Professor of International Relations and Earth & Environment, comments on the establishment of a loss and damage funding facility at the UN climate change summit. This would pay the world’s most vulnerable regions for the ravages of climate change that they cannot adapt to, such as mounting storms, droughts and floods.

Should You Watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup despite Host Qatar’s “Serious Human Rights Problems”? (The Brink, November 2022) Henrik Selin, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Studies in the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, a football fan and expert on global governance and institutions shares his opinions on the controversial decision to host the World Cup in Qatar.

Playing With Fire: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Risks Sparking New European Bloodbath in the Balkans, Warns Ex-nato Ambassador (The Sun, November 2022). Vesko Garčević, former ambassador of Montenegro for NATO and a professor at Boston University, warned Russia-linked Serbia is “playing with fire” when speaking to The Sun Online. ”Serbia will want to escalate this as much as they can, and if they go further, it could spiral out of control”, says Garčević, who urges the US, UK, and UN to become more involved in pre-emptive action.

Fact Check: China Leads the World in Coal Plant Expansion, but Post Overstates Tally (USA Today, November 2022). This article addresses a post that misstates findings of the Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center’s recent study on overseas Chinese power capacity.

Social Security recipients are missing out on $182,000 by claiming too early, study finds (Market Watch, November 2022) Research by Laurence Kotlikoff, William Fairfield Warren Professor of Economics, and co. is referenced in describing widespread premature Social Security benefits claims.

‘Gray divorce’ brings struggles and a possibility of late-in-life reinvention (Boston Globe, November 2022) Steven Sandage, Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology, describes some of the stresses now influencing late-in-life divorces.

On the Streets of China, the Cross Shone Bright (Christianity Today, November 2022). Daryl R. Ireland, Research Assistant Professor of Mission in Boston University’s School of Theology, writes about Chinese Christian posters that boldly proclaimed salvation, freedom, and hope amid a tumultuous political period.

Call ‘Tough on Crime’ What It Is: A Tool of Racial Oligarchy (The Emancipator, November 2022). Phillipe Copeland, Clinical Associate Professor at Boston University’s School of Social Work and Assistant Director of Narrative at the BU Center for Antiracist Research, writes a call to action to block backlash and out-organize racial oligarchy. Copeland stresses the importance of dismantling structures that oppress and replacing them with structures that liberate. 

Airbnb Is More Successful Than Ever. Why Is Everyone So Mad at It? (The Washington Post, November 2022). Makarand Mody, an associate professor of hospitality marketing at Boston University who studies Airbnb, shares insight on how complaints about the pricing of Airbnbs have bubbled up over the years.

Princess Diana Confided in Andrew Morton. What More Is There to Divulge? (The Washington Post, November 2022). Arianne Chernock, Professor of History at Boston University, reviews Andrew Morton’s new biography of Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen: Her Life.

How To Help Veterans Who Are Homeless (Futurity, November 11, 2022). Thomas Byrne, an associate professor in the Boston University School of Social Work, is an expert on homelessness, and among the researchers studying why veterans are more likely to land in shelters—and how to better help them. “One way to help veterans who are homeless is to advocate for more affordable housing.”

Despite historic campaigns, no Black women won Senate or governor races in 2022 midterms (USA Today, November 2022) Christine Slaughter, Professor of Political Science, shares voting patterns and biases that explain the recent losses of Black women political candidates.

The cost of retirement is rising, and many Americans will have to work longer than they planned. Here are the 10 industries with the highest share of older workers. (Insider, November 2022) Laurence J. Kotlikoff (CAS Economics) suggests that due to the rising costs associated with retirement, a majority of boomers could enter retirement age without enough savings.

Welcome to the ‘Age of Adaptation’ (Boston Globe, November 2022) Adil Najam, Dean Emeritus of the Pardee School of Global Studies and Professor of International Relations and Earth & Environment, writes an opinion piece that confronts the issue of climate change procrastination. In light of global climate crises, including recent flooding of Pakistan, Najam speaks of the world’s realization that climate change has current ramifications that must be addressed.

Africa needs more help with its Chinese debts (Vanguard, November 2022) Alongside other universities, Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center shares data on countries like Ethiopia, struggling with debt to China. 

U.S.-China global influence battle takes center stage at COP27 (Politico, November 2022). “Climate is a global collective action problem…but we’re starting to see indications that China is trying to go it alone,” said Cecilia Han Springer, assistant director of Boston University’s Global China Initiative and an expert on Chinese industrial decarbonization. “It makes me worry about the future U.S.-China climate cooperation.”

With Musk at the helm, tweeting the boss may actually change Twitter (The Washington Post, November 2022). Musk’s Twitter celebrity amounts to free advertising for his car company, Tesla, which has a long-standing policy against paying for advertising, said Michelle Amazeen, the director of the Communication Research Center at Boston University.

Joe Rogan admits schools don’t have litter boxes for kids who ‘identify’ as furries (The Guardian, November 2022). Michelle Amazeen, director of the Communication Research Center at Boston University, said that these bogus rumors typically trickled up from fringe sites that lack credibility. “This story exemplifies the intertwined nature of digital, social and mainstream news media,” she said. Amazeen also touches on fake news.

As COP27 kicks off, Egypt warns wealthy nations against ‘backsliding’ (Nature, November 2022). Adil Najam, Dean Emeritus of the Pardee School of Global Studies and Professor of International Relations and Earth & Environment, thinks it is unlikely that compensation controversy will be resolved in Egypt, and says that the politics will probably get messy. He adds that loss-and-damage finance can no longer be avoided by the high-income countries, especially given that climate impacts in vulnerable countries are becoming much more visible and severe.

Gaming Google: Oil firms use search ads to greenwash, study says (Reuters, November 2022). Michelle Amazeen, a professor who studies native advertising and leads the Communication Research Center at Boston University, comments on Google’s ad product: “While most people see Google as a reliable place to do their own research, few read beyond the first page of results, making these kinds of ads especially influential.”

Are community board meetings the height of democracy or a ‘Parks and Rec’ satire? (Fast Company, November 2022). Maxwell Palmer, an associate professor of political science at Boston University, studied housing meeting participants in districts in the Boston area in 2017. His findings underscore that those with more resources are overrepresented in these meetings. “This really is concerning, because who’s being heard at the decision-making level is very different from the broader policy views,” Palmer says.

How will Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter impact democracy? Media experts weigh in (GBH, November 2022). Michelle Amazeen, director of the Communication Research Center at Boston University, questioned Musk’s business strategy. She said it appears that Musk thinks Twitter isn’t being used properly to generate profit, so he’s adding additional money-makers such as requiring payment to be verified. Amazeen said Musk should gather a diverse advisory board to help him navigate Twitter’s next steps.

Is the IMF fit for purpose? (The Guardian, November 2022). This article mentions a 2020 study by the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University, where researchers found that borrowers that had prior loan arrangements with China tended to get more lenient treatment from the IMF.

What action is needed for an antiracist future? (Al Jazeera, November 2022) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) speaks about his journey of advocacy against the evils of racism and examines the power of antiracism as a force for positive change.

Is the IMF fit for purpose? (The Guardian, November 2022) A 2020 study by The Global Development Policy Center is cited, describing the IMF as undergoing real changes, not from ideological shifts alone, but from competition for its business.

Is Inflation Biden’s Fault? Could Tax Cuts Fix It? Here’s What We Know (TIME, October 2022) Robert Kaufmann, professor of Earth & Environment, shares his thoughts on factors of the economy’s inflation and the Biden administration.

Ibram X. Kendi Wants Children, and Teachers, to Challenge How History Is Taught (BU Today, October 2022) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) wants children to question and challenge the history they are being taught in school or told by their elders. And more importantly, Kendi wants educators to incorporate more difficult questions about history into their lessons, rather than simply continuing to teach history as it’s been taught for generations.

Report: Mass. Housing Affordability Problems Worsening (WHDH, October 2022) Katherine Levine Einstein (Professor of Political Science; Director of Undergraduate Studies) called on the state government to ramp up centralized management and monitoring of subsidized housing and do more to enforce fair housing regulations.

Greater Boston Housing Earns “Failing Grade” in Annual Report Card (The Brink, October 2022) Katherine Levine Einstein (Professor of Political Science; Director of Undergraduate Studies) interviews on the new 2022 Boston Housing Report Card which she contributed to. She communicates the importance of basic data collection for subsidized housing and necessity of increasing housing supply.

When Soup and Mashed Potatoes Are Thrown, Can the Earth Win? (New York Times, October 2022) Benjamin Sovacool (Director of BU’s Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS); Professor in Earth & Environment) comments on the efficacy of recent gastronomical assaults on famous art in protesting against climate change.

‘Alternate realities’: Democrats and Republicans smear each other as ‘fascists.’ Is either right? (USA Today, October 2022) Jonathan Zatlin (CAS History) suggests “the only thing people agree on is that fascism is a bad thing” in his interpretation of use of the word “fascist” in modern US politics.

‘A failing grade:’ Boston housing ‘report card’ illustrates depth of crisis (The Boston Herald, October 2022) Katherine Levine Einstein (Professor of Political Science; Director of Undergraduate Studies) discusses the lack of housing, subsidized and otherwise; unequal distribution of the units; and a lack of accessible affordable housing data in Boston.

New book details Sen. Ted Kennedy’s efforts to cover up Chappaquiddick crash (MassLive, October 2022) Tom Whalen (CGS Social Science) comments on new material detailing Ted Kennedy’s attempt to cover up his infamous crash. “This is stuff he didn’t have time to clean up and edit before publishing, or maybe he didn’t want to publish it.”

Emissions from China-invested overseas coal plants equal to whole of Spain – research (Reuters, October 2022) Boston University research shows Chinese companies and government-run investment banks overseas power generation capacity and that a recent pledge to end overseas coal-financing is having an effect.

BU Launches New Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Major (BU Today, October 2022) Political science professor and CISS Steering Committee member Timothy Longman will oversee the new major. “This has become a topic that is not just unavoidable, but something that we have a moral responsibility to tackle,” says Longman, who worked in Rwanda in the 1990s and knows whereof he speaks.

Analysis: Poor nations face peril over elusive G-20 debt relief push (Reuters, October 2022) Professor Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of BU’s Global Development Policy Center, comments on the stagnant progress in debt relief for the  world’s poorest nations, saying that “we can compel the private sector to come to the table through carrots and sticks and we’re just not willing to do it.”

BU Sociologist Saida Grundy on “Respectability Politics” and the Morehouse Man (The Brink, October 2022) Saida Grundy, Assistant Professor of Sociology and African American Studies, interviews for her new book that examines Morehouse College’s narrow definition of black masculinity. In the interview, Professor Grundy describes her book as analyzing “how respectability politics actually structure and organize gender troubles and class troubles within the race, because there are high stakes involved in who gets to represent the race.”

The Death Artist. (Longreads, October 2022). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses the changing culture of death, dying, and funeral rites in the U.S.

History May Absolve the Soup Throwers (New York Times, October 2022). Benjamin Sovacool, Director of the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) and a Professor in the Department of Earth & Environment, discusses the pros and cons of climate militancy and coming down in favor of considering a full range of options, including civil disobedience and guerrilla warfare.

Analysis: Overlapping crises add urgency for IMF, World Bank resources, reforms (Reuters, October 2022). Economist Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), director of the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University, stresses the importance of taking action in the face of the current global financial crisis.

Enter the Other Swing Voter: the mighty 8% (Emancipator, October 2022). Data released by the BU Center for Antiracist Research reveals why young, undecided voters can make or break an election — if they don’t allow fear and apathy to stop them from going to the polls.

‘Respectable: Politics and Paradox in Making the Morehouse Man’ (InsideHigherEd, October 2022) Saida Grundy, Assistant Professor of Sociology and African American Studies and Director of Admissions, interviews for her new book, Respectable, that examines the prototypical “Morehouse man” and Morehouse College’s influence in stereotyping what Black manhood should conform to.

Who’s going to be the next world’s economic power? Here’s what this famed economist is now saying — and one possible surprise (MarketWatch, October 17, 2022) New research co-authored by Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS Economics) suggests that China and India may be set to supersede the US to become the world’s two largest economic powers by 2100.

Election deniers, doubters seeking to control elections in several Western states (Lincoln Journal Star, October 2022) Bruce Schulman, William E. Huntington Professor of History in CAS, stresses the risk posed to democratic institutions. “The big question is what happens when push comes to shove, when those people who are not true believers, will either have to stand up for democratic practices or join the authoritarian bandwagon.”

Millennials and Gen Z counting on a 401(k) to get them through retirement are in for a rude awakening, TIAA head says. (INSIDER, October 2022). Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS Economics) predicts that Gen Z and millennials will see a retirement crisis.

Wealthy millennials aren’t relying on the stock market. Here’s how their investment portfolios break down. (INSIDER, October 2022). On cryptocurrency being the best investment, Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS Economics) describes real estate as an “excellent inflation hedge,” because it comes with a tax break, insulates buyers from changes in rent and housing prices, and diversifies one’s investments.

What will happen to America if Trump wins again? Experts weigh in. (Boston Globe, October 2022). Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research)  speaks about the immediate concerns of Trump returning to the presidency. “It would provide the greatest domestic terrorist threat of our time – violent white-supremacist organizations – the ability to rebuild and spread and engage in even more violence and terror.”

Protecting Our Elders From Hurricane Ian and Beyond (Atmos Earth, October 2022) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) speaks about how, as a society, we undervalue older adults. She comments, “Whether it’s the storm or whether it’s COVID, there’s still this conversation that goes something like this: They were old. They were going to die anyhow.”

Elon Musk Says He Wants To Buy Twitter for $44 Billion. Is the Twitter Deal Back On? (USA Today, October 2022) Jessica Silby, professor of law, argues that the lawsuit between Twitter and Musk will theoretically be settled or dismissed if Musk purchases twitter for the prior agreed-upon purchasing price.

AI vs. Algorithms (eweek, October 2022) Michelle Amazeen, associate professor of mass Communication, advertising, and, public relations) takes a look at how AI and algorithms are tied together, along with their roles in security, HR, and human judgment.

Risk-Taking in Kids Varies By Socioeconomic Background (Futurity, October 2022) This article highlights a recent study conducted by Peter R. Blake (CAS Psychological & Brain Sciences) titled, Developmental Risk Sensitivity Theory: The Effects of Socio-Economic Status of Children’s Risky Gain and Loss Decisions, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Biological Sciences). The manuscript can be found here.

2022’s Best Foodie Cities in America (WalletHub, October 3, 2022) Makarand Mody, associate professor of hospitality marketing, provides tips to foodies on a tight budget, the top five indicators to evaluate the best foodie cities for your wallet, and inflation effects.

China Tightens Lending Taps, Leaving African Markets Vulnerable (Bloomberg, October 2022) Research from the Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center evaluates how slowing growth is forcing Beijing to scale back investment and how African countries face debt distress as borrowing costs soar.

Why Do Some Kids Take Bigger Risks Than Others? (MedicalXpress, October 2022) This article highlights a recent study conducted by Peter R. Blake (CAS Psychological & Brain Sciences) titled, Developmental Risk Sensitivity Theory: The Effects of Socio-Economic Status of Children’s Risky Gain and Loss Decisions, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Biological Sciences). The manuscript can be found here.

Why Do Some Children Take Bigger Risks Than Others? (Earth.com, October 2022) This article highlights a recent study conducted by Peter R. Blake (CAS Psychological & Brain Sciences) titled, Developmental Risk Sensitivity Theory: The Effects of Socio-Economic Status of Children’s Risky Gain and Loss Decisions, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Biological Sciences). The manuscript can be found here.

Why Do Some Kids Take Bigger Risks than Others? (BU Today, September 2022) This article highlights a recent study conducted by Peter R. Blake (CAS Psychological & Brain Sciences) titled, Developmental Risk Sensitivity Theory: The Effects of Socio-Economic Status of Children’s Risky Gain and Loss Decisions, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Biological Sciences). The manuscript can be found here.

Biden is Wrong About the Pandemic Being Over (The Progressive Magazine, September 2022) Joe Harris (CAS Sociology) writes that Biden is ignoring the true cost of letting covid-19 proliferate. He argues that we are compounding “the risk that repeated infection will post to people’s physical health – and ultimately the nation’s fiscal health.”

Rich Kids Take Fewer Risks: Children From Wealthy Background Are Less Likely To take Risks To Secure A Prizer Than Their Poorer Peers (DailyMail, September 2022) This article highlights a recent study conducted by Peter R. Blake (CAS Psychological & Brain Sciences) titled, Developmental Risk Sensitivity Theory: The Effects of Socio-Economic Status of Children’s Risky Gain and Loss Decisions, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Biological Sciences). The manuscript can be found here.

With COVID aid, schools try something new: giving students jobs (Chalkbeat, September 2022) Mary Elizabeth Collins, a professor at Boston University who has studied workforce development for vulnerable youth shares her thoughts on starting career preparation at early ages and its benefits.

As Stocks Flag and Home Prices Dip, Consumers Spend Less, Spend Different (Marketplace, September 2022) Adam Guren, assistant professor of economics, discusses how high-interest rates limit the way people can spend the home equity they have built.

What is the Greatest Threat to Human Health from Climate Change? (BU Arts & Sciences, September 2022). Benjamin Siegel, associate professor of history and associate department chair at Boston University, discusses anthropogenic climate change and its effects on future crops and production.

Duke Energy Is On Of The Top Leakers Of A Gas That Is 25,000 Times More Polluting Than Carbon Dioxide, EPA Records Show (NBC News, September 2022) Benjamin Sovacool, professor of earth and environment and director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, notes that there are feasible substitutes for every single F gas, stating “They’re man-made, You can make other ones.”

Internet Backs Woman Who Made Teenage Niece Feel ‘Like a Monster’ (Newsweek, September 2022). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses the emotional impacts of a child’s death.

Biden’s Silent Mourning of the Queen (Politico, September 2022) Arianne Chernock, professor of history and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences, speaks about Biden’s attendance at the Queen’s funeral is historic. She notes that President Truman and Johnson did not attend high profile British funerals during their term.

Was Elizabeth the Queen of America? This Week It Seemed Like It. (NY Times, September 2022) Arianne Chernock, professor of history and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences, discusses American fascination from King George III to Queen Elizabeth II.

Tourism Brought Boston’s Hotel Markey Back to Life This Summer, But Business Travel Still Lags (Bisnow, September 2022) Makarand Mody, CISS affiliate and faculty member at the School of Hospitality Administration, discussed the bounce back within the Boston tourism sector after a few years of living with COVID-19.

What Will Queen Elizabeth II’s Legacy Be? (BU Today, September 2022) Arianne Chernock, professor of history and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences, discusses distinguishing the Queen’s legacy as a monarch versus the broader experiences of her country. She highlights that the Queen was considered a stable, constant part of the British system, often able to stay above the fray.

In 1953, ‘Queen-crazy’ American Women Looked to Elizabeth II As A Source of Inspiration – That Sentiment Never Faded (The Conversation, September 2022) Arianne Chernock, professor of history and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences, speaks about why American women found Queen Elizabeth II  to be inspirational. She writes, “At a time when women were, in many cases, expected to conform to traditional roles of a housewife and homemaker, Elizabeth was ascending the throne of a powerful country.”

Queen Elizabeth, and the Power and Limitation Of Inspiring Women (NY Times, September 2022) Arianne Chernock, professor of history and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences, argues that while the Queen likely did not see herself as a feminist she did provide a “quite alternative for women since she became queen.”

Analysis: China Debt Restructuring Policy Under Scrutiny as More Countries Demand Relief (Reuters, September 2022) Kevin Gallagher, professor of global development policy, discusses the China debt crisis. He argues that China is having a “real, healthy set of deliberations on how to deal with their first ever mammoth debt crisis.” He cautions that while deliberations are important, if Chinese officials do no act quickly, the crisis can get much worse very quickly.

Actually, Some People are Happier (And Healthier) Being Single (Buzzfeed, September 2022) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) comments on how society encourages women to seek help, develop friendships, express their emotions and take care of others, leading them to have rich social lived and they tend to be left lonely overall. In heterosexual relationships, men often rely on women to help them develop thief social life, making being single more lonely for men.

There is No Road Map for the Longest Phase of Parenthood (The Atlantic, September 2022) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses how as children age, they establish a new relationship with their parents. These new relationships often have unclear rules and uncertain boundaries which can be challenges for both parties.

New Analysis: Vietnam and Afghanistan: America’s Tow Longest Wars, with Very Different Lasting Impacts (LA Times, September 2022) Bruce Schulman (CAS History) speaks about to professionalization of the military and the development of a professional military class that experiences of of the “dislocation and tensions involved in deploying to conflicts.”

Labor Day Survey: 87% of People Think They Should Get A Raise To Keep Up With Inflation (Wallet Hub, August 2022) Kevin Lang (CAS, Economics & CISS Affiliate) discusses a recent statistic: one in three Americans worried about their job security. Lang notes that this is higher than previous months and is spurred by government efforts to reduce the inflation rate.

U.S. Life Expectancy Declined Nearly A Year in 2021, Deepening Historic Slide (Time, August 2022) Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate), assistant professor of global health, discusses how in most highly functioning public health and health care systems, countries’ death rates have rebounded, due to high vaccine uptake. The outlier is the United States.

Low Vaccine Booster Rates Are Now A Key Factor in Covid-19 Deaths – And Racial Disparities in Booster Rates Persist (The Conversation, August 2022) Andrew Stokes, assistant professor of global health and co-authors discuss new findings about Covid-19. Their preliminary analysis finds that individuals living in countries with lower booster vaccination rates experience higher death rates associated with Covid-19. They discuss how the booster campaign differs from the original vaccination campaigns in substantial ways which has lead to a lesser booster uptake. They suggest ways to better the campaign to increase vaccine booster uptake.

Ask Larry: Will My Earnings Affect My Wife’s Social Security Spousal Benefits? (Forbes, August 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics, breaks down the potential effect of a spouse’s benefits, changing benefit payment dates, and a foreign pensions on your pension.

IMF Fees on War-Torn Countries Closer to Elimination (Associated Press, August 2022) Kevin Gallagher  (Pardee), professor of global development policy’s research on the drawbacks of IMF fees is highlight. Gallagher has argued that “forcing excessive repayments lowers the productive potential of the borrowing country, but also harms creditors” and requires borrowers “to pay more at exactly the moment when they are most squeezed from market access in any other form.”

Does “Vabbing” Work? The Truth About Vaginal Pheromones (PopSci, August 2022) Eva Garrett, assistant professor of anthropology, argues that pheromones are likely not playing into attraction between two individuals.

Social Security Blows It Again, But Ultimately Redeems Itself (Forbes, August 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics, discusses social security benefit calculators and benefit optimization calculators.

It’s Time to Repeal the ABA’s Law School Testing Mandate (Bloomberg Law, August 2022) Christopher Robertson, professor of law, and co-authors argue that the law school testing mandate prohibits law schools from individualizing admissions criteria. They argue that repealing the mandate would allow for flexibility and would allow law schools to have greater autonomy over their own admissions policies.

To Avert A Global Debt Crisis, IMF’s Reserve Assets Need Greater Support (The Hill, August 2022) Kevin Gallagher  (Pardee), professor of global development policy, and co-author Lara Merling write about why and how the US should support the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), the special reserve assets of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a way to provide relief to struggling economies around the world.

Ask Larry: Will Taking Spousal Benefits Affect My Social Security Benefit Rate (Forbes, August 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economic, discusses whether spousal benefits can effect: (i) later retirement benefits, (ii) filing for both retirement benefits and survivor’s benefits and whether social security is moving payment days.

Breadbasket Diplomacy: Preserving Wheat As A Tool of American Statecraft (War on the Rocks, August 2022) Rosella Cappella Zielinski, associate professor of political science, discusses the weaponization of food, specifically in relation to the blockade of Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea. Cappella and co-author argue that the US needs to build up their wheat exporter capacity in preparation for future attempts by Russia to incite food crises.

Death Can Strike Unexpectedly: How to Prepare for the Worst. (Psychology Today, August 2022). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) observes that Anne Heche’s tragic death may help other people to prepare for difficult end-of-life decisions including becoming an organ donor.

From Graying to Hair Loss, The Physical and Emotional Transformation of Hair As We Age Can Be A Journey (Southern California Public Radio KPCC, August 2022). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) shares the reasons why ‘going gray’ has become more popular, and the benefits and costs of age-related changes in appearance.

Donald Trump Asked What the Difference Between the FBI Raid in Mar-a-Lago and Watergate. A Lot, According to Historians and Political Scientists. (Business Insider, August 2022) Bruce Shulman, professor of history, discusses the differences between the FBI raid in Mar-a-Largo and Watergate. He notes, “In one case, burglars hired by the Nixon campaign committee committed a crime…In the other, FBI agents, authorized by a federal judge, investigated a crime committed by someone else.”

How Government ‘Welcome’ Systems Fail Refugees (Futurity, August 2022) Heba Gowayed, assistant professor of sociology and CISS affiliate, discusses the faults in the U.S., Canadian, and German refugee systems.

Social Security Just Emailed Us About Their Website Upgrade? Here’s What They Didn’t Say (Forbes, August 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics, discusses the problems with the social security website, primarily that users still cannot accurately calculate their social security benefits.

Key Questions You Should Ask Before Deepening Your Relationship, According to Experts (CNN, August 2022) Deborah Carr, professor of sociology and CISS director, argues that in the beginning of many relationships logic goes out the window and that trying to change people isn’t the right route. She notes, “As people age, they become an amplified version of their younger selves. So if there’s a trait in your partner that agitates you when you’re 25, that trait will get larger and might be far, far more annoying when one is 50 — so really ask yourself about the good, the bad and the ugly and what you’re willing to accept and not accept in a relationship.”

Will The Cost of Housing Tank the Massachusetts Economy? (The Boston Globe, August 2022) Katherine Einstein and Maxwell Palmer, both associate professors of political science, discuss rising housing prices in Massachusetts, drawing on their recent research on local boards and zoning commissions.

The Mystery of America’s Stonehenge (MeatEater, August 2022) Curtis Runnels, professor of archeology, anthropology, and classical studies, discusses America’s Stonehenge in southeaster New Hampshire.

Ask Larry: Can My Wife Get Half of My Social Security Retirement Benefit Rate? (Forbes, July 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics, answers a reader’s question about survivors’ benefits and eligibility for spouses.

Combating Misinformation in the Age of Technology (BU Experts, July 2022) Michelle Amazeen (COM& CISS Affiliate), associate professor, and director of the Communications Research Center, discusses the work her and Gianluca Stringhini, assistant professor of engineering define misinformation, discuss the role of social media in promoting misinformation, consider how misinformation impacts society at large, and describes what we can do about it.

Hocus Focus: How Magicians Made a Fortune on Facebook (The Economist, July 2022) Ashley Mears (CAS, Sociology), professor of Sociology, writes about the tole that creating rival, addictive videos for social media takes on the creators of such content.

Boston University Offering Undergraduates a Major in African American and Black Diaspora Studies this Fall (Biz Journals, July 2022) Boston University has one of the oldest African American Studies programs, and now undergraduate students can choose to minor or major in African American and Black Diaspora Studies.

In Rural America, Covid Hits Black and Hispanic People Hardest (NY Times, July 2022) Andrew Stokes, assistant professor of global health, argues that Covid impacts rural areas and black and Hispanic communities. These healthcare inequities are persisting.

Separating Green Hydrogen’s Hope From Hype (WBUR, July 2022) Benjamin Sovacool, professor of earth and environment and director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, explains the benefits of green hydrogen. Sovacool draws his book, “Visions of Energy Futures: Imagining and Innovating Low-Carbon Transitions.”

Ibram X Kendi on How Antiracism Can Defeat Ted Crus: “His Political Life Rests on Racist Propaganda” (Salon, July 2022) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) discusses how anti-racist education can make people less vulnerable to the racist propaganda that individuals like Ted Cruz exploit to get votes.

Bird Is The Word For This Nature Loving BU Historian (BU Arts and Sciences, July 2022) James Johnson, professor of History, discusses his passion for bird watching and bird photography.

The Power of Short Breaks, Movement and Other Practices on Improving Mental Health – 4 Essential Reads (The Conversation, July 2022) Steven Sandage, professor of the psychology of religion and theology, discusses how therapy (more specifically psychotherapy and counseling) is less about alleviating suffering from anxiety and depression and more about improving human well being. He argues for positive psychology-informed approaches.

The Purpling of Massachusetts (Boston Magazine, July 26, 2022) Boston University Political Science faculty suggest that resistance to affordable housing efforts came from the grassroots level, with most people citing traffic and the environment as their reasons for apposing the projects.

‘Hidden’ Covid Fatalities Show US Death Investigations Need Reform (The Hill, July 2022) Andrew Stokes, assistant professor of global health, authored an article discussing how the US needs to modernize their death investigations system. He argues that the current system hindered the US response to Covid-19 and without reform, it will make it harder to prepare and contain the next pandemic.

Rates of Solitary Confinement of Incarcerated People with Mental Illness Three Times Higher (Medical Xpress, July 2022) Jessica T. Simes, assistant professor of sociology, discusses the impact of solitary confinement and its increasing use as a tool to control the incarcerated population.

‘Parentese’ Is Truly a Lingua Franca, A Global Study Finds (New York Times, July 2022) In a large study, involving over 40 researchers including Luke Glowacki (assistant professor of anthropology), researchers find that across culutures, we engage in parentese, or baby speak. One research commented, “We tend to speak in this higher pitch, high variability, like, ‘Ohh, heeelloo, you’re a baaybee!’” 

The Claremont Institute Triumphed in the Trump Years. Then Came Jan. 6. (The Washington Post, July 2022) David Swartz, a visiting researcher within the Sociology Department, discusses the increasing role of the Claremont Institute during the Trump presidency.

Prosecute Trump? What Motivated the Mob? What Will Voters Say in November? (BU Today, July 2022) Heather Schoenfeld, associate professor of sociology, discusses the January 6th congressional hearings, and how race, education level, and socioeconomic status of the individuals involved are used to frame the January 6th events.

Finally, A Safe Way To Play The Market – Upside Investing (Forbes, July 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics, discusses upside investing, which allows you to establish a living standard floor and use stocks and risky assets to increase this living standard.

Exclusive: G-20 Report Says MDBs are Holding Back Hundreds of Billions (Devex, July 20, 2022) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), professor of global development policy, comments on a report by the G20 that discusses how multilateral development banks would increase lending to lower-income nations by billions of dollars.

Why Women Do or Don’t Change Their Name When They Get Married (CNN Health, July 2022) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director)discuss how the trend of women taking (or not taking) their husbands last name has evolved over time. Today in the US, 20-30% of women choose to retain their maiden name, a percentage that has fluctuated since the 1990s. She also speaks about how some women take their husband’s name legally, but are referred to by their maiden name professionally.

There’s a Better Way to Measure Economic Inequality (New York Times Opinion, July 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics, argues that the best way to measure economic inequality is through differences in spending power.

G20 Finance Chiefs Make Few Policy Breakthroughs at Indonesia Meeting (Reuters, July 2022) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), professor of global development policy, comments on how the G20 and G7 are paralyzed by current global events, leading to slower global policy responses.

Shinzo Abe Remade Japan – and the World, BU Expert Says (BU Today, July 2022) William Grimes, professor of international relations and political science, discusses how Shinzo Abe remade Japan and will likely continue to have a heavy influence on Japan’s trajectory after death.

Ask Larry: When Would I See the 8% Increase If I Start Social Security Retirement Benefits at 67? (Forbes, July 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics, discusses delayed retirement benefits, survivor benefits, and spousal benefits.

‘You Just Lost 8.6% of Your Retirement Savings.” A Prominent Economist and Best Selling Author on Exactly How much Inflation Could Be Eating Into Your Savings (Market Watch, July 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics, discusses the impact of inflation on retirement savings and how using retirement to defer social security benefits until 70 is a better idea than wall street is telling you.

Everyone’s Talking About ‘Staglation:’ What Is It And Should You Be Worried? (CNBC, July 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics, argues that we are not in stagflation as we still have relatively high unemployment rate.

The Long, Ongoing Debate Over ‘All Men Are Created Equal’ (Associated Press, July 2022) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) discusses what it means to be anti-racist. He states, “To be an anti-racist is to recognize that it’s not just that we are created equal, or biologically equal. It’s that all racial groups are equals. And if there are disparities between those equal racial groups, then it is the result of racist policy or structural racism and not the inferiority or superiority of a racial group.”

Repatriating a Centuries-Old Ethiopian Psalter (Boston University African Studies Center, July 2022) James McCann, professor of history and associate director of the African Studies Center, tells the riveting tale of how a a centuries-old Ethiopian Psalter ended up in Boston and how it was returned to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies.

So Much News: Should You Turn It Off or Turn It Up? (BUToday, June 2022) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses how to handle the relentless news cycle.

America the Miserly: How Our Refugee Systems Fail Desperate People (TheBrink, June 2022) Heba Gowayed, assistant professor of sociology and CISS affiliate, discusses the faults in the U.S., Canadian, and German refugee systems.

Where Are All the Lesbian Bars? (TheBrink, June 2022) Professor and Chair of the Sociology Department, Japonica Brown-Saracino discuss the decline in bars that cater to lesbian, bisexual, and queer women in the United States (from 200+ to an estimated 21 in 2022).

Ibram X. Kendi On Preparing Children for the Realities of Racism (Los Angelos Times, June 2022) Ibram X. Kendi (professor of history and director of the Center for Antiracist Research) discusses his new book How to Raise an Antiracist.

California Ranks No. 30 for Road Trips (UKEN Report, June 2022) Makarand Mody, associate professor of Hospitality and CISS affiliate, discusses road tripping and enhances safety measures during the busy summer road trip season.

Are Large Corporate Profit Margins Causing Inflation? (NY Times, June 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics, argues that the “marriage tax” leads to less marriages among lower income women, who stand to loose benefits when getting married (lower per-person benefits). Kotlikoff and co-authors theorizes that without this disincentivization, marriage rates would be 14% higher in the bottom fifth of the income bracket.

Data Gaps for Race and Ethnicity Are Holding Back Antiracism Efforts, Report Says (The Brink, June 2022) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) discuss how racial inequities in data collection slow antiracists efforts. To read the full report, see the Center for Antiracist Research here.

How To Fix The Global Economy – In 142 Pages (The Mint Magazine, June 2022) Kevin Gallager’s (professor of global development policy) new book The Case for A New Bretton Woods was reviewed by Rick Rowden. The book lays out the required structural changes needed to address climate change.

How to Raise an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi (WAMC Northeast Public Radio, June 2022) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) discusses his new book How to Raise an Antiracist.

Interest Rates Are Up, Stocks Are Down. Whats Next for the Economy? (BU Today, June 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS Economics) and Jay Zagorsky (QST Markets, Public Policy, and Law) discuss our current economic situation in a Q&A with BU Today.

Pell Grant 50th Anniversary: Two BU Students Share How it Changed Their Lives (BUToday, June 2022) Samara Parada (CAS ’23) discusses how the Pell Grant allowed her to flourish and excel as a political science major at Boston University.

Alternative Summer Reading List: Ibram X. Kendi’s Antiracist Book Recommendations (Parents.com, June 2022) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) recommends a series of books for kids and teens including: Brown Girl Dreaming (Jacqueline Woodson), All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto (George M. Johnson), In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse (Joseph Marshall III), We are Not Free (Traci Chee), An Emotion of Great Delight (Tahereh Mafi), Love is a Revolution (Renée Watson), I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (Erika L. Sanchez), and Dear Martin (Nic Stone)

Lack of Diversity Hindering Mass. Housing Productions, Report Finds (NBC Boston, June 2022) Associate Professor Katherine Levine Einstein (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) and Maxwell Palmer (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate), associate professor study the demographic makeup of public officials in more than 20 communities, finding the public officials were, “were significantly older, whiter, more male, and more likely to be longtime residents than the voters in their communities.” Einstein and Palmer also highlighted that people of color and women are substantially underrepresented in these public positions. 

What Juneteenth Means to Me (A Photo Essay) (BUToday, June 2022) Phillipe Copeland (SSW), clinical assistant professor, and Spencer Piston (CAS, Political Science), associate professor and assistant director of policy for BU Center for Antiracist Research, discuss what Juneteenth means to them.

New Evidence Emerges on How Mayas Fortified Maize, Built Indoor Toilets (Down to Earth, June 2022) Boston University Researchers, in collaboration with Harvard University and the University of Texas at Austin find maize starch spherulites, a byproduct of nixtamalisation, and tapeworms at a Maya archaeological site. The authors of the report comment that this is likely the first time that toilets used by commoners have been discovered. 

Watergate Happened 50 years ago. Its Legacies are Still With Us. (The Washington Post, June 2022) Professor Bruce Schulman (CAS, History) argues that Watergate eroded public trust in all institutions, especially government institutions.  He states, “One way of thinking about it is that Americans ceased to trust the men in suits — whether those men in suits were lawyers, university professors, the press and especially, especially, the government.”

Ask Larry: If My Social Security is Late, Can I still File Retroactively Now? (Forbes, June 2022) Professor Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) addresses questions about filling retroactively, how disability benefits are calculated, and reduction rates for filing early.

Ibram X. Kendi on the Importance of Being Antiracist (CBS News, June 2022) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) discusses the importance of anti-racist education and practices. He also discusses two new books: one for children and one for parents.

What Ancient Toilets Can Teach Us About Maya Life and Tamales (PHYS.Org, June 2022) John M. Marston (CAS, Archeology & Anthropology), associate professor and anthropology, explains a revolutionary discovery: the earliest toilets of the Maya world. Marston highlights how these toilets help researchers trace culinary patterns around Latin America and the implications of his work.

A Wider Lens on the MeToo Backlash: Who Pays for Societal Change? (The New York Times, The Interpreter, June 2022) Rachael Brulé (Pardee), assistant professor in Global Development Policy, discusses the backlash against women who try to seek equality. Brulé draws on her research on inheritance and dowries in India.

Mass Shootings Leave Lasting Psychological Wounds (Scientific American, June 2022) Sandro Galea, dean of the School of Public Health, and his co-author Sarah Lowe (Yale University) discuss the psychological wounds caused by Mass Shootings, drawing on reviews of around 50 studies that look at the impacts of 15 separate mass shootings.

In Latin America, China Steps In Where the US Has Stepped Out (The Christian Science Monitor, June 2022) Jorge Heine (Pardee), former Chilean ambassador to Beijing and research professor at the Frederick S Pardee School of Global Studies, discusses increased trade relations between Latin American countries and China. He argues that with increased trades and the need for more modern infrastructure, they are more likely to work with China than with the US, which they see as taking a less active role.

Air Conditioning (or Lack of It) Can Affect Student Performance (Marketplace, June 2022) Associate professor Joshua Goodman (CAS Economics & STH) argues that upgrading the school’s air conditioning systems may improve student outcomes, leading to a better-educated workforce.

As the UK Celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, Why Will So Many Americans Also Be Cheering Her On? (The Conversation, June 2022) Arianne Chernock, professor of history, discusses the American fascination with British royalty and the Queen herself.

During the Omicron Wave, Death Rates Soared for Older People (New York Times, May 2022) Assistant Professor of Global Health Andrew Stokes (SPH & CISS Affiliate) argues that older adults are at a higher risk for covid-related deaths, even those with the primary vaccine series.

Suspects Aren’t Entitled to a Lawyer at Clerk’s Hearings in Mass. But Having One Makes a Huge Difference (WBUR, May 2022) David Rossman (LAW), professor and Director of the Criminal Law Clinical Programs, explains that while we know that having a lawyer increase the chances you will avoid criminal charges in MA, we are unlikely to see increased government funding for legal services for those who cannot afford them.

Sponsored Content for Publishers: Revenue Saviour or Reputational Risk? (Press Gazette, May 2022). Michelle Amazeen (COM & CISS affiliate),  director of the Communication Research Center in the College of Communication, shows how sponsored content is an increasingly popular way for news providers to raise revenue.

‘Let Them Know That You’re Feeling Sad Too’: How Parents and Caregivers Can Help Children Handle Trauma (GBH, May 2022).  Usha Tummala-Narra CAS, Psychological & Brain Sciences) offers advice to parents explaining recent gun-related tragedies to their children.

Two Years after George Floyd’s Murder, What’s Changed? What’s Next? (BU Today, May 2022). Scholars from the Boston University community discuss race relations and what has changed since the death of George Floyd.

Nations In Need Seek More Help on Green Deal Loans. (Financial Times, May 2023). Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), professor of Global Development Policy and Director of the Global Development Policy Center, argues that large multilateral development banks need to take a more active and less conservative in helping developing countries deal with the consequences of climate change.

US Child Welfare System is Falling Short Because of Persistent Child Poverty (The Conversation, May 2022). School of Social Work faculty Astraea Augsberger (SSW) and Mary Elizabeth Collins (SSW & CISS affiliate) argue that the U.S. requires a more robust safety net  to support parents of children deemed to be experiencing neglect or abuse.

In Wave After Deadly Wave, COVID has claimed 1 Million Lives in the U.S. (NPR, May 2022) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses how society dismisses the covid-related deaths of those in their 70s and 80s. She argues that it’s important to note that these individuals had more years to live that were taken by Covid.

Should You Keep Up Payments During the Federal Student-Loan Freeze? Experts Weigh In (CNBC, May 2022) Laurence Kotlikoff, Professor of Economics, contents that student loan forgiveness is unlikely as President Biden “doesn’t have the power to unilaterally cancel student loan debt.”

Harvey Young: Recent Shooting Expose Deep-Seated History of Segregation (Chicago Tribune, May 2022) Harvey Young, Dean of the College of Fine Arts, argues that persistent residential housing segregation has allowed the targeting of black people via violent, racist attacks.

Death Certificates Reveal that US Hit Grim COVID Milestone (AP News, May 2022) Andrew Stokes, CISS affiliate and School of Public Health Faculty argues that how we track covid-related deaths leads to undercounting the death-count.

Why It’s Wrong to Protest at a Judge’s Home (Boston Globe, May 2022) David Decosimo, Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics, argues that protesting outside a judges home is “democratically destructive and ethically wrong.” He discusses that such protests work to attack the judge as a person, loosing sight of the fact that the judge is a person fulfilling a professional role.

Covid-19 Death Toll Could be 20 Percent Higher than Official Tally (The Brink, May 2022) Andrew Stokes, CISS affiliate and School of Public Health Faculty argues that the death toll from Covid-19 may even be above 1.2 million.

Recent Incidents of Violence in Mass. Schools Raise Questions for Parents (NBC Local, May 2022) Jennifer Grief Green (SED) discusses the violence attacks, hate crimes, and fights in Brockton, Fall River, Haverhill,Lawrence, Malden, Medford, Methuen, Wilmington. She discussed the link between the pandemic, mental health, and violence in schools.

The Housing Divide is Pulling Massachusetts Apart (Boston Globe, May 2022). Katherine Levine Einstein, CISS affiliate and political science professor,  puts the local housing crisis in national perspective.

True Death Toll of COVID-19 Pandemic Could Now Be As High as 1.22 Million in United States (Boston Globe, May 2022). Andrew Stokes, CISS affiliate and School of Public Health faculty, discusses the methodological and political challenges to accurately counting COVID-19 deaths.

Former Terrier and Bruin Jay Pandolfo Named BU Men’s Ice Hockey Head Coach (BU Today, May 2022). Jay Pandolofo (CAS ’96), a former BU sociology major, was named head coach of BU’s acclaimed hockey team.

How to Survive Mother’s Day When Mom Has Passed Away (Psychology Today, May 2022). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) suggests ways to celebrate one’s mother and carry on her legacy after her death.

How to Break the Cycle of Living Paycheck to Paycheck Even as Prices Are Rising (Boston 25 News, April 2022). Economics professor Laurence Kotlikoff offers advice on how to manage finances against a backdrop of inflation.

U.S. Turns the Screws on Solomon Islands to Counter China (Politico, April 2022).  Ming Ye, Pardee School, discusses the implications of China’s new security initiative.

The Real Reason the Russian Orthodox Church’s Leader Supports Putin’s War  (Foreign Policy, April 2022). Political science professor and CISS steering committee member Tim Longman weighs in on the role of the Catholic church in genocides.

NeighborWoods: How Urban Forests Can Improve Community Health and Climate Change (WGBH, April 2022). Lucy Hutyra, professor of earth & environment, discusses trees’ crucial role in the ecosystem.

Airbnb Incidents Make It More Important Than Ever to Know Guest and Host Rights (The Points Guy, April 2022).  Makarand Mody, CISS affiliate and faculty member at School of Hospitality Administration, comments on the recent string of safety issues at U.S. Airbnb rentals.

Most Americans Supported Keeping Mask Mandates for Public Transportation, A New Poll Finds. (New York Times, April 20, 2022).  Catherine Caldwell-Harris, CISS affiliate and professor of psychological & brain sciences, weighs in on mandating masks on public transit.

It’s Almost Impossible to Get Fired from Some Jobs These Days (Boston Globe, April 2022). Economics professor Linh Tô explains how the tight labor market affects workplace productivity.

The Stunning Rise of Cremation Reveals America’s Changing Idea of Death (Washington Post, April 2022). Stephen Prothero,  professor of religion, explains why creation is now twice as popular as traditional casket burial.

BU Alum Explores World’s Greatest Cemeteries in New PBS Series (Bostonia, April 2022). Filmmaker Roberto Mighty (CAS’76; history), profiles renowned burial sites in his six-part PBS series World’s Greatest Cemeteries, premiering April 17 on Boston GBH-2.

The Catch-22 of the US Military’s Climate Plans (The Independent, April 2022).  Neta Crawford, political science chair, says decarbonizing the US military isn’t really possible without cutting back on operations and training, both in the US and overseas.

How Homeownership Changes You. (The Atlantic. April 2022). Katherine Einstein, CISS affiliate and political science professor, explains why some homeowners  oppose the construction of new housing in their area.

Reliable Death Tolls from the Ukraine War Are Hard to Come By – The Result of Undercounts and Manipulation (The Conversation, April 2022). Neta Crawford, political science chair, explains why it is so difficult to get accurate estimates of war fatalities and injuries.

For Boston Students, The Value of Debate Is Not Up For Debate. (WGBH,  March 2022). Jonathan Zaff (SED, Director, of CERES Institute for Children & Youth & CISS affiliate) explains why debate is so important for youth’s social and intellectual development.

What One Million COVID Dead Mean for the U.S.’s Future (Scientific American, March 2022). Andrew Stokes, CISS affiliate and School of Public Health faculty, discusses the societal impacts of the nearly 1 million COVID-19 deaths.

Can Meditation and Mindfulness Help Cancer Patients Thrive? (The Brink, March 2022). Brenda Phillips,  a senior lecturer in Psychological & Brain Sciences, discusses her latest research demonstrating the protective effects of meditation.

Why Are So Many Religious Leaders Facing Stress and Burnout? (BU Today, March 2022). Steve Sandage, CISS affiliate and School of Theology professor of psychology of religion and theology, is discovering new ways to support clergy mental health and well-being during this stressful era.

Learning about Barriers to Economic Mobility (Phys.org, March 2022). Sociologist and associate dean Nazli Kibria discusses her collaborative project (with sociologist Max Greenberg)  Cascading Lives Project, a website and digital learning toolkit that shares people’s life stories and their experiences of downward mobility.

Will Early Social Security Retirement Benefits Reduce My Spousal Rate Later? (Forbes, March 2022). BU economics professor Laurence J. Kotlikoff addresses questions about how taking early retirement benefits can affect later spousal benefits, effects of the January 2022 COLA on benefits taken later and whether retirement benefits at 70 are required.

2022’s States with the Highest Job Resignation Rates (WalletHub, March 2022) Kevin Lang (Economics) discusses the dropping labor force participation rate during the pandemic, why we arent at pre-pandemic labor force participation rates, and how the tight labor market has affected employers.

Bostonian By Choice (Boston Magazine, March 2022). Japonica Brown-Saracino (Sociology department chair) weighs in on the debate over who counts as a “local.”

What is the Future of Travel in 2022 (BU Today, March 2022). Makarand Mody (SHA and CISS Affiliate) sheds light on the future of travel in 2022. He discusses flexcations, the popularity of AirBNB and VRBO, the return to city tourism, and more. 

Machines of War Take a Heavy Toll on Ukraine—and the Planet (WIRED, March 2022). Neta Crawford, chair of political science, explains why the conflict will exacerbate the climate crisis, as tanks, jets, and convoys burn fossil fuels and nearby nations boost their military spending.

Why Does the U.S. Need Oil From Other Countries? (Newsweek, March 2022). Robert Kaufmann, professor of Earth & Environment, explains why the U.S. uses more barrels of oil per day than it produces, necessitating imports from abroad.

POV: The Secret to Wildlife Conservation Might Be the “Animal Agency” Approach—Giving Creatures a Role in Their Own Preservation (BU Today, March 2022). Émilie Edelblutte, a PhD candidate in Earth and Environment and Global Policy Development Center fellow, writes that wild animals are living in cities and suburbs. Protecting them—and humans—means not seeing them as things to be managed.

Groups Hardest Hit by COVID-19 Appear Least Likely to Get Care for its Lingering Effects (The Boston Globe, March 2022). School of Social Work professor Linda Sprague Martinez observes that Black and Hispanic workers with COVID-19 may be stigmatized for symptoms like fatigue.

The Age Of Clocking Into Work Should Be Over (Huffington Post, March 2022). Daniel Lee Kleinman, sociologist and Associate Provost for Graduate Affairs, weighs in on the importance of trust and respect in the workplace.

Latino Evangelicals Used to Shun Politics. Will They Now Become a Right-Wing Force? (Los Angeles Times, March 2022), Sociologist and STH faculty member Jonathan Cavillo observes that the Republican ideology of free markets and bootstraps individualism resonates with many Latino evangelicals.

Dual-Factor Treatment: As Your Therapist about Spirituality (Big Think, March 2022) Steven Sandage (STH and CISS affiliate) discusses the growing trend of researchers seeking to integrate practices of positive psychology, spirituality and holistic well-being into mental health care, with careful attention to individual patients’ different needs.

What to Know if Your Company Is Planning to Buy Another (The Motley Fool, March 2022). Makarand Mody (SHA and CISS Affiliate) speaks about the hospitality industry, Airbnb‘s pricing model, and how the company affects the price of hotel rooms.

How could the Russia-Ukraine war end? Experts point to a number of possibilities. (The Boston Globe, March 2022) Igor Lukes (CAS) discusses the Russian-Ukraine war. Lukes argues that Russia will likely move slowly across Ukraine, as part of an intentional strategy, eventually installing a puppet leader who will represent Moscow’s interests to replace Zelensky.

Explaining the Latest Texas Anti-Transgender Directive (BU Today, March 2022). Three BU experts discuss whether the Texas move is legal and its impact on the trans community. Learn from  Linda McClain, Robert Kent Professor of Law, Melissa K. Holt (Director, of CERES Institute for Children & Youth and associate dean for faculty affairs) and Debbie Bazarsky (inaugural director of the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff).

Ask an Expert: How to Process Loss during the Pandemic and Take Care of your Mental Health. (Medium, BU Experts, March 2022).  Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) answers questions on Reddit’s AMA about stress, coping, and self-care.

Forced to Evacuate Ukraine, Nicole Jepeal (CAS’11) Worries about Those Left Behind. (Bostonia, March 2022). Nicole Jepeal, who majored in anthropology and biology at BU, shares her story of being evacuated from her Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship in Kyiv, Ukraine, ahead of the Russian invasion.

How New England Caught the COVID Deaths Much of the Country Missed. (USA Today, March 2022). Andrew Stokes (SPH, Sociology, and CISS affiliate) and a team of demographers show how New England more accurately evaluated and counted COVID deaths

New Boston University Study Links Remote Learning to a Decrease in Bullying, Cyberbullying (WCVB, February 2022). Research by Wheelock faculty members  Andrew Bacher-Hicks, Joshua Goodman, Jennifer Greif Green, and Melissa K. Holt finds that bullying-related internet searches dropped dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How to think about the risk of nuclear war, according to 3 experts (Vox, February 2022) Paul Hare, senior lecturer at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, argues that Putin’s real goal is to “swallow Ukraine” and restore the historical power of imperial Russia. He argues that Putin’s escalation is a reaction to a wave of international pressures and sanctions.

Calling Putin’s bluff on NATO. (The Hill, February 2022). BU economics’ Laurence J. Kotlikoff contends that Russia joining NATO might be a real solution to the current crisis.

Think therapy is navel-gazing? Think again. (The Conversation, February 2022). Steven Sandage, professor of theology and the psychology of religion at BU, refutes the myth that psychotherapy encourages a quality of self-absorption in clients.

Russian invasion of Ukraine would have global impact, specialists say. (Boston Globe, February 2022). BU professor Igor Lukes (CAS, History & International Relations) provides insight into the impacts of Ukraine’s perils and politics. 

Editorial: Savvy consumer an invaluable inflation hedge. (Lowell Sun, February 2022). Professor Kevin Lang (CAS, Economics & CISS Affiliate) discusses the effect of inflation on those whose incomes adjust retrospectively. 

Our Schools Must Tell a Better and More Complete Story about our Growing Economic Inequality (Hechinger Report, February 2022). Nazli Kibria (CAS, Sociology, Associate Dean of the Faculty for the Social Sciences, and CISS Affiliate) and co-author Karen Hansen (Brandeis) explain how the U.S. wealth gap is fostering an empathy gap — and what schools can do about it.

Two Big Hurdles Keep Many Americans from Saving for Retirement (Yahoo News, February 2022). BU professor in macroeconomics and public finance Laurence J. Kotlikoff  (CAS, Economics) highlights the challenges for U.S. workers don’t have employer-provided retirement accounts or adequate savings.

Gender Pay Gap: Why Attitudes to Risk Could Be Making it Worse (World Economic Forum, February 2022).  Questrom labor economist Patricia Cortes (CAS, Economics) finds that risk aversion in women and overconfidence in men can cause the gender pay gap to narrow or widen.

What is Afrofuturism? (Playbill, February 2022). Louis Chude-Sokei, George and Joyce Wein Chair in African American Studies, and director of the African American Studies, weighs in on the meaning of afrofuturism.

Tracing the History of New England’s Ice Trade (The Brink, February 2022). Andrew Robichaud (CAS, History) is writing a book on the ice trade, which took off in the 1820s and lasted about 100 years—until refrigeration rendered it unnecessary.

Sociologist Jessica Simes’ New Book Explores the Toll of Mass Incarceration and Its Racial Disparities. (The Brink,  February 2022). BU professor Jessica Simes (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) explains how Black and Latinx neighborhoods in deindustrialized smaller cities have become communities of loss—robbed by the prison system of family members, wage earners, potential voters, and citizens

What’s the Appeal of Deep Voices in Men? (SAPIENS, February 2022). BU professor Carolyn Hodges-Simeon (CAS, Anthropology) weighs in on why low-pitched male voices are frequently seen as signs of dominance, strength, and sex appeal.

Ask Larry: Will Social Security Automatically Delay Our Benefits Till 70? (Forbes, February 2022). Hear professor Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) on whether it’s necessary to tell Social Security you want to delay until 70 to start benefits. 

Are Trump Republicans Fascists? (BU Today, February 2022). No, says professor Jonathan Zatlin (CAS, History),  but they can still be dangerous. He places the January 6 insurrection in a larger historical context.

Royal Nod for ‘Queen Camilla’ Caps Years of Image Repair (The New York Times, February 7, 2022). Professor Arianne Chernock (CAS, History) explains the social and historical significance of Camilla’s possible ascension to the title of queen consort, solidifying her role as the regal partner of Prince Charles.

Social Security May Be a ‘Treasure Trove’ For You and Your Family. But First You Have to Navigate Some Complex Rules (CNBC, February 2022). Professor in macroeconomics and public finance Laurence J. Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) offers tips for retirees to maximize the total amount of Social Security income they and their families receive.

And Just Like That…Middle Age Happens (Psychology Today, February 2022). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) identifies five truths about aging we can learn from the Sex and the City reboot.

Fetching Success for The Dogist (BU Today, February 2022). Elias Weiss Friedman (CAS’10, Psychological and Brain Sciences) is the founder and creative director of The Dogist, a blog and social media phenomenon with more than four million followers on Instagram that has become even more important to its fans during the pandemic.

Long Live Ukraine, Taiwan and the Nation-State (Wall Street Journal, February 2022). Liah Greenfeld, professor (CAS, Sociology and Political Science), discusses the fate of these two small countries, in danger of being swallowed by imperial neighbors.

What Happens When Human Truckers are Replaced by AI? (UK News Today, February 2022).  Professor Pascual Restrepo (CAS, Economics) sheds light on companies’ increased use of “so-so technologies,” forms of automation that replace workers without broadly increasing productivity—automatic telephone customer service, for example, and retail self-checkouts.

Social Studies: Trump’s Stimulus Checks; Daring Dogs; Walls Make Bad Neighbors (Boston Globe, February 2022). Professor  Martin Fizbein’s (CAS, Economics &. CISS Affiliate) new research shows that local cultures are shaped by the amount of labor required to harvest crops in the area — and that this effect lasts for generations.

Sociologist Jessica Simes’ New Book Explores Toll of Mass Incarceration and Its Racial Disparities (Mirage News, February 2022). Professor Jessica Simes (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) discusses the key findings of her new book Punishing Places.

Militaries Produce 6% of GHGs, But They’re Not Required to Report It. (PBS, January 2022). Professor Neta Crawford (CAS, Political Science) provides insights into the U.S. military’s production of green house gases, and the larger societal  and political implications.

Uncovering COVID-19’s Hidden Deaths in the United States. (The Brink, January 2022). Assistant professor Andrew Stokes (SPH & CISS Affiliate) reveals that his research has shown many US counties may be underreporting COVID-19 pandemic deaths.

Racial and Economic Inequality Persists. Why Do Many People Deny It ? (MarketWatch, January 2022). Professor and CISS affiliate Jonathan Mijs (CAS, Sociology) explains why Americans don’t acknowledge persistent inequalities.

Readers Have Questions About Stocks. An Economist Replies. (The New York Times, January 2022). BU professor in macroeconomics and public finance Laurence J. Kotlikoff decodes the function of stocks, explaining the important role they play that often goes obscured.

This Professor Went Viral For Asking Students How Much They Think The Average Person Makes, And It’s Eye-Opening (BuzzFeed, January 2022). Professor and CISS affiliate Jonathan Mijs (CAS, Sociology) explains why 25% of Wharton students thinks the average U.S. worker earns  over six figures annually.

$100-a-barrel Oil May Soon Be A Reality — And Stick Around (Marketplace, January 2022). Robert Kaufmann (CAS, Earth & Environment)  describes the impact of COVID-19 on oil prices.

War? More COVID? Irreversible Climate Change? What 2022 Could Bring BU Faculty Predict What to Expect in the Coming Year (BU Today, January 2022).  What does the new year hold in store? Abigail Sullivan (CAS, Earth & Environment & CISS Affiliate) weighs in on the environment, Igor Lukes (CAS, History) predicts global relations, Lauren Mattioli (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) discusses legislative changes, and Laurence Kotlikoff, William Fairfield Warren Distinguished professor (CAS, Economics) discuss future inflation rates.

US President Joe Biden’s First Year Weighed Down by Disappointment (Deutsche Welle, January 2022). Virginia Sapiro, professor emerita (CAS, Political Science), explains the challenges facing President Biden in his first year in office.

Why Is It So Hard to Keep Our New Year’s Resolutions. (BU Today, January 2022). Joe McGuire (CAS, Psychological and Brain Sciences and director of the Cognition & Decision Lab), explains why we don’t keep our resolutions.

The Great Resignation: Historical Data and a Deeper Analysis Show it’s Not as Great as Screaming Headlines Suggest. (The Conversation, January 2021). Jay Zagorsky (Questrom) demonstrates that few major sectors, especially service industries like leisure and hospitality, are responsible for most of the high rate of quitting.

Economists Pin More Blame on Tech for Rising Inequality. (The New York Times,  January 2022). Research by Pascual Restrepo (CAS, Economics) and colleagues shows how automation has contributed to widening economic disparities.

End-of-Life Conversations Can Be Hard, But Your Loved Ones Will Thank You. (The Conversation, January 2022). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) encourages end-of-life discussions early and often to help prepare for a “good death” for patients and their families.

Ask Larry: Does A Possible Drop In The 2020 AWI Mean I Should I File Retroactive To 2021? (Forbes, January 2022). Larry Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) explains how the 2020 average wage index (AWI) would affect Social Security benefits.

How History Was Changed on January 6  (WCVB 5, January 2022). Thomas Whalen, associate professor of social sciences in AMNESP, describes the lasting impact of the 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection.

Confessions of a ‘Human Guinea pig’: Why I’m Resigning from Moderna Vaccine Trials (STAT, January 2022). Jeremy Menchik, associate professor of international relations at the Pardee School discusses his experience participating in the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trials and why he withdrew from further trials.

A Hands-on Class on Homelessness (BU Today, December 2021). Sargent lecturer in BU’s Department of Health Sciences Kaytlin Eldred is offering a class that explores the contributing factors to homelessness in Massachusetts.

In Greater Boston, women earn 70 cents for every dollar men earn (WBUR, December 2021). Patricia Cortes, economist and associate professor at BU, discusses the worsening gender wage gap affecting workers in the Greater Boston area. 

The US Is Undercounting COVID Deaths, Researchers Say. Now They Have a Tool to Figure Out Why (USA Today, December 2021). Andrew Stokes (SPH & CISS Affiliate), explains potential threats to accurately counting COVID deaths in the U.S.

Using Data Science to Address the Gender and Racial Wage Gap. (BU Today, December 2021). Eric Kolaczyk, director of the Hariri Institute, and Masanao Yajima, director of MSSP Consulting (a CISS partner), show how data can be used to document race and gender pay gaps, and develop policy solutions.

What’s Driving Inequality? Automation, BU Researcher Says (BU Today, December 2021) BU economist Pascual Restrepo discusses the impact that increased automation is having on blue-collar workers around the world. 

BU Trustees Have Their Next Chair, Alum Ahmass Fakahany, and a New Member (BU Today, December 2021) Kenneth Lin (CAS ’98), founder and CEO of the personal finance website Credit Karma, joins the Boston University Board of Trustees.

The Coronavirus Response in South Africa (Orders Beyond Borders, December 2021)  Joseph Harris (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) examines the pandemic measures taken in South Africa against its historical context & calls on Germany and other industrialized nations for support.

End-of-Life Conversations May Be Helpful to Patients and Families (Washington Post, December 2021) Professor Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) explains the importance of end-of-life conversations for dying patients and their loved ones.

This Could Be the Coolest Religion Class You Ever Take (BU Today, December 2021) Margarita Guillory (CAS, Religion and African American Studies & CISS steering committee member) teaches the course “Religion and Hip Hop” and shows how digital media studies can be used to explore diverse religion expressions in hip hop culture,

E-Cigarettes May Be Independently Linked to Erectile Dysfunction, New Research Finds (KPVI TV, December 2021) Andrew Stokes (SPH & CISS Affiliate) and collaborators find that men between ages 20 and 65 years of age with no prior history of cardiovascular but who use e-cigarettes daily are more than twice (2.4 times) as likely as men who have never used e-cigs to report erectile dysfunction. Read the full study in American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Internet Torn Over Woman Who Wants Grieving Relatives To Move Out After 3-Year Stay (Newsweek, November 2021). Professor Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses the profound toll of child death on families.

‘Locked Out’: Poor Rhode Islanders Face Unnecessary Barriers to Subsidized Housing, Study Says (Boston Globe, November 18, 2021). Thomas Byrne (SSW & CISS Affiliate) and Megan Smith (SSW doctoral candidate) document that people trying to get federally subsidized housing in Rhode Island face rules around criminal records, alcohol use, tenant histories, and credit that go well beyond the guidelines laid out in federal law.

Can Vaping Help You Quit Smoking? (BU Today, November 2021). On this podcast, Andrew Stokes (SPH & CISS affiliate) discusses whether using e-cigarettes can help a person quit smoking traditional cigarettes.

Nancy Ammerman on Fundamentalism & Battling Baptists (Word & Way, November 2021).   Professor Emerita of Sociology of Religion Nancy Ammerman discusses her book Baptist Battles and talks about issues of fundamentalism, sociology of religion, and her new book Studying Lived Religion.

New Interdisciplinary Class Asks: ‘What Do Plants Know?’ (BU Today, November 2021). Learn about “The Secret Life of Plants,” a new team-taught course at the nexus of biology, anthropology, and English. Center affiliate and anthropology professor Caterina Scaramelli (CAS, Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) is one of three faculty members co-teaching the class. 

Catastrophe & Memory. (BU Today, November 2021).  James Schmidt, professor of history, philosophy, and political science, is teaching an intriguing new course examining how “how we construct narratives that give accounts of what these unimaginable [catastrophic] events are like.”

If You’re Feeling Anxious, Try This 2,000-Year-Old, Neuroscience-Backed Hack. (TIME Magazine, November 2021). Stefan Hofmann (CAS, Psychological and Brain Sciences) professor and director of the Psychotherapy & Emotion Research Laboratory, discusses the historical roots of imaginal exposure.

FIRST-GEN: Brianna Bourne’s Journey from Mattapan to Boston Latin to Comm Ave. (BU Today, November 2, 2021).  CAS, Psychological and Brain Sciences major Brianna Bourne (CAS ‘ 24) shares her experiences at BU, and her excitement about her courses and opportunities for community engagement.

Has Joe Biden Abandoned Trumpism and Populist Politics? (BU Today, November 2021). BU political scientist Lauren Mattioli answers the question in today’s podcast.

POV: Gen Z Voted at Record Levels in 2020—but That’s Not Enough (BU Today, November 2021). BU Student Body President Nyah Jordan (COM ’22), a political science minor and communications major, penned an op-ed explaining why youth voting (especially in local elections) is so important.

Some Workers Fear ‘Unrealistically Severe’ Cuts to Social Security Benefits. Why That is Not a Reason to Claim Early. (CNBC, October 2021).  BU economics professor Laurence Kotlikoff weighs in on the ideal time to retire.

This Squad of Researchers Is a Real-Life Justice League (BU Today, October 2021). Lucy Hutyra (CAS, Earth & Environment) and Katharine Lusk (BU Initiative on Cities) are among the team of BU scientists  lobbying for new policies to protect the world’s most vulnerable people from the consequences of climate change.

Three New Members Join BU’s Board of Trustees (BU Today, October 2021). Meet the newest member’s of BU’s Board of Trustees and Advisory Board, including Maureen Alphonse-Charles (CAS’85, Pardee’85) and Julia Kim Clarke (CAS’91, Pardee’91), both of whom studied international relations at BU.

Six Afro-Latino Memoirists That You Should Know (BU Today, October 2021). African American studies and literature scholar Trent Masiki brings together the two fields of African American and Latino literature together in his upcoming book, Afroethnic Renewal.

Alum’s Debut Cookbook Features Vegan Recipes with a Global Influence (Bostonia, October 2021). Priyanka Naik (CAS ’10; Economics) combines her Indian American upbringing, her wanderlust, and the art of the compartmentalized lunch box in The Modern Tiffin.

The Inhumane Futility of Border Policing (Al Jazeera, October 2021).  BU sociology professor Heba Gowayed (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate), argues that increased and more violent border policing does not work, and calls for abolishing this inhumane policy.

Prepare to Keep Spending (BU Today, October 2021). BU economics professor Tarek Hassan (CAS, Economics) predicts inflation to continue for two more years, but the good news is that wages are also rising.

The Second Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (The Atlantic, October 2021). Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research)  writes about attacks on critical race theory.

New BU Center for Innovation in Social Science Will Promote Collaborative Research and Teaching (BU Today, October 2021) A new BU Center in Social Science is designed to offer “one-stop shopping” for faculty looking to pursue multidisciplinary research projects and team teaching.

‘Mass’ Filmmaker Explores Forgiveness and Reconciliation after Tragedy. (Christian Science Monitor, October 2021).  Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses effective ways for bereaved parents to cope with their loss.

Innovation Center Opens as an ‘Intellectual Home’ for BU Social Sciences Community (The Daily Free Press, October 2021). Read about the goals of the newly launched Center for Innovation in Social Science.

Dignity Therapy: Making the Last words Count. (Knowable Magazine, October 2021) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) weighs in on dignity therapy as a tool for helping dying patients.

Ethan Wang Was Told He’d Never Walk Again. He’ll Walk on Stage for Commencement. (BU Today, September 2021) Read the inspiring story of BU political science major Ethan Wang, and his remarkable resilience following a devastating accident.

How The Growing Economic Divide Prevents Us From Learning About Others’ Lives (Wisconsin Public Radio. September 2021) Professor Jonathan Mijs (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) explains why socioeconomic status creates ‘bubbles’ that prevent us from getting to know one another.

Here are the Changes that Could Be Coming to your Social Security Benefits (CNBC, September 2021) Larry Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) discusses the potential personal impacts of Social Security changes.

Did COVID-19 Change the Way Police Interact With Citizens? (Government Technology, September 2021) Read this Q&A with sociology professor Jessica Simes (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate), whose research on COVID-19 and policing was named Innovation of the Month by GovTech and MetroLab!

MacArthur Foundation Announces 2021 ‘Genius’ Grant Winners (The New York Times, September 2021) Ibram X. Kendi (CAS, History and Founder/Director of the Center for Antiracist Research) named a MacArthur “genius grant” recipient.

COVID Deaths Severely Undercounted Among Communities of Color, New Study Finds (Salon, September 2021) Faculty member Andrew Stokes (CAS, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) explains why.

China Says It Won’t Build New Coal Plants Abroad. What Does That Mean? (The New York Times, September 2021) Kevin Gallagher (Pardee), professor of global development policy, discuss his work tracking China’s global energy financing.

Why Older Couples Don’t Need Marriage to Have Great Relationships (TIME Magazine, September 2021) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses the reasons why older adults are finding romantic happiness outside of marriage.

Another Truth About Remote Work (The Atlantic, September 2021) Professor Jonathan Mijs (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) explains how public understanding of working from home explains a lot about confirmation bias in America.

A Left among Rights: A Progressive Student’s Week at a Conservative Think Tank. What Did He Learn? (BU Today, September 2021)  In his own words, political science and international relations major Zak Schneider (CAS’22, Pardee’22) recounts a week with right-leaning peers: “I came to this realization that I was wrongly worried”.

US Census Bureau Has Released Some 2020 Census Results: What’s Next? (BU Today, September 2021) Maxwell Palmer (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) discusses how 2020 Census data may influence redistricting.

Two Women of Color Will Compete to Become Boston’s Next Mayor, Marking Historic Shift (Washington Post, September 2021). Katharine Lusk (BU Initiative on Cities) member of the Social Sciences Task Force, weighs in on Boston’s mayoral race. 

Hailey Hart-Thompson, 22, Co-Founder of The Stateless Collective, Named a Top Young Entrepreneur (BostInno, September 2021) BU’s own Hart-Thompson is the co-founder and CEO of The Stateless Collective, which encourages global engagement by training students for studying, working, researching and volunteering abroad  She is an independent major in anthropology, classics and English with a dual degree in film and television.

Six BU Students on an Unforgettable Summer Working at Boston City Hall (BU Today, September 2021) Students from BU economics, history, political science, sociology, and more worked as summer interns at Boston’s City Hall.

POV: Who Is Forgotten in Our Discussion of Abortion? (BU Today, September 2021) BU faculty, graduate students, and staff from anthropology, history, sociology, women’s, gender, & sexuality studies (WGS), and more write that the media is failing to address the fact that nonbinary people and trans men need abortion care, too.

ASA Economic Sociology Section Newsletter Accounts (Summer 2021 issue) The summer issue of the newsletter featured interviews carried out by BU Sociology graduate students including Elif Birced, Ya-Ching Huang, Meghann Lucy, and Gokhan Mulayim. The Economic Sociology section is led by chair-elect Ashley Mears (CAS, Sociology) and secretary- treasurer Neha Gondal (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate), both faculty members in the BU Sociology department.

There Are Roughly Two Dozen Lesbian Bars in the United States. The Ones That Are Left Are Evolving to Survive (CNN Business, July 2021) Japonica Brown-Saracino (CAS, Sociology & CISS Affiliate) discusses some of the common narratives about lesbian, bisexual and queer individuals’ need for lesbian bars, explaining the impacts this can have. Her insight is explored further in her book, “How Places Make Us.”