March 25, 2020 

Top News

Dr. Doug Woods, associate professor of psychology in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences and vice provost for graduate and professional studies and dean of the Graduate School, discussed why it’s difficult to stop touching your face, as health organizations are pushing for heightened hygiene to slow the spread of the coronavirus. “Maybe you (touch your face because you) need to rub your eyes, you adjust your hair. And our hands habitually go to our mouth when we eat, and so on,” Woods said. “When we do something, it gets rewarded — it feels nice to scratch an itch — and it just keeps getting rewarded, and pretty soon, we’re doing it without the reward even happening. We’re just used to the behavior occurring.” 

Story appeared on Vox, March 23, 2020

Similar story aired on Spectrum News, March 20, 2020

Dr. Woods also spoke with WTMJ-AM (620) for a March 23 segment in which he described effective ways to work from home during the pandemic. 

Dr. Stephen Saunders, professor and chair of psychology in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, described the impact social distancing and other precautions amid coronavirus can have on mental health. “[Social isolation] is miserable, it’s a prescription for depression and anxiety,” Saunders said. “Social distancing and social isolation are not the same. The more you do the one, the more you have to fight against the other.” Saunders suggests using technology to stay socially connected, which can also help relieve stress.

Story aired on Spectrum News, March 22, 2020 

Dr. Robert Smith, Harry G. John Professor of History in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, discussed the future of Milwaukee communities as the coronavirus proves to be both a public health and economic crisis. "We have to assume that there will be long-term consequences," Smith said. "We have to begin to think about some of the roadblocks and deviations we can take now to keep that ugliness of that future as minimal as possible . . . I think what has happened is the responsibility to deal with this has been squarely placed on each and every American citizen. And then it becomes the question of who does the government serve? Who is the government is intended to serve?"

Story appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 20, 2020

Andrew Hunt, director for the Center of Real Estate in the College of Business Administration, discussed the impact coronavirus is having on the real estate market, and how agents can adapt. "Open houses right now are really risky," Hunt said. “Some real estate agents might instead focus on marketing homes with photos, video slideshows or even owner-produced video tours.” He added that most experts expect a slowdown in home sales despite low mortgage interest rates and strong demand from buyers.

Story appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 20, 2020

Dr. Philip Rocco, assistant professor of political science in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, discussed the politics behind public health emergencies. “The map of federalism in the head of public health people looks very different than for people in other domains of public policy. I think it also looks very different depending on whether we are in normal time or emergency time,” Rocco said. “. . . because most of the time isn’t emergency time, that’s the kind of structure that is most up in the air and I think in many ways people are improvising.” 

Story aired on R Street Institute, March 20, 2020

Dr. Doug Fisher, associate professor emeritus of practice and retired director of the Center for Supply Chain Management in the College of Business Administration, discussed how grocery stores are working efficiently to meet the high demand for food and other essentials driven by the coronavirus. "You can see a lot of empty space on the shelves, Fisher said. “But it wouldn't surprise me that by this weekend, those will start filling up again.”

Story aired on WISN-TV (ABC 12), March 19, 2020

Dr. Amber Wichowsky, associate professor of political science in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, commented on coronavirus’ impact on the economy and voter attitudes heading into the presidential election. “That’s a big unknown — on what partisanship is going to mean, whether or not the country is going to blame the incumbent president for the handling of the crisis or whether or not this remains as a partisan divide with democrats constantly opposed and republicans rallying around the president.” 

Story aired on WFAE-FM (90.7, Charlotte, North Carolina), March 23, 2020

Dr. Jay Goldberg, clinical professor of biomedical engineering in the Opus College of Engineering, described how boosting the production of ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients is a difficult race against time as the number of cases rises. “It doesn’t just happen overnight,” Goldberg said. He added that companies can add shifts to double or triple production, but that will depend on the availability of hundreds of components, as some parts are likely to come from China where factories were largely shut down as part of that country’s response to the pandemic.

Story appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 23, 2020

Rock and roll book edited by Marquette experts makes ‘stuck at home’ book list
"Milwaukee Rock and Roll, 1950-2000: A Reflective History" made OnMilwaukee’s list of “6 more great reads to add to your stuck at home book list,” meant to inspire readers during social distancing. Bruce Cole, resource management catalog and Jean Cujé Milwaukee Music Collection librarian at Raynor Memorial Libraries, and Dr. Phillip Naylor, associate professor of history in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, edited the book, which covers the history of rock music throughout Milwaukee, as well as blues and post-punk. 

Story appeared on OnMilwaukee, March 19, 2020

Marquette University Police Department Chief Edith Hudson paid tribute to Lenard Wells, a longtime member of the Milwaukee Police Department, who recently passed away from COVID-19 complications. "All along, Lenny's advice was, we need more women, more people of color in the supervisory ranks," Hudson said. "He loved the people working with him — not for him, with him — and never did I see him act in a way as though he was being an authoritarian or talking down to someone.” Wells was a mentor to Hudson as she rose through the ranks at MPD.  

Story appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 23, 2020