Aug. 19, 2020

Marquette In the News

The Marquette Law School Poll was cited in numerous stories nationwide for its latest results, which found that of the likely voters surveyed, 49% support Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden and 44% support President Donald Trump. Six percent of voters say they will vote for neither, don’t know who they will vote for or don’t want to give an opinion.

Stories appeared on or in The Hill, New York Times, Forbes, Chicago Tribune, FOX News, CNN, IMPACT 2020, Armenian Reporter, Bloomer Advance, The Capital Times, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Kenosha News, WITI-TV (FOX 6), WLUK-TV (FOX 11, Green Bay), WISN-TV (ABC 12), WTMJ-TV (NBC 4), WDJT-TV (CBS 58), WSAW-TV (CBS 7, Wausau), WFRV-TV (CBS 5, Green Bay), Spectrum News, Wisconsin Public Radio, WTMJ-AM (620), WUWM-FM (89.7), WHBL-AM (1330, Sheboygan), Aug. 11-12, 2020

The Law Poll was cited in several other stories for additional results that found voters overall are in favor of face mask mandates. 

Stories appeared on or in U.S. News & World Report, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WITI-TV (FOX 6), WTMJ-AM (620), WLS-TV (ABC 7, Chicago), Aug. 11, 2020

Employee resource group recognized for offering support for working moms
Marquette Moms, an employee resource group at the university, was highlighted for supporting faculty and staff moms as they strive to balance work, professional development and family. Members said the group has been a valuable resource since its inception in 2010, but that it has taken on a new role for many amid the coronavirus pandemic, as parents have had to confront the unique challenges of working from home, while simultaneously taking care of and homeschooling children. Brigid Kinsella-Alba, coordinator of mission programs and member of Marquette Moms, said, "Knowing that I was able to connect with my co-workers here just made it a lot more manageable because you didn't feel so alone.”

Story aired on WTMJ-TV (NBC 4), Aug. 12, 2020

Dr. Kristina Ropella, Opus Dean of the Opus College of Engineering, discussed how the pandemic has pushed institutions of higher education to quickly adopt new technology. “In one week's time, I think most universities converted thousands of in-person courses into online (courses) very rapidly," Ropella said. “Which meant a lot of time training faculty and staff, very quickly, on how to do that, and how to use the technology, and how to effectively do it.” 

Story appeared in the Milwaukee Business Journal, Aug. 12, 2020

Dr. Michael Wert, associate professor of East Asian history in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, was cited for the book he wrote titled “Samurai: A Concise History” in a piece fact checking the portrayal of samurai in the PlayStation 4 game “Ghost of Tsushima.” Wert said "the idea that bushi (samurai) were mighty, deadly warriors is really a 20th century invention. Warriors in the Kamakura period were interested in promoting their self-interests and gaining land if they were high-ranking enough. Many of the warriors used the Mongol invasions as a way to tell the Kamakura regime, ‘Look, I fought, so I want rewards.’” 

Story appeared in The Washington Post, Aug. 14, 2020 

Dr. Nakia Gordon, associate professor and assistant chair of psychology in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, commented on confrontations that have taken place at recent school board meetings regarding reopening plans for schools this fall. "No matter what the answer is from the school board, depending on whether you feel like that violates your ability to engage in the world you want, it can stoke those feelings of anger," Gordon said. "It's also, 'Here's this threat that I don't have a lot of information about. I don't know what to do. No one has a good answer and I just feel anxious about it.” 

Story aired on WISN-TV (ABC 12), Aug. 13, 2020

Dr. Philip Rocco, assistant professor of political science in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, discussed changes to the census proposed by President Trump — including a 2017 effort by the Trump administration to add a question to the census asking whether or not respondents are United States citizens. “The Supreme Court turned back this effort in June 2019, but not before civil servants in the census were forced to consider changing a survey instrument they had already spent years planning, reducing resources available for quality assurance and program integrity,” Rocco said.

Story appeared in The Washington Post, Aug. 14, 2020

Prof. Michael O’Hear, professor of law, discussed the use of the insanity defense in court with regard to a hate crime trial taking place in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. O’Hear said when “the defense could also convince a court that the defendant knew his actions were wrong but couldn't ‘conform his conduct to the law’, this is called the ‘irresistible impulse.’”

Story appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 10, 2020

Dr. Kent Belasco, director of the Commercial Banking program and assistant professor of finance and banking in the College of Business Administration, discussed the future of business loans amid the pandemic. “(Hypothetically) if my business is pretty much closed, there’s not a whole lot I can do, except to make sure that I can get my employees back and that I have a business in the future,” Belasco said. “They’re looking ahead, and they’re a little bit concerned, because I think they’re anticipating losses that are going to come out of this.” 

Story appeared on NPR's Marketplace, Aug. 14, 2020

Dr. Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, and Mike Gousha, distinguished fellow in law and public policy, discussed the recent history of presidential races in Wisconsin. "Three of the last five presidential races in Wisconsin have been decided by just a single percentage point,” Franklin said. “So, we are in a close group — a group that was pivotal last time and a historically competitive state despite two pretty substantial wins by President Barrack Obama.”

Story appeared on Yahoo! News, Aug. 15, 2020

Franklin also spoke with the Bangkok Post for an Aug. 17 story about what to expect as political events go virtual — like the Democratic National Convention — as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. David Clark, executive associate dean in the College of Business Administration, analyzed recent home sales numbers. Clark said solid June sales and record July sales will help offset the more than 25% sales decline in May, at the start of the peak homebuying months. "If you’re going to see a bounce back, seeing it in the summer months is where you want to see it, because that’s where so much of the housing activity takes place," Clark added. "By and large, this is a very welcome sign, to see an improvement in the month of July."

Story aired on Wisconsin Public Radio, Aug. 17, 2020

Similar story appeared on WisBusiness, Aug. 18, 2020

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