Aug. 26, 2020

Marquette experts provide commentary on the Democratic National Convention

Dr. Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, and Dr. Amber Wichowsky, professor of political science in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, discussed how the Biden and Trump campaigns are taking different tactics when it comes to campaigning during the coronavirus pandemic and whether visits to Wisconsin will have an impact. “Trump and Pence are more willing to travel and speak, with or without masks, while Biden has not been campaigning in that way,” Franklin said. “There is some evidence that having a really robust field operation or hosting a national convention can boost turnout – something that the Democratic Party is aiming to do in cities like Milwaukee, where voter turnout declined between 2012 and 2016,” Wichowsky said, adding that visits and other campaigning can lead to a “flurry of activity — media coverage, voter registration and other base-mobilizing action — that often gives both Republicans and Democrats a bounce in the polls after their conventions.”

Story appeared in Milwaukee Magazine, Aug. 17, 2020

Franklin also spoke with several other news outlets for stories about voter enthusiasm, Wisconsin political party trends and the bounce Biden could see in the polls following the DNC. 

Stories appeared on or in the Washington Times, Daily Mail, Urban Milwaukee and Capital Times, Aug. 19-24, 2020

Wichowsky also spoke with Courthouse News Service for an Aug. 17 story about the takeaways from the first day of the DNC. 

Dr. Julia Azari, associate professor and assistant chair of political science in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, spoke about the impact a virtual DNC could have on the presidential race in Wisconsin. “There’s no evidence that holding the convention in a city or state has a decisive impact,” Azari said. “In past years, Democrats and Republicans have held their conventions in battleground states, even though there is not an impact made. The location of the convention does not have any impact. The goal is to tip the state that the convention is held in the favor of that specific party.”

Story appeared on MarketWatch, Aug. 18, 2020

Dr. Paul Nolette, chair and associate professor of political science in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, commented on the second day of the DNC and how it is important for Democrats to show off the party’s next wave of leaders. “When you look at the leadership of the Democratic Party — Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi — there are a lot of names that are in their 70s, or close to 80 years-old,” Nolette said. “So, it's good to see some of the rising stars.”

Story aired on WDJT-TV (CBS 58), Aug. 18, 2020

Marquette In the News

Students move into residence halls with new health, safety precautions
This year’s student move-in was covered by several local outlets via a special “Preview Day,” during which media were given a look at a modified residence hall room, classroom and dining hall, with a rundown of the university’s health and safety precautions in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.  

Stories appeared on or in the Milwaukee Business Journal, WITI-TV (FOX 6), WDJT-TV (CBS 58), WISN-TV (NBC 12), Spectrum News, and WTMJ-TV (ABC 4), Aug. 21, 2020

University featured in Forbes’ 'Best-in-state Employers' list
As part of its 2020 list of America’s Best-In-State Employers, Forbes ranked Marquette among the 75 best Wisconsin employers. Marquette comes in at No. 27 on the list. Forbes, using Statista — an advanced analytics software — selected the best-in-state employers based on an independent survey of more than 80,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 500 people in their U.S. operations. 

Story appeared in Forbes, Aug. 24, 2020

Susan Teerink, associate vice provost for financial aid and enrollment services, discussed student loan forbearance following President Trump’s executive order pausing student loan payments through the end of the year as a means of providing additional economic relief amid the pandemic. "All of the details surrounding the president's executive order aren't completely understood at this time," Teerink said, adding that it is not clear yet if the executive order completely mirrors the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stimulus) Act, which automatically places anyone with a federal direct student loan into postponement status, or if students have to choose to opt in.

Story aired on WITI-TV (FOX 6), Aug. 24, 2020

Prof. Chad Oldfather, professor of law, was cited for a paper he wrote in which he discusses the changing celebrity culture of the Supreme Court. Oldfather argues that judges, like the now retired David H. Souter, will likely be passed over going forward because “a culture that reveres the ‘Notorious RBG’ (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) will find it hard to value a man whose tongue-in-cheek moniker is the ‘Inconspicuous DHS (David H. Souter)’ who has become known as the ‘stealth nominee’ taking no public positions on the controversial issues of the day and lived an unusually disconnected personal life.”

Story appeared on the SCOTUSblog, Aug. 18, 2020

Dr. James Pokrywczynski, associate professor of strategic communication in the Diedrich College of Communication, commented on the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium name — “Bills Stadium” — and how the team is focusing on selling banner ads over tarped seats in the first eight rows, as part of the league's plan to offset lost revenue from low ticket sales amid the pandemic. “All you can do is really deliver a logo in a situation like that, so there is limited impact that might have,” Pokrywczynski said. “But it is a way to try and get some of those sponsors the exposure that they’d get normally from a sponsorship deal.” 

Story appeared in the Buffalo News, Aug. 20, 2020

Prof. Michael O’Hear, professor of law, discussed Steven Avery — whose Manitowoc County murder case was featured in the Netflix docuseries “Making a Murderer” — and the timeline for a possible ruling in Avery’s appeal. "I assume that means awaiting assignment to a decisional process, which could involve oral argument versus decision on the briefs alone," O’Hear said, adding he expects a ruling from the court “within eight to 12 months, maybe less.”

Story appeared in the Wausau Daily Herald, Aug. 20, 2020

University makes Princeton Review’s 2021 ‘Best’ list 
Marquette was again named on The Princeton Review’s annual list of the “Best 386 Colleges.” The university is also featured in several of its national sub-categories: 19th in the Best Schools for Internships; 20th in the Most Religious Students; 16th in the Students Most Engaged in Community Service; and seventh in the Students Pack the Stadiums. 

Story appeared on the Patch, Aug. 19, 2020

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