Elon University in the News – Early Summer 2010

Elon University professors, administrators and alumni made regional and national news this month through their research and activities, both on and off campus. The following list should not be considered exhaustive and does not include athletics news.

6/27: The New York Times: “Study Finds Questioning of Nominees to Be Useful” Elon University assistant professor Dion Farganis, with a colleague from the University of Kentucky, researched Court nomination hearings from 1955-present.

6/30: North Carolina Public Radio (WUNC) program “The State of Things”: Assistant professor Jason Kirk talked with host Frank Stasio about his new book, India and the World Bank: The Politics of Aid and Influence, which explores the partnership between India and the bank and suggests ways for the bank to adapt to new economic realities in the 21st century.

6/30: Bergen County Record (New Jersey): “A degree, but still no job: College graduates having tough time in slow economy” Elon University alum James Etchells, one of several people quoted, describes finding a job by getting his career search started early.

7/1: PBS NewsHour: “Are Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings Getting Longer?” Elon University assistant professor Dion Farganis, with a colleague from the University of Kentucky, researched Court nomination hearings from 1955-present. RELATED from News 14 Carolina: “In Depth, Dion Farganis” (July 2 interview not currently posted online at News14.com… See E-net post and video) RELATED from McClatchy-Tribune News Service: Kagan and her inquisitors got what they wanted in hearings”

7/2: The Apex Herald (Apex, N.C.): “Man reaches out to people across the world” Kyle Johnson ’10 shares the story of how his father’s terminal cancer eventually led the Elon student to a yearlong mission trip around the world.

7/2: Seattle Post Intelligencer: “Study: Social media creating new social world for 2010” The Tech Chronicles blog covers a Pew Research Center/Elon University survey of top tech leaders on the benefits of social media.

7/2: Orlando Sentinel: “In 10 years, will Internet be a positive or negative force?” The Sentinel’s “Tech for the rest of us” blog reported on the Pew Research Center/Elon University survey on social media.

7/2: PC Magazine: “Unsurprisingly, Geeks Endorse the Web as Social Tool” was a report on the Pew Research Center/Elon University survey on social media.

7/2: Tech Journal South: “Pew survey says experts agree the Net’s effect is mostly positive” was a report on the Pew Research Center/Elon University survey on social media.

7/5: The Times-News: “This flag doesn’t fly, but it’s impressive” Short feature story in the Times-News on a tradition Jim Piatt and his wife, Amy, brought with them from Ohio when Piatt joined the university as vice president of University Advancement. RELATED from WFMY News 2: “Neighborhood Comes Together to Create Flag Art”

7/6: InformationWeek: “Most see Internet as Positive Social Force” was a report on the Pew Research Center/Elon University survey on social media. RELATED from USAToday: “Socializing on the Internet: More good than bad”

7/8: PBS NewsHour: “How Candid Was Kagan? Depends Who’s Asking, Analysts Say” was a follow-up to research co-authored by assistant professor Dion Farganis on U.S. Supreme Court nomination hearings. Farganis and a colleague from the University of Kentucky examined Elena Kagan’s answers in her recent hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

7/9: PBS NewsHour: “Social Media in 2020 and Beyond” was a report on the Pew Research Center/Elon University survey on social media. 

7/9: San Francisco Chronicle: “’Millennials’ leading the way on social media” was a report on the Pew Research Center/Elon University survey on the changing demographics of social media users. RELATED from MSNBC.com: “Privacy, schmivacy — Gen Y will keep on sharing”

7/9: News 14 Carolina: “In Depth: Hunter Bacot, Elon poll director” News anchor Tracey Early interviewed Bacot on the political ramifications of Gov. Bev Perdue’s news conference to address concerns about the N.C. State Highway Patrol.

7/11: News & Record: “’Terrorist’ beyond shadow of a doubt” Associate professor Brooke Barnett and Hannah Williams ’10 co-authored an opinion column on the way media use the word “terrorist.” (Not currently posted online)

7/11: News & Record: “Blame game supplants effective crisis leadership” David Noer, professor emeritus in the Love School of Business, penned his monthly column on the BP oil spill and how responsible leadership involves the courage to facilitate hard choices. (Not currently posted online)

7/11: News & Record: “Reliable resources: Alumni should pay a visit to their alma mater’s career center for support” Career Center director Tom Vecchione is interviewed at length for a special sections feature story on colleges and universities opening their Career Centers to alumni.

7/12: The Times-News: “Professor: Kagan’s candor consistent with other court nominees” A follow-up to earlier work, research by Dion Farganis on Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan in featured in the (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News.

7/12: The Times-News: “Global warming by the numbers” Associate professor Dave Gammon, in the second column in a six-part series, examines rising temperatures and how they play into the global warming debate.