Latest News

Study points to fertility as a leading economic indicator

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: Research, General News, and Faculty News

New research from the University of Notre Dame discovers people appear to stop conceiving babies several months before recessions begin. The study, “Is Fertility a Leading Economic Indicator?” was published in the National Bureau of Economic Research’s working paper series. It is coauthored by Notre Dame economists Kasey Buckles and Daniel Hungerman, and Steven Lugauer from the University of Kentucky.

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ND Expert: Don’t Imitate Islamic State

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Centers and Institutes, Internationalism, and Faculty News

p(image-right). !/assets/156230/ebrahim_moosa_icon2.jpg(Ebrahim Moosa)! Jordan’s King Abdullah has promised revenge on the Islamic State (IS), following a video released Tuesday, February 3 that shows a Jordanian air force pilot being burned alive in a locked cage by IS fighters. Jordan, however, should not strive to imitate the Islamic State's barbaric actions, no matter how justified its outrage, according to Ebrahim Moosa, professor of Islamic studies in the University of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

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ND Expert: Hong Kong Movement Unlike Any Other

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Internationalism, and Faculty News

p(image-right). !/assets/144667/victoria_hui_icon.jpg(Victoria Hui)! Hong Kong marked China's National Day (October 1) in unprecedented fashion, as pro-democracy protesters crowded the streets of the Asian financial hub for what is being called a critical day in the territory's "Umbrella Revolution." University of Notre Dame political scientist and Hong Kong native Victoria Hui has worked in the democracy movement there. She says it is unlike any other.

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ND Expert: Don’t Panic Over ISIS

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Internationalism, and Faculty News

p(image-right). !/assets/73149/desch_al_icon.jpg(Michael Desch)! As the Islamic State extremist group, commonly referred to as ISIS, shocks the world with its brutality and takes control of more territory in the region, Michael Desch, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, says the U.S. should take ISIS seriously and stop its progress, but not panic. “ISIS is a serious local threat in Syria and Iraq, but does not yet pose a direct threat to the United States,” says Desch, an expert on international security and American foreign and defense policies. “While the presence of Western nationals in their ranks is worrisome, they have the greatest potential to do mischief in the weak states in the region, two of which we have created in Syria and Iraq with ill-advised policies.”

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ND Expert: Chinese Government Threatened by Christianity

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Internationalism, Catholicism, and Faculty News

p(image-right). !/assets/31720/jensen_lionel_hp_crop.jpg(Lionel Jensen hp crop)! Government authorities in southeast China are continuing what local church leaders call a campaign against Christianity--knocking down crosses and razing sanctuaries at dozens of churches in the Zhejiang province. Christianity has grown so rapidly, it’s viewed as a threat by the Communist government, according to Lionel Jensen, associate professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Notre Dame.

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Tea Party Support Linked to Educational Segregation, New Study Shows

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Research, and Faculty News

p(image-right). !/assets/136899/tea_party_2010_icon.jpg(tea_party_2010_icon)! In January 2009, Barack Obama assumed the U.S. presidency in the midst of the most severe recession since the great depression of the 1930s. While many Americans hoped the new administration would take an active role in providing relief for those harmed by the economic collapse, a “Tea Party” movement emerged to oppose Obama’s agenda.

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ND Experts: No Excuse for Malaysia Airlines 'Mistaken Identity'

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Internationalism, and Faculty News

p(image-right). !/assets/73149/desch_al_icon.jpg(Michael Desch)! President Barack Obama on Friday (July 18) began building a case that would blame separatist forces supported by Russia for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over Ukraine on July 17. Obama said one American was among the nearly 300 killed and that evidence indicates the jet was shot down by a surface-to-air missile from an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

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'Trophy Wife' Stereotype is Largely a Myth, New Study Shows

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Research, and Faculty News

p(image-right). !/assets/93061/elizabeth_mcclintock_icon.jpg(Elizabeth McClintock)! Most people are familiar with the “trophy wife” stereotype that attractive women marry rich men, placing little importance on their other traits, including physical appearance, and that men look for pretty wives but don’t care about their education or earnings. New research, however, by University of Notre Dame sociologist Elizabeth McClintock shows the trophy wife stereotype is largely a myth fueled by selective observation that reinforces sexist stereotypes and trivializes women’s careers.

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Notre Dame Partners with edX to Offer Open Online Courses

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News

p(image-right). !/assets/116201/guy_with_blue_mac_icon.jpg(guy with computer)! The University of Notre Dame on Tuesday (June 10) announced that it has joined the "edX Consortium":https://www.edx.org/ as a charter member. A not-for-profit partnership of leading global universities, edX is committed to innovations in online and blended learning, improving access to education, and researching effective learning for use on and beyond college campuses.

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ND Expert: Remembering D-Day

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Internationalism, and Faculty News

p(image-right). !/assets/73149/desch_al_icon.jpg(Michael Desch)! As the world marks the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion that led to the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, Michael Desch, professor and chair of political science at the University of Notre Dame, reflects on this day in history and draws a connection to the current Ukraine crisis.

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ND Expert: China Still Corrupt, Dealing With Fallout on 25th Anniversary of Tiananmen

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Internationalism, and Faculty News

p(image-right). !/assets/31720/jensen_lionel_hp_crop.jpg(Lionel Jensen hp crop)! Crowds are gathering in China on Wednesday (June 4) to mark the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, during which soldiers in Beijing killed hundreds of students, workers and professionals peacefully seeking greater democracy and limits on corruption. Lionel Jensen, associate professor of East Asian languages and cultures at the University of Notre Dame, says the country continues to struggle with the same problems that provoked those protests.

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Sentencing of Former Congo Warlord Not Enough, Expert Says

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Centers and Institutes, Internationalism, and Faculty News

The International Criminal Court yesterday sentenced former Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga to 14 years in prison for using children as soldiers in his rebel army--the first sentence handed down by the world's only permanent war crimes tribunal. “The criminal prosecution of Lubanga does not go far enough for international justice,” according to Daniel Philpott, associate professor of political science and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame.

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Christian Davenport Examines Untold Stories of Northern Ireland’s “Troubles”

“Most people who are interested in the Troubles focus on the 4,000 deaths,” says Christian Davenport, professor of peace studies, political science and sociology at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. “I thought much of the story was being missed.” An expert on political conflict, human rights violations, genocide, and government repression, Davenport for the past five years has been using quantitative research methods to study the ethno-political conflict that took place in Northern Ireland between 1968 and 1998.

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Robert Johansen Proposes “Humanitarian Corridor” in Libya

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Centers and Institutes, Internationalism, and Faculty News

As bloody clashes continue in Libya between government forces and anti-regime protesters, Robert Johansen, professor of political science and senior fellow at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, says establishing a “humanitarian corridor” in an area of Libya already under opposition control would provide a nonviolent, inexpensive way to save lives.

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Historian Asher Kaufman Comments on Leaked Palestinian Papers

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Centers and Institutes, Internationalism, and Faculty News

The recent leak of Palestinian documents pertaining to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations adds to the wave of other leaks of documents that have captured exaggerated attention, according to Asher Kaufman, associate professor of history and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame. “However, this may mark the first time Palestinian leadership was officially willing to reconcile with leaving certain communities under Israeli rule.”

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Notre Dame Band Awarded Prestigious Sudler Trophy

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News and Arts

The University of Notre Dame Band has been awarded the 2011 Sudler Trophy, recognizing “collegiate marching bands of particular excellence that have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life.” The trophy was presented Dec. 17 during the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.

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Historian Scott Appleby Addresses Islamic Backlash

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Centers and Institutes, Internationalism, Catholicism, and Faculty News

R. Scott Appleby, Notre Dame history professor and John M. Regan, Jr., Director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, dispels misconceptions spread by people caught up in a wave of suspicion fueled by the mosque controversy in New York City, a Florida church's plan to burn copies of the Qu’ran, and Muslims’ worries over the 9/11 anniversary coinciding with Ramadan celebrations.

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Notre Dame No. 1 Producer of CEOs at Top Financial Firms

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News and Alumni

The University of Notre Dame is ranked No. 1 on a list compiled by Bloomberg of undergraduate colleges attended by chief executive officers of the 100 largest U.S. financial firms. Notre Dame educated five of the top 100 CEOs, including James Rohr of PNC Financial Services Group and Debra Cafaro of Ventas Inc., one of only two women in the ranking. Other CEOs include James Flaherty, HCP; Paul Reilly, Raymond James Financial; and Terrence Cavanaugh, Erie Indemnity.

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Benn Torres Leads New Molecular Anthropology Lab

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Research, Alumni, Internationalism, and Faculty News

Assistant Professor Jada Benn Torres uses genetics to research the distribution of diseases across populations, with a primary focus on women’s reproductive health. Notre Dame’s first molecular anthropologist, she recently celebrated the opening of her laboratory, where tools and techniques developed in molecular genetics are brought to bear on anthropological questions.

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ND Expert: Arizona Immigration Law Fuels Misconception That All Latinos Illegal

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Centers and Institutes, Internationalism, and Faculty News

Allert Brown-Gort, associate director of the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies, is critical of Arizona’s immigration law that goes into effect next month. The law requires an officer to determine a person’s immigration status if he/she is stopped, detained or arrested and there is “reasonable suspicion” that person is in the U.S. illegally.

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George Lopez Says Sanctions on Iran Likely to Be Effective

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Centers and Institutes, Internationalism, and Faculty News

The newly proposed U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran are not weak and watered down but smartly targeted and likely to be effective, according to George A. Lopez, who holds the Hesburgh Chair in Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute and is a faculty member in the Department of Political Science. This year, Lopez serves as a senior fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington D.C., writing a book on the future of sanctions.

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Undergraduate Scholars Present at Third Annual Conference

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Undergraduate News, Research, and Centers and Institutes

More than 270 students in diverse majors from across the University of Notre Dame’s colleges will showcase their research, scholarship, and creative endeavors on April 30, 2010, from noon to 6 p.m. at the third annual Undergraduate Scholars Conference. The conference opens in 105 Jordan Hall of Science with an announcement of the winners of the inaugural Library Undergraduate Research Award, two of which will be presenting at the conference.

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Bob Schmuhl Book Examines Journalism in American Culture

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News, Research, Alumni, and Faculty News

Robert Schmuhl, Walter H. Annenberg-Edmund P. Joyce Professor of American Studies and Journalism at the University of Notre Dame, is the editor of a new book that examines both the writer’s art and the role of journalism in American culture. Released this month by Andrews McMeel Publishing, “Making Words Dance: Reflections on Red Smith, Journalism, and Writing,” features lectures by 15 of the country’s most respected journalists and writers, given as part of a Notre Dame lecture series that honors award-winning columnist Walter W. “Red” Smith.

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New Book Suggests Liberal Public Policy Makes People Happier

Author: Shannon Roddel

Categories: General News and Faculty News

Liberal public policies, such as a state’s level of spending on social programs and the degree to which its economy is subject to political regulation, have strong positive effects on life satisfaction, according to a new book edited by Amitava Dutt and Benjamin Radcliff, professors of economics and political science, respectively.

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