Recent Tipsheets
Stories of interest from Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management
Vanderbilt’s Accelerator program offers undergraduates and recent graduates an intensive immersion in the world of business. Accelerator participants are assigned to competitive teams and are expected to provide solutions to problems and opportunities presented by real corporations. Partners in this year’s program, which runs for 30 days beginning June 2.
Vanderbilt autism experts available for interviews on World Autism Day, April 2
A variety of Vanderbilt University experts are available for interviews on autism. The United Nations designated April 2 World Autism Day in November 2007. Vanderbilt has a campus broadcast facility with a dedicated fiber optic line for live TV interviews and a radio ISDN line.
Vanderbilt K-12 experts presenting new research about charter schools, drop-out rate and more in New York March 24-28
K-12 experts from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of education and human development will present their latest research March 24-28 in New York City at the American Educational Research Association’s annual conference.
Vanderbilt higher education experts presenting new research on community colleges, student retention and more in New York March 24-28
Higher education experts from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of education and human development will be presenting their latest research March 24-28 in New York City at the American Educational Research Association’s annual conference.
National Mathematics Advisory Panel vice chair available to discuss panel’s final report
Camilla P. Benbow, vice chair of President Bush’s National Mathematics Advisory Panel, is available to discuss the panel’s final report, which was presented to the president and U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings March 13.
"Super Tuesday" Results: Vanderbilt experts
A central fact of the 2008 nomination process is that many citizens are undecided or have weakly held preferences, says Vanderbilt University political scientist John Geer.
Expect barrage of negative ads says Vanderbilt campaign expert
Voters should welcome an increase in political attack ads on the airwaves as the presidential nominating process moves into overdrive, says Vanderbilt University political scientist John Geer.
Vanderbilt higher education experts available for back-to-school stories
Vanderbilt University higher education experts are available for back-to-school interviews on admissions, tuition, financial aid, rankings, higher education policy and reform, immigration and higher education, and more.
Vanderbilt Peabody education experts available for back-to-school stories
Education and child development experts from the Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development are available for back-to-school interviews. Peabody College was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 3 education school in the nation in 2007.
National Math Panel member available to talk about $43 billion global competitiveness bill to improve math/science eduation
Camilla P. Benbow, vice chair of President Bush’s National Mathematics Advisory Panel and a member of the National Science Board, is available to talk about the importance of funding math and science education to the United States’ ability to compete globally.
Vanderbilt expert: Polls in multi-candidate races should be viewed cautiously
Public opinion polls in the Nashville mayoral contest (and other multi-candidate races) should be analyzed with care because of the high potential for error, according to Vanderbilt Distinguished Professor of Political Science John Geer.
Vanderbilt expert can talk about the war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor
Former Liberian president Charles Taylor will face 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity on June 4, accused of arming and supporting a rebel group responsible for horrendous atrocities including the murder, rape, mutilation and forced child labor of tens of thousands of people during the Sierra Leone civil war.
Supreme Court ruling on negative ads to affect presidential race: Vanderbilt expert
Today's U.S. Supreme Court ruling to allow issues ads funded by corporations and labor unions to air close to an election has major implications for the 2008 presidential campaign, according to Vanderbilt University political scientist John Geer.
Vanderbilt economist helps sway Supreme Court to overturn telecom antitrust lawsuit
The Supreme Court followed the advice of a Vanderbilt University professor and 25 other top antitrust economists and overturned the decision made by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on the telecom antitrust lawsuit Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly.
Vanderbilt expert can talk about the Supreme Court's decision on late-term abortions
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to uphold a ban on a type of late-term abortion. The court found that the national Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, passed in 2003, does not violate a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.
School violence experts available to comment on aftermath of Virginia Tech shootings
Vanderbilt researchers are available to offer insights on the potential circumstances surrounding school violence and the impact of the tragic April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech on students, faculty and staff.
Thompson must decide soon on presidential run, says Vanderbilt campaign expert
It is no surprise that Fred Thompson has jumped into third place nationally among GOP presidential contenders, even without declaring his candidacy, said Vanderbilt University political scientist John Geer. “Thompson is no stranger to the presidential sweepstakes, having considered but declining a run in 2000,” Geer said. “Given his exceptional campaigning skills and star power, buoyed by his acting career, he would be a formidable candidate. The big question is whether he could raise the funds needed for a presidential campaign. The answer is probably yes.”
Vanderbilt education experts presenting new research on student achievement, charter schools and more in Chicago April 9-13
Education experts from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of education and human development will be presenting their latest research April 9-13, 2007, in Chicago at the American Educational Research Association’s annual conference. Vanderbilt Peabody College was ranked as the No. 3 education school in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its 2007 rankings of graduate schools.
Vanderbilt expert can talk about recent problems with airline customer dissatisfaction
“It’s time to regulate the airline industry; customers need a passengers’ bill of rights.” A recent massive snowstorm grounded and delayed hundreds of flights across the country. While many airlines found successful ways to handle the delays, some Jet Blue customers were trapped on planes for more than nine hours, with overflowing toilets. Other passengers were forced to camp out for days at airports, with no clear solution from Jet Blue. Airline expert
Michael Lapré believes this latest evidence of “massive miscalculations from the airlines,” shows that it is time for regulation.
Vanderbilt expert can speak about importance of Fisk paintings
Nashville stands to lose important works if sale goes through. Nashvillians should understand the stakes if paintings by
Georgia O’Keeffe and
Marsden Hartley are sold from the
Stieglitz Collection at
Fisk University to raise money for the university, says art historian
Vivien Green Fryd of
Vanderbilt University.
Think that conversation from your office phone is private? Think again
Vanderbilt professor says Wal-Mart case calls attention to employer’s right to eavesdrop on employee calls. News reports that a Wal-Mart employee taped telephone conversations between a
New York Times reporter and other Wal-Mart employees brings to light the practice of corporations who require employees to consent to company surveillance of calls made through company systems and equipment. Wal-Mart officials have said the employee in the recently reported case was not authorized to make the recordings and added that company policy restricts monitoring of employee communications to instances in which fraud or criminal activity is suspected. However, that policy is not a requirement. "We know from recent surveys by groups such as the
American Management Association and others that many firms do routinely monitor employee communications that employees might think is private, without cause of suspicion," says Bruce Barry, professor of management and sociology.
Education experts available to discuss reauthorization of No Child Left Behind
Vanderbilt University Peabody College of education and human development experts are available to discuss various aspects of No Child Left Behind as Congress considers its reauthorization in 2007.
Vanderbilt University political experts available for State of the Union analysis
President Bush will have a difficult time shifting the national conversation away from Iraq, believes presidential historian Thomas Alan Schwartz. Although his State of the Union may contain some interesting proposals on health care, energy and the environment, a conflict as politicized as the Iraq war will still dominate headlines.
Many of today’s students reach for a keyboard rather than a pencil to communicate their thoughts. But they just might be typing their way to the back of the class, according to
Vanderbilt writing expert
Steve Graham.
Saddam Hussein Execution: Vanderbilt expert back from Iraq
Vanderbilt University Law Professor Mike Newton is an expert on the Saddam Hussein trial and has just returned from his fourth trip to Iraq. Newton played a pivotal role in the creation of the Iraqi Special Tribunal and led the training for its judges, focusing on international criminal law. He currently advises the Iraqi tribunal and just returned from his latest trip to Baghdad. Newton is also a major contributor to the 2006 book, “Saddam on Trial: Understanding and Debating the Iraqi High Tribunal.”
Vanderbilt expert says airline mergers are inevitable
“Airline consolidation is inevitable,” says Michael Lapré, associate professor of management at Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Management and an expert on the airline industry. Media reports say UAL Corporation, the parent company of United Airlines, is in preliminary talks with Continental Airlines about a possible merger. Lapré says airline mergers are unavoidable and, “a sensible idea to pursue.”
Vanderbilt expert says Mel Gibson film offers tired steroptypes about Maya civilization
Apocalypto continues tradition of inaccurately disparaging native cultures. The rich culture and complex intellectual achievements of Maya culture are ignored in Mel Gibson’s new film
Apocalypto in favor of stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans as “noble savages” or “evil Indians,” says
Annabeth Headrick, a
Vanderbilt University professor and expert on the Maya.
Vanderbilt experts available to comment on school shootings
Two experts on school violence and aggression are available to offer commentary on school shootings in Lancaster County, Pa., Wisconsin and Colorado and the school lockdowns in response to a gunman at two Las Vegas schools.
Vanderbilt experts available to comment on Secretary of Education's new plans for student aid, achievement and higher education accountability
Two higher education experts are available to offer commentary on Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling’s announcement today about the federal government’s new plans to track student progress, increase student aid and hold colleges more accountable for student achievement.
Japan's likely new prime minister will be strong U.S. ally
The stage is set for Shinzo Abe to become Japan’s new Prime Minister Sept. 26 following his election as the leader of the country’s ruling party. That choice bodes well for the U.S., says James Auer, Vanderbilt University expert on U.S.-Japan relations. Abe will prove to be an even stronger ally to the U.S. than the popular outgoing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, said Auer, director of the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies and Cooperation at Vanderbilt. “He favors changing Japan’s defense policy so that Japan can fight with the U.S. if U.S. forces are attacked, something not allowed now.”
Vanderbilt experts can discuss problems with Metro Nashville "English only" resolution
Two Vanderbilt Peabody College literacy and language experts are available to discuss why a resolution under consideration by the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County to ban the use of bilingual services by many Metro agencies will not help non-English speakers learn the language and could in fact further isolate them from speakers of English and necessary services.
Vanderbilt expert can discuss methods for improving graduation rate
Gov. Phil Bredesen’s new initiative to reduce the dropout rate is badly needed and well-timed, according to Vanderbilt Peabody College Professor of Special Education Carolyn Hughes.
Vanderbilt neuroscientist can discuss what Star Trek taught us about the brain, science for show's 40th anniversary
The much-loved and long-running science fiction series Star Trek introduced viewers to plenty of fantastical ideas—from the Borg to Vulcan mind melds to a transporter that could beam humans across space. But behind the lscience fiction lay quite a bit of real science, according to Vanderbilt University psychologist Randolph Blake.
Vanderbilt University expert available on Pluto
David Weintraub, professor of
astronomy at Vanderbilt University, is the author of the upcoming book
Is Pluto a Planet?, to be released in the fall by Princeton University Press. In the book, Weintraub argues that Pluto, and many other celestial objects, should be considered planets, contrary to the International Astronomical Union’s vote Aug. 24 in Prague.
Impact of Castro on the Cuban political landscape
Vanderbilt experts Mitch Seligson and Jane Landers are available to discuss the impact of Fidel Castro on the Cuban political landscape.
2006 Tennessee U.S. Senate Race
Tough primary could work to GOP’s advantage. The conventional view is that the increasingly bitter battle among the Republican candidates in the Tennessee Senate race will hurt the GOP nominee. John Geer disagrees, saying the divisive primary campaign could prove to be a boon for the nominee. He will be battle-tested with an organization that is well oiled and ready for the general election. Geer says that while there will be concern about the increasing number of attack ads at the end of the campaign, they can provide valuable information to help voters sort out the candidates. Ed Bryant, Bob Corker and Van Hilleary share many similar views, so attack ads could help highlight key differences.
Additional experts are available on this topic.
Vanderbilt University experts available on the immigration debate
Robert Barsky, editor of AmeriQuests and professor of French and comparative literature, looks at refugee, border and migration issues. He is working on a research project about inmates held for immigration concerns and can speak about the proposal to make first entry a felony. Dan Cornfield, professor of sociology, can discuss how “new destination cities” in the interior states are integrating immigrants into their communities. Carol Swain, professor of political science and law, can discuss the societal problems she says will result from the various proposals on immigration pending before Congress. Robert Jimenez leads a group of researchers exploring Mexican language and literacy practices in response to concerns that Mexican children and children of Mexican origin in the United States are not developing necessary or desired levels of literacy. A noted astronomer, Keivan Stassun is passionate about introducing others – particularly young people and minorities – to the excitement of astronomy and is working to develop programs that facilitate training and inclusion of ethnic minorities, women and others who are have been traditionally underrepresented in the sciences.
