Kevin Smith, Leland J. and Dorothy H. Olson Professor of political science, was a featured guest in the Oct. 5 episode of WAMU’s “If You Can Keep It,” which focused on the intersection between politics and mental health. He discussed his collaborative research on how politics affects well-being. “The key thing that we found is that an astonishing number of Americans say that politics is affecting their health broadly construed, not just their psychological health, but their social health and even their physical health.” He pointed to the repeated survey finding that one in 20 Americans say they have had suicidal thoughts because of politics. The episode was picked up by dozens of NPR affiliates nationwide. Smith was also interviewed for election-related stories in KETV, KLKN and Nebraska Public Media (1, 2).
Dona-Gene Barton, associate professor of political science, was interviewed for an Oct. 17 Newsweek article on the U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts and independent challenger Dan Osborn. Barton said that a narrow advantage for Osborn in a recent YouGov survey shouldn’t be mistaken for an established trend. “One poll is a snapshot, not a trend,” she said. “I would caution against reading too much into a narrow lead that falls within the margin of error.” Geoff Lorenz, associate professor of political science, was also interviewed for an Oct. 17 Nebraska Examiner article on the hotly contested race.
The university has awarded stipends to 172 Husker undergraduates to participate in research with a faculty mentor during the fall and spring semesters. Nebraska’s Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience program supports undergraduates to work with faculty mentors in research or creative activities. The Columbus Telegram, Minden Courier and Powell (Wyoming) Tribune ran articles on UCARE participants from their areas.
