DU in the News

News coverage highlighting Duquesne’s experts and initiatives.

Aug. 31
Can The Internet Crash? How the Unthinkable Could Happen
CIO interviewed Computer Science Professor Dr. Patrick Juola for this story about risks the internet faces and whether or not the internet could crash.

Why Can’t We Rein in Police Misconduct? Blame Prohibition
The Crime Report cited Law Professor Wes Oliver’s new book The Prohibition Era and Policing for this story about efforts to curb prohibition-era police misconduct and how these efforts impact policing today.

Aug. 30
The Best Online MSN Programs
Online Masters ranked Duquesne’s Online Master’s of Science in Nursing program No. 11 on this list of the Best Online MSN programs in the country.

Aug. 29
Frankenstein Brought to Life at Duquesne University
The Beaver County Times interviewed David Nolfi, head of research engagement in health sciences and STEM initiatives in the Gumberg Library, for this story about the traveling exhibit Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature, which is housed in the library, and examines the birth of Frankenstein and author Mary Shelley.

Aug. 27
Britsburgh IV Strikes a World War I Theme
Kim Szczypinski, coordinator of study abroad in the Office of International Programs, was interviewed for this Post-Gazette article about the 4th annual Britsburgh Festival. Szczypinski, who is director of the Britsburgh History Society, will give a presentation about cookbook author Mrs. C.S. Peel as part of the festival.

Can Pennsylvania Catholics Reconcile Their Faith With The Church’s Legacy Of Abuse?
WESA-FM interviewed Associate Theology Professor Dr. Elisabeth Vasko for this story about the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandal and theologians who have signed a document asking all U.S. Catholic bishops to resign.

Aug. 26
Research Aims to Help Elderly, Those With Disabilities Live More Independently
The Leader-Telegram reported that Duquesne student Alyssa Boccardi is part of a team of student researchers working to improve the technology needed to enable robots to help the elderly and those with disabilities live more independently.

Aug. 23
Billboard Outside Erie Part of Local Professor’s ‘Truth Initiative’
WESA-FM interviewed Law Professor Bruce Ledewitz for this opinion piece about a billboard he purchased near Erie that reads “Tax Cuts Threaten Social Security.” Ledewitz said that the billboard will kick start Duquesne’s Truth-Justice-Democracy Initiative.
*Similar stories also appeared in the Post-Gazette, on WJET-TV and on WFXP-TV.

Even Astronauts Need Zip-Tie Cutters, So Duquesne Undergrads Built One for NASA
The Post-Gazette reported that a team of biomedical engineering students created a zip-tie cutter prototype that made them a finalist for NASA’s Microgravity NExT challenge. Elements of the team’s prototype will be used by NASA during future space missions.

Aug. 21
Duquesne University Welcoming One of Its Biggest Freshman Classes
KDKA-TV interviewed President Ken Gormley for this story about Duquesne’s annual freshman move-in day, which took place on Aug. 21. Gormley said the class of 2022 is among the largest, brightest and most diverse in school history.

Aug. 20
Law Professor Launches Truth in Politics Campaign
Law Professor Bruce Ledewitz was interviewed by the Tribune-Review for this story about a billboard he underwrote that reads “Tax Cuts Threaten Social Security.” He says the billboard is a part of a broader University campaign called the Truth-Justice-Democracy Initiative.
**A similar story appeared on KDKA-Radio.

Brett Kavanaugh Memo Proposed Explicit Questions for President Bill Clinton
The Washington Post­ mentioned President Ken Gormley’s book The Death of American Virtue in this story about a 1998 memo written by U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh during the Clinton investigation, which proposed a series of explicit questions for President Bill Clinton to answer.

Effects of a Collaborative Intervention Process on Parent–Therapist Interaction: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Dr. Mihee An, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physical Therapy, co-authored this research study published by Taylor & Francis Online that aims to determine whether a collaborative intervention process facilitates parent-therapist interactions.

Aug. 19
In Veterans Court, Former Service Members Fight New Battle—for Redemption
The Post-Gazette interviewed Adjunct Law Professor Daniel Kunz about a mental health first-aid class in which he teaches law students how to recognize symptoms of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, particularly for clients who are veterans.

Aug. 17
The Highest Office of Higher Ed: Presidential Insights
The Pittsburgh Business Times interviewed President Ken Gormley and other area university presidents for this story about key priorities and issues they face as leaders of their respective institutions.

Here’s Which Local Colleges Give the Most Bang for Your Bucks
The Pittsburgh Business Times reported that Duquesne is among area universities ranked on Money Magazine’s list of the Best Colleges for Your Money. Duquesne is ranked No. 225 on the list, the second-highest ranking for Pittsburgh-area institutions.

Justice Refuses to Step Down From Statutory Damages Cap Fight
The Legal Intelligencer interviewed Law Professor Bruce Ledewitz for this story about statements made by a Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice in a pair of cases that challenge the statutory damages cap for state agencies.

Aug. 15
Peduto Appoints Task Force for Minority-, Women-Owned Businesses
The Pittsburgh Business Times reported that Tracey McCants-Lewis, director of clinical legal education and associate law professor, was recently named to a task force created by Mayor Bill Peduto to identify best practices to engage minority- and women-owned businesses and to propose policy and procedural improvement for increased engagement with city offices.

New Topic on Campus: Civil Discourse
The Wall Street Journal included a photo from President Ken Gormley’s recent civil discourse event for this story about how U.S. colleges are teaching students, parents and alumni how to discuss politics civilly.

Aug. 14
Cardinal Wuerl’s Actions in Pittsburgh Scrutinized by Catholic Sexual Abuse Investigation
The Washington Post interviewed Law Dean Emeritus Nick Cafardi for this story about Cardinal Donald Wuerl’s actions regarding alleged sexual abuse of minors by diocesan priests during the time Wuerl served as bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh (from 1988 to 2006).

Chicago Alderman Proposes UBI Experiment
Associate Economics Professor Dr. Antony Davies was interviewed by The Heartland Institute for this story about a proposal requesting the Chicago city government  consider a government-administered universal basic income pilot program.

Hundreds of Accused Priests Will Be Listed in Pennsylvania Report on Catholic Church Sex Abuse
The Washington Post interviewed Law School Dean Emeritus Nick Cafardi for this article about the release of an 800-page-plus grand jury report detailing 70 years of clerical sex abuse of minors in Catholic dioceses across Pennsylvania.

Aug. 13
Duquesne University: #225 on ‘MONEY’s 2018-19 Best Colleges List
Money ranked Duquesne No. 225 on its Best Colleges List for 2018-2019.

An Introduction to Music Therapy in End-of-Life Care
Dr. Noah Potvin, assistant professor of music therapy, penned this piece for Psychology Today that explains the benefit of treating end-of-life patients with music therapy techniques.

The Highest Office of Higher-Ed: Kenneth Gormley of Duquesne University
The Pittsburgh Business Times interviewed President Ken Gormley for this profile in a series that features each president of the region’s top universities.

Aug. 10
Duquesne University Named Among Princeton Review’s ‘Best 384 Colleges
The Princeton Review named Duquesne in its Best 384 Colleges edition for 2019. The University is also included in the Best Colleges: Region by Region list for the Northeast.

Aug. 9
Rooneys Donate Library of Books About Ireland to Duquesne University
The Post-Gazette interviewed University Archivist Tom White for this story about a collection of Irish books that were donated to the Gumberg Library by Patricia Rooney, wife of the late Dan Rooney.

Aug. 8
Something In The Water? Questions Linger About Water Quality for 50,000 in Beaver County
The Post-Gazette interviewed Dr. John Stolz, director of the Center for Environmental Research and Education and professor of biological sciences, for this story about elevated levels of a likely human carcinogen contaminating water supplies in Beaver Falls, Pa.

August 7
Western Professor Probes Crime Coverage Around World
The Montreal Gazette included this article about the book Naming Names: A Comparison of Crime Coverage Rituals in North America and Europe. Co-authored by Multiplatform Journalism Professor Maggie Patterson, the book explores the ways in which media coverage of crime differs in North American and European countries.

August 6
#15MinutesOfFame: Andy Warhol And His Art Were Made for Social Media
The Post-Gazette interviewed Dr. Sarah DeIuliis, assistant visiting professor in the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, for this story about the ways Andy Warhol may have used social media. The article also appeared in the Associated Press, the Sacramento Bee, the Allentown Morning Call, the Wichita Eagle and U.S. News & World Report, among others.

Protecting Free Speech on Campus
President Ken Gormley was among several regional college and university presidents interviewed by Pittsburgh Quarterly for this story about protecting free speech on campuses.

Fox News’, ‘MSNBC’ Make the World Seem Scarier Than It Is
Associate Economics Professor Dr. Antony Davies co-wrote this op-ed for the Philadelphia Inquirer detailing major news networks’ actions to convert bad news into profits.

Excavations Unearth Walls, Bimah, of Lithuanian Synagogue
Arutz Sheva 7 reported that Dr. Philip Reeder, dean and professor in the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, was part of a team of researchers that discovered the remains of a famous Lithuanian synagogue that was destroyed by the Soviet Union.

August 5
Clergy Abuse Case Reflects Simmering Scrutiny of Pa. Grand Jury System
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Law Professor Wes Oliver has been appointed to a task force chosen by the state Supreme Court to review the scope and powers of Pennsylvania grand juries.

August 2
We All Need It…Health Insurance
KDKA-Radio interviewed Dr. Andrew Simpson, assistant professor of history, about the Trump administration’s expansion of short-term limited health insurance, which is being referred to as “skinny” health plans.

Standards-Based Grading: A Rose by Any Other Name…
Dr. Susan M. Brookhart, coordinator of assessment and evaluation in the School of Education, penned this piece for ASCD In Service about the use of standards-based grading in schools, which aims to make grades more accurately reflect student learning.