Dennis Coates, Economics, in the Sacramento Bee
Professional sports team owners who seek a new arena or stadium for their franchise are using land as an economic driver. The National Basketball Association’s proposal to pay for a new Sacramento Kings arena with profits from private development on state-owned land is part of the new trend. “There has been a real pushback by the public on taxes, so they’re finding a way around that,” Dennis Coates, professor of economics, told the Sacramento Bee. The article, “Land is the New Currency in Sports,” ran on Oct. 6.
www.sacbee.com/101/story/418021.html

Freeman Hrabowski, UMBC President, in the News
Corridor Inc. magazine profiled the critical workforce development partnerships between Baltimore-Washington corridor corporations and research institutions in the University System of Maryland. The article, “Chancellor Kirwan Helps Corridor Make the Grade,” acknowledged the economic impact of the UMBC research park complex. “We often say most healthy universities work to develop multi-level partnerships with corporate companies,” UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski said. The article appeared in the October issue.
www.corridorinc.com/content/view/422/1/

The Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) is becoming known for a code of acronym-steeped terminology, used by government officials, that confuses average citizens. Speaking recently at a BRAC workforce seminar in Harford County, President Hrabowski urged businesses to become familiar with the acronyms. “We will get more done if we collaborate, and we will make sure we are saying the right things,” he said in his address. The Baltimore Sun article, “The BRAC Alphabet Soup Comes in a Booklet,” ran on Oct. 8.
www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-md.ha.bracspeak08oct08,0,4938463.story

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the News
The New York Times profiled the governor’s race in Mississippi between incumbent Republican and Democrat John Arthur Eaves Jr. The Democrat is espousing cultural themes traditionally associated with the conservative right. Democrats in the South “always have to clear this cultural hurdle first,” said Tom Schaller, associate professor of political science. “This is, generally speaking, the way you have to do it in the South.” The article, “In Mississippi, Democrat Runs in G.O.P. Lane,” appeared on Oct. 10.
www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/us/10governor.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Schaller’s latest column in the Baltimore Sun is critical of talk-radio conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh has used the term “phony soldiers” to describe members of the American military who have voiced concerns to the media about the war in Iraq. The column, “Microphone Marines,” appeared on Oct. 10. “These ‘microphone Marines,’ such as Mr. Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter, have convinced themselves that their outrage-filled rants, disinformation campaigns and challenges to others’ patriotism constitute national service.”
www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.schaller10oct10,0,4900559.column

Dance, Visual Arts Faculty on Voice of America
Voice of America recently sent a production team to the UMBC dance studio to profile collaborative work of UMBC dance and visual arts faculty. The work incorporates technology and dance. Interviewed were Carol Hess, chair of the dance department; associate professor of dance (and fall 2007 acting chair of dance) Doug Hamby; associate professor of visual arts Tim Nohe; and dance accompanist/composer Ferd Maisel. The story, broadcast worldwide on Oct. 8, can be viewed by clicking on “Intertwining Dance and Technology” at the link below.
www.voanews.com/english/video_archive.cfm