David Collins

David Collins, an eight-time Grammy award winner, has been producing groundbreaking films, documentaries, television and streaming projects for over 25 years. The common thread to his expansive body of work is that his projects give voice to marginalized populations and feature inclusive and omni culture content. He, with his partner Michael Williams, created Scout Productions in 1994 – just five years after David’s graduation from Ohio University. Scout Productions has gone on to produce Queer Eye for the Straight Guy for Bravo in 2003, Queer Eye for Netflix in 2018, Legendary for HBO Max in 2020 and his current effort in partnership with Amy Poehler called The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning for Peacock. Collins says his award-winning company is provides culturally transformative and emotionally gripping content across multiple platforms with humor and heart. He has two new series launching in May 2023. An investigative documentary, The Secrets of The Hillsong Church, premieres on May 19 on FX and the following day on Hulu and “Merpeople” will open on Netflix on May 23. David returned to Ohio University this spring to deliver the undergraduate commencement address and shared with WOUB’s Spectrum some insights into his education, his early career, and what keeps his company and his storytelling fresh.

David Collins, an eight-time Grammy award winner, has been producing groundbreaking films, documentaries, television and streaming projects for over 25 years. The common thread to his expansive body of work is that his projects give voice to marginalized populations and feature inclusive and omni culture content. He, with his partner Michael Williams, created Scout Productions in 1994 – just five years after David’s graduation from Ohio University. Scout Productions has gone on to produce Queer Eye for the Straight Guy for Bravo in 2003, Queer Eye for Netflix in 2018, Legendary for HBO Max in 2020 and his current effort in partnership with Amy Poehler called The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning for Peacock. Collins says his award-winning company is provides culturally transformative and emotionally gripping content across multiple platforms with humor and heart. He has two new series launching in May 2023. An investigative documentary, The Secrets of The Hillsong Church, premieres on May 19 on FX and the following day on Hulu and “Merpeople” will open on Netflix on May 23. David returned to Ohio University this spring to deliver the undergraduate commencement address and shared with WOUB’s Spectrum some insights into his education, his early career, and what keeps his company and his storytelling fresh.

David Collins, award winning producer, gives insights into his career

Two- and one-half years ago, the Goldsberry family was robbed of over $230,000 by international computer scammers who took control remotely of a family computer and emptied several bank accounts. This happened through 14 wire transfers to Thailand from December 16, 2020 to January 11, 2021. During this time, the family noticed strange transactions happening and notified the national fraud department of their bank plus the local bank authorities. To date, however, the Goldsberry family has yet to be reimbursed for their loss and they are frustrated. Retired Ohio judge Alan Goldsberry and his financial consultant son Stuart have unsuccessfully tried various means to get reimbursement. They contacted the local police, the local prosecutor and the FBI but have come up empty on a mechanism to get their money back. They have attempted multiple times to get cooperation from their bank but to no avail. They also have filed suit in federal court to get the bank to release its records. This was only partially successful. Finally, they have turned to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) but have not heard from the FDIC for several months. Meanwhile, they are running out of options. Listen to their story as a warning on how this might happen to you. If you have any suggestions on other options the Goldsberry family may have, please email them to me at hodson@ohio.edu.

Two- and one-half years ago, the Goldsberry family was robbed of over $230,000 by international computer scammers who took control remotely of a family computer and emptied several bank accounts. This happened through 14 wire transfers to Thailand from December 16, 2020 to January 11, 2021. During this time, the family noticed strange transactions happening and notified the national fraud department of their bank plus the local bank authorities. To date, however, the Goldsberry family has yet to be reimbursed for their loss and they are frustrated. Retired Ohio judge Alan Goldsberry and his financial consultant son Stuart have unsuccessfully tried various means to get reimbursement. They contacted the local police, the local prosecutor and the FBI but have come up empty on a mechanism to get their money back. They have attempted multiple times to get cooperation from their bank but to no avail. They also have filed suit in federal court to get the bank to release its records. This was only partially successful. Finally, they have turned to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) but have not heard from the FDIC for several months. Meanwhile, they are running out of options. Listen to their story as a warning on how this might happen to you. If you have any suggestions on other options the Goldsberry family may have, please email them to me at hodson@ohio.edu.

Family who was robbed of over $230,000 by computer scammers faces turmoil.

This fall, the National Judicial College (NJC), located on the campus of the University of Nevada-Reno, will hold its second groundbreaking course to teach judges from across the nation how to develop and maintain anti-racist courtrooms. This four-day course will be held in Montgomery, Alabama. Last years, inaugural course took place in Memphis, Tennessee. “Participants will be challenged to examine their own beliefs, including unconscious beliefs, and consider anti-racist theory with practice as potential antidotes to bias,” says Judge Benes Aldana, president of the NJC. The course is designed to identify sources of personal and systemic bias in courtrooms and to create or facilitate effective interventions. Successful participants in the class are expected to lead “impactful initiatives to identify and mitigate sources of bias in the legal system, according to Judge Gayle Williams Byers, a Fellow at the NJC. The course curriculum includes history, experiential learning, cognitive science, and psychological and sociological research.

This fall, the National Judicial College (NJC), located on the campus of the University of Nevada-Reno, will hold its second groundbreaking course to teach judges from across the nation how to develop and maintain anti-racist courtrooms. This four-day course will be held in Montgomery, Alabama. Last years, inaugural course took place in Memphis, Tennessee. “Participants will be challenged to examine their own beliefs, including unconscious beliefs, and consider anti-racist theory with practice as potential antidotes to bias,” says Judge Benes Aldana, president of the NJC. The course is designed to identify sources of personal and systemic bias in courtrooms and to create or facilitate effective interventions. Successful participants in the class are expected to lead “impactful initiatives to identify and mitigate sources of bias in the legal system, according to Judge Gayle Williams Byers, a Fellow at the NJC. The course curriculum includes history, experiential learning, cognitive science, and psychological and sociological research.

Judges are being trained to develop “anti-racist” courtrooms.

“Masking” is a term used for when people with commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) get lenient treatment in our nation’s courts. This allows offenders to hide their traffic offenses and stay on our highways without retribution. Masking, although too often commonplace, is actually a violation of federal law and prohibited and states could get in trouble if their judges do not comply, according to retired Judge Gayle Williams-Byers. Too often, however, a person with a CDL may be cited for a traffic offense in his/her private vehicle. When the violator appears in court, they claim that they will lose their job if the offense is reported to a state Bureau of Motor Vehicles. As a result, says Judge Byers, prosecutors and judges too often reduce the original charge to a minor offense that is not reportable to the state, or which does not carry any points against the offender’s license. This masking process is prohibited yet in some places it is the norm. It is being opposed by the National Highway Safety Administration. To promote compliance, Congress passed the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 which requires the withholding of certain federal dollars from states who are not in compliance. Yet too many judges do not know that “masking” is illegal. The National Judicial College and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are teaming up to raise awareness and thus make our highways safer.

“Masking” is a term used for when people with commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) get lenient treatment in our nation’s courts. This allows offenders to hide their traffic offenses and stay on our highways without retribution. Masking, although too often commonplace, is actually a violation of federal law and prohibited and states could get in trouble if their judges do not comply, according to retired Judge Gayle Williams-Byers. Too often, however, a person with a CDL may be cited for a traffic offense in his/her private vehicle. When the violator appears in court, they claim that they will lose their job if the offense is reported to a state Bureau of Motor Vehicles. As a result, says Judge Byers, prosecutors and judges too often reduce the original charge to a minor offense that is not reportable to the state, or which does not carry any points against the offender’s license. This masking process is prohibited yet in some places it is the norm. It is being opposed by the National Highway Safety Administration. To promote compliance, Congress passed the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 which requires the withholding of certain federal dollars from states who are not in compliance. Yet too many judges do not know that “masking” is illegal. The National Judicial College and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are teaming up to raise awareness and thus make our highways safer.

“Masking” conceals unsafe commercial drivers making roadways hazardous.

Fran Lebowitz

Before traveling to the Midwest, New Yorker Fran Lebowitz talked with Spectrum’s guest host Emily Votaw and share her views on life, mortality, friends and smartphones. Lebowitz is a writer, humorist and intellectual. A child of the 1950’s, she shares her social criticism with wit, wisdom and a dose of sarcasm. In 1978, her first book of essays “Metropolitan Life” was published followed by another book of essays in 1981 called “Social Studies.” Since then, she has been a frequent talk show guest and public speaker due to her engaging banter and her sometimes skewed slant on the world and pop culture. Lebowitz spoke with Votaw recently before a speaking engagement in Marietta, Ohio.

Before traveling to the Midwest, New Yorker Fran Lebowitz talked with Spectrum’s guest host Emily Votaw and share her views on life, mortality, friends and smartphones. Lebowitz is a writer, humorist and intellectual. A child of the 1950’s, she shares her social criticism with wit, wisdom and a dose of sarcasm. In 1978, her first book of essays “Metropolitan Life” was published followed by another book of essays in 1981 called “Social Studies.” Since then, she has been a frequent talk show guest and public speaker due to her engaging banter and her sometimes skewed slant on the world and pop culture. Lebowitz spoke with Votaw recently before a speaking engagement in Marietta, Ohio.

Fran Lebowitz: writer, intellectual and humorist shares her views.

Local television newsrooms are often chaotic with breaking news and even routine stories spreading news crews and reporters across a wide geographic area. All are gathering news for both digital distribution and broadcast purposes with multiple and constant deadlines. Someone must coordinate this mayhem and that person in the tri-state area of S.W. Ohio is Ramsay Fulbright, the Assignment Desk Manager for WCPO 9 News. He daily is sending reporters and photographers to stories across Cincinnati, SW Ohio, Indiana, and northern Kentucky. Once the news is gathered, Ramsay also leads a team of assignment editors who feed the news products to various producers of multiple local television news shows every day. Experience pays off for Ramsay. Over the years, his news judgment has been honed by his time as a news photographer. Prior to jumping to the assignment desk, Ramsay spent 11 years as either a photographer or the head photographer at stations in Arkansas, Tennessee, Arizona and at his home station of WCPO News 9 in Cincinnati. He lives in a fast-paced professional world, but he relishes the challenges. He boasts that no two days are the same and that the variety makes his job fascinating. Learn more as you listen to this edition of WOUB’s Spectrum Podcast with Tom Hodson.

Local television newsrooms are often chaotic with breaking news and even routine stories spreading news crews and reporters across a wide geographic area. All are gathering news for both digital distribution and broadcast purposes with multiple and constant deadlines. Someone must coordinate this mayhem and that person in the tri-state area of S.W. Ohio is Ramsay Fulbright, the Assignment Desk Manager for WCPO 9 News. He daily is sending reporters and photographers to stories across Cincinnati, SW Ohio, Indiana, and northern Kentucky. Once the news is gathered, Ramsay also leads a team of assignment editors who feed the news products to various producers of multiple local television news shows every day. Experience pays off for Ramsay. Over the years, his news judgment has been honed by his time as a news photographer. Prior to jumping to the assignment desk, Ramsay spent 11 years as either a photographer or the head photographer at stations in Arkansas, Tennessee, Arizona and at his home station of WCPO News 9 in Cincinnati. He lives in a fast-paced professional world, but he relishes the challenges. He boasts that no two days are the same and that the variety makes his job fascinating. Learn more as you listen to this edition of WOUB’s Spectrum Podcast with Tom Hodson.

WCPO’s Ramsay Fulbright heads the logistics of local television news

In the third of our Spectrum Podcast series on the inner workings of local television news, Janelle Bass gives us insight on being a managing editor at an urban television station in Cleveland. Bass not only manages the reporters at WEWS News 5, but she also heads an award-winning podcasting project at the station. It is part of local television’s entrée into all forms of digital media: print, social media, podcasting and video. She says every day on the job presents different situations and new challenges. There is no time to be bored or to rest. She compares her job to trying to organize chaos, especially on breaking-news days. Earlier in her career, Bass served as a wedding planner in North Carolina. She admits that many of the skills she honed coping with couples about to get married are the human relations skills she now uses managing the newsroom staff. As an African American woman in media management, Janelle also has encountered some special challenges over her career even though she has a communication degree from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University. Some employees have balked at taking direction from a woman who is also Black, according to Bass. She says that this prejudice, however, cannot get in the way of delivering the news. She says when that happens, she reminds them of the job they must do first, and then, after the job is completed, they can discuss whatever gender or racial issues are bothering them.

In the third of our Spectrum Podcast series on the inner workings of local television news, Janelle Bass gives us insight on being a managing editor at an urban television station in Cleveland. Bass not only manages the reporters at WEWS News 5, but she also heads an award-winning podcasting project at the station. It is part of local television’s entrée into all forms of digital media: print, social media, podcasting and video. She says every day on the job presents different situations and new challenges. There is no time to be bored or to rest. She compares her job to trying to organize chaos, especially on breaking-news days. Earlier in her career, Bass served as a wedding planner in North Carolina. She admits that many of the skills she honed coping with couples about to get married are the human relations skills she now uses managing the newsroom staff. As an African American woman in media management, Janelle also has encountered some special challenges over her career even though she has a communication degree from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University. Some employees have balked at taking direction from a woman who is also Black, according to Bass. She says that this prejudice, however, cannot get in the way of delivering the news. She says when that happens, she reminds them of the job they must do first, and then, after the job is completed, they can discuss whatever gender or racial issues are bothering them.

Special skills are necessary to manage a newsroom full of reporters.

This the second in a series of episodes of WOUB’s Spectrum podcast focusing on the importance of local television news in our news consumption. Allison Herman is a young news director. She only graduated from journalism school at Ohio University in 2010 yet she has climbed the ranks quickly in the news busines. Already in her brief career, she’s worked in Huntington-Charleston, West Virginia, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Raleigh-Durham until she landed at WTKR-News3 in Norfolk, Virginia in 2021. About seven months ago, she was promoted to news director. In just a short time, she has changed the news coverage from leaning more towards soft news to a more hard-news format. Allison endeavors to service a large sprawling geographic area taking in numerous cities along the Virginia coast. Her viewing area also includes the country’s largest naval base in Norfolk. The region is quite diverse, racially, and economically. It also includes urban and rural areas. To meet the news needs of such a large and diverse footprint is a real challenge, according to Allison, but one that she happily embraces. Hear how this young news director attacks her job every day and get a glimpse of what it’s like behind the scenes in a local new room. Listen to how reporters, photographers, editors, directors, and producers work together to bring you the latest in local news.

This the second in a series of episodes of WOUB’s Spectrum podcast focusing on the importance of local television news in our news consumption. Allison Herman is a young news director. She only graduated from journalism school at Ohio University in 2010 yet she has climbed the ranks quickly in the news busines. Already in her brief career, she’s worked in Huntington-Charleston, West Virginia, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Raleigh-Durham until she landed at WTKR-News3 in Norfolk, Virginia in 2021. About seven months ago, she was promoted to news director. In just a short time, she has changed the news coverage from leaning more towards soft news to a more hard-news format. Allison endeavors to service a large sprawling geographic area taking in numerous cities along the Virginia coast. Her viewing area also includes the country’s largest naval base in Norfolk. The region is quite diverse, racially, and economically. It also includes urban and rural areas. To meet the news needs of such a large and diverse footprint is a real challenge, according to Allison, but one that she happily embraces. Hear how this young news director attacks her job every day and get a glimpse of what it’s like behind the scenes in a local new room. Listen to how reporters, photographers, editors, directors, and producers work together to bring you the latest in local news.

Challenges face News Director in changing news culture in Norfolk

A study conducted by Gallup and the Knight Foundation has found that local television news is trusted by more people than national news outlets. The latest poll showed the gap between trust in local and national news has grown by three percentage points since Gallup/Knight’s findings on this measure in 2019. “In 2021, Americans were 17 points more likely to say they trust reporting by local news organizations “a great deal” or “quite a lot” than to trust reporting by national news organizations,” the report said. As a result, WOUB’s Spectrum podcast is doing a special series on the impacts of local news by talking with representatives of three television stations: WEWS TV in Cleveland, WCPO TV in Cincinnati and WKRT in Norfolk, Virginia. We are trying to learn how local news stations operate, how they determine their content, and how they meet the needs of their audiences. Our first guests are Joe Donatelli, digital director at WEWS and Mark Ackerman, Investigative Executive Producer at WEWS in Cleveland. They discuss the need for strong investigative reporting on the local level as well as the demands of constantly changing and updating digital content. We also learn of their individual career paths.

A study conducted by Gallup and the Knight Foundation has found that local television news is trusted by more people than national news outlets. The latest poll showed the gap between trust in local and national news has grown by three percentage points since Gallup/Knight’s findings on this measure in 2019. “In 2021, Americans were 17 points more likely to say they trust reporting by local news organizations “a great deal” or “quite a lot” than to trust reporting by national news organizations,” the report said. As a result, WOUB’s Spectrum podcast is doing a special series on the impacts of local news by talking with representatives of three television stations: WEWS TV in Cleveland, WCPO TV in Cincinnati and WKRT in Norfolk, Virginia. We are trying to learn how local news stations operate, how they determine their content, and how they meet the needs of their audiences. Our first guests are Joe Donatelli, digital director at WEWS and Mark Ackerman, Investigative Executive Producer at WEWS in Cleveland. They discuss the need for strong investigative reporting on the local level as well as the demands of constantly changing and updating digital content. We also learn of their individual career paths.

Local Television News is trusted far more that national news outlets.

Donald Wiggins is an attorney and an advocate for prison reform, expanding voting rights, and restorative justice. He is working to get prisoners the right to vote, not only in his home state of Ohio but across the nation. If prisoners can vote, they will have a voice in bettering the conditions of the correctional institutions in which they are incarcerated, according to Wiggins. He claims that most prisons are old and generally need major upgrades to correct what he calls deplorable conditions. He gives an example of an Ohio prison that has had brown and smelly water for prisoners to use because the system supplying water is antiquated. Wiggins also presses for changes in the criminal justice system which would restore inmates to some dignity and help them upon their release to prevent recidivism. Wiggins is currently in private law practice but continues his history of advocacy. Over his career, he has been associated with several political action groups.

Donald Wiggins is an attorney and an advocate for prison reform, expanding voting rights, and restorative justice. He is working to get prisoners the right to vote, not only in his home state of Ohio but across the nation. If prisoners can vote, they will have a voice in bettering the conditions of the correctional institutions in which they are incarcerated, according to Wiggins. He claims that most prisons are old and generally need major upgrades to correct what he calls deplorable conditions. He gives an example of an Ohio prison that has had brown and smelly water for prisoners to use because the system supplying water is antiquated. Wiggins also presses for changes in the criminal justice system which would restore inmates to some dignity and help them upon their release to prevent recidivism. Wiggins is currently in private law practice but continues his history of advocacy. Over his career, he has been associated with several political action groups.

Prison reform should include the right to vote, says advocate.

Spectrum features conversations with an eclectic group of fascinating people, some are famous and some are not, but they all have captivating stories.

This podcast has sustained its high quality. Every week it produces a conversation with someone notable: an author, journalist, policy maker, scholar or celebrity. The interviews with journalists are especially noteworthy.

Sustained

Thank you Tom for interviewing Madeline Lanciani.  Her story is an inspiration for all who fight for their dreams.  An amazing woman.  Ad astra per aspera.

Spectrum

In the early 1970s, Madeline Carvalho Lanciani traveled from suburban Dayton, Ohio to New York City as a young woman with dreams of being an opera singer.  After many twists and turns in life, she now owns the famous Duane Park Patisserie in the fashionable Tribeca District. She is famous for her baking, her creativity and for her tenacity. March is National Women’s History Month and the theme this year is NEVERTHELESS SHE PERSISTED: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Madeline is truly a study in persistence and the embodiment of this theme. Early in her New York life, singing jobs became scare. Besides having a day job, Madeline started baking at home to help pay her bills.  She sold her goods in local Greenwich Village shops. Soon, she decided to put singing on the shelf and instead, she followed her passion of baking and cooking full-time.  She attended a local culinary school where she was the only woman student.   After graduation, when she had to look for a job she ran into the stone wall of sexual discrimination. No one in the NYC food industry would hire a woman. However, Madeline’s tenacity and resilience persisted and she talked herself into a job at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan. She worked free for five months to prove herself.  When eventually hired, she was the only woman in the kitchen of 99 men.  Her story there was one of travails and triumph. After on-the-job hazing, abuse and discrimination in the kitchen, she persisted and rose to be the chef at one of the Plaza’s top restaurants. She and her first husband then started their own bakery in Greenwich Village but the business outlasted the marriage. They got divorced and both remarried. Madeline’s second marriage produced her two children but it was a tough marriage for her.  In various ways, it was an emotionally destructive marriage for Madeline. Eventually, she divorced her second husband and was essentially a broke single mom of a six year old and a three year old. Undeterred, Madeline found an empty warehouse in the Tribeca District of the city. She borrowed money, renovated it and started her own Patisserie.  Today, her shop is one of the top in all of New York City. She is known for her superior quality and creativity. Madeline paved the way for women in her field while suffering multiple levels of abuse in the workplace and emotional turmoil at home.  She is truly an example of persistence and grit.

In the early 1970s, Madeline Carvalho Lanciani traveled from suburban Dayton, Ohio to New York City as a young woman with dreams of being an opera singer. After many twists and turns in life, she now owns the famous Duane Park Patisserie in the fashionable Tribeca District. She is famous for her baking, her creativity and for her tenacity. March is National Women’s History Month and the theme this year is NEVERTHELESS SHE PERSISTED: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Madeline is truly a study in persistence and the embodiment of this theme. Early in her New York life, singing jobs became scare. Besides having a day job, Madeline started baking at home to help pay her bills. She sold her goods in local Greenwich Village shops. Soon, she decided to put singing on the shelf and instead, she followed her passion of baking and cooking full-time. She attended a local culinary school where she was the only woman student. After graduation, when she had to look for a job she ran into the stone wall of sexual discrimination. No one in the NYC food industry would hire a woman. However, Madeline’s tenacity and resilience persisted and she talked herself into a job at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan. She worked free for five months to prove herself. When eventually hired, she was the only woman in the kitchen of 99 men. Her story there was one of travails and triumph. After on-the-job hazing, abuse and discrimination in the kitchen, she persisted and rose to be the chef at one of the Plaza’s top restaurants. She and her first husband then started their own bakery in Greenwich Village but the business outlasted the marriage. They got divorced and both remarried. Madeline’s second marriage produced her two children but it was a tough marriage for her. In various ways, it was an emotionally destructive marriage for Madeline. Eventually, she divorced her second husband and was essentially a broke single mom of a six year old and a three year old. Undeterred, Madeline found an empty warehouse in the Tribeca District of the city. She borrowed money, renovated it and started her own Patisserie. Today, her shop is one of the top in all of New York City. She is known for her superior quality and creativity. Madeline paved the way for women in her field while suffering multiple levels of abuse in the workplace and emotional turmoil at home. She is truly an example of persistence and grit.

From Travails to Triumph: A Woman NYC Chef Who Persisted Through Adversity

Many more men than women are likely to become innovators or entrepreneurs.  Why is that? Some experts say that there are fewer women in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics programs in colleges – commonly called STEM programs. And, there are fewer women in STEM professions overall.  Therefore, there are fewer innovators in high tech industries. Other experts argue that venture capital groups and other investors looking for startup companies are dominated by men and therefore, women innovators are often overlooked or passed over. Some experts claim that there is a paucity of women entrepreneurial role-models and that discourages other women from pushing a new idea or concept. Other women report that the entrepreneurial workspace is often a hostile work environment for women. Spectrum talked with four women to get their perspectives.  Three work directly with female innovators and entrepreneurs and one has lived a life of an entrepreneur by running her own corporation. Jennifer Simon is the Executive Director of Regional Innovation at Ohio University and has spent the bulk of her professional career leading entrepreneurial efforts. Carol Clark is one of the founders of X Squared Angels, a venture capital group that focuses on supporting diversity leadership in businesses across the Midwest. Beverly E. Jones is an executive coach in Washington, D. C. and author of a new book Think Like and Entrepreneur Act Like a CEO.   Finally, we talked with Jane Grote Abell, the chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Donatos Pizza, Inc.  She tells about her personal experience rising through the corporate ranks to now be the leader of and innovator within a major corporation with over 4,500 employees and over 165 locations in seven states. It had gross sales of $162 million last year.

Many more men than women are likely to become innovators or entrepreneurs. Why is that? Some experts say that there are fewer women in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics programs in colleges – commonly called STEM programs. And, there are fewer women in STEM professions overall. Therefore, there are fewer innovators in high tech industries. Other experts argue that venture capital groups and other investors looking for startup companies are dominated by men and therefore, women innovators are often overlooked or passed over. Some experts claim that there is a paucity of women entrepreneurial role-models and that discourages other women from pushing a new idea or concept. Other women report that the entrepreneurial workspace is often a hostile work environment for women. Spectrum talked with four women to get their perspectives. Three work directly with female innovators and entrepreneurs and one has lived a life of an entrepreneur by running her own corporation. Jennifer Simon is the Executive Director of Regional Innovation at Ohio University and has spent the bulk of her professional career leading entrepreneurial efforts. Carol Clark is one of the founders of X Squared Angels, a venture capital group that focuses on supporting diversity leadership in businesses across the Midwest. Beverly E. Jones is an executive coach in Washington, D. C. and author of a new book Think Like and Entrepreneur Act Like a CEO. Finally, we talked with Jane Grote Abell, the chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Donatos Pizza, Inc. She tells about her personal experience rising through the corporate ranks to now be the leader of and innovator within a major corporation with over 4,500 employees and over 165 locations in seven states. It had gross sales of $162 million last year.

Women Slowly Crack Innovation Glass Ceiling

Ron Luce, a board member of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences and President of Ohio Recovery Housing, says “the Holidays” can be a troubling time for those addicted to drugs or alcohol –even those already in recovery. Addiction is often linked with depression, according to Luce, and “the Holidays” can exacerbate emotions in the addict of isolation, shame and feelings associated with causing nothing but problems for family and friends. Those negative feelings can even happen when someone is in “recovery.” Therefore, relapses often occur for those in treatment during this time of year. These relapses occur most often in the first five years of recovery, says Luce.  Giving the recovering addict a sense of “community and connection” during this time is especially important. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) have been historically instrumental in providing that sense of community and support.  However, according to Luce, there are now multiple options for a recovering addict beyond AA. No longer does the treatment community believe that only one type of program is advantageous for recovery.  Instead, a buffet table of different types of programs is available and a recovering addict can pick the program(s) best suited for his or her successful rehabilitation. One type of program available for the recovering alcoholic or addict is a “Recovery House.” People live together in a safe, sober, “home-like” environment to support each other as they attempt re-entry into sober life and activities. These types of residences are now available in over 20 states and enhance a recovering addict’s chances for success, according to Luce. For the protection of the recovering addict, regulations are being put in place in many states to guarantee the legitimacy of houses offering these services.

Ron Luce, a board member of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences and President of Ohio Recovery Housing, says “the Holidays” can be a troubling time for those addicted to drugs or alcohol –even those already in recovery. Addiction is often linked with depression, according to Luce, and “the Holidays” can exacerbate emotions in the addict of isolation, shame and feelings associated with causing nothing but problems for family and friends. Those negative feelings can even happen when someone is in “recovery.” Therefore, relapses often occur for those in treatment during this time of year. These relapses occur most often in the first five years of recovery, says Luce. Giving the recovering addict a sense of “community and connection” during this time is especially important. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) have been historically instrumental in providing that sense of community and support. However, according to Luce, there are now multiple options for a recovering addict beyond AA. No longer does the treatment community believe that only one type of program is advantageous for recovery. Instead, a buffet table of different types of programs is available and a recovering addict can pick the program(s) best suited for his or her successful rehabilitation. One type of program available for the recovering alcoholic or addict is a “Recovery House.” People live together in a safe, sober, “home-like” environment to support each other as they attempt re-entry into sober life and activities. These types of residences are now available in over 20 states and enhance a recovering addict’s chances for success, according to Luce. For the protection of the recovering addict, regulations are being put in place in many states to guarantee the legitimacy of houses offering these services.

Addiction and “The Holidays” Can be a Toxic Mix – But, Help is Available

David Crane has dedicated his professional life to intelligence and security issues both nationally and internationally. He has a long history of service and has risked his life for his country. But, at this point, he is extremely concerned about how President Trump in handling intelligence and security issues. Crane says that Trump ignores or refuses to hear security briefings and he goes into major foreign policy events (like the meetings with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un) grossly unprepared. In fact, Crane says Trump treats the meetings more like “reality television” instead of diplomatic summits. As a result of the President’s negative views on “intelligence,” Crane paints a rather dismal picture of where the United States is in world politics. According to Crane, America is withdrawing from the world stage and relinquishing its role as a world power. America is at its weakest point since its war for independence, Crane notes. Crane also in the podcast explains the rights of federal employees not to be fired without due process and just cause and explains the issues surrounding revoking of “security clearances.” Again, he cites the President’s actions as being more “theater” than “substance.” Historically, the Congress and the House and Senate oversight committees on “intelligence” acted as checks and balances against abuses of Presidential power.  However, Crane sadly reports that the House Intelligence Committee has abdicated that role and instead is doing the bidding of the President. He also finds danger in the President demanding unswerving loyalty and allegiance to himself instead of the Constitution.  Crane notes that the oath of office of any federal employee swears allegiance to the Constitution and not to a particular leader. He claims that President Trump either does not have the “intellectual capacity or the depth to understand that.” Crane also notes that the national and international “rule of law” is threatened by this President. The President “does not believe in the rule of law” and “sees it as a hindrance,” Crane says. Crane currently is the Ohio Glidden Visiting Professor at Ohio University in 2018-2019. He is a security specialist and international lawyer. He spent over 30 years in top-level intelligence work for the government. He also helped create and was the founding director of the Office of Intelligence Review for the Department of Defense. From 2002 to 2005, Crane was the Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.  This was an international war crimes tribunal that brought Liberian President Charles Taylor to justice for horrific crimes. For the past decade, Crane has been a Professor of Practice at the Syracuse University College of Law teaching international criminal law, international humanitarian law and national security law. Crane received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ohio University and his law degree from Syracuse University. He received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Ohio University in 2017.

David Crane has dedicated his professional life to intelligence and security issues both nationally and internationally. He has a long history of service and has risked his life for his country. But, at this point, he is extremely concerned about how President Trump in handling intelligence and security issues. Crane says that Trump ignores or refuses to hear security briefings and he goes into major foreign policy events (like the meetings with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un) grossly unprepared. In fact, Crane says Trump treats the meetings more like “reality television” instead of diplomatic summits. As a result of the President’s negative views on “intelligence,” Crane paints a rather dismal picture of where the United States is in world politics. According to Crane, America is withdrawing from the world stage and relinquishing its role as a world power. America is at its weakest point since its war for independence, Crane notes. Crane also in the podcast explains the rights of federal employees not to be fired without due process and just cause and explains the issues surrounding revoking of “security clearances.” Again, he cites the President’s actions as being more “theater” than “substance.” Historically, the Congress and the House and Senate oversight committees on “intelligence” acted as checks and balances against abuses of Presidential power. However, Crane sadly reports that the House Intelligence Committee has abdicated that role and instead is doing the bidding of the President. He also finds danger in the President demanding unswerving loyalty and allegiance to himself instead of the Constitution. Crane notes that the oath of office of any federal employee swears allegiance to the Constitution and not to a particular leader. He claims that President Trump either does not have the “intellectual capacity or the depth to understand that.” Crane also notes that the national and international “rule of law” is threatened by this President. The President “does not believe in the rule of law” and “sees it as a hindrance,” Crane says. Crane currently is the Ohio Glidden Visiting Professor at Ohio University in 2018-2019. He is a security specialist and international lawyer. He spent over 30 years in top-level intelligence work for the government. He also helped create and was the founding director of the Office of Intelligence Review for the Department of Defense. From 2002 to 2005, Crane was the Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. This was an international war crimes tribunal that brought Liberian President Charles Taylor to justice for horrific crimes. For the past decade, Crane has been a Professor of Practice at the Syracuse University College of Law teaching international criminal law, international humanitarian law and national security law. Crane received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ohio University and his law degree from Syracuse University. He received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Ohio University in 2017.

Trump Treats Diplomacy and “Intelligence” Like Reality TV: Says Security Expert

Journalist Leo Mirani has spent his life in big cities. He worked for the Guardian in Mumbai, India – a city with a metropolitan population of over 22 million people. And, he now lives in London with a population of about 9.8 million people. His whole life has been spent in large cities and metropolitan areas. He, however, has been curious about what small towns might be like and small cities in the United States. So, he came to America on a paid sabbatical to spend 70 days traveling the heartland of our country…examining what small town life is really like. He is coming to the end of his journey and, soon, he will return to his position as News Editor of the Economist magazine in London.  There he will write stories about his American experience and try to capture for his readers, the heart of small town American life. Needless to say, the journey was a culture shock for a young man who has spent his life in large cities where anything is available at any time of the day or night. While visiting the college town of Athens, Ohio, Mirini spoke with Tom Hodson of the Spectrum Podcast to share some of his observations about his travels and about the status of global journalism. Mirini covered culture, movies, and the social scene for the Guardian in Mumbai, India. He then was a technology reporter for Quartz business news site until he joined the Economist in 2015. Mirani talked with classes of journalism students at the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Journalist Leo Mirani has spent his life in big cities. He worked for the Guardian in Mumbai, India – a city with a metropolitan population of over 22 million people. And, he now lives in London with a population of about 9.8 million people. His whole life has been spent in large cities and metropolitan areas. He, however, has been curious about what small towns might be like and small cities in the United States. So, he came to America on a paid sabbatical to spend 70 days traveling the heartland of our country…examining what small town life is really like. He is coming to the end of his journey and, soon, he will return to his position as News Editor of the Economist magazine in London. There he will write stories about his American experience and try to capture for his readers, the heart of small town American life. Needless to say, the journey was a culture shock for a young man who has spent his life in large cities where anything is available at any time of the day or night. While visiting the college town of Athens, Ohio, Mirini spoke with Tom Hodson of the Spectrum Podcast to share some of his observations about his travels and about the status of global journalism. Mirini covered culture, movies, and the social scene for the Guardian in Mumbai, India. He then was a technology reporter for Quartz business news site until he joined the Economist in 2015. Mirani talked with classes of journalism students at the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Big City London Reporter/Editor Visits & Studies American Small Town & Cities

On December 14, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is scheduled to vote to rescind a 2015 regulation that would end “net neutrality”.   Opponents of this action say it will consolidate too much power over the Internet into the hands of a few large broadband providers such as Comcast, AT&amp;T and Verizon and cable companies. If passed, the high speed Internet providers would be allowed to block certain websites (at their discretion) and “throttle” (slow delivery) content for others. The large broadband companies then could charge a premium to content providers to ensure faster service and delivery of content to customers.  Those additional charges would be passed along to consumers, according to Dr. Trevor Roycroft, an economist, and expert on consumer issues in telecommunication. Dr. Roycroft is a professor in the J. Warren McClure School of Information and Telecommunication Systems at Ohio University. Also, not every Internet user would have equal access to legal and legitimate websites.  Some may be blocked by various providers. This action also will limit individual access to Internet sites as determined by the broadband carriers, according to Dr. Roycroft.  He also believes it will curtail innovation and creativity on the internet and be a disincentive to small entrepreneurial developers. This move is part of the de-regulation initiatives of the Trump Administration and is being led by FCC chairman and Trump appointee Ajit Pai. It is uncertain exactly when this action, if approved by the FCC on December 14, will actually take effect.  If passed, the action needs to be published in the Federal Register and will most likely be challenged in court.  The court action will not prevent implementation unless a court grants a “stay” of the rescission.

On December 14, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is scheduled to vote to rescind a 2015 regulation that would end “net neutrality”. Opponents of this action say it will consolidate too much power over the Internet into the hands of a few large broadband providers such as Comcast, AT&amp;T and Verizon and cable companies. If passed, the high speed Internet providers would be allowed to block certain websites (at their discretion) and “throttle” (slow delivery) content for others. The large broadband companies then could charge a premium to content providers to ensure faster service and delivery of content to customers. Those additional charges would be passed along to consumers, according to Dr. Trevor Roycroft, an economist, and expert on consumer issues in telecommunication. Dr. Roycroft is a professor in the J. Warren McClure School of Information and Telecommunication Systems at Ohio University. Also, not every Internet user would have equal access to legal and legitimate websites. Some may be blocked by various providers. This action also will limit individual access to Internet sites as determined by the broadband carriers, according to Dr. Roycroft. He also believes it will curtail innovation and creativity on the internet and be a disincentive to small entrepreneurial developers. This move is part of the de-regulation initiatives of the Trump Administration and is being led by FCC chairman and Trump appointee Ajit Pai. It is uncertain exactly when this action, if approved by the FCC on December 14, will actually take effect. If passed, the action needs to be published in the Federal Register and will most likely be challenged in court. The court action will not prevent implementation unless a court grants a “stay” of the rescission.

Your Internet Use Could be Limited by Upcoming FCC Action on Net Neutrality

While traveling on Air Force One this week in Asia, President Trump lamented the fact that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is insulted by United States accusations that Russia meddled in the 2016 Presidential election. Trump contended that Putin’s bruised feelings would prevent him from making “deals” with the US concerning Syria and North Korea. The President also referred to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former C.I.A. Director John O. Brennan as “political hacks” and that the investigation into Russian meddling is an “artificial Democratic hit job.” The next day, Pres. Trump adjusted his comments to say that he was not supporting the views of Putin but was instead just acknowledging his beliefs. This latest “dust-up” again brings to focus the tenuous relationship between the U.S. and Russia and the strange relationship between the country’s two leaders. To put this ongoing relationship into focus, Spectrum podcast talked with international expert and specialist in Russia/Soviet and East European history Dr. Steven Miner. He is also a professor at Ohio University.  Miner says that Putin is a far better political tactician than Trump but that, overall, he has not proven to be a good strategist. Miner describes the tenuous nature of the Russian economy and its suffering from U.S. sanctions. He also notes that Russia has dedicated part of its military strategy to cyber warfare and cyber interference with other nations’ electoral processes…especially the U.S. and others in Western Europe. Putin feels that effort has been successful.  This tactic costs little money but causes major upheaval – as evidenced by the current U.S. Congressional and legal inquiries. Miner also suggests that we watch for Russia to acquire more adjacent territory while the U.S. is preoccupied with N. Korea and our internal investigations into Russian meddling. Miner is an award winning author and is putting the finishing touches on his latest book called “The Furies Unleashed: The Soviet People at War, 1941-1945.”

While traveling on Air Force One this week in Asia, President Trump lamented the fact that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is insulted by United States accusations that Russia meddled in the 2016 Presidential election. Trump contended that Putin’s bruised feelings would prevent him from making “deals” with the US concerning Syria and North Korea. The President also referred to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former C.I.A. Director John O. Brennan as “political hacks” and that the investigation into Russian meddling is an “artificial Democratic hit job.” The next day, Pres. Trump adjusted his comments to say that he was not supporting the views of Putin but was instead just acknowledging his beliefs. This latest “dust-up” again brings to focus the tenuous relationship between the U.S. and Russia and the strange relationship between the country’s two leaders. To put this ongoing relationship into focus, Spectrum podcast talked with international expert and specialist in Russia/Soviet and East European history Dr. Steven Miner. He is also a professor at Ohio University. Miner says that Putin is a far better political tactician than Trump but that, overall, he has not proven to be a good strategist. Miner describes the tenuous nature of the Russian economy and its suffering from U.S. sanctions. He also notes that Russia has dedicated part of its military strategy to cyber warfare and cyber interference with other nations’ electoral processes…especially the U.S. and others in Western Europe. Putin feels that effort has been successful. This tactic costs little money but causes major upheaval – as evidenced by the current U.S. Congressional and legal inquiries. Miner also suggests that we watch for Russia to acquire more adjacent territory while the U.S. is preoccupied with N. Korea and our internal investigations into Russian meddling. Miner is an award winning author and is putting the finishing touches on his latest book called “The Furies Unleashed: The Soviet People at War, 1941-1945.”

Pres. Trump Favors Russia’s Putin While Trashing the USA Intelligence Team

Throughout his 31 years as an astronomer on the faculty at Harvard Dr. Robert Kirshner has been a leader in using supernovae to map the universe and chart the universe’s expansion over time. Some of his discoveries gave him Science Magazine’s Breakthrough of the Year Award in 1998 and led to a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2011. He is one of the leaders in the concept that the universe is not only expanding but it is doing so today at an accelerated rate compared to years past. This expansion is thanks to “dark energy,” says his team of scientists. Dr. Kirshner, however, has not been satisfied with just communicating to fellow-scientists about his discoveries. He wants the average person to understand the concepts of the expanding universe and the rolls of our solar system and galaxy in the much greater cosmos. He has broken down his discoveries into understandable terms for the non-scientist in his popular book “The Extravagant Universe: Exploding Stars, Dark Energy, and the Accelerating Cosmos, published by Princeton Science Library and updated in 2016. Dr. Kirshner has been a definite leader in his field.  He has worked with both NASA and the National Science Foundation to influence a national strategy in astronomy and astrophysics. From 2004-2006, he was president of the American Astronomical Society, the national society for professionals working in astronomy and astrophysics. Currently, Dr. Kirshner serves as the Chief Program Officer for Science at the Gordan and Betty Moore Foundation. He works to distribute about $100 million per year for science projects funded by the foundation.

Throughout his 31 years as an astronomer on the faculty at Harvard Dr. Robert Kirshner has been a leader in using supernovae to map the universe and chart the universe’s expansion over time. Some of his discoveries gave him Science Magazine’s Breakthrough of the Year Award in 1998 and led to a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2011. He is one of the leaders in the concept that the universe is not only expanding but it is doing so today at an accelerated rate compared to years past. This expansion is thanks to “dark energy,” says his team of scientists. Dr. Kirshner, however, has not been satisfied with just communicating to fellow-scientists about his discoveries. He wants the average person to understand the concepts of the expanding universe and the rolls of our solar system and galaxy in the much greater cosmos. He has broken down his discoveries into understandable terms for the non-scientist in his popular book “The Extravagant Universe: Exploding Stars, Dark Energy, and the Accelerating Cosmos, published by Princeton Science Library and updated in 2016. Dr. Kirshner has been a definite leader in his field. He has worked with both NASA and the National Science Foundation to influence a national strategy in astronomy and astrophysics. From 2004-2006, he was president of the American Astronomical Society, the national society for professionals working in astronomy and astrophysics. Currently, Dr. Kirshner serves as the Chief Program Officer for Science at the Gordan and Betty Moore Foundation. He works to distribute about $100 million per year for science projects funded by the foundation.

Famous Astronomer Explains the Expanding Universe in Understandable Terms

While White House reporters often are given releases and official statements by the President or his staff, it is more important than ever to vet the facts and go through a rather thorough fact checking process before publishing the material, says Toluse Olorunnipa, one of Bloomberg News’ six White House correspondents. In the competitive White House journalism environment, Olorunnipa says it is important to be first with a story and beat other news organizations but it is more important to be accurate. Bloomberg often will quote what the President says and then also note the facts as determined from other official sources. Many of his media colleagues often quote unidentified sources or anonymous sources as a result of leaks.  However, at Bloomberg, Olorunnipa is not permitted to quote an unidentified source.   Therefore, all of his material that is quoted must be “on the record” comments from officials.  A similar policy is in place at the Associated Press but not so at the Washington Post or the New York Times. In addition to regular reporting from the West Wing, Bloomberg correspondents have the additional responsibility to be one of three permanent members of the press pool that covers all of the President’s activities.  They join Reuters and the Associated Press and provide extensive pool coverage of all the President’s moves and comments. Olorunnipa believes that the news media would have greater credibility if the public actually knew how the news process operates and the myriad of checks, balances, and ethical considerations reporters and editors go through to produce the news. In short, he is an advocate for more transparency in the news process. In addition to his regular reporting duties, Olorunnipa also says it is part of his responsibility to appear on various television, cable and radio news programs to discuss the news of the day or a particular story.  He says Bloomberg News expects its reporters to participate in those other media options. Olorunnipa has covered the White House for Bloomberg since 2015 under both President Barack Obama and President Trump.  Before that he was stationed in Florida covering breaking news in the South for Bloomberg.

While White House reporters often are given releases and official statements by the President or his staff, it is more important than ever to vet the facts and go through a rather thorough fact checking process before publishing the material, says Toluse Olorunnipa, one of Bloomberg News’ six White House correspondents. In the competitive White House journalism environment, Olorunnipa says it is important to be first with a story and beat other news organizations but it is more important to be accurate. Bloomberg often will quote what the President says and then also note the facts as determined from other official sources. Many of his media colleagues often quote unidentified sources or anonymous sources as a result of leaks. However, at Bloomberg, Olorunnipa is not permitted to quote an unidentified source. Therefore, all of his material that is quoted must be “on the record” comments from officials. A similar policy is in place at the Associated Press but not so at the Washington Post or the New York Times. In addition to regular reporting from the West Wing, Bloomberg correspondents have the additional responsibility to be one of three permanent members of the press pool that covers all of the President’s activities. They join Reuters and the Associated Press and provide extensive pool coverage of all the President’s moves and comments. Olorunnipa believes that the news media would have greater credibility if the public actually knew how the news process operates and the myriad of checks, balances, and ethical considerations reporters and editors go through to produce the news. In short, he is an advocate for more transparency in the news process. In addition to his regular reporting duties, Olorunnipa also says it is part of his responsibility to appear on various television, cable and radio news programs to discuss the news of the day or a particular story. He says Bloomberg News expects its reporters to participate in those other media options. Olorunnipa has covered the White House for Bloomberg since 2015 under both President Barack Obama and President Trump. Before that he was stationed in Florida covering breaking news in the South for Bloomberg.

Bloomberg’s White House Correspondent Says Fact-Checking is Important

Thomas Reston

Long-time Democratic activist and author Thomas B. Reston says the Democratic Party has lost its way and lost its soul over the past generation or more. In his book, “Soul of a Democrat: Seven Core Ideals that Made our Party and Our Country – Great,” Reston claims that the party has lost its focus and it has jettisoned old philosophies that historically sparked the electorate.  He cites the Presidential Election of 2016 as an example. He gives reasons for the party’s lackluster recent performances and outlines suggestions on how it can right itself. Reston claims that Democrats spend too much time running against and attacking Donald Trump and not enough time and effort crafting a messages that would resonate with voters. Instead of developing a unifying message that would appeal to the whole electorate, he claims Democrats also spend too much time and effort targeting specific blocs of voters and tailoring a number of messages to appeal to those individual blocs.  He asserts that President Trump, as a candidate, espoused messages that took many traditional Democratic voters away from the party. Reston says Democrats need to get back to seven basic ideals: 1) Stand for the individual common person; 2) Fight for all outsiders; 3) Honor today’s secular altruism; 4) Making the ideas and ideals of the party understandable to everyone; 5) Bolster economic security for all; 6) Return to a pragmatic and idealistic foreign policy; and 7) Support the ongoing struggle for civil rights. In his book, he uses historical references to individuals who are mainstays of the Democratic Party to make his points -- people like Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Reston has spent his life in politics. He has worked for eight presidential campaigns and countless state and local elections.  He was twice the Secretary of the Democratic Party of Virginia and was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs under President Jimmy Carter.  He also is a strong civil rights advocate.  He has twice been Chair of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF).

Long-time Democratic activist and author Thomas B. Reston says the Democratic Party has lost its way and lost its soul over the past generation or more. In his book, “Soul of a Democrat: Seven Core Ideals that Made our Party and Our Country – Great,” Reston claims that the party has lost its focus and it has jettisoned old philosophies that historically sparked the electorate. He cites the Presidential Election of 2016 as an example. He gives reasons for the party’s lackluster recent performances and outlines suggestions on how it can right itself. Reston claims that Democrats spend too much time running against and attacking Donald Trump and not enough time and effort crafting a messages that would resonate with voters. Instead of developing a unifying message that would appeal to the whole electorate, he claims Democrats also spend too much time and effort targeting specific blocs of voters and tailoring a number of messages to appeal to those individual blocs. He asserts that President Trump, as a candidate, espoused messages that took many traditional Democratic voters away from the party. Reston says Democrats need to get back to seven basic ideals: 1) Stand for the individual common person; 2) Fight for all outsiders; 3) Honor today’s secular altruism; 4) Making the ideas and ideals of the party understandable to everyone; 5) Bolster economic security for all; 6) Return to a pragmatic and idealistic foreign policy; and 7) Support the ongoing struggle for civil rights. In his book, he uses historical references to individuals who are mainstays of the Democratic Party to make his points -- people like Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Reston has spent his life in politics. He has worked for eight presidential campaigns and countless state and local elections. He was twice the Secretary of the Democratic Party of Virginia and was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs under President Jimmy Carter. He also is a strong civil rights advocate. He has twice been Chair of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF).

Democratic Party has Lost Its Soul Says Author/Activist Thomas Reston

Since 2014, the faculty and staff of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine have been developing a new medical school curriculum called the “Pathways to Health and Wellness Curriculum.” Its design is revolutionary and may lead the way for other medical schools to follow. Come August, gone will be the big auditorium lectures. Instead, greater emphasis will be placed on individual and independent studies through the use of a “flipped classroom approach.” “Students will learn interactively through working collaboratively on 16 weeklong patient cases per semester.  Students will work in teams along with appropriate faculty,” says Dr. Kenneth Johnson, the executive dean of the Heritage College and the chief medical affairs officer for Ohio University. Students will prepare for classroom learning sessions through self-directed study including access to recorded mini-lecture and modules,” explains Dr. Jody Gerome, the new associate dean of curriculum. “The different aspects of medicine, clinical, biomedical, and social, are woven naturally into patient cases, rather than taught as separate academic silos,” Dr. Gerome adds. Likewise, the program will examine the students’ knowledge more often than the formerly once-a-semester exam. Tests will be given more frequently to make sure the student is keeping up and absorbing the material that is required. During each semester, students and faculty both will have “protected time” for maintaining their own personal wellness and each student will be assigned a faculty mentor for all four years of study. The health and wellness of the patients and the physicians both are in balance under this new plan, says Dr. Johnson. “The first two years of study will be divided into four 16 week semesters covering wellness, acute illness, chronic illness and return to wellness,” says Dr. Gerome. “The changes we are making are designed to convey training in a way that is more aligned with today’s evolving best practices in care delivery, to improve the care provided to our patients and communities and for formalize our commitment to the personal wellness of our students during medical school and beyond,” Dr. Johnson explains. “Health care has to change, and the college needs to adapt its curriculum so it can continue to train doctors who can not only thrive in the changing health care environment, but help lead that changes to improve the quality of care to our patients and communities.” Dr. Johnson has been dean of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine since 2012. Dr. Gerome is a 2005 alumna of the college.  She is a practicing physician and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology.

Since 2014, the faculty and staff of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine have been developing a new medical school curriculum called the “Pathways to Health and Wellness Curriculum.” Its design is revolutionary and may lead the way for other medical schools to follow. Come August, gone will be the big auditorium lectures. Instead, greater emphasis will be placed on individual and independent studies through the use of a “flipped classroom approach.” “Students will learn interactively through working collaboratively on 16 weeklong patient cases per semester. Students will work in teams along with appropriate faculty,” says Dr. Kenneth Johnson, the executive dean of the Heritage College and the chief medical affairs officer for Ohio University. Students will prepare for classroom learning sessions through self-directed study including access to recorded mini-lecture and modules,” explains Dr. Jody Gerome, the new associate dean of curriculum. “The different aspects of medicine, clinical, biomedical, and social, are woven naturally into patient cases, rather than taught as separate academic silos,” Dr. Gerome adds. Likewise, the program will examine the students’ knowledge more often than the formerly once-a-semester exam. Tests will be given more frequently to make sure the student is keeping up and absorbing the material that is required. During each semester, students and faculty both will have “protected time” for maintaining their own personal wellness and each student will be assigned a faculty mentor for all four years of study. The health and wellness of the patients and the physicians both are in balance under this new plan, says Dr. Johnson. “The first two years of study will be divided into four 16 week semesters covering wellness, acute illness, chronic illness and return to wellness,” says Dr. Gerome. “The changes we are making are designed to convey training in a way that is more aligned with today’s evolving best practices in care delivery, to improve the care provided to our patients and communities and for formalize our commitment to the personal wellness of our students during medical school and beyond,” Dr. Johnson explains. “Health care has to change, and the college needs to adapt its curriculum so it can continue to train doctors who can not only thrive in the changing health care environment, but help lead that changes to improve the quality of care to our patients and communities.” Dr. Johnson has been dean of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine since 2012. Dr. Gerome is a 2005 alumna of the college. She is a practicing physician and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology.

Medical School Curriculum is Revolutionized to Keep Pace with Today’s Living 

Artificial intelligence may be on the brink of revolutionizing worldwide healthcare says digital strategist and award winning journalist Randy Rieland. Data being analyzed by artificial intelligence have allowed improved diagnostics and more targeted treatments for many types of diseases, including cancer. Artificial intelligence also has markedly improved medical record keeping and advanced radiological procedures, Rieland says. In addition to improved diagnostics, record keeping and radiological techniques, artificial intelligence is being used as a predictor of certain health risks for individuals. It also is being used to predict future conditions in some patients based upon huge data sets of others with similar circumstances. Although not foolproof yet, Rieland believes that the accuracy and reliability of artificial intelligence in healthcare far exceeds manual and other more traditional methods of data analysis. Artificial intelligence also is being used to predict the threats of worldwide infections and when certain diseases may prove resistant to antibiotics, Rieland noted. Experimentation also is being done to link artificial intelligence to our brains to help people with certain neurological diseases speak through electronic means and others to be able to move prostheses based on Brain-computer Interfaces. Rieland is a digital media strategist and contributing writer about innovations for Smithsonian.com. He also is an experienced manager digital media projects and interactive strategies.

Artificial intelligence may be on the brink of revolutionizing worldwide healthcare says digital strategist and award winning journalist Randy Rieland. Data being analyzed by artificial intelligence have allowed improved diagnostics and more targeted treatments for many types of diseases, including cancer. Artificial intelligence also has markedly improved medical record keeping and advanced radiological procedures, Rieland says. In addition to improved diagnostics, record keeping and radiological techniques, artificial intelligence is being used as a predictor of certain health risks for individuals. It also is being used to predict future conditions in some patients based upon huge data sets of others with similar circumstances. Although not foolproof yet, Rieland believes that the accuracy and reliability of artificial intelligence in healthcare far exceeds manual and other more traditional methods of data analysis. Artificial intelligence also is being used to predict the threats of worldwide infections and when certain diseases may prove resistant to antibiotics, Rieland noted. Experimentation also is being done to link artificial intelligence to our brains to help people with certain neurological diseases speak through electronic means and others to be able to move prostheses based on Brain-computer Interfaces. Rieland is a digital media strategist and contributing writer about innovations for <a href="http://Smithsonian.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smithsonian.com</a>. He also is an experienced manager digital media projects and interactive strategies.

Healthcare is Boosted by Artificial Intelligence Innovations, Says Expert

Russia intended to support candidates against Hillary Clinton- the object of Vladimir Putin’s hatred, says expert on Russia, Dr. Steven Miner, scholar, author and professor in the Contemporary History Institute of Ohio University. Russia also intended to disrupt American politics and social systems leading up to and after the 2016 Presidential Election, says Miner after perusing the 35 pages of indictments filed February 16 by United States Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The Russians intended to cause discord and chasms within the United States and Miner says they have been successful. The indictments accuse 13 Russians, who infiltrated the United States with special agents, of illegal activities surrounding the 2016 Election and three Russian companies who helped illegally finance the espionage. Some American experts have called this infiltration an act of war. Dr. Miner calls the operation acts of aggression. He agrees that the Russians have and will continue to breed chaos within the American systems and with the American public unless stopped by Congress or the Trump Administration. Some five days after the indictments were made public, Dr. Miner is surprised that President Donald Trump has not condemned the Russian activities or done anything overtly to stop Russian meddling. Trump also has not imposed sanctions against Russia for past election interference.  Those sanctions earlier were passed by Congress by overwhelming margins. Many, including Dr. Miner, are surprised with Trump’s apparent indifference to the Russian aggression and his lack of any coherent policy to counteract Russian interference. Dr. Miner is an international expert and specialist in recent Russia/Soviet and East European history.  He also is an award winning author.  He just completed writing a book called “The Furies Unleashed:  The Soviet People at War, 1941-1945.”

Russia intended to support candidates against Hillary Clinton- the object of Vladimir Putin’s hatred, says expert on Russia, Dr. Steven Miner, scholar, author and professor in the Contemporary History Institute of Ohio University. Russia also intended to disrupt American politics and social systems leading up to and after the 2016 Presidential Election, says Miner after perusing the 35 pages of indictments filed February 16 by United States Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The Russians intended to cause discord and chasms within the United States and Miner says they have been successful. The indictments accuse 13 Russians, who infiltrated the United States with special agents, of illegal activities surrounding the 2016 Election and three Russian companies who helped illegally finance the espionage. Some American experts have called this infiltration an act of war. Dr. Miner calls the operation acts of aggression. He agrees that the Russians have and will continue to breed chaos within the American systems and with the American public unless stopped by Congress or the Trump Administration. Some five days after the indictments were made public, Dr. Miner is surprised that President Donald Trump has not condemned the Russian activities or done anything overtly to stop Russian meddling. Trump also has not imposed sanctions against Russia for past election interference. Those sanctions earlier were passed by Congress by overwhelming margins. Many, including Dr. Miner, are surprised with Trump’s apparent indifference to the Russian aggression and his lack of any coherent policy to counteract Russian interference. Dr. Miner is an international expert and specialist in recent Russia/Soviet and East European history. He also is an award winning author. He just completed writing a book called “The Furies Unleashed: The Soviet People at War, 1941-1945.”

Recent Indictments Show Russia Sows Discord in America, Russia Expert Says

Abdul Williams

Abdul Williams has had a hot decade of screenwriting for both the big screen and television.  Over the past 10 years, he has written a feature film and two award winning series for the Black Entertainment Network (BET). In 2010, his first feature film “Lottery Ticket” was released and in 2017 and 2018 BET released major series – “The New Edition Story” in 2017 and “The Bobby Brown Story” in 2018. Both are winners of NAACP awards. Williams was the recipient of NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie (2018) and he received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Television Movie, Miniseries, or Dramatic Special (2019). Williams talks to WOUB’s Spectrum Podcast about his career, his work, and his creative process. He breaks down his writing rituals and explains how he develops and nurtures stories from his imagination to the final product. He also discusses how he decides what projects he will work on and how he goes from the seed of an idea through all of the iterations of the work. Besides his busy writing and producing career, Williams also has been a guest lecturer for the OHIO-in-LA Program of the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University.

Abdul Williams has had a hot decade of screenwriting for both the big screen and television. Over the past 10 years, he has written a feature film and two award winning series for the Black Entertainment Network (BET). In 2010, his first feature film “Lottery Ticket” was released and in 2017 and 2018 BET released major series – “The New Edition Story” in 2017 and “The Bobby Brown Story” in 2018. Both are winners of NAACP awards. Williams was the recipient of NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie (2018) and he received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Television Movie, Miniseries, or Dramatic Special (2019). Williams talks to WOUB’s Spectrum Podcast about his career, his work, and his creative process. He breaks down his writing rituals and explains how he develops and nurtures stories from his imagination to the final product. He also discusses how he decides what projects he will work on and how he goes from the seed of an idea through all of the iterations of the work. Besides his busy writing and producing career, Williams also has been a guest lecturer for the OHIO-in-LA Program of the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University.

Abdul Williams Shares Insights About his Career, Work, & Creative Process

Since 2002, Rachel Dissell has been a reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. During her 17 years at the newspaper, she has covered trauma and trauma victims and one major tragedy after another. Her career has focused on complex and emotionally draining issues such as the impact of violence on women and children, life-changing environmental topics, corruption and several instances of social injustice. Her reporting has instigated major policy changes, new governmental procedures, and legislation to protect the citizenry. Covering trauma victims and tragedies call for several special reporting techniques, according to Dissell.  It often takes a special cautious approach and patience on the part of the reporter to get victims to tell their stories completely and thoroughly, she notes.  A reporter often must approach a victim with caution not to scare them or push them into isolation, Dissell adds. She also notes that burn-out is a major factor facing reporters who spend their careers covering human tragedies.  She discusses ways that she regains her perspective and her equilibrium after immersing herself in stories of violence and human turmoil. Dissell is a Dart Fellow at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at the Columbia Journalism School and she also has been a Health Journalism Fellow at Annenberg School of Journalism at the University of Southern California. Besides her full-time reporting, Dissell serves as an adjunct journalism professor at Kent State University, her alma mater.

Since 2002, Rachel Dissell has been a reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. During her 17 years at the newspaper, she has covered trauma and trauma victims and one major tragedy after another. Her career has focused on complex and emotionally draining issues such as the impact of violence on women and children, life-changing environmental topics, corruption and several instances of social injustice. Her reporting has instigated major policy changes, new governmental procedures, and legislation to protect the citizenry. Covering trauma victims and tragedies call for several special reporting techniques, according to Dissell. It often takes a special cautious approach and patience on the part of the reporter to get victims to tell their stories completely and thoroughly, she notes. A reporter often must approach a victim with caution not to scare them or push them into isolation, Dissell adds. She also notes that burn-out is a major factor facing reporters who spend their careers covering human tragedies. She discusses ways that she regains her perspective and her equilibrium after immersing herself in stories of violence and human turmoil. Dissell is a Dart Fellow at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at the Columbia Journalism School and she also has been a Health Journalism Fellow at Annenberg School of Journalism at the University of Southern California. Besides her full-time reporting, Dissell serves as an adjunct journalism professor at Kent State University, her alma mater.

Investigative Reporter Explains How She Covers Trauma and Trauma Victims

Judy Woodruff

Judy Woodruff, award-winning broadcast journalist, has spent over four decades covering Washington for PBS, CNN, and NBC. She currently is the anchor of the PBS NewsHour airing across the country on PBS stations each week-night. She has seen monumental changes in journalism and how news is delivered over her career. One change is the role of women. In 2013, Woodruff and her colleague Gwen Ifill were the first two women to anchor a major newscast together.  Ifill died in 2016 leaving Woodruff alone at the anchor desk and leaving a hole in Woodruff’s life. Woodruff explains that the PBS NewsHour, which is gaining audience numbers, is committed to thorough and accurate reporting in all of its stories underscored by a sense of fairness and balance. She says, too often today, that people only want to hear news from their own political perspective – conservatives watch FOX News and liberals watch MSNBC.  Instead, PBS tries to be neutral and attract all audiences interested in deep reporting. Instead of having screaming pundits and yelling arguments among panel members, the NewsHour features veteran commentators David Brooks from the New York Times and political operative Mark Shields.   Brooks and Shields express different views but do so in a civil and respectful manner, according to Woodruff. She also cites the explosion of social media as changing the news business. Instead of just preparing a story to be broadcast in the news segment, reporters now need to write the story for the website and add links to appropriate background documents.  They also need to pepper social media with links to their work and real time updates. As a result of technological changes, news consumers get more news today than any time in history, Woodruff says.

Judy Woodruff, award-winning broadcast journalist, has spent over four decades covering Washington for PBS, CNN, and NBC. She currently is the anchor of the PBS NewsHour airing across the country on PBS stations each week-night. She has seen monumental changes in journalism and how news is delivered over her career. One change is the role of women. In 2013, Woodruff and her colleague Gwen Ifill were the first two women to anchor a major newscast together. Ifill died in 2016 leaving Woodruff alone at the anchor desk and leaving a hole in Woodruff’s life. Woodruff explains that the PBS NewsHour, which is gaining audience numbers, is committed to thorough and accurate reporting in all of its stories underscored by a sense of fairness and balance. She says, too often today, that people only want to hear news from their own political perspective – conservatives watch FOX News and liberals watch MSNBC. Instead, PBS tries to be neutral and attract all audiences interested in deep reporting. Instead of having screaming pundits and yelling arguments among panel members, the NewsHour features veteran commentators David Brooks from the New York Times and political operative Mark Shields. Brooks and Shields express different views but do so in a civil and respectful manner, according to Woodruff. She also cites the explosion of social media as changing the news business. Instead of just preparing a story to be broadcast in the news segment, reporters now need to write the story for the website and add links to appropriate background documents. They also need to pepper social media with links to their work and real time updates. As a result of technological changes, news consumers get more news today than any time in history, Woodruff says.

TV Journalist Judy Woodruff Has Experienced Many Changes Over Four Decades

In November 2017, Errin Whack was appointed to be the Race and Ethnicity Writer for the Associated Press.  She works closely with the Race and Ethnicity team dedicated to covering “race, culture and politics” in a changing and volatile America. The Associated Press says it has developed a team that can focus on the complicated issues of race and provide rapid responses to racial issues developing across the country. “America is currently hyper-racial,” Whack says.  She thinks, therefore, that stories about race are more important now than ever. “The election of President Obama caused a huge racial backlash that people didn’t pay enough attention to at the time,” Whack adds.  Some people felt threatened by the racial progress of having a black President and it was those feelings of fear and unrest that President Trump tapped into during his 2016 election, according to Whack. Trump fanned the flames of fear during his “Birther Movement” under President Obama and those fears continued and were magnified during the Trump presidential campaign.  We are now seeing the results of that fear evidencing itself in many ways, Whack adds. Whack is not a novice at covering racial matters.  She started her journalism career writing for a black newspaper in her hometown of Atlanta. Since then, she has worked for the “Washington Post, “The Orlando Sentinel”, and the “Los Angeles Times”.  Her worked also has been featured by NBC News, NPR, Politico Magazine, Time.com, BuzzFeed, Fusion, The Guardian, and City Lab. Whack was named the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists’ 2016 Print Journalist of the Year. She also was tapped as the Emerging Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists and Print Journalist of the Year by the Atlanta Press Club.

In November 2017, Errin Whack was appointed to be the Race and Ethnicity Writer for the Associated Press. She works closely with the Race and Ethnicity team dedicated to covering “race, culture and politics” in a changing and volatile America. The Associated Press says it has developed a team that can focus on the complicated issues of race and provide rapid responses to racial issues developing across the country. “America is currently hyper-racial,” Whack says. She thinks, therefore, that stories about race are more important now than ever. “The election of President Obama caused a huge racial backlash that people didn’t pay enough attention to at the time,” Whack adds. Some people felt threatened by the racial progress of having a black President and it was those feelings of fear and unrest that President Trump tapped into during his 2016 election, according to Whack. Trump fanned the flames of fear during his “Birther Movement” under President Obama and those fears continued and were magnified during the Trump presidential campaign. We are now seeing the results of that fear evidencing itself in many ways, Whack adds. Whack is not a novice at covering racial matters. She started her journalism career writing for a black newspaper in her hometown of Atlanta. Since then, she has worked for the “Washington Post, “The Orlando Sentinel”, and the “Los Angeles Times”. Her worked also has been featured by NBC News, NPR, Politico Magazine, <a href="http://Time.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Time.com</a>, BuzzFeed, Fusion, The Guardian, and City Lab. Whack was named the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists’ 2016 Print Journalist of the Year. She also was tapped as the Emerging Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists and Print Journalist of the Year by the Atlanta Press Club.

Current “Hyper-Racial” Culture is Covered Full-time by AP Reporter Errin Whack

Some are calling the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians the “Apocalypse World Series.” Both teams are not used to being the post season spotlight and most assuredly they are unfamiliar with winning the World Series…WHY? – Well, both teams supposedly have been under curses for over 50 years. Brian Corbin, the real-time correspondent at Wrigley Field for mlb.com, explains Chicago’s malady. The Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908 and they have been under the “Curse of the Goat” since 1945. In 1945, Chicago’s Billy Goat Tavern owner Bill Sianis brought his pet goat Murphy to Wrigley Field for good luck.  Because of Murphy’s stench, fans complained and Sianis and Murphy were banned from the ballpark. Sianis, in a fit of rage, proclaimed that the Cubs would win “no-more,” according to Corbin. And, they haven’t.  The Cubs have come close but something unforeseen always seems to happen to jinx Chicago quest.  Corbin describes, in the podcast, some of the unusual circumstances thwarting the Cubs repeated efforts to win over the years. Corbin also details some of the current player superstitions that are in play during this series to dispel the curse. Matt LaWell is a native of Cleveland and a lifelong Indian fan.  He has spent the bulk of his professional career writing about baseball and experiencing the game from multiple levels.  His most memorable project was called “A Minor League Season” – which consisted of a five-month road trip with his wife Carolyn through 45 states and visiting 120 minor league baseball teams.  Along the way, he wrote about the minor leagues and American.  (He has a Facebook page – A Minor League Season https://www.facebook.com/AMinorLeagueSeason/ ) Cleveland has not won a world series since 1948 and in 1994, a Cleveland sports writer Terry Pluto traced the difficulty back to the untimely trading of Indian legend Rocky Colavito in 1960 to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn, according to LaWell.  It was a hugely unpopular trade and turned fan wrath on the then General Manager. Since that date, the Indians have suffered misfortune after misfortune. But, according to LaWell, since the Cleveland Cavaliers had such a remarkable come-from-behind championship win in this year’s NBA Finals – Clevelanders think that luck is shining on the City on the Lake.  This just might be the year to bury the Colavito curse for the Tribe. It is clear that one of these two unlikely adversaries, during this Halloween season, will shed its curse forever and the other will stumble forward still under the burden of the prevailing spell put upon it decades ago.

Some are calling the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians the “Apocalypse World Series.” Both teams are not used to being the post season spotlight and most assuredly they are unfamiliar with winning the World Series…WHY? – Well, both teams supposedly have been under curses for over 50 years. Brian Corbin, the real-time correspondent at Wrigley Field for <a href="http://mlb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mlb.com</a>, explains Chicago’s malady. The Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908 and they have been under the “Curse of the Goat” since 1945. In 1945, Chicago’s Billy Goat Tavern owner Bill Sianis brought his pet goat Murphy to Wrigley Field for good luck. Because of Murphy’s stench, fans complained and Sianis and Murphy were banned from the ballpark. Sianis, in a fit of rage, proclaimed that the Cubs would win “no-more,” according to Corbin. And, they haven’t. The Cubs have come close but something unforeseen always seems to happen to jinx Chicago quest. Corbin describes, in the podcast, some of the unusual circumstances thwarting the Cubs repeated efforts to win over the years. Corbin also details some of the current player superstitions that are in play during this series to dispel the curse. Matt LaWell is a native of Cleveland and a lifelong Indian fan. He has spent the bulk of his professional career writing about baseball and experiencing the game from multiple levels. His most memorable project was called “A Minor League Season” – which consisted of a five-month road trip with his wife Carolyn through 45 states and visiting 120 minor league baseball teams. Along the way, he wrote about the minor leagues and American. (He has a Facebook page – A Minor League Season <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AMinorLeagueSeason/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/AMinorLeagueSeason/</a> ) Cleveland has not won a world series since 1948 and in 1994, a Cleveland sports writer Terry Pluto traced the difficulty back to the untimely trading of Indian legend Rocky Colavito in 1960 to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn, according to LaWell. It was a hugely unpopular trade and turned fan wrath on the then General Manager. Since that date, the Indians have suffered misfortune after misfortune. But, according to LaWell, since the Cleveland Cavaliers had such a remarkable come-from-behind championship win in this year’s NBA Finals – Clevelanders think that luck is shining on the City on the Lake. This just might be the year to bury the Colavito curse for the Tribe. It is clear that one of these two unlikely adversaries, during this Halloween season, will shed its curse forever and the other will stumble forward still under the burden of the prevailing spell put upon it decades ago.

“DISPEL THE CURSE” – A History of Superstition and Legend in Baseball

Higher education still has value either in preparing someone for a career or enhancing his/her worldview through general studies. So says Dr. Robert Glidden, President Emeritus at Ohio University and California Polytechnic State University. He has had a career of over four decades in higher education administration. Despite the rising costs of a university education, Dr. Glidden feels that a college education pays off for the student both through enhanced career opportunities and broader knowledge of the world. He argues that a good “liberal arts education” is still valued in our society. Dr. Glidden concedes that the costs of higher education have escalated at an alarming rate and he is concerned about the amount of debt that most students have upon graduation. However, he cautions that online and electronic education courses and degrees do not necessarily save money for colleges and universities.  He is a strong believer in expanding ways to deliver higher education to a broader swath of the population but he does not think that online courses are a major cost-saver for the institutions sponsoring them. He also says that it is incumbent upon the universities to assure that the quality of online education matches the quality on face-to-face classroom education. Dr. Glidden still is a strong proponent of regional campuses to main universities.  Not only do they provide non-traditional students with opportunities but they also enhance the geographic region in which they are located, he says. Dr. Glidden spent 10 years as President of Ohio University from 1994 through 2004.  He then became Interim President of California Polytechnic State University in 2010, a position he held for seven months. His earlier career included three years as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Florida State University and deanships at Florida State and Bowling Green State University. Since his retirement, Dr. Glidden has been involved with several national organizations and associations advancing the causes of higher education and he has been a strong proponent of university and program accreditation.

Higher education still has value either in preparing someone for a career or enhancing his/her worldview through general studies. So says Dr. Robert Glidden, President Emeritus at Ohio University and California Polytechnic State University. He has had a career of over four decades in higher education administration. Despite the rising costs of a university education, Dr. Glidden feels that a college education pays off for the student both through enhanced career opportunities and broader knowledge of the world. He argues that a good “liberal arts education” is still valued in our society. Dr. Glidden concedes that the costs of higher education have escalated at an alarming rate and he is concerned about the amount of debt that most students have upon graduation. However, he cautions that online and electronic education courses and degrees do not necessarily save money for colleges and universities. He is a strong believer in expanding ways to deliver higher education to a broader swath of the population but he does not think that online courses are a major cost-saver for the institutions sponsoring them. He also says that it is incumbent upon the universities to assure that the quality of online education matches the quality on face-to-face classroom education. Dr. Glidden still is a strong proponent of regional campuses to main universities. Not only do they provide non-traditional students with opportunities but they also enhance the geographic region in which they are located, he says. Dr. Glidden spent 10 years as President of Ohio University from 1994 through 2004. He then became Interim President of California Polytechnic State University in 2010, a position he held for seven months. His earlier career included three years as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Florida State University and deanships at Florida State and Bowling Green State University. Since his retirement, Dr. Glidden has been involved with several national organizations and associations advancing the causes of higher education and he has been a strong proponent of university and program accreditation.

Higher Education Still Has Value Says an Emeritus President of Two Universities

Amy Nordrum, a veteran science journalist, feels that fact-based science reporting helps an audience navigate through new technologies and new discoveries that will impact people’s daily lives. Nordrum currently is news editor of “IEEE Spectrum,” an award-winning technology and engineering magazine based in New York City. She also is a frequent guest on Public Radio’s “Science Friday” with Ira Flatow talking about a wide-range of science topics. Nordrum writes and edits news stories about computing, artificial intelligence, power and energy, biomedical engineering, and telecommunications.  Her favorite stories cover elements of business and technology and explain the importance of technology to the average person. She says she really enjoys her guest appearances on Science Friday. She tells us how the appearances are scheduled and how she prepares for the show. Over her journalism career, Nordrum has done a wide range of science reporting. She has written about health care, biotech, and pharmaceuticals for the “International Business Times,” based in New York City before joining IEEE Spectrum.  Nordrum earned her master’s degree in science journalism from New York University and her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University.  She recently appeared at Ohio University to talk about ethics in science journalism. Nordrum is currently completing an MBA with a focus on media management at New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Amy Nordrum, a veteran science journalist, feels that fact-based science reporting helps an audience navigate through new technologies and new discoveries that will impact people’s daily lives. Nordrum currently is news editor of “IEEE Spectrum,” an award-winning technology and engineering magazine based in New York City. She also is a frequent guest on Public Radio’s “Science Friday” with Ira Flatow talking about a wide-range of science topics. Nordrum writes and edits news stories about computing, artificial intelligence, power and energy, biomedical engineering, and telecommunications. Her favorite stories cover elements of business and technology and explain the importance of technology to the average person. She says she really enjoys her guest appearances on Science Friday. She tells us how the appearances are scheduled and how she prepares for the show. Over her journalism career, Nordrum has done a wide range of science reporting. She has written about health care, biotech, and pharmaceuticals for the “International Business Times,” based in New York City before joining IEEE Spectrum. Nordrum earned her master’s degree in science journalism from New York University and her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University. She recently appeared at Ohio University to talk about ethics in science journalism. Nordrum is currently completing an MBA with a focus on media management at New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Science Journalism Is Important to Understanding Emerging Technologies

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