GRADUATE CENTER FACULTY IN THE NEWS

Graduate Center faculty are frequently in the news, sharing their expertise with the public and weighing in on pressing issues.

Following are some prominent news mentions from the past several months.
 
Black History and Culture
 
Professor Tanisha Ford (History) was quoted in a CNN International article on Black fashion designers, commenting that Black fashion designers have long used their fashions as political art. center Afro-centric heritage in their lines of clothing. (September 29, 2021)

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Climate Change and the Environment

Professor Peter Groffman (GC/ASRC, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Environmental Sciences Initiative) co-wrote an op-ed “Climate Change Is Already Disrupting US Forests and Coasts” that has appeared in the Associated Press, Houston Chronicle, Albany Times-Union, San Antonio Express News, The Telegraph, The National Interest,  the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Midland Daily News, Haaretz.com, Yahoo! News, Madison.com, Auburn Pub.com. The essay originally ran in The Conversation. (August 3, 2021)
 
Criminal Justice

Professor Candace McCoy (Criminal Justice) argued why Derek Chauvin should plead guilty in an op-ed in Bloomberg Law. (March 25, 2021)
 
Professor Michael Jacobson (Sociology) co-wrote an op-ed in Crime Report arguing that New York City officials should expedite the closing of Rikers Island by moving inmates into smaller, better staffed and equipped jails instead of prisons. (October 25, 2021)
Professor Candace McCoy (Criminal Justice) opined in Bloomberg Law: “New York’s Gun Law and the Supreme Court—What Is There to Fear?” (November 16, 2021)
 
COVID-19 Impact
 
Professor Setha Low (Psychology, Earth and Environmental Sciences) was quoted in Bloomberg City Lab story on the effect of the closing of hangout spots due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(April 6, 2021)

Elections, Demographics, and Democracy

Distinguished Professor John Mollenkopf (Political Science and Sociology) was quoted in a New York Times column by Tom Edsall on the New York City mayoral elections. (June 30, 2021)

Distinguished Professor Richard Alba (Sociology) was quoted in an NPR story on how the white population is changing based on census data. (August 23, 2021) He also argued in some co-written op-eds in The Atlantic that the narrative of a majority-minority nation is false and divisive (June 13, 2021) and that the Census Bureau needs to take more steps to achieve a more comprehensive scheme for understanding how mixing is changing America’s ethno-racial contours. (October 25, 2021)

Distinguished Professor Richard Alba (Sociology) was quoted in a FiveThirtyEight article about how the census misrepresents mixed race Americans. (December 13, 2021)
 
Health and Medicine

Professor Yoko Nomura (GC/Queens, Psychology) was quoted in an CNN International article about her study showing that women who use cannabis during pregnancy may cause in immunosuppression in the placenta may be linked to increased anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity in their children. (December 16, 2021)
 
Immigration

Professor Ruth Milkman (GC/CUNY School of Labor and Urban Relations; Sociology and History/Labor Studies) co-wrote an op-ed in American Prospect on why mass immigration is key to America’s economy. (August 23, 2021)

Distinguished Professor John Mollenkopf (Political Science and Sociology) was quoted in a Washington Post story about the New York City Council voting to extend immigrant voting rights in local elections. (December 9, 2021)
  
Inequality and Gentrification

Professors Ruth Milkman (GC/CUNY School of Labor and Urban Relations; Sociology and History/Labor Studies) and Stephanie Luce (GC/CUNY School of Labor and Urban Relations; Sociology/Labor Studies) co-wrote an op-ed published by The Nation: “Did Occupy Wall Street Make a Difference?" (September 17, 2021)

Professor Setha Low (Psychology, Earth and Environmental Sciences) was quoted a New York Times article about the gentrification of Chinatown and why a cultural museum is so controversial. (August 19, 2021)

Professor Van Tran (Sociology) was quoted in The New York Times about the rebuilding and the redesign of the East River Park in lower Manhattan. (December 2, 2021)
 
Labor Relations

Distinguished Professor Ruth Milkman (GC/CUNY School of Labor and Urban Relations; Sociology and History/Labor Studies) was quoted in a New York Times article about the low number of unions striking in the United States because of fewer unions in general. (November 1, 2021)

Distinguished Professor Ruth Milkman (GC/CUNY School of Labor and Urban Relations; Sociology and History/Labor Studies) was quoted in an NBC News story about retail stores closing on Thanksgiving, calling it “a rational decision because of the shortage of workers.” (November 23, 2021)

Distinguished Professor Ruth Milkman (GC/CUNY School of Labor and Urban Relations; Sociology and History/Labor Studies) was quoted in a Washington Post article about Starbucks employees organizing to form a union. She said, “if they are successful, they could inspire other workers.” (November 23, 2021)

Distinguished Professor Ruth Milkman (GC/CUNY School of Labor and Urban Relations; Sociology and History/Labor Studies) was quoted in a New York Times article about the shortage of New York City Transit workers who were offered $35,000 to return to work for three months. She noted that there is an overall shortage of workers and that some may have saved money and don’t want to return. (November 30, 2021)

Distinguished Professor Ruth Milkman (GC/CUNY School of Labor and Urban Relations; Sociology and History/Labor Studies) was quoted in a story on how transit workers are competitive in a labor shortage environment and some workers may decline to return because they reluctant to return to strenuous and dangerous work. (December 1, 2021)

A study by Sociology Professors Ruth Milkman and Stephanie Luce and Ph.D. student Isaac Jabola-Carolus recommending an increase in pay for New York State home health care workers was cited in a City and State article. (December 7, 2021)

Politics and Policy – International

Professor Oswaldo Zavala (GC/Staten Island; Latin American, Iberian, and Latino Cultures) opined in The Washington Post: “National security in Mexico goes beyond the ‘war on drugs.” (December 13, 2021, Spanish language)

Politics and Policy – U.S.

Professor Benjamin Carter Hett (GC/Hunter, History) published an op-ed in The Los Angeles Times, asking and answering, “Why is it that professors have always drawn the anger of authoritarians?” (November 5, 2021)

Distinguished Professor David Reynolds (English, History) authored an essay in The Atlantic Magazine: “How Lincoln Turned Regional Holidays Into National Celebrations." (November 24, 2021)

Distinguished Professor Corey Robin (GC/Brooklyn, Political Science) opined in The New York Times: "Why the Biden Presidency Feels Like Such a Disappointment." (December 9, 2021)

Racism and Bias

Professor Margaret Chin (GC/Hunter, Sociology) co-wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post, “The ‘model minority’ myth hurts Asian Americans – and even leads to violence.” (April 19, 2021)

Interim Chief Librarian Emily Drabinski was interviewed by NPR's On the Media as one of several librarians who discuss the biases of the Dewey Decimal system. (September 3, 2021)

Professor Van Tran (Sociology) was quoted in an NBC News article on the backlash over equity initiatives in U.S. schools. (September 13, 2021)

 
Urban Education
 
Professor Wendy Luttrell (Urban Education) wrote an op-ed in the 74 Million about a survey conducted by GC Urban Education students showing that parents of New York City schoolchildren want more engagement, child mental health supports, and teaching about racial justice. (June 28, 2021) The op-ed led to mentions of the survey in ABC News (July 5, 2021) and Yahoo! News (July 5, 2021) articles.
 
Professor David Bloomfield (GC/Brooklyn, Urban Education) argued in an op-ed published by Gotham Gazette that the New York State education commissioner erred in ruling that the State Education Department lacks jurisdiction over the contested educational practices of a Brooklyn yeshiva. (May 27, 2021)

Professor David Bloomfield (GC/Brooklyn, Urban Education) was quoted in a Spectrum NY1 story about the likelihood of David Banks becoming the next New York City schools chancellor. (November 12, 2021)

Professor David Bloomfield (GC/Brooklyn, Urban Education) was quoted in The Wall Street Journal about how David Banks, leading candidate for the New York City schools’ chancellor has been a champion for the disadvantaged throughout his career. (November 28, 2021)

Professor David Bloomfield (GC/Brooklyn, Urban Education) was quoted in a New York Daily News article about David Banks, the incoming New York City schools chancellor. (December 9, 2021) 

Graduate Center faculty are welcome to share their news with the Office of Communications and Marketing.