AU in the News

Showcasing AU programs, professors, students and alumni in the news
Week of November 1 - 7

This week's top story...

Voter turnout not as high as expected
Curtis Gans, director of the AU's Center for the Study of the American Electorate who was recently called the "dean of voting turnout predictions" by the Associated Press, released two reports on election turnout--one on voter registration and a final report on voter turnout in the election. Gans's reports were featured in more than 300 outlets. His report on voter turnout, which was not as high as expected, was featured in the Wall Street Journal, WAMU 88.5, USA Today, CNN.com, New York Times.com , Lou Dobbs Radio, and many other outlets. His voter registration report was featured in an Associated Press story about the predicted record turnout of voters in the presidential election. According to Gans, early numbers were showing 2008 to be about equal to or better than 1964, but would not exceed the 1960 numbers, the highest since post-World War II. This article appeared in more than 60 news outlets. (11/5/08)

On Election Day, AU students and faculty were in the national and international media spotlight:

Taking the helm
James Thurber, director of American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, was one of the nation's leading experts in the media on Election Day. Thurber appeared in several segments on MSNBC and appeared on seven NBC affiliates nationwide during election night coverage. Before the election, he appeared with Lou Dobbs on CNN and was quoted in a Forbes story about the bailout actions and executive authority over the financial that will be in place in time for the installment of a new president. “They're inheriting the beginning of the solution to the problem,” he said. Thurber was also quoted in a New York Times story about Sen. Hillary Clinton’s support of President-elect Barack Obama during his presidential campaign. “She has done more for Obama than Dean did in 2004 for Kerry, more than Bradley did for Gore in 2000, more than Kennedy did for Carter in 1980,'' he said. ''As much as this must hurt her, she has been the ultimate trooper this fall.'' (11/4/08), (11/3/08)

Ich bin ein German TV personality
Five German-born students currently enrolled in AU's Washington Semester Program, and two AU student bloggers from the Eagle, participated in the election night broadcast of ZDF, German TV network. The network, the largest in Germany, broadcast live from Mary Graydon Center from 7 p.m. to midnight with the station's top anchor, Claus Kleber, interviewing the AU students throughout. School of Communication professor Wendell Cochran was also interviewed about the role of the Internet in this election. (11/4/08)

In the final week of the race, during Election Day, and after, AU's politically-active community was part of the national discussion:

The future of women in politics
Karen O'Connor, director of the Woman and Politics Institute, was quoted in a Baltimore Sun story about the larger role of women in politics in this year’s elections. "Is it time we regularly see women on the ticket? Absolutely," she said. "I think it's going to take a while before we have a large enough candidate base." (11/5/08)

Another New Deal?
Allan Lichtman, a professor of history, was quoted in a Bloomberg News story about President-elect Barack Obama’s task of fixing the financial crisis and handling the Iraq War when he takes office. “FDR had 15 major bills in his famous 100 days, and the Reagan Revolution was all within a year,'' he said. ``The next president has to try a lot of things and see what works.” Lichtman was also quoted in a Press Association story about the upcoming election, saying that it was "one of the most important elections in the history of the country and the history of the world.” The article was picked up by more than 40 news outlets. (11/5/08)

Heavy consideration for the vote
Political analyst Dotty Lynch was featured in a Voice of America television news segment about independent voters and how they may choose their candidate. "Many people like both of the candidates," she said, "so they are trying to figure out which one will really do something about the issues they care about." (10/31/08)

First mom
Leonard Steinhorn, a professor of political communication, was quoted in an Agence France-Presse story about the role of Michelle Obama’s image during the presidential campaign and her time management as a mother and future first lady. Steinhorn noted that Obama has “had fewer public appearances than other potential first ladies because she has two small kids and has to balance her parental responsibilities with the hopes of getting her husband elected president of the United States.” (11/5/08)

Election eve
Emilio Viano, a professor in the School of Public Affairs, participated in Election Eve coverage for V-me, one of the largest Spanish TV networks in the US, which is also partnered with public television. The coverage was a part of V-me's PARTICIPA 2008: Elección Presidencial, a year-long initiative for high-quality political coverage and voter education in Spanish. (11/3/08)

2009
Mar	6	13	20	27
Feb	6	13	20	27
Jan	4	9	16	23	30
2008
Dec	5	12	19
Nov	7	14	21
Oct	3	10	17	24	31
Sept	5	12	19	26
Aug	1	8	15	29
July	4	11	18	25
June	6	13	20	27
May	2	9	16	23
Apr	4	11	18	25
Mar	7	21	28
Feb	1	8	15	22	29
Jan	4	11	18	25
2007
Dec	7	14	21
Nov	2	9	16		30
Oct	5	12	19	26
Sept	7	14	21	28
Aug	3	10	17	24	31
July	31
June	30
Feb	2	9
Jan	5	12	19	26