51ԹϺ marked multiple milestones in August.
The latest phase of the university’s Rebel Recovery initiative was led by the reopening of Beam Hall, eight months after a tragic shooting that claimed the lives of three beloved faculty members. Refusing to be deterred, students forged ahead in the pursuit of their dreams — spurring 51ԹϺ to welcome its largest enrollment in campus history this fall.
The university introduced a slew of new program and course offerings, including a new mariachi focus and a teacher apprenticeship initiative. Faculty researchers made headlines for their work in the areas of health, environment, and space. And university experts from all corners of campus helped lend context to world events ranging from the election and the economy to gaming law, the internet, and food culture.
Read on for just a few of 51ԹϺ’s August media mentions.
Back to School
As Beam Hall reopened to the public for the first time since the Dec. 6 shooting tragedy, 51ԹϺ President Keith E. Whitfield and campus leaders spoke to media outlets about 51ԹϺ’s investment of over $2 million on enhanced security measures campuswide. Whitfield also shared his vision for the academic year ahead, as well as details about the Rebel Ready Week orientation program for incoming students and the university’s record-breaking enrollment of 32,000 students:
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The , , and highlighted the College of Education’s newly reconfigured Nevada Forward Initiative, an apprenticeship program aimed at shoring up the teacher shortage.
And covered the launch of the School of Music’s new mariachi program.
Potatoes Aplenty
A new study from nutritionist Neda Akhavan shows that baked and roasted potatoes — and particularly the skins — are packed with health-boosting nutrients that can help people with Type 2 diabetes maintain healthy blood sugar levels and lose weight. Hundreds of outlets around the globe picked up the news, including:
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Cannabis & Casinos
51ԹϺ's Cannabis Policy Institute (CPI) teamed with the International Gaming Institute (IGI) to host “Cannabis & Gaming,” a panel discussion moderated by CPI director Riana Durrett and IGI executive director Brett Abarbanel. Business professor Marla Royne Stafford and adjunct law professor Jennifer Roberts were among the speakers who led conversation on topics surrounding policy and research.
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Health & Science
- Infectious disease expert Brian Labus went over the symptoms of "long COVID" with and . He talked to about Oropouche virus, also known as "sloth fever," as well as to about pizza’s expiration date. His comments to the about the spread of the UK’s deadly Mpox strain were picked up by multiple international outlets, including and . Labus additionally appeared in a story about the grossest object in a hotel room.
- and interviewed architecture professor Steffen Lehmann about the urban heat island effect. Meanwhile, the covered the health consequences of the resulting warmer nights, and also asked Lehmann about Southern Nevada’s preparedness to face the future heatwaves infrastructure-wise.
- Sports psychologist Brad Donohue shared mental health strategies that both Olympians and everyday people can use in an article from . He also chatted with about the benefits of moderate exercise even a couple of days per week.
- featured new research by astrophysicists Stephen Lepp and Rebecca Martin, which explored exoplanets and their various moons.
- Medical entomologist and go-to mosquito expert Louisa Messenger talked about the best mosquito repellents with .
- Public health professor Chad L. Cross told all about bed bugs and how to get rid of them.
- () described what weather is like on the moon and our neighboring planets with the help of astrophysicist Jason Steffen.
- Hydrogeologist David Kreamer appeared in ’s story about a uranium mine near the south rim of the Grand Canyon that threatens the local water supply.
Culture
- Social media expert Benjamin Morse translated the meaning of the teen slang term "yeet" for .
- A essay on the passing of author Francine Pascal and the influence of her young adult novels cited research by psychologist and former 51ԹϺ president Marta Meana.
- The wrote about several unsuspecting foods that pack a nutritional punch with the help of registered dietitian Samantha Coogan.
- Asian American studies expert Constancio Arnaldo explained the growth of Las Vegas’ Chinatown districts in the and .
Politics
- (via ), (), , , and the asked law expert Francine Lipman about the practicality of presidential candidates’ "no taxes on tips" proposals in Nevada.
- also tapped political scientist David Damore for a piece on swing states’ significance in presidential races, while the , , and interviewed him about campaign issues to watch. He discussed the Affordable Care Act’s future with and the local housing crisis with the
- The chatted with law expert Nancy B. Rapoport about legal strategy in Delta’s hiring of a big-name attorney. also consulted her expertise for a piece on a judge’s ethics scandal.
- interviewed political scientist Rebecca Gill regarding ways Democrats could win over Latino voters in Nevada. She also discussed the presidential race with , and candidates’ student loan forgiveness policies with ().
- Railroad engineering professor Harry Teng explained what it would take to develop a high-speed train between Los Angeles and Las Vegas in and .
- Immigration law expert Michael Kagan outlined ICE bureaucracy in coverage from .
Experts Roundup
- The Nevada Department of Public Safety’s wellness program manager has partnered with 51ԹϺ’s Tourist Safety Institute at the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs to create a new resiliency training program designed for the highway patrol officers:
- How is Gap doing such a great job of capturing Gen Z customers? Fashion historian Deirdre Clemente helped explain. And her essay for on presidential and VP candidates’ fashion choices was picked up by multiple outlets, including and .
- , , , and were among outlets that covered political scientist Benjamin Farrer’s study on energy companies pressuring homeowners into fracking.
- highlighted a study co-led by accounting professor Scott Jackson, which found that gender stereotypes explain why female CEOs are targeted by shareholder activists and why they tend to cooperate.
- Two 51ԹϺ Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine OBGYN doctors were in the news: Professor Nadia Gomez spoke to about her new study analyzing social media misinformation about birth control. And professor Rebecca Lee was featured in a discussion about the poor state of women’s health care in Nevada.
- Historian Michael Green commented on the potential consequences ahead for Resorts World, following accusations of illegal gambling, in a piece from the .
- Business professor Stephen Miller helped understand the economic impact of early-life financial decisions on mid- to late-life debt. He also talked to the about recession fears, and to about the potential impact of mass deportations on the Silver State’s economy.
- The podcast invited International Gaming Institute (IGI) research director Kasra Ghaharian on for an episode on AI’s influence on gambling.
- IGI executive director Brett Abarbanel offered context on the emerging sports betting influencer industry to .
