Campbell Institute News

"We're at a point now where I would think that the pressure to not be seen as toeing the party line for the White House would probably be more powerful than the pressure to protect the president in some way," says Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute.

The Campbell Conversations, a public affairs interview radio program hosted by Professor Grant Reeher, was awarded first place from the New York State Associated Press Association. The half-hour show features extended, in-depth interviews in which Reeher goes beyond and behind the current news cycle to explore more lasting questions about public affairs.

"I'm not sure that WikiLeaks has made people more critical consumers of news as much as less trusting in authority," says Shana Gadarian, associate professor of political science.

The FY 2018 New York State Executive Budget established the County-wide Shared Services Property Tax Plan requiring local governments to consider ways of sharing services in order to save taxpayer money, and improve the delivery of those services. To support the implementation of this new law, the New York State Department of State contracted with the Campbell Institute to develop a non-partisan guide to help public officials and citizens more usefully consider the possibility of sharing services within their counties.

The Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award, which honors faculty who have a significant, positive influence on graduate education at Syracuse University, was awarded to Azra Hromadžić, assistant professor of anthropology, and Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, professor of history.

Keith Bybee, professor of political science, talked about finding common ground in our public discourse, on PBS's public affairs program The Open Mind.

"The relationship between scientists and government is arguably at a low point today. But that’s the culmination of a trend that had been building for some time," says Harry Lambright, professor of public administration and international affairs.

"Now is the time to find more and better ways to harness the $2 trillion in global R&D spending lying just beyond the Pentagon’s reach. It is also time for the Pentagon to incubate a larger volume of potential defense technologies to outpace an ever-growing range of threats," says University Professor Sean O'Keefe.

Jackie Orr, associate professor of sociology, was named Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence. The professorship was created to recognize and reward outstanding teaching at the University.

Chris Faricy, associate professor of political science, finds in recent surveys that people significantly overestimate the amount of tax middle- and low-income households pay in federal taxes. 

Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, says that the ordering and execution of military action in Syria could make President Trump look more conventional, even if the polls look distinctly tepid for him now.

Tom Keck looks at the possibility and the effects of the Senate's 'Nuclear option', which would change the rules for Supreme Court nominees, while triggering heavy partisan fallout.

Grant Reeher, professor of political science, describes Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch's confirmation as “a normal accomplishment; and I think he [President Trump] needs a couple of those at this point, given everything else.” 

"People are going to see harm in their own lives and to the government, and they're going to blame the people who are in charge now, which is the Republican majority," says Shana Gadarian, associate professor of political science.

Campbell Institute Director and WRVO Campbell Conversations Host Grant Reeher moderated a debate on the recommendation to establish a new municipal form of government for Onondaga County, with a single executive and a 33-seat legislature. This Campbell Debate is part of an ongoing series sponsored by the Campbell Public Affairs Institute of the Maxwell School.

"The release of two pages from President Trump’s 2005 tax returns didn’t show much. But they did show just how much Trump—and other super-rich Americans—would benefit from his proposed tax plan," says Christopher Faricy, associate professor of political science.

According to University Professor Sean O'Keefe, NASA’s role as a “development catalyst” has been part of the agency’s objectives since its earliest days.

According to Professor of Political Science Grant Reeher, "A lot of prominent Republicans, the usual suspects, either aren't interested or they were critical of the Trump campaign so therefore, they are not being looked at."