Stetson University in the News, March 3-10

A newspaper sits on a table next to a cup of coffee

Top News:

  • Michael E. Bitter, Ph.D., professor of accounting at Stetson, was featured in the article “2017’s Property Taxes by State.” Bitter stated, “There are many tax considerations, including sales tax, state and local income tax, and other taxes and fees,” posted by WalletHub March 1.
  • Royal Gardner, J.D., Stetson law professor, was mentioned in the article “Clean Water Rule: Seven Scientific Organizations Endorse Brief Co-Authored By Stetson University’s Biodiversity Institute.” Gardner co-authored a brief intended to protect the nation’s aquatic resources in response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order against the Clean Water Rule, posted by Digital Journal and several other outlets March 3.
  • Also, Royal Gardner was featured in the article “Rosemont, Developments Would Benefit from Trump’s Proposed Water Rule Change.” Gardner said that if a new rule following Trump’s vision takes effect, the mining company wouldn’t need a Clean Water Act permit, posted by Arizona Daily Star Online and other outlets March 12.
  • Charles Elson, J.D., former law professor at Stetson, was featured in the article “Land and Buildings Nominates Two Directors for Taubman Centers Board of Directors.” Elson is one of two new directors nominated for the Board of Directors at Taubman Centers, posted by Spoke and several other outlets March 2.
  • Christopher Ferguson, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Stetson, was featured in the article “Countries That Play More Violent Video Games Such as Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty Have Fewer Murders.” Ferguson is part of a team of psychologists who claim the safest countries in the world are actually the countries where video games are the most popular, posted by DailyMail March 2.
  • Also, Christopher Ferguson was quoted in the article “Violent Video Games May Not ‘Desensitize’ Players, Brain Scans Suggest.” Ferguson stated, “Over the last 10 years we’ve really seen a wave of behavioral studies indicating that violent video games are not associated with behavioral problems in players,” posted by Herald & Review Online and several other outlets March 9.
  • Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, Stetson law professor, was featured in the article “Did Companies’ Donations Buy a Trump Change in Private Prison Policy?” According to Torres-Spelliscy, the GEO Group made contributions to a pro-Trump super political action committee while he was running for president, posted by Tribune Online and several other outlets March 4.
  • Also, Ciara Torres-Spelliscy was quoted in the article “Ethics Office Tells Trump & Co.: Sorry, You’re Not Above the Rules.” Torres-Spelliscy stated that rejecting formal ethics training for his staff, nominees and advisers was perhaps “the worst $1 million Trump ever saved,” posted by eNews Park Forest March 10.
  • Jason Evans, Ph.D., a scientist at Stetson, was quoted in the article “NOAA Sea Grant Cut Could Slow Climate Adaptation.” Evans said: “Sea Grant personnel often are embedded in coastal communities and represent a tried-and-true model of cooperation between universities, local governments, state governments and the federal government,” posted by Columbia Basin Herald – Online and other outlets March 7.

Other News:

  • Keith Rizzardi, J.D., who wrote the law review of the Stetson University School of Law, was quoted in the article “Florida Reporters to See How Lawmakers Stand On Open Records.” Rizzardi said: “In normal circumstances, the Sunshine State’s public records law is a model for ensuring the disclosure of information to the benefit of an informed citizenry,” posted by Washington Times Online and several other outlets March 5.
  • Jessica Floyd, a Stetson graduate, was mentioned in the article “Strings In Need Helps Kids Hit High Notes in Lakeland,” as one of the piano teachers offering lessons to children through the program Strings In Need, posted by The Ledger Online March 7.
  • Bo Trivett, former Stetson student and owner of Chevy of Murfreesboro, was covered in the article, “Trivett Celebrates 1 Year at Chevy of Murfreesboro.” “I want to give customers the best experience,” Trivett stated. “Because I care so much, I want to do everything I can to make them happy,” posted by The Daily News Journal Online March 11.

Alumni News:

  • Stetson graduate Louis DeJoy was mentioned in the Winston-Salem Journal article “Business Milestones.” DeJoy, a certified public accountant, president of LDJ Global Strategies LLC and the former CEO of New Breed Logistics, was given the Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership, posted March 5.
  • Pam Stewart, Stetson graduate, was featured in the article “Gov. Rick Scott Appoints Three Education Leaders to Revision Commission.” Stewart was one of three state education leaders appointed to Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission, which meets every 20 years, posted by Tampa Bay Times Online and other outlets March 3.
  • Stetson graduate Jacqueline O. Ellet was introduced in the article “All Life Legal Expands and is on the Move in Riverview,” as a new addition to All Life Legal, a law firm that specializes in Elder Law, posted by Osprey Observer Inc. Online March 3.
  • Katherine Cobb, J.D., Stetson law graduate, was featured in the article “Holy Trinity Names President.” Cobb was chosen to serve as the first president of Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, a private educational program in Brevard County, posted by Florida Today Online March 3.
  • Ryan Smith, a graduate of Stetson, was quoted in the blog article “A Nation of Immigrants: Embracing The Other.” Smith stated, “I’m envious of the students in my class because they’re getting exposed to ides and backgrounds that will shape them for the rest of their lives,” posted on North Of The James March 2.
  • Russell P. Hintze, J.D., Stetson law graduate, was featured in the article “Russell P. Hintze, Board Certified Tax Attorney, Joins Shutts & Bowen.” Hintze has joined Shutts & Bowen as a partner in the Tax International Law Practice Group at the law firm’s Orlando office, posted by Spoke and several other outlets March 7.
  • Beth Koller, J.D., Stetson graduate, was featured in the article “Beth Koller Announced as Speaker for the 2017 CLM Annual Conference.” Koller was chosen to speak on “Tear Down That Wall! Challenges Faced by Non-Traditional Work Environments” at the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance annual conference, posted by PR Buzz March 8.
  • Vivian Cocotas, J.D., Stetson law graduate, was mentioned in the article “School Board to Replace Bistline with In-House Attorney.” Cocotas is one of the potential candidates running to replace the Brevard County School Board’s longtime attorney Harold Bistline, posted by Florida Today Online March 9.
  • Tyler A. Hayden, J.D., Stetson law graduate, was featured in the article “Smolker, Bartlett, Loeb, Hinds & Sheppard Announces New Addition.” Hayden has joined Smolker, Bartlett, Loeb, Hinds & Sheppard, P.A. as an associate attorney, posted by Tampa Bay Newswire March 9.