• Stetson Psychology Professor Christopher Ferguson, PhD, was quoted Aug. 5 in The New York Times article, “Video Games Aren’t Why Shootings Happen. Politicians Still Blame Them,” about President Trump and others blaming violent video games for the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. Ferguson said the evidence is clear that violent video games are not a risk factor in such violent acts. “The data on bananas causing suicide is about as conclusive,” he said.

• Psychology Professor Christopher Ferguson was quoted Aug. 5 in The Atlantic article, “Video-Game Violence is Now a Partisan Issue.” Ferguson said researchers once acknowledged the lack of a correlation between video games and violence. “After Columbine, the honesty stopped,” he said about studies done by behavioral scientists.

• Psychology Professor Christopher Ferguson, PhD, wrote the article, “Mass shootings aren’t growing more common – and evidence contradicts common stereotypes about the killers,” for The Conversation on Aug. 7. He also was interviewed and mentioned in a number of articles discussing the lack of evidence connecting violent video games and mass shootings, including NBC National News, CBS News Radio, The Santa Fe New Mexican, The Breaking News Headline and the Washington Examiner.

• Assistant Professor of World Language and Cultures, Pamela Cappas-Toro, PhD, and visiting Assistant Professor of History Andrew Eisen, PhD, were featured Aug. 3 in the Daytona Beach News-Journal article, “Wasted Minds: Higher Education Offers Solutions to Florida’s Mass Incarceration Woes.” The article discusses the Stetson program that partners with Tomoka Correctional Institution to provide inmates “for-credit courses.”

• Alumna Julia Nesheiwat, PhD, interviewed by the Tampa Bay Times on Aug. 8 for the story, “Florida’s new resilience officer doesn’t shy away from saying ‘climate change’.” Nesheiwat said, “I want to stay away from the politics and get things done for the state of Florida.” News of her appointment has appeared in numerous media outlets, including the St. Augustine Record, Insurance Journal and Sarasota Magazine.

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy is quoted in the July 24 Vox article, “Why Mueller said he couldn’t indict Trump, explained.”

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy is featured on the July 23 Radio Times segment, “Mueller’s testimony: a preview.”

 Other News:

• Law Professor Ellen Podgor wrote the July 22 White Collar Crime Prof Blog post, “The Third Global White Collar Crime Institute.” Professor Podgor wrote the July 23 White Collar Crime Prof Blog post, “My Mueller Questions.” Professor Podgor wrote the July 24 White Collar Crime Prof Blog post, “Mueller – Investigation Was Not Stopped.” Professor Podgor wrote the July 26 White Collar Crime Prof Blog post, “K & L Gates Podcast – Congressional Investigations 101: To Comply or Not to Comply.”

• Law Professor Kirsten K. Davis wrote the July 25 Appellate Advocacy Blog post, “Rhetorical Ontology, or Let’s Spend Some More Time Exploring the List.” Professor Davis wrote the August 8 Appellate Advocacy Blog post, “Setting Off Text for Attention and Meaning—The Visually Rhetorical Em-Dash.”

• Law Professor Royal C. Gardner is quoted in the July 25 ValueWalk article, “New Report Outlines ‘In-Lieu Fee’ Compensatory Mitigation Programs,” which discusses the July 2019 report released by the Environmental Law Institute and the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law. 

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy is quoted in the July 26 Marketplace article, “Summer recess means fundraising events for Congress members.”

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy is quoted in the July 18 The City article, “Bill de Blasio Tapped His State PAC for White House Hopes.”

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy wrote the July 19 Brennan Center for Justice piece, “The Fourth Circuit’s Failure of Imagination with Emoluments.” Professor Torres-Spelliscy wrote the August 7 Brennan Center for Justice piece, “Dark Money Loses a Round.”

• Law Professor Rebecca C. Morgan wrote the July 19 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Red Flags That Might Signal Dementia.” Professor Morgan wrote the July 23 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Uniform Law Commissioners Approve New Act on Electronic Wills.” Professor Morgan wrote the July 24 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Too Old To Commit Another Murder?” Professor Morgan wrote the July 25 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Applications for Fellows at the Global Brain Health Institute.” Professor Morgan wrote the July 25 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Bereavement, Caregiving, and Immigration.” Professor Morgan wrote the July 26 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Brief Report from Pennsylvania’s 2019 Elder Law Institute.” Professor Morgan wrote the July 29 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “CMS Regs on Pre-Dispute Arbitration Clauses in SNF Contracts.” Professor Morgan wrote the July 30 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Medicare Plan Finders Confuse or Help?” Professor Morgan wrote the July 31 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “SNF, ALF & Backup generators in Florida.” Professor Morgan wrote the Aug. 1 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Oregon PAD: Shorter Wait Time for Certain Patients.” Professor Morgan wrote the Aug. 2 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “State Payroll Tax for Long-Term Care?” Professor Morgan wrote the Aug. 4 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “NJ Medical Aid in Dying Now in Effect.” Professor Morgan wrote the Aug. 4 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “’Intensive Grandparenting:’ The Glue for Working Parents & Kids.” Professor Morgan wrote the Aug. 6 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “8 States Now Provide Aid in Dying Laws; 9th State Will in About a Month.” Professor Morgan wrote the Aug. 7 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Got a Question About Social Security Retirement?” Professor Morgan wrote the Aug. 7 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Coordinating Treatment, Including Cancer Treatment, for Patients Represented by Guardians or Other Agents.” Professor Morgan wrote the Aug. 8 Elder Law Prof Blog post, “Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Through Testing.”

Alumni News

• Law alumnus and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri was elected president of the Florida Sheriffs Association, according to a July 31 Tampa Bay Times article. Gualtieri previously served as “the association’s vice president and has represented the group in Tallahassee as the legislative committee chair.”

• Alumna Michelle Branham was featured on Aug. 2 in Florida National News article, “Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Michelle Branham to the Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee.”

• Alumnus Mark Driscoll was featured on Aug. 6 in Starkville Daily News article “Signature Bank Names Chief Deposit and Treasury Officer.” Driscoll stated, “I’m enthused about the distinctly different experience I can create for entrepreneurs and entities.”

• Law alumnus and Polk County’s Assistant State Attorney Paul Wallace has been named Prosecutor of the Year by Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, according to an Aug. 6 Palm Beach Post article. Wallace also serves as director of the homicide division for Florida’s 10^th Judicial Circuit.

• Law alumnus Drake Buckman is running for Florida’s District 72 state House race, as reported on July 26 by the Herald Tribune.