Sanford School of Public Policy
Duke University

In the Media - Archive 2007

Fall 2007

News & Observer, Dec. 28: Professor of Public Policy and Political Science Bruce Jentleson says Musharraf’s government failed to provide security for Bhutto.
A Duke Expert’s Opinion (Q&A with Jentleson)

NBC 17 News, Dec. 28: Professor Bruce Jentleson of the Sanford Institute of Public Policy says he believes it's the world's responsibility to keep Pakistan from completely unraveling. (with video)

New York Times, Dec. 27: Itt/Terry Sanford Professor of Public Policy Philip Cook, an expert on lotteries, discusses gaps in what we know about who plays the games -- and at what cost.

New York Times, Dec. 26: “Do you think we should be subsidizing alcohol?" asks Philip Cook, professor of public policy and author of a new book on alcohol policy titled, Paying the Tab. Low taxes on beer and wine don't come close to balancing the societal costs of problem drinking, Cook says.

America Abroad Media: Bruce Kuniholm, director of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, talks with radio journalist Ray Suarez about the history of Turkey for the special presentation, "Allies at a Crossroad: Turkey and the United States."

Chronicle of Higher Education, Dec.14: In his book, Paying the Tab: The Costs and Benefits of Alcohol Control, Duke public policy professor Philip Cook makes a case for raising excise taxes on alcohol to reduce drinking and curb the societal harm caused by alcohol abuse. Cook also proposes loosening drinking rules in "custodial" environments such as military bases and residential colleges.

Christian Science Monitor, Dec. 13 -- Duke junior Channing Mathews went to Charlotte to work with a community group and to study tensions between Hispanic immigrants and African-Americans. The opportunity came in Alma Blount's project-based Service Opportunities in Leadership course at the Sanford Institute of Public Policy. (See second page.)

Wall Street Journal, Dec. 10: Joel Fleishman, professor of public policy studies and law at Duke, discusses why private foundations are under pressure to give away more money and what the upside -- and downside -- of any changes could be for the public charities they support. (video)

Washington Post, Dec. 8: When it comes to celebrity endorsements, who’s the bigger "get," Oprah or Barbra? Susan Tifft, a professor of journalism and public policy at Duke’s Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, joins a colleague in reviewing the research.

Bloomberg TV, Dec. 7: Jacob Vigdor, a professor of public policy studies and economics at Duke, talks about the Bush administration's plan to freeze some subprime mortgage rates. (See link to video under "related media" on the right.)

The Economist, Dec. 6: As Americans digest the news of another gun atrocity, they cannot be blamed for thinking that guns are in too ready supply. But an article by Philip Cook, Duke professor of public policy, in the latest Economic Journal suggests that the demand for illegal guns is not met as easily as many people believe.

The Observer (London), Dec. 2: A new analysis of the underground gun market in Chicago by four economists, including Duke’s Philip Cook, shows that stringent laws have increased the cost of getting hold of a weapon -- and cut violent crime.

Washington Times, Nov. 29: Because of her crossover appeal with white females, Oprah Winfrey’s support for Barack Obama has the potential to affect the outcome of the Jan. 3 Iowa caucus and other primaries, says political science and public policy professor Paula McClain. See also Duke University News & Communications.

ABC's Good Morning America, Nov. 28: Lisa Berlin, a research scientist for the Duke Center for Child and Family Policy, discusses a proposed Massachusetts law that would outlaw corporal punishment, including spanking, even for parents disciplining their kids at home.

Duke University News & Communications, Nov. 27: Sanford Institute professor Susan Tifft is applying her journalistic talents to writing about her own battle with cancer. Her website displays her characteristic humor along with insights about the tribulations of chemo and joy from the love and support she receives from her husband and legions of friends.

Duke University News & Communications, Nov. 27: A report that the number of people infected with the HIV virus has been exaggerated should not take away from Saturday’s World AIDS Day and its focus on care and prevention, says Michael H. Merson, director of Duke’s Global Health Institute.

New York Times, Nov. 27: At a time when the government is making hospices repay hundreds of millions of dollars to Medicare because patients are living longer, a new study by Duke public policy professor Don Taylor shows that hospice care reduces Medicare spending compared to other kinds of care.

(Raleigh) News & Observer, Nov. 18: Professor of public policy Bruce Jentleson, a foreign policy adviser in the Clinton administration, explains why multilateral economic sanctions are necessary part of the effort to halt Iranian nuclear proliferation.

North Carolina Public Radio's "The State of Things," Nov. 16: Alex Harris, a professor of public policy, discusses The Idea of Cuba, his latest publication. Inspired by a series of trips he took to Cuba, the book employs documentary photography to provide a contemporary picture of social and cultural life on the island today.

Duke University News & Communications, Nov. 15: In a new study on hospice care, assistant professor of public policy Don Taylor explains how hospice programs not only provide dying people with quality-of-life benefits, but also reduce Medicare spending by more than $2,000 per person compared to normal care.

Duke University News & Communications, Nov. 15: Senior Kristin Butler of Cary, N.C., an opinion columnist for The Chronicle student-run newspaper, has been named the 2007 winner of the Melcher Family Award for Excellence in Journalism.

New York Times, Nov. 13: Christopher Schroeder, a professor of law and public policy and an expert on constitutional separation of powers, contributes to analysis of a new 30-second TV spot advocating universal health care that John Edwards is airing in Iowa. (AP story also appeared in the Washington Post and more than 170 other news outlets.)

New York Times, Nov. 12: Duke Law and public policy professor Joel L. Fleishman, a leading authority on nonprofit law, discusses new rules imposed by Congress aimed at giving donors a much clearer picture of how secular charities handle their money.

NPR’s Morning Edition, Nov. 6: Hardy Vieux, a 1993 PPS graduate and former Navy lawyer, discusses United States attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey’s stance on waterboarding, a controversial interrogation practice. Vieux says that once Mukasey is confirmed as attorney general, Senate Democrats will likely insist that he clarify his official position on the issue.

Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 2: Alex Harris, a writer, photographer and professor of public policy, shares an excerpt from his latest book, The Idea of Cuba.

On Wall Street, Nov. 1: Duke public policy and law professor Joel L. Fleishman talks about his new book, The Foundation, which argues that foundations must heed the call for increased scrutiny and self-regulation.

Washington Post, Oct. 29: Associate professor of public policy Anirudh Krishna's research on social capital--an important tool in development--shows that it must be grown on a local level, rather than through governmental or multinational organizations. This suggests a "fundamental flaw" in U.S. reconstruction efforts in Iraq, says columnist Shankar Vedantam.

CNN, Oct. 24: Duke public policy alumna Maya Ajmera (MPP ’93), founder of Global Fund for Children, and actress Mira Sorvino talk about the organization’s efforts to help imipoverished children around the world. (with video)

CNN Money, Oct. 22: In a paper critical of most tax-funded bailouts for subprime loans, economics and public policy associate professor Jacob Vigdor advocates higher standards for lenders.

New York Times, Oct. 21: With the domestic market plateauing, professor of public policy, economics and law Charles Clotfelter comments on two U.S. lottery giants focused on securing new footholds overseas (see last page).

Chronicle of Philanthropy, Oct. 18: Joel L. Fleishman, professor of public policy studies and law at Duke, is leading efforts to help nonprofit groups avoid ethical and legal improprieties.

CNN, October 17: Professor of the Practice of PPS Alex Harris discusses his new book, The Idea of Cuba. An author and photographer, Harris delves into the role of Cuban poet, writer and patriot Jose Martí, the relationship between Cuba and the United States and the contradiction between official policy in Cuba and day-to-day reality.

Duke University News & Communications, Oct. 18: Students in the Hart Leadership Program’s “Enterprising Leadership” course, led by visiting lecturer Christopher Gergen, have been talking to Durham leaders about city problems and now face the challenge of devising venture projects to effect change.

Public Radio East, Oct. 15: Christine Vaughn, a second-year MPP student and former teacher, discusses the relationship between a growing rate of teacher absences, reduced student performance on standardized tests and increased disciplinary problems in North Carolina schools.

New York Times, Oct. 14: With billions to gain, government officials in at least a dozen states are considering lottery privatizations. Longtime lottery analyst Philip J. Cook, a professor of public policy at Duke, has some concerns.

North Carolina Public Radio News, Oct. 10: The disproportionate share of health problems borne by minorities is tied to poverty in childhood, and is a reality Americans are morally obligated to address, says Sherman James, Susan B. King Professor of Public Policy Studies.

International Herald Tribune, Oct. 10: The founder of an Indian start-up that aims to bring the Facebook/MySpace trend to the world’s poor finds inspiration from Duke associate professor of public policy Anirudh Krishna.

Herald-Sun, Oct. 10: Retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni, former head of U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), will join the faculty of Duke’s Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy for the spring semester.

North Carolina Public Radio News, Oct. 5: Chris Conover, assistant research professor at Duke's Center for Health Policy, discusses the health care implications of the biggest lay-off in North Carolina state history.

UNC-TV’s North Carolina Bookwatch, Oct. 5: David Guy, a Duke alumnus and writing instructor at the Sanford Institute, talks about his fifth novel, entitled Jake Fades.

Austin Chronicle, Oct. 5: Guns are not easily obtained by inner-city criminals, as many people believe, and far from being hopeless, police efforts to curtail criminals' access to guns do make a difference, according to new research by ITT/Terry Sanford Professor of Public Policy Phil Cook.

UPI, Oct. 2: Last week, California became the most recent state to pass measures that would divest its retirement funds from any companies that do business with Iran. Professor of public policy Bruce Jentleson, an expert on coercive diplomacy, says such measures are not a new concept.

The (Greenville, NC) Daily Reflector, Sept. 23: Research done by Master of Public Policy students for the NC Department of Public Instructions highlights problems with teacher absences, and proposes possible solutions.

Financial Times, Sept. 22: Weekly Standard senior editor Christopher Caldwell reviews Duke public policy professor Phil Cook's new book, "Paying the Tab," a comprehensive study of the effectiveness of alcohol control policies.

Boston Globe, Sept. 11: Peter D. Feaver, a Duke political science and public policy professor who served on the National Security Council staff under Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, says a full-page MoveOn.org ad was aimed at destroying as much of Gen. David Petraeus’ credibility as possible “so that his military advice could be more easily rejected by antiwar members of Congress.” See also: ABC Australian Broadcasting: “Petraeus Suggests U.S. Troop Reduction in Iraq”

Washington Post, Sept. 9: Peter D. Feaver, a Duke political science and public policy professor who was a National Security Council strategic adviser until July when he returned to Duke, discusses Washington politics and the troop “surge” in Iraq. See also: NBC Nightly News: “General David Petraeus Preparing to Deliver State of Iraq Speech to Capitol Hill” (Transcript not available online)

(Raleigh) News & Observer, Sept. 9: Public policy professor David H. Schanzer, director of the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, explains why removing Osama bin Laden “would not significantly diminish the long-term threat we face from radical Islamist terrorism.”

Wall Street Journal, Sept. 7: Peter Feaver, a Duke political science and public policy professor who helped develop the troop surge plan while serving in the Bush administration, sees an opening for Democrats and Republicans to reach agreement on an Iraq policy. Also on NBC Nightly News.

The Economist, August 23: Rapid advances in genetic testing promise to transform medicine, but Dr. Robert Cook-Deegan, director of the Center for Genome Ethics, Law & Policy, wonders if insurance companies will invest in genetic tests that help with prevention.

PBS’s The Charlie Rose Show, August 22: Joel Fleishman, director of the Heyman Center on Ethics, Public Policy and the Professions at the Sanford Institute, joins Judith Rodin and Matthew Bishop in a discussion on the current state of philanthropy.

Summer 2007

Wisconsin Public Radio's Kathleen Dunn Show, August 13: Bruce W. Jentleson, professor of public policy and author of American Foreign Policy, discusses U.S. political news at home and abroad and answers listeners’ questions.

Wall Street Journal, August 10: Public policy professors Charles Clotfelter, Helen Ladd and Jacob Vigdor find that although teachers who have master’s degrees are usually paid considerably more than their colleagues, the additional degree doesn’t have much impact on student achievement.

BBC World Service “Business Daily”, August 7: Chris Conover, a health policy professor, debates the efficiency and value of FDA drug trial regulations with the FDA's Theresa Mullin.
[MP3 (5.2MB)]

(Walnut Creek, Calif.) Contra Costa Times, Bloomberg News, August 1: Patterson Professor of Journalism and Public Policy Susan Tifft comments on the $5 billion deal that gives Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. control of the Wall Street Journal. [Free Registration Required]

Tucson Citizen, Gannett News Service, July 26: Ken Rogerson, media policy professor and director of undergraduate studies, looks at how the YouTube phenomenon might shake up the format of presidential debates. See also: The Indianapolis Star

The Hill, July 21: Ken Rogerson, media policy professor and director of undergraduate studies, says for presidential candidates, using technology “is not a luxury anymore, it’s a necessity.”

UPI, July 10: Dr. Robert Cook-Deegan, director of the Center for Genome Ethics, Law & Policy, discusses legislation pending in Congress to prohibit researchers from patenting genes.

NPR’s Tell Me More, July 11: Knight Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy Studies and former Washington Post columnist William Raspberry talks about the future of schools, life, work and the meaning of it all in the program’s weekly visit with a wise elder.

(Hawaii) Maui News, June 17: Tia Ferguson, a rising senior and public policy major, makes the case for requiring dual-flush toilets and waterless urinals.

Spring 2007

The Guardian, April 18: Kristin A. Goss, assistant professor of public policy studies and political science, explains that there are two reasons why it is unlikely that the Virginia Tech shooting will lead to stricter gun laws.

Chronicle of Higher Education, April 18: Assistant professor Kristin A. Goss, author of "Disarmed: The Missing Movement for Gun Control in America," says in a commentary that a combination of private and public policy approaches -- such as parental involvement and stricter gun laws -- would have an impact on preventing future school shootings.

Duke Magazine, March-April 2007: Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Political Science Kristin A. Goss explores why the national gun-control campaign has underperformed when it comes to mobilizing broad-based support.

Philly.com, April 18: Kristin A. Goss, assistant professor of public policy studies and political science, says that when it comes to gun control legislation, decisions are too often based in election politics.

Congressional Quarterly (CQ), March 19: Christopher Schroeder, professor of law and public policy studies, comments on the "showdown" between Democratic lawmakers and the president over whether senior White House aides will testify about the firing of eight U.S. attorneys.

WAMU-FM (Washington, D.C.), March 19: Joel Fleishman’s, professor of law and public policy at Duke, discusses philanthropy and innovation on the "Kojo Nnamdi Show."

The New York Times, March 14: Christopher Schroeder, professor of public policy, reviews congressional authority – beyond the power of the purse – to change the course of the Iraq war.

American Journalism Review, February/March 2007: New York Times should have done better follow-up when competitor broke story of deficiencies at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, says Susan E. Tifft, a professor of journalism and public policy at Duke University and coauthor of a book on the Times' Ochs-Sulzberger dynasty.

WBUR's On Point, March 12: Charles Clotfelter, Duke professor of public policy and co-author of "Selling Hope: State Lotteries in America," joined a conversation about how some cash-strapped state governments are thinking about selling off their lotteries to private investors.

Florida Today, March 10: Dr. Robert Cook-Deegan, professor of public policy and director of the Center for Genome Ethics, Law and Policy at Duke, comments on the race to patent human genes.

Durham News, March 10: Four Duke public policy students have embarked on a journey that has changed their perspective about Durham as they work to make a difference in the city.

Education Week, March 7: Research by public policy professors Helen F. Ladd, Charles Clotfelter, and Jacob L. Vigdor found that N.C. students in classes taught by nationally certified teachers learned significantly more over the course of a school year than students of teachers without that distinction. [Story available after free registration.]
Research paper

(San Jose) Mercury News, March 2: Frederick Mayer, a public policy professor and trade expert who worked on the North American Free Trade Agreement as a congressional staffer, comments on a shift in trade winds caused by the Democratic takeover of Congress.

VOA News, Feb. 21: Bruce Jentleson, a public policy professor at Duke, says the sometimes varying pronouncements coming from Iranian officials on the nuclear issue can be attributed to both negotiating strategy and domestic political factors.
See also: World Peace Herald

Slate.com, Feb. 16: Uncharitable Thoughts: Are foundations elitist, anti-democratic, and in danger of losing their tax exemptions? Lincoln Caplan discusses Professor of Public Policy Joel Fleishman’s book calling for greater accountability by foundations.

TPMCafe, Feb. 5: Sanctions against Iran are not a strategy in themselves, says PPS Professor Bruce Jentleson, but "they also shouldn’t be undersold."

The New York Times, Feb. 4: New York Times columnist and visiting professor of PPS in fall 2006, David Brooks says he was struck by the “universal tone of postboomer pragmatism” among the Duke students he taught last autumn.

(Durham) Herald-Sun, Feb. 2: Associate Professor of PPS Jacob Vigdor weighs in on the debate over U.S. immigration policy, arguing that highly skilled immigrants are a boon to the American workforce.

Chronicle of Higher Education, Feb. 2: PPS Professor Joel Fleishman has long been recognized for his critical study of the philanthropic community. His new book is particularly concerned about enhancing the transparency and accountability of foundations.

American Journalism Review, Feb. / Mar. 2007: Susan Tifft, professor of the practice of journalism and PPS, comments on the future of the New York Times Co. in light of growing financial challenges.

The Rotarian, Feb. 2007: Rotary World Peace Fellows and Duke students Stephanie Borsboom and Crisostomo Bas study international development policy with a specialization in peace and conflict resolution. The article explores how they aspire to make a difference in the world, taking an in-depth look at their motivations both inside the classroom and out.

(Raleigh) News & Observer, Jan. 29: PPS Professor Sherman A. James discusses the Duke Diabetes Improvement Project and its partnership with black churches in Durham.

The New York Times, Jan. 28: Noah Pickus, professor of PPS and interim director for ethics at the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke, recommends that job seekers use common sense in their pursuit of new employment while at the office.

National Journal, Jan. 27: Congress could limit troop levels, block invasions of Iran and Syria, or set time limits or conditions on funding various aspects of the war in Iraq, says PPS and law professor Christopher Schroeder.

The Economist, Jan. 27:  In his new book on American philanthropy, Duke PPS Professor Joel Fleishman “packs an iron fist inside his velvet glove.”

Huffington Post, Jan. 25: Citing law and public policy professor Christopher Schroeder's constitutional interpretation, a syndicated columnist argues it is the responsibility of Congress to provide the scope of the mission in Iraq.

NPR’s “Marketplace”, Jan. 23: PPS Professor Charles Clotfelter discusses why Illinois lawmakers should reconsider their decision to sell the state lottery to private investors.

Bloomberg News, Jan. 22: Professor of PPS Joel Fleishman's new book is fuel
for an ongoing movement to increase accountability and improve governance at America's 68,000 charitable foundations. Additional reviews and interviews with Fleishman on NPR’s Marketplace and C-SPAN2’s Book TV.

WUNC-FM, Jan. 17: Joel Fleishman, author of “The Foundation” and a professor of law and public policy at Duke, discusses the history, effectiveness and ethical dilemmas of America’s largest private foundations on “The State of Things.”
[MP3 archive]

Washington Post, Jan. 10: David Schanzer, professor of public policy and director of the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, warns that the new Democratic majority will have trouble finding funding for promised tax changes, homeland security measures and the ongoing war in Iraq.

Duke University News & Communications, Jan. 8: Hasty passage of recently proposed legislation would be a mistake, says public policy professor and homeland security expert David Schanzer, adding that the 278-page bill contains numerous provisions that have not been subjected to public or congressional scrutiny.

San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 7: In his new book, “Foundation: A Great American Secret – How Private Wealth is Changing the World,” Public Policy Professor Joel Fleishman critiques the operation of American foundations and advocates a new era of openness. Also reviewed in the Wall Street Journal and Baltimore Sun, Jan. 7.

TPM Cafe, Jan. 5: Bruce Jentleson, professor at the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, questions the Bush administration’s moral commitment to the Iraqi people in light of its policy toward a growing number of refugees.

Class on the Sanford Building Lawn