Panel to Discuss Bill DeBlasio's First 100 Days as Mayor of New York City

Photo via Agence France-Presse

Thursday, April 10, marked 100 days in office for New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio. How has he done as the top executive of the Big Apple?

via NY Daily News

Fordham political expert, Christina Greer, assistant professor of political science, gave him a grade of “B+” in the New York Daily News “report card” on the mayor's tenure thus far.

His strengths? “Attempting to be inclusive of all New Yorkers,” Greer said. Weaknesses? “Tardiness. I don’t let my students come in late; there’s a fine line between busy and disorganized.”

Greer was also interviewed for an article in Metro New York newspaper, in which political observers noted “the mayor still faces significant hurdles in the days ahead.

“He’s getting his footing,” Greer said. “That’s not easy after a 12-year reign of an individual that had a certain control over people.”

But the discussion on DeBlasio’s performance doesn’t end there. The Fordham community is invited to further analysis at a talk about “Bill de Blasio’s First 100 Days as Mayor of New York City” on Monday, April 14, at the Lincoln Center campus.

Karine Jean-Pierre, former senior campaign advisor and strategist for the Bill Thompson and Letitia James Campaigns; Ben Max, editor-in-chief of Gotham Gazette; Emily Ngo, political reporter at Newsday, and Morgan Pehme, editor-in-chief of City & State, will discuss the mayor’s performance on Monday, April 14, at 4 p.m.

This panel discussion, which will take place in the South Lounge in Lowenstein Center, will be moderated by Christina Greer, and is sponsored by the Deans of Fordham University. The talk is open to the public.

-Gina Vergel

Religion to Play a Big Role in Upcoming Supreme Court Decisions

Last year’s Supreme Court term was always going to be tough to top, what with blockbuster decisions being handed down on voting rights, affirmative action, and same sex marriage.

But Robert J. Hume, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, says this year’s term is shaping up to be important nonetheless. 

Hume, whose research centers on the nations’ high court, said two cases—one that was argued in November and another scheduled to be argued on March 25—have the potential to affect religious expression in the United States. 

The upcoming case, Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores; Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius, pits private businesses that want to opt out on religious grounds against provisions of the Affordable Care Act that mandate employers to provide insurance that covers birth control and related services.

As far-reaching as that decision will be, Town of Greece v. Galloway, argued in November, has equal potential, as the court's decision will weigh in on “ceremonial deism.”

“Ceremonial deism is when you see various invocations of god by the government [which is] not supposed to be connected to any particular religious faith,” Hume said. 

Such as seeing “In God We Trust” on the currency, or the phrase “Under God” in the pledge of allegiance.  “Those types of invocations,” he said.

Robert Hume
Photo by Bruce Gilbert

Even though ceremonial deism is in tension with a clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” Hume said courts have allowed certain displays of it. In 1983, the Supreme Court handed down Marsh vs. Chambers, deciding that since the United States has a history of ceremonial deism, it was going to allow it to continue. At the time, commentators didn’t find that to be a very satisfactory response, he said.

“The justices in the oral arguments in November were looking for a rationale that is more compelling than the Marsh v. Chambers rationale, so they find themselves in a bit of a tight corner,” Hume said.

“I think for reasons of policy, they don’t want to take the step of striking down the legislative prayer “Under God” in the pledge, or “In God We Trust” in the currency. It will be unpopular motives that’ll be seen as controversial.
“But if they follow their doctrine to the logical conclusion, they probably have to.” 

Hume said the Court actually passed on an opportunity to address the issue in 2004, when it heard Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow. But the court dismissed it without ruling on the merits of the case, because it said the father of a student forced to recite the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance did not have standing authority to bring the case.

“So you can see them struggling with it,” he said.  

—Patrick Verel

Fordham professor Feels Hopeful for her native Ukraine

** Update: March 11: Olena Nikolayenko, assistant professor of political science, will give a talk on the "Crisis in Ukraine: What's at Stake?" at Fordham's Lincoln Center campus, on Wednesday, March 12, at 4 p.m. Details here.

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin broke his silence over the Ukraine crisis on March 4 for the first time since it boiled over into a possible armed confrontation. He said he saw no reason for Russian forces to intervene in eastern Ukraine at the moment but leaving open the possibility of military action, saying that Russia ‘reserves the right to use all means at our disposal to protect’ Russian speakers in the country.”

Olena Nikolayenko, Ph.D.

Here in New York, Fordham’s Olena Nikolayenko, assistant professor of political science, is watching developments closely. How could she not? Aside from being a native of the Ukraine, Nikolayenko’s research interests include comparative democratization, social movements, public opinion, and youth, with the regional focus on Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. In her book, Citizens in the Making in Post-Soviet States (Routledge 2011), she examined political attitudes of adolescents in Russia and Ukraine. Her current research project focuses on nonviolent youth movements in five post-communist states: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Serbia, and Ukraine.

Her research has come to life right before her eyes as thousands of Ukrainians have risen up against the authoritarian incumbent.

“This protest campaign, which resulted in the murder of at least 100 people and injuries of more than one thousand, demonstrated to the rest of the world that Ukrainians want to live in a free and democratic state. To date, struggle for democracy still continues in Ukraine,” she said.

Because of her expertise, Nikolayenko has given several media interviews since the unrest reached the Western media. Watch her discuss developments with CBS National News and Al Jazeera America here. She also gave an interview with the Nigerian-founded, global news network, Arise TV.

Nikolayenko on CBS Up to the Minute.

On a more personal note, Nikolayenko said she feels a “great deal of pride in Ukrainian citizens who displayed tenacity and courage in standing up against the regime.

“They did not leave the square when temperature dropped below zero and when snipers began to shoot at protesters. Now Ukrainians face the challenge of holding the interim government accountable to prevent the ascendancy of another authoritarian figure in Ukraine,” she said.

Nikolayenko led a group of Fordham students on a trip to the Ukrainian Catholic University in March 2013. She said it’s important for all college students to keep abreast of happenings in the Ukraine and Russia.

“This way, they can make a difference in world politics,” she said. “Millions of people still live in repressive political regimes or suffer from abject poverty, and Western powers as well as ordinary citizens should not turn a blind to what is happening in other parts of the globe.” 

We asked her about Putin’s actions.

“[He] may back down from the use of military force to reassert his control over Ukraine, but it does not mean that he is going to abandon the idea of building the so-called Eurasian Union and dragging most former Soviet republics into its sphere of influence,” she said. “Russia is likely to use a wide range of political and economic tools to wield power in the region. In particular, the Kremlin might continue to instigate civic strife in the country and back up a pro-Russian candidate at the presidential elections scheduled for May 25 in another attempt to sabotage Ukraine's aspirations for integration with the European Union. 

We also asked for her take on President Barack Obama’s response to the situation.

“[He] seems to underestimate his opponents in the international arena,” Nikolayenko said. “Since the start of his presidency, Obama tried to cultivate friendly relations with Russia and turned a blind eye to gross human rights violations in the country and Putin's belligerent foreign policy toward neighboring states. But autocrats respect only the show of power and playing nice with them won't lead to a fundamental change in the way they do politics.”

Follow Fordham on Twitter (@FordhamNotes) to keep up with Nikolayenko’s media appearances.  

-Gina Vergel

Professor Christina Greer to provide analysis during NYC elections

Christina Greer, assistant professor of political science, will be a busy bee providing analysis during the New York City elections on Nov. 5.

Greer will appear on CNBC’s “Worldwide Exchange” at 5:20 a.m., and later that evening, she’ll join a panel to provide live analysis on NY1 when the polls are open. She’ll likely be on to provide more analysis once a winner is declared.

Greer was quoted by the Associated Press in a story that appeared nationally over the weekend about the race to succeed three-term Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“It seems like the city wants a Democrat right now,” said Christina Greer, political science professor at Fordham University. “Five terms of heavy-handed government has tired people out. People are ready for something different.”

This caps a busy year for Greer, whose newest book, “ Black Ethnics:  Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream (Oxford University Press, 2013), was published earlier this fall. Watch a video interview with Greer about the book via NY1 on Fordham’s YouTube channel, where you can find several video clips of our faculty in the media.

-Gina Vergel

Political Science Department Honors Graduates

On Friday, May 11, Fordham's political science department hosted an induction ceremony for Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. Approximately 30 students were inducted at the ceremony, which was held at the O’Keefe Commons on the Rose Hill campus.

“Each of you has been selected for membership because you represent the very best of our majors,” said Robert J. Hume, Ph.D., the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies (Political Science), in his remarks.  

“We have enjoyed having you in the classroom, and we think that you should be commended for your commitment to scholarship and your high level of achievement.”  

Melissa Labonte, Hillary Fisk, Caitlin Meyer, Sarah Kelleher, Diana Popstefanova, Brendan Foo, Katherine McCabe, Alyssa Barnard, Roger Cappucci, Stephen Moccia, Robert J. Hume 

Students also heard a faculty address by  Melissa Labonte, Ph.D., assistant professor in the political science department.

Membership in Pi Sigma Alpha is offered to undergraduates in the top third of their class who have completed at least one-half of the credits required for the baccalaureate degree.  Fordham’s chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, Delta Zeta, restricts membership to graduating seniors.

This year’s inductees were, from Fordham College Rose Hill: Alan Abraham, Alyssa Barnard, Roger Cappucci, Kathryn Cataldo, Clara Ennist, Brian Gibbons, Sarah Kelleher, Martha Lauer, Katherine McCabe, Caitlin Meyer, Stephen Moccia, Erika Pedersen, John Polizzi, Andrew Roddin, Gregory Scaduto, and John Scott.

From Fordham College Lincoln Center: Yuliya Aksakalova, Aileen Almonte, Amanda Angri, Ines Dawson, Hillary Fisk, Brendan Foo, Katherine Fotinos, Ryan O’Toole, Diana Popstefanova, Tamanna Rubya, Heidi Schneider, Judy Sirykissoon, and Kathleen Zanazzi.

From Fordham College of Professional and Continuing Studies: Ayca Bahce.

—Patrick Verel

Political Science Professor Honored with Book Award

Jeffrey Cohen, Ph.D., Chair and Professor of Political Science at Fordham, has been awarded the 2012 Goldsmith prize for best academic book.

Going Local: Presidential Leadership in the Post-Broadcast Age (CUP, 2010) was honored as a book “that best fulfills the objective of improving democratic governance through an examination of the intersection between the media, politics and public policy.”

The award, which is given by the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University, follows on the heels of the 2011 Neustadt Award, which was given the American Political Science Association for the best book on the presidency.

—Patrick Verel

Resurrecting the GOP

Fordham University's Center for Electoral Politics and Democracy presents:

“Resurrecting the GOP: Bringing Back the Party of Lincoln in the Era of Obama”

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 | 6 p.m.
McNally Amphitheatre, Lincoln Center campus,

With Richard A. Galen, columnist and Republican strategist and former press-secretary to Vice President Dan Quayle and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Galen has frequently appeared as a guest on MSNBC as well as NBC, ABC, FOX, and CNN, including CNN’s Larry King Live.

The events is free and open to the public. RSVP to:
Deborah Moore

Fordham Professor Crunches Election Numbers

Guest Post:

Janet Sassi, Staff Writer
Inside Fordham

If current presidential polls hold steady for Sen. Barack Obama, Monika McDermott, Ph.D., may be looking at an early night on Nov. 4. But given the historic volatility of the final weeks of a presidential campaign, and with the issue of race a still wild card, the associate professor of political science is not going to hedge her bets.

McDermott is an expert in political psychology and voter behavior who moonlights as a CBS election exit poll consultant. After crunching the numbers on Election Night, McDermott’s analysis of who voted for whom, and why, will assist news anchors in explaining why Obama or McCain won or lost a state or region. Election 2008 marks McDermott’s fourth presidential election behind the scenes.

“Exit polls are one of the few times where you know you are actually talking to people who have voted,” she said. “[Exit voters] are also more likely to be enthusiastic and give honest answers, more honest than someone you just interrupted during dinnertime with a phone call."

Although pre-election polls suggest a win for Obama, McDermott believes that the presidential election is still in uncharted waters. “This race has more dynamics than any other at the presidential level, and so many unknowns,” she said.

The complete interview with McDermott appears on Fordham’s main page. McDermott will also be a guest on Fordham Conversations this Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 a.m. on WFUV-FM (90.7) or www.wfuv.org