Media Coverage

In a Washington Post essay by Assistant Professor of English Aaron Hanlon titled "The real threat to free speech on campus isn’t coming from the left," Hanlon argues that, "For years now, conservative pundits and politicians have amplified and exploited a small number of elite-college speech controversies for political gain. The benefit of hindsight shows they’ve been crying wolf."

Steve Simon, professor of the practice of international relations, is coauthor of an article in the November/December issue of Foreign Affairs titled "America’s Great Satan: The 40-Year Obsession With Iran." When historians look back at countries most feared by the United States following the end of the Cold War, "only one country would be depicted as a persistent and implacable foe: Iran," the authors wrote. "In its official rhetoric and strategic documents, Washington has, since Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, consistently portrayed the country as a purely hostile and dangerous actor."

On Oct. 15 Colby announced results of an independent economic impact study, which received attention from various media outlets around the country.

Research by Professor of Biology Catherine Bevier was highlighted in the Bangor Daily News article "The largest amphibians in Maine have invaded its lakes and ponds," which looks at the invasive species Necturus maculosus, also known as mudpuppies, which were accidentally released into Great Pond by a Colby professor in 1939 and 1940. Now, Bevier is researching the diet of the mudpuppies to see if they're eating threatened or endangered species. By dissecting hundreds of mudpuppies, she's found they're consuming "all macro invertebrates. We see a lot of crayfish and a lot of amphipods and stonefly larvae and dragonfly larvae. It’s been quite variable," she told the BDN.

Professor of Education Adam Howard was interviewed for an Oct. 14 Time article titled "What Is the Role of an All-Boys School in 2019? How the Elite Institutions Are Trying to Adapt." As some all-boys schools are trying to educate their students in the #MeToo era, Howard told Time that he doesn't think these schools fundamentally change. “The core function of elite schools is to make and remake elites,” said Howard, who studies affluent youth and elite schools.

Anthony Corrado, professor of government, was quoted in an Oct .11 article in The Hill titled "Warren's fundraising pledge scares some Democrats" about Senator Elizabeth Warren's pledge to steer clear of large fundraisers if she becomes the Democratic nominee for president. “I do not think this will prove to be a meaningful disadvantage in the general election, since she will benefit from the surge in small-donor giving that has come to characterize presidential politics,” Corrado to The Hill.  

Tracey Cote, head Nordic ski coach, was mentioned in a blog post in Faster Skier about a grassroots effort by the Women Ski Coaches Association's efforts to find gender equity in coaching. Cote is just one of seven women ski coaches in the NCAA. "The grassroots mission of the WSCA is to change these statistics by empowering and connecting female coaches and serving as a voice for women in the sport," the blog post reports. The group is making progress toward their goals, and Cote, one of the originators of the organization, reports being "hugely proud of what we've accomplished."

Steve Simon, professor of the practice of international relations, was a guest on the PBS Newshour Oct. 7 discussing President Trump's decision to withdraw troops from northern Syria. Simon joined former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta for the discussion. Simon said that Trump's decision is "perfectly legitimate" but that there was no advance groundwork for the pullout. "So the question that we face is how best to implement President Trump's decision in ways that don't lead to serious disorder, civic disorder, in the areas of Syria that are administered by the Kurds and their Arab allies," Simon said.

Matt Proto, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid," was quoted in the Boston Globe article titled "After months of waiting, college officials breathe sigh of relief over decision in Harvard case." Proto said that Colby's been watching the case. “A lot of people imagine that this is a level playing field for everyone, but in fact it’s not," Proto told the Globe. Colby uses a “holistic admissions process” that incorporates factors such as “personal context, educational context,” and a student’s individual background. “We want to enroll the most talented students from all backgrounds,” Proto said.

The writings of Herb Wilson, the Leslie Brainerd Arey Professor of Biosciences, emeritus, was highlighted in a Mother Nature Network blog entry titled "Why do birds migrate at night?" Wilson's own blog, Maine Birds, was referenced with the answer: "Migration at night has at least three advantages. Birds do not have to worry about falcon or hawk attacks. Second, the air in the atmosphere is usually less turbulent than during the day. Lastly, the air is cooler at night."