An April UMassPoll finding that nearly four in 10 Massachusetts residents have contemplated leaving the state for a more affordable locale is cited in an article by the Boton Globe  on the tax package recently unveiled in the Massachusetts Senate. (Boston Globe, 6/8/23)

Paul Musgrave comments on heightened interest in the foreign policy of Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar after Republicans ousted her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.“Since she came into office, Rep. Omar has been not just an officeholder but a symbol of a diverse country and a broadening of the Democratic caucus. In some ways, she’s sought out a prominent role — but in other ways, it’s her opponents who have made her prominent,” Musgrave says. “Now, she’s freer to act and represent not only her constituents but broader groups precisely because she’s prominent and credible on these issues.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune, Roll Call, 6/8/23)

Jesse Rhodes, political science and co-director of the UMass Amherst Poll, spoke to students from five area high schools on the theme of voting rights during a Law Day event organized by the Northwestern district attorney’s office at the Hampshire County Courthouse. Rhodes explained why voting matters, highlighting the fact that younger people are much less likely to vote than older people. Eighteen-to-29-year-olds are the most diverse generation in U.S. history, he said, and their political priorities — climate change, racial justice, reproductive rights — are different from those of older generations. (Daily Hampshire Gazette, 5/4/23)

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Outstanding Mentor Award: Camille Barchers, assistant professor of landscape architecture and regional planning (LARP), and Meredith Rolfe, associate professor of political science. This award recognizes SBS faculty who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the mentorship of students. (News Office, 05/04/2023)