Month: March 2026

“The empirical effects of viewing right-leaning political humour: a modest first step”

Abstract: This study examines how young adults perceive humorous video clips from the Babylon Bee and how those clips affect their political views. As expected, results show that politically conservative and self-identified Republicans were more likely to express appreciation for the right-leaning humour of The Babylon Bee. It was also hypothesised, consistent with research that shows left-leaning political humour has a message consistent effect on attitudes, that viewing these videos would move political opinion in a rightward direction. This was not the case. With its focus on right-leaning political humour, the study begins to fill a gap in humour effects literature that has resulted from the changing landscape of political humour.

See: https://doi.org/10.1080/2040610X.2025.2509427

You can get ahead by checking your Degree Works audit. Degree Works has all the information about your progress toward completion, what’s still needed, and more.

See https://tinyurl.com/4mz2tafm.

Early registration, for special categories, begins this FRI., March 27. For most students registration begins MON., March 30.

The calendar – exactly when you register – can be found here: https://registrar.ecu.edu/registration-schedule/

Please remember that we STRONGLY ADVISE PS majors take the following classes in the following years/semesters:

1. Take the writing course (POLS 2090) in your second (sophomore) year. It’s a good course to have as a base (you should take this course BEFORE you take ENGL 2201).
2. Take POLS 3031 (Political Science Research Methods) in the FALL of your JUNIOR year: It’s only offered in the fall, and if you are a BS major, you need to take this course before you take POLS 3032.
3. For BS majors, POLS 3032 (Statistical Methods) should be taken in the SPRING of your JUNIOR year. It’s ONLY offered in the spring.
4. If you are BS PRE-LAW, look to take the pre-law concentration courses as early as possible – they may not be offered later!

Finally, please remember that unless you are a double major, you must have a minor. If you have not yet declared a minor and you want to talk about it, or, if you already know what you want as your minor, please let me know.

OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT REGISTRATION CAN BE FOUND HERE
https://registrar.ecu.edu/students
https://politicalscience.ecu.edu/for-students/

It’s not the most P.C. idea to meet about justice surrounded by booze, but the makeshift American government in the olden days had to take what they could get. In 1809, the Supreme Court of the United States held their meeting at Long’s Tavern in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, from 1815-1816, they met at Bell’s Tavern. It wasn’t until 1860 when the Supreme Court Room (the Old Senate Chamber in the U.S. Capitol) was finally ready for usage.

Saint Patrick, Christian missionary, bishop and apostle of Ireland, dies at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland. Today he is honored with the annual holiday of St. Patrick’s Day.

Read more: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/March-17/saint-patrick-dies

On March 12, 1933, eight days after his inauguration, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gives his first national radio address—or “fireside chat”—broadcast directly from the White House. Roosevelt began that first address simply: “I want to talk for a few minutes with the people of the United States…”

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/29p27w7s

The Court Decided What Pickles Are? Defining what a pickle is has always been hard. Fruit? Vegetable? Try “Fruit of the vine.” Why? The seeds! Who said? The Supreme Court of the United States. The landmark case, Nix v. Hedden, also classified tomatoes in the same way all the way back in 1893.

REMEMBER: Voters will be asked to show photo ID when voting in North Carolina. Most voters will simply show their driver’s license, but there are many other acceptable photo IDs. All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID.

If a voter cannot show an acceptable photo ID when voting in person, they can still vote by filling out an ID Exception Form. If absentee-by-mail voters are unable to include a copy of their photo ID with their ballot envelope, they can also fill out an ID Exception Form to return with their ballot. (See ID Exceptions below.)