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Dr. Samantha Mosier published an article Sustainability and Climate Change with co-author Megan Ruxton titled, “Trust Issues: US Public Preferences for Entities to Protect the Environment.” The article focuses on a broad assessment of environmental institutional trust in the United States and identifies a set of  demographic influences on trust including education level and race as robust explanatory factors.

Abstract: “Using an industry survey data source, this study evaluates which institutions and entities are considered by the United States population to be more trustworthy to protect the environment. The results indicate there is not a singular institution or entity that is overwhelmingly trusted by the public to protect the environment. Indeed, a significant portion of the population trusts no one to protect the environment. Level of education and race are the most consistent explanatory factors for what influences trust. Additionally, generation, partisan affiliation, and regional location also provide keen insights for variation in trust levels. The findings suggest a lack of trust among the American population that should be alarming for developing robust responses to environmental problems.”

France recently recalled its ambassador to the United States over the cancellation of a submarine deal by the Australian government, the latest controversy in what has been a sometimes fraught relationship between two old allies. The Onion looks at key events in the timeline of U.S.–France relations.

1778: France becomes America’s first ally during the Revolutionary War, cementing a friendship that will last as long as is convenient for the U.S.

1803: U.S. purchases Louisiana Territory from France after realizing it would be a great topic for fourth-grade presentations for centuries to come.

1815-1835: Nations peacefully coexist following years of failed warmongering.

1835: French intellectual Alexis de Tocqueville visits the fledgling U.S., famously observing that you don’t have to be crazy to live here, but it helps!

1884: France presents Statue of Liberty as gift to U.S. after Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Portugal say they don’t want it.

1944: Someone liberates someone, but who keeps track among friends?

1951: An American In Paris came out this year. So, you know, that’s something.

1954: U.S. graciously volunteers to pick up where France left off in Vietnam.

2012: U.S.–France relations peak during standing ovation of Kennedy High School’s production of Les Miserables.

2021: Emmanuel Macron furious after Australia leaves its submarine deal with France for a younger country.

FROM: https://www.theonion.com/timeline-of-u-s-france-relations-1847733246

FYI – GENERAL INFORMATION

Early registration – for special categories – begins Friday, Nov. 5.

For most students registration begins Monday, Nov. 8.

The day you can register depends on the number of credit hours you have completed PRIOR to this semester: The number of COMPLETED HOURS, as of SEPT., 2021.

See the image below.

You can find this number this by checking DegreeWorks. The number you are looking for is the “overall credits,” listed below your minor (in the right hand column, at the top). Do NOT use the “credits applied” – this number includes the classes you are currently enrolled in.

Other information about registration can be found here: https://registrar.ecu.edu/students

Please contact YOUR ADVISER for more information.

“The cornerstone is laid for a presidential residence in the newly designated capital city of Washington, D.C. In 1800, President John Adams became the first president to reside in the executive mansion, which soon became known as the “White House” because its white-gray Virginia freestone contrasted strikingly with the red brick of nearby buildings.

“The city of Washington was created to replace Philadelphia as the nation’s capital because of its geographical position in the center of the existing new republic. The states of Maryland and Virginia ceded land around the Potomac River to form the District of Columbia, and work began on Washington in 1791. French architect Charles L’Enfant designed the area’s radical layout, full of dozens of circles, crisscross avenues, and plentiful parks.

“In 1792, work began on the neoclassical White House building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by a construction team comprised of enslaved and freed African Americans and European immigrants. Irish American architect James Hoban oversaw the design and President George Washington chose the site.

“On November 1, President John Adams was welcomed into the executive mansion. His wife, Abigail, wrote about their new home: “I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house, and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but wise men ever rule under this roof!””

From https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

Mon., Nov. 1: Last day for undergraduate and graduate students to withdraw from term length courses or withdraw from school without grades, by 5:00 pm; block
courses may be dropped only during the first 60% of their regularly
scheduled class meetings.

Fri., Nov. 5: Early registration for ‘special’ populations

Mon., Nov. 8: Registration begins

 

Dr. Xu’s research on state fiscal policy (with Ljubinka Andonoska, University of Texas at El Paso) was presented at the recent Association of Budgeting and Financial Management (ABFM) Annual Conference in Washington D.C. (Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2021). The paper, titled “How Fiscal Stringency Influences Financial Condition? A Panel Data Analysis of U.S. State Tax and Expenditure Limits (2003-2018),” empirically examines the short-term and long-term impact of tax and expenditure limits on state’s financial condition.

The paper utilizes the longitudinal financial data extracted from state government comprehensive annual financial reports and creates a new model for evaluating state government’s financial condition by using 14 ratio indicators that measure five aspects of solvencies, including cash solvency, budgetary solvency, long-run solvency, and pension solvency.

The paper finds that TELs have found impacted short-run and long-run solvencies differently and offers some tentative policy recommendations for state policy makers and state government financial managers.

Additional information on the conference can be found at: https://abfm.org/annual-conference/

Political science majors will be especially suited for this opportunity for a paid internship in the spring. See below:

Apply online at https://ecu.joinhandshake.com/jobs/5250698. Email rise29@ecu.edu for questions.

ECU Dept. of Political Science grad Laurena Grissett earned her J.D. from UNC Law in 2021 and has passed the Bar exam. Caroline Parrish graduated from Campbell University School of Law in Spring 2021 and has also passed the NC Bar exam.

Congratulations to both!

For most students, registration for spring and summer of 2022 starts Monday, November 8th. There is a wealth of information about the registration process on the registrar’s website (https://registrar.ecu.edu). This page, in particular, seems especially useful, as it walks students through the various steps of the process: https://registrar.ecu.edu/preparing-to-register/.

Political Science grad Lilian Faulconer earned her JD from UNC Chapel Hill School of Law in the spring, passed the Bar exam, and has been hired by Ward and Smith, PA Attorneys at Law in Greenville, NC.

See: https://www.wardandsmith.com/attorneys/lilian-faulconer?fbclid=IwAR1w70DARU57jsSlpNjijZM46JR0lpnGaThx1mUrY0bv06qFu4BGni-A9zI