Archive - News @ Northeastern

A no trespassing sign is displayed outside the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Ind on Aug. 28, 2020. After a 17-year pause in federal executions, Donald Trump is on track to execute more prisoners than any U.S. president in 130 years. AP Photo by Michael Conroy

As Trump leaves office, the future of federal executions is likely to change

President Donald Trump has overseen the executions of 11 prisoners—all put to death since July. In a span of seven months, Trump has presided over the largest number of federal executions since 1896, when 16 inmates were killed under President Grover Cleveland.

by Ian Thomsen January 14, 2021

Greg Dowling, left, moves his son Cole Dowling into his dorm in West Village for the spring semester. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Move-in is a big moment for Northeastern parents, too

Tillie Kopec is one of many parents juggling the excitement of sending their children off to college with the logistics of moving onto campus amid COVID-19 precautions. But she and other parents were reassured by Northeastern’s push to vaccinate the community.

by Hillary Chabot January 13, 2021

When it comes to predicting the transmission of infectious diseases, a lot of factors need to be considered. A new model from the MOBS Lab at Northeastern can account for specific interpersonal behaviors. Photo courtesy of Northeastern’s MOBS Lab

Diseases spread differently, region by region. This mathematical model shows how.

In an attempt to reflect the complex reality of disease transmission, Northeastern’s MOBS Lab has developed a new model that factors in patterns of interpersonal behavior down to the state or province level, enabling epidemiologists to get a closer look at how diseases spread.

by Emily Arntsen January 13, 2021

Are social media sites responsible for monitoring hate speech and misinformation? Illustration by Hannah Moore/Northeastern University

Hate thrives on social media — but who should police it?

When it comes to hate crimes, tech companies should be held responsible for violent rhetoric diffused on their sites, argues Jack McDevitt, director of the Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern. But when it comes to spreading misinformation, exactly who is liable is less clear, says David Lazer, university distinguished professor of political science and computer and information sciences.

by Emily Arntsen January 12, 2021

Jacki Smith, a first-year Northeastern student, hugs her father Gary Smith goodbye after moving into her dormitory on Columbus Avenue. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

This move-in was 'a breeze'

Jacki Smith, a first-year Northeastern student, was moving onto the Boston campus for the first time. But neither she nor her parents betrayed any sadness in their farewells as they wheeled her belongings toward her Columbus Avenue dormitory. After all, her new dorm is much closer to home than Dublin, where Smith spent her first semester in the N.U.in program.

by Ian Thomsen January 12, 2021

Healthcare workers rarely discuss firearm safety with their patients, according to new research by Northeastern professor Matt Miller. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Here’s why doctors should talk to their patients about gun safety

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people under 35 in the United States. Yet, healthcare professionals rarely discuss firearm safety with their patients, according to new research by Northeastern professor Matt Miller. “The biggest risk of having a gun in the home is that someone will kill themselves,” he says.

by Ian Thomsen January 12, 2021

U.S. Capitol Police retreat from Capitol grounds. On January 6, 2021, Pro-Trump supporters and far-right forces flooded Washington DC to protest Trump's election loss. Hundreds breached the U.S. Capitol Building, aproximately 13 were arrested and one protester was killed. Photo by Michael Nigro/AP Images

Here’s why spite spreads in people–and thrives in politics

Last week, a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol, seeking to delay certification of the 2020 presidential election results. The riot failed to achieve its goal, and dozens have been arrested and charged. Why did so many people risk their safety, their employment, and tarnish their criminal record for the purpose of harming others? One potential factor at play may be the infectious nature of spite.

by Allie Nicodemo - contributor January 11, 2021

He’s building a community through skateboarding

Founded by Zack Roth, Northeastern’s first Skateboarding Club provides student skaters with a laid back community and an opportunity to hone their skills.

by Cam Sleeper January 11, 2021

A droplet falls from a syringe after a health care worker is injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, R.I., on Dec. 15, 2020. AP Photo by David Goldman

On Twitter, journalists and politicians have more credibility on vaccines than medical experts, study finds

Black, Indigenous, and other non-white people in the United States are more likely to turn to sources within their own communities for information about the pandemic and the coronavirus vaccine, finds a new study of Twitter users led by researchers from Northeastern.

by Khalida Sarwari January 11, 2021

President Donald Trump arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on Dec. 12, 2020, AP Photo by Andrew Harnik

Momentum grows for a Trump impeachment

Calls for President Donald Trump’s removal from the White House continue from both Democrats and Republicans after last week’s riots at the U.S. Capitol. But according to Northeastern law professor Jeremy Paul, while impeachment permanently bars a president from being appointed to a federal position in the future, it’s not clear if that ban also includes elected office, like the presidency. "There's some dispute about that," Paul says.

by Peter Ramjug January 11, 2021