Faculty Experts & Current Events

How a 1939 political comedy models a possible fix for the modern-day US Senate

The upper chamber has long been known as a legislative graveyard. Without changing the 60-vote requirement to pass most bills, Democrats’ ambitions for voting rights, immigration, gun background checks, and other priorities could derail. Northeastern faculty experts say bringing back the talking filibuster, made famous in a black-and-white film, may be an option.

by Peter Ramjug March 29, 2021

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Parents are more skeptical about vaccines than those without kids, new study finds

Young moms in particular are hesitant about inoculating themselves and their children, according to new findings by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers. The reluctance could come to a head in the fall if schools mandate vaccinations for in-person learning, a Northeastern faculty expert says.

by Peter Ramjug March 26, 2021

Thomas Matta, an assistant clinical professor, and members of the National Guard, fill Pfizer vaccines at Florian Hall in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

How a clinical professor helps to tackle vaccination hesitancy, one clinic at a time

Thomas M. Matta is on the vaccination front lines to bolster confidence as he sets up small clinics in communities with at-risk populations in Massachusetts.

by Hillary Chabot March 24, 2021

President Joe Biden speaks about the COVID-19 pandemic during a prime-time address from the East Room of the White House on March 11, 2021, in Washington. AP Photo by Andrew Harnik

Biden outpaces Trump by double digits in handling the pandemic, new survey shows

Biden’s COVID-19 approval numbers stood at 53 percent early in his presidency, while Trump ended December—his last full month in office—at 32 percent. The numbers for a pair of embattled governors—California’s Gavin Newsom and New York’s Andrew Cuomo—have plummeted but remain within the national average, researchers found.

by Peter Ramjug March 23, 2021

Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

COVID-19 has been hard on our mental health. Here are some ways to keep practicing mindfulness and resilience.

After a year of disease, death, Zoom meetings, and social distancing, it can feel hard to stay positive, says Kristen Lee, associate teaching professor of behavioral science. News@Northeastern sat down with Lee to chat about her research in resilience and brain science, and how to maintain mindfulness through everyday practices.

by Alison Booth and Brilee Weaver March 23, 2021

Margaret Woo, law professor and former trustee of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, poses for a portrait. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Awareness must bring change: Atlanta shootings stir up strong reactions from students, faculty

The killing of mostly Asian women at a pair of Georgia massage parlors was a deadly escalation of the taunts, slurs, and put-downs that members of Northeastern’s Asian American community have endured. A law professor was out walking her dog when she encountered discrimination up close. “It almost brought me to tears,” she remembers. “Emotions from these micro-aggressions never completely go away.”

by Peter Ramjug March 22, 2021

With new May 1 vaccine push, communication key to pushing past resistance

When President Biden announced last week that all American adults would become eligible for vaccination against COVID-19 by May 1, it wasn’t just a plan to end the pandemic. It was also a collective call to action.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki March 17, 2021

COVID-19 may have changed the way we work, permanently

A year after the pandemic shuttered businesses and forced many workers to learn how to work remotely, is there any going back to business as usual? Changing the status quo promises to create a fundamental workplace challenge with pros and cons for workers and employers, say two Northeastern researchers who study virtual work and urban landscapes.

by Molly Callahan March 16, 2021

Illustration by Alison Booth/Northeastern University

Vaccinated? It might be safe to see friends, but don’t throw out that mask.

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published safety recommendations for vaccinated individuals. Northeastern’s Brandon Dionne, assistant clinical professor in the School of Pharmacy, and Neil Maniar, professor of the practice and director of the Master of Public Health program, explain the main takeaways from the guidelines.

by Emily Arntsen - contributor March 12, 2021

Northeastern’s COVID-19 testing is identifying new variants faster than other labs

Unlike most COVID-19 diagnostic labs, Northeastern’s testing lab monitors for three of the virus’s genes instead of just one or two—bolstering the system against mutations that might otherwise allow positive cases to go unnoticed, says Jared Auclair, director of the university’s testing lab. Plus, monitoring for more genes enables Northeastern to identify new variants faster than other labs.

by Emily Arntsen - contributor March 10, 2021