Society & Culture Archives

Victor Talmadge, professor of the practice and director of theater studies. Photo by Ruby Wallau for Northeastern University

From Broadway to Bay Area, theater is a way of life for Northeastern professor

OAKLAND, Calif.—Victor Talmadge splits his time between the stage and classroom as professor of the practice and director of theater studies at Mills College. For the next five weeks, he will star in Paula Vogel’s “Indecent” at the San Francisco Playhouse.

by David Nordman September 27, 2022

Northeastern professor’s new book trains crisis negotiators for life-or-death calls

Professor Heidi Kevoe-Feldman’s new book, “Crisis Talk: Negotiating with Individuals in Crisis,” uses conversation analysis to provide emergency call dispatchers and crisis negotiators with real-world transcripts and training to better help those at risk of suicide and self-harm.

by Noah Lloyd September 26, 2022

Northeastern professor uncovers oldest Japanese American film

Thanks to Denise Khor, professor of Asian American and visual studies, “The Oath of the Sword,” a previously lost silent Japanese American film, will be returned to the annals of film history–and the screen–after more than 100 years of obscurity.

by Cody Mello-Klein September 26, 2022

Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker talks new book, the ‘how’ of government, at Northeastern

The book, entitled “Results: Getting Beyond Politics to Get Important Work Done, was the showpiece of a “civic experience” talk Wednesday evening held at Northeastern.

by Tanner Stening September 22, 2022

What the death of a lone Indigenous man in Brazil can tell us about our global future

As Brazil's presidential election approaches, the death of the "man of the hole" highlights what's at stake, from Indigenous rights, to environmental decline, to a global climate crisis.

by Jessica Taylor Price September 20, 2022

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

How the Jim Crow South encouraged racial policing by those with ‘no legal authority’

Professor Margaret Burnham’s new book, “By Hands Now Known: Jim Crow’s Legal Executioners,” explores how white, public-facing workers were empowered to take violent action against Black Americans and how the repercussions of that system continue to influence modern America.

by Noah Lloyd September 20, 2022

A person wearing a cream shirt in Northeastern's ISEC building.

‘Quiet quitting’ may be of the moment, but is it new?

Is quiet quitting real, or just “new packaging for old problems?" Northeastern’s Jamie Ladge, of the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, weighs in.

by Tanner Stening September 19, 2022

Northeastern's Albert-László Barabási, professor of network science and physics, and his wife Janet Kelley, a literature and creative writing teacher at Brookline High School, led a week-long summer camp for marginalized and orphaned children in Transylvania, Romania. Photos courtesy Janet Kelley

Northeastern professor and family lead camp for marginalized children in native Transylvania

“We thought we were giving, but we received much more,” says Albert-László Barabási, professor of network science and physics at Northeastern University, who traveled with his wife and their children to Romania this summer.

by Alena Kuzub September 9, 2022

Alexandra Daha, who studies bioengineering, receives a hug from her parents, Ion and Antoanela, after moving into East Village dormitory on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Here is how parents can cope with dropping off their first-year students at college

Feeling anxiety or loss when your child starts college is a normal and universal experience, Northeastern psychology experts say. Here is how to acknowledge and accept this emotional transition.

by Alena Kuzub September 6, 2022

Accompanied by her dog, Ralph Boy, Mary Kelly fills out her ballot at the early voting location at the town hall. Photo by Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Midterms are on the horizon. Can election models actually predict who will win?

With election observers increasingly pinning their hopes on crystal ball types like Nate Silver, errant forecasts can derail mainstream storylines and reveal biases. Northeastern experts talk about the challenges in predicting the winners and losers in this election cycle.

by Tanner Stening August 31, 2022

Society & Culture