Departments College of Social Sciences & Humanities

A group of mechanical engineering students hang out in front of Snell Library.

Why do I feel like I still have to wear a mask?

The end of mask restrictions in much of the United States has put people who wore masks in a quandary. And yes, says Rory Smead, associate professor of philosophy at Northeastern, it’s awkward.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki June 2, 2021

Illustration of a person looking out the window

COVID-19 is more dangerous for older people. But what about locking down alone?

Bilge Erten, assistant professor of economics and international affairs at Northeastern, compared the mental health outcomes of coronavirus restrictions in Turkey between people over 65, who were subject to stay-at-home orders, and people aged between 59 and 64, who were allowed to leave the house. She found that the 65-and-older group fared worse.

by News@Northeastern and Emily Arntsen - contributor June 2, 2021

Is the new Texas gun law based on a misconception about mass shootings?

A desire for self-defense during mass shootings is often cited as a reason for loosening restrictions on people carrying handguns. But James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern, says that mass shootings account for fewer than 2 percent of firearm-related casualties in the United States.

by Ian Thomsen May 27, 2021

How is COVID-19 affecting people’s mental health?

There hasn’t been a noticeable improvement in mental health struggles since the pandemic started, according to a new survey of U.S. residents published by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers. Even as COVID-19 numbers decrease, sleepless nights, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts are on the rise.

by Peter Ramjug May 21, 2021

The Supreme Court will hear an abortion case. What comes next?

By agreeing to hear an abortion case out of Mississippi that the state’s lower courts ruled was plainly unconstitutional under the landmark Roe v. Wade, the justices indicated that the nation’s highest court may seek to change the abortion standard, say two legal scholars at Northeastern.

by Molly Callahan May 19, 2021

What do vaccine passports mean to you?

Vaccine passports—proof that the carrier is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus—have become a highly politicized topic, and some states are banning them, but a survey by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers finds that the passports are not as polarizing as one would imagine.

by Peter Ramjug May 17, 2021

Mothers are more reluctant to get their children vaccinated than fathers, U.S. survey shows

Nearly a third of mothers aged 18-35 say they are extremely unlikely to vaccinate their children from the coronavirus, according to a new survey of U.S. residents published by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers. Fathers of any age, however, were significantly more inclined to inoculate their kids.

by Peter Ramjug May 6, 2021

These students have inspiring stories to share at Commencement

Graduating students Nathan Hostert, Neha Jain, Gagan Dep Prabhu, and Muhammad Fitrah Pratama Teng will explore their Northeastern experiences while speaking at Commencement ceremonies this weekend at Fenway Park.

by Ian Thomsen May 5, 2021

The Class of 2021, having walked the walk, gears up for Commencement

Processional walks around the Boston campus began on Monday for graduating seniors. Some of the interactive experiences were designed to allow for moments to reminisce and take it all in one last time before Commencement ceremonies begin on the weekend.

by Peter Ramjug May 4, 2021

Jean Philippe, left, will get vaccinated when he returns home to New York, while Iris Cotrupi, center, and Zach Stanziano, right, have each received one of two doses. “Just go get it,” Stanziano urges others. Photos by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

‘Just go get it.’ Students who have received the COVID-19 vaccine encourage others to get their shots

Some Northeastern students have already received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, others are about to get fully inoculated. Now that everyone in the U.S. 16 years of age and older is eligible, students are encouraging others to roll up their sleeves and protect the pack.

by Peter Ramjug April 21, 2021