Reporters turned to MTSU faculty recently for their perspectives on various issues, including the U.S. Supreme Court, plane crashes, a COVID-19 vaccine lottery and Black Lives Matter, among other topics.

Dr. William Canak

Dr. Chaney Mosley

• Dr. William Canak, a professor emeritus of sociology, moderated a virtual panel discussion on reducing wage theft June 6 for the Labor and Employment Relations Association. The video can be seen here.

• Dr. Chaney Mosley, an assistant professor of agricultural education, applauded Tennessee Pathways for narrowing the gap between the skills employers need and the skills job applicants have in a June 7 report by WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tennessee. His comments can be read here.

Dr. John Vile

Dr. Louis Woods

• Dr. John Vile, dean of the University Honors College and political scientist, commented on whether U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer will retire to give President Joe Biden an opportunity to nominate a justice to the high court in a June 9 story by Zenger News. His remarks are available here.

• Dr. Louis Woods, an associate professor of history and presidential fellow for social justice and equality, explained the significance of the annual Juneteenth celebration in a June 10 story in The Spruce. His comments can be accessed here.

Dr. Richard Tarpey

Dr. Daniel Smith

Dr. William “Bill” Ford

• Dr. Richard Tarpey, an assistant professor of management, said North Carolina’s new COVID-19 vaccine lottery seems to make sense in a June 11 report by WNCT-TV in Greenville, North Carolina. The video and transcript can be seen here.

• Dr. Daniel Smith, director of the Political Economy Research Institute, said pandemic unemployment benefits serve as a disincentive to the unemployed to find work in a June 11 story by Main Street Clarksville. His views can be accessed here.

Smith and Dr. William Ford, professor emeritus of economics, co-signed a letter expressing concern that the Federal Reserve Board is overstepping its authority. The letter was published June 17 by National Review and is available here.

Dr. Tom Brinthaupt

Robert Fowler

• Dr. Thomas Brinthaupt, a professor of psychology, explored the way people react to inner voices, including people who deny that they talk to themselves, in a June 14 article in Discover Magazine. His insights are available here.

• Robert Fowler, an assistant professor of aerospace, examined the preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report on a plane crash in Percy Priest Lake for a June 16 report by WTVF-TV in Nashville, Tennessee. The video and transcript can be accessed here.

Alan Brown

Dr. Benjamin Sawyer

• Alan Brown, a lecturer of geosciences, explained the artifacts that can be seen at Earth Experience, the only museum of natural history in Middle Tennessee, for a June 16 story by the Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The article is available here.

• Dr. Benjamin Sawyer, a senior instructor of history, was cited in a June 16 Reader’s Digest article as co-host of one of the 12 best political podcasts in existence for “The Road to Now” with co-host Bob Crawford. The article and a link to the podcast can be accessed here.

Dr. Sekou Franklin

• Dr. Sekou Franklin, an associate professor of political science and international relations, commented on Black Lives Matter’s support for the creation of a civilian oversight board for the Metro Nashville (Tennessee) Police Department in a June 17 story posted by Press From. His remarks can be read here.

Franklin analyzed Metro Nashville government and its budget in the context of racial politics for a June 21 report aired on WPLN-FM in Nashville. The transcript can be accessed here.

Dr. Jessica Gaby

Ken Paulson

• Dr. Jessica Gaby, an assistant professor of psychology, examined the role of body odor in human interactions in a June 18 report by National Public Radio affiliate WHYY in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The audio and transcript are available here.

• Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center, also asserted that Facebook, as a private company, has the right to ban Donald Trump without violating the First Amendment in a June 20 article in USA Today. His views are available here.

Reporters seeking expertise from MTSU personnel, as well as members of the campus community with expertise for media, may contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Media Relations at 615-631-8322 or via email at gina.logue@mtsu.edu.

— Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)