North Central News

Major social and political stories highlight North Central media appearances in June

Kelly Murphy

Jun 30, 2022

North Central College subject matter experts (SMEs) have continued to stay busy throughout the early months of summer. The College’s faculty took the helm at fielding breaking news stories across Naperville, Chicago and throughout the nation. From stories on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, to the Illinois Primary Election, the College’s political scientists have been especially active in breaking down the news of the day. On a regional and local level, North Central’s economic faculty and President Troy Hammond have made headlines. Here’s a snapshot of North Central in the media in June:

Caliendo provides commentary on recent SCOTUS decision and the question of Church v. State on FOX 32 Chicago

The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled 6-3 in support of a high school football coach who knelt on the 50-yard line and prayed after games, paving the way for a new landscape concerning the role of religion in public schools.

The court’s conservative majority sided with Joseph Kennedy and against the Bremerton School District in Seattle, agreeing that the coach’s First Amendment rights were violated when the district placed him on leave for violating a policy prohibiting staff from encouraging students to engage in prayer.

Stephen Maynard Caliendo, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, interviewed with media outlets, where he provided analysis on this most recent SCOTUS decision.

Watch the full interviews:

 

Caliendo and Chod analyze 2022 Illinois Primary Election on various media outlets

The 2022 Illinois Primary Election was underway for weeks through early voting and mail-in ballots, but the much-awaited June 28 Primary Election Day did not disappoint voters with close and unexpected races. All six statewide offices were up for election in 2022, including an open race for secretary of state after long-time incumbent Jesse White announced his retirement and a competitive Republican primary for the opportunity to challenge Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Additionally, redistricting of state House, state Senate and U.S. congressional maps led to several retirements and competitive primaries.

Both Caliendo and Suzanne Chod, professor of political science at North Central College, interviewed with many media outlets in Chicago, where they provided commentary on the results of the election.

Watch the full media interviews:

 

President Troy D. Hammond’s retirement announcement generates local press attention

The Board of Trustees of North Central College announced it has accepted the resignation of President Troy D. Hammond after nearly ten years of serving in the role. The Board expects to name an Interim President in the coming weeks as it prepares for the upcoming academic year. Under Hammond’s leadership, North Central transformed its curriculum, operations, and campus.

Hammond informed the Board that he believed it was time for a new leader to guide the College for the next phase of its storied 160-year history after nearly a decade in the role.

“Serving in this role has been the professional honor of a lifetime. I am grateful to the Board of Trustees for providing me this opportunity and for the diligent work of our leadership, faculty, and staff to make a difference in the lives of thousands of students during my time here,” said President Hammond. “It’s hard to believe a decade has gone by because it seems like yesterday, I was being introduced to the North Central College community, but I believe the time is right for me to let someone else guide this amazing institution.”

President Hammond’s announcement generated media attention:

 

Gray and Decker discuss the latest job reports and provide economic update as recession hangs in balance

The writing is on the wall, and most U.S. economists agree that the U.S. is in store for a recession next year. Year-over-year U.S. consumer price increases unexpectedly surged last month to 8.6%. That means that the Federal Reserve’s efforts to slow down the economy over the past few months through two different interest rate hikes have yet to bear a measurable effect on inflation.

With more experts sounding the alarm over inflation, and the Fed gearing up for even more aggressive action, economists are becoming increasingly convinced that the economy will come to a grinding halt and begin contracting soon.

Both Patrick Gray, adjunct assistant professor of finance, and Ryan Decker, assistant professor of economics and chair of the Center for Financial Literacy, interviewed with WGN-TV to provide an economic update.


Caliendo examines the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in Chicago broadcast media outlets

In a historic and far-reaching decision, the U.S. Supreme Court officially reversed Roe v. Wade on Friday, June 24, declaring that the constitutional right to abortion, upheld for nearly a half century, no longer exists. The court’s overturning of the landmark court ruling is likely to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states.

The ruling, unthinkable just a few years ago, was the culmination of decades of efforts by abortion opponents, made possible by an emboldened right side of the court fortified by three appointees of former President Donald Trump.

Caliendo interviewed with many media networks across Chicago, where he discussed the impact this ruling has on generations to come.

Watch the media interviews:

 

Caliendo and Muck analyze January 6 Congressional Hearings across media networks

In January 2021, while Congress gathered to certify then-President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral win, a mob of pro-Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol—scaling walls, shattering windows, breaking into federal offices, taking over the Senate floor, and stealing furniture. The attack on the Capitol left a handful of people dead and around 140 police officers injured. The insurrection was the first major attack on the Capitol since 1814—when the British burned it down during the War of 1812.

This month, the House created a committee to investigate the riot. It had subpoena power and was made up of nine lawmakers. Both Caliendo and Bill Muck, professor and chair of political science, interviewed with various media outlets regarding these congressional hearings throughout the month of June.

Watch the media placements: