Karyn Sporer, an associate professor of sociology with the University of Maine, spoke to the Bangor Daily News about the political polarization reflected in the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol. “It really doesn’t take much for someone to feel disengaged from their families or deviant or mildly stigmatized by family members […]
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The Ellsworth American reported on a forum about the drug crisis and substance use disorder that featured Karyn Sporer, among others. Sporer, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Maine, said her research revealed that Mainers are open to “harm reduction strategies and decriminalization” of drugs, but not “legalization.”
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The Bangor Daily News published an op-ed by Brian Pitman, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Maine, and Brenna Jones, a UMaine undergraduate mathematics and sociology student, titled “Penobscot County should build housing, not expand its jail.” Pitman is a member of the Maine chapter of the national Scholars Strategy Network, which […]
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The Bangor Daily News published an op-ed from Michael Haedicke, a University of Maine associate professor of sociology and faculty fellow with the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, about Question 3 on the Nov. 2 election referendum ballot. Haedicke is a member of the Maine chapter of the national Scholars Strategy Network, […]
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Karyn Sporer, a University of Maine assistant professor of sociology, spoke with Maine Public for a story about how extremist communications radicalize populations. “Trying to find somebody who can send the message to counter this radicalization process should be our number one priority right now,” Sporer said.
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Amy Blackstone, a professor of sociology at the University of Maine, spoke with CNN about the many reasons women decide not to have children. “The pandemic has really revealed to us how poorly we support parents in the U.S.,” said Blackstone, also the author of “Childfree by Choice: The Movement Redefining Family and Creating a […]
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University of Maine sociologist Karyn Sporer discussed the growth in outspoken extremist sentiments in Maine with the Bangor Daily News. “Extremists have always had a foothold in Maine, period,” said Sporer, also principal investigator for the Department of Homeland Security’s National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology and Education Center. “The difference is people’s willingness to state their […]
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Brian Pitman, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Maine, talked with the Bangor Daily News for a story about the impact of retirements on police staffing in Maine. According to Pitman, the number of police on the beat does not impact crime rates, but retirements and shortages may influence the staffing of […]
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The Bangor Daily News published a column by Bryan Pittman, a University of Maine assistant professor of sociology, and Jason Clough, a 2021 UMaine sociology graduate, advocating for transformative social change to reduce crime and interaction with law enforcement.
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Amy Blackstone, a University of Maine professor of sociology, appeared on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition to discuss the declining birth rate in the U.S., suggesting that a number of factors impact birth rates including a lack of support for working mothers and a trend toward having children later in life.
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