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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">overflow 9/14</font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">http://robertdfeinman.com/society/gmu.html</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><table style=""><tbody><tr><td width="600"><h1 align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Charles Koch and Libertarianism</font></h1><h2 align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">How to "Buy" a University</font></h2><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">George Mason University is the home base of both&nbsp;Tyler Cowen&nbsp;and&nbsp;Alex Tabarrok, both libertarian economists.</font><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Alex Tabarrok&nbsp;got his Ph.D. in 1994 from GMU
Tyler Cowen&nbsp;got his B.S. in 1983 from GMU</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">George Mason is the recipient of some generous funding from the Charles G.&nbsp;KochFoundation.The three&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;foundations contributed $23,030,497 between 1985 and 2002 to the university, its foundation and its Institute for Human Studies. (Media Transparency)</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">From the GMU web site:</font></p><blockquote><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Through major gifts and commitments, the Charles G.&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;Charitable Foundation has significantly bolstered programs focused on market-based solutions to social and economic problems. Its support has provided the university with vital resources for fostering dialog and innovation among scholars, policy experts, and government leaders.</font><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;Foundation’s generosity includes assistance in the&nbsp;<i>recruitment in 2001 of Vernon Smith and his team of six distinguished economics professors</i>&nbsp;to Mason. Smith, now a Nobel laureate, is a leader in the growing field of experimental economics. At George Mason, undergraduate and graduate students across related disciplines evaluate the performance and function of real-world markets and institutions.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Through the&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;Foundation, George Mason University is helping to bridge academic learning and real world practice. [my emphasis]</font></p></blockquote><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Charles G.&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;gets a bio in Wikipedia. Here is an excerpt:</font></p><blockquote><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Koch&nbsp;is a libertarian and supports many free-market organizations such as the Cato Institute, which he founded together with Edward H. Crane and Murray Rothbard in 1977.</font><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Koch&nbsp;also funds the highly selective Charles G.&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;Summer Fellow Program through the Institute for Humane Studies.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Brother David H.&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;ran for vice president for the Libertarian Party in 1980.</font></p></blockquote><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Koch&nbsp;Industries is the largest privately held company in the country. The&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;family is part of the 18 super wealthy families who have worked for the elimination of the state tax.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">From the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.citizen.org/documents/EstateTaxFinal.pdf">report (PDF)</a>&nbsp;on this, each&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;brother is worth about $12 billion and stands to have to pay about $4.7 billion in estate taxes, if not repealed.&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;Industries has spent $3.7 million on estate tax lobbying since 1998.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;family is also a principle contributor to the Citizens for a Sound Economy (now Freedom Works) which supports think-tanks like Cato and Heritage foundation.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Alex Tabarrok&nbsp;is the research director of the Independent Institute:
The John M. Olin Foundation gave in 1996 to<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> The Independent Institute $40,000 for "The promotion of two books: The Diversity Myth, by David O. Sacks and Peter a<b> Thiel;</b> and The Melting Pot, by Richard K. Vedder and Lowell E. Gallaway"</span> and in 1998 another $25,000 for "The Institute's book program".
The David H.&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;Charitable Foundation gave in 1995 - 2001 in total $160,000 for "General Operating Support".
The Earhart Foundation gave in 1998 - 2001 in total $46,095 to support editor Dr. Robert Higgs.
The Castle Rock Foundation gave in 2002 for "General operating support" $25,000.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>Other GMU faculty affiliated with the Institute:</b></font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>
James M. Buchanan </b>- Nobel Laureate in Economic Science University Professor, Center for the Study of Public Choice, George Mason University
Vernon L. Smith - Nobel Laureate in Economic Science; Professor of Economics and Law, Interdisciplinary Center for Economic Science, George Mason University
Gordon Tullock - University Professor of Law and Economics and Distinguished Research Fellow, George Mason University
Richard E. Wagner - Hobart R. Hobart Professor of Economics, George Mason University
Walter E. Williams - Distinguished Professor of Economics, George Mason University
Donald J. Boudreaux - Chairman and Professor, Department of Economics, George Mason University
Lloyd R. Cohen - Professor of Law, George Mason University
Tyler Cowen&nbsp;- Professor of Economics, George Mason University
Bruce H. Kobayashi - Professor of Law, George Mason University
William E. Kovacic - Professor of Law, George Mason University
Gordon Tullock - University Professor of Law and Economics and Distinguished Research Fellow, George Mason University
Richard E. Wagner - Hobart R. Hobart Professor of Economics, George Mason University</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The Mercatus Center at GMU's executive board includes Charles&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tyler Cowen.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Koch&nbsp;is also involved with the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation.</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">A nice summary of the&nbsp;Koch&nbsp;family's activities can be found at this page from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mediatransparency.org/funderprofile.php?funderID=9">Media Transparency</a></font></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><i>Moral: Follow the Money</i>
</font></p><hr style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto;" /><div style=""><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Click&nbsp;<a href="http://robertdfeinman.com/society/index.html" target="
top">here</a>&nbsp;to see all my essays in context.

If you have any comments or for further discussions email me at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:robert.feinman@gmail.com?subject=Koch">robert.feinman@gmail.com</a></font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">http://chrc.gmu.edu/scholars.html</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Gary Kreps, PhD, Chair</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><ul><li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Gary L. Kreps (Ph.D., University of Southern California) is a University Professor and <b>Chair of the Department of Communication at George Mason University.</b> He is also the <b>Director of the Center for Health and Risk Communication</b> at George Mason University. His research focuses on health communication and promotion, information dissemination, cancer prevention and control, organizational communication, information technologies, multicultural relations, and risk/crisis management. His published work includes more thant 300 books, articles, and monographs concerning the applications of communication knowledge in society. Before his appointment at George Mason in 2004, he served as the founding Chief of the Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch at the <b>National Cancer Institute</b>, the founding Dean of the School of Communication at Hofstra University, Executive Director of the Greenspun School of Communication at UNLV, and in faculty and administrative roles at Northern Illinois, Rutgers, Indiana, and Purdue Universities. He has received numerous awards and honors for his active program of research, teaching, and scholarship.</font></li></ul></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Founding CHRC Faculty Scholars&nbsp;</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bedore<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Joani Bedore, PhD</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Assistant Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Joani's research focuses on interpersonal, gender, workplace, and public communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Boileau<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Don Boileau, PhD</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Don's research focuses on intercultural & public communication, communication education, and rhetoric & society</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Botan<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Carl Botan, PhD</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Carl's research focuses on strategic, risk, and health communication, public relations, and research methods</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Cai<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Xiaomei Cai, Ph.D.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Associate Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Xiaomei's research focuses on media & society, family communication, new media, and research methods</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Decker<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Warren Decker, Ph.D.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Warren's research focuses on public communication, argumentation, communication theory, and social movements</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Dickerson<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Michael Dickerson, M.A.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Outreach Coordinator and Instructor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Mike's research focuses on public relations, risk communication, and media systems</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jon Entine<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jon Entine</font></b></div><div><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Senior Research Fellow</font></b></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jon, director of the Genetic Literacy Project (www.geneticliteracyproject.org) at STATS/GMU, visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and columnist for Forbes.com and Ethical Corporation, focuses his research and writing on science and public policy, environmental sustainability, corporate responsibility, NGO advocacy and media framing. See: www.jonentine.com.&nbsp;</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">missing the picture<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Andy Finn, Ph.D.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Associate Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Andy's research focuses on public & political communication, media systems, new media, and methods</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Carla Fisher<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Carla Fisher, Ph.D.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Assistant Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Carla's research examines the information needs of cancer survivors and caregivers, with a focus on intergenerational and family communication.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Gibson<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tim Gibson, Ph.D.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Associate Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tim's research focuses on health & urban communication and media advocacy</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Hopson<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Mark Hopson, Ph.D.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Assistant Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Mark's research focuses communication & culture, rhetoric & society, and communication & violence</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Paula Kim<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Paula Kim</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Senior Research Fellow</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Paula is an expert on health advocacy and consumer empowerment. She helped to found the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan), and is working to establish an Advocacy Leadership Academy at George Mason University.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Klein<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Steve Klein, M.A.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Journalism Coordinator and Instructor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Steve's research focuses on electronic journalism, media & society, and public policy</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">lichter<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bob Lichter, Ph.D.</font></b></div><div><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Professor of Communication</font></b></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bob's research focuses on political, health, & scientific communication, media ethics, and methods</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Lont<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Cindy Lont, Ph.D.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Cindy's research media & society, gender, visual com, media production & theory</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Maibach<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ed Maibach, Ph.D.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">University Professor</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ed's research focuses on social marketing, health & environmental communication, campaigns, and social influence</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">missing the picture<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jim McAuley, Ph.D.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Professor Emeritus</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jim's research focuses on health & aging, health services, communication & culture, and research methods</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">missing the picture<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Star Muir, Ph.D</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Associate Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Star's research focuses on new media, environmental comunication, communication education, and public communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nicotera<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Anne Nicotera, PhD</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Associate Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Anne's research focuses on interpersonal, organizational, health communication, and communication & conflict</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Pober<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Peter Pober, PhD</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Professor of Communication and Director of Forensics</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Peter's research focuses on public communication, communication & culture, and rhetoric & social movements</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Rowan<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Kathy Rowan, PhD</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Kathy's research focuses on scientific, risk & crisis, written communication, and public relations</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Villagran</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Melinda Villagran, PhD</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Associate Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Melinda's research focuses on interpersonal, org, & health communication, communication & culture, and methods</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Wright<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Catherine Wright, PhD</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Assistant Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Catherine's research focuses on new media, communication education, and communication & society</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Zhao<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Xiaoquan Zhao, PhD</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Assistant Professor of Communication</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Xiaoquan's research focuses on health communication, communication campaigns, media & social influence, and methods</font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Charles Koch gave $90 million to influence higher ed in the South</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Last month, the provost of Western Carolina University in North Carolina asked the public school's chancellor to approve an academic center funded by the Charles Koch Foundation, a private nonprofit run by the billionaire chairman, CEO, and co-owner of the Koch Industries oil and chemical corporation. The foundation funds academic programs, professorships, scholarships, conferences, lecture series and economics centers, all for the purpose of promoting the free-market agenda embraced by Koch and his brother David.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The chancellor has come out in support, and on Dec. 4 the school's trustees will vote on the fate of the Center for the Study of Free Enterprise, which would launch with $2 million from the Charles Koch Foundation over five years and $1.4 million from the university.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The proposed agreement has come under fire from the school's faculty senate, which voted 21-3 to oppose the center's creation. The group raised concerns about academic freedom, cost, reputation, and the lack of peer review.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"The Charles Koch Foundation has previously set forth explicit expectations in line with their political views in exchange for monetary gifts to universities," the faculty senate said in a statement, "thereby constraining academic freedom by influencing and interfering with the development of new knowledge."</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The proposed center at WCU is part of a long campaign by Koch to influence higher education. The Charles Koch Foundation along with three other groups led by Koch gave nearly $108 million to 366 colleges and universities from 2005 to 2014, finds an Institute for Southern Studies investigation, building on research by Greenpeace. The other groups are the Fred and Mary Koch Foundation, the Claude R. Lambe Foundation, and the Charles Koch Institute. (For more about these groups, see "The Koch-led charities funding higher education" at the end of this story.)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Eighty-five percent of the donations — or $91 million — went to 147 Southern colleges and universities.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The bulk of the money given by the four nonprofits — $77.7 million — went to George Mason University, a public school in Fairfax, Virginia. Much of that went to the school's Mercatus Center and Institute for Humane Studies, nonprofits housed at the university that focus on teaching and promoting free-market economics. But even when the GMU donations are excluded from the total giving, Southern schools received 45 percent of the remaining contributions.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Besides GMU, the other schools that received the most money from the Koch foundations are all in the South: Florida State University at $2.3 million, West Virginia University at $1.3 million, Clemson University of South Carolina at $1.3 million, and Troy University of Alabama at $1.1 million.</font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></div><div><a href="http://www.southernstudies.org/2015/12/charles-koch-gave-90-million-to-influence-higher-e.html"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">http://www.southernstudies.org/2015/12/charles-koch-gave-90-million-to-influence-higher-e.html</font></a></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">anomaly:</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">http://www.climatechangecommunication.org/welcome</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Director</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Edward Maibach</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><h1 class="title" style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: capitalize; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Edward Maibach</font></h1><div class="region region-content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 12px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div id="block-system-main" class="block block-system" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div id="node-30" class="node node-team-member clearfix" about="/our-team/edward-maibach" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font><div class="field field-name-field-team-member-department field-type-text field-label-hidden" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; width: 400px; background: transparent;"><div class="field-items" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="field-item even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Director</font></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-team-title field-type-text-long field-label-hidden" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="field-items" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="field-item even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Professor</i>
Department of Communication
George Mason University</font></p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-above" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="field-label" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bio:&nbsp;</font></div><div class="field-items" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ed joined the George Mason University faculty in 2007 to create the Center for Climate Change Communication. Trained in public health and communication, he has extensive experience as an academic researcher and as a communication and social marketing practitioner in government, business, and the non-profit sector. His research focuses on the broad question of how public engagement in climate change can be expanded and enhanced.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ed is currently a Principal Investigator on several climate change education grants funded by the National Science Foundation, NASA, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, and Town Creek Foundation. He also currently serves on the National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee and advises a wide range of organizations on how to improve their climate change communication, education and outreach.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Previously, Ed served as associate director of the National Cancer Institute, worldwide director of social marketing for Porter Novelli, co-chairman of the board for Kidsave International, and as a faculty member at Emory and George Washington universities. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. His edited book Designing Health Messages earned a distinguished book award from the National Communication Association.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In 2010, Ed was awarded George Mason University’s highest honor: distinguished University Professor.</font></p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-team-education field-type-text-long field-label-above" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="field-label" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Education:&nbsp;</font></div><div class="field-items" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="field-item even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>BA (’80), Social Psychology, University of California, San Diego</b>
MPH (’83), Health Promotion, San Diego State University
PhD (’90), Communication Research, Stanford University</font></p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-team-selected-publications field-type-text-long field-label-above" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="field-label" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Selected Publications:&nbsp;</font></div><div class="field-items" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><div class="field-item even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., Roser-Renouf, C., Smith, N., & Dawson, E. (2012). Climategate, public opinion, and the loss of trust. American Behavioral Scientist. , DOI: 10.1177/0002764212458272. Retrieve<a href="http://www.climatechangecommunication.org/images/files/Climategate_Public%20Opinion_and%20Loss%20of%20Trust%281%29.pdf" target="
blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">&nbsp;the article here</a>.</font></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Mason Faculty Researchers</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Katherine Rowan</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Robert Lichter</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Susan Crate</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Timothy Gibson</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Xiaoquan Zhao</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Andrew Light</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Chris Clarke</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Chris Kennedy</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Connie Roser-Renouf</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Emily Vraga</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Enrico Wensing</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Karen Akerlof</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Mona Sarfaty</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Teresa Myers</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Affiliate Researchers</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Do Kyun Kim</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Erik C. Nisbet</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jagadish Thaker</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Lauren Feldman</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Matthew Nisbet</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Melinda Weathers</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sol Hart</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Stephen J. Farnsworth</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Anthony Leiserowitz</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ashley Anderson</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ding Ding</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Hilary Schaffer Boudet</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Post-Doctoral Researchers</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bob Drost</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Brittany Bloodhart</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Mason Doctoral Students</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Justin Rolfe-Redding</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jenell Walsh-Thomas</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">John Kotcher</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Neil Stenhouse</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Raphael Mazzone</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">If you have any questions, you can contact George Mason's Development Office at 703.993.8850.</font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">GMU Yale</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0015</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><div><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Climate scientists need to set the record straight: There is a scientific consensus that human-caused climate change is happening</font></b></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Edward Maibach1,*, Teresa Myers1 and Anthony Leiserowitz2</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Article first published online: 7 MAY 2014</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DOI: 10.1002/2013EF000226</font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0004" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Human-caused climate change is happening and is accelerating; dangerous impacts are becoming evident around the world, and are projected to get worse in the decades to come, possibly much worse (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">IPCC</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0009" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0009" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>). Nearly all climate scientists are convinced of these basic facts, but more than half of Americans do not currently understand that this scientific consensus has been reached (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Leiserowitz et al</em>.,<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0011" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0011" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>).</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0005" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Americans are not alone in this regard, although relatively less is known about the views of people in other nations. While 57% of Britons aged 15 and older agreed with the statement “most scientists agree that humans are causing climate change” (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Poortinga et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0028" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0028" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2011</a>), a separate 16-nation World Public Opinion Poll (Public attitudes toward climate change: Findings from a multi-country poll, 2009, http://worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btenvironmentra/649.php?lb=brglm&pnt=649&nid=&id=) found that only a minority of citizens in seven nations said “most scientists think the problem is urgent and enough is known to take action”; these were the United States (38%), Russia (23%), Indonesia (33%), Japan (43%), Brazil (44%), India (48%), and Mexico (48%). Across all 16 nations, 51% selected this response option, while 16% said “most (scientists) think the problem is not urgent, and not enough is known yet to take action,” and 24% said “views are pretty evenly divided,” another 10% indicated “don't know.” This public misperception about the state of scientific consensus regarding the reality and causes of climate change matters, a lot.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0006" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Different methods have been used to estimate the degree of scientific consensus about human-caused climate change—including surveys of experts (e.g.,&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Doran and Zimmerman</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0004" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0004" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2009</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Cook et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0002" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0002" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>) and reviews of the peer-reviewed literature (e.g.,&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Oreskes</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0023" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0023" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2004</a>;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Anderegg et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0001" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0001" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2010</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Cook et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0002" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0002" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>). Both methods converge on the following conclusion: 97% or more of climate scientists are convinced that human-caused climate change is happening.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0007" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Yet widespread misunderstanding of this scientific consensus persists among the American public. In 2013, only 42% of American adults said that “most scientists think global warming is happening,” 33% said “there is a lot of disagreement among scientists about whether or not global warming is happening,” 20% said they “don't know enough to say,” and 6% said “most scientists think global warming is not happening” (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Leiserowitz et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0012" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0012" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2014</a>). When asked to estimate the proportion of climate scientists who are convinced that human-caused climate change is happening (in quintiles), only 22% of American adults correctly selected 81%–100% (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Leiserowitz et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0012" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0012" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2014</a>).</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0008" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">This misperception among Americans is not only pervasive but also highly consequential (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Ding et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0003" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0003" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2011</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">McCright et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0020" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0020" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>). Those who do not understand the scientific consensus about human-caused climate change are, in turn, less likely to believe that climate change is happening, human-caused, will have serious consequences, and is solvable (i.e., can be mitigated through concerted action). In addition, not understanding this scientific consensus undermines Americans' support for a broad societal response to the threat. As a result, knowledge of the scientific consensus on human-caused climate change can be considered a “gateway” cognition; as members of the general public come to understand the consensus, they more likely come to the conclusion that human-caused climate change is happening and harmful.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0009" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The pervasiveness of this misperception is not an accident. Rather, it is the result of a disinformation campaign by individuals and organizations in the United States—and increasingly in other nations around the world (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Norgaard</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0022" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0022" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2006</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Dunlap and McCright</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0005" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0005" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2011</a>)—who oppose government action to reduce carbon emissions (e.g.,&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Oreskes and Conway</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0024" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0024" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2010</a>). The claim that climate scientists are still arguing over the reality of human-caused climate change was designed to resonate with the sensibilities of political conservatives who are inherently suspicious of government intervention in markets and societies. This targeted disinformation campaign has been highly effective in the United States: far more political conservatives (49%) than liberals (18%) currently believe that there is “a lot of disagreement among the experts about global warming” (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Leiserowitz et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0011" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0011" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>). While originally launched in the United States, this disinformation campaign is now being pursued in Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand as well (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Dunlap and McCright</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0005" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0005" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2011</a>).</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0010" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">This disinformation campaign has impeded the implementation of strategies to reduce the risks of climate change (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">McCright and Dunlap</em>,<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0019" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0019" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2003</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Pooley</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0027" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0027" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2010</a>). Moreover, as an intentional effort to obscure and dispute the conclusions of climate science, the campaign should be seen as an attack on climate science itself.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0011" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Fortunately, an effective, nonpolitical response is available to scientists and their professional societies. A recently published Australian study (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Lewandowsky et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0013" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0013" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>)—and a series of studies conducted at research centers in the United States (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Maibach et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0015" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0015" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Kotcher et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0010" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0010" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2014</a>)—demonstrates that clear messages that simply state the extent of the scientific consensus can help correct this widespread misperception. In controlled experiments, a single exposure to a message describing the extent of scientific consensus on human-caused climate change (i.e., 97%) significantly increased participants' subsequent estimates of the consensus—by as much as 10 to 20 percentage points. Importantly, these simple messages were most effective with the very people who are currently the least likely to understand the scientific consensus: political conservatives.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0012" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The potential benefits of setting the record straight are considerable. By working to overcome this barrier to public understanding of climate change, scientists can help a broader cross section of American society—and perhaps people in other nations as well—to better understand the realities and risks of climate change, as well as the range of potential solutions. Furthermore, an effort to communicate the scientific consensus can also help bridge the (manufactured) divide between conservatives and liberals about the reality of human-caused climate change and help Americans begin the real debate about climate change—how the nation should best respond. Ideally, a debate about climate solutions should harness the best ideas of people across the political spectrum. Now is the time for citizens, together with government and industry leaders, to engage in a serious conversation about how to manage the risks of climate change.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0013" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">In the end, scientists cannot insist that the public accept the realities of climate change, but they can and should inform the public that based on the evidence, the vast majority of climate experts are convinced that human-caused climate change is happening. Because public understanding of climate change has been intentionally distorted by vested interests, the scientific community has an obligation to set the record straight.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0014" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Methods of effective scientific communication are well known in some parts of the scientific community (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">National Research Council</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0021" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0021" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">1989</a>;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Maibach and Parrott</em>, 1995;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Hornik</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0008" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0008" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2002</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Wakefield et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0032" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0032" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2010</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Lundgren and McMakin</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0014" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0014" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>). The public health and medical communities, for example, have mounted highly effective campaigns to reduce sudden infant death syndrome (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Markestad et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0017" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0017" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">1995</a>), human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">McCombie et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0018" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0018" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2002</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Wellings</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0033" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0033" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2002</a>), stroke (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Roccella</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0029" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0029" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2002</a>), tobacco use among adults and teens (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Pierce et al</em>.,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0025" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0025" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2002a</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0026" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0026" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2002b</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Worden and Flynn</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0035" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0035" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2002</a>), and to promote seat belt use (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Williams et al</em>.,<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0034" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0034" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2002</a>). While each of these successful campaigns had unique circumstances, they all conformed to a relatively simple formula:&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">simple clear messages, repeated often, by a variety of trusted voices</em>.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0015" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">We urge scientific organizations to patiently, yet assertively inform the public that, based on the evidence, more than 97% of climate experts are convinced that human-caused climate change is happening. Some scientific organizations may argue that they have already done this through official statements. We applaud them for their efforts to date, yet survey data clearly demonstrate that the message has not yet reached or engaged most Americans. Occasional statements and press releases about the reality of human-caused climate change are unfortunately not enough to cut through the fog—it will take a concerted, ongoing effort to inform Americans about the scientific consensus regarding the realities of climate change.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0016" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Fischhoff</em>&nbsp;(<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0007" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0007" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2007</a>) suggests that climate change communication campaigns are best approached as a team effort between climate scientists (who best understand the nature of the risks and potential responses), social and decision scientists (who best understand how to structure information in a manner that is most helpful to members of the intended target audience), and communication professionals (who best understand how to get the information conveyed with sufficient reach and frequency that it will be noticed and considered by members of the target audience). This is a model that any scientific organization can implement by engaging their members, relevant social science colleagues, and in-house or consulting communication professionals.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0017" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Individual climate scientists can and should also play a role in setting the record straight. In media interviews, public presentations, and even neighborhood and family gatherings, climate scientists should remember that many people do not currently understand that there is an overwhelming scientific consensus about human-caused climate change. Tell them, and give them the numbers. Contextualize the numbers with your own experience, e.g., “I personally know hundreds of climate scientists who are convinced that human-caused climate change is happening, and not a single one who isn't.”</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0018" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">This is not a call for scientists to become policy advocates, but rather a request that scientists take the initiative to inform the public about the empirically determined conclusions of their field—consistent with several recent prominent calls by climate scientists asking their peers to get more involved in public dialogue (<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Ellis and Trachtenberg</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0006" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0006" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Schmidt</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0030" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0030" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2013</a>;&nbsp;<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Mann</em>,&nbsp;<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013EF000226/full#eft231-bib-0016" class="referenceLink" title="Link to bibliographic citation" rel="references:#eft231-bib-0016" shape="rect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">2014</a>). There is a critical need to educate the public about one of the most fundamental and important facts to have emerged from climate science, that virtually the entire climate science community is now convinced, based upon the evidence, that human-caused climate change is happening. This may seem self-evident to many scientists; however, it is not yet understood by a majority of the American public.</font></p></div><div class="para" id="eft231-para-0019" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 10px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Such an effort to set the record straight—through simple clear messages, repeated often, by a variety of trusted voices in the climate science community—will improve public understanding of, and engagement in, the issue of climate change. A large majority of Americans—across political lines—are willing to listen.</font></p></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">3/15</font></div><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 32px !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">by now, it's common knowledge that the Koch Brothers more or less own the Republican Party –&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/178743/koch-brothers-spent-twice-much-2012-election-top-ten-unions-combined" style="text-decoration: none;">having spent twice as much in election 2012</a>&nbsp;as the top ten unions combined.

But a lesser-known aspect of Koch influence is their spending on ideological warfare. The Kochs not only spend big in our elections, but they also finance a network of think tanks, advocacy campaigns, and even educational curricula in order to spread their message.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 32px !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">One example is George Mason University (GMU). Last year, a group of students protested the fact that the Charles Koch Foundation, which is the university's single largest donor,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wearepowershift.org/blogs/gmu-students-question-koch-funding" style="text-decoration: none;">has given at least $23 million</a>&nbsp;to the school since 2005.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 32px !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">This week, a GMU professor gave a speech on a topic that could've come right out of the Kochs' ideology – why we need “less democracy.”</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 32px !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Dr. Garett Jones, professor of Economics and BB&T Professor for the Study of Capitalism at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, gave a lecture on the aforementioned topic, taking aim at some of the core values this country is founded upon. Here's a&nbsp;<a href="http://gmufourthestate.com/2015/03/03/less-democracy-better-government-says-mason-professor/" style="text-decoration: none;">summary</a>&nbsp;from Fourth Estate, a GMU student paper:</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 32px !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jones says that less democracy and more epistocracy could lead to better governance. Democracy leaves power to the majority while epistocracy allocates power to the knowledgeable. Jones did not imply that democracy should be eliminated, but lessened by 10% for the sake of long term economic growth.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 32px !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">According to Jones, less democracy would lead to better governance because politicians would be inclined to work on long term growth rather than spending to impress constituents during election season. Politicians try to please the public at the expense of neglecting long- term policies because they are elected through a democratic process.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 32px !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">For example, Jones said senators act like voters have short term memories. They make decisions to get reelected rather than spending their whole term focused on long-term growth.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 32px !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jones's remarks are fairly consistent with Koch political activity, which includes<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/11/11117/koch-funded-alec-agenda-works-deny-voting-rights-brave-new-film-highlights-voter-" style="text-decoration: none;">advocating for voter ID laws</a>&nbsp;that are designed to drive down voter participation. On his GMU site, the&nbsp;<a href="http://economics.gmu.edu/people/gjonesb" style="text-decoration: none;">university notes</a>&nbsp;that Jones is not only an academic researcher, but that he has also served as Economic Policy Adviser to Senator Orrin Hatch and as a staff economist to the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress “ – bodies he apparently thinks are too democratic.</font></p><div class="bio-new body_education" style="width: 630px; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; height: auto; border-top: 3px solid rgb(223, 223, 218); clear: both; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="author-bio" style=""><p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; line-height: 32px !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Zaid Jilani is an&nbsp;<em>AlterNet</em>&nbsp;contributing writer</font></p></div></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">wiki&nbsp;</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University_School_of_Law"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University_School_of_Law</font></a></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 22.4px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>George Mason University School of Law</b>&nbsp;(<b>Mason Law</b>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<b>GMUSL</b>) is the law school of&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University" title="George Mason University" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">George Mason University</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_university_system" title="State university system" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">state university</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Virginia</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">United States</a>. The law school is located in&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington,Virginia" title="Arlington, Virginia" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Arlington</a>, thirteen miles east of the university's main campus in&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfax,Virginia" title="Fairfax, Virginia" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Fairfax</a>.</font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 22.4px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">George Mason University School of Law was authorized by the Virginia General Assembly in March 1979 and was founded on July 1, 1979. The American Bar Association provisionally approved the school in the fall of 1980 and granted full approval in 1986....</font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 22.4px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">e&nbsp;</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_School_Transparency" title="Law School Transparency" style="text-decoration: none; line-height: 22.4px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Law School Transparency</a><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">&nbsp;estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $188,965 for residents, and $248,292 for non-residents.</span><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University_School_of_Law#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[9]</a></sup><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">&nbsp;To combat the high cost of law school, George Mason's Board of Visitors voted in 2013 to freeze tuition through the 2016-2017 academic year.</span><sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University_School_of_Law#cite_note-10" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[10]</a>...</sup></font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 22.4px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">GMUSL is somewhat distinctive in offering a wide variety of intensive law tracks, each of which requires that approximately one-third of the credits for graduation be completed in the track, and law concentrations, which are elective specializations and have a less restrictive credit requirement as compared to the track program.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University_School_of_Law#cite_note-11" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[11]</a></sup>&nbsp;The law tracks include&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.law.gmu.edu/academics/tracks/corp_sec_law" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" base64="base64" pd94bwwgdmvyc2lvbj0ims4wiiblbmnvzgluzz0ivvrgltgipz48c3znihhtbg5zpsjodhrwoi8vd3d3lnczlm9yzy8ymdawl3n2zyigd2lkdgg9ijewiibozwlnahq9ijewij48zyb0cmfuc2zvcm09inryyw5zbgf0zsgtodi2ljqyosatnjk4ljc5mskipjxyzwn0ihdpzhropsi1ljk4miigagvpz2h0psi1ljk4miiged0iodi2ljkyosiget0inzayljmwosigzmlsbd0ii2zmziigc3ryb2tlpsijmdzjii8="PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz48c3ZnIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgd2lkdGg9IjEwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEwIj48ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtODI2LjQyOSAtNjk4Ljc5MSkiPjxyZWN0IHdpZHRoPSI1Ljk4MiIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1Ljk4MiIgeD0iODI2LjkyOSIgeT0iNzAyLjMwOSIgZmlsbD0iI2ZmZiIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjMDZjIi8" pgc="PGc" phbhdgggzd0ittgzms4xotqgnjk4ljc5mwg1ljiznhy1ljm5mwwtms41nzegms41ndutms4zms0xljmxltiunzi1idiunzi1ltiunjg5ltiunjg5idiuoda4ltiuoda4lteumzexlteumzexeiigzmlsbd0iiza2ziivpjxwyxroigq9ik04mzuundi0idy5os43otvsljaymia0ljg4ns0xljgxny0xljgxny0yljg4msayljg4ms0xljiyoc0xljiyocayljg4ms0yljg4ms0xljg1ms0xljg1mxoiigzpbgw9iinmzmyilz48l2c="PHBhdGggZD0iTTgzMS4xOTQgNjk4Ljc5MWg1LjIzNHY1LjM5MWwtMS41NzEgMS41NDUtMS4zMS0xLjMxLTIuNzI1IDIuNzI1LTIuNjg5LTIuNjg5IDIuODA4LTIuODA4LTEuMzExLTEuMzExeiIgZmlsbD0iIzA2ZiIvPjxwYXRoIGQ9Ik04MzUuNDI0IDY5OS43OTVsLjAyMiA0Ljg4NS0xLjgxNy0xLjgxNy0yLjg4MSAyLjg4MS0xLjIyOC0xLjIyOCAyLjg4MS0yLjg4MS0xLjg1MS0xLjg1MXoiIGZpbGw9IiNmZmYiLz48L2c" pc9npjwvc3znpg="=" xmlns:data="data">Corporate and Securities Law</a>,&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.law.gmu.edu/academics/tracks/ip_law" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" base64="base64" pd94bwwgdmvyc2lvbj0ims4wiiblbmnvzgluzz0ivvrgltgipz48c3znihhtbg5zpsjodhrwoi8vd3d3lnczlm9yzy8ymdawl3n2zyigd2lkdgg9ijewiibozwlnahq9ijewij48zyb0cmfuc2zvcm09inryyw5zbgf0zsgtodi2ljqyosatnjk4ljc5mskipjxyzwn0ihdpzhropsi1ljk4miigagvpz2h0psi1ljk4miiged0iodi2ljkyosiget0inzayljmwosigzmlsbd0ii2zmziigc3ryb2tlpsijmdzjii8="PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz48c3ZnIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgd2lkdGg9IjEwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEwIj48ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtODI2LjQyOSAtNjk4Ljc5MSkiPjxyZWN0IHdpZHRoPSI1Ljk4MiIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1Ljk4MiIgeD0iODI2LjkyOSIgeT0iNzAyLjMwOSIgZmlsbD0iI2ZmZiIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjMDZjIi8" pgc="PGc" phbhdgggzd0ittgzms4xotqgnjk4ljc5mwg1ljiznhy1ljm5mwwtms41nzegms41ndutms4zms0xljmxltiunzi1idiunzi1ltiunjg5ltiunjg5idiuoda4ltiuoda4lteumzexlteumzexeiigzmlsbd0iiza2ziivpjxwyxroigq9ik04mzuundi0idy5os43otvsljaymia0ljg4ns0xljgxny0xljgxny0yljg4msayljg4ms0xljiyoc0xljiyocayljg4ms0yljg4ms0xljg1ms0xljg1mxoiigzpbgw9iinmzmyilz48l2c="PHBhdGggZD0iTTgzMS4xOTQgNjk4Ljc5MWg1LjIzNHY1LjM5MWwtMS41NzEgMS41NDUtMS4zMS0xLjMxLTIuNzI1IDIuNzI1LTIuNjg5LTIuNjg5IDIuODA4LTIuODA4LTEuMzExLTEuMzExeiIgZmlsbD0iIzA2ZiIvPjxwYXRoIGQ9Ik04MzUuNDI0IDY5OS43OTVsLjAyMiA0Ljg4NS0xLjgxNy0xLjgxNy0yLjg4MSAyLjg4MS0xLjIyOC0xLjIyOCAyLjg4MS0yLjg4MS0xLjg1MS0xLjg1MXoiIGZpbGw9IiNmZmYiLz48L2c" pc9npjwvc3znpg="=" xmlns:data="data">Intellectual Property Law</a>,&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.law.gmu.edu/academics/tracks/litig_law" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" base64="base64" pd94bwwgdmvyc2lvbj0ims4wiiblbmnvzgluzz0ivvrgltgipz48c3znihhtbg5zpsjodhrwoi8vd3d3lnczlm9yzy8ymdawl3n2zyigd2lkdgg9ijewiibozwlnahq9ijewij48zyb0cmfuc2zvcm09inryyw5zbgf0zsgtodi2ljqyosatnjk4ljc5mskipjxyzwn0ihdpzhropsi1ljk4miigagvpz2h0psi1ljk4miiged0iodi2ljkyosiget0inzayljmwosigzmlsbd0ii2zmziigc3ryb2tlpsijmdzjii8="PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz48c3ZnIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgd2lkdGg9IjEwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEwIj48ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtODI2LjQyOSAtNjk4Ljc5MSkiPjxyZWN0IHdpZHRoPSI1Ljk4MiIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1Ljk4MiIgeD0iODI2LjkyOSIgeT0iNzAyLjMwOSIgZmlsbD0iI2ZmZiIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjMDZjIi8" pgc="PGc" phbhdgggzd0ittgzms4xotqgnjk4ljc5mwg1ljiznhy1ljm5mwwtms41nzegms41ndutms4zms0xljmxltiunzi1idiunzi1ltiunjg5ltiunjg5idiuoda4ltiuoda4lteumzexlteumzexeiigzmlsbd0iiza2ziivpjxwyxroigq9ik04mzuundi0idy5os43otvsljaymia0ljg4ns0xljgxny0xljgxny0yljg4msayljg4ms0xljiyoc0xljiyocayljg4ms0yljg4ms0xljg1ms0xljg1mxoiigzpbgw9iinmzmyilz48l2c="PHBhdGggZD0iTTgzMS4xOTQgNjk4Ljc5MWg1LjIzNHY1LjM5MWwtMS41NzEgMS41NDUtMS4zMS0xLjMxLTIuNzI1IDIuNzI1LTIuNjg5LTIuNjg5IDIuODA4LTIuODA4LTEuMzExLTEuMzExeiIgZmlsbD0iIzA2ZiIvPjxwYXRoIGQ9Ik04MzUuNDI0IDY5OS43OTVsLjAyMiA0Ljg4NS0xLjgxNy0xLjgxNy0yLjg4MSAyLjg4MS0xLjIyOC0xLjIyOCAyLjg4MS0yLjg4MS0xLjg1MS0xLjg1MXoiIGZpbGw9IiNmZmYiLz48L2c" pc9npjwvc3znpg="=" xmlns:data="data">Litigation Law</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.law.gmu.edu/academics/tracks/reg_law" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" base64="base64" pd94bwwgdmvyc2lvbj0ims4wiiblbmnvzgluzz0ivvrgltgipz48c3znihhtbg5zpsjodhrwoi8vd3d3lnczlm9yzy8ymdawl3n2zyigd2lkdgg9ijewiibozwlnahq9ijewij48zyb0cmfuc2zvcm09inryyw5zbgf0zsgtodi2ljqyosatnjk4ljc5mskipjxyzwn0ihdpzhropsi1ljk4miigagvpz2h0psi1ljk4miiged0iodi2ljkyosiget0inzayljmwosigzmlsbd0ii2zmziigc3ryb2tlpsijmdzjii8="PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz48c3ZnIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgd2lkdGg9IjEwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEwIj48ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtODI2LjQyOSAtNjk4Ljc5MSkiPjxyZWN0IHdpZHRoPSI1Ljk4MiIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1Ljk4MiIgeD0iODI2LjkyOSIgeT0iNzAyLjMwOSIgZmlsbD0iI2ZmZiIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjMDZjIi8" pgc="PGc" phbhdgggzd0ittgzms4xotqgnjk4ljc5mwg1ljiznhy1ljm5mwwtms41nzegms41ndutms4zms0xljmxltiunzi1idiunzi1ltiunjg5ltiunjg5idiuoda4ltiuoda4lteumzexlteumzexeiigzmlsbd0iiza2ziivpjxwyxroigq9ik04mzuundi0idy5os43otvsljaymia0ljg4ns0xljgxny0xljgxny0yljg4msayljg4ms0xljiyoc0xljiyocayljg4ms0yljg4ms0xljg1ms0xljg1mxoiigzpbgw9iinmzmyilz48l2c="PHBhdGggZD0iTTgzMS4xOTQgNjk4Ljc5MWg1LjIzNHY1LjM5MWwtMS41NzEgMS41NDUtMS4zMS0xLjMxLTIuNzI1IDIuNzI1LTIuNjg5LTIuNjg5IDIuODA4LTIuODA4LTEuMzExLTEuMzExeiIgZmlsbD0iIzA2ZiIvPjxwYXRoIGQ9Ik04MzUuNDI0IDY5OS43OTVsLjAyMiA0Ljg4NS0xLjgxNy0xLjgxNy0yLjg4MSAyLjg4MS0xLjIyOC0xLjIyOCAyLjg4MS0yLjg4MS0xLjg1MS0xLjg1MXoiIGZpbGw9IiNmZmYiLz48L2c" pc9npjwvc3znpg="=" xmlns:data="data">Regulatory Law</a>. The&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.law.gmu.edu/academics/tracks/intl_business_law" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" base64="base64" pd94bwwgdmvyc2lvbj0ims4wiiblbmnvzgluzz0ivvrgltgipz48c3znihhtbg5zpsjodhrwoi8vd3d3lnczlm9yzy8ymdawl3n2zyigd2lkdgg9ijewiibozwlnahq9ijewij48zyb0cmfuc2zvcm09inryyw5zbgf0zsgtodi2ljqyosatnjk4ljc5mskipjxyzwn0ihdpzhropsi1ljk4miigagvpz2h0psi1ljk4miiged0iodi2ljkyosiget0inzayljmwosigzmlsbd0ii2zmziigc3ryb2tlpsijmdzjii8="PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz48c3ZnIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgd2lkdGg9IjEwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEwIj48ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtODI2LjQyOSAtNjk4Ljc5MSkiPjxyZWN0IHdpZHRoPSI1Ljk4MiIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1Ljk4MiIgeD0iODI2LjkyOSIgeT0iNzAyLjMwOSIgZmlsbD0iI2ZmZiIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjMDZjIi8" pgc="PGc" phbhdgggzd0ittgzms4xotqgnjk4ljc5mwg1ljiznhy1ljm5mwwtms41nzegms41ndutms4zms0xljmxltiunzi1idiunzi1ltiunjg5ltiunjg5idiuoda4ltiuoda4lteumzexlteumzexeiigzmlsbd0iiza2ziivpjxwyxroigq9ik04mzuundi0idy5os43otvsljaymia0ljg4ns0xljgxny0xljgxny0yljg4msayljg4ms0xljiyoc0xljiyocayljg4ms0yljg4ms0xljg1ms0xljg1mxoiigzpbgw9iinmzmyilz48l2c="PHBhdGggZD0iTTgzMS4xOTQgNjk4Ljc5MWg1LjIzNHY1LjM5MWwtMS41NzEgMS41NDUtMS4zMS0xLjMxLTIuNzI1IDIuNzI1LTIuNjg5LTIuNjg5IDIuODA4LTIuODA4LTEuMzExLTEuMzExeiIgZmlsbD0iIzA2ZiIvPjxwYXRoIGQ9Ik04MzUuNDI0IDY5OS43OTVsLjAyMiA0Ljg4NS0xLjgxNy0xLjgxNy0yLjg4MSAyLjg4MS0xLjIyOC0xLjIyOCAyLjg4MS0yLjg4MS0xLjg1MS0xLjg1MXoiIGZpbGw9IiNmZmYiLz48L2c" pc9npjwvc3znpg="=" xmlns:data="data">International Business Law</a>track was offered until the fall of 2005.</font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 22.4px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><sup class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;" /></font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 22.4px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The law&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.law.gmu.edu/academics/concentrations" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(" data:image="data:image" svg="svg" xml="xml" base64="base64" pd94bwwgdmvyc2lvbj0ims4wiiblbmnvzgluzz0ivvrgltgipz48c3znihhtbg5zpsjodhrwoi8vd3d3lnczlm9yzy8ymdawl3n2zyigd2lkdgg9ijewiibozwlnahq9ijewij48zyb0cmfuc2zvcm09inryyw5zbgf0zsgtodi2ljqyosatnjk4ljc5mskipjxyzwn0ihdpzhropsi1ljk4miigagvpz2h0psi1ljk4miiged0iodi2ljkyosiget0inzayljmwosigzmlsbd0ii2zmziigc3ryb2tlpsijmdzjii8="PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz48c3ZnIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgd2lkdGg9IjEwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEwIj48ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtODI2LjQyOSAtNjk4Ljc5MSkiPjxyZWN0IHdpZHRoPSI1Ljk4MiIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1Ljk4MiIgeD0iODI2LjkyOSIgeT0iNzAyLjMwOSIgZmlsbD0iI2ZmZiIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjMDZjIi8" pgc="PGc" phbhdgggzd0ittgzms4xotqgnjk4ljc5mwg1ljiznhy1ljm5mwwtms41nzegms41ndutms4zms0xljmxltiunzi1idiunzi1ltiunjg5ltiunjg5idiuoda4ltiuoda4lteumzexlteumzexeiigzmlsbd0iiza2ziivpjxwyxroigq9ik04mzuundi0idy5os43otvsljaymia0ljg4ns0xljgxny0xljgxny0yljg4msayljg4ms0xljiyoc0xljiyocayljg4ms0yljg4ms0xljg1ms0xljg1mxoiigzpbgw9iinmzmyilz48l2c="PHBhdGggZD0iTTgzMS4xOTQgNjk4Ljc5MWg1LjIzNHY1LjM5MWwtMS41NzEgMS41NDUtMS4zMS0xLjMxLTIuNzI1IDIuNzI1LTIuNjg5LTIuNjg5IDIuODA4LTIuODA4LTEuMzExLTEuMzExeiIgZmlsbD0iIzA2ZiIvPjxwYXRoIGQ9Ik04MzUuNDI0IDY5OS43OTVsLjAyMiA0Ljg4NS0xLjgxNy0xLjgxNy0yLjg4MSAyLjg4MS0xLjIyOC0xLjIyOCAyLjg4MS0yLjg4MS0xLjg1MS0xLjg1MXoiIGZpbGw9IiNmZmYiLz48L2c" pc9npjwvc3znpg="=" xmlns:data="data">concentrations</a>&nbsp;include Antitrust Law, Communications Law, Corporate and Securities Law, Criminal Law, Homeland & National Security Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Business Law, Legal and Economic Theory, Litigation Law, Personal Law, Regulatory Law, Tax Law, and Technology Law.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason_University_School_of_Law#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[12]</a></sup></font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">MUSL is somewhat distinctive in offering a wide variety of intensive law tracks, each of which requires that approximately one-third of the credits for graduation be completed in the track, and law concentrations, which are elective specializations and have a less restrictive credit requirement as compared to the track program.[11] The law tracks include </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Corporate and Securities Law</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation Law and </span><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Regulatory Law</font><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. The International Business Law track was offered until the fall of 2005.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">
</span></font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">The law concentrations include Antitrust Law, Communications Law, Corporate and Securities Law, Criminal Law, Homeland & National Security Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Business Law, Legal and Economic Theory, Litigation Law, Personal Law, Regulatory Law, Tax Law, and Technology Law.[12]</span></font></p></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">reg law clinic 404?</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">informants?</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">http://www.law.gmu.edu/students/orgs/els</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><h1 style="line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Environmental Law Society</font></h1><div id="content" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><main role="main"><p style="line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Environmental Law Society is dedicated to raising environmental awareness at the law school and providing a diverse range of opportunities for students interested in environmental issues. Each year, the Society brings speakers to George Mason to discuss developing areas of environmental law. The organization sponsors an annual career panel discussion and assists students in locating summer jobs and internships. The Environmental Law Society enters a team in a national environmental moot court contest and participates in a national environmental essay contest. It takes an active role in improving the quality of the local environment through activities such as cleaning up streams and lakes in the area and participating in the Adopt-a-Highway program.</font></p><p style="line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Co-Presidents:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:bjlamaire@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.5s ease;">Brent Maire</a>&nbsp;&&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jmace@gmu.edu" style="text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.5s ease;">Jake Mace</a></font></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">bjlamaire@gmail.com &nbsp;jmace@gmu.edu&nbsp;aciacci@gmu.edu</span></font></p><p style="line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Treasurer:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aciacci@gmu.edu" style="text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.5s ease;">Adrian Ciacci</a></font></span></p></main></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
=</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">irs info</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">https://www.citizenaudit.org/451602963/</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2013 200K$</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Litigation, Sewing clients unable to otherwise protect their interests, or broad social interests, providing</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">law students litigation experience. See Schedule 0 for case specic information</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">(Grants $115,000) If this amount includes foreign grants, check here&nbsp;</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$97,162</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Legal Research Publications: Major academic publication was a legal "nutshell" treatise entitled</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">j'l_rgtecting Federalism and state Sovereignty. In addition, preparation of a full 3 credit course on federalism</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">litigation consisting of 14 99_gr_i_inute lectures</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">(Grants $35,000) If this amount includes foreigrrants, check here F El</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">335.893</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Student trainingand course lecturir_ig,
f_9urteen 90 min. lectures as adjunct professor at George Mason U.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">School of Law: John Locke lecture on Wind energy and the&nbsp;</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">SPN Energy session Convener 6 hour (full day) session as moderator and presentor (40 participants)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">(Grants $0.00)...</font></div></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">David W. Schnare
Law Clinic Director and Board Director 30 $55,000 $0 $0</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Steven Gold Board Director 0.2 $0 $0 $0</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Michael Thompson Board Director 0.2 $0 $0 $0</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Christopher Homer Litigation attorney 20 $60,449 $0 $0</font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Geor e Mason Environmental Law Clinic aka Free Market Environrrientl Law Clinic 45-1602963</font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Supplement to Question 16:</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">S 50 Continuing Legal Education</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">3 611 count ling costs</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$1,820 Court reporter costs</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$1,164 Law clinic corporate formation ling costs</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Legal Research (Lexis)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">S 28 Professional meetings</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$2,981 Travel (court appearances and speaking engagements)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">S 51 Virginia corporatio_r3_a_rinual ling fees</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Supplement to question 20</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$35,000 Accounts receivable from American Tradition Institute (EIN 26-4239065)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
S_upplment to Question 24</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$35,000 Accounts receivable from American Tradition Institute (EIN 26-4239065)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Supplement to Question 28 - Ongoing litigation</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The law clinic serves as the attorneys for the American Tradition Institute. The billable hours in these matters is shared by the FME&nbsp;</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">clinic and ATI, the division made on a case by case basis.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">1. ATI v. UVA. This is a that will establish what the Virginia la
_M
a_ll_q_n_Is universitiest_q keep secret from the public. It also</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">addresses whether a FOI Act unconstitutionally abridges an alleged free speech right to academic freedom. The court acknowledged</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">the validity of $201,000 costs and fees to FME Law, but has not yet awarded them: The matter is now before the VA Supreme Court.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2. Occoquan Watershed Coalition v. EPA. This case raised the question as to whether EPA violated the 10th amendment rights of Virginia and Fairfax county when establishing a water quality criterion that _ng9_t_ili_l_ require the total Implementation. The matter was settled due to the outcome of other litigation. No costs or fees were awarded.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">3. ATI v. NASA. A FOIA case seeking ethics records for a NASA employee who had over $2 million in outside income. Because NASA refused to release the records, the Ofce of Government Ethics had to Intervene and order tl1egn
t9 release the records, placing the the entire federal govemrne_nt on notice that they must properly le these e_th_i_cs reports and FME Law received $10,887.50 in costs and fees.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ. Cat No 51056K Schedule 0 (Form 990 or 990-EZ) (2012)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CITIZENAUDIT.ORG PAGE #0011</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Schedule 0 (Form 990 or 990EZ) (2012) Page 2</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Name of the organization Employer identication number</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">George Mason Environmental Law Clinic aka Free Market Environment! Law clinic 454602963</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">4. ATI v. Epel. This i_s_a Commerce clause case ch_a_I
|e_r_tgi_ng the constitutionality of the&nbsp;</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">have sut:h_standards and all are unconstitutional. This case is in the discovery process. Cost and fees are being sought.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">5. ATI v. EPA. This case challenged whether EPA could expo_s__a__I_olunteer subjects to carcinogens and qegglx poisons without telling</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">them the risks of these exposures The court held EPA cou|d- No costs&nbsp;</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Supplement to Question 31 - Other programs: FME Law supplies legal advice and counsel to state attorneys general and state policy</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">institutes at no cost. FME Law has not tracked the number of such inquiries and is&nbsp;</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Schedule 0 (Form 990 or 990-EZ) (2012)</font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">==</font></div>