@SyracuseUNews Tips

Syracuse University faculty members are available for interview on a variety of timely topics. Our faculty members provide insight that moves the story forward, and information that shines a new light on important research of interest to your audience. Here’s what they’re saying today:

Lone Wolf vs. Organized Terrorism

William Banks

The recent terrorist acts in Paris have experts again asking the question: are these the acts of so-called lone wolf terrorists who act without the sophistication nor funding of a larger terrorist network? Syracuse University Law Professor William Banks, director of the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT), says all signs are pointing to the lone wolf theory. Despite the carnage, “these acts were not large scale, and didn’t take a lot of funding to pull off, so it’s very hard to tell if a larger network was involved,” says Banks. Banks also says it’s too early to tell if these types of attacks are the new norm. “These could be isolated incidents,” says Banks, who adds that “Even though the attacks did get attention and strike fear in the hearts of many, this could lapse and go away as quickly as it appeared.”

Super Bowl XLIX

Dennis Deninger

The matchup for this year’s Super Bowl is now set, with the Seahawks facing the Patriots in Arizona. But long before the NFL playoffs started, Syracuse University students were learning about the biggest game in professional sports, thanks to Professor Dennis Deninger. Deninger, a professor of practice in sport management, teaches the “Super Bowl in Society” class at Syracuse. “It has been the most-watched television show in America each year for more than a decade, and because of its social, cultural, economic and political impact, Super Bowl Sunday has become as much a national holiday as any other official holiday on our calendar,” says Deninger. “The class has been designed with notable rigor as it relates to understanding complex concepts that make this single football game such a touchstone for so many people. The TV production, the advertising, the spending, the history, the cinematic representation and the massive audience all make this a unique story for contemporary students.”

Veterans Legal Clinic

Tom Caruso

With an influx of military veterans seeking legal help after their duty is done, Syracuse University has opened New York State’s first comprehensive Veterans Legal Clinic. Two students played a major role. Syracuse Law alumni Tom Caruso, L’14, and Josh Keefe, L’14 helped create the Veterans Legal Clinic. The lack of access to legal services has a tremendous impact on veterans and military families. According to a recent survey by the VA, five of the top 10 unmet needs of vets are legal in nature. Currently, there are nearly 600,000 unprocessed VA disability claims causing veterans to wait up to two years for compensation.

“When a veteran is assisted by an attorney when applying for benefits or upgrading their military discharge the impact can be incredible,” says Caruso. “Studies have shown that there is a 144 percent increase in compensation on VA claims and the veterans can have a VA decision in just a few weeks.”

Josh Keefe

Furthermore, there is a tremendous shortage of lawyers specializing in veterans issues. Less than 500 of the nation’s 1.2 million attorneys practice veterans law and there are only 12 VA-accredited attorneys serving the veterans of the greater Syracuse/Utica area.

“Not only will the clinic help veterans with very real and pressing legal issues, but it will also help educate the next generation of veteran advocates,” says Keefe.

Syracuse University faculty are available for interviews over the phone or via our Newhouse Studios via LTN. Please contact Keith Kobland at 315-443-9038/415-8095 or kkobland@syr.edu.