UW in the News

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage:

All of UW’s classes will be moved online for the remainder of the spring semester as part of an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, The Casper Star-Tribune and Laramie Boomerang reported. UW Acting President Neil Theobald said UW’s residence halls will close after spring break to nearly all students and that staff have the option to work remotely off-campus. The Houston Chronicle published a similar article.

Wyoming Public Radio noted that the Associated Students of UW voted last week to create a $75,000 fund to help students through hard times as the university takes measures to deal with the novel coronavirus outbreak.

UW wife and husband economists Linda Thunstrom and Jason Shogren were interviewed about the novel coronavirus’ social effects in a New York Times article titled, “Some Ask a Taboo Question: Is America Overreacting to Coronavirus?”

The Chronicle of Higher Education noted that Ed Seidel, vice president for economic development and innovation in the University of Illinois System, will be UW’s new president in July.

Despite the sharp turn in events last week when oil prices plunged worldwide, UW economist Charles Mason said, in a CS-T interview, that Wyoming producers should not panic. He said there is a tempered recovery within sight, with oil prices likely rising again within a few weeks.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle published a similar article and interviewed another UW economist, Rob Godby. He said there are no answers on how long the price war in the Middle East could last.

The Wyoming Legislature did not agree on tens of millions of dollars in construction funding by the close of business last week, compromising numerous construction projects around the state, including UW’s requests for a College of Law expansion, a new pool and improvements to War Memorial Stadium, reported The CS-T.

Atlas Obscura interviewed UW’s Jerrod Merkle, zoology and physiology assistant professor, about the social makeup of bison. The article focused on the addition of young bison to a buffalo herd in Golden State Park in San Francisco.

UW professors Brian Toelle and Maohong Fan recently received a provisional patent for a method using cryogenic transport to help the oil and gas industry reduce emissions. Laramie Live published UW’s release on the announcement.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reported that the draft of Wyoming’s Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan will be presented at its meeting later this week. Jessica Western, from UW’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, a facilitator throughout the process, will be among presenters at the meeting.

UW economist Rob Godby spoke with The CS-T about the announcement of planned layoffs at the Buckskin Coal Mine, located near Gillette in the Powder River Basin.

The CS-T reported that UW has canceled summer study-abroad trips to China and South Korea because of coronavirus outbreaks in those two countries. The measures are among preparations undertaken by the university. K2 Radio also broadcast a similar story.

UW law Professor Michael Duff discussed in a Bloomberg article how gig-economy companies are fighting to keep their contractor-based labor model from being legislated away. The companies want to keep their independent workforce in exchange for a pledge to invest more in a safety net for workers.

The Good Mule Project, a UW program that focuses on community activism and change, held a dinner program last week to discuss civil discourse and the concept of hate, reported Wyoming Public Radio.

The Las Cruces Sun News interviewed Wyoming native and UW graduate Tyler Julian, who recently was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for his poem, “Wyoming,” from his collection of poetry, titled “Wyoming: The next question to ask (to answer).” He is now a New Mexico State University graduate student.

Ten local students were among the 101 Wyoming high school recipients of the Trustees’ Scholars Award, UW’s top academic scholarship, reported Wind River Radio Network. County 10 and The Powell Tribune also published UW’s release announcing local scholarship recipients.