Interviews
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The Other Owen Andrews: An Interview With A Maryland Hoo, Green Party Lt. Governor Candidate
Owen Emmett Andrews, VRoP Editor-In-Chief, gathers insights from Owen Silverman Andrews, Maryland’s Green Party Lieutenant Governor candidate for 2026.
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An interview with Russell Witt and Jacob Sellers
Dr. Witt is a surgical oncologist and medical scientist at UVA, specializing in soft tissue sarcoma and melanoma; Jacob Sellers is a full-time researcher under Dr. Witt, focusing on cancer drugs dabrafenib and trametinib.
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An interview with Ann Oliva
A conversation with Ann Oliva, the current President and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH).
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Polarization in the United States: An Interview with Professor Rachel Wahl
Rachel Wahl works as a professor at UVA’s School of Education and Human Development, as well as directing the Good Life Political Project at the Karsh Institute of Democracy.
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The Future of Public Education: A Conversation with Professor Kristen Roorbach
A conversation with Professor Kristen Roorbach about how President Trump's executive orders will impact public education.
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Dining with History: A Jeffersonian Dinner in Pavilion II
An evening of conversation, tradition, and community, the Jeffersonian Dinner at Pavilion II offered a unique glimpse into UVA’s past, present, and future.
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The Zine Revolution in the Age of the Internet
The Zine Revolution represents the interconnection of music, politics, and culture expressed through crafted magazines on a niche interest or topic. Even in the age of the internet and artificial intelligence, their expression of new ideas and their commitment to political activism remains prominent.
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Bridging Divides Through Dialogue: Lessons from Civil Discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Dennis Ross and Ghaith al-Omari demonstrated the power of civil discourse in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing empathy, mutual accountability, and solutions for progress.
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From the Lawn to the White House: Professor Mary Kate Cary
In this interview with UVA Professor Mary Kate Cary, former speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush, Cary discusses her journey from her time at UVA to her White House role, her challenges as a young professional, and her passion for bipartisan collaboration. Now a UVA professor, Cary integrates her experience into teaching courses like Election 2024, emphasizing effective communication and cross-party dialogue, while inspiring students to make a difference through their voices.
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Delegate Holly Seibold: Fighting for Women and Children
Virginia Delegate Holly Seibold discusses her background in advocacy and current work on legislative issues.
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The Issues Motivating the Gen Z Vote
In the upcoming 2024 presidential election, Generation Z will be casting votes based on which policy topics matter most to them. This piece highlights these issues, ranked by importance, among UVA students.
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Officer Michael Fanone on Political Violence, the January 6th Insurrection, and the Importance of Voting
As our nation has faced increasing polarization since January 6th and we look towards the 2024 Presidential Election, Officer Michael Fanone (who served to protect the U.S. Capitol on January 6th) discussed his experience on that day and preventing such political violence in the future.
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The Politics Department’s Inaugural Oratory Competition Comes to Grounds in March
Students know Professor Mary Kate Cary from her ‘Election 2020’ and ‘Political Speechwriting’ courses, but she is now adding to her long list of UVa contributions as the founder of the upcoming oratory competition. In this interview, Professor Cary speaks to us about the Inaugural Oratory Competition coming to UVa in the spring of 2022. The Politics Department’s Inaugural Oratory Competition will be sponsored by the Jefferson Literary Debating Society, University Democrats, and the College Republicans.
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Nina Jankowicz on Disinformation and Misinformation
Over the past couple of years, disinformation and misinformation have become common vocabulary and a fiery policy topic in politics. Nina Jankowicz, a fellow at the Wilson Center and author of How To Lose the Information War: Russia, Fake News, and the Future of Conflict, discussed her studies on democracy and technology, and how the government can combat disinformation and misinformation.
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The 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial Race: Interview with J. Miles Coleman of the UVA Center for Politics
In order to gain some insight into this election with a direct impact on students at the University of Virginia, I interviewed J. Miles Coleman of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
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Interview with Elizabeth Irvin, LCSW, Executive Director of The Women’s Initiative
Who do you aim to help at the Women’s Initiative, and what do you hope to accomplish as an organization in doing so? Our clients are women as well as transgender and gender nonconforming individuals who would otherwise not have access to mental health care in our community. Most of those who receive care with us have experienced traumas including abuse, violence, divorce, illness, the death of loved ones, racism, homophobia, transphobia, police brutality, immigration, and acculturation that si…
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An Interview with Olivia Keenan
Olivia Keenan is a second-year student at the University of Virginia from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, studying biology and English on the pre-med track. In April, she published a book of poetry titled, Face Me: a declaration .
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Young & Immunocompromised: Interview with Hannah Hardiman
Hannah Hardiman is a fellow UVA student who has Crohn's disease (an autoimmune disorder). Hannah is a fourth year in the College of Arts and Sciences double-majoring in Cognitive Science and Psychology. She is also the Outreach Officer for the organization Chronically Ill and Disabled Cavs (CIDC), which largely acts as a support group for people with chronic conditions and disabilities, though they have also been involved in advocacy.
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Meeting Krystal Ball
Krystal Ball is an author, journalist, and political pundit who currently hosts Rising, a morning news show produced by The Hill and published daily on YouTube. She’s one of the foremost left-leaning voices, an economic and social progressive who got her start at MSNBC before shifting to independent media. Krystal and I discussed her rise through cable news, as well as the unique populist philosophy of Rising , which has exploded in popularity over the last two years. At the heart of it all lies a focus on working-class politics, an incisive critique of modern media and a fundamental belief that those who seek power--regardless of party affiliation--need to be held accountable for their policies above all.
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The System We Have… And The Ways It Should Change
As our nation feels and becomes increasingly divided, I sat down with four UVA students, from a variety of political delinations, to discuss our party system and our democracy.
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Ambassador Carlos dos Santos
In recent years, news outlets have advertised “the Rise of Africa,” suggesting that sub-Saharan Africa is at a crossroads of modernity. In this interview, the Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique to the U.S., His Excellency Carlos dos Santos, discusses the Rise of Africa from the Mozambican perspective and addresses modern challenges unique to Africa. To meet the needs of their growing population, Mozambique has embarked on economic development projects and education reform; the Ambassador references each as key to ensuring a prosperous future for Mozambique and its neighbors.
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Tom Nichols Interview
Dr. Tom Nichols is a professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College and the Harvard Extension School. A former Secretary of the Navy Fellow, Forrest Sherman Chair of Public Diplomacy, and Chairman of the Strategy Department at the NWC, he previously taught international relations and Soviet/Russian affairs at Dartmouth College and Georgetown University. He is also a senior associate of the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, and a fellow of the International History Institute at Boston University. He was awarded the Navy Civilian Meritorious Service Medal in 2005. Dr. Nichols was personal staff for defense and security affairs in the United States Senate to the late Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania, and was a Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. He is the author of numerous books and articles, including No Use: Nuclear Weapons and US National Security , and most recently, The Death of Expertise . Dr. Nichols was named on Politico’s 2017 list of 50 Ideas Blowing Up American Politics (and the people behind them), and is a five-time undefeated Jeopardy! Champion.
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Senator Ben Sasse
Senator Sasse was elected to the US Senate in 2014 on a platform that emphasized restoring the Constitution to its rightful place, making the American Dream attainable for every family, and encouraging Congress to engage in frank, honest, and civil debate over the key issues facing our nation.
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Senator Tim Kaine
We interview Tim Kaine, the junior United States Senator representing Virginia. We discuss judicial nominations, Catholics in the Democratic Party, and the War Powers Act.
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Ralph Northam
This interview features Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, who is currently running for Governor of Virginia on the Democratic ticket in 2017. We discuss his positions on redistricting and campaign finance reform, as well as his legislative and executive achievements.