Author: TheConversation

By Fangzhou Wang, Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Texas at Arlington In the Netflix documentary “The Tinder Swindler,” victims exposed notorious con artist Simon Leviev, who posed as a wealthy diamond mogul on the popular dating app Tinder to deceive and scam numerous women out of millions of dollars. Leviev is a flashy example of a dating scammer, but criminal operations also prey on emotionally vulnerable people to gain their trust and exploit them financially. The internet has revolutionized dating, and there has been a surge in U.S. adults using apps to find ideal matches...

By Claire Wofford, Associate Professor of Political Science, College of Charleston In a 57-page opinion issued on February 6, 2024, a federal appeals court ruled against former President Donald Trump, deciding that presidents are not immune from criminal prosecution for actions they took while in office. The decision allows the federal prosecution of Trump for attempting to undermine the 2020 election to continue. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit – two appointed by Democratic presidents and one by a Republican – affirmed the Dec. 1, 2023, ruling of District Court...

By Danielle Tumminio Hansen, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology & Spiritual Care, Emory University Pope Francis made headlines on January 8, 2024, when he called for a global surrogacy ban, stating, “I deem deplorable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs.” The use of surrogacy, in which a woman carries and delivers a child for someone else, has grown exponentially in recent years and is expected to continue to do so. While headlines often surface...

By Paul Schofield, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Bates College Homelessness is a state of deprivation. Those who are homeless need shelter to be safe; they do not have it. They need a toilet for basic bodily functions; they do not have one. They need a shower to keep clean; they do not have that, either. Because such deprivation dramatically affects the well-being of people who are homeless, public discussion of homelessness tends to focus on whether and to what extent the government should carry out anti-homelessness policy as a way of improving people’s overall quality of life. Some philosophers...

By Ari Joskowicz, Associate Professor of History, Jewish Studies and European Studies, Vanderbilt University When the United Nations passed a resolution to designate January 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it did not define the Holocaust. The 2005 proclamation merely noted that it “resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities.” Among those unnamed other minorities are Roma, who deserve to be part of the larger story of the Holocaust commemorated on this day. Their story is closely connected with that of Jews’ suffering and struggle for recognition – a...

By Kai Zhuang Shum, Assistant Professor of School Psychology, University of Tennessee Youth mental health has worsened significantly over the past decade, but new interventions that teach positive psychology concepts in school may help. American young people are reporting historically high levels of hopelessness, sadness and loneliness. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20% of adolescents have seriously considered suicide – and suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children ages 10-14. Perhaps even more alarming than the prevalence of youth mental health problems is the inaccessibility...