Faculty Take on Role as Media Commentators During COVID-19

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In the midst of everything going on, staying informed is more important than ever. Professors Ann Lousin and Steve Schwinn, both experts in constitutional law, have been updating the Law School community and general public by explaining, translating, and interpreting various orders and decisions issued by federal, state, and local governments. Other professors have also been active in addressing COVID-19 issues.

Over the past month, Professor Lousin has given many interviews focusing on issues like the legal challenges facing Governor Pritzker’s stay-at-home orders. Her comments appear on NBC, in the Chicago Sun-Times, and WGN to name just a few.

Professor Schwinn has recently penned opinion pieces for Bloomberg and Jurist. Additionally, he participated in several interviews, and his comments have been featured in articles by ProPublica, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, and more.

Schwinn also recorded two videos in a series titled “Constitution in the Time of Coronavirus.” These lectures started as interactive discussions on the many interesting legal and constitutional issues surrounding COVID-19 and government responses to it. The videos are now available to the general public on the Law School’s YouTube page. They are great to share with friends and family who might have questions like what happens when a presidential order conflicts with a governor’s order and how stay-at-home orders impact religion. These videos have been incredibly popular, and Schwinn hopes to continue making them.

Professor Allison Bethel, Director of our Fair Housing Legal Clinic, also recorded an interactive discussion titled “Fair Housing in the Time of Coronavirus with Professor Allison Bethel,” which tackles fair housing issues in light of COVID-19 and offers legal perspectives about housing discrimination and landlord-tenant issues.

In addition, Dean Darby Dickerson has been a frequent presenter about law school operations in light of the pandemic, and UIC Provost Susan Poser, who is also a member of the Law School faculty, speaks nationally on issues related to higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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