Ivory Tower
War in Ukraine; SAT tests: Gambling
Season 18 Episode 33 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
War in Ukraine; SAT tests; Gambling
The panel discusses what they believe Vladimir Putin is thinking. What are his next step and what will happen if Russia gains control of Ukraine. Next, they discuss the importance or lack there of SAT in high schoolers careers. Is it really an accurate measure to gage a college ready student? Finally, now that mobile gambling is legal in New York, is it turned into a blessing or a curse?
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Ivory Tower is a local public television program presented by WCNY
Ivory Tower
War in Ukraine; SAT tests: Gambling
Season 18 Episode 33 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
The panel discusses what they believe Vladimir Putin is thinking. What are his next step and what will happen if Russia gains control of Ukraine. Next, they discuss the importance or lack there of SAT in high schoolers careers. Is it really an accurate measure to gage a college ready student? Finally, now that mobile gambling is legal in New York, is it turned into a blessing or a curse?
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipWAR IN EUROPE, COLLEGE ADMISSION TESTS, AND COSTS AND BENEFITS OF SPORTS GAMBLING.
STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.
♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.
WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.
I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.
ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK ARE NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, KRISTI ANDERSON FROM THE MAXWELL SCHOOL AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM, LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.
WE'RE NOW TWO DAYS INTO THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE, AND VLADIMIR PUTIN'S AGGRESSIVE PUSH TO END THE POST-WAR ORDER.
WHILE MUCH OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IS NOT KNOWN, WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT IF PUTIN WANTS TO CONQUER UKRAINE, HE CAN DO SO.
SO KRISTI, WHAT IS GOING ON.
IS THIS ABOUT WHAT IS SOME PUTIN ICE HEAD?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS IN PUTIN'S HEAD.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS.
IF YOU LISTEN TO OR LISTEN TO DESCRIPTIONS OF HIS SPEECH THAT HE GAVE TO THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE THE OTHER DAY, IT'S A BIZARRE KIND OF REFERENCES TO THE TENTH CENTURY AND HOW THE UKRAINE AND RUSSIA ARE BROTHERS AND TIED TOGETHER.
SO IN SOME SENSE HE IS SAYING WE HAVE TO REESTABLISH THIS RELATIONSHIP OR THIS, OUR POWER OVER UKRAINE BECAUSE OF THIS ANCIENT, YOU KNOW, RELATIONSHIP.
>> SO ALL THE TALK ABOUT NATO IS...?
>> NO, I THINK THE TALK ABOUT NATO IN ONE SENSE, LET'S SAY HE IS SERIOUS ABOUT THAT IN SOME SENSE NATO IS THREATENING THAT.
NATO IS THREAT NIPPING HIS ABILITY TO REESTABLISH THE OLD RUSSIAN REGIME, AND I DO THINK THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE ARGUING-- AND I THINK IT'S PLAUSIBLE-- THAT IT'S ALSO OR MAY BE PARTIALLY A WAY TO DISTRACT THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE FROM THE FACT THAT THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY IS REALLY NOT VERY GOOD.
THEY HAVE THE RUBLE AT ITS WEAKEST POINT EVER, THE HIGH BORROWING RATES, THE STOCK MARKET IS NOT GOOD.
AND AS SOMEBODY SAID, RUSSIA REALLY DOESN'T MAKE THINGS PEOPLE WANT.
THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTION.
THEY DON'T-- THEY'RE NOT MAKING FANCY CARS THAT PEOPLE ARE BUYING.
AND THERE IS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, PUSHBACK AND RESISTANCE AGAINST PUTIN.
SO MAYBE THIS IS, IN PART, TRYING TO SOLVE SOME OF HIS DOMESTIC CHALLENGES AS WELL.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT PART OF THE WAY THAT YOU DEAL WITH POTENTIALLY UNHINGED ACTORS LIKE THIS OR ACTORS WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO BOLSTER THEIR POWER IS TO ESSENTIALLY RETURN TO THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT AND SECURITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS WHOLE AFFAIR IS POINTING US TOWARD.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK IT IS THE CASE THAT IT SHOWS WAR IS A NECESSARY EVIL BECAUSE IN THE CASE OF PUTIN, I DON'T KNOW THAT HE IS THE SORT OF LEADER THAT ELEVATES PROFITS OVER POWER.
CLEARLY HE WANTS TO GO BACK TO THE GLORY DAYS OF THE SOVIET UNION AND SO THAT, TO MY MIND, MEANS THAT YOU CAN'T SEND SANCTIONS TO TAKE DOWN TANKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THOSE SANCTIONS DON'T ACTUALLY AFFECT PUTIN OR THE SWIFT BANKING SYSTEM AND THEN I'D ADD ALSO THAT THERE IS A CLEAR LESSON HERE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING A COUPLE OF THINGS: OUR CONNECTIONS, ALLIANCES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON WHOM WE WILL HAVE TO DEPEND, SUCH AS NATO, SENDING IN THOUSANDS OF TROOPS, BUT ALSO HERE AT HOME, HAVING COMPETENT, RESPECTABLE PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP THAT WHEN WE COME TO A PLACE LIKE THIS, THEY ACTUALLY CAN BE LEADERS ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.
>> ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THERE SHOULD BE A MILITARY RESPONSE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT SENDING TROOPS ON THE GROUND IS FEASIBLE.
I'M NOT A MILITARY STRATEGIST, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD.
HOWEVER, THE FACT THAT WE WERE WAG OUR FINGER AT RUSSIA SAYING DON'T GO, DON'T GO IN, AS RUSSIAS SURROUNDING UKRAINE AND MAKING ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GO IN WASN'T THE BEST WAY TO GO AND I THINK THAT MORE THAN THE SANCTIONS AGAINST THE OLIGARCHS, THE U.S. COULD HAVE SENT IN AIDE, LETHAL AID, NOT JUST MONEY.
BUT WE ARE EVEN TALKING ABOUT, EVEN AFTER THEY'RE IN, ABOUT TRAINING THEM VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE DO MILITARY TRAINING VIA ZOOM.
>> LUKE, YOU SPENT TIME IN UKRAINE I KNOW.
IS THE INVASION A FAILURE IN SOME SENSE OF WESTERN POLICY OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS?
>> I THINK IN SOME WAYS IT IS SHOCK THERAPY AFTER THE FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION, WHEREBY WESTERN GOVERNMENTS, PARTICULARLY THE UNITED STATES, ENCOURAGE TRUSH ATO SELL RUSSIA TO SELL OFF ALL ITS STATE'S ASSETS AND PUTIN HAS RISEN IN THAT SYSTEM WHERE RUSSIA EXPERIENCED EXTREME ECONOMIC DEVASTATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY AND CONSOLIDATED POWER.
SO I THINK THAT'S ONE THING TO POINT TO.
AND AS NINA POINTED OUT, I THINK ECONOMIC INTERDEPENDENCE HAS FAILED IN THIS SITUATION.
AFTER WORLD WAR II, CREATING THE EUROPEAN UNION AND FOSTERING INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEPENDENCE UPON COUNTRIES WAS DESIGNED TO TRY TO PREVENT ANOTHER WAR ON THAT CONTINENT.
IT HAS LARGELY BEEN SUCCESSFUL UNLESS YOU HAVE A SITUATION LIKE WE HAVE NOW WHEN YOU HAVE A DICTATOR WILLING TO BE AGGRESSIVE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, TO CEMENT HIS LEGACY IN THE LAST FIVE OR 10 YEARS OF HIS LIFE AND NOW YOU HAVE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES COMPLACENT NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF SENDING TROOPS BUT IN TERMS OF THE SANCTIONS.
THE U.S.
WANTS STRONGER SANCTIONS THAN THE REST OF EUROPE IS WILLING TO AGREE TO.
SO YOU HAVE SANCTIONS AS AN OPTION THAT ARE NOT WORKING AND YOU ALSO HAVE WHAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A COVERT CYBER WAR UNFOLDING.
IT'S NICE BECAUSE IT SAFES LIVES BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS GOING TO BE IN CHANGING RUSSIAN POLICY.
>> A CYBER WAR YOU NEVER KNOW HOW IT IS GOING TO END UP.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN BE AFFECTED BY THAT, PERHAPS NOT JUST THERE.
BUT I WANTED TO ASK, SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR POLICY GOING FORWARD BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE?
LUKE?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECALCULATION.
CLEARLY PUTIN IS NOT SATISFIED JUST SAKING TAKING THE EASTERN PROVINCES THAT HAVE BEEN CONTESTED AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE HUMAN DEVASTATION INVOLVED HERE.
FOUR MILLION PEOPLE DIED IN A FAMINE IN THE 1930S THAT THE SOVIET UNION PROPAGATED IN UKRAINE AND OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, 10,000 UKRAINIANS HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO SLAVE LABOR IN THE EASTERN PROVINCES AS RUSSIAN PROXIES TOOK OVER PRISONS AND MADE PEOPLE WORK 18 HOURS A DAY.
AND THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS REVEALED THERE IS A HIT LISA MUNG UKRAINIANS WHERE PEOPLE ARE TARGETED FOR KILLING AND IMPRISONMENTS IN A PLACE IN THE WORLD THAT HAS A HISTORY OF SOVIET CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
THEY'RE AWFUL, DARK SAD PLACES.
I'VE VISITED.
IT IS AWFUL THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AGAIN.
I THINK THE HOPE IS THAT PUTIN WILL NOT SUCCESSFULLY TAKE THE CAPITOL ALTHOUGH HE MOST LIKELY WILL AND HOPEFULLY TRY TO DETER PUTIN FROM TAKING OUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
THE WESTERN UKRAINE IS THE MOST NATIONALIST, IS GOING TO BE THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THE COUNTRY TO TAKE AND I THINK THAT'S THE LINE THAT WESTERN POWERS ARE HOPEFULLY TRYING TO DRAW TO STOP FURTHER AGGRESSION.
>> THAT RAISES THE IDEA OF A PARTITION.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN OR WE WOULD ACCEPT?
>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE HOW LIKELY A PARTITION IS, AND I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT, LUKE.
BUT I DO THINK THAT, AT THE VERY LEAST, THE OCCUPATION IS GOING TO BE A VERY DAMAGING ONE FOR RUSSIA AND FOR U DRAINIANS.
I-- UKRAINIANS.
THAT DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL FOR THE RUSSIANS OCCUPYING AFGHANISTAN FOR ALL THAT TIME, DID IT?
AND THIS HAS EVEN MORE DIRECT RESISTANCE, I THINK, BUILT INTO IT, TO THE RUSSIANS.
>> AFGHANISTAN HAD MOUNTAINS.
>> AFGHANISTAN DID HAVE MOUNTAINS.
>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE THIS DISCUSSION HERE.
I'M SURE WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO UKRAINE AIS WE MOVE AHEAD.
THE DAYS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FRETTING ABOUT THE S.A.T.
MAY BE COMING TO AN END.
MANY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE MOVED AT LEAST TEMPORARILY TO "TEST OPTIONAL" ADMISSIONS.
SEVERAL STATES HAVE INSTITUTED TEST OPTIONAL POLICIES FOR THEIR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES.
IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO NOT REQUIRE THE STANDARDIZED TESTS?
IS IT LOWERING THE BAR FOR ADMISSION?
>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, MOSTLY BECAUSE QUITE A FEW STUDIES, MOST RECENTLY ONE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CONSORTIA WHICH WORKS WITH THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS SHOWN THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF S.A.T.
AND A.C.T.
SCORES, WHICH IS TO PREDICT WHETHER OR NOT STUDENTS WILL DO WELL IN COLLEGE, THEIR PERFORMANCE FOR THAT PURPOSE IS FAR OUTDAYS TANSED BY HIGH SCHOOL G.P.A.s.
IN FACT THE STUDIES SHOWED THAT HIGH SCHOOL G.P.A.S HAVE FIVE TIMES STRONGER ABILITY TO PREDICT THE SUCCESS OF A STUDENT.
BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT OTHER FACTORS ALSO MATTER, RIGHT?
SO I THINK THE BEST METRIC WOULD BE ONE THAT INCLUDES S.A.T.
AND A.C.T.
SCORES AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER THINGS, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, HIGH SCHOOL G.P.A.s AS I MENTIONED.
BUT WHAT ONE OTHER STUDY SHOWED IS THAT WHERE THERE HAS BEEN THIS POLICY OF MAKING STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES OPTIONAL, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY INCREASE DIVERSITY.
AND IN FACT, IT SHOWED FOR THOSE SCHOOLS, THE CHANGE, OVER TIME, WAS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION BY OR ADMISSION OF BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS BY ONLY 1 PERCENTAGE POINT.
I WOULD SAY PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE HERE IS A LITTLE DIRTY SECRET OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS IS THAT THEY WAIT-- THEY WEIGHT STUDENT HIGH SCHOOL G.P.A.s SO A 4-POINT G.P.A.
AT INNER CITY SCHOOLS ARE NOT CONSIDERED BY COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICERS AS HAVING THE SAME WEIGHT AS SUBURBAN SCHOOLS THAT OR SUBURBAN 4.5 G.P.A.s SO WE HAVE TO DIG INTO SOME OF THE DEEPER DYNAMICS OF WHY DIVERSITY SORT OF PUSHES THIS DISPARATE OUTCOMES WHEN IT COMES TO S.A.T.
SCORES.
>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT ABOUT THE WEIGHTING OF G.P.A.s.
I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT.
BUT IT DOES MAKE ME WONDER.
I MEAN WHEN YOU ARE COMPARING G.P.A.
TO G.P.A., THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO A POOR SCHOOL OR SUBURBAN SCHOOL BUT SUBURBAN SCHOOLS IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT WITHOUT SOME POINT OF COMPARISON, ISN'T IT, CHRYSTY?
>> I THINK ONE OTHER THING TO MENTION AND WHY I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE IT BE OPTIONAL, DESPITE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS, TO HAVE IT BE OPTIONAL FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE THE TEST AND SUBMIT THEIR TEST IS THAT THE RISE OF TEST PREP AMONG-- TEST PREP COURSES AMONG WEALTHY FAMILIES AND WEALTHY SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
BASICALLY ANYBODY CAN DO WELL ON THE S.A.T.
OR A.C.T.
IF THEY'RE TRAINED WELL TO DO IT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH ONE OF MY CHILDREN WAS THAT HIS TEST SCORES WERE FAR OUTPERFORMED HIS G.P.A.
HE DID WELL IN COURSES THAT HE LIKED BUT OTHER COURSES HE CAME CLOSE TO FAILING SO HE HAD A NOT VERY GOOD G.P.A.
HE HAD GOOD TEST SCORES.
BECAUSE OF THAT I THINK HE GOT ON THE DEAN'S LIST EVERY SEMESTER AND DID FINE, BUT I LOOK AT HIS RECORD AND SAY THAT YEAH, KIDS SHOULD TAKE THE TEST AND IF IT MAKES THEM LOOK GOOD, SUBMIT IT.
>> MAKE HIM DO HIS HOME WORK, RIGHT?
>> IT WAS EASIER TO MAKE HIM DO THE TEST.
>> LUKE, DO THESE TESTS DISADVANTAGE SOME STUDENTS IN YOUR VIEW.
>> I THINK CERTAINLY INEQUALITY IS A FINE CHARACTERISTIC OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION INCLUDING TEST TAKING PROCESS AS KRISTI DESCRIBED.
INTERESTINGLY, I'M THE OPPOSITE EXAMPLE.
I DID OKAY IN GRADES BUT ADVANCED IN EDUCATION IN SPITE OF STANDARDIZED TESTS NOT BECAUSE OF THEM.
THERE IS A LOT OF EXPERIENCES ACROSS THE BOARD.
FOR ME, YOU CAN'T GET ALL THE INEQUALITIES OUT OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM BECAUSE OF FEDERALISM, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF FUNDING AND SO ON.
I'M ALSO OF THE MIND SET THAT HAVING THE S.A.T.
CONSIDERED AMONG OTHER FACTORS IS FINE BUT NOT REQUIRING IT.
I THINK NINA RAISED AN INTERESTING POINT NOT CONTRIBUTING TO AN INCREASE OF DIVERSE STUDENTS BEING ADMITTED BUT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN IT HAS INCREASED THE DIVERSIFICATION OF THE APPLICANT POOL SO I DO THINK NOT HAVING IT REQUIRED IS HELPFUL IN THAT REGARD AND OVERALL WORTH WHILE.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DEBUNK ABOUT THE UNDERSTANDING OF STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES, SPECIFICALLY THE S.A.T.
AND A.C.T.
AND GRADUATE SCHOOL ENTRANCE TESTS IS THAT THEY'RE SET TO MEASURE APTITUDE, RIGHT, THE ABILITY OF A STUDENT TO THINK AND IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT WHAT IS TAUGHT IN HIGH SCHOOL; HOWEVER, SIMPLY THE FRAMING OF THE QUESTIONS REQUIRES A CERTAIN UNDERSTANDING OF VOCABULARY AND ALSO CONTEXT SO IF ONE WERE TO PITCH WHAT EXTENT IS DETERRENT A FUNCTION OF A LEADER'S INTEREST IN TAKING OVER THE WORLD, YOU GOT TO KNOW A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, RIGHT AND SO CONTENT DOES FIGURE IN AND HENCE HIGH SCHOOL PREPARATIONS AND THE THINGS THAT LUKE JUST MENTIONED ALSO MATTER.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CHANGES AS WELL.
I WONDER IF THIS IS AKIN TO THE ASKED, I KNOW SOME SCHOOLS HAVE DROPPED PROGRAMS FOR GIFTED STUDENTS, FOR INSTANCE, IS THERE SOME CONNECTION THERE?
>> THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING QUESTION AND NEW YORK CITY HAS BEEN TAKING ABOUT THIS A LOT.
THE GIFTED PROGRAMS.
GIFTED PROGRAMS ARE HAVE IN THE PAST PRODUCED VERY GOOD RESULTS.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THESE COMPETITIVE HIGH SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK, THE ONES HAVE YOU TO GET INTO AND LOOK AT THEIR COMPOSITION, THEY WERE MUCH MORE -- MANY MORE OF THEIR STUDENTS WERE BLACK, BROWN AND IMMIGRANTS STUDENTS 20, 30 YEARS AGO.
NOW IT'S WAY DOWN.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ELIMINATING THE GIFTED PROGRAMS BUT IN FACT IT TURNS OUT THAT THE REASON THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF MINORITY STUDENTS IN THE COMPETITIVE HIGH SCHOOLS WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN SELECTED BY TEACHERS TO BE-- AND BY THE PEOPLE RUNNING THE GIFTED PROGRAMS AT THEIR SCHOOLS, TO BE NURTURED AND TO BE COACHED AND TO GET INTO THESE SCHOOLS.
SO IT'S A COMPLICATED QUESTION, I THINK.
IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE.
>> I THINK IT'S CONTROVERSIAL, TOO.
AND I'LL JUST SAY FLAT OUT THAT I THINK THAT FOLKS WHO ARE ADVOCATING AGAINST THE SPECIAL TALENT, SPECIAL GIFTED PROGRAMS, REALLY ARE TALKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF THEIR MOUTH BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND, THEY DON'T WANT THESE PROGRAMS, BUT THEY ALSO DON'T WANT PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.
AND SO IT'S LIKE HEMMING IN PARENTS TO WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST FOR THE PAWRNTSZ' PARENTS CHILD.
>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE IF YOU HAVE WATCHED MUCH SPORTS ON TV LATELY, YOU HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY SEEN ALL THE ADS FOR BETTING ON THE GAMES.
SINCE THE SUPREME COURT THREW OUT THE NATIONAL BAN ON SPORTS BETTING 3 YEARS AGO, THE MARKET HAS TAKEN OFF.
IN THE FIRST MONTH SINCE MOBILE SPORTS BETTING BECAME LEGAL IN NEW YORK, THE STATE TOOK IN ALMOST $80 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX REVENUE.
MANY YOUNG PEOPLE SEE SPORTS BETTING AS A GAME OF SKILL, NOT GAMBLING.
IS ALL THIS PROMOTION AND EASE OF GAMBLING UNHEALTHY?
>> PROMOTION, YES, EASE NO.
I'M NOT A YOUNG PERSON, BUT I DO THINK THAT GAMBLING IS A GAME OF SKILL, MIXED WITH CHANCE.
I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A MORAL TABOO ABOUT GAMBLING IN OUR SOCIETY GOING BACK TO OUR ROOTS IN PURITAN CULTURE FOR SOMETIME.
I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THAT TO FADE AWAY.
FOR ME, I LIKE TO GAMBLE WITH VERY SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY.
AS A COLLEGE PROFESSOR FOR RECREATION.
AND WHAT APPEALS TO ME IS THE PARALLEL WITH WHAT I DO IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.
USING CERTAIN VARIABLES THAT I SELECT TO TRY TO PREDICT HUMAN BEHAVIOR.
THAT'S WHAT I DO WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT I ELECTRICSES AND-- ABOUT ELECTIONS AND IT'S THE SAME THING I LIKE TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS, PARTICULARLY FOOTBALL.
THAT BEING SAID, LIKE MANY ACTIVITIES IN AMERICAN SOCIETY, GAMBLING IS POTENTIALLY ADDICTIVE, AND WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS AND PRUDENT AND REGULATE ADS, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO MINORS.
I DO NOT THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE TARGETED WHEN IT COMES TO THIS BEHAVIOR BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AT THE MATURITY LEVEL IN THEIR LIVES TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS IN THAT REGARD.
I'M FOR RESTRICTING ADVERTISEMENTS BUT SUPPORTIVE OF EASING RESTRICTIONS ON GAMBLING FOR ADULTS.
>> I WOULD SAY RESTRICTING ADVERTISEMENTS AND NOT ALLOWING YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEE THEM IS PRETTY DIFFICULT JUST TO BEGIN WITH.
SO I'M NOT SURE THAT'S GOING TO WORK.
>> WE HAVE RESTRICTED ADVERTISING IN THE PAST ON THINGS LIKE SMOKING AND ALCOHOL.
>> I THINK BECAUSE THIS IS SO MUCH ONLINE, I SUSPECT IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO THOSE RESTRICTIONS MORE SO THAN IT WAS , YOU KNOW, 50 YEARS AGO.
>> FAIR POINT.
AND IT IS-- I MEAN ONE, I DON'T LIKE GAMBLING I DON'T FIND IT INTERESTING.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A CASINO OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND HOW IT CAN BE INTERESTING AND FUN.
AND THE FACT THAT THE REVENUE FOR THIS-- AND THIS IS A TAX RATE ON THE ADVERTISERS AND THE GAMBLING PEOPLE OF 51%, WHICH IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE.
THEY'RE PAYING A LOT OF MONEY TO THE STATE.
AND MUCH OF THAT GOES TO EDUCATION OF VARIOUS SORTS.
IN ADDITION THERE IS A CERTAIN STREAM THAT GOES TO HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED.
BUT THAT'S GOOD, I GUESS.
>> WELL, I KNOW THE CASINOS, THE BETTING OPERATIONS ARE TRYING TO REDUCE THAT 51% ALREADY.
IT HAS BEEN LEGAL IN NEW YORK FOR ABOUT WHAT, EIGHT WEEKS?
SO GOVERNMENTS GET REVENUE BUT WHEN SOMEONE IS ADDICTED TO GAMBLING, THERE IS A PRETTY BIG DOWNSIDE.
IT WRECKS THEIR FAMILY FINANCES.
>> I'M GOING TO GO A STEP FARTHER AND SAY BECAUSE I'M SO OLD FASHIONED-- SORRY, LUKE.
I DON'T SEE MANY BENEFITS HERE AT ALL AND THE MOST I DO IN TERMS OF GAMBLING IS TO BUY A LOTTERY TICKET AT WEGMANS EVERY NOW AND THEN.
I THINK THIS AMOUNTS TO STATES UNDERWRITING ADDICTION.
THERE WAS A REPORT PUT OUT BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THE CONCLUSIONS WERE.
THAT THOSE WHO BET ON SPORTS ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN THOSE WHO BET ON OTHER THINGS TO REPORT PROBLEMATIC PLAY AND WE HAVE LITERALLY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO GAMBLING AS IT IS, AND FOR THE REASONS THAT I THINK KRISTI JUST POINTED OUT, THAT THIS MAKES MONEY FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
IT MAKES MONEY NOT ONLY FOR THE STATE IN THE FORM OF TAX REVENUES, BUT ALSO FOR MEDIA OUTLETS, ESPN REPORTEDLY IS GOING TO GET LIKE A $3 BILLION DEAL AND THEN HAVE YOU THE HOTELS, THE CASINOS.
I MEAN EVERYBODY IS SORT OF CASHING IN ON WHAT IS A PROBLEM AND A GROWING PROBLEM FOR BOTH ADULTS AS WELL AS TEENAGERS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS IT'S NOT JUST BETTING ON THE SUPER BOWL, RIGHT?
YOU ARE THE GAMBLER.
YOU CAN BET ON AN INDIVIDUAL PLAY AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
IT CAN BE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.
IT CAN BE COLLEGE SPORTS.
AND I THINK EVEN PRETTY MUCH ANY KIND OF SPORT IS NOW, YOU KNOW, FAIR GAME FOR THIS.
YOU DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
>> I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THE CHALLENGE OF ADDICTION.
I THINK THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT'S GOOD POLICY TO OUTLAW ANYTHING THAT IS ADDICTIVE.
I MEAN WE WOULD OUTLAW SUGAR THEN AND OTHER SUCH THINGS.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE ARE NOT GOOD POINTS IN TERMS OF TRYING TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH THIS.
ESTIMATES RANGES FROM ABOUT ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF OF ADULTS AROUND THE WORLD ENGAGE IN GAMBLING ON A REGULAR BASIS AND YOU LOOK AT THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF THE PROBLEM, YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON A MONTHLY BASIS CALLING INTO THE NATIONAL GAMBLING HELP LINE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO CHARACTERIZE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO GAMBLE TO HAVE ADDICTION PROBLEMS.
AND I THINK IT'S WORTH KEEPING THAT IN MIND.
IN ORDER TO HELP PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION AND NOT TARGET MINORS-- >> WE HAVE TO WRAP THAT UP, LUKE.
PLACE YOUR BET ON UTICA UNIVERSITY'S HOCKEY TEAM THIS WEEK.
As AND Fs QUICKLY.
>> MY F TO FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES JOHN CAREY WHO IS WORRIED ABOUT THE QUOTE UNQUOTE EMISSION CONSEQUENCES FROM THE WAR IN UKRAINE.
AND HE IS WORRIED THAT THE WORLD'S ATTENTION WILL BE DIVERTED FROM FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE.
I'M WONDERING HAS ANYONE TOLD HIM THAT THE REST OF US ARE WORRIED ABOUT HUMAN REFUGEES AND HUMAN CASUALTIES?
>> KRISTI, YOUR F. >> AN F TO THE U.S.
POSTAL SERVICE WHICH IS GOING AHEAD TO PURCHASE 148,000 GAS POWERED DELIVERY TRUCKS.
BASICALLY NO MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THAN THEIR CURRENT TRUCKS DESPITE BEING ASKED BY THE WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND E.P.A.
TO RECONSIDER.
AN E.P.A.
OFFICIAL CALLED THE DECISION A CRUCIAL LOST OPPORTUNITY.
>> LUKE, YOUR F PLEASE.
>> MY F GOES TO GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT FOR DIRECTING TEXAS HEALTH AGENCIES AS GENDER TREATMENT AS CHILD ABUSE.
THIS IS HARMFUL TO TRANS GENDER YOUTH.
>> RESEARCH DONE BY A Ph.D. STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SHOWS THAT HAVING A PET HELPS TO STAVE OFF MEMORY LOSS AND COGNITIVE DECLINE.
THIS IS MAINLY TRUE FOR DOG AND CAT OWNERS OF WHICH I AM ONE, BUT IT ALSO APPLIES TO OTHER PETS SUCH AS BIRDS, FISH AND OTHER SMALLER ANIMALS.
>> KRISTI, YOUR A.
>> AN A TO HOPE CHICAGO, A NON-PROFIT THAT FUNDS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOLS WITH LOW AND IMMIGRANT STUDENTS FOUND OUT ABOUT TUITION SCHOLARSHIP ROOM AND BOARD THAT CAN BE USED AT ANY 20 PARTNER COLLEGES IN ILLINOIS.
>> LUKE YOUR A PLEASE.
>> MY A GOES TO AMERICAN WOMEN SOCCER PLAYERS RECENTLY SECURING A $24 MILLION SETTLEMENT FOR GENDER INEQUALITY.
THE AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE BACKPAY AND PROVIDE MORE EQUITABLE PROCEDURES MOVING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, LUKE.
I HAVE TWO DOGS AND A CAT, NINA SO.
>> YOU'RE GOLDEN.
>> GOLDEN RETRIEVER.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.
FOR COMMENTS, YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN, YOU CAN DO SO ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.
I'M DAVID CHANATRY AND FOR ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER," HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
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