Pace University News

Dyson Political Science Professor Laura Tamman appears on Spectrum News NY1’s Inside City Hall to discuss Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s handling of New York City’s projected $12 billion budget gap. Professor Tamman noted that while new mayors often blame predecessors for fiscal shortfalls, Mamdani is also signaling pressure on Governor Kathy Hochul by framing future responsibility around state action. She emphasized that regardless of prior conditions, the mayor ultimately owns the budget, and cautioned that navigating state–city fiscal dynamics requires experience and long-term strategy.

Professor Gershman also pens an op-ed in amNewYork examining the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents. Drawing on eyewitness accounts and video evidence, he challenges official narratives defending the use of deadly force and questions whether government responses adequately reflect constitutional protections and accountability standards. In a separate New York Law Journal piece, “A Diminished Constitution,” Gershman and co-author Theodore A. Keyes warn that escalating political rhetoric and post–January 6 actions are eroding democratic norms and weakening public trust in constitutional safeguards.

Internationally, Dyson Professor Seong Jae Min provides expert insight to Deutsche Welle on South Korea’s proposed “fake news” law. Professor Min explains that the speed and scale of digital disinformation have outpaced existing legal frameworks, while noting that any new regulation must balance harm reduction with press freedom and democratic norms—  the story gets picked up by The Philippine Daily Inquirer and Tempo.co.

Pace’s environmental leadership is recognized nationally as  Haub Law Professor Achinthi Vithanage is named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental Lawyers, honoring top legal minds advancing environmental and climate justice, The Green 500 reports.

In Newsweek, Pace Haub Law Professor Bennett L. Gershman weighs in on whether ICE agents can be prosecuted for fatal shootings. Gershman explains that federal agents do not enjoy absolute immunity and could face state murder charges or federal civil rights violations, depending on the facts. “Police officers charged with crimes or civil rights violations never enjoy absolute immunity,” he said, underscoring the constitutional limits on law enforcement authority.

Dyson Professor Melvin Williams speaks to USA Today amid coverage of leaked text messages involving Taylor Swift and Blake Lively. Professor Williams explains how the controversy clashes with Swift’s carefully cultivated parasocial relationship with fans, raising renewed questions about authenticity and celebrity branding. He notes that private communications made public can disrupt fan trust and reshape audience perceptions— the story gets picked up by Yahoo News Canada, Detroit Free Press, The Times Herald, Oshkosh Northwestern, Reno Gazette-Journal, Iowa City Press-Citizen, El Paso Times, and more.

The EDU Ledger, formerly known as Diverse: Issues of Higher Education reports that Provost Alison Carr-Chellman has officially begun her tenure at Pace.