Pacific in the Press | Aug. 13, 2019

Quote of the Week

"They screwed up so badly, so you would think the first thing they would want to do is try to settle this and not even get to the point you’re reporting about it."

— Larry Levine, The Washington Times, Aug. 7, 2019

Examples of how University of the Pacific was represented in the news media in recent days:

'"Devastated': Mix-ups at fertility center breed litigation for emotional distress," The Washington Times, Aug. 7, 2019: McGeorge's Larry Levine was quoted in this story about a lawsuit brought against a Cincinnati fertility clinic for alleged negligence and breach of contract by switching sperm samples. Levine said the couple will have difficulty winning the lawsuit. "At the end of the day, there is going to be a real question about did they really suffer a cognizable injury," Levine told The Washington Times. "The courts don't want to deal with emotional distress even in 2019. It's treated as a less serious injury than personal injury and property damage. ... I can't imagine they are going to be able to prove any of this conduct was intentional." Levine said that the clinic likely will settle with the couple. "They screwed up so badly, so you would think the first thing they would want to do is try to settle this and not even get to the point you're reporting about it."

"Owner of 8chan lashes out in video statement, is summoned to U.S. Congress," CKTB (610 Talk Radio, Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Aug. 7, 2019: McGeorge's John Cary Sims provided insight and background about U.S. laws during an appearance on this radio program on hate speech spread via the internet. A private company can decide to stop providing services - in this case, 8chan, a site where at least three gunman have posted manifestos before mass shootings - and not violate freedom of speech laws that would apply to the government.

"Trump suit against tax-return law assigned to moderate judge," The San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 9, 2019: Donald Trump's challenge of the California law requiring he release tax returns in order for him to appear on the state's primary ballot has been assigned to Pacific and McGeorge alumnus U.S. District Court Judge Morrison C. England Jr. '77, '83. "England, now 64, attended the University of the Pacific on a football scholarship, got a tryout with the New York Jets as an offensive guard and coached football in Sacramento while attending (McGeorge) at night," reads a portion of the story. "He practiced law privately for 13 years before his first judicial appointment, and also served as a lawyer in the U.S. Army Reserve."

"Student musicians are ready to jam," The Record, Aug. 8, 2019: Talented high school jazz musicians from around the world attending Pacific's Summer Jazz Colony were featured in a photo package of images showing them working with instructors. The students came from throughout the United States and the United Kingdom and Australia. The images also appeared in an online photo gallery.

"Put Lemon on Your Fish? Thank Humoral Theory," The Epoch Times, Aug. 6, 2019: History's Ken Albala, author of "Eating Right in the Renaissance," commented in this story about an ancient medical practice of prescribing a balanced diet for better health. Pleasant-tasting foods were seen as better for you than unpleasant food. A food's "humoral properties" include taste, texture, an animal's habitat or a plant's environment. "Cattle fed cold and dry oats become cold and dry; sheep fed grass become cold and moist," said Albala. "Simply, the organism becomes what it eats." The story appeared on the websites of several other outlets.

"Improving expression: Speech language pathologist launches new therapy practice," The Union (Grass Valley), Aug. 12, 2019: Alumna Ashley Boyes was featured in this story about her new business helping people with speech disorders. "What I really love about this field is the one-on-one time I get with my clients," Boyes told The Union. "That time is really valuable, and I'm always thinking of new ways to help. This kind of therapy can really impact a person's life."