Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Robert Salisbury
UB falls short in MAC Cross Country Championship
Two men’s cross country runners named to All-MAC Second Team Both the UB women’s and men’s cross country teams fell short in this weekend’s MAC Cross Country Championship hosted by Bowling Green State University. The women’s team came in last in a field of twelve teams, finishing with 357 points. The team finished in ninth at last year’s competition. Northern Illinois took home the MAC Championship in the women’s division.
Loyalty to the Crown is a source of pride but also of strength
I always enjoy the story of the French philosopher who asked: ‘Ah, it may work in practice, but does it work in theory?’ As a species, we are seduced by theory. It is, after all, a weapon in the struggle to improve our governance. Indeed, it is perhaps the only effective weapon at our disposal.
"Under-performing staff should be identified, supported, re-trained or if all else fails, dismissed.”
SCHOOLS in Northern Ireland now have clear policy directions in the school improvement policy and the ‘Count, Read: Succeed’ document. These set out to give precise targets, successful teaching strategies and what is expected from school leaders, teachers and governors. Though these documents are much more definitive and prescriptive than previous policies it is still difficult to assess at this early stage, just how successful the implementation of these changes has actually been.
Reflections on a hereditary monarchy
The name of those who met the Queen is legion. However brief the meeting, they would remember it for the rest of their lives. Those who met her more often received, if possible, a more profound impression. Ministers, from her Prime Ministers down, were struck by her mastery of the brief and the acuteness of her critical powers. She was formidably well-informed and had a knack of spotting the weakness in an argument.
The Queen has shown us how important a living institution is for any nation
“The Queen”. Say the words anywhere in the world and almost everyone will know who you are talking about. She is both an international icon and the living embodiment of an institution which represents our nation. Our other institutions exist under the umbrella of the crown, whether it is Parliament, the Law, the armed services or a myriad of others — right down to those little battalions in the private sector which so often and profitably seek royal patronage. What makes the monarchy endure?
Her Majesty's 70 years of service are an astonishing achievement
Supporters of the front-runner for the Tory leadership say he has momentum that makes him the next PM in-waiting. It may not be that simple. Some Tories wonder what Sunak really believes in.
Four UB students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
Campus News By ROBERT SALISBURY Published April 23, 2021 Four UB students have been named recipients of the 2021 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE). The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was created in 1997 to recognize students who have best demonstrated and have been recognized for outstanding achievements in such areas as academics, leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement or career achievement.
Constitution Reform Group proposes a Third Way for the future of the UK
Lord Salisbury, Chair of the Constitution Reform Group, has written to major party leaders on the urgent need for constitutional reform. The letter has been sent in the wake of the Act of Union Bill, published by the cross-party Group, which seeks to resolve tensions between the devolved parliaments of the UK and Westminster. The full letter is printed below: I write on behalf of the Constitution Reform Group of which I am chairman.
Certification program aims to advance computer science in the schools
To expand access to computer science courses in K-12 schools, the Graduate School of Education is developing a professional computer science certification that aims to introduce teachers of other subjects to computer science. The certification, submitted to SUNY as a proposal, would integrate computer science as a subject in all K-12 schools in New York.
Brown chats about vegan diet, self-care in DSS finale
After experiencing chronic neck and head pain for more than a year and half, actress Tabitha Brown found no relief with medications. Instead, a Netflix documentary changed her life. The documentary, “What the Health,” encouraged Brown to start a 30-day vegan challenge that she hoped would alleviate her pain. After just 10 days, her pain began to dissipate, and she never looked back.
UB prof, hospice doctor come together to document end-of-life experiences
On April 15, the WORLD Channel, carried by public television stations across the U.S., will air “Death Is But A Dream,” a documentary based on a book co-authored by local hospice doctor Christopher Kerr and UB English professor Carine Mardorossian. The book, “Death Is But a Dream: Finding Hope and Meaning at Life’s End,” is the brainchild of Kerr, who over the course of his career noticed a pattern in patients who were near life’s end.
Brown chats about vegan diet, self-care in DSS finale
After experiencing chronic neck and head pain for more than a year and half, actress Tabitha Brown found no relief with medications. Instead, a Netflix documentary changed her life. The documentary, “What the Health,” encouraged Brown to start a 30-day vegan challenge that she hoped would alleviate her pain. After just 10 days, her pain began to dissipate, and she never looked back.
UB’s Blackstone LaunchPad program earning national recognition
On Feb. 25, members of UB’s Blackstone LaunchPad program looked on remotely as one of program’s student teams, Opollo Technologies, placed third in this year’s Blackstone National Pitch Competition. It marked the first time a UB team has ever placed in this national competition presented by Blackstone LaunchPad, a program designed to help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
Students, community benefit from UB volunteerism class
Dressed in a medical gown, gloves, an N95 mask, goggles and a face shield, Abdulelah Ahmed is prepared to administer COVID tests at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences as part of UB’s surveillance testing initiative. And in doing so, Ahmed, a senior biomedical sciences major, puts himself and his family at risk of contracting COVID-19 every week. Although he understands the risk, he also understands the importance of volunteerism, especially during a pandemic.
Koudelka elected fellow
Your Colleagues By ROBERT SALISBURY UB biology researcher Gerald Koudelka has been elected by the American Academy of Microbiology into its 2021 Fellowship Class. Academy fellows are distinguished leaders in the field of microbiology. There are over 2,500 fellows in the organization who represent various subspecialties of the microbial sciences.
Faculty argue for survival
Picture this: World leaders have just unleashed utter chaos, launching nuclear missiles in a global war. The world as we know it is now a nuclear wasteland. The only survivors are five UB professors and a handful of students from the Honors College. The students hold the ultimate responsibility of building a new society from the ground up, ensuring the human race lives on. Their destination is an untouched island, suitable for human life.
Three recognized for mentoring graduate students
Your Colleagues By ROBERT SALISBURY Laina Bay-Cheng, Myung Mi Kim and Jinhui Xu are the recipients of the 2020-21 Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award, given out by the Graduate School to recognize UB faculty for their support and development of graduate students through their mentoring activities.
Silverman, Student Union exhibits promote BLM awareness
Exhibits designed to comfort students and expand understanding of what it means to be Black in America are now on display in Silverman Library and in the Student Union. The Black Lives Matter Poster Project features framed posters of UB students and faculty, with the individuals’ thoughts on social justice, social equality and the BLM movement superimposed on their portraits.
Another Valley Vista
I have been admiring Brad Wiley's Valley Vistas articles. There are probably only a few readers of the AVA who will know most of the dizzying display of homesteads, ridges, creeks, ranches and characters mentioned in his articles. Anderson Valley is such a distinct place that us long time newcomers or those of us lucky enough to have been born here resonate with many of those names and places. And I'm willing to bet these folks have a favorite view of the valley.
Clowns In Sri Lanka (June 7, 2006)
by Robert Salisbury, August 24, 2020 I work for the Hong Kong Red Cross in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. My title is Volunteer Construction Delegate. Way back in February I wrote about arranging to have Clowns Without Borders do a show in the rebel held territory. I'm not supposed to do this — it's not part of my job description, but I saw them in Trinco town and thought how great it would be to bring them to the area where I work, three hours from the town and through government and rebel checkpoints.
Why a new electoral pact is needed to defeat the SNP and save the Union
The latest opinion poll suggests that 57% of Scottish voters would vote to leave the United Kingdom. That is 3% up from an earlier poll which showed that 54% were in favour. It now looks, therefore, as if Nichola Sturgeon is heading for a landslide in next year’s Scottish elections. She would undoubtedly take such a victory as a mandate for holding another referendum. Boris Johnson would find such a demand hard to resist.
A self-righteous mob is ignoring the complexity of history
Until recent times, the institution of slavery was almost universal, as was its handmaiden, the slave trade. Nearly all societies outside Western Europe practised it in one form or other and some still do. The Europeans themselves, of course, notoriously made large fortunes both out of the Triangular Trade and slave-manned plantations in the New World.
An invitation to Nicola Sturgeon: Will the SNP take part in building a federal UK?
Nicola Sturgeon feels she has the initiative. The SNP returned its second best result in last month’s general election, so Scotland’s First Minister feels able to ditch her pledge that the 2014 referendum would settle the question of Scottish independence for a generation.
Sri Lanka: Situation Worsening (Dec. 21, 2005)
Your cub reporter arrived in Sri Lanka November 9th. After 34 years in Boonville, to me this is about as far away as it gets. For you world travelers out there, my experiences might not seem strange, but boy howdy, for a long-time Boonter this is wild. I was supposed to report on the political situation in Sri Lanka, but if you guys think I’m gonna pretend to analyze this scene, forget about it. It is so tortuously convoluted that nobody understands it.
We are right to celebrate the life of Lord Burghley
Tonight, the Society of Gray’s Inn hosts the launch of next year’s programme of events to mark the birth in 1520 of William Cecil, Lord Burghley. Indeed, Gray’s Inn was the place where Burghley completed his education. Apart from descendants of the great man, people from all walks of life will attend and both Mark Rylance and David Starkey have been invited to speak. The Elizabethan age continues to hold a grip on the imagination of the British.
This parliament has failed the electorate
“A paradox, a paradox, a most ingenious paradox…” This week’s events seem to justify a quick burst of Gilbert and Sullivan. The situation is indeed paradoxical. The Remainers, including the Speaker who is supposed to be politically neutral, want the EU to keep its sovereign primacy over Parliament, but they are using Parliament to keep it in subjection to Brussels.
Enemies of the nation state must be resisted
The battle between left and right used to be fought on the grounds of class and the role of the state, but the battleground has shifted. The fight is now about culture and whether the state should exist at all. Like most warfare, the culture wars are a mixture of tedium, absurdity and viciousness. At some point a consensus will emerge. Let us hope that free speech and jokes will triumph over self-censorship induced by humourless outrage. Share:
Defensive and troubled EU is out of date in a fast-changing world
Only a few weeks ago, a 51 year-old mother from the Morbihan, Jacline Mouraud, who describes herself as “une chanteuse et chercheuse d’ectoplasmes” posted a rant on social media. Over the following days she accumulated at least six million supporters. Opinion polls suggest 70% of French opinion is with her. So was born the “Gilets Jaunes” movement which for the second weekend running has fomented widespread disruption throughout France and dominated national news channels.
Extraordinary and sublime: The Sixteen perform at the Sistine Chapel
On Sunday 22nd April, over three hundred, mainly British enthusiasts crammed into the Sistine Chapel. Most had made the journey specially for the occasion. Some may possibly have used the event as an excuse for a happy weekend in Rome, but by late Sunday evening all realised that they had taken part in something extraordinary. Sir James Macmillan is Scotland’s leading composer. He has long enjoyed a fruitful and mutually enjoyable relationship with The Sixteen and their director, Harry Christophers.
Class K Deadline Looms
Heads up Mendocino County. The onslaught on Class K (the more relaxed building standards for owner built limited density rural dwellings) is well on its way and won't stop now. The spirit and intent of Class K has been breached. The news of immediate importance is that there were changes approved by the Board of Supervisors March 13th that will go into effect 30 days from that date, April 12th or thereabouts (unconfirmed as of press time).
The Future of War: a review - Reaction
Professor Lawrence Freedman and Sam Goldwyn have at least one thing in common: neither much likes making predictions, particularly about the future. Paradoxically, Professor Freedman’s reluctance to prophesy is entirely sensible in a book entitled ‘The Future of War.’ On the penultimate page he says: ‘It would be against the spirit of this book predict the incidence and form of future wars’.
To avoid Britain becoming Venezuela the Tories need to offer hope and reform - Reaction
There is a memorable account of the days leading up to the Bolshevik victory in October 1917. Every street corner in St. Petersburg was adorned by a fiery orator who attracted enthusiastic crowds which moved from corner to corner and from orator to orator. No matter that few orators peddled the same opinions: the crowds cheered each with equal enthusiasm. The only orators who peddled a consistent story were the Bolsheviks. Lenin knew what he wanted and how he intended to get it.
Rio 2016: Olympics unrelated to Brexit, BBC Sport banter insufferable, and more - Reaction
The Olympics and Team GB’s performance has nothing – nothing at all – to do with Brexit. There is no read across whatsoever. When I tweeted that observation, as a public service tweet, some in the world of social media on both sides of the Brexit divide invoked the medal haul as conformation that they were right about Brexit. It was either proof of the narrow-mindedness of Brexiteers or proof that we had taken back control.
After Brexit Britain needs to sort out its referendum rules
Any convinced Brexiteer should be grateful to David Cameron for allowing us to vote to leave the EU. Anyone who believes in the supremacy of Parliament will rejoice that we now have the chance once again to exercise the sovereignty muscle that had atrophied. Thanks to the instincts of the poorer sections of society,we have been given the opportunity to save ourselves from the rule of an unrepresentative bureaucracy.
Brexit will restore Parliament and force Britain to grow up
“Take back control” proved a potent slogan for the Leavers in the EU referendum campaign. It has largely been seen as an appeal to the perceived popular desire to choose who we let into our country.There has, however, perhaps been too little focus on other reasons why we should rejoice that it has been so powerful. The key reason is that Parliament will once again be sovereign after Brexit.
EU Referendum: What should happen after Britain decides?
As the moment of truth approaches, Whitehall, Westminster and the commentariat will be gaming both Leave and Remain. It is hardly surprising that speculation as to what exactly happens after the referendum has not yet hit the headlines. We have instead been concentrating on the 23rd itself. However, it might be helpful if, on Thursday evening, the government gave us all some indication of how it would react both to a Leave and to a Remain vote.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Robert
Contact Robert, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack