TONIGHT ON IVORY TOWER - TWO ETHICAL DILEMMAS - SHOULD CLERGY EVER BE FORCED TO DIVULGE CONFESSIONS -- AND SHOULD SOCIETY ELIMINATE AN ANIMAL SPECIES?

STAY TUNED.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR IVORY TOWER..

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

THE PANELISTS JOINING ME TONIGHT ARE -- ANIRBAN ACHARYA, FROM LE MOYNE COLLEGE CHAD SPARBER, FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY RICK FENNER, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY AND BEN BAUGHMAN, FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY PANEL, THIS PAST WEEK I NOTICED• MORE THAN OTHER WEEKS•.SO MANY CONTRASTS IN THE NEWS.

THOUSANDS LINED THE PARADE ROUTES IN D.C. TO CELEBRATE THE THE ARMY'S ANNIVERSARY AND MAYBE THE PRESIDENT.

AND MILLIONS THEN CAME OUT TO PROTEST THE PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATION POLICIES.

POLITICAL CANDIDATES ARE PRESSING HARD IN THE FINAL DAYS UP TO PRIMARY ELECTIONS ---- AND THEN TWO ELECTED LEADERS WERE TARGETED WITH POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND ASSASSINATION.

WHILE DIPLOMATS NEGOTIATED WITH THE IRANIANS ON NUCLEAR ISSUES, THE ISRAELIS COORDINATED A SURPRISE ATTACK ON IRAN, LEADING TO TREPIDATION OF AN ALL-OUT MID EAST WAR.

ALL THIS CHALLENGES OUR PSYCHES.

ANIRBAN, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT US.

>> WE'LL I'LL TAKE ONLY A SMALL PART OF IT AND LOOK AND TRUMP'S WIN.

TRUMP'S RECENT WIN MAY SEEM TO BE EMPHATIC, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, YOU WILL SEE THAT TRUMP DIDN'T WIN 50% OF VOTES AND THE REPUBLICANS WON A LESSER PERCENT OF VOTES THAN IN 2022.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS MORE CLOSELY, IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF A MANDATE BUT YES, WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE HERE AND THIS IS WHAT GOES DEEPLY IN AMERICAN HISTORY, THE IDEA OF THE SOCIAL MOVEMENT THEORY.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN VERY DEEP RED SPACES LIKE LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA, WHERE REGISTERED REPUBLICANS OUTNUMBER DEMOCRATS BY 2 TO 1, THOUSANDS CAME OUT TO PROTEST IN FORT MYERS AND OTHER PLACES IN DEEP RED STATES AND OTHER VIOLET STATES.

SO WHAT WEEK SEE FROM THE RECENT PROTESTS, PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY TO SEE THIS.

AND AGAIN I MIGHT HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE.

THE AMERICAN WORKING CLASS WAS NOT ABLE TO THINK OF ITSELF AS A CLASS.

IF THEY DID, THEY WOULD SAY THAT HEY, LIKE DON'T VILIFY IMMIGRANTS.

THEY'RE WORKERS JUST LIKE US.

THEY TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN AND COOK OUR FOOD.

I THINK NOW WITH THE PROTESTS AND WITH THE TREMENDOUS AUSTERITY BILL WHICH WOULD ADD TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT, WE CAN SEE A GLIMPSE OF DISCONTENT AND PEOPLE'S NEED TO BE HEARD.

AND THAT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE MANY OF THE RALLIES.

A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE ALSO THERE, RIGHT, WHO ARE FACING DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, LACK OF LABOR AND FEELING FOR THESE HAPLESS PEOPLE WHO NEED JOBS AND BEING MOVED AWAY.

>> I TAKE FROM YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE PSYCHE AND HOW DID WE GET HERE.

AND FOR THAT I TURN TO SOME EVIDENCE FROM PSYCHOLOGY TODAY AND THE POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGIST KAREN STENNER.

AND THEY BASICALLY ARGUE AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE U.S., WE'VE LOST SOME OF THE COMMON BONDS THAT WE ONCE SHARED WITHOUT HAVING ANY SORT OF COLLECTIVE GROUP IDENTITY.

AS PEOPLE PERCEIVE MORE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND OTHERS, THEY BEGIN TO FEEL MORE POWERLESS, MORE INTOLERANT, MORE PUNITIVE.

SOMETIMES TO VIOLENT EXTREMES.

AND EVEN MORE THEY START TO TURN TO AUTHORITARIAN LEADERS HOPING THEY WILL END UP ON THE SIDE THAT IS IN CONTROL, THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN THEY PERCEIVE THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE UNDER THREAT.

THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE WANT STRONG MEN TO HELP WIN WHATEVER WAR THEY THINK THEY'RE FACING.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 25 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN HAMMERED BY 9/11, THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND COVID.

IT'S BEEN A TIME OF VERY RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE.

AND THOSE ARE VERY REAL THREATS TO THE STATUS QUO THAT HAVE CAUSED PEOPLE TO GO TO EXTREMES AND SEEK KIND OF AN AUTHORITARIAN LEADER.

AND I THINK THAT'S HOW WE GOT WHERE WE ARE.

>> BEN, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS PSYCHE, THE MOOD?

>> I SEE IT AS IT IS SHOWING AND DEPICTING US IN REAL TIME, THE POLARIZATION THAT CHAD IS TALKING ABOUT.

I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW MUCH MORE GOOD THE IMAGES OF A PERSON STANDING ON A BURNING VEHICLE WAVING A MEXICAN FLAG COULD HAVE DONE HAD THEY BEEN EVEN PAID BY TRUMP TO DO THAT FOR THAT MESSAGING.

BUT WHAT THE COUNTRY IS SEEING IS WHAT THEY EXPECT TO SEE.

IF YOU ARE FAR LEFT, YOU ARE SEEING THAT THIS IS GOOD FOR US.

THAT WE ARE FIGHTING BACK.

IF YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT, YOU ARE LIKE THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE NATIONAL GUARD.

>> RICK.

>> WELL, I AGREE THAT WE HAVE BECOME SO DIVIDED, WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS HARD TO TELL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE POLLS ON THE SIMPLE QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, IN THE SAME WEEK YOU HAVE ONE SAYING 38% APPROVE, 54% DISAPPROVE, WHICH, THE LEFT LOVES TO LOOK AT AND SAY SEE, WE'VE TURNED THIS CORNER.

BUT RASMUSSAN, ANOTHER GOOD POLL HAS 52 APPROVE AND 46 DISAPPROVE FOR A 6% SHOWING OF SUPPORT FOR TRUMP WHAT GETS ME IS THAT HUGE GAP BETWEEN POLLS AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

I AM CONFUSED I THINK MOST OF US ARE EXHAUSTED.

AND I'M NOT SURE IN WHICH DIRECTION WHAT WE ARE GOING.

I THINK WE ARE STILL AT A POINT WHERE WE COULD TIP EITHER WAY.

>> YEAH, AND POLLS ARE CRAP.

LET'S JUST BE HONEST.

UNLESS YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE TRENDS THAT COME OUT OF POLLS YOU ARE MISSING THE PICTURE.

BECAUSE IT WAS BOTH OF THEM.

IN FACT MOST OF THESE POLLS ARE ASKING DO YOU APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF TRUMP'S POLICIES?

AND FOR THAT SAME QUESTION, YOU ARE GETTING HUGE DIFFERENCES.

>> WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT?

WHAT IS THEIR SOURCE?

UNLESS THEY'RE LOOKING AT MORE THAN ONE FEED-- AND EVEN THEN IT'S-- >>-- LOOKING AT FOX.

>> GIVEN THAT YOU ARE OKAY WITH TRENDS, I WILL CITE A GALLUP POLL.

DO YOU THINK THE COUNTRY IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE 70s, YOU SEE A GREAT INCREASE IN OPTIMISM IN THE 80s FALLS WITH THE BUSH RECESSION.

THE TREND CONTINUES IN THE CLINTON YEARS AND AFTER 9/11, IT PLUMMETS AND HAS BEEN STAGNANT ABOUT 33% EVER SINCE THEN.

AND THAT DIVISIVENESS I SPEAK OF, IF YOU ASK PEOPLE IF YOU THINK THE COUNTRY IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, IF YOUR OWN PARTY'S CANDIDATE IS IN POWER, YOU MIGHT SAY YES.

IF THE OTHER PARTY'S CANDIDATE IS IN POWER, YOU MIGHT SAY NO.

WE ARE AT A THIRD.

AT SPEAKS TO, I THINK VERY LOW PESSIMISM-- VERY HIGH PESSIMISM AND LOW OPTIMISM.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT YOU ARE PICKING UP ON AND WHAT WOULD HIGHLIGHT THAT ARE THE AMOUNT OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS USED IN THAT TIME PERIOD HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS, AS LONG AS YOU KEEP WINNING AND YOU KEEP HAVING YOUR PERSON IN OFFICE, IT'S GREAT.

UNTIL YOU LOSE THEN EXECUTIVE ORDERS SUCK.

>> WELL, I SHOULD KNOW THAT WE ARE RECORDING ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.

AND SO WHAT IS HAPPENING INTERNATIONALLY AS WELL AS LOCALLY HERE IN THIS COUNTRY MIGHT CHANGE.

SO YOU WILL UNDERSTAND IF THE NEWS GETS AHEAD OF US.

LET'S NOW TURN TO AND ETHICAL DILEMMA FOR SOME CLERGY.

WASHINGTON STATE PASSED A LAW REQUIRING CLERGY TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE TOLD TO THEM DURING CONFESSIONS.

WHILE CLERGY HAVE LONG BEEN MANDATED TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE, MOST STATES PROTECT CLERGY FROM HAVING TO SHARE INFORMATION FROM CONFESSIONS.

ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS SAY THIS NEW LAW VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

CHAD, WHAT ABOUT THIS?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION IS REALLY ABOUT TRYING TO RECONCILE THE CENTER WITH GOD AND THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S NOT ABOUT CHECKING -- IT'S NOT ABOUT COLLECTING INFORMATION FOR THE PROSECUTION.

AND IF THE CONFESSANT IS TRULY SORRY FOR THEIR SINS, THE PRIEST CAN WALK THEM THROUGH ABSOLUTION WHICH MIGHT INVOLVE THE GUILTY TURNING HIMSELF INTO THE POLICE.

IN THIS WAY, THE WASHINGTON LAW IS ACTUALLY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

IF PRIESTS ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT CRIMES HEARD THROUGH CONFESSION, THEN PENITENTS WOULD STOP CONFESSING THEM AND THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THE GUILTY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

A LOT OF REASONS I'M OPPOSED TO THIS BUT FROM A PRAGMATIC REASON, THAT'S ONE.

>> I'M NOT CATHOLIC SO MY KNOWLEDGE OF SACRAMENT AND ALL THIS IS QUITE LESS THAN OTHER PEOPLE HERE.

BUT FIRST CLERGY ARE CONSIDERED MANDATED REPORTERS.

ALTHOUGH THEY ARE GIVEN THE EXCEPTIONS, BUT IT SHOULD BE NOTED A NUMBER OF STATES ALREADY HAVE LAWS SIMILAR TO WASHINGTON'S.

AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

SO TO ME, IT IS MOSTLY A MOOT POINT.

WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT PRIESTS HAVE GONE AND TURNED PEOPLE IN.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT WOULD BE HARD TO SEE AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.

BUT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, MY PERSONAL VIEW IS THAT, YES, AS I AM A MANDATED REPORTER AS A FACULTY MEMBER, I BELIEVE THAT THE CLERGY SHOULD BE, TOO.

>> BEN, FROM YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND, I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS IS.

>> I'M WITH CHAD.

I DON'T THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE MANDATED TO REPORT IT.

THERE IS AN ANECDOTAL STORY I CAN GIVE FROM ERIE PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE IT WAS AROUND 2018 THAT A MAN KILLED HIS ESTRANGED WIFE, WENT TO CONFESSION AND THE PRIEST DID CALL THE POLICE.

SO IT DOES HAPPEN.

HE WASN'T MANDATED TO CALL, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULDN'T.

IT IS A CORE TENET OF THAT-- OF THE CATHOLIC RELIGION, AND OTHER RELIGIONS.

AND IT'S NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE ATTORNEY/CLIENT PRIVILEGE, THAT IS IN PLACE WHERE, IF YOU HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER OR ANYTHING ELSE, YOU ARE NOT ONLY ENCOURAGED TO TELL THE TRUTH TO YOUR DEFENSE ATTORNEY, YOU HAVE TO; THAT YOU PUT THEM ON GROUNDS WHERE THEY CAN WITHDRAW AS YOUR ATTORNEY IF YOU DON'T TELL THEM THE TRUTH.

THEY DON'T PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAY NOT ONLY DID HE DID THIS CRIME THAT WE CHARGED HIM WITH AND HERE IS ALL THE EVIDENCE HE DISCLOSED IN CONFESSION, BUT HE HAS TWO MORE BODIES IN HIS BACKYARD.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU, RIGHT?

CONFESSION IS NOT A POLICE INTERROGATION.

IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO GATHER INFORMATION TO PROSECUTE SOMEONE.

WE HAVE THE POLICE AND THE PROSECUTORS FOR THAT.

AND CLERGY ARE CONSIDERED MANDATED REPORTERS IN THE MAJORITY OF STATES, BUT THERE IS ALSO THE STATE RESERVES PROTECTION FOR CLERGY PENITENT RELATIONSHIPS.

ONE OF THE JESUIT PRIESTS WHO POINTS OUT THAT YOU ARE PUTTING PRIESTS IN A VERY IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.

YOU ARE SAYING EITHER YOU WILL HAVE JAIL TIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE, OR YOU WILL BE EXCOMMUNICATED BECAUSE YOU ARE GIVING UP A SACRED ASPECT OF COP IF FOR EXAMPLES, YOU ARE RATTING SOMEONE ELSE OUT WHO HAS CONFESSED TO YOU.

IN THE LONG RUN, I FEEL THIS IS A MOOT POINT.

HOW DO YOU MANDATE THAT?

LIKE HOW DO YOU ENFORCE A PRIEST.

AND SECOND, JUST LIKE SAY WHEN I TALK TO A PSYCHOLOGIST AND SO ON, RIGHT?

THE COURT CAN ISSUE A SUBPOENA FOR MY RECORDS AND WE CAN GO THAT ROUTE, RIGHT?

AND RATHER THAN SAYING HEY, PRIEST, YOU MUST TELL ME.

WELL, I CAN SUBPOENA YOUR RECORDS AND PUT YOU UNDER OATH TO SAY SOMETHING.

THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT, RIGHT?

AND THEN IT'S A DIFFERENT THING THAN A PRIEST JUST GOING AND TELLING THINGS ON A PERSON WHO IS, YOU KNOW, ASKING FORGIVENESS.

>> THAT EXCOMMUNICATION CAN ONLY BE DONE BY CONFESSION TO THE POPE HIMSELF.

THIS IS NO SMALL THING THAT YOU ARE ASKING THE PRIEST TO DO.

TO RICK'S POINT, I MEAN MOST PEOPLE CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE AND NOT COMPELLING A SPOUSE TO TESTIFY AGAINST HIS OR HER SPOUSE.

IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH, BOTH MARRIAGE AND CONFESSION ARE SACRAMENTS.

SO YOU CAN THINK OF THESE AS SIMILAR.

THIS MANDATED REPORTING THING YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS ONLY WITHIN THE SEAL OF CONFESSION.

IF I GO IN AND PASS THE PRIEST ON THE STREET AND SAY BY THE WAY, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I DID LAST WEEKEND.

>> IF I GO INTO CONFESSION AND SAY I'VE DONE THIS AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE DOING THIS.

>> GOOD QUESTION.

IF HE WERE-- IF ANIRBAN WERE TO GO INTO CONFESSION AND SAY I'M TIRED OF CHAD'S CENTER RIGHT POLICIES.

I AM GOING TO MURDER HIM AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME.

THE PRIEST WOULD BE COMPELLED TO CALL THE POLICE AND SAY-- >> GOOD ENOUGH.

>> CHAD IS UNDER IMMINENT THREAT.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

BUT HE CAN DO THAT IN A NON-SPECIFIC WAY TO GET PROTECTION FOR ME TO PREVENT ANOTHER EVIL FROM HAPPENING.

OFFICER BEN WOULD THEN-- IT'S CLEARLY ANIRBAN.

>> IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.

BACK TO THE ERIE ANECDOTAL STORY IS THE PRIEST WAS WORRIED THAT HE WAS ALSO GOING TO KILL HIMSELF BECAUSE HE WAS THERE TO CONFESS AND THEN HE PRIEST WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT HE WAS THEN GOING TO KILL HIMSELF.

SO THAT'S A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE.

>> FOR THE RECORD HIVE NOT AN UNBALANCED PERSON.

>> THAT THE DEFENDANT-- YES.

>> CHILD ABUSE IS A HORRIFIC CRIME AND I THINK THIS IS AN INTERESTING ETHICAL DILEMMA.

ON TO OUR THIRD TOPIC ---LET ME START WITH A PUZZLER.

WHAT IS THE DEADLIEST ANIMAL IN THE WORLD?

HERE'S A HINT - IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE SMALL.

IT'S THE MOSQUITO, KILLING 600,000 PEOPLE A YEAR --- BECAUSE ITS SALIVA TRANSMITS DENGUE FEVER, MALARIA, WEST NILE AND SEVERAL OTHER DISEASES.

SCIENTISTS CAN NOW INTRODUCE A GENE MUTATION INTO THE INSECT THAT CAUSES FEMALE MOSQUITO OFFSPRING TO BE INFERTILE.

AS THAT GENE SPREADS, THE SPECIES LIKELY DIES OFF.

SO, RICK, SHOULD WE KILL ALL THE MOSQUITOES?

>> FIRST LET ME SAY SOME ETHICAL CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED AND I DON'T IN PARTICULAR HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THOSE.

AS AN ECONOMIST, WHAT I'M TRAINED TO LOOK FOR ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND SO THIS IS THE THING THAT WOULD WORRY ME THE MOST.

IF WE WERE TO ELIMINATE THE MOSQUITO, WHAT WOULD BE THE DOMINO EFFECT?

AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ FOR THE WORST SPECIES OF MOSQUITOES, THEY'RE NOT PART OF IMPORTANT FOOD CHAINS AND ALL THAT MANY OF THESE MOSQUITOES COULD BE ERADICATED WITHOUT ANY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIE, ESPECIALLY IN AFRICA AND OTHER PARTS THE LESS DEVELOPED WORLD, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE VERY GOOD IF WE COULD ELIMINATE THE SOURCE.

>> I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT.

FIRST OF ALL, MOSQUITOES SUCK, RIGHT?

>> THEY LITERALLY SUCK.

>> WE CAN AGREE WITH THAT.

AND IN MY YARD, I WILL GET RID OF THEM.

BUT OF THE-- THERE ARE 3500 MOSQUITO SPECIES.

ONLY A VERY SMALL FRACTION OF THOSE CARRY AND TRANSMIT DISEASES ON TO HUMANS.

THEY ARE-- AND THEY DO PLAY A SPECIFIC ROLE IN THE ECOSYSTEM IN POLLINATION AND SERVING AS FOOD SOURCES FOR BIRDS, FISH AND OTHER WILDLIFE.

SO ALTHOUGH THEY DO SUCK, AND THEY ARE A PAIN TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THEM, EVEN THE ACADEMIC LITERATURE ON THIS, IT CONFLICTS WITH EACH OTHER AS FAR AS WHETHER OR NOT IT'S GOING TO HAVE RIPPLES IN THE POND THAT REALLY DISRUPT THE ECOSYSTEM.

>> SO JUST A CORRECTION HERE.

WHAT IS THE MOST LETHAL ANIMAL IN THE WORLD.

I THINK IT'S HUMANS BUT WE'LL TAKE THAT IN STRIDE LATER ON.

I GREW UP WITH MOSQUITOES.

I HATE THEM.

THE MOSQUITOES IN CALCUTTA WERE THE SIZE OF SPARROWS.

WE HAVE A JOKE.

THE JOKE IS HOW DID A DRUNK PERSON GET FROM THE BAR TO THE GUTTER?

THE MOSQUITOES CARRIED THEM.

I DO NOT LIKE THEM.

I GREW UP WITH DDT SPRAYS AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

IN PRINCIPLE I'M IN FAVOR OF IT.

BUT I WOULD AGREE THERE IS A WONDERFUL BOOK BY A SOCIOLOGIST, JAMES SCOTT, A WONDERFUL BOOK.

IT IS CALLED SEEN LIKE A STATE.

THE THESIS OF THE BOOK SHOWS IF THERE ARE LARGE SCALE STATE DRIVEN ATTEMPTS TO IMPOSE ORDERS, THEY HAVE THIS UNKNOWN AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT COMPLETELY COUNTERFEIT THE VERY REASONS THOSE THINGS WERE PUT IN PLACE.

HAVING SAID THAT, IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE, THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE GENE DRIVE SO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS CANNOT PRODUCE OFFSPRING, BUT IN THE END, THERE IS A CAVEAT.

THEY SAID THIS MIGHT NOT WORK.

IT'S IN THAT ARTICLE.

THE SCIENTIST SAYING EVEN AFTER THIS, IT MIGHT NOT WORK.

SO I WANT TO SEE WHAT CLEAR EVIDENCE IS THERE TOWARDS, I DON'T KNOW, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

BUT YES, CURING MALARIA, KILLING MOSQUITOES AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED WITH IT ALL THEIR LIFE, A LARGE PART OF THEIR LIFE.

IT'S TERRIBLE.

>> I'M SO GLAD YOU TWO ARE HERE BECAUSE I USE THE PHRASE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES HERE LAST WEEK AND WAS GLIBLY DISMISSED.

AND HERE I ACTUALLY DISAGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE I THINK THE CONSEQUENCES ARE ACTUALLY UNKNOWN AND WE ARE ONLY GUESSING ON WHAT THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS MIGHT BE.

AND GIVEN THAT THIS IS NOT AN ACTION THAT CAN BE EASILY UNDONE, I'M TERRIFIED OF THIS POLICY.

I THINK IT'S REALLY BAD IDEA.

BUT HERE IS THE OTHER THING.

I THINK THE QUESTION MIGHT BE MOOT BECAUSE IF THE TECHNOLOGY AND THESE GENETICALLY MUTATED MOSQUITOES EXIST IN LABS, IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH FOR A LAB LEAK, WHETHER THAT'S NEFARIOUS OR ACCIDENTAL, HERE IN CHINA OR AFRICA OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WE MIGHT END UP ERADICATING A SPECIES WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT AND THESE BUGS, THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T ABIDE BY INTERNATIONAL BORDERS.

AND SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ECOSYSTEMS GLOBALLY THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE AFFECTED.

>> EXCEPT FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD.

YOU MENTIONED 3500 DIFFERENT SPECIES.

EACH ONE OF THESE IS DEALT WITH SPECIFICALLY.

>> I READ THAT, TOO.

>> IT'S NOT ONE MOSQUITO GOES AND WE END UP...

IT WOULD BE-- FIRST ADDRESSING THOSE THAT CARRY MALARIA AND OTHER THINGS.

>> I READ THAT, TOO.

I JUST DON'T THINK THE RISKS ARE WORTH IT.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU WITH RESPECT TO THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES BUT TO ME I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT UP TO THE SCIENTISTS TO DECIDE.

NOT THE POLITICIANS.

>> BASICALLY AFTER BLUE NILE AND THE MALARIA, THE MALARIA THAT IS AND IT'S WIDESPREAD, MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THAN WEST NILE AND THEY'RE SAYING AS GLOBAL WARMING HAPPENS, THE MOSQUITOES CAN LIVE IN MUCH MORE COLDER CLIMATES.

>> WE USED DDT IN THE POST WAR ERA.

IT WAS SUPER EFFECTIVE.

WE DIDN'T KNOW THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE CANCER, DEAD EAGLES OR DEAD FALCONS BUT WE COULD UNDO THAT.

>> YOU CAN STILL UNDO THIS.

YOU CAN KEEP-- WAS WE DO IN YOU CAN KEEP-- AS WE DO IN ZOOS, YOU KEEP SPECIES OF ANIMALS.

YOU CAN KEEP SPECIES OF THESE MOSQUITOES IN LABS AND IN IT IF IT TURNED OUT THAT THEY COULD STILL REPRODUCE, AND THEN YOU COULD STILL REINTRODUCE THEM INTO THE WILD THE WAY WE DO OFTEN WITH ANIMALS.

>> I DON'T KNOW THE SCIENCE WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW.

>> I DON'T EITHER.

>> HEY, WE ARE ALMOST AT EXTINCTION NOW.

LET'S RELEASE... >> THEY'RE ANIMALS.

WE DO THAT WITH OTHER ANIMALS.

>> THE BUFFALO.

>> WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE.

>> IT'S TIME TO OPEN UP THE GRADEBOOK.

ANIRBAN, WHAT IS YOUR F. >> THE CHROMEBOOK CHALLENGE EXASPERATING EDUCATORS WHICH IS INVOLVES STUDENTS PROVIDING THEIR LAP LAPTOPS WITH OBJECTS AND MAKING SHEM SMOKE AND POSTING THE DESTRUCTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

THIS IS OF COURSE COMING AFTER SIMILAR CHALLENGES LIKE CONSUMING LARGE DOSES OF BEN BENYDRILL THE TOXICITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS A SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO PARENTS AND EDUCATOR.

>> CHAD.

>> YOU MIGHT REMEMBER JAMES FANS AROUND THE WORLD AS HE HAD A WAY OF TALKING AND MOVING FROM PLAYFUL TO EARNEST AT WRIL.

SHY STONE PASSED AWAY RECENTLY.

EVERY DAY PEOPLE AND ADMIRERS WILL DANCE TO THE MUSIC.

MY A GOES TO HAMILTON PROFESSOR COOLLY WHO IS ONE OF THE NINE WINNERS OF THE ONE OF THE NINE WINNERS OF THE 900,000 DAN DAVIS PRIZE.

ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIZES IN THE FIELD OF HISTORY.

SHE DOES ARCHIVAL RESEARCH ACROSS THE SPANISH EMPIRE AND A STUDY OF EUROPEAN SCIENCE AND EXPERIENCE.

A VERY BIG DEAL TO WIN THIS PRIZE.

>> LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR LAST WEEK'S A ABOUT THE HAMILTON SCHOOL WOMEN'S SOFTBALL.

WHAT UNDERSTAND?

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THEY WON.

DRAMATIC FINAL GAME.

THEY WERE AHEAD THE WHOLE GAME AND LOST THE LEAD IN THE LAST INNING.

BUT CAME BACK WITH TWO RUNS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH TO PULL OFF THE VICTORY.

IT'S A GREAT STORY.

IF YOU HAVEN'T FOLLOWED IT, YOU SHOULD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.

RICK.

>> A TO THE PASSING OF BRIAN WILSON OF THE BEACH BOYS.

NOT ONLY DID HE BRING US THE COUNTLESS FUN AND SUN SURFING SONGS OF THE 60S.

HE IS CREDITED WITH BRINGING A LEVEL OF INNOVATION AND COMPLEXITY TO THE PRODUCTION OF MUSIC THAT CHANGED THE RECORDING INDUSTRY.

AND HE ACCOMPLISHED THIS WHILE STRUGGLING WITH A NUMBER OF PERSONAL MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

>> AND BEN.

>> MY A IS GOING TO GANNON'S LEADERSHIP OF WALKING THE WALK OF FAITH AND REASON.

EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AND POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY, THEY PROJECT AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENT BODY.

FROM SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR OUR GLOBAL STUDENTS, TO TAKING STEPS TO PUT THE UNIVERSITY IN THE BEST FISCAL POSITION POSSIBLE, AND FROM BEING TRANSPARENT AND ONGOING COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> THAT'S OUR DISCUSSION FOR TONIGHT REMEMBER WE NOW AIR THURSDAYS NIGHTS AT 8 IN ADDITION TO FRIDAY AT 8, AND SATURDAY AT 5:30.

AND WE'RE STREAMING ONLINE ALL THE TIME AT WCNY.ORG/IVORYTOWER.

AS WE CLOSE, I WANT TO REMIND OF YOU OF WHAT YOU'VE SURELY HEARD -- FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC MEDIA IS LIKELY TO BE CUT SIGNIFICANTLY.

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GOOD NIGHT.