University Libraries

By Scott West

Lots of new government documents are making their way into the collection at the University Libraries. In fact, we have a section just for these recent items in the newly renovated Roesch Library. Go to the northeast corner by the newspapers, magazines and the reference collection.

All Bets are Off: Gambling, Match-Fixing and Corruption in Sport 

• Briefing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Dec. 4, 2018)
• Y 4.SE 2:G 14

An unfortunate reality of the soccer-playing world is profound corruption. The top Italian league, Serie A, and Juventus, arguably its most high-profile club, were rocked by corruption scandals a few years ago. FIFA, the international soccer organizing body, has long struggled with evidence and accusations of corruption as well. This is not, of course, limited to soccer. Paul Massaro, presiding member of the Helsinki Commission, contends that “today’s international sports is an opaque web of deception, built to enrich a handful of top administrators at the expense of the world’s athletes, while at the same time facilitating the soft-power objectives of authoritarian states.” This reality has attracted little action by world leaders. This hearing is intended to help build understanding and identify ways to address this issue. Participants include David Larkin, co-founder of ChangeFIFA; Alexandra Wrage, anti-bribery expert; Declan Hill, an expert on match-fixing and sport corruption; and Marko Stanovic, a former match-fixer. Available in print and online.

The Drawdown, 1970-1971 

• Andrew J. Birtle and John R. Maass
• Center of Military History, U.S. Army (2019)
• D 114.7/5-3:D 79

This relatively short book is part of the U.S. Army Campaigns of the Vietnam War series. The authors identify this 1970-71 period as one of profound contrasts. A deeply divided American public wanted to either stop fighting or commit to a complete victory. The period also revealed a time in which “the United States fought aggressively while seeking to end the conflict through talks in Paris.” The resulting confusion took its toll on the soldiers. Available in print.

The Invasive Species Threat: Protecting Wildlife, Public Health, and Infrastructure

• Hearing before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senate (Feb. 13, 2019)
• Y 4.P 96/10:S.HRG.116-4

Invasive species have long been an issue across the United States. Honeysuckle, imported from Asia, is a persistent problem for native habitats. In addition, Asian carp are a serious challenge across American rivers as they push out other species and are extraordinarily difficult to remove. Sen. John Barasso (Wyoming), committee chair, begins this hearing characterizing invasive species (non-native species introduced by a third party) as a scourge on native wildlife, destructive to public infrastructure, and a threat to health. In fact, he claims that “more than 5,000 invasive species exist in the United States” and “cause more than $120 billion of economic damage each year.” This includes everything from plants to the introduction of the West Nile virus. Witnesses include representatives from the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, North Dakota Fish and Game, and the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife. Available in print and online.

The Navy’s First Enlisted Women: Patriotic Pioneers

• Regina T. Akers, Naval History and Heritage Command (2019)
• D 221.21:W 88

This publication is a short but interesting description of the introduction of women to the ranks of the Navy’s enlisted forces. Regina Akers explains that during World War I, Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, made the decision to actively recruit women into the Navy to fill logistical support roles left vacant by a shortage of enlisted men. “These women’s loyalty, selflessness, professionalism and patriotism are exemplary and can inspire today’s naval personnel, especially the females who stand on their shoulders,” Akers writes. Some of the processes may be familiar to readers, but the details are specific to the Navy. Available in print and online.

Needs and Opportunities in the Modern History of the U.S. Navy 

• Michael J. Crawford (ed.), Naval History and Heritage Command (2018)
• D 221.2:OP 5

This book focuses on eight issues confronting the U.S. Navy: forward presence, operations, personnel, programming and acquisitions, science, social history, strategy, and technology ― areas “most pregnant with the greatest potential benefit to the Navy.” All but one of these themes ― forward presence ― may seem self-evident. This concept of forward presence surrounds the deployment of naval forces around the world to provide the maximum influence and responsiveness. This book should be of great interest to anyone studying the modern American military. Available in print and online.

Resolution Recommending that the House of Representatives Find William P. Barr, Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, in Contempt of Congress for Refusal to Comply with a Subpoena Duly Issued by the Committee on the Judiciary

• Report of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives (June 6, 2019)
• Y 1.1/8:116-105

This resolution provides the details of Attorney General William Barr’s contempt-of-Congress charge. He is one of two since 1975 charged with this offense; the other, Eric Holder, was cleared of wrongdoing. Included in the text is the record of the committee’s voting. No surprises there. Available in print and online.

Sea Change: Impacts of Climate Change on Our Oceans and Coasts

• Hearing before the Subcommittee on Environment of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, House of Representatives (Feb. 27, 2019)
• Y 4.SCI 2:116-3

Climate change and the state of the world’s oceans remain dynamic topics in the United States and the world. They are likely to be highly visible talking points throughout the next presidential election. This recent hearing has a specific purpose: “to explore the impacts of anthropogenic [human-caused] carbon dioxide emissions on our oceans and coasts.” The witness list includes the director of the Ocean Acidification Program at the Ocean Conservancy; a professor from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at the Columbia University Earth Institute; the director of the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Florida; and the executive director of the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association. Available in print and online.

Twitter: Transparency and Accountability

• Hearing before the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives (Sept. 5, 2018)
• Y 4.C 73/8:115-162

Although about a year old, this hearing is memorable for featuring Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, as its sole witness. Rep. Greg Walden (Oregon), chair, explains that while Twitter provides innumerable benefits in providing information at an extraordinarily fast rate, it also faces accusations of limiting what groups or people can provide content easily. In particular, political and social conservatives contend that their views are curtailed on the platform. The submitted material is an interesting collection of tweets and articles discussing or villainizing Twitter’s decision to block some content. Available in print and online.

Unmasking the Hidden Crisis of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW): Exploring Solutions to End the Cycle of Violence

• Oversight Hearing before the Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States of the Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives (March 14, 2019)
• Y 4.R 31/3:116-8

This hearing made me immediately think of the widely known Alex Flett photograph of Rosalie Fish, a Cowlitz woman, running in the Washington State High School Track championships with a red hand print painted across her mouth and the letters MMIW painted on her right leg.

The photograph captures Fish’s efforts to draw attention to the plight of indigenous peoples. The red hand across her mouth represents the silence imposed by death; MMIW stands for murdered and missing indigenous women. Rep. Ruben Gallego (Arizona), chair, cites statistics that “1.5 million indigenous women will experience violence in their lifetime” and that, on reservations, women are 10 times more likely to be murdered than the national average. He recognizes that the number is probably larger, as many of these crimes go unreported. Witnesses include representatives from the North Dakota House of Representatives, the University of Kansas, the director of the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center, and the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. Available in print and online.

Venezuela at a Crossroads

• Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives (Feb. 13, 2019)
• Y 4.F 76/1:116-4

The crisis in Venezuela grows every day. This hearing is intended to provide updates on what is happening there and how the United States is engaging. Rep. Eliot Engel (New York), chair, calls the situation a humanitarian crisis that is “simply heartbreaking.” He further claims that 90% of the population lives in poverty and that more than one in 10 children suffers from malnutrition. Witnesses include Elliott Abrams, U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela, as well as representatives from the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Available in print and online.

— Scott N. West is an information resources specialist in the University Libraries.