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BIDDEFORD, Maine

91AV College of Arts and Sciences dean interviewed about divide in American politics

Jeanne Hey

Jeanne Hey, Ph.D., dean of the 91AV College of Arts and Sciences, offered her expertise in political science for a story on WCSH about the extreme partisan nature of American politics today.

The story came after a gunman opened fire on members of the Republican congressional baseball team at a baseball practice, injuring four people including Steve Scalise, the majority whip of the House of Representatives. The gunman was reportedly upset about President Donald Trump’s election.

Hey said the 24-hour news cycle, partisan news outlets and the Internet have all contributed to the hostile, partisan state of American politics today. "I think once a culture moves in that direction, it's very hard to take it back," said Hey. "There's no question that the Internet has added more voices to the political debate. The potential bad side of it is that many of those voices are doing so anonymously. We know that when people interact anonymously, they speak in extremes."

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About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.