POLITICS AS USUAL: Actually, politics in Indonesia are quite unusual compared with what we’re used to in the United States. Daniel Lev, a UW political science professor and expert on Indonesia, helped The New York Times sort out the ramifications of President Abdurrahman Wahid’s recent suspension of a military leader. “ what is important here is that (Indonesian security minister, General) Wiranto was bamboozled, he was in a corner and didn’t know how to get out, and now he’s out.”

SCHELL TO PAY: A USA Today story on Mayor Paul Schell’s attempts to get past the controversy of the WTO conference and the cancellation of the New Year’s Eve celebration quoted Hubert Locke, dean emeritus of the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs. “It’s been rough for the mayor. I would think the worst is behind him, but I say that with my fingers crossed,” Locke said.

ENVIRONMENTAL WIN: The UW’s Philip Bereano, a professor of technology and public policy, was in the news earlier this year following successful negotiations of a treaty involving 130 countries. The treaty formalizes the process by which countries can refuse to accept genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into their borders. Bereano told The Associated Press, Business Week, CNN, National Public Radio, Science magazine and others that the treaty represented a major environmental victory. “This treaty emphatically establishes that GMOs present different kinds of risks that require particular scrutiny. The agreement is a tremendous victory for the environment,” Bereano told CNN. ¶

Newsmakers is a periodic column reporting on coverage of the University of Washington by the national press and broadcasting services.