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Ugland awarded Fulbright to the Czech Republic Throughout its history, the United States has grappled with tension between free press rights and national security. Today, the debate over technology surveillance is a political hot-button issue. But it’s not just occurring in America. As a Fulbright scholar for spring 2014, Dr. Erik Ugland saw firsthand how relatively young democracies like the Czech Republic struggle with reconciling the rights of the press with interests of the state. “Central Europe is a fascinating part of the world, “ Ugland says. “It is also an ideal place to study how countries with relatively young constitutional histories are dealing with the social and legal pressures created by new technology.” Ugland, a Diederich College associate professor, was awarded a dual faculty appointment at Masaryk University in Brno. He taught a course in media law at the Institute of Law and Technology, along with a course on the political economy of mass media. During his time in Brno, he also spent time researching European law and policy, particularly the rights of citizens and journalists to
gather news. This builds upon his current research, which focuses on interpretations of the free press provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. Ugland was thrilled to have the opportunity to experience another culture and noted that living in Brno was a great location for travel in Europe because it’s within four hours of several major cities, including Vienna; Prague; Bratislava, Slovakia; Krakow, Poland; and Budapest, Hungary. Ugland’s Fulbright in the Czech Republic also offered an opportunity for adventure for his family. His children, Gus and Ella, attended an international school in Brno, and his wife, Missy, continued to operate her consulting business, which focuses on grant writing and special projects. After the semester ended, they began traveling to other countries, including Norway, where they planned to meet some distant relatives and visit their ancestors’ family farm. To accommodate his research and travel, Ugland stepped down from a three-year appointment as associate dean for graduate studies and research to resume the role of faculty member in the Diederich College.
Dr. Erik Ugland
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