Nine Shippensburg University faculty members are holding several programs to discuss their recently-released book that explores political sex scandals.

Sex Scandals in American Politics was released Sept. 15 and is a analytical approach that continues to gain headlines. The book discusses the  causes of these scandals and why the public continues to react to them.

The authors are celebrating the release of the book with several scheduled appearances, including appearing at “Celebrate the Book” fair Oct. 22 in Carlisle. They were also be at “Author’s Night” in Old Main Chapel on campus Oct. 27. The event is open to the public and the campus community.  On Nov. 19, they will give a presentation at the Northeast Political Science Conference in Philadelphia.

In June 2012, the university will host the conference “Scandal! An Interdisciplinary Conference on the  Consequences, Outcomes, and Significance of Political Scandals.” The conference is June 21 to 23. It will include panels and roundtables to explore the implications of political scandal from multiple perspectives, including the humanities, behavioral and social sciences.

Dr. Alison Dagnes, associate professor of political science, who also co-wrote the chapter “The Politics, Geography and Constituencies of Political Sex Scandals” with Dr. Janet Smith, associate professor of geography-earth science edited the book.

Other chapters were written by Dr. Cynthia Drenovsky, professor of sociology, “Game Changer: The Clinton Scandal and American Sexuality;” Dr. James Griffith, assistant professor of psychology, “The Psychology of Risky Sexual Behavior: Why Politicians Expose Themselves;” Dr. Mark Sachleben, associate professor of political science, “A Framework for Understanding: Sex Scandals in Comparison;” Dr. Carrie Sipes, assistant professor of communication/journalism, “Men, Mistresses, and Media Framing: Examining Political Sex Scandals;” Dr. Richard Knight, associate professor of human communication studies, “Love Means Sometimes Having to Say You’re Sorry;” Stephanie Jirard, associate professor of criminal justice, “It May Be Wrong, But it’s Not a Crime: The negligible legal consequences for the amoral sexual activity of men in public office;” and Dr. Cynthia Botteron, associate professor of political science, “Hedging the Bet: Constitutional Qualifications for National Public Office.”

For more information on the conference, contact Dagnes at addagn@ship.edu  or Sachleben at MDSachleben@ship.edu, or go to the conference website at http://www.ship.edu/Scandal_Conference.