Open your newspaper, turn on your television or radio, and there they are: N.C. State University's Mike Walden on the economy. Duke University's Erwin Chemerinsky on the law. N.C. State's Andy Taylor on politics.

Like their colleagues, the professors spend most of their time molding young minds and doing research. But in their spare time, they leave the ivory tower to enter the public policy arena.

Most often they appear in the role of explainers -- translating complicated material for the public, highlighting trends or placing events into context. Sometimes they are advocates who push causes or issues.

Is this a good thing? You will not be shocked to learn that academics held a forum at Duke the other day to discuss the media/academic dance.

The media superstar is Chemerinsky, the Duke law professor who arrived here two years ago from the University of Southern California.

Chemerinsky is on everyone's Rolodex, having given thousands of media interviews and written hundreds of opinion pieces that have appeared as guest columns in newspapers.

He was on national TV regularly during the O.J. Simpson trial, providing legal analysis of the day's proceedings.

Chemerinsky says his first priority is research, scholarship and teaching. But he also sees a wider role of educating the public about the law. It increases the university's visibility. And besides, Chemerinsky says, it's just plain fun.

Leaving the ivory tower has risks. Walden says as a young professor, he angered some legislators with his legislative testimony. He soon had SBI agents snooping around to investigate whether he had any ties with special interests. "It can get rough," Walden said.

It also can make you a target. Gene Nichol, the former dean of the University of North Carolina law school -- who is now president of The College of William and Mary -- angered conservatives with his unflattering critiques of the Bush administration.

Some professors go beyond punditry.

Michael Munger, a Duke political scientist, plans to run for governor in 2008 on the Libertarian ticket.

He will join a parade of prof/pols. Democratic U.S. Rep. David Price is a former Duke political science professor.

Perhaps the most famous academic/pol was Frank Porter Graham, the University of North Carolina president who was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1949.

Conservative profs seem to have better success. Former Gov. Jim Martin was a chemistry prof at Davidson. The late U.S. Sen. John East was a political scientist at East Carolina University. Former U.S. Rep. David Funderburk was a prof at Campbell University. Two-time gubernatorial candidate I. Beverly Lake Sr. was a Wake Forest University law professor.

It seems if you can handle faculty politics, the real thing is child's play.

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