Violent children

A recent new story discussed the increasing violence that elementary teachers and principals are seeing among the youngest of students. Is violence in media to blame? While violence in video games, movies, etc., certainly don't help, aggressive, violent behavior is more likely to be demonstrated by children "if it is modeled and/or rewarded in the child's most immediate environments ... the home and community," says Dr. Susan Sobel, clinical and school psychologist. "This is even more true if those same environments lack nurturance, structure and consistency, empathy, and healthy coping." School violence overall is going down, she adds.

Contact Sobel at 615-898-5288.
ssobel@mtsu.edu

Super Bowl ad survey

A total of 334 students voted for the brands that aired the best and worst Super Bowl commercials, and the results point out that people like humorous commercials even though they may have little to do with product quality, says Dr. Don Roy, marketing and management. Budweiser ranked first; then Bud Light, FedEx, Pepsi Twist, and Pepsi Sierra Mist and Reebok tied for fifth. The students said the worst ones included Quizno's, George Foreman Grill, AT&T Wireless, and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The ad that ranked at the bottom was Levi Strauss.

Contact Roy at 615-904-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

Another war scenario

If there is a brief and successful war with Iraq, Hussein either leaves, is captured or killed, points out Dr. Bill Ford, professor, economics and finance, in his published paper, "Economic Implications of an Attack on Iraq." No biochemical weapons are used, casualties are minimal--oil supplies are not significantly disrupted--no need for a prolonged occupation--and some form of democratic government emerges. Also, oil fields (and domestic markets) are reopened. "Where along that spectrumÑfrom gloom and doom to a geopolitical Nirvana--will the U.S. attack fall in terms of economic costs and consequences? ... The U.S. economy will be affected, perhaps profoundly, by such a geopolitical event."

Contact Ford at 615-898-2889.
wfford@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA: TODAY, Jan. 27, 3:00-3:50 p.m., Honors Lecture Series, Dr. Kevin Donovan, professor, English, "Cultures, Customs and the Politics Identity in 20th Century Irish Literature," Peck Hall 109A, free and open. Media welcomed.
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 7 p.m., Davis Science Building, Room 100, Dr. George Benz of the Tennessee Aquarium & Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute will discuss his little-known discoveries about the Greenland sharks and their intricate links with other creatures. Open to the public. Media welcomed.