Memory

Adult memories of dramatic events depend on how directly they were affected, says Dr. Stephen Schmidt, professor of psychology. Research into autobiographical memories for such things as the 9/11 attack on New York suggests that the closer they were to the carnage, the more poorly they will remember the details. "Images that are distinctive, culturally significant and often repeated in the media will come to represent the [Iraq] war and thus be well remembered." The planes flying into the WTC are indelible images. The toppling of Saddam's statue may or may not be such an image for the Iraqi people because they may see that event as staged by the U.S. military, he adds.

Contact Schmidt at 615-898-2556.
sschmidt@mtsu.edu

FCC rollback

The public exclusion from providing input concerning the FCC rollback on regulatory constraints governing monopolistic practices is but the latest example of democracy taking a back seat to economics imperatives, says Dr. Bob Kalwinsky, assistant professor, electronic media communication. "Rather than the dissemination of information, increasingly the intent is to deliver audiences to advertisers," he says. It is not surprising, he notes, given Michael Powell's assertion that "my religion is the market." Such media consolidation has prompted layoffs, "as media firms acquire smaller outlets and eliminate duplicate positions--with a resultant loss of diversity of coverage and ... local coverage."

Contact Kalwinsky at 615-904-8366.
rkalwins@mtsu.edu

Elderly drivers

Young people have to wait until a certain age to drive. Should there be an age limitation on driving privileges for the elderly? Dr. Jon MacBeth, professor, HPERS, says that we screen vehicles for safety, so why not drivers? "Perhaps there should be an age range required when elderly drivers are encouraged to be screened for vision, reaction time and other risk factors that may contribute to becoming accident prone." MacBeth adds that more driving workshops could be offered for the elderly. More cars are on the road every year, and road rage is a growing problem. "More research needs to be conducted in this area."

Contact MacBeth at 615-898-2906.
jmacbeth@mtsu.edu