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April 30, 1999 JOURNALISTS: Here are some story ideas from Purdue. Purdue offers S.O.S. for school violence A Purdue assistant professor of child development and family studies says school violence is everyone's problem. Laura Hess, an expert on school violence, says every child plays a role in allowing aggression to occur at school. "They might not be the bully or the victims -- others involved include the goaders, those who run away and those who ignore the behavior," she says. Before installing metal detectors and cameras, schools need to move beyond crisis management plans and promote early intervention, she advises. Preventing school violence must start in elementary schools, as Hess says children as early as the second and third grade can identify those peers who are the leaders, bullies, victims and outcasts. She has developed "Safety on Schoolgrounds" (S.O.S.), a research project that will work with students and teachers in grades three, four and five. Small groups of children, led by an S.O.S. supervisor, will identify how they feel about themselves, their school and their safety. Teachers become a part of the solution as they help identify how children interact with one another during the course of the school day. CONTACT: Laura Hess: (765) 494-1029; hessl@cfs.purdue.edu Bomb Kosovo with leaflets, Purdue expert says In addition to the bombs being dropped on Kosovo, a Purdue history professor suggests bombarding the territory with leaflets. "I think these would be effective weapons in disenchanting Serbs with their government and getting them out of denial," says Charles Ingrao, an expert on the region. He suggests the leaflets paint Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic as a made-to-order scapegoat, whose removal would resolve a whole bunch of problems. Ingrao says the leaflets could also make it crystal clear that 19 different democracies -- not just Bill Clinton -- support the bombing effort. "Unlike radio and TV broadcasts, these statements could accumulate in Serb living rooms until the full picture emerges," he says. He notes that Serbian civilians are staying home these days, what with 50 percent unemployment and the tight rationing of gasoline. CONTACT: Charles Ingrao, (765) 463-9658; ingrao@omni.cc.purdue.edu Events Tuesday-Wednesday, May 4-5. "Keeping Kids Safe," a conference aimed at preventing gangs and juvenile violence, will be held at the Abe Martin Lodge at Brown County State Park near Nashville, Ind. The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. May 4 and concludes at 4 p.m. May 5. Nationally known gang expert Steve Nawojczyk will give the keynote address. The workshop is sponsored by the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service's Department of 4-H Youth and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. CONTACT: Pam Robbins, coordinator of Purdue's Community Systemwide Response, a 4-H group that works with communities on local youth issues, (812) 967-3738, probbins@wcrtc.net Friday, May 14. Maj. Gen. Richard E. Brown III, a decorated combat pilot who is director of joint matters for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operation, will speak at the ROTC Tri-Commissioning Ceremony for the 25 graduates of Purdue's Army, Navy and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps programs. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. in the South Ballroom of the Purdue Memorial Union. CONTACT: Capt. Paul Driessen, Purdue Air Force ROTC, (765) 494-2042 Saturday-Sunday, May 15-16. Spring commencement ceremonies at West Lafayette will be 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day in Elliott Hall of Music. Approximately 4,775 students -- 3,860 of whom are undergraduates -- will earn degrees during the four ceremonies. Purdue President Steven C. Beering and Dr. Charles Boonstra, president of the Purdue Alumni Association, will address graduates at each ceremony. Journalists who want to cover commencement will need tickets and should reserve space for camera equipment. CONTACTS: Roy A. Johnson, associate registrar, (765) 494-6163, or Mike Willis, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-0371. The schedule of ceremonies: -- 9:30 a.m. Saturday ,Schools of Agriculture and Liberal Arts. -- 2:30 p.m. Saturday ,Schools of Management and Technology. -- 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Schools of Engineering and Veterinary Medicine. -- 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Schools of Consumer and Family Sciences; Education; Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences; and Science. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page