sealPurdue Story Ideas, Events
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JOURNALISTS: Here are story ideas and a list of selected Purdue events during the next two weeks.

August 30, 2002

STORY IDEAS

1. Sense of security can qualm children's kidnapping fears
2. Purdue artists transform building with mural
3. Student helps improve Bosnian kids' hearing
4. Study abroad expected to draw more students

PURDUE EVENTS

1. Sept. 5-11 – Purdue 9/11 remembrance events
2. Sept. 5 – Purdue, IPS kick off Science Bound program
3. Sept. 9 – Purdue Research Park breaks ground on expansion
4. Sept. 9 – University Senate meeting
5. Sept. 13 – Board of Trustees meeting
6. Sept. 14 – Black Cultural Center Friends and Family Day
7. Sept. 20 – Aviation Technology program honors American Airlines pilots

Sense of security can ease children's kidnapping fears

Parents should strive to provide their children with a sense of security amidst the national publicity surrounding kidnappings, says a Purdue expert.

"It is important we reassure children that they are safe," says Karen Diamond, professor of Child Development and Family Studies. "I'm reminded of Sept. 11. The context is different, but the issues are quite similar. Kids are hearing about bad things happening to kids, and it may make them quite anxious."

Diamond, director of the Child Development Laboratory School, says providing a blanket of security can help comfort kids. The amount of media coverage makes it seem like kidnappings happen frequently, and that can instill fear and anxiety in some children.

"Children, especially preschoolers, need to know they are safe and loved," Diamond says.

If a child asks a parent about kidnappings, Diamond says parents should consider their child's age and how much information they want to provide them.

"The old rules of teaching children that they shouldn't talk to or take gifts from strangers, that it's OK to say no to an adult, and that if they're not sure about something they should check with their parents, are all good ones that parents should (and I think do) follow," Diamond says.

Diamond also says parents should be aware of what their children hear and see when media programs about kidnappings are on television.

CONTACT: Diamond, (765) 494-0942, diamondk@cfs.purdue.edu.

Purdue artists transform building with mural

Linda Vanderkolk, a continuing lecturer and design foundations coordinator at Purdue, and Scott Frankenberger, a 1979 Purdue master's student in fine arts, are applying the final touches to a 130-foot long mural in Ivy Tech's new main building on Creasy Lane in Lafayette.

The mural, which is not yet titled, stretches 6 feet between two floors in the center of Ivy Hall. More than 1,400 handmade tiles have been positioned to create geometric shapes. Numbers and letters are etched in the triangular tiles, made by local ceramic artist Frankenberger.

"There are six different groupings of tiles, showing you can take a simple pattern and find new patterns in them, using positive or negative space," says Vanderkolk.

Frankenberger and Vanderkolk selected this transforming pattern to represent the transformation students experience during college.

The team plans to finish the mural within a month. Ivy Tech has furnished its new building with local art.

CONTACT: Vanderkolk (765) 494-2316 (office), (765) 583-0001 (home); Frankenberger, (765) 567-2678.

Student helps improve Bosnian kids' hearing

A second-year Purdue master's student in audiology and speech sciences gained more experience this summer toward her dream of starting an audiology clinic for needy children in Eastern Europe.

Jean Anne Jordan, from Charleston, S.C., spent two weeks in July fitting children for hearing aids and performing diagnostic evaluations for hearing loss in Bosnia as part of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association's Bosnia Speech and Hearing Project. Jordan wants to start a similar project in Ukraine, where she visited an orphanage during her undergraduate studies. Jordan will begin raising funds to return to Bosnia next summer to gain more experience.

"The audiology and speech education that is available to the families I worked with is limited in Bosnia," Jordan says. "They understand their hearing is important, but they only have few resources for their audiology and speech care."

CONTACT: Jordan, (765) 743-3611, jajordan@purdue.edu.

Study abroad expected to draw more students

Purdue students can learn more about study abroad opportunities at the Study Abroad Fall Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday (9/4) at Memorial Mall.

Students can visit with recent study abroad participants about their travel, cultural and study experiences in places such as Western and Eastern Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia or Latin and South America. Exchange students also will answer questions at the fair about their home countries.

In 2001-02 about 508 Purdue students participated in an approved study abroad program.

Brian Harley, director of study abroad, says he expects to see an increase in the number of Purdue students who participate.

"Despite the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks there is a growing interest in studying in another country," Harley says. "Students are not necessarily studying in the Middle East, but they are more interested in learning about other cultures in general."

There are three types of study abroad programs including a direct exchange with universities overseas or a co-sponsorship that is arranged through an outside organization. Half of the students participate in Purdue faculty-led programs, which generally take place during the summer. Students also can learn about the new, short-term, multiple destination programs at the fair.

To encourage more students to take advantage of study abroad, President Martin C. Jischke made more funds available for scholarships last year to help offset travel costs.

CONTACT: Michael Starks, marketing and publications coordinator in programs for study abroad, (765) 494-9866, mstarks@purdue.edu; Harley, (765) 494-2383, bharley@purdue.edu.

 

EVENTS

Purdue 9/11 remembrance events
• Sept. 5-11.
Purdue University will join the nation in remembering the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks during a series of campuswide activities. Observance events begin with a Community Service Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 5, and a Community Action Day at Gus Macker will follow on Sept. 7. There also will be a Sept. 11 Reflection and Remembrance Program at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10, and immediately following the program at Fowler Hall, members of the campus community will have an opportunity to express thoughts, draw pictures and write poems on large display boards. On Sept. 11 there will be a fire department ceremony at 9:05 a.m. There will be an ecumenical service at noon at St. Thomas Aquinas Center, Reflections and Remembrance of Sept. 11 from 1-4 p.m. on Memorial Mall and the Greater Lafayette Flag Ceremony from 5-5:15 p.m. at Riehle Plaza. At 7 p.m. there will be a procession that will lead students to the Campus Community Observance on Slayter Hill. The theme for the program is "Looking Forward with a United Community." Speakers include Purdue President Martin C. Jischke, West Lafayette Mayor Sonya Margerum, students and religious leaders. CONTACT: Thomas Robinson, (765) 494-5776, trobinson@purdue.edu.

Purdue, IPS kick off Science Bound program
• Thursday, Sept. 5. 6:30 p.m.
Indianapolis Roof Ballroom. Event to celebrate the creation of Science Bound, a Purdue program to help underrepresented students in the Indianapolis Public Schools district realize their dreams of attending college to study for a career in engineering, science, math or technology. CONTACT: Jesica Webb, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-2079, jwebb@purdue.edu.

Purdue Research Park breaks ground on expansion
• Monday, Sept. 9. 10:30 a.m. to noon.
A groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II of the Purdue Research Park will initiate the development of 50 acres designed to attract and retain high-tech companies. This Discover Purdue event will be held on land north of the intersection of Win Hentschel Boulevard and Kent Avenue. Speakers will include Martin C. Jischke, Purdue president; Sonya Margerum, West Lafayette mayor; Steve Belter, West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission president; and Joe Hornett, Purdue Research Foundation senior vice president and treasurer. Journalists will be able to conduct one-on-one interviews following the event. CONTACT: Jeanine Phipps, public relations director, Purdue Research Park, (765) 496-3133, jeanine@purdue.edu.

University Senate meeting
• Monday, Sept. 9.
University Senate Meeting. Stewart Center, Room 302.

Board of Trustees meeting
• Friday, Sept. 13.
9 a.m. Board of Trustees meeting. Stewart Center, Room 326.

Black Cultural Center Friends and Family Day
• Saturday, Sept. 14.
Black Cultural Center Friends and Family Day. Black Cultural Center patrons and their families will gather at the BCC after the football game for recreational activities and live entertainment by the BCC ensembles. CONTACT: Donna Hall, (765) 494-3094.

Aviation Technology program honors American Airlines pilots
• Friday, Sept. 20.
10 a.m. Aviation Technology Building, Hangar 1. Approximately 20 American Airlines pilots who are graduates of Purdue's Aviation Technology program will participate in a dedication event. Their picture will be taken for a 4x6 foot framed photo to be hung in the hangar. In addition to the picture of the pilots standing in front of an American Airlines plane, the display will feature medals and pins along with a list of donors. CONTACT: Amy Booher, (765) 494-7967, ajbooher@tech.purdue.edu.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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