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.

October 14, 2002

STORY IDEAS

1. Purdue expert explains scary fascination
2. Audiologist talks about hearing with implants
3. Purdue expert explains what to do if child is abused
4. Intimate Violence Awareness Week recognized

PURDUE EVENTS

Tuesday, Oct. 15 – Mexican consul to speak at Purdue
Thursday, Oct. 17 – Purdue, Visclosky to break ground for high-tech incubator in northwest Indiana
Monday, Oct. 21 – University Senate to meet
Thursday, Oct. 24 – Intel executive to speak on campus
Monday, Oct. 28 – World Trade Center survivor to share story

 

Purdue expert explains scary fascination

People of all ages are on the prowl for a good scare this time of year.

Glenn Sparks, a Purdue communications expert in mass media, can talk about whether people really enjoy being scared.

Some people seek delight in walking through a haunted house and others raid their local video store in search of the scariest, and often goriest, movies. Sparks, who has researched what are the scariest movies, can explain this fascination.

Sparks also can talk about how scary images affect children, as well as provide tips for parents to alleviate their child's fears.

CONTACT: Sparks, (765) 494-3316, gsparks@purdue.edu.

Audiologist talks about hearing with implants

A growing number of hearing-impaired individuals, especially children, are turning to cochlear implants to hear better. Mike Pachuilo, a Purdue University audiologist, can talk about the special rehabilitative needs for this growing population.

"Cochlear implants are becoming a more popular and viable alternative for deaf children and adults," said Pachuilo, who supervises cochlear implant pediatric rehabilitation therapy at the Purdue Audiology Clinic. "We need to teach children to use this new auditory information effectively."

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that is surgically implanted in the ear's cochlea to electronically stimulate the inner ear's nerve endings, allowing the individual a sense of hearing. Pachuilo said people need to be aware of rehabilitation and support services if these devices are to be successful following surgery.

"We need to educate parents about how the auditory process evolves, and teach them how to educate their child's academic environment with information and resources," he said.

Patients in west-central Indiana are often referred to the Purdue Audiology Clinic for rehabilitation from Indianapolis surgical teams.

Purdue audiology students also gain experience in the lab working with a trained professional and clients. It takes an average of two years to rehabilitate the hearing of a child with a cochlear implant before they can independently use the device for effective verbal communication.

CONTACT: Pachuilo, (765) 494-3805, pachuilo@postoffice.purdue.edu.

Purdue expert explains what to do if child is abused

Parents often discipline their children in public, but when should an observer contact authorities or even intrude?

Dean Knudsen, professor of sociology, can talk about how people should respond if they witness child abuse or when they should report it.

"Under Indiana law, if anyone observes what they suspect to be child abuse, they are mandated to report it to Child Protective Services," Knudsen said. "If Child Protective Services, a state agency, finds enough evidence to suggest abuse did take place, then the organization will file a report to the police or prosecutor."

Knudsen said it's rare for child abuse to take place in public, or for abusive parents to be caught in the act.

"It's a complicated and difficult issue to determine when abuse has occurred and when it has not," he said.

CONTACT: Knudsen, (765) 496 3775, knudsend@soc.purdue.edu.

Intimate Violence Awareness Week recognized

Intimate Violence Awareness Week will be recognized at Purdue University with several events this week.

Opening ceremonies will take place at noon today (Monday, 10/14) in the Purdue Memorial Union Great Hall. Speakers will include West Lafayette Mayor Sonya Margerum; Lafayette Mayor David Heath; Janet Wang, YWCA domestic violence intervention and prevention program director; Cheryl Ubelhor, Crisis Center executive director; and a rape survivor.

This evening, a "speakout" will be held so people can share their concerns and experiences with sexual and domestic violence. The event begins at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 206.

The annual Take Back the Night March will take place Wednesday (10/16). The marchers will assemble for a rally at 7 p.m. on the front lawn of the Purdue Memorial Union. The rally will feature speakers who will relate their personal experience with sexual and relationship violence. A short march around campus will follow.

An interactive theater performance by HumanRITE will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday (10/17) in Stewart Center, rooms 302 and 306. HumanRITE will present scenes dealing with intimate violence.

The Clothesline Project, in which survivors of violence can share their stories by decorating T-shirts, also will be in the Purdue Memorial Union lobby throughout this week.

CONTACT: Karen Hall, Women's Resource Office director, (765) 494-9879, wro@purdue.edu.

 

Events

Mexican consul to speak at Purdue

• Tuesday, Oct. 15. 4-5 p.m. East-West faculty lounges in the Purdue Memorial Union. Sergio Aguilera Beteta, the Consul of Mexico who recently opened an office in Indianapolis to serve Hispanic residents of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, will take part in a public forum. The consul will address the relationship between Mexico and the United states and what his office can do to serve Hispanic residents in Central Indiana. He also will acknowledge the variety of connections that Purdue has with Mexico. The consul's visit officially concludes Hispanic Heritage Month at Purdue. CONTACT: Dorothy Simpson-Taylor, Diversity Resource Office director, (765) 494-7307, dmsimpson-taylor@purdue.edu; Hansel Monroy, Latino Student Union president, (765) 420-7174, hansel@purdue.edu.

 

Purdue, Visclosky to break ground for high-tech incubator in northwest Indiana

• Thursday, Oct. 17. 1 p.m. Merrillville, Ind. Purdue University officials will join Indiana Congressman Pete Visclosky at 1 p.m. on Thursday (10/17) to break ground for a high-tech business incubator in northwest Indiana. "Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana: Because high-paying jobs come from high-tech ideas" is the theme for the event, which will be in Merrillville on land south of 93rd Avenue, between Broadway and I-65. No parking will be permitted near the event site. Journalists will be shuttled to the site from the little league parking lot on Mississippi Street. CONTACT: Jeanine Phipps, Purdue Research Park public relations director, (765) 496-3133; jeanine@purdue.edu.

 

University Senate to meet Oct. 21

• Monday, Oct. 21. 2:30 p.m. University Senate meeting. Stewart Center, Room 302.

 

Intel executive to speak on campus

• Thursday, Oct. 24. 1:30-2:20 p.m. Fowler Hall. Doug Busch, Intel's vice president and chief information officer of information technology, will provide examples of the e-business challenges facing IT organizations and discuss Intel's response in his talk "Lessons Learned from an Evolving E-Enterprise."

 

World Trade Center survivor to share story

• Monday, Oct. 28. 7 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Sujo John, a New Yorker who was on the 81st floor of Tower I of the World Trade Center when an airliner exploded into flames two floors above his office, will recount his tale of survival. The event, sponsored by the Campus Crusade for Christ, is free and open to the public. CONTACT: Kent Wilson, (765) 497-4847, kbapwilson@aol.com.

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


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