AUGUST 1997 STORY IDEAS
8/7/97
The following Ohio University professors are available for insightful interviews on topics in
the news. Please contact Dwight Woodward at 614/593-1886 to arrange an interview.
NATIONAL POLL FINDS COLLEGE DIPLOMA A GOOD
INVESTMENT:
Americans think a college diploma is worth the investment and favor increased federal aid to
colleges and universities. That's according to a nationwide telephone survey by the Scripps
Howard News Service and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.
Distinguished Professor of Journalism Guido Stempel oversaw the poll of 1,009 adults. "Most
respondents believe that college is important for financial security," Stempel says. "Seventy-three percent said a college diploma is very important for financial security." Other findings
include: 80 percent said a college degree enhanced quality of life, 54 percent said a college
degree was very helpful in their first job and 64 percent said it's worth going into debt to attend
college.
PREPARING CHILDREN FOR THE RETURN TO
SCHOOL:
As summer wanes and thoughts return to school, here are a few tips on preparing children for the
upcoming school year from Professor Ralph Martin, director of curriculum and instruction at
Ohio University's College of Education. "The most important thing is to give children as many
experiences as they can get because these experiences will allow them to construct understanding
and connect meaning with what they are learning in school. For example, it's important to read
every day, at least fifteen minutes, even newspapers or the news magazines. Reading helps
thinking, writing and spelling." Martin also suggests travel to zoos, parks, nature preserves, art
galleries and concerts as a way to learn from experience. But Martin says don't try to overdo the
reading. "If you are thinking about cramming, in the sense of trying to read all the great books or
that sort of thing, it's fruitless."
UNITED POSTAL SERVICE STRIKE TESTS TEAMSTERS
BOSS:
Labor expert Richard Vedder, distinguished professor of economics at Ohio University, says the
UPS strike is really a test for Teamsters President Ron Carey. Carey, a former UPS driver, barely
won the last election for president when he narrowly defeated James P. Hoffa. "It's largely a
strike about the internal politics of the Teamsters," Vedder says. "Ron Carey thinks this is a
chance to make a positive statement. He won't even allow the workers to vote on the contract.
The bread and butter of a union is having the ability to go on strike in more than a bluff. The
Teamsters don't have enough money to pay more than seven days of strike benefits." Vedder
says the UPS strike won't have a great impact on the economy as other shipping companies are
delivering packages once shipped by UPS. Vedder says UPS employees represent less than two-fifths of a percent of the U.S. work force and the stock market has actually risen since the strike.
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