6/16/98

The following Ohio University professors are available for insightful interviews on topics in the news. Please contact Dwight Woodward at 740/593-1886 or Todd Anderson at 740/593-1885 to arrange an interview.

JUNE IS NATIONAL FIREWORKS SAFETY MONTH:
There's nothing wrong with celebrating the Fourth of July with fireworks as long as it's done safely and supervised by adults, according to Ohio University Assistant Chemistry Professor Dan Dolata. Dolata, a certified exhibitor with the Pyrotechnics Guild International, recently testified before the Ohio House of Representatives which is considering a bill that would change Ohio's laws governing fireworks. A few tips from Dolata on igniting fireworks: "Always have an adult present, never approach duds for at least 30 minutes after they are lit and always behave as if the fireworks can explode at any time," said Dolata. Dolata offers additional tips in the "personal" section of his World Wide Web site at: http://main.chem.ohiou.edu/~dolata/dolata.html

BULLYING VICTIMS INVOLVED IN MOST SCHOOL SHOOTINGS:
The recent spate of shootings at high schools nationwide have a common element: The gunmen have all been bullied or in some way felt they were a victim. That's according to Richard Hazler, a professor of counseling and higher education and author of Breaking the Cycle of Violence: Interventions for Bullying and Victimization. "One of the key factors, if you look at the follow-up stories on these shootings, is they generally involve someone who has been a victim of bullies or see themselves as a victim," Hazler says. While overall shootings at public schools have actually decreased over the last year, the media has covered the recent shootings more thoroughly because they have occurred in middle class neighborhoods and not the poor city ghettos where shootings are more commonplace, according to Hazler. "These shootings strike at the heart of the middle class," says Hazler.

DOWNSIZING POSES LEGAL ISSUES FOR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES:
As computers replace middle managers and robots replace production workers in the workplace of the 1990s, employers and employees should be aware of the legal issues surrounding corporate downsizing, according to a new Ohio University study. Corporate reductions in the workforce present serious legal risks for employers, including potential age discrimination claims by terminated employees, according to Art Marinelli, a professor of business at Ohio University. "In this era of downsizing, it is imperative that employers have a systematic evaluation system in place so that someone who is outstanding isn't fired suddenly because the employer doesn't want to keep a high-salaried employee," says Marinelli. "It is also very important for workers to be aware of their rights." The study was published in a recent issue of the journal Midwest Law Review.