UB in the News

An article in the Wall Street Journal about the difficulties political scientists have predicting election outcomes quotes James E. Campbell, professor and chair of political science. "Congressional elections generally are more difficult," he says. "A lot of local factors come into play."

A story in USA Today about a New Jersey college that has banned alcoholic energy drinks on campus over concerns about the health risks the drinks pose quotes Kathleen Miller, research scientist at the Research Institute on Addictions, who said that if the college can't ban drinks like Red Bull and vodka from local bars, it won't be able to stop consumption of caffeinated alcoholic beverages, but banning the drinks on campus will send a signal. Articles also appeared in the Asbury Park Press, on WLTX-TV in Columbia, S.C., College News and England's Top News.

James Coleman Battista, assistant professor of political science, is quoted in an article in the New York Times about diminishing support for gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, even in his home turf of Western New York. "They were interested in Paladino as a concept and didn't know much about him, except that he was mad as hell. But at this point, he's said something to annoy almost anyone," Battista said.

An article on Voice of America reports a new study by Chinese and American researchers has found polluted coal being burned in the home fireplaces has caused an outbreak of disease that damages teeth and bones. The article quotes Joseph Gardella, Larkin Professor of Chemistry, who said the rates of skeletal fluorosis in some of the villages in China are as high as 30 percent, although not all of the victims are suffering the most extreme disability. Additional articles on the study can be found on Science Daily and Medical News Today, and the south Asian news service ANI also distributed an article on the research.

An article on PhysOrg.com reports villagers in remote, rural areas of southwestern China who cook and dry their clothes by burning pieces of coal they pick up off the ground are being poisoned by a toxic substance released by the fuel, according to an ongoing investigation by chemists at UB. The research also is the subject of an article distributed by the South Asian news service ANI.

Health Day news service distributed an article that reports a UB study has found that in life, some adversity can benefit your mental health by strengthening you adaptability and resilience. An article also appeared on MercatorNet, a website dedicated to human dignity, and on U.S. News & World Report, About Health and MSN.com.

An article on the Daily Commercial News and Construction Record reports on Joyce Hwang's "Bat Tower," a twisted tower designed to house bats at Griffis Sculpture Park, as well as to raise awareness about a fatal disease threatening them.

An article in Marie Claire magazine online reports that a study by UB that analyzed the shopping habits of 1,000 households found that consumers who take cash to shop and leave their debit cards at home are more likely to resist buying junk food.

Michael Poulin, assistant professor of psychology, is quoted in an article on Discovery News about the rescued Chilean miners and post-traumatic stress disorder. For most of these men, chronic stress is probably a bigger concern than PTSD, he said.

Pop culture expert Elayne Rapping, professor emeritus of American studies, is quoted in an article on Fox News about a trailer for an upcoming movie in which one of the film's characters refers to electric cars as "gay." "This gaffe hit a point in time where this kind of thing really gets noticed and criticized and may well hurt the future of a film like this that targets a younger, more culturally open, demographic," she said.