UB in the News

An article in The New York Times on business travelers who blog and why there are so few of them quotes Alex Halavais, assistant professor of communication, who says business travelers have several reasons to steer clear of blogging, because "Even a mention that you are in a particular city may sometimes be enough information for a competitor to surmise what is going on."

An article in the Argus Leader on superstitions about Friday the 13th quotes Phillips Stevens, Jr., associate professor of anthropology, who said the most popular theory about how the superstition started has to do with Jesus' death, and "For many centuries into the Middle Ages, the church regarded the killing of Christ as the most horrible crime of all time. Even though theologically it's recognized as the foundation for Christianity, it was a horrible, horrible event."

An article in the Chicago Tribune on Boeing's record number of airplane orders in 2005, which may end up hurting its case in the trade war with European competitor Airbus, quotes David Pritchard, a research associate with the Canada-U.S. Trade Center in the Department of Geography, who said "Boeing can't have it both ways. You can't have record sales and say these subsidies are damaging us."

An article in the Houston Chronicle on the announcement that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are having a baby together quotes Elayne Rapping, professor of American studies, who says the careful publicity about their relationship has changed Jolie's reputation from wild girl to a more matronly woman who "loves her children and the children of the world."

A study conducted by the Research Institute on Addictions that looks at alcohol use and impairment in the workplace is the subject of articles distributed by both the Associated Press and Reuters news services that appear today in more than 400 newspapers and on television, radio and Internet news sites throughout the U.S. and the world.

An article in the Toledo Blade takes a look at Reggie Witherspoon's six-year career as coach of men's basketball, taking over a program that was "in tatters" and turning it into one that today "is among the MAC's premier programs."

An article in the Hartford Courant on patterns of self-destruction among law enforcement officers quotes John Violanti, research professor in social and preventive medicine, who says "People who come into police work are very idealistic. They want to solve every crime in the world. They want to be on CSI."

An article distributed by the Associated Press reports that former Nebraska quarterback and assistant coach Turner Gill has accepted the head coaching position at UB. More than 70 outlets picking up the story, including CBS Sportsline, CNN/Sports Illustrated, ESPN, MSNBC and USA Today.

An article distributed by UPI reports on changing leadership styles and hospital culture and the impact that could have on the nursing profession, and quotes Fred Dansereau, professor of organizations and human resources in the School of Management.

An article in USA Today on a patent lawsuit against the maker of the BlackBerry quotes Shubha Ghosh, professor of law, who says a shutdown of BlackBerry service is unlikely because "There's too much at stake for (RIM and NTP) not to settle."