Friday, January 30, 2004

Wilmington, NC- Programming for the week of February 8, UNCW Community Link, an interactive, public affairs television show discovers non-medicinal methods of helping children with learning disabilities and explores UNCW’s semester long Brown vs. Board of Education commemoration.

H.E. “Hunter” Thompson, Jr. sits down with Dr.Walter Thomas Schmid and Dr. Raymond Burt to discuss the semester long commemoration of Brown vs. Board of Education. The notion of commemorating one idea for a whole semester was introduced when the university had a College Day event where it opened its doors to the public to sit in on classes. The concept was to “have the community come in around a particular topic” according to Burt. UNCW is now hosting more than 14 events this semester to encourage discussion about the decision that changed history. According to Schmid, this issue still faces us today as we strive to diversify our area.

The university is not just hosting lectures; they will also administer classes that will enrich the community. A movie series featuring movies that depict the struggle of desegregation and related topics is being featured on campus that is free and open to the public.

Betty Ann Sanders speaks with third grade teacher Julie Cox, and Donna Noland, author of Awaken Your Brain. They discuss new progress in the field of learning disabilities such as Attention Deficit Dissorder. In an age where Ritalin prescriptions seem to be rampant, Noland sought to find an alternative way for children with learning disabilities to help themselves. Noland says that many parents are reluctant to give their children any of the new medicines, which often causes over-stimulation. Cox and Noland focus on helping the children to find a way to concentrate, and relieve stress. Some of the activities are as simple as tracing a figure eight sideways onto a piece of paper called lazy eights. “What this allows the children to do is work on tracking, which improves reading skills,” states Noland.

Cox, who has hands on experience with the exercises, says it has helped her students immensely. She reported having some students ask for pen and paper during the middle of a test so they can do their “Lazy Eights” to calm them down. Noland remarks, “Stress can shut down the brain and children need something to settle their minds, like these activities.” This method is becoming increasingly popular with parents who do not want to use medication, and teachers are also seeing the positive effects.

Need a date for Valentines Day? Dr. Anita McDaniel, from UNCW’s Communication Studies department, discusses the internet dating epidemic in this week’s Editorially Yours.

UNCW Community Link reaches beyond the television studio to allow citizens to sound off on compelling issues facing Southeastern North Carolina. Hosts Sanders and Thompson engage and challenge the region’s newsmakers and opinion-shapers and then ask viewers to voice their opinions. Through collaboration with the Southeast Public Interest Network of North Carolina (www.SpinNC.org), citizens can use the latest Internet technologies to continue the dialog on show topics and community ideas. UNCW Community Link is brought to you in part by the following sponsors: Time Warner Cable, Wilmington Star-News and WHQR Public Radio.

For more information on this week’s show visit these web sites:

10 Tips for Online Dating Safety

http://www.ivillage.co.uk/relationships/dating/onlinedate/articles/0,,166420_527826,00.html

Brain Boosters

http://school.discovery.com/brainboosters/

Brown vs. Board of Education schedule of events

http://www.uncw.edu/brownlc/

Tune into UNCW Community Link:

Wilmington & Brunswick County can tune in on The Learning Network, Time Warner Ch 5 and Charter Communications Ch 12 at 7 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays

Pender County can tune in on Government Channel 8 at 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Carteret County/Havelock can tune in on Time Warner Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Thursdays

Jacksonville can tune in on Time Warner Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Thursdays