Media misinformation about changes in Eastern Europe distorts issues such as German reunification. The role of the press in reporting changes in these countries must continue to come under scrutiny, five panelists agreed earlier this week.

"It's clear that (the media) knows very little," said panelist Brian Winston, a former journalist who traveled throughout Eastern Europe and currently the dean of the School of Communications. "They don't understand the complexity of the history of these nations."

Theodora Mercouffer, who is from Romania, said the U.S. media does not report on her homeland unless there is a revolution taking place.

"It's exciting to see American people -- who usually are accused of being ethnocentric -- who are showing a big interest in what's going on in Europe," said panelist Mercouffer (sophomore-theater).

"I wish they had a more in-depth view of the country," she said.

In the Wednesday presentation, Michael Bernhard, assistant professor of political science and panelist, said he is disgusted by the media's coverage of these events.

"The media plays up the cathartic things like the people standing on the Berlin Wall and the necrophiliac view of (Nicolae) Ceausescu lying in his own blood," he said.

In recent months, national newspapers, radio programs and magazines have focused heavily on the dynamic changes within Communist countries. And German reunification is examined regularly by the press.

Panelist Tomasz Bulick (graduate-astronomy), who is from Poland, said he is in favor of the reunification because Germans have the right to live any way they choose.

It would be a mistake to prevent Germany from reunifying, said Bernhard. He added that the chance for a negative reaction would be greater if they were prevented.

"We don't have a lot to fear from a unified Germany," he said.

"The fear is that Germany will unify into a belligerent power and push everyone around in Europe," said Manfred Keune, associate professor of German.

Yet Keune said he expects no problems with a unified Germany because the conditions of economic instability and the world's negative opinion of Germany that prevailed in 1938 are no longer present today.

W. LaMarr Kopp, deputy vice president of the Office of International Programs, said he agreed there will be no problems because he believes the two Germanys are responsible members of the world community.

"They will not be a security problem because they are being watched carefully by the world," he said.

Winston said he is amazed at the recent revolts against communism in Eastern Europe that have opened up countries once closed to the rest of the world. Yet he warned that American intervention could ruin everything.

"The Europeans have to sort out their own house," he said.

The panel, entitled "Eastern Europe: A Personal Perspective" was created by Elizabeth Hernan of the Undergraduate Student Government's Department of Political and International Affairs.

"It's very difficult to do these kinds of things, but it's interesting," she said.

Eugene Senya, professor of international business and marketing, was the fifth member of the panel.