College of Communications receives grant from state for research, advertising

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has provided a $92,000 grant to the College of Communications for faculty and students to design media messages about the dangers of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

The Department of Health wants to inform college-age women about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) through a statewide program.

FASD, a term used to describe the effects on an child whose mother consumed alcohol while pregnant, can produce effects including behavioral, physical, mental and learning disabilities.

Research will be conducted this spring and summer to provide feedback from college-aged women about specific attitudes and public opinion of FASD.

The research will be used to help develop a message urging women between the ages of 17 and 22 to refrain from drinking while pregnant.

Student groups from Penn State will develop a peer-directed media message through the use of advertising, awareness videos and on-campus events by the time the program becomes fully implemented next fall.

University Park journalism professor honored with national teaching award

College of Communications faculty member Robert Richards, a professor of journalism and law, was named the Journalism Teacher of the Year

Awards were given in several categories including editorial writing, Web reporting and college cartooning by the Scripps Howard Foundation through its National Journalism Awards program.

The award includes a $10,000 prize for Richards as well as a trophy and a $5,000 gift for the College of Communications. The winners will appear at the National Press Club for a dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 20.

Richards has been a Penn State faculty member since 1988. He founded the Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment and the Penn State Washington Program, where he served as co-director and director, respectively.

Richards is the author and co-author of three books on media law along with more than 40 articles on free-speech and free-press issues.

Throughout the 20 years of his service, he has taught several courses in the areas of print and broadcast.

UPUA names student commissioners in order to host elections in the spring

The University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) took another step toward holding elections in the spring by appointing election commissioners at its meeting last night.

Frank Criscione, who is the former Undergraduate Student Government (USG) senate vice president, was named head election commissioner.

Criscione said he was motivated by a desire to see more students participate in UPUA.

"I felt the need to improve student awareness of the student voice," he said.

Shawn Gordon, John Lozano, Thomas Hudson, Steve Hulich and Sean Sherlock were appointed to the other five commissioner positions. All of the commissioners were the sole applicants for their positions.

Hudson, the commissioner of voting and publicity, said he plans to advertise the UPUA elections in "high-traffic areas" in order to increase voter turnout in the upcoming elections.

The new commission got right to work after being appointed, leaving the meeting to prepare a budget for the elections.