Media Contact: USF Office of Media Relations(813) 974-4014
USF experts available for Valentine's Day topics
TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2001) -- It's once again the time of year when people remember their sweeties, buy lots of candy and flowers and get in trouble if they forget a card. University of South Florida experts are available to discuss all aspects of the occasion:
The Dating Game. Leonard Kirklen is a psychologist in the USF Counseling Center for Human Development who has taught "Finding Mr. or Ms. Right" for the last 12 years. Kirklen says most people don't know what they're looking for in a mate or are looking for somebody who's perfect. Picture your date as the mother or father of your children, he suggests. Although Kirklen is not teaching "Finding Mr. or Ms. Right" this semester, he is available to discuss the issue of how to find the right mate. Reach him at (813) 974-9271.
Women, Sex and Drugs. Dr. Bonnie Saks is a USF clinical professor and Tampa psychiatrist who can discuss how certain drugs affect women's sexual desire and performance. She says that 72 percent of women who are depressed have sexual problems, and that the three most popular antidepressants -- Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft -- inhibit sexual function. Women can either switch antidepressants or possibly take Viagra, she says. Saks can be reached at (813) 354-9444.
The Hormonal Attraction. USF Pharmacology Professor Joseph Krzanowski is an expert on pheromones, the hormones that attract males and females to each other. He can be reached at (813) 974-3166.
Love for Sale. The Phyllis P. Marshall Center will host the Sixth Annual Love-in -- complete with condom roses, strawberry shortcake, koala bears and free candy and perfume samples -- from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 13. New this year are the charity bears, where those who bring in old eyeglasses, even non-prescription sunglasses, will receive a free koala bear. The LensCrafters Gift of Sight Foundation will remake glasses for those who can't afford eyeglasses, both in the United States and overseas. For more information, call Debbie Lum at (813) 974-5277.
Give Me Chocolate. According to folklore, chocolate is an aphrodisiac, something that causes people to have sexual inclinations, says English Professor William Heim. Chocolate is loaded with phenylethylamine, a chemical produced in the brain that triggers a "love-struck" reaction in people. Heim can discuss St. Valentine and other folklore surrounding Valentine's Day. Reach Heim at (813) 974-9562.
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