China watchers are reporting another lifestyle shift in the world’s third largest country: the resurgence of organized religion. James Carter, Ph.D., an and expert in 20th century China and professor of history at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, offers insight into this cultural change.
No parent wants to learn that their child is being bullied. But it may be even harder to hear that their child is the bully. What does a parent do when they’re told?
No matter our religious or cultural background, we have all felt pressured during the winter holiday season to frame a picture-perfect experience. In this economy, when so many face celebrating the holidays on a tight or non-existent budget, Shawn Madison Krahmer, Ph.D., chair of theology and religious studies at Saint Joseph's University offers a different approach to the season for everyone.
Leadership is everywhere. Nowhere was this more evident than in the belly of the Chilean mine in the weeks and months following the Aug. 5 collapse. “Corporate America has a lot to learn from the Chilean miners,” says Ron Dufresne, Ph.D., assistant professor of management at Saint Joseph’s University who studies leadership.
Everyone knows this popular Halloween game: turn out the lights, pass around a dried apricot and it’s easy to believe it’s a human earlobe. Peel some grapes and in the dark they feel just like human eyeballs. It’s a game that tricks the senses and it’s something Saint Joseph’s University psychologist Alex Skolnick, Ph.D., has been doing in his lab for the last several years.
As the weather turns brisk and flu season begins, bad memories of last year’s H1N1pandemic may start surfacing. Luckily, microbiologist John Tudor, Ph.D., professor of biology at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, anticipates a less violent outbreak of the virus this year.
According to the National Retail Federation, the average American will spend $66.28 on Halloween this year. Second only to costumes, candy eats up the largest chunk of this budget with American families spending an average of $22 each Halloween on confections. When trick-or-treating entered the American scene in the 1920s, neighbors gave children items like apples, pastries, breads and even money. So why, 40 years later, are there $1 billion in candy sales each Halloween? How has food marketing taken over this tradition?
As the Philadelphia Phillies get ready to play the San Francisco Giants for the National League Championship Series title, the team is already making baseball history.
Young adult (y.a.) fiction is a huge market in the publishing industry. According to the Association of American Publishers, paperbound book sales in children’s and y.a. titles topped $1.5 billion in 2009. But while these books are usually written for readers between the ages of 14 and 21, they also have immense crossover appeal to older audiences, says April Lindner, Ph.D., associate professor of English at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pa.
Though the recent oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the BP/Deep Water Horizon oilrig explosion is no longer leading headlines, this fall, the disaster will be a major topic of conversation and study in environmental science classrooms around the country.
As television season premieres make their debuts this fall, experts predict major changes in programming in the near future.
For many first-year college students, it may be the first time they have had to share a room with another person. It can be an exciting, but at times trying experience, says Marci Berney, an associate director in the office of Residence Life at Saint Joseph’s University.
For kids, the summer months are packed with vacations, camps, week-to-week schedule changes and lots of late nights. It’s no wonder that getting back to the school year routine can be difficult. Returning to regular sleep schedules can be even harder. According to sleep expert and Saint Joseph’s University Professor of Psychology Jodi Mindell, Ph.D., the end of the summer is the time to reset kids’ biological clocks.
The numbers are startling: New research now indicates that that 1 in 110 children in the United has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). “While researchers seek to assess the risk factors and better identify potential causes, there is an urgent need to provide opportunities for children and adults with autism to live their best lives,” says Michelle Rowe, Ph.D., executive director of the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support and professor of Health Services at Saint Joseph’s University.
Governments around the world have been pressuring the food industry to offer healthier fare. The latest headlines indicate the industry is listening. But to whom are they listening?
There is no question that the U.S. government is facing its share of troubles. During the worst recession in its history, it is fighting two foreign wars. On top of that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9.7 percent of the workforce is unemployed, and despite months of congressional discussion and deal making, a solution to the health care crisis seems far off. In the depths of all this turmoil, the news gets worse. A recent CNN public opinion poll revealed that most Americans – 86 percent – believe that their government is “broken.”
With shamrocks hung on doors and parade plans in the works, March is full of all things St. Patrick’s Day. Along with the festivities comes a curiosity about the culture they represent. A good way to get acquainted with the Irish is to pick up a novel by one of the island nation’s gifted authors. The wealth of Irish literature stems from the country’s impressive historical legacy of folklore and storytelling, says Richard Haslam, Ph.D., a native of Belfast, Ireland, and associate professor of English at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pa.
If gardeners are concerned that this year’s record snowfall will harm their dormant plants, fret not, says botanist Karen Snetselaar, Ph.D., chair and professor of biology at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pa. “Snow cover is actually beneficial for many plants, especially perennial herbs and shrubs, because it provides insulation from freezing temperatures,” notes Snetselaar. “Plants under snow will be exposed to fewer drastic temperature changes, which is often more damaging than continued cold.”
Research has identified four distinct generations of employees in the workplace. Each generation brings their own set of attitudes and behaviors; managing expectations is a challenge for employers. However, if employers ignore differences between generations, there can be an adverse impact on staff motivation, engagement and retention according to management expert Claire Simmers, Ph.D.
Entertainment marketing expert Brent Smith, Ph.D., says that, despite the shift toward more popular music genres, the Grammy Awards should still be taken seriously by viewers as an event where artists are recognized for the quality of their work.
David Allan, Ph.D., an entertainment marketing expert and professor at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, says the big news this year about Super Bowl commercials is what viewers won’t see.
Soon after receiving news of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12, University President Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., sent a message to the SJU community outlining how to support the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere during this crisis. His message was informed by a conversation he had with another member of the Jesuit community.
“Disney took a calculated risk with ‘The Princess and the Frog’ that could help restore their leadership in the genre,” says Brent Smith, Ph.D., a professor of entertainment marketing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. “With competition from DreamWorks and other animation houses, this move may have helped Disney regain some luster as a forward-thinking industry innovator.”
According to a recent census, Philadelphia’s poverty rate is “roughly double” the national figure. The city’s largest hunger-relief organization, Philabundance, estimates that 25.1 percent of Philadelphians are below the poverty line – a rate that is highest among the 10 biggest U.S. cities. To address this issue, a group of Saint Joseph’s University students and faculty partnered with Philabundance to develop a new food distribution model to reach Philadelphia’s hungry more efficiently.
The announced deal between General Electric Corp. and Comcast Corp., giving the cable provider majority ownership of NBC-Universal, raises many intriguing questions for the new partners, competitors and consumers. Saint Joseph's University (Philadelphia) professors Claire Simmers, Ph.D., and Jim Caccamo, Ph.D., see multiple layers of promise and pitfalls from the acquisition.
The holiday season, with its heavy focus on religion, can spark awkward situations at the work place. This festive time of year has many workers wishing to spruce up their offices with holiday decorations, leaving employers to figure out how to regulate such religious expression.
Cyber Monday and the Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays of online shopping that follow can be frustrating — and expensive — for some employers. But Claire Simmers, Ph.D., co-author of "The Internet and Workplace Transformation," says she has seen a recent shift in corporate attitudes concerning employees who shop online at work.
According to Saint Joseph’s University sociologist Maria Kefalas, Ph.D., the heartland of America’s greatest export is no longer corn and wheat, but rather its young and talented people. With one out of every five Americans still living in non-metropolitan areas, and considering that those areas now face natural decline with more deaths than births, the problem of the youth exodus from rural America is one that simply cannot be ignored.
On Nov. 21, 2009, Americans with a genetic medical condition will no longer live in fear of discrimination from their employers because of their unique genetic code. On that date, The Genetic Information Nondiscrimation Act (GINA) goes into effect, prohibiting employers from discriminating in terms of hiring, promotion, firing or any other terms and conditions of employment based on an individual’s genetic code.
Will the year 2012 spell the end of life on Earth as we know it? Columbia Pictures’ upcoming disaster movie "2012" suggests that it will. Based loosely on interpretations of the Mayan long count calendar, which ends its 5,125-year cycle on December 21, 2012, the movie’s trailer features the tagline, “Mankind’s earliest civilization warned us this day was coming.” But judging by the track records of other ancient apocalyptic traditions, we probably have nothing to worry about, says Allen Kerkeslager, Ph.D., associate professor of theology at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
American consumers are worried: They want to know whether their economy is improving, worsening or unchanging. Ben Liebman, Ph.D., associate professor of economics at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, says economists will look to holiday spending to gauge the economy’s health.
The rumors swirling about health care reform are as sizeable as the 1,000 pages of proposed legislation. Of particular concern to George P. Sillup, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmaceutical marketing at Saint Joseph’s University, is the misinformation floating across the Internet, and over the airways, about how health care reform will affect Medicare.
The premise is simple: to receive a fair wage for hard work. The fair trade movement, which began shortly after the Cold War, has regained momentum recently. A 2008 Fair Trade Federation Interim Report stated there was a 102 percent growth in U.S. and Canadian sales for Fair Trade products between 2004 and 2006.
Despite President Obama’s congressional address on health care, many Americans still lack a true understanding of the proposed changes and what a final bill might look like. According to Jack Newhouse, Ph.D., assistant professor of health services at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, it seems that Congress wants the impossible.
It's natural for first-year students to encounter challenges associated with the transition to college life. For many students the academic demands are great, dorm life may be their first experience sharing a living space, and there is unstructured time to manage. This can also be a difficult transition for parents who feel inclined to comfort their student who is missing home.
This fall, Jeffrey Hyson, Ph.D., assistant professor of history at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, will transform his freshman Western Civilization I classes into fascinating games. Hyson will use an innovative pedagogy developed at Barnard College called Reacting to the Past (RTTP).
A dorm room is a limited space. So while the flat screen, couch and love seat fit comfortably in the U-Haul, students may encounter challenges cramming all of that stuff into the new dorm. Here are items NOT to bring to college this fall.
As kids make their way back-to-school, incidents of bullying will inevitably arise. Whether you’re the new kid at school or a past victim, there are many steps that can be taken to avoid or stop bullying, says Sally Black, Ph.D., an assistant professor of health services at Saint Joseph’s University.
Preparing to send a child to college can be a busy, nerve-wracking and emotional time for parents. But what most parents don’t spend enough time doing is preparing their child to deal with the reality of college drinking.
As kids make their way back-to-school, incidents of bullying will inevitably arise. Whether you're the new kid at school or a past victim, there are many steps that can be taken to avoid or stop bullying, says Sally Black, Ph.D., an assistant professor of health services at Saint Joseph's University.
History Professor Jeffrey Hyson, Ph.D., of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, will transform his Western Civilization classes into fascinating games by using a unique pedagogy called Reacting to the Past.
Sally Black, RN, Ph.D., associate professor of health services at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, was particularly happy to see the American Association of Pediatrics' newly released policy statement on preventing youth violence. She was even more elated that for the first time ever the statement specifically addresses the issue of bullying, which Black has long been researching and advocating against.
Concerns about a Swine flu outbreak lowered retail stocks on Monday. According to food safety expert Nancy Childs, Ph.D., pandemic reactions create consumer distrust in the safety of the retail environment. "Any potential for further slowdown in global economic activity is a concern," she says.
Research about autism is growing, but not fast enough to keep up with the need. According to Michelle Rowe, Ph.D., professor of health services at Saint Joseph's University, one in 150 children in the United States has been diagnosed with autism, and every day the list of potential causes grows.
This year, Earth Day falls on April 22, and for its 39th anniversary, the eco-minded among us will be taking stock of advancements made by the green movement, as well as the challenges that remain. "It is great news that the public has become more aware of the damage we are causing to our ecosystems, but Earth Day should also be an opportunity for us to think about the social costs associated with global warming," says botanist Clint Springer, Ph.D., of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia.
The deadline for filing taxes is quickly approaching and Saint Joseph's University accounting professor Dennis Raible has some money-saving tips for late filers.
With tight budgets and economic uncertainty, departments in corporations nationwide are becoming more accountable for measurement. To meet these measurement expectations, successful businesses employ software and personnel with the acumen to translate the information in a way that speaks to the organization's strategic goals. The business that aren't obtaining this kind of business intelligence, according to an expert at Saint Joseph's University, are "operating below the curve."
New rules will make it easier for consumers to know whether their food was imported or not. However, food labeling expert Nancy Childs, Ph.D., advises lawmakers to go beyond the new policy, which identifies whether or not food is of a domestic origin. "Knowing a product is USA-sourced is a plus but not as powerful as knowing it's locally grown," she says.
Considering all the layoffs, downsizes and cutbacks reported in the news these days, it's not surprising to learn that the news itself is being cut back.
When the NCAA men's basketball tournament begins later this month, millions of fans across the country will be looking to follow the games, which take place mostly during the workday, on their phones, at lunch or at their desks through the streaming online video service offered by CBS, the NCAA's official network. Claire Simmers, Ph.D., professor of management at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, believes that watching the games during the day can provide a challenge to employers and employees alike.
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