SCARY STORY IDEAS
Ball State University experts are available to provide a frightening amount of background on a variety of haunting issues. Story tips from the dead include:
HALLOWEEN NOW A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR HOLIDAY: Retailers can expect sales of about $5 billion during September and October as consumers buy candy, costumes and other merchandise, said James Lowry, a retail industry analyst. Contact him at [email protected] or (765) 285-5108.
IT'S JUST A MOVIE, IT'S JUST A MOVIE: Television stations and cable systems bring the best and worst horror movies to the small screen to tap into America's love of fright. Wes Gehring, a telecommunications professor, can explain how the entertainment industry taps into our fears. He may be reached at [email protected] or (765) 285-1495.
CELEBRATION DATES BACK CENTURIES: Halloween traditions date back hundreds and thousands of years. Some rituals may be linked to the ancient Romans, Greeks, Druids and Celts, said Fred Suppe, a history professor. Contact him at [email protected] or (765) 285-8783.
MANY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHANGING TRADITION: Fearing a backlash from religious groups, some school districts have eliminated any reference to Halloween. Instead schools are having fall festivals, which offend no one, said Sherry Kragler, an elementary school professor. She may be reached at [email protected] or (765) 285-8540.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES MAY ARISE: Many public school administrators and teachers face difficulties with Halloween celebrations due to differing cultural standards. What is celebrated in one ethnic group may be taboo in another, said Pat Clark, an elementary education professor. To find out how teachers handle such situations, contact her at [email protected] or (765) 285-8783.
(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more stories and information, visit the Ball State University News Center at www.bsu.edu/news on the World Wide Web.)
Marc Ransford 9/8/99
RSS