A LOOK AT THE WEEK AHEADMay 4 - May 11, 2001OFFICE OF NEWS AND MEDIA RELATIONS(215) 204-7476 Fax: (215) 204-4403

TODAY'S MOMS CONTINUE FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE -- While groups like MADD and the Million Mom March have made significant impacts in their modern-day battles against drunken driving and gun violence, the groups actually carry on a tradition of mothers fighting for social justice that goes back over a century, says Temple education professor Christine Woyshner. "These days we're concerned about violence, peace and conflict resolution. Groups like MADD and the Million Mom March are all about social education. Way back in the 1800s, moms were also concerned about peace. That's one issue for mothers that's striking over time," says Woyshner, an education historian who has researched the history of the National Congress of Mothers, predecessor to the modern-day PTA. "From the Spanish-American War right up to and through World War II, mothers supported pacifism. They were concerned about the environment and animal rights. Women's groups were 30 or 40 years ahead of FDR's New Deal in terms of social welfare issues and legislation. Women used their maternalist ideology to bring about change in the interest of social justice in very interesting ways." Reach Dr. Woyshner through the Office of News & Media Relations, 215-204-7476.

ELECTRICITY DEMANDS COULD GENERATE EVEN HIGHER NATURAL GAS PRICES -- The wells pump year-round and the demand for natural gas peaked during winter because of home heating, says Dr. Frederic Murphy, a Temple professor of management science and expert on the energy industry. Still, the current gas prices remain high compared to spring prices acouple of years ago. Murphy cautions that the continued widespread use of natural gas, because of new capacity additions for electricity generation, could impact prices through the summer and beyond. "If the use of natural gas for electricity generation keeps growing, then the summer price of natural gas will stay higher and it will be harder to get enough gas in storage for the winter heating season," he says. "The thing to watch is inventories and the fill rates of storage facilities." Contact Dr. Murphy through the Office of News and Media Relations.

DON'T GET BURNED UP IF THE AIR CONDITIONER'S NOT IN THE WINDOW--Hot weather has unexpectedly descended upon much of the nation. For those not yet fortunate enough to have installed their window air conditioners, there are ways to "beat the heat," says Steven Ridenour, Temple professor of mechanical engineering. Ridenour, a specialist in heating, ventilating and air conditioning, says using proper ventilation techniques and cutting back on the use of lights and electrical appliances can reduce the amount of heat in the house, helping to make indoor living conditions a little more tolerable. "It's very important to open the windows at night to allow cooler air in," says Ridenour. "In the morning, you should close everything up and keep it closed until it starts to feel uncomfortable. Then use open windows and a fan to pull the air through." Ridenour advises drawing air into the lowest part of the house and exhausting it through the highest part of the dwelling. Since warm air rises, use a fan on the upper floors to blow the warm air out and keep the cooler air circulating. Reach Dr. Ridenour through the Office of News and Media Relations.

COSBY NOT THE ONLY TV STAR AT THIS YEAR'S GRADUATION -- Temple's basketball team may not have made it to the NCAA's Final Four this year, but Temple senior Ryan Wolf is one Owl who has made it to a nationally televised final four: as one of the remaining "recruits" on FOX-TV's reality show "Boot Camp." But making it this far, through screaming drill instructors and the conniving of his fellow "Boot Campers" wasn't the only challenge Wolf faced this year. Despite the hiatus to tape the show, Wolf has maintained a 3.8 GPA and will be among the more than 5,600 Temple students getting their degrees at the University's 114th Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 17, at the Liacouras Center, Broad St. and Montgomery Ave. For more information about Commencement, call the Office of News and Media Relations.

Cheryl AfonsoTemple UniversityOffice of News andMedia Relations215.204.7476[email protected]

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