Review found strong links between discrimination and anxiety, low self-esteem in minority teens

HealthDay News) — Being a victim of racism may trigger poor mental health, depression and anxiety in children and teens, according to a new review.

The report, published in the October issue of the journal Social Science & Medicine, looked at 461 cases of links between racism and the health and well-being of youngsters.

“The review showed there are strong and consistent relationships between racial discrimination and a range of detrimental health outcomes such as low self-esteem, reduced resilience, increased behavior problems and lower levels of well-being,” lead researcher Naomi Priest, of the University of Melbourne in Australia, said in a university news release.

Most of the racism experienced by children and teens involved discrimination by other people, rather than institutional or systemic racism, according to the findings.

The review also revealed an increased risk of poorer birth outcomes among children whose mothers experienced racism during pregnancy.

Most of the studies included in the review were conducted in the United States with participants aged 12 to 18. Of the racial/ethnic groups included in the studies, the three most common were blacks, Hispanics and Asians.

“We know that children who experience poor health and well-being are less likely to engage in education, employment and other activities that support them to lead healthy and productive lives, and to participate meaningfully in the community,” Priest said.

So, she noted, the findings identify an important issue that needs to be addressed in order to improve child and teen health.

The University of Southern Indiana celebrated its founders and honored its supporters at the annual Founders Day program sponsored by the USI Alumni Association on Tuesday.

“The wisdom of the individuals who founded this great University was such that they had the forethought and the courage to dream big,” said USI President Linda L. M. Bennett. “Everything that we’re enjoying today is because of their work.”

The program, held in Carter Hall, included the presentation of the Special Recognition Award, the Faculty Recognition Award, and the Alumni Service Award.

The Special Recognition Award was presented to Paul J. Werner. An avid basketball fan, Werner has followed the USI men’s team since 1972. In 2008, he and his wife Eleanor established the Paul J. and Eleanor R. Werner Endowed Men’s Basketball Scholarship. The gift will perpetually support student athletes in the men’s basketball program. The Werners are also supporters USI’s Bent Twig Outdoor Education Center and Bokelman School.

Dr. Craig R. Ehlen, professor of accounting in the Romain College of Business, received the Faculty Recognition Award. During his 23 years at USI, Ehlen has received more than a dozen awards in recognition of his dedication to teaching. Ehlen has generously supported the University since he was a visiting instructor in 1989. He and his wife Peg established the Craig R. Ehlen Scholarship Endowment to benefit senior accounting majors with plans to pursue careers in public accounting, internal auditing, or fraud auditing.

John M. Lawrence ’73, an alumnus who has established three awards and three scholarships and provided financial funding for two classrooms, received the Alumni Service Award. Lawrence’s gifts have benefited students across the University – in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, College of Liberal Arts, and Romain College of Business.

Nursing students benefit from the Melissa Faye Lawrence Endowed Memorial Nursing Scholarship, the largest scholarship in the college, honoring Lawrence’s late wife, who was a nurse. Also in honor of his wife, Lawrence established the Melissa Faye Lawrence and John M. Lawrence Excellence in Teaching Award recognizing outstanding teaching in USI nursing programs.

The Lawrence Lecture Hall and the Lawrence Interactive Classroom, located in the Health Professions Center, were named to honor and recognize John for his generous support.

Lawrence also donated 28 manuscripts from The Separatist Society of Zoar to USI’s Center for Communal Studies and established the Scavone Medieval Studies Awards and the Bill and Helen Sands Business Communication Scholarship.

The University of Evansville has an exciting new opportunity for Indiana residents who plan to become physicians: a Baccalaureate to Doctor of Medicine (B/MD) program that offers direct entry into the Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville. The University of Evansville is the first private university in Indiana to establish this collaboration with IU’s School of Medicine (IUSM).

Beginning with UE’s entering freshman class of 2014, a select number of highly qualified Indiana students will be admitted simultaneously to UE and IUSM-Evansville. Once these students complete their undergraduate degrees and medical school prerequisite courses at the University of Evansville, they will begin medical school at IUSM-Evansville, provided they maintain academic eligibility and meet all IU School of Medicine requirements in effect at that time.

Students admitted into the University of Evansville’s B/MD program will receive a President’s Scholarship ($19,000) for eight undergraduate semesters and provisional admission to the Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville. These students are also eligible to attend Davidson Scholarship Day and compete for a Trustee Scholarship.

“The B/MD program is an incredible opportunity for academically talented students who enter college with the goal of attending medical school after they graduate,” said John A. Mosbo, UE senior vice president for academic affairs. “Students will, of course, need to sustain an excellent academic performance and meet established medical school admission criteria, but this program will make a major impact on students’ college experiences by eliminating the additional stress of applying to medical school their senior year, thus allowing them to truly make the most of the meaningful undergraduate experience available at UE.”

“Past University of Evansville students have been very successful in medical school, and ultimately, we believe this new program will help us recruit an even greater number of exceptional pre-medical students and keep those talented individuals in Indiana to practice medicine,” Mosbo added.

To be admitted into the B/MD program, students must be Indiana residents, have a minimum SAT score of 1920 or an ACT score of 29, and hold a high school GPA of 4.0 (A average) or greater in their academic courses. The B/MD Advisory Committee, which consists of representatives from UE, IUSM-Evansville, and the local medical community, will review applications and invite finalists to interview for the program.

 Creed Bratton is a quadruple threat, as he proved Saturday night in an intimate performance at the Victory Theatre. The singer-songwriter actor-comic is best known for his quirky character on NBC’s long-running hit The Office, where he played a fictional version of himself as a former member of 60s rock band The Grass Roots. Bratton’s latest project is a concept album titled “Tell Me About It,” which provides an “audio-biography” of that character, and formed the basis for his live stage performance. His hour-long set included a mix of humorous anecdotes about his time on The Office, background stories for his character, and songs from the album as he accompanied himself with an acoustic guitar. While this approach to a comedy show was unique, the audience enjoyed every minute. Comedian Patrick Passafiume warmed up the crowd with a more traditional set of stand-up comedy that was also well received by the all-ages crowd.

“We really enjoyed working with a consummate professional like Creed Bratton, and appreciated that he took time after the show to meet with many members of his audience,” said General Manager Ben Bolander. “The show tonight was the

first of many similar, affordable comedy shows that we plan to offer at the Victory in coming months that will feature a variety of comic acts for all audiences.”

The Victory Theatre continues a slate of upcoming events that include “American Pop” (Water for People Benefit)

September 26, 1964 …The Tribute October 4, The Bob & Tom Comedy Show October 5, Don Williams October 17, and The Price is Right Live! Stage Show October 26. The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2013-14 Season kicks off with “Toyota’s Opening Night: Silver Celebration” on Saturday, September 28.

The Victory Theatre is managed by VenuWorks of Evansville, LLC.

WPSR, 90.7 FM, the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation’s radio station, is now streaming live fromwww.wpsrhd.com. Thanks to this new option, individuals can now listen on their PC, laptops, tablets, MAC, iPhone and other mobile devices.

WPSR HD, an educational radio station owned by the EVSC, broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. WPSR allows students at the Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center enrolled in the radio and television program the opportunity to work in a real-life setting, during class hours. Students learn communication skills, marketing, programming, history, law, general media, production and technical functions involved in the everyday operations of a broadcast facility. 

The programming schedule for WPSR, “Evansville’s Real Variety,” is different depending on the day and includes the following line up:

·       Monday: “Hot Mix” – hits from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today

·       Tuesday: “Vintage Vinyl” – oldies from the late 50’s, 60’s and 70’s

·       Wednesday: “Hot Mix” – hits from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today

·       Thursday:”Kickin’ Country” – country hits from yesterday and today

·       Friday: Retro Rewind Weekend – hits from the 80’s and 90’s

·       Saturday: Retro Rewind Weekend – hits from the 80’s and 90’s

·       Sunday: Retro Rewind Weekend -  hits from the 8o’s and 90’s 

In addition, on Friday’s, WPSR broadcasts EVSC football games live, on air, beginning at 6:45 p.m.  and will be broadcasting high school basketball, as well as USI men’s and women’s basketball games.

WPSR went on the air in 1957 and was licensed to the EVSC. In 2006, WPSR became the first radio station in Evansville to begin broadcasting with Ibiquity Hybrid Digital “HD” which allows for digital transmission along with conventional analog broadcasting.  This technology allows for reception of a higher quality signal when using an HD radio.  Also by broadcasting in HD, WPSR can transmit more than one service on the same frequency. 

WPSR has made available The Edge Radio on HD-2 (90.7-2), a partnership with the University of Southern Indiana and their radio station WSWI.