Bullies, Blogs and Rudy Guiliani

November 15, 2006

Source: University of Western Ontario
http://communications.uwo.ca/media_newsroom/story.html?listing_id=22291

The following experts from The University of Western Ontario are available for comment.

ON ANTI-BULLYING WEEK

Claire Crooks, a Faculty of Education professor, is a research partner in PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network) and specializes in bullying. She can be reached for comment at 519-860-6018, or ccrooks@uwo.ca

"The move away from focusing on individual bullies and victims is an important one, but it is important for adults to not overlook their own responsibilities as bystanders. If we truly want our children to become anti-violence advocates, then we need to role model the same behaviour in our own lives.

One important piece of anti-bullying week is the growing recognition that bullying is not just a school problem, but a whole community problem. We now know that bullying essentially occurs any place that children congregate. To truly have an impact, we need to find strategies that can be implemented in all of these places."

ON LONDON-NORTH CENTRE RIDING AND BURGHARDT'S BLOG

Alison Hearn, an assistant professor of the Faculty of Information and Media Studies, specializes in media and political culture. She can be reached at 519-661-2111, ext 81228 or ahearn2@uwo.ca

"Clearly individuals still don't understand the degree to which online blogging is a highly public activity. Posting online is the equivalent of standing at the corner of Yonge and Dundas and screaming at the top of your lungs, even more powerful than that. While blogs might be configured as personal diaries, they are anything but, leaving the blogger open to attack from any and all quarters.

Blogging as an activity in and of itself isn't bad, but blogging activity, as it relates to real world politics, is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it can be seen to open up the democratic process to more participants, allowing 'regular' folks the chance to intervene more effectively in political issues. On the other hand, it allows 'regular' folks with not much training and less discretion and any old political agenda to pass as experts. Blogging replaces journalistic standards and reasoned argument with knee jerk personal opinion."

ON RUDY GUILIANI AND HIS PRESIDENTIAL RUN

Peter Ferguson, a professor of the Faculty of Political Science, specializes in American politics. He can be reached for comment at 519-661-2111, ext 82236 (office), 519-438-4524 (home), or pfergus4@uwo.ca

"Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani's 2008 Republican Presidential nomination bid is likely to be plagued by his significant personal baggage. His extramarital affair dominated news headlines before 9/11, and challengers will probably exploit this issue when the nomination contest gets under way. Despite his heroism during the 9/11 crisis, he has some deep personal weaknesses and faces serious nomination competitors like Arizona's John McCain."

Media contact: Jeff Renaud, Communications & Public Affairs, 519-661-2111, ext. 85165.

Commentary reflects the perspective and scholarly interest of Western faculty members and is not an articulation of official university policy on issues being addressed.