Doctoral Student Studies Emotional Effects of Auto Accidents on Youth

Jackie Jones-Alexander, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University's Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, is conducting a study to assess the psychological effects of motor vehicle accidents on children and adolescents. Previous research with adult accident survivors has shown that up to 40 percent of survivors develop post-traumatic stress disorder. However, there is little research on the effects of motor vehicle accidents on youths.

Each year thousands of youths are injured in automobile-related accidents. These accidents include events such as a child being hit by a car while walking along a street or while riding a bicycle. Research indicates that such children may have emotional and psychological reactions, in addition to the physical injury. However, there is still much to be learned about how youths are affected by these experiences.

Jones-Alexander will assess approximately 20 children and their parents to examine the psychological effects of motor vehicle accidents. To be eligible for the study, a child must be between 8 and 17 years of age and have been involved in a motor vehicle-related accident. In addition, a group of about 20 children and parents who have not been involved in a motor vehicle accident will be assessed.

Edward B. Blanchard of the Department of Psychology, and director of the Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, is Jones-Alexander's advisor for the study. He was recently awarded a four-year $964,000 grant by the National Institutes of Mental Health to evaluate psychological treatments for adult survivors of serious motor vehicle accidents. He is trying to recruit 100 accident survivors over the next three years to participate in that evaluation.

Disabled Student Services at the University, with the support of President Hitchcock and the cooperation of the New York State Writer's Institute will sponsor Sophie Tucker: Red Hot Yiddishe Mama as a benefit for persons with disabilities. The play will be presented during Disabilities Awareness Month on Saturday, April 12, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 13, at 3 p.m. at the Lewis A. Swyer Theater of the Empire Center at the Egg in Albany.

Proceeds of the play, co-written by Sarah Blacher Cohen of the Department of English and Joanne Koch, a writing teacher at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., will be used for scholarships for disabled students and for the purchase of motorized scooters to make the University at Albany more accessible for anyone with an impaired mobility.

The playwrights were inspired to write a show on Sophie Tucker after they collaborated on a musical titled, Sophie, Totie and Belle.

President Karen Hitchcock will be serving as the benefit's honorary University co- chair and Morris Massry, partner in Albert, Kirsch, Massry & Massry, will be the honorary community co-chair. William Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, has will serve as honorary artistic co-chair. Others interested in becoming co-chairs can contact Nancy Belowich-Negron, director of Disabled Student Services.

In order to promote the goals of affirmative action at the University at Albany, President Hitchcock has allocated $10,000 for a special program of competitive grants. Proposals are being sought for creative, innovative, and results-oriented projects aimed at recruiting, retaining and supporting protected class persons at the University. "Protected class" persons include people of color, women, people with disabilities and Vietnam era veterans.

The number of grants awarded and the amount for each will depend on the quality of applications received. Typical awards will range from $500 to $1,000, but higher or lower amounts may be requested. These grants are intended to encourage new ideas and projects, rather than ongoing activities.

The deadline for applications is April 4. The recipients of the awards will be announced late in the spring semester. The funds are to be used between July 1, 1997 and June 30, 1998.

Coach Debbie Fiore (third from left) and members of the University's women's field hockey team pose for a picture after successfully climbing to the top of the Corning Tower during the 1997 Grand Union Stair Climb to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Feb. 6. The annual event challenges individuals and teams to raise pledges and compete in a race up the 42 flights of stairs of the Corning Tower, the tallest building in downtown Albany. In the three-person team competition, 'UAlbany Climbers' finished in second place with a time of 5 min. 32.59 sec. The event raised almost $28,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.