News Bureau | ILLINOIS

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100 years ago: The Christmas Truce of World War I

Dec 22, 2014 9:00 am465 views

A Minute With™... Tamara Chaplin, a University of Illinois historian of modern France
150 year anniversary of the Confederate surrender at Appomattox

Apr 6, 2015 10:00 am183 views

Bruce Levine, professor of history and expert on the Civil War
150 years after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox

Mar 2, 2015 9:00 am84 views

The American Civil War came to an end 150 years ago with the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. Five days later, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. What role did slavery play in the Confederate defeat? And how might history have been different if Lincoln had lived? University of Illinois historian Bruce Levine (pronounced La-VEEN) has written extensively about the war and its consequences. His 2013 book, "The Fall of the House of Dixie," traced how fighting the war transformed the South from within. He spoke with News Bureau social sciences editor Craig Chamberlain.
1986 law helped lay foundation for 'governing immigration through crime'

Apr 22, 2013 9:00 am69 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Three key issues were at the center of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act: money for border enforcement, a pathway to citizenship and making it illegal to hire undocumented workers.
30 years after the Challenger disaster: A 'Where were you when...' event

Jan 14, 2016 9:30 am947 views

A Minute With...™ communication professor Ned O'Gorman
50 years after the Cuban missile crisis

Oct 8, 2012 9:00 am123 views

A Minute With™... Ned O'Gorman, a professor of communication affiliated with the U. of I. Program for Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security
60 years ago this month, Emmett Till's death sparked a movement

Aug 17, 2015 10:30 am2426 views

A Minute With...™ Christopher Benson, author and professor of journalism
75 years later, why did Germans follow the Nazis into Holocaust?

Aug 26, 2014 9:00 am228206 views

A Minute With™... Peter Fritzsche, a historian of modern Germany
A better bet? Wagering on teams coming off a bye week

Dec 11, 2012 9:00 am240 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Think your simple wagering strategy for professional football - such as always picking the home team or the underdog - is going to pay off in the long run? Don't bet on it, say sports economists Scott Tainsky and Yoon Tae Sung.
Ability grouping in elementary school hampers minority students' literacy

Apr 21, 2009 9:00 am468 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - African-American and Hispanic students placed in ability groups for reading instruction learned less compared to demographically similar minority students who weren't grouped by ability, a new study by a University of Illinois expert in the sociology of education found.
Ability to finish college - especially for blacks - affected by family debt, new study suggests

May 22, 2014 9:00 am27 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Family debt diminishes students' prospects of graduating from college, and is particularly detrimental to black students' chances of earning degrees, suggests a new study by social work professor Min Zhan and doctoral student Deirdre Lanesskog, both at the University of Illinois.
Access to legal aid depends a lot on where you live, report says

Oct 26, 2011 9:00 am71 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - According to one estimate, half of Americans are confronting a civil legal problem at any one time.
Ads effective even in the midst of multitasking, studies find

Jan 26, 2015 9:00 am237 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Those video ads playing in the corner of your computer screen, in the midst of your multitasking, may have more impact than you realize. They may be as effective as the ads you're really watching, such as those during the Super Bowl, says a University of Illinois researcher.
Advertising and its methods put 'on trial' in the 1930s, author says

Jun 26, 2006 9:00 am725 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - In the current world of product placement, cross-promotion, pop-up ads, and ad-driven politics, it's hard to imagine there was ever a time when advertising as an institution was severely challenged.
Advertising's next big event: the Olympics

Feb 10, 2010 9:00 am14 views

A Minute With™... advertising professor Michael Giardina
A fledgling democracy in Egypt: Electing a president, writing a constitution

May 30, 2012 9:00 am196 views

A Minute With™... Kenneth Cuno, a professor of Middle Eastern history
Africa is changing. Does it still need our charity?

Dec 19, 2012 9:00 am34 views

A Minute With™... sociologist Brian Dill
African American studies in the U.S. 'is alive and well,' new report says

Aug 29, 2013 9:00 am1106 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The field of African American studies in U.S. higher education "is alive and well, and, in fact, growing and maturing," despite some reports to the contrary, says a new study published online this week by the department of African American studies at the University of Illinois.
Albania must enact reforms to combat sex trafficking, study urges

Oct 15, 2012 9:00 am419 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Despite a number of measures undertaken by the government in Albania to curb sex trafficking, rigorous comprehensive legal and social reforms are needed to address the practices that perpetuate it, a new study led by a University of Illinois researcher indicates.
America has been horrified by the shootings at Ft. Hood. How do military counsellors deal with the stress – both the soldiers' and their own?

Nov 6, 2009 9:00 am23 views

A Minute With™... medical historian Mark Micale
Ancient African herders had lasting ecological impact on grazed lands

Aug 29, 2018 12:00 pm2270 views

Ancient animal herders added to the ecological richness and diversity of the African savanna thousands of years ago – an effect that persists to the present day, a new study finds. The herders’ practice of penning their cattle, goats and sheep at night created nutrient-rich grassy glades, called hotspots, that still attract wildlife and have increased habitat diversity in the region, researchers report in the journal Nature.
Anger-prone children may benefit most from maternal sensitivity, study finds

Oct 3, 2019 9:30 am1146 views

Anger-prone children may benefit most from caregivers who are sensitive to their emotional needs and behavioral cues, University of Illinois researchers Nancy McElwain and Xi Chen found in a new study.
Anxious adults judge facial cues faster, but less accurately

Jul 7, 2006 9:00 am44 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Adults who are highly anxious can perceive changes in facial expressions more quickly than adults who are less anxious, a new study shows. By jumping to emotional conclusions, however, highly anxious adults may make more errors in judgment and perpetuate a cycle of conflict and misunderstanding in their relationships.
A professor not afraid to cross academic boundaries

Aug 23, 2018 11:30 am941 views

Illinois professor Ruby Mendenhall is focused on issues of poverty, inequality and violence, but crosses many academic boundaries in search of answers.
Are outspoken social media users more polarized in their views on racial equality?

Dec 7, 2022 1:15 pm889 views

In a study of U.S. adults’ social media activity and polarization of their views on the Black Lives Matter movement, communication professor Stewart Coles found that people low in racial resentment who expressed themselves more frequently on these media were less supportive of BLM.
As Medvedev assumes Russia's presidency, are great changes imminent?

Apr 24, 2008 9:00 am24 views

A Minute With™... Richard Tempest, the director of Illinois' Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center
As Medvedev assumes Russia's presidency, are great changes imminent?

Oct 24, 2007 9:00 am26 views

What's going on in Russia and what does its president, Vladimir Putin, have in mind for the nation and for himself? Richard Tempest, a professor of Slavic literature and the head of the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center who was in Russia in June, is an expert on Putin and Putin's Russia. In an interview with News Bureau writer Andrea Lynn, Tempest offered his assessments of the nation and its leader.
As other Arab dictators fall, how is Assad holding on in Syria?

Nov 16, 2011 9:00 am448 views

A Minute With™... political scientist Milan Svolik
Aspiring scientists learning to translate their research into language public understands

Apr 3, 2014 9:00 am246 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Communicating the relevance of one's scientific research to general audiences and developing educational outreach programs are critical to the career success of college professors and researchers, but graduate curricula often fail to help students cultivate these essential skills.
Assessment of online divorce education programs finds weaknesses

Nov 8, 2011 9:00 am198 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - In many states, including Illinois, married couples with children who want to untie the knot must complete court-mandated educational programs - either in group settings or through online classes - before judges will finalize their divorces.
A strong ethnic identity can buffer or bolster the effects of online sexual racism in Black men

Jan 13, 2023 12:45 pm597 views

A strong commitment to their ethnic identity may be a double-edged sword for young sexual minority Black men when they encounter sexual racism online, according to a study by U. of I. social work professor Ryan Wade.
As U.S. troops withdraw, what's next for Afghanistan?

Apr 9, 2009 9:00 am10 views

A Minute With™... political scientist Paul Diehl
As U.S. troops withdraw, what's next for Afghanistan?

Jul 5, 2011 9:00 am78 views

A Minute With™... political scientist Paul Diehl
Attorneys in civil courts make bigger impact working the system than knowing the law

Sep 3, 2015 9:45 am359 views

Civil courts are where many people meet the legal system. Those with attorneys – often a small minority – are much more likely to see a better outcome, says a new study. More surprising, perhaps, is that lawyers’ deep knowledge of the law explains little of their impact.
Author makes case for politics to those who've lost faith

Mar 4, 2020 9:45 am776 views

It may seem incredible in an age of polarized division, but Ned O’Gorman is making a positive case for politics for those who’ve lost faith. The communication professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign argues in “Politics for Everybody” that politics is a necessity, not an option – and we know from everyday experience how to do it better, in ways not fundamentally “us versus them.”
Bad news for Obama: Getting elected was the easy part. Here's what he should expect...

Dec 8, 2008 9:00 am23 views

A Minute With™... former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar
Beckman researchers study communication part of language

Jan 19, 2006 9:00 am15 views

Researchers can get their inspiration from a mentor, or colleague, or perhaps even a lecture that strikes a chord. Psychology researcher Kara Federmeier got hers from her younger brother when she was still in high school.
Better response plans needed for children exposed to domestic violence

May 24, 2012 9:00 am22 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Each year, millions of children are exposed to domestic violence, a traumatic experience that has been associated with cognitive, behavioral, social and emotional problems in childhood as well as a higher incidence of depression and premature death in adulthood. Numerous studies over the past two decades also have indicated that exposure to domestic violence (EDV) places children at higher risk of abuse and neglect.
Beyond the big ads: teaching kids ad literacy and nutrition in grade school classrooms

Feb 4, 2016 1:45 pm3706 views

The Super Bowl will feature car ads, beer ads, food ads – but probably none for carrots. Most food ads, game time or anytime, are pitching less-healthy fare. Kids are often the target. Do they understand what an ad is? Who made it and why? Advertising professor Michelle Nelson worked with an Illinois school district to develop an advertising literacy curriculum that also promotes healthy eating.
Bilingual family liaisons increasingly important service for schools

Mar 24, 2010 9:00 am467 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Even during tough economic times, a school district's decision to cut support services aimed at helping Hispanic students and their families navigate through the public school system will prove to be a sighted one, especially given long-term demographic trends and the need for a highly educated workforce, says a University of Illinois expert in social services for vulnerable populations.
Black and brilliant? A female genius? Not according to RateMyProfessors, study finds

Mar 3, 2016 1:00 pm769 views

An analysis of more than 14 million reviews on RateMyProfessors.com, where students write anonymous reviews of their professors, found that students most often use the words “brilliant” and “genius” to describe male professors and in academic disciplines in which women and African-Americans are underrepresented.
Book addresses need for more infrastructure for Latino mental health

Dec 13, 2011 9:00 am116 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - It was an alarming message: A Spanish speaking woman in the Champaign area was on the brink of suicide, and a bilingual mental health professional was urgently needed for crisis intervention, but none could be found. Could anyone help?
Book Corner: A closer look at East St. Louis, Ill., a city in peril

Nov 17, 2011 9:00 am580 views

Political corruption, minimal policing and firefighting resources, limited transportation, public works deficiencies and condemned buildings. It's not the backdrop for a prime-time cop show - this is a city three hours from Champaign.
Book Corner: A look at how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program affects health and well-being

Dec 17, 2015 9:00 am467 views

A new book looks at aspects of how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program affects health and well-being. “SNAP Matters” includes a chapter on obesity by University of Illinois economist Craig Gundersen, one of the book’s editors.
Book Corner: A look into the past of Urbana

Jan 21, 2010 9:00 am50 views

Champaign County, Urbana has a rich and dynamic history. Today, Urbana counts nationally known film critic Roger Ebert and several Nobel Prize laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners as current or former residents. Yet, there was no book on the history of Urbana still available in print until "Images of America: Urbana" (Arcadia Publishing), by Ilona Matkovszki and Dennis Roberts.
Book Corner: Collection of essays addresses researchers' challenges when changing field sites

Aug 2, 2012 9:00 am16 views

The daunting challenge of leaving an anthropological field site and moving to another halfway across the globe may be a situation most familiar to anthropologists, but the intellectual and emotional challenges of uprooting one's life for one's field of study are something that many scholars can relate to, says Alma Gottlieb, a UI professor of anthropology.
Book Corner: Colonial black women: What is freedom?

Oct 21, 2010 9:00 am110 views

They baked New England's Thanksgiving pies, preached their faith to crowds of worshippers, spied for the patriots during the American Revolution, wrote that human bondage was a sin, and demanded reparations for slavery.
Book Corner: Comparing the lives of black Canadian and Caribbean women in the diaspora

Sep 20, 2012 9:00 am27 views

Oral history is a powerful historical tool, one that can illuminate the often-overlooked individual voices behind a historical event.
Book Corner: Exploring human mobility and its cultural, political and social effects

Sep 6, 2012 9:00 am45 views

Historians have long been interested in patterns of human movement. Throughout history, people have had to move to survive, either through regular circuits that bring them to communities and resources or through occasional, long-distance migrations, in search of new ways of life.
Book Corner: Exploring the Chicano/a family and its political and cultural history

Nov 19, 2009 9:00 am143 views

As both an idea and an institution, the family has been at the heart of Chicano/a cultural politics since the Mexican American civil rights movement emerged in the late 1960s. In "Next of Kin: The Family in Chicano/a Cultural Politics" (Duke University Press, 2009), Richard T. Rodríguez, a professor of English and of Latina/Latino Studies at Illinois, explores the competing notions of la familia found in movement-inspired literature, film, video, music, painting and other forms of cultural expression created by Chicano men.

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