important people

Mary Ann Ferguson research shows
teens are likely compulsive gamblers

Mary Ann Ferguson with gambling website (Photo by John Freeman)

by David Payne

See Dick and Jane run.

See Dick and Jane play.

See Dick and Jane gamble. Yes, gamble.

In recent research by Dr. Mary Ann Ferguson, professor of public relations, 11.5 percent of teenagers (13-17 years of age) were found to be gambling on a weekly basis. They gambled with the lottery, sports and games of skill. Some were even gambling on Internet sites. Ferguson conducted the study in association with Dr. Nathan Shapira and Dr. Mark Gold, both of the Department of Psychiatry.

Their $155,000 grant from the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling also found that adults 18 and over often spend as much as $2,500 daily on Internet gambling alone.

Ferguson, who specializes in risk communication issues, worked on survey research in the study.

She said gambling can easily ruin people’s lives.

“For most people, gambling is simply fun, not affecting their lives,” she said.

“For a small proportion, though, it is addictive and for those individuals their lives are severely disrupted.”

Ferguson said older people in Florida spend much of their time gambling, sometimes losing their life savings.

She said their gambling is often encouraged by nursing homes that have buses taking them to gamble as a social event.

“If you’re 70 and you lose your life savings, you’re homeless,” she said. “At least if you’re 30, you have time.”

Ferguson said the study found a relationship between gambling and the use of alcohol and drugs.

Adults who gamble compulsively were more likely to drive 10 to 12 miles over the speed limit, whereas non-compulsive gamblers drive only three to four miles over the limit.

Arkansas newspaper wins Brechner FoI prize

A five-month series of articles and editorials chronicling the battle between a juvenile court judge and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette received the 2001 Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Award.

The announcement was made by Dr. Sandra F. Chance, PR 1977, MA 1985, director of the Brechner Center in the College, on March 16-Freedom of Information Day.

"The award recognizes the paper's successful efforts to prevent a judge from issuing a prior restraint--a judicial decision threatening one of the basic constitutional tenants of a free press," Chance said.

The newspaper printed the name of a 12-year-old boy who, while walking to school with a shotgun, had exchanged gunfire with a police officer.

The newspaper’s editor, Griffin Smith, will receive a $3,000 cash award for "excellence in reporting about freedom of information."

The award is named for the late Joseph L. Brechner, an Orlando broadcaster and College benefactor.