History and society

African American Community in the United States: An Overview Since 1865

LaBarbara James Wigfall

Conducting a Community History Study

LaBarbara James Wigfall

Historic Campus Structures and Their Stories

Michaeline Chance-Reay, Professor of Secondary Education and Women's Studies

History of Nicodemus, Kansas

LaBarbara James Wigfall

Land Grant Ladies: Kansas State University Presidential Wives 1863-2009

Michaeline Chance-Reay

In 146 Years, Kansas State University has had 12 very responsible first ladies. Each was a woman with her own interests, a wife, and a mother, before becoming a public figure. Each seems to have continued with her original responsibilities and interests, while also incorporating the needs of her larger university family.

Myths about the Media: Evil Mind Control or Good Clean Fun?

Richard Harris, Professor of Psychology

Media affect us in many ways but there are lots of misconceptions about how that influence works. I will talk about several popular beliefs about the media which are not borne out by the research.

Myth #1: Subliminal messages are messing with our minds.

Myth #2: Media violence only reflects the real world, which is a very violent place.

Myth #3: All screen violence is equally harmful.

Myth #4: Children today see everything and nothing scares them anymore.

Myth #5: People with mental illness are dangerous.

Myth #6: Violent crime is getting much worse in recent years.

Myth #7: Sexual messages are largely limited to pornography.

Myth #8: Sexual permissiveness is rampant in media.

Myth #9: Sex and violence are not associated together in mainstream media.

Myth #10: It’s healthy to watch violence or sex to achieve catharsis.

Myth #11: The media are full of negative antisocial values.

Myth #12: Media reflect society’s values.

Myth #13: Only the old shows and movies are safe.

Myth #14: It’s hopeless to try to keep kids away from TV/computer.