A LOOK AT THE WEEK AHEAD July 13 - July 20, 2001 OFFICE OF NEWS AND MEDIA RELATIONS (215) 204-7476 Fax: (215) 204-4403
COULD MERGER BE THE LAST CALL FOR AT&T? -- A merger with Philadelphia-based Comcast could be the last call for AT&T, says Temple economist Dr. Michael Goetz. "The merger could serve as the death knell for the company," he says. "Long distance is barely profitable, while margins on cellular are falling. Business services are indeed profitable, but AT&T might end up being a relatively small company."
What about the merger's impact on cable rates? "The new Comcast would have a major presence in most of the larger markets in the U.S.," says Goetz. "Comcast and AOL/Time Warner would engage in very serious competition across the country." Goetz adds that consumers could perhaps expect an increase in cable rates, but it is hard to measure. "If your rates go up, but you receive more channels, have prices risen or not?"
Contact Dr. Goetz at his home, 215.572.1729; at his office, 215.204.1762; or through the Office of News and Media Relations 215.204.7476.
TEMPLE SUMMER COURSE TEACHES HIGH SCHOOLERS ROBOT WARS--PHILLY-STYLE! -- Twenty high school students from across the Greater Philadelphia region are testing their engineering skills and creativity over the next five weeks by designing and building autonomous robots as part of Temple's "Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering" summer course. Each student receives a kit containing electrical and mechanical parts, from which they are to design and build a battery-powered, microprocessor controlled robot containing such features as infrared sensors and motor controllers. "It's quite intense," says Dr. John J. Helferty, chair of Temple's electrical and computer engineering department, who is teaching the course.
"These robots are not remote controlled. The students have to program the intelligence into the robot." The students receive two college credits for the course, and although there is no homework or exams, the students will be graded on a concluding competition the week of Aug. 6, in which each robot is required to navigate an obstacle course, sumo wrestle, balance on a teeter-totter bridge, and extinguish a miniature house fire. The class meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-noon, through Aug. 9. Seventh floor of Temple's College of Engineering, 1947 N. 12th St.
For more information, or to make arrangements to visit the class, contact the Office of News and Media Relations.
LIFE IS GOOD FOR WNBA ALL-STARS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST? -- While Monday's WNBA all-star game will feature many widely known and well-paid stars, women athletes still have a long way to go before they can match the earning and star power of their male counterparts, says Temple kinesiology professor Tina Sloan-Green, president of the Black Women in Sports Foundation. "The WNBA has done a remarkable job of marketing the teams and players," says Green. "However, except for players such as Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes, the average female basketball player is paid very little and has to play overseas during the off season or search for unrelated part time employment."
Green sees an even greater disparity between the sexes when it comes to endorsements, which for many top male athletes are worth much more than their sports contracts. "A few premier women stars are being marketed commercially and earning six figure contracts, but the majority of the female basketball players aren't receiving any endorsement opportunities," says Green.
Reach Green through the office of News and Media Relations.
CLICK MOUSE, NOT SHUTTER FOR TEMPLE PICTURES: ONLINE PHOTO ARCHIVES NOW ACCESSIBLE BY THE NEWS MEDIA -- Temple University's Office of News and Media Relations has created a convenient, easily accessible online photo archive for writers, reporters and editors. The searchable database of photos features low- and high-resolution images available for immediate download. The archive contains a wide range of Temple-related categories, including the arts, campus, faculty, University President David Adamany, athletics, student life/learning, and even Temple alum and trustee Bill Cosby.
To access the photo archives, go to http://mdev.temple.edu/photoarchive/
X-GAMES COULD BE BIG BIZ FOR MORE THAN CITY ER'S -- When hordes of skateboarders, inline skaters, and other thrill-seekers descend on the city Aug. 11-22 for ESPN's X-Games, there's sure to be plenty of people getting bumps and bruises. However, area retailers, restaurants and hotels are hoping all the daredevils and their fans will spend money on more than just Band-Aids while in town.
"Chances are people coming to see the X-Games aren't going to be staying at the Four Seasons or eating at Le Bec Fin," says Temple professor of sports and recreation management Mike Jackson. "But they will be staying at the Holiday Inn, they will be going to Rita's Water Ice, and they will be hanging out at Dave and Busters." Even more important economically, the event is another chance for the city to showcase itself nationally, says Jackson. "The X-Games targets a young demographic and is a way to showcase the city's versatility and show that it has something for everyone," he says.
Reach Jackson through the Office of News and Media Relations.
Cheryl Afonso Temple University Office of News and Media Relations 215.204.7476 [email protected]
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