Releases

DENTON (UNT), Texas – According to government reports the number of Americans filing first time claims for unemployment benefits fell to 550,000 last week from 588,000 the week before.

University of North Texas economist Dr. Terry Clower says that the new numbers by themselves don't indicate economic strengthening. He says that jobless claims have been volatile in recent weeks, and that this week's decrease could be attributed to a number of factors.

"It's possible that more people lost their jobs last week than the report would indicate," says Clower.  "Many people may just have put off filing for unemployment.  It's vacation season; people may be out of town and planning to file when they get back next week.

Clower says that when looking at economic recovery a number of factors need to be considered, and that some of those other indicators continue to be misleading. 

"The retail sector is still showing indicators of weakness, and though the stock market has had a recent surge, I believe that the increases reflect businesses cutting costs rather than bringing in increased revenues," says Clower.

Clower says that although economists and consumers hope that the decrease in new jobless claims is the beginning of a trend, indicators show that the labor market will continue to be weak for the remainder of the year, and then start strengthening during the first quarter of 2010.

Clower is the associate director of UNT's Center for Economic Development and Research. He can be reached at his office at (940) 565-4049, on his cell phone at (214) 202-4692 or by e-mail at tclower@unt.edu.

EDITOR'S NOTE: UNT now offers interviews directly to you via Skype.  You can record a video interview with available experts from your office, saving you the time and travel.  To use the system, your station will need a Skype account, which is free to download from www.skype.com.  Skype-to-Skype calls are free.  There are versions for PCs, Mac, UNIX and other systems.

All of the experts listed in this media advisory are available for Skype interviews.  There availability is listed below.

DENTON (UNT), Texas – Back-to-school is right around the corner – Texas K-12 schools open the week of Aug. 24 and universities will be starting around the same time.  As you prepare your back-to-school coverage we encourage you to consider contacting experts from the University of North Texas.

Below is a sampling of our experts who can discuss back to school.  UNT has experts in almost any subject area, so if you don't see anyone that fits into your story, please contact us.

Math and science teacher shortage, education: 

Dr. John Quintanilla is an associate professor of mathematics as well as co-director of the Teach North Texas program. Teach North Texas (TNT) is a program for undergraduate math, science and computer science majors seeking teaching certification. TNT is part of UNT's efforts to address a national shortage of teachers qualified to teach these subjects.  Quintanilla can address the national shortage of science and mathematics teachers and the implications of that shortage, as well as the efforts that universities, including UNT, are taking to produce more highly qualified teachers in these high-need areas.  According to top colleges and universities in the area, the job of math and science teacher is one of the top five most in-demand careers. 

More information about Teach North Texas can be found at http://www.tnt.unt.edu/.

Office Phone: 940-565-4043

E-mail: john.quintanilla@unt.edu

Skype: Quintanilla is available for Skype interviews between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Mondays.

New teacher experience; school district growth, teacher quality:

Dr. Jo Murphy, director of field experiences for UNT's College of Education, has had extensive experience in the public schools of North Texas.  She worked as an elementary school teacher for 19 years and as an elementary school administrator for 10 years.  She served as both assistant principal and principal in the Frisco ISD, one of the fastest growing school district in the history of the state of Texas. She can discuss the changing faces of school districts as they deal with fast growth, economic issues, and the challenges of putting the very best teachers possible in classrooms of the future.  As the coordinator of field experiences, Murphy and her staff place about 1,000 students in classrooms annually.

Murphy also can provide contact information for recent UNT graduates who are starting their teaching career in the DFW area this fall. 

Office phone number: 940-565-3589

Email address: Jo.Murphy@unt.edu

Skype:  Murphy is available most Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Child development; coping with children starting school; balancing education and extracurricular activities; cultural and racial issues in education:

Dr. Donald Easton-Brooks is an assistant professor in the College of Education's Department of Teacher Education and Administration.  Easton-Brooks is also the past president of the Texas chapter of the National Association of Multicultural Education.  He has published several articles on education policies, academic achievement, and issues in early elementary education.  His work has been featured on academic blogs, in textbooks, and in academic journals. His areas of research interest include early childhood education, cultural issues in education, early childhood special education, No Child Left Behind and child development.

Office phone: 940-369-7452

Cell number 940-435-2025

Email: donald.easton-brooks@unt.edu

Skype:  Easton-Brooks is available for Skype interviews most Fridays.

Student money management programming and services:

Paul F. Goebel is the founding and managing director of the UNT Student Money Management Center. He has more than 15 years of experience in program development and project management, which he used to establish and expand a dedicated center of financial literacy services on campus.  He has been quoted in US News & World Report, Chronicle of Higher Education and Public Purpose – the magazine of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.  He has been a featured speaker at international and national conferences presenting workshops on financial literacy programming for college students.

"In uncertain economic times, we all have to remind ourselves to reprioritize our financial lives.  We need to redefine needs and wants, and then budget for needs and plan for wants," said Goebel.

Cell phone number: 512-695-0262 (first option)

Office phone number: 940-369-7281E-mail address: goebel@unt.edu

Skype: Goebel is available for Skype interviews on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00p.m.

DENTON (UNT), Texas – President Obama is encouraging each chamber of Congress to approve a healthcare bill before the August recess begins on August 7.  The Senate made positive strides toward that goal when the Senate Health Committee passed the "Affordable Health Choices Act" recently.

University of North Texas professor Dr. James Swan says that he believes that the bill that seems to be emerging is generally positive.  Swan is a professor in the Department of Applied Gerontology.  One of 10 applied social science and professional training programs in UNT's College of Public Affairs and Community Service, the Department of Gerontology studies aging and the needs of America's aging population.

Prior to joining the UNT faculty in 2004, Swan served on the faculty at Wichita State University where he did extensive research on the Clinton Administration's attempts to push healthcare reform through Congress.  Swan co-wrote a paper title "Harry and Louise and Healthcare Reform: Romancing Public Opinion," which analyzed the effect of the Health Insurance Association of America's "Harry and Louise" ad campaign on public opinion toward healthcare reform.

Swan is closely following the Obama Administration's attempts at healthcare to see if lessons were learned from the failed effort in the 1990s. He says that the emerging plan may be particularly positive for the country's older citizens. 

"It limits rate dispersion by age, so that the aged would pay no more than double what younger enrollees do, which is a real improvement over current practices," says Swan.  "It also seems unlikely that the new plan would adversely affect Medicare."
Swan also says that the inclusion of a government run healthcare option is a step in the right direction.

"It looks like Congress' plan is going to include a public option, which is necessary if any real reform is to occur," says Swan. "However, I am concerned that access to the public plan is likely to be very limited--perhaps available only to those without employer-covered insurance. Not only would this mean less choice for consumers but also less competitive pressure from a public plan that might help keep costs in check."

Swan says that access may not be the plan's only drawback.

"Unfortunately it has high co-pays and deductibles.  Worse, it sets plan standards at average prevailing employer-sponsored coverage, so that employer practices could potentially ratchet down minimum coverage standards," says Swan.  "Further, it does not supersede state laws, so standards will vary nationally and the healthcare industry will have a chance to shape them on state levels."

Swan can be reached at swan@unt.edu or 940-565-3454.  Swan is also available most Thursday and Friday afternoons to do on-camera interviews via Skype. The UNT News Service can provide you with broadcast quality video, allowing you to interview faculty experts without leaving your studios. To schedule a Skype interview with Swan, contact Alyssa Aber in the UNT News Service at 940-565-3510 or Alyssa.aber@unt.edu.