UB Faculty Experts

EXPERT CONTACT : Nicholas B. Norgard Clinical Assistant Professor of Cardiology University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences North Campus Office: 716-645-4779 Center of Excellence Office: 716-881-7908 nnorgard@buffalo.edu

Norgard weighs in on Lipitor going generic and what it means to patients, pharmaceutical companies and the future of health care.

"We are in the era of evidence-based medicine and the evidence supports atorvastatin as the statin of choice for cardiovascular protection. Yet as practitioners, we have been sacrificing the benefits that could be gained with atorvastatin for less potent, less effective statins because of cost. The high cost of the brand name statins really places a high burden on our patients. When we try to use the more potent, brand name statins, we have found that more than 50 percent of patients quit taking them within the first year due in large part to cost. This is not at all ideal given the huge benefit these drugs afford. I expect that when atorvastatin goes generic and the cost comes down, the obtainability and adherence of atorvastatin will improve dramatically. And this, in turn, will lead to better protected patients and a reduction in cardiac events, procedures, and hospitalizations.

EXPERT CONTACT : Holly Justice Career Counselor University at Buffalo Career Services 716-645-4640 hjustice@buffalo.edu

Justice can talk about how veterans can translate their military experience into resumes that will catch the attention of civilian companies. While veterans completing enlistments come home with valuable skills, finding work can be difficult if employers don’t understand how responsibilities in Iraq and Afghanistan apply to civilian jobs, she says.

Q: How can a good resume help veterans re-enter the civilian work world?

A:  The challenge that veterans face is to translate military language on their resumes to something that civilians unfamiliar with the military culture will understand and appreciate. Veterans need to be descriptive in their language so that civilian employers have a better picture of the candidate’s responsibilities and accomplishments.

A resume that truly illustrates the individuals’ experience and skill sets is critical to getting an interview.

Veterans looking to enter the civilian job market have incredible skills to offer employers. They can be a great fit for companies seeking candidates who are adaptable and have great professionalism, along with leadership and management experience.

Q: What are some common mistakes veterans might make when writing a civilian resume?

EXPERT CONTACT : Dr. James E. Campbell UB Distinguished Professor and chair of the UB Department of Political Science University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences 716-645-8452 jcampbel@buffalo.edu

Campbell is a specialist in American electoral politics and forecasting. He says that with the 2012 presidential campaign in full swing, President Obama's low approval rating and the struggling economy will be key indicators in the election outcome. Campbell also points out that only one incumbent president -- Harry Truman -- has succeeded in retaking the office with an approval rating of below 45 percent.

Additional insight from Campbell:

On President Obama's low approval rating and performance with regards to the economy:

“President Obama has a high 30 to low 40 percent approval rating and historically only one incumbent presidential candidate -- Harry Truman -- has succeeded in retaking the office with an approval rating of below 45 percent. He has plenty of time to bounce back and hit that key threshold, but it is still likely to be a close election.”

“The economy is simply the overriding issue in the campaign. Americans historically have not accepted presidential excuses for a weak economy, so even if the economy shows signs of recovery at election time, the president carries the weight of poor economic performance.”

“Americans want to see performance so for the president to say the recession began on Bush’s watch or that the fault lies with Wall Street will not help with swing or Republican voters. Even the issue of raising taxes on the wealthiest 1 percent may resonate with people, but my guess is that will be seen as a distraction from the general economic weakness and that it actually won’t help him that much.”

On the climate and challenges for Republicans:

“With an incumbent in the race, the presidential record over the last four years will really shape the election’s focus. The political climate looks favorable for the Republicans, but they have to be concerned about having a reasonable candidate that will allow voters to register their dissatisfaction with the incumbent’s record, particularly in respect to the economy.”

“The real driver in how effective the Republicans will be in the race will be in how well they prevent President Obama from going on the offensive. The campaign has to stay focused on the past record because if it becomes about the future, the president has a greater chance of success.”

“The longer the Republican field stays crowded the more it works to Mitt Romney’s advantage, but there is still a great deal of anyone but Romney sentiment out there. He is still the front runner but has not put much distance between himself and the other candidates. The Republican race for a candidate could stay alive right until the time of the convention, but more likely will clarify based on how well Romney does in the southern states."

On the Republican field and who has a chance at winning it:

“Republicans are looking for someone that doesn’t get in the way of voters registering their feelings of contempt."

“The way I look at the Republican candidate field right now is that Mitt Romney is a slight front runner, but he really faces a serious challenge from Rick Perry. He may also face a challenge, albeit perhaps less so, from some of the others including Herman Cain. Cain is a surprising candidate and an untested candidate. In spite of the fact that he has not held public office, he is getting support from a lot of groups that are in the camp of anyone but Romney. His lack of governing experience might help initially with tea party supporters, but when you have an untested candidate with some clear gaps in his knowledge of politics and government that can be a substantial liability against a sharp candidate like President Obama.”

“But look at how this race has moved. Perry has been at the front, then fallen behind. Michele Bachmann has looked strong then fallen back. Through all of it, Romney’s numbers have stayed at about 25 percent.”

“It still seems, however, that about two-thirds of Republicans are still searching for an acceptable candidate. The basis for that might be that religion could be a concern; some may not be comfortable having a Mormon in the White House. And then of course, his record as governor of taking fairly liberal positions and then changing his position on not just one, or two, but on many issues means that he comes to the race with some substantial baggage.”

Human society has long had a fascination with monsters. We're both drawn to and repulsed by horrors. John Edgar Browning, University at Buffalo vampire expert, and David Castillo, scholar of the grotesque, can talk about why we love this stuff, and how far back our creepy fixations extend.

EXPERT CONTACT : John Edgar Browning Arthur A. Schomburg Fellow and PhD candidate in American Studies University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences 225-305-4263 johnbrow@buffalo.edu

Browning has written several books and conducts research on the vampire. He specializes in the Dracula figure in film, literature, television and popular culture

"Vampires and monsters -- they're just us," Browning says. "They're what we aspire to be, what we're told to hate most about ourselves, what we secretly yearn for, but shouldn't."

Browning discusses vampires and monster culture in this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1K6irKHrjc.

He is the author of several books, including "Draculas, Vampires, and Other Undead Forms," "Dracula in Visual Media: Film, Television, Comic Book and Electronic Game Appearances, 1921-2010" and "Speaking of Monsters: A Teratological Anthology."

Browning has been invited to lecture on a Holland-American vampire-themed cruise next summer.

Castillo specializes in an era that produced unusually grotesque, terrifying and fantastic literature.

He can discuss the historical roots of supernatural visitation, terrifying visions, haunted houses and man-made horrors not unlike those we read about online or in the tabloid press today. Castillo can describe why we love this stuff, what it means "really," and how old and creepy our fascination actually is.

His latest book, "Baroque Horrors" presents tales of mutilation, mutation, monstrosity, murder and mayhem that, he says, "offer a way for us to understand our own modern fears and their monstrous offspring, and new ways to think about broad questions of political history and relate them to the modern age."

He says the historical roots of horror in the modern age lie in the Spanish baroque period, roughly 1600-1720. His book explores a lot of terrifying behavior, beliefs, places and people of that era rarely considered together. For instance, the young woman cemented up in the family home -- by her family, who waited for six years, despite the stench, while worms and vermin did her in from the feet up.

Experts in various aspects of the macabre include University at Buffalo faculty members who specialize in what in many cultures find horrible and terrifying. David Schmid of the English department can talk about the real-life monsters among us, while Phillips Stevens Jr. of the anthropology department can delve into witches, demons, Satanism, sorcerers and the undead.

EXPERT CONTACT : Dr. David Schmid Professor of English University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences 716-645-0679 schmid@buffalo.edu

Schmid focuses on cultural monstrosities -- those among us whom we perceive as "monsters" and the role they play in our self-perception as individual and social beings.

Although his initial work in this field focused on the serial killer as an American popular-culture figure, he also studies how our society safely represents and addresses the anxieties of our time through the use of other monsters, such as zombies and vampires.

He is the author of "Natural Born Celebrities: Serial Killers in American Culture," "True Crime," a companion to crime fiction, "The Devil You Know: Dexter and the 'Goodness' of American Serial Killing" and books on noir novels, murderabilia and murder culture.

"The monsters I'm most interested in are the ones that exist in plain sight," Schmid says. "Sure, I write about the traditional Halloween and pop culture fare -- zombies, vampires and so on -- but I never want to lose sight of the fact that the most distinctive and numerous monsters in any culture are the ones that we don't immediately recognize.

"I conduct research on killers and their place in our cultural imagination but I also want to extend that focus to other monstrous figures and institutions: those whose apparent normality makes them no less destructive and murderous: the abusers at Abu Ghraib, the banks that are destroying lives while reaping record profits and the corporations who are poisoning the planet for their bottom line."

EXPERT CONTACT : Dr. Phillip Stevens Jr. Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Anthropology University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences 716-645-0416 or 716-645-0802 pstevens@buffalo.edu

Stevens' research and publications embrace works on spirits and spirit possession, Satanism, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, voodoo and deities of various cultures. His work focuses on West African spiritual practice.

Stevens has published dozens of articles on these issues as well as on divination, "distance healing," zombies, rites of passage, magical thinking and the dark side of humanity.

Last week, Jamey Rodemeyer, 14, a teen from the suburbs of Buffalo, committed suicide after struggling with bullying related to his sexuality.

Below, local UB experts Amanda Nickerson and Jonathan Katz share their perspectives on the importance of acknowledging the horrors of such abuse.

Nickerson, director of UB's Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying Abuse and School Violence, says Lady Gaga and other celebrities who comment on the horrors bullying abuse can teach youth to be more responsible, reaching them in a way that a White House summit might not.

Katz, director of UB's visual studies doctoral program and a longtime gay rights activist and author, says referring to Rodemeyer as simply a victim of bullying "soft pedals the aggressive homophobia that is the root issue."

EXPERT CONTACT : Dr. Amanda Nickerson, PhD (Available for interviews by appointment) Director of the Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying Abuse and School Violence University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education 716-645-3448 nickersa@buffalo.edu

Nickerson says the suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer is another example of a tragedy that might have been exacerbated by bullying behavior.

Rodemeyer posted a lyric from the Lady Gaga song, "The Queen" on his Facebook page the night before he took his own life. Since then, the popular female singer has tweeted on the youth's death, including this message to her fans: "Jamey Rodemeyer, 14 years old, took his life because of bullying. Bullying must become illegal. It is a hate crime."

"Lady Gaga tweeting about the tragic suicide of Williamsville student Jamey Rodemeyer is going to reach a different audience than the White House's summit on bullying," Nickerson says.

"Lady Gaga is going to speak to the youth," she adds. "Whatever she says is going to reach these young audiences. It's up to her and other well-known people who others look up to to say responsible things."

Nickerson also answered some frequently asked questions following this week's tragedy:

Q: What is cyberbullying?

A: Cyberbullying is using technology (computers, cell phones and other electronic devices) to willfully harass, threaten, intimidate or otherwise inflict harm. Examples include sending hurtful text messages, spreading rumors, creating blogs or websites to make fun of others, or taking pictures and sending them to others.

Q: How is it similar and different from other forms of bullying?

A: As with other forms of bullying, cyberbullying can have devastating outcomes, such as depression, anger, sadness and fear of going to school.

It's different because it can be anonymous, viral (spreads quickly), and potentially easier to be cruel given the physical distance from the target and victim.

Q: What can we do to tackle the problem?

A: Parents can model appropriate behavior in life and online about treating others with respect and dignity. They can educate children about responsible use of technology. They can supervise activities, such as having the computer in a common room, going on the Internet with their children, using filtering software and being aware of passwords and contacts.

Schools can cultivate a safe and respectful school environment. They can educate students about responsible use of technology and digital citizenship.

They can also maintain and enforce clear and consistent policies against bullying and harassment (including cyberbullying that occurs off campus and results in disruptions in learning). And they can then inform students and parents of these rules.

Young people can identify a trusted adult (such as a parent, teacher, or someone else) to talk to about experiences with bullying and cyberbullying, either as the target or a witness. They can remember that having a cell phone, email, and other accounts is a privilege and not a right. They can remember not to send online communications (pictures, texts, etc.) that they wouldn't feel comfortable sharing with parent.

EXPERT CONTACT : Dr. Jonathan Katz, PhD Director of Visual Studies Doctoral Program University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences 646-241-5241 jonathandavidkatz@gmail.com

Katz, a longtime gay rights activist and author, says Rodemeyer is the victim of a hate crime.

"To refer to him as a victim of 'bullying' in this case soft pedals the aggressive homophobia that is the root issue," Katz says. "This young boy was taunted and bullied because of his sexual orientation and that, by definition, is a hate crime.

"We don't refer to racism or sexism as 'bullying,'" Katz says. "We call them by their names to acknowledge the social pathology we are trying to eliminate."

"In this case, too, we must name this form of discrimination, because with each incremental advance in GLBTQ rights, the most vulnerable people in our community -- our children -- are being targeted."

Katz says adults who perpetuate bigotry share in the blame: "Our children are being told by some authority figures that same-sex desire is sinful and that queer people aren't even worthy of life, much less respect."

Katz is an art historian, educator and writer who works at the intersection of art history and queer history. The former executive coordinator of the Larry Kramer Initiative for Lesbian and Gay Studies at Yale University, he co-curated the celebrated 2010 Smithsonian Institution exhibition "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture."

As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, UB faculty experts are available to discuss the Sept. 11 attacks and their aftermath. Faculty members with research expertise relevant to 9/11 include:

EXPERT CONTACT : Helen Domske Associate Director, Great Lakes Program University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Senior Coastal Education Specialist New York Sea Grant 716-645-3610 hmd4@cornell.edu

As the battle to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes continues, Domske says the lakes’ past experience with zebra and quagga mussels demonstrates the danger of letting foreign species in.

The faculty of the University at Buffalo will be available throughout the stay of Hurricane Irene and beyond to answer questions on disaster preparedness, damage from natural disasters, crisis communication and other issues in the wake of this tropical storm.