“Quote....Endquote”

“Reality television neither encourages poor behavior nor serves as a cautionary tale because viewers are watching for entertainment, not as a model for 'real' life.”

Christine Whelan, assistant professor of sociology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, explaining why Americans are hooked on the fates of reality TV stars such as Kate and Jon Gosselin from Jon & Kate Plus Eight (The New York Times, June 25).

“Hancher is a world-renowned institution. ... I'm honored to have the opportunity to make a contribution to Hancher and the entire community.”

Jacob Yarrow, new Hancher Auditorium programming director, talking about his appreciation for the University of Iowa performing arts center (Iowa City Press-Citizen, June 20).

“I am the one that would do the after-school program with the biology teacher, cataloguing plants and insects. I was that geeky kid.”

David Drake, professor of endodontics in the College of Dentistry and president of the UI Faculty Senate, talking about his interests while in high school (Iowa City Press-Citizen, June 14).

“As a society, we want to think a husband might still have his hand on his wife’s knee under the table after 15 years of marriage. That’s not necessarily bad, but it adds extra pressure.”

Christine Whelan, visiting assistant professor of sociology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, saying Barack and Michelle Obama exemplify what sociologists call the “individualized marriage,” where a thriving relationship is marked by love and mutual attraction, not just duty to family and social roles (The New York Times, June 5).

“The idea is we want to help enrich the lives of the Jewish students so they can be more successful citizens of the Jewish community and of the world at large.”

Gerald Sorokin, director of Hillel, an organization that provides Jewish programming at The University of Iowa, discussing the organization’s mission after some 80 years at the University (Iowa City Press-Citizen, June 11).

“I have a pretty powerful feeling of déjà vu.”

Colin Gordon, professor of history in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, noting that President Clinton failed to bring about health care reform despite stressing the economic imperative (Washington Post, June 10).

“It’s sort of medium-bad at this point, but it looks like it’s going to get a whole lot worse.”

Michael Graham, director of nuclear medicine in the Carver College of Medicine, commenting that the shutdown of a Canadian nuclear reactor—a crucial supplier of medical scanning isotopes—is interrupting care to patients and hindering suppliers (Wall Street Journal, June 5).