Turn off the "fun"
Students ready for TV-Turnoff Week
Maja Petersen
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: Showcase
Another reason Mehlberg said he sees TV-Turnoff Week as a challenge is because of the diversity of what's on the air. He said he thinks there is something everyone can relate to.
"There's a channel for everyone to watch," he said. "It definitely adds to the difficulty of turning it off."
Mehlberg said he has never participated in the week because he hasn't been aware of it, but said he would consider it in the future if he knew when it occured.
Mehlberg, who is a programmer for TV-10, said the event is not usually discussed at the station.
Senior Megan Bernard said she watches about five hours of television a week, and said TV-Turnoff Week would be a challenge for her because many shows run week-to-week, and she said she would not want to miss out on a storyline.
"I wouldn't consider turning off the TV for a week because it's my escape from the stress that school holds," she said.
She said she did see negatives to watching TV, such as distraction from doing more productive things. In general, however, she said TV is a good form of entertainment, and as long as it is watched in moderation it is not bad.
According to the TV-Turnoff Network's Web site, some reasons people should stay away from television are because it "cuts into family time, harms our children's ability to read and succeed in school and contributes to unhealthy lifestyles and obesity."
In the past, there have been TV-Turnoff Week events at UW-Eau Claire. Senior Jacob Boer, public relations director of Student Senate, said in past years Student Senate has organized events supporting the week.
"We passed a resolution in support and encouraged people not to watch TV," he said
This year, the Senate was preoccupied, Boer said, and did not focus on TV-Turnoff Week.
In the past, Senate encouraged students to do something besides watch TV. Some suggested activities included writing a letter to a friend or relative, making a fort out of blankets and pillows, reading a book and playing outside.
Nielsen statistics from 2006 show that the average American child spends 1,023 hours in front of the television each year and only 900 hours in school.
TV-Turnoff Week has changed the viewing habits of many, according to the TV-Turnoff Network Web site. Of the hundreds of people who responded to follow-up surveys, 90 percent said they "reduced their TV-viewing as a result of participating."
"There's a channel for everyone to watch," he said. "It definitely adds to the difficulty of turning it off."
Mehlberg said he has never participated in the week because he hasn't been aware of it, but said he would consider it in the future if he knew when it occured.
Mehlberg, who is a programmer for TV-10, said the event is not usually discussed at the station.
Senior Megan Bernard said she watches about five hours of television a week, and said TV-Turnoff Week would be a challenge for her because many shows run week-to-week, and she said she would not want to miss out on a storyline.
"I wouldn't consider turning off the TV for a week because it's my escape from the stress that school holds," she said.
She said she did see negatives to watching TV, such as distraction from doing more productive things. In general, however, she said TV is a good form of entertainment, and as long as it is watched in moderation it is not bad.
According to the TV-Turnoff Network's Web site, some reasons people should stay away from television are because it "cuts into family time, harms our children's ability to read and succeed in school and contributes to unhealthy lifestyles and obesity."
In the past, there have been TV-Turnoff Week events at UW-Eau Claire. Senior Jacob Boer, public relations director of Student Senate, said in past years Student Senate has organized events supporting the week.
"We passed a resolution in support and encouraged people not to watch TV," he said
This year, the Senate was preoccupied, Boer said, and did not focus on TV-Turnoff Week.
In the past, Senate encouraged students to do something besides watch TV. Some suggested activities included writing a letter to a friend or relative, making a fort out of blankets and pillows, reading a book and playing outside.
Nielsen statistics from 2006 show that the average American child spends 1,023 hours in front of the television each year and only 900 hours in school.
TV-Turnoff Week has changed the viewing habits of many, according to the TV-Turnoff Network Web site. Of the hundreds of people who responded to follow-up surveys, 90 percent said they "reduced their TV-viewing as a result of participating."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Tanisha
posted 4/26/07 @ 12:37 PM CST
You sure quote Megan Bernard a lot! Did she really say all that??
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