Indiana State University Newsroom

An Indiana State University professor plans to discuss cyberbullying and its effects during a seminar on April 28.

This seminar was originally planned for January but was cancelled due to bad weather.

Bridget Roberts-Pittman, ISU assistant professor of counseling, is scheduled to speak from 8 to 10:30 a.m. in the Hulman Memorial Student Union room 421 on "Cyberbullying: What is it? How safe is your student's computer use?"

"Cyberbullying can be defined as the use of technological devices to deliberately harass or harm another person. Through the use of e-mail, text messaging, instant messaging, cell phones and Internet social networking sites, cyberbullying has become a major problem facing school-age children, their parents as well as school personnel," Roberts-Pittman said. "Nearly half of school-aged children are reporting being targeted in some way that would meet the criteria for cyberbullying."

Roberts-Pittman said it is important for parents and educators to be aware of cyberbullying, especially since many children are not telling adults that it is happening. In the presentation, she will discuss the effects of cyberbullying, as well as ways for parents and teachers to help those being bullied.

"It is important for parents and educators to be aware of and prepared to intervene in terms of cyberbullying because it is affecting so many school-age children," she said.

The session is open to the public and free to attend, but registration is required. Contact Marlene Lu at mlu3@isugw.indstate.edu or 812-237-2842 to register or for additional information. The seminar is sponsored by the Blumberg Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Special Education.

-30-

Contact: Bridget Roberts-Pittman, Indiana State University, assistant professor of counseling, at 812-237-4593 or at broberts@isugw.indstate.edu  

Writer: Jennifer Sicking, Indiana State University, assistant director of media relations, at 812-237-7972 or jennifer.sicking@indstate.edu