Staff Writer
Students presented scientific and professional research on topics of science, liberal arts, business, fine arts and more to SU students, staff and the community at the 13th annual Salisbury University Student Research Conference on Friday.
The conference began at 11:30 a.m. and opened with a welcome reception in Perdue Hall lead by SU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Diane Allen. At the welcome reception the SU Squawkapellas also performed.
At 1:30 p.m. presentations began in Henson Science Hall, where most other presentations were held. Sessions began at that time, 3 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.
In the Behavior section, presenter Thomas Williams brought to light the influence of language in his presentation, “Fighting the Battle: The Impact of Queer Teen Suicide in the Media.”
“In our culture, language matters,” Williams said as he began. “In our society, words have the ability to show love, compassion, concern and empathy. However, in our society words also have the ability to hurt and kill.”
Williams explained that 30,000 people every year die due to suicide, and that in a 2011 study suicide was found to be the fourth leading cause of death for people aged five to 14 years old, and that both men and women are increasing in suicide rates from ages 10 to 19 years old. He also shared that from 2010 to 2011 there was a 1.5 percent increase in suicide, and that this is often caused be difficulties in school, bullying, balancing relationships, rejection and failure.
Using a qualitative case study analysis, Williams studied the before and after affects of teen suicide and why some homosexual and bisexual teens chose to commit suicide. He found that much of this is because teens are not just being bullied in school anymore, but over the Internet as well. It is also because the media shows one person feeling alone and depressed while everyone else is fine, while in reality many people feel this way. Even further, in one study Williams said 16 percent of 339 reviewed websites were pro-suicide, holding links and tips for viewers on how to commit suicide. Williams also said that most people’s knowledge of suicide is taken from the media and the media can portray it as an heroic act, saying that maybe the person will save someone else’s life by taking his or her own.