WHAT Opportunity for reporters to talk with the co-director of the University of Oregon Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior about the causes of school shootings and how to prevent them.

WHEN 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 21

WHERE Room 110, Johnson Hall, 1098 E. 13th Ave.

WHO Hill Walker, Co-Director, UO Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior (IVDB)

BACKGROUND

Walker will talk about the causes of school violence, prevention and the escalating number of victims at each incident. He will discuss the apparent link between the latest tragedy at Littleton, Colo. and terrorist tactics.

Walker and his colleagues at the IVDB have developed a number of programs that address the beginnings of youth violence. The First Steps Program helps kindergarten children and their families learn behaviors that don’t foster violence. Another program, called Effective Behavioral Support, provides a school-wide approach for addressing the problems posed by older antisocial students and for successfully coping with the challenge of school violence.