UCI: Darkness could affect bulimia

Binge eating, a trait of bulimic behavior which afflicts more than six

million men and women nationwide, may be linked to darkness, says a UC

Irvine study released last month.

The study conducted by the UCI School of Social Ecology may provide

researchers with new insight into prevention and treatment.

“Darkness provides a high-risk environment for binge eating for

certain people,” said Joseph Kasof, a psychology researcher and lecturer

at UCI, in a press release. “People who spend more waking hours in

darkness may be more susceptible, especially if they feel a strong need

to diet.”

For many individuals concerned about their weight, eating in a

darkened or dimly lit room allows them to lose their inhibitions toward

eating and may result in more bulimic behavior, Kasof said.

The study was published in the January issue of Personality and

Individual Differences.

Coastline president to retire in June

Coastline Community College is losing its president. Leslie Purdy, who

started with the college in 1975 as an instructional designer, will

retire on June 30.

Purdy worked with telecourse production and later became an

administrative dean, eventually becoming president in 1994. During her years at the college, she received several awards for her work on

different telecourses, including an Emmy.

As president, Purdy expanded distance-learning programs, opened an

instructional center, received multiple grants and was elected to operate

the Orange County Regional One-Stop Center, which has expanded its

services within the military.

Coastline has begun its search for a new president and is accepting

applications until April 5. Those interested in the position can send

their application to Coastline Community College District, Office of

Human Relations, Attn: John Renley, P.O. Box 1949, Costa Mesa, CA 92628.

International students are OCC’s strength

Orange Coast College ranks 10th nationwide out of more than 1,200

community colleges in the number of international students it enrolls,

according to Community College Week.

According to figures published in the Dec. 24 issue, the college

enrolls 1,244 students, 70% of which come from Asia and more than 13%

from Europe.

Six years ago, the college ranked 19th in the nation.

Almost 550,000 international students came to the United States to

study during the 2000-2001 academic year.

Coastline foundation gets new director

Mariam Khosravani has been named director of the Coastline Community

College Foundation.

The nonprofit foundation aids colleges in obtaining support and

resources to meet the needs of the students and community.

Khosravani, who has a master’s in business administration from

National University, has been active in fund-raising for more than 10

years. She recently raised $136,000 for the victims of terrorist attacks

in New York City and $84,000 for refugee women and children from

Afghanistan.