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First lady Patti Blagojevich
joined the meeting. "Each one of us has taken time out to serve on
this task force because we recognize that these increasingly
explicit games pose a real threat to our children's development and
behavior," Mrs. Blagojevich said. "I look forward to working with
the other task force members and developing recommendations that can
help parents do their job. The research and groundwork that we will
be doing over the coming months is important both to the parents and
the children of our state."
During the organizational meeting, the group discussed its
responsibilities in conjunction with the governor's legislative
proposal to ban minors from purchasing or renting violent and
sexually explicit video games. The task force will provide local
communities with additional information about the dangers of violent
and sexually explicit video games.
The task force is made up of two
subcommittees: a parents group and a policy group. The parents group
is charged with developing strategies for educating parents and the
public about the issue of explicit video games, as well as gathering
feedback on the governor's proposed legislation, making website
improvement recommendations and suggesting any additional ideas for
educating parents and the public. Members will also inform the
governor of parents' concerns that may be addressed as part of this
initiative.
The policy group will gather, review
and inform the governor of the latest research examining the effects
that playing violent and sexually explicit video games have on
children. This group will also provide the governor with information
on industry advertising and marketing practices and video game
demographic usage information.
Christine Westerlund of Chatham, a
training specialist with the Illinois Community Action Association
and a mother of two, was named the convener of the task force. "As a
member of the task force, I hope to share the governor's plan with
our communities," Westerlund said. "I'm anxious to hear what parents
are thinking and doing to educate both themselves and their children
about the content of video games, and I look forward to working with
this distinguished panel."
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this article] |
The other
members of the task force are:
- First lady Patti Blagojevich
- The Hon. Ed Burke, alderman, city
of Chicago
- The Hon. John A. Fritchey,
D-Chicago
- The Hon. Paul D. Froehlich,
D-Schaumburg
- The Hon. Donald L. Moffitt,
R-Galesburg
- The Hon. Richard J. Winkel Jr.,
R-Urbana
- Mr. Julio Abreu, Chicago
- Ms. Kathy Bilbo, Chicago
- Ms. Gayla Boomer, Illinois PTA
- Dr. Dan Broughton, American
Association of Pediatrics
- Mr. Andy Burtschi, Decatur
- Mrs. Stacy Burtschi, Decatur
- Mr. Paul Caprio, Director, Family
PAC
- Mr. Dennis Ferrell, Herod
- Mrs. Patty Ferrell, Herod
- Mr. David Gee, Chicago
- Dr. Douglas Gentile, National
Institute on Media and the Family
- Ms. Sheila Jamison, Decatur
- Ms. Kristin Juozaitis, Chicago
- Ms. Erin Kern, Belleville
- Mrs. Audry King, Golconda
- Mr. Kelly King, Golconda
- Ms. Laura Kovarik, Naperville
- Mr. Eric Leonard, Decatur
- Mrs. Jamel Meeks, Chicago
- Ms. Laura Mills, Evanston
- Ms. Nell Minow, editor and
co-founder, The Corporate Library
- Mrs. Debra Niebur, Edwardsville
- Ms. Deb Perryman, Illinois
Teacher of the Year
- Mr. Bill Peyton, Norris City
- Dr. Michael Rich, Children's
Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School
- Dr. John Schneider, American
Medical Association
- Ms. Joni Shaver, Washington
- Mr. Bud Sous, Peoria
- Rev. Thomas Walker, Decatur
[News release from the
governor's office] |
