January 2003			Utter Anxiety The Soul of Programming	E Line Sports Q&A Classes From the Field First-Person Letters Huskiana
		Q&A Social psychologist and author Jack Levin studies such topics as hate crimes, serial murder, and celebrity in popular culture. His irrepressible manner and renowned expertise have made him one of the most popular teachers on campus and a media favorite, as demonstrated by his frequent TV appearances during last fall’s Washington sniper coverage. Q. On behalf of all talking heads in America, would you like to issue a public apology for your errant speculation in the Washington-area sniper case? A. Not at all. This was an unprecedented case—we have simply not seen anything like it in the annals of serial murder. So it should not surprise us that we were not totally on target when it came to predicting many of the characteristics of the snipers. However, we were right more than we were wrong. We correctly predicted the sniper was a middle-aged male, that he had recently suffered a nasty divorce, that he had suffered financial disaster, and that it was a team of killers. Q. In the couple of months or so since suspect John Muhammad’s arrest, what have you learned from your sources that may explain his murderous rampage? A. The missing piece here was that these snipers were profit-motivated. It explains why they were not up close and personal with their victims—they distanced themselves by using high-powered rifles. It explains why they wanted so desperately to communicate with the police—how else were they going to hold the Washington, D.C., area hostage to their demands for $10 million? And it explains their history—they had a record of committing armed robberies across the country. Q. At the peak of the sniper case, how many media calls were you fielding a day? A. Let’s put it this way: My voice mail, which accepts thirty messages, was filling up every hour. So I was getting hundreds of calls a day, beginning at 5 a.m. and continuing till midnight. On the day the snipers targeted a bus driver in the D.C. area, I had six calls before 5:30 a.m. Q. What’s the Cadillac of news shows—the one you’d never pass up an appearance on? A. The Today Show, for two reasons. One, it reaches the largest audience in the morning. And two, the producers seem to have a sense of spontaneity that is missing in the other morning shows. Q. Is it difficult being interviewed from a remote studio, when you’re unable to see the questioner or the other guests on the panel? A. It’s horrible. In most cases, you’re staring into a camera, with an earpiece in your ear, for a conversation that’s being played out thousands of miles away. If you’re not assertive, you can be completely left out of the conversation. Q. Present company excluded, who’s the most compelling news person you’ve ever been interviewed by? A. Probably Geraldo Rivera. He’s challenging, provocative, and smart. Q. How about the worst? A. I’d say [Fox TV’s] Bill O’Reilly. If he perceives that you hold a liberal political position, then he’ll cut you right off. [Laughs] I guess I won’t be on his show anymore. Q. You’ve written and lectured extensively on the topic of gossip. So give us your best gossip about a well-known national news personality. A. [Syndicated talk-show host] Jenny Jones is often called an airhead. And I found out that it’s absolutely true. The time I was on her show, the producer ran over to me and asked me to supply questions for her because she had nothing to ask. Q. How often do you get stopped or recognized on the street? A. Plenty. During the recent sniper attacks, I came to understand what it’s like to be a celebrity. It means not having any privacy. That’s not to say there isn’t a certain enjoyment to it—there is—but there’s a negative side to it, as well. Q. How do you respond to critics who say your ubiquitous media presence cheapens the role of a scholar? A. I respect those who feel that way, but I suspect there’s an element of elitism in that particular opinion. There are millions of people who may not be able to afford to get a college education for one reason or another, but I think they’re still worth talking to. I’d also say that my media exposure has helped me be a better instructor and has enhanced my reputation. Q. Why are you so fascinated with the topic of murder? A. You know, I do lots of talks at colleges and universities around the world. And almost invariably, after one of my talks about murder, a student will ask that very thing: “Why are you so fascinated with this topic?” And I always have to say, “Excuse me. You asked me to talk about this. You invited me here.”