Media Fast for College Students

Dana L. Walker's article in the Washington Post yesterday highlighted an assignment she gave to American University students in her "Understanding Mass Media" class: go without electronic media -- television, computers, iPods, or other MP3 devices, radio, video games, CD players, records or cellphones (or land lines) -- for 24 hours.

Said one student after completing the media fast: "we can't deal with silence anymore. We always have to have at least two things going on, whether it's the TV or the computer or iPod or cellphone."