Students who frequently eat out might have noticed a rise in consumer television viewing while at restaurants. If so, these students are not alone. The trend has caught the eye of Southeastern’s Dr. David Burley, assistant professor of sociology, and he is concerned.

Burley, an environmental sociologist, first realized this trend after seeing a newspaper advertisement for a new restaurant in the Ponchatoula area. According to Burley, the restaurant boasted many high-quality flat screen televisions. This included smaller televisions positioned at lower heights just for the patron’s children. Although Burley made it clear that he is a supporter of local business, the heavy reliance upon television in the restaurant’s motif caused Burley to lose little time in drafting up his own letter to the editors of the Hammond Daily Star.

“The whole idea is that we love to go out to eat because it’s such a big cultural event. It’s kind of too special to be lost to television,” said Burley.

In his letter, entitled “Everywhere you eat, a TV,” Burley noted studies that he had unearthed detailing the correlation between television and eating. According to Burley, the numbers do not look good. The studies have shown that people tend to eat more while watching television and not conversing with others. Due to this correlation, the ramifications to our already at-risk-for-obesity community have the potential to be drastic. With obesity, a slew of health risks arise, including coronary heart disease and Type II Diabetes. Burley also noted the impact that this could have on the country’s already precarious health care system.

But Burley was not finished. Paraphrasing Michael Pollan, author of “In Defense of Food,” Burley described how infants and young adults learn critical life skills while seated at the dinner table. These skills include the art of debate and critical listening skills. According to Pollan, basic democratic principals are gleaned from this setting as well. All of this information begs the question; with the focal center shifting from family interaction to television viewing, what will happen to these critical life lessons?

Burley pointed out another, more home-based take on the subject.

“In a unique region, such as Louisiana, where we are famous for our food, who wants to be distracted while we eat?” said Burley. “We have such a rich culture and rich food traditions.”      It is this tradition and culture that Burley feels are at risk by society’s propensity to watch television at the table.

Burley implored anyone that might find themselves in this position to simply reconsider the values that they are brushing aside as antiquated. He asks his own students to request that restaurants turn off their televisions. It was Burley’s concluding thought that by turning off the tube, people everywhere could enjoy healthier, more fulfilling lives.