A feature story on Steven Stack, a Troy resident and professor in the Criminal Justice Department, focuses on his research regarding suicide statistics. He recently received an Ig Nobel Prize for a 1992 study that established a correlation between country music and higher suicide rates. Although the Ig Nobel is a tongue-in-cheek award, competition is keen, with over 5,000 nominees for the handful of awards presented each year. Stack admits that his study, co-conducted by a professor at Auburn University, drew more criticism than praise when it was widely covered by the media. The study report noted that factors other than country music may have a bearing on suicide rates among country music fans. These include gun ownership and higher divorce rates. A photo of Stack accompanies the article.