Ohio State News Tips for Oct. 23, 2012

Fisher vs. University of Texas panel discussion – Oct. 23. A panel discussion on the Fisher vs. University of Texas admissions case will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Drinko Hall, Saxbe Auditorium, 55 W. 12th Ave. Hosted by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, participants include Phillip T.K. Daniel, Ohio State professor; Damon Hewitt, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; and moderator Sharon Davies, executive director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. The event is free and open to the public. CONTACT: Todd Suddeth at Suddeth.1@osu.edu

Open House celebrates opening of Ohio State’s new Office of Military and Veterans Services – Oct. 25. Ohio State’s new Office of Military and Veterans Services caters specifically to the nearly 2,000 military and veteran students on campus. The office will hold an open house at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25 in room 185 of the Student Academic Services Building at 281 W. Lane Ave.

Media are welcome to attend the open house and talk to students as well as those involved in starting the new office.

The office assists students with accessing their educational benefits and the university academic resources they need for success.

The new office is the latest in a series of Ohio State initiatives to serve military and veteran students. Other resources include a veterans house (a housing option for students who are veterans, active duty, reserves and National Guard) a veterans student organization and a veterans learning community. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.

University political experts discuss race and politics in America – Oct. 25. Ohio State’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion presents, “Beyond Obama: A Conversation about Race & Politics in America” at 3 p.m. in room 285/289 of the Student Academic Services Building, 281 W. Lane Ave. The discussion features Ohio State Political Science Professor Ismail White and political science Ph.D. candidate Chryl Laird. It is part of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Dialogue and Discussion Series on Diversity. SEE: http://odi.osu.edu/

Events mark 25th anniversary of Young Scholars Program. October 26 will be a memorable and motivating day for 90 tenth graders from across Ohio who will spend the day at the Ohio State University campus.

Those tenth graders, from Akron, Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Youngstown, Canton, Lorain and Toledo, will be inducted into Ohio State’s Young Scholars Program (YSP) on its 25th Anniversary Celebration.

Since its inception in 1988, Ohio State’s Young Scholars Program has prepared nearly 3,000 Ohio youth for college success. YSP annually identifies and prepares hundreds of academically talented first generation college students from economically challenged backgrounds. Young Scholars who successfully complete program requirements are guaranteed admission to Ohio State as well as a financial aid package based on their individual need.

On Friday, the inductees and their parents will travel to Ohio State to hear a keynote address by General Colin Powell on the merits of leadership (this event is closed to media). They will attend a special 25th anniversary and induction luncheon hosted by actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover at 1 p.m. in the Ohio Union Performance Hall. CONTACT: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276, cook.17@osu.edu

“Vet for Pets” 5K benefits central Ohio pets and veterinary students – Nov. 4. The seventh annual "Vets for Pets" 5K run/walk (with or without dogs) will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 4, at the College of Veterinary Medicine Academic Building, 1900 Coffey Rd.

Race participants often bring dogs to walk along the race route. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine Classes of 2014 and Friends of the Shelter, which serves the Franklin County Animal Shelter.

Advance registration is $25. Same-day on-site registration is $30 and begins at 8:30 a.m. Free parking is available. SEE: http://www.active.com/5k-race/columbus-oh/vets-for-pets-5k-run-walk-2012

Study provides insight on residents of rural food deserts. “Food deserts" are normally thought of as low-income, blighted urban neighborhoods with little access to fresh, reasonably priced fruits and vegetables.

But rural areas, despite their wide-open spaces and fertile farmland, can be food deserts, too.
Tom Blaine, an Ohio State University Extension community development specialist worked with two student interns to examine this seeming paradox to discover more about people who live in rural food deserts and how they access fresh produce.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, rural residents who live at least 10 miles away from a grocery store live in a food desert, said Tom Blaine.

“The lack of opportunity to buy fresh fruits and vegetables in rural areas can be an important barrier to a healthy diet, just as it is in the city,” Blaine said. “Many of us might assume that there is a lot of produce out there, but that’s not necessarily true.

“Most agricultural production is not fresh produce, it’s grain and livestock. So we wanted to study these folks who live in rural areas more closely to see how they operate, and what steps they take in gaining fresh fruit and vegetables.” SEE: http://extension.osu.edu/news-releases/archives/2012/october/study-provides-insight-on-residents-of-rural-food-deserts

The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276 or cook.17@osu.edu; Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110 or lynch.270@osu.edu; or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu