27
February
2015
|
09:17 AM
America/New_York

Ohio State University News Tips 2/27/15

Speakers explore Voting Rights Act at 50 – March 4. Fifty years have passed since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – a key piece of legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in voting – was signed into law. But voting rights remains a hot topic today.
An expert will address the history, legacy and future of the Voting Rights Act at Ohio State on Tuesday, March 4.
Pam Karlan, deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, will deliver remarks from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Saxbe Auditorium in Drinko Hall, 55 W. 12th Ave.
The event is presented by the Moritz College of Law, the Kirwan Institute and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio. SEE: http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/registrations/event/voting-rights-act-at-50/.

The Honorable Louis Stokes is featured speaker for President and Provost’s Diversity Lecture and Cultural Arts Series – March 5. Former Ohio Congressman and civil rights leader Louis Stokes will deliver a lecture as part of Ohio State’s Diversity Lecture and Cultural Arts Series at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5 at the Faculty Club Main Dining Room, 181 S. Oval Mall. He played a pivotal role in the quest for civil rights, equality and social an economic justice through his career as an attorney and the first African American to be elected to U.S. Congress for Ohio in 1968, serving 15 consecutive terms.
No seats remain for the event but media are invited to cover his remarks.
SEE:http://odi.osu.edu/about/president-and-provosts-diversity-lecture-and-cultural-arts-series/the-honorable-louis-stokes.html. CONTACT: Colby Taylor, 614/292-1417 or taylor.972@osu.edu.

Rocky Brands to fit boots for homeless youth at OSU Star House – March 7. Rocky Brands of Nelsonville is teaming up with Ohio State’s Star House to put a new pair of boots on more than 60 of the homeless youth served by the drop-in center. Youth who have signed up for boots will be fitted Saturday, March 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Star House, 1621 N. 4th St. The drop-in center assists kids ages 14 to 24 to get off the street and have a chance at a productive life. Rocky Brands is committed to giving back to the community. CONTACT: Lindsey Kobelt at 614-419-1708, lkobelt@murphyepson.com. SEE: rockybrands.com and osustarhouse.com.

Fifty Shades of Grey readers mistake abuse for romance. Experts in the College of Education and Human Ecology say the Fifty Shades of Grey novels by EL James are far from being a liberating expression of sexual eroticism. Instead, the stories make damaging and dangerous liaisons seem normal and condoned by our society. The researchers’ study of undergraduate women who read them found an association between the hugely popular novels and potential harm. Data indicate that the readers were more likely to have had a partner who verbally or emotionally abused them. Some engaged in risky behavior such as binge drinking or having multiple sexual partners. In a second study, researchers found that almost every scene features typical forms of intimate partner violence: stalking, intimidation, isolation and humiliation, not to mention sexual violence. The main character, Anastasia, shows the signs of compromised physical and mental health common in abused women. SEE:Journal of Women’s Health: Fiction or Not? Fifty Shades is associated with health risks in adolescent and young adult females,” and “Double Crap!” Abuse and harmed identity in Fifty Shades of Grey.” CONTACT: Lauren Altenburger, altenburger.16@osu.edu, Human Development and Family Science.

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: Jane Carroll, 614-292-5220 or carroll.296@osu.edu; Liz Cook, 614-292-7276 or cook.17@osu.edu; Gary Lewis, 614-688-2048 or lewis.330@osu.edu; or Amy Murray, 614-292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu.