Story Ideas for Media - 01/31/05

Experts

Experts can discuss Bush\'s plan to privatize Social Security -- In his State of the Union address on Wednesday (2/2), President Bush is expected to discuss his plan for privatization of Social Security. Experts in the Fisher College of Business have compared U.S. plans for the privatization of Social Security with other countries which use similar systems and are available to discuss the issue with media.
CONTACT: Laura Bowers, Fisher College of Business, (614) 292-8937; or Shannon Wingard, University Relations, (614) 247-6821.

Research

Calcium boost to youths\' bones could reduce osteoporosis -- New research on calcium and bone development suggests that efforts to prevent osteoporosis, generally considered a geriatric disease among women, could actually start before puberty. In the study at The Ohio State University Medical Center, which is the first clinical trial to track calcium\'s effects on bone density in girls age 8-13 for as long as seven years, researchers found that calcium supplementation significantly increased bone mass development during a critical childhood growth spurt. The findings suggest that calcium use by pre-adolescent girls is likely to help prevent fractures and osteoporosis much later in life, said Dr. Velimir Matkovic, lead author of the study and director of the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Center and the Bone and Mineral Metabolism Laboratory at OSU Medical Center. CONTACT: Emily Caldwell, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737.

Service

Students to raise money for Children\'s Hospital during dance marathon -- Student dancers and volunteers are teaming up for the fourth annual BuckeyeThon, a 14-hour dance marathon that benefits Children\'s Hospital. Since it started in the winter of 2002, BuckeyeThon has raised more than $83,000. The event is set from 10 p.m. on Friday (2/4) through noon Saturday (2/5). For more information, see http://www.ohiounion.com/buckeyethon/ CONTACT: Shannon Wingard, University Relations, (614) 247-6821.

Events

Community forum to weigh impact sports have on cities - Feb. 2. -- Ohio State President Karen A. Holbrook will moderate a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum that will explore the impact athletics have on communities, and in particular the economic effect of Ohio State athletics on the Central Ohio region. Panelists will include Andy Geiger, director of the Athletics Department; Dan Doyle, founder and executive director of the Institute for International Sport in Kingston, R.I.; and Paul Astleford, chief executive officer of Experience Columbus. The forum will be held from noon to 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday (2/2) at the Columbus Athletic Club, 138 E. Broad Street. During the forum, Geiger will release a research report that quantifies the economic impact Buckeye sports have on the central Ohio region and will introduce the department\'s Good Sports community outreach initiative. Good Sports will serve as an umbrella program for the interaction student-athletes, coaches and staff have with the residents of central Ohio. CONTACT: Elizabeth Conlisk, University Relations, (614) 292-3040.

Students in John Glenn Institute program watch, react to State of Union - Feb. 2. -- Students in the John Glenn Institute Living-Learning Program will be watching President Bush\'s State of Union Address at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday (2/2) in Recreation Room of Baker Hall East, 93 West 12th Avenue. Following the address, participants will react during a student-led discussion. The living-learning program is sponsored by the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy and is for students who are interested in public service. Through a variety of activities, the program offers opportunities to explore public service career options in an enhanced learning environment. CONTACT: Jessica Sherrick, University Relations, (614) 292-9185.

Students to learn how to fine dine during etiquette program - Feb. 2. -- More than 200 students will learn the art of proper dinner etiquette during a business etiquette program at 6 p.m. on Wednesday (2/2) in the West Ballroom of the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St. Areas covered during the dinner include how to make a good first impression, American vs. continental dining and appropriate dinner conversation topics. CONTACT: Jessica Sherrick, University Relations, (614) 292-9185.

College of Education to host hearing on special education law - Feb. 3. -- The College of Education will host one of only seven meetings nationwide to hear opinions from parents, educators and advocates about the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. The public meeting will be held in two sessions - from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.on Thursday (2/3) in 384 Arps Hall, 1945 N. High St. The law affects more than 6 million children with disabilities, their families and the educators and related services personnel who serve them in every school district in the nation. CONTACT: Bill Heward, College of Education, (614) 292-3348.

Conference will explore Bioethics, Technology - Feb. 3, 4. -- The Interprofessional Commission - Ohio State\'s interdisciplinary bridge between the academic and professional communities - will present a conference on bioethics and technology on Thursday (2/3) and Friday (2/ 4) at Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad Street in Columbus. The conference for professionals, students, media, policy makers and interested citizens will provide a setting for dialogue about the ethical issues and public policy debates generated by new biotechnologies such as genetic testing and stem cell research. A highlight is a free public lecture by Daniel Brock, professor of medical ethics at Harvard Medical School, entitled “Is a Consensus Possible on Stem Cell Research: Moral and Political Obstacles.” Brock will deliver the lecture at 7 p.m. on Thursday (2/3). For more information, see http://www.osu.edu/news/lvl2_news_story.php?id=1019. CONTACT: Amy Murray, University Relations, (614) 292-8385.

Ohio State University Board of Trustees to meet - Feb. 3, 4. -- The Ohio State University Board of Trustees and its committees will meet on Thursday (2/3) and Friday (2/4). The schedule will include a Board of Trustees Retreat on Thursday (2/3) from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the clubhouse on Deseret Drive. On Friday (2/4), the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and Fiscal Affairs Committee will meet from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. The formal Board meeting will be at 1:15 p.m. in the Clinton Room. All meetings on Friday will take place at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. For more information, see http://www.osu.edu/news/lvl2_news_story.php?id=1020 CONTACT: Elizabeth Conlisk, University Relations, (614) 292-3040.

OSU alumnus, TV host to speak to medical students - Feb. 7. -- Dr. Jan Adams, the host of the Discovery Channel\'s “Plastic Surgery 2” and a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, will offer practical career advice to Ohio State medical students on Monday (2/7). Adams began his TV career as the on-air medical correspondent for the magazine show “Extra” and later co-hosted the NBC daytime talk show, “The Other Half.” He is currently in private practice in Brentwood, Calif. Reporters who wish to speak with Adams during his visit may contact OSU Medical Center Communications at 614-293-3737 or attend his presentation, which takes place at 5:30 p.m. in room 112 Meiling Hall, 370 W. 9th Ave. CONTACT: Erin K. Wallace, Medical Center Communications, (614) 292-3737.

The person listed as Contact will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story – Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040; Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.