Story Ideas for Media - 06/13/05

News

New Marysville Large Animal Services Clinic now open
The College of Veterinary Medicine has opened its new large animal clinic on County Road north of Marysville, Ohio. The new 10,000-square-foot building includes a surgery suite, pharmacy, conference room, classroom, housing for students and faculty offices. Ohio State\'s Large Animal Services provides full-service medical and surgical services for all large animal species, herd-oriented production medical services, and milk-quality services. It serves patients in 13 Ohio counties and has approximately 840 clients. Ohio State veterinary students live at the facility and assist the four faculty veterinarians with medical services as part of a fourth-year rotation. CONTACT: Melissa Lamb Peale, College of Veterinary Medicine, (614) 292-3752.

Experts

Expert can discuss Supreme Court ruling on excluding prospective jurors
An Ohio State law professor can discuss today’s (6/13) ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the conviction of a black death row inmate who said Texas prosecutors unfairly stacked the jury with whites. Joshua Dressler, Frank R. Strong Chair in Law, characterizes the ruling as an “implicit slap in the face by the Supreme Court of the Texas courts and the Fifth Circuit.” He also found Justice Breyer\'s concurring opinion of special significance, as it hints at the possibility that a future Court might wish to re-examine the use of preemptory challenges in jury selection. “Although it is too soon to predict with certainty, we may see this ancient feature of American criminal trials some day abolished by Supreme Court edict,” he said. CONTACT: Joshua Dressler, Moritz College of Law, (614) 688-3145 or (614) 580-5162, cell.

Expert can discuss verdict in Michael Jackson trial
An Ohio State University professor who specializes in criminal law is available for interviews about the verdict in the Michael Jackson child-molestation trial. Joshua Dressler, Frank R. Strong Chair in Law, has been following the case closely and has been interviewed about it on Court TV. CONTACT: Joshua Dressler, Moritz College of Law, (614) 688-3145 or (614) 580-5162, cell.

Research

Despite alternatives, addictive drugs most often prescribed for sleep problems
Nearly half of visits to a doctor\'s office for help with a sleep disorder results in the prescription of potentially addictive medications, a new study reports. Office visits by older patients and those with publicly funded health-insurance plans were nearly twice as likely to result in the prescription of these kinds of medications. The drugs, called benzodiazepines, are often a cheaper alternative to some newer types of medicines that don\'t have the same potentially addictive side effects, said Rajesh Balkrishnan, the study\'s lead author and the Merrell Dow professor of pharmacy. CONTACT: Rajesh Balkrishnan, College of Pharmacy, (614) 292-6415; or Holly Wagner, University Relations, (614) 292-8310.

Events

Conference to encourage women to seek public leadership roles – June 13-17.
Ohio State will host a conference today (6/13) through Friday (6/17) to educate and empower college women to seek public leadership roles, including elective office. National Education for Women’s (NEW) Leadership Ohio is designed to address the underrepresentation of women in politics. University trustee and former Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Jo Ann Davidson is the featured speaker for the luncheon and graduation ceremony from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Friday (6/17) at the Faculty Club, 181 South Oval Drive. Davidson helped bring the NEW Leadership Ohio program to Ohio State. Other honored guests for this year’s conference include Ohio Auditor of State Betty Montgomery and Global Children’s Organization board member Karen Fagerstrom. CONTACT: Shannon Wingard, University Relations, (614) 247-6821.

Thousands to celebrate Cancer Survivors Day – June 19.
Thousands of cancer patients and their families from Ohio and beyond will converge on Ohio Stadium Sunday (6/19) for the annual celebration of cancer survivorship sponsored by The Ohio State University’s Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute - Comprehensive Cancer Center. The event is traditionally held in June at hospitals and medical centers across the country to honor the more than 10 million people in the United States who have been cured of or who are recovering from cancer. The festivities will run from 2 to 4 p.m. and feature tours of the stadium, a classic car show, refreshments, raffles and entertainment. CONTACT: Michelle Gailiun, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737

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.