Story Ideas for Media 04-08-23

News

Wexner Center program to focus on art, environment for high school students -- The Wexner Center is launching an innovative and unprecedented project this fall that will offer high-school juniors and seniors in Columbus the opportunity to study the topic of Art & the Environment. Through the 18-week interdisciplinary program, which begins Thursday (9/2), students will work directly with internationally known artists who deal with environmental issues. They will also work with OSU professors in the sciences, arts and folklore. Program participants will be chosen through an application process, and students will receive school credit for their work. CONTACT: Karen Simonian, Communications Manager, Wexner Center, (614) 292-9923; or Shelly Casto, Educator for School and Family Programs, Wexner Center, (614) 688-3986.

Experts

Employment law expert can discuss new rules regarding overtime pay -- The new rules regarding overtime pay, which went into effect today (8/23), marked the first major overhaul of the federal law in more than 50 years. John Blackburn, associate professor of legal environment in business, can discuss the law, which has caused debate between the Bush Administration and labor advocates. CONTACT: Laura Bowers, Fisher College of Business, (614) 292-8937.

Research

Aggressive tendencies may be revealed by asymmetry in body parts -- Researchers may get some indication of how aggressively an angry person will react by measuring the difference in size between paired body parts, such as fingers, ears and feet. Research showed that the bigger the difference, the more likely it is was that a person would show signs of aggression when provoked. While the findings may seem strange, there is a plausible explanation, said Zeynep Benderlioglu, co-author of the study and a post-doctoral researcher at Ohio State. Deviations from symmetry are thought to be caused by stressors during pregnancy – such as poor health, alcohol and tobacco use – that also may affect impulse control and aggressiveness. CONTACT: Zeynep Benderlioglu, Department of Psychology, (614) 538-9540; or Jeff Grabmeier, University Relations, (614) 292-8457.

Events

Approximately 1,800 students to graduate at summer commencement – Aug. 29. -- While the first week of school is beginning for many in Central Ohio, approximately 1,800 students at Ohio State will end a chapter of their academic careers by receiving degrees at summer quarter commencement. The event is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday (8/29) at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Lee S. Shulman, president of The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, will be the speaker. A pioneer in the fields of teaching and teacher research, Shulman has written widely on issues of teaching and learning in higher education. For specific information about the commencement ceremony, see http://commencement.osu.edu/ CONTACT: Amy Murray, University Relations, (614) 292-8385.

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.