Story Ideas for Media 10-9-06

Research

Down for the count: vampire bats help strokes. Stroke victims will gain the advantage of an improved drug treatment and vampire bats could end up with a better public image if current research involving a bat saliva derivative shows the results some health professionals are anticipating.
The study, which wraps up in a few months, is utilizing a compound derived from the saliva of vampire bats and testing its effectiveness in reducing the risk of brain damage after the onset of an acute stroke. If approved, the drug will triple the time period for initiating emergency stroke treatment and offer other important advantages over other medications currently in use, including the only Food and Drug Administration-approved stroke drug.
Dr. Andrew Slivka says research of the new drug is important because time is not on the side of doctors when treating patients immediately following a stroke. CONTACT: David Crawford, Medical Center Communications, 614-293-3737, crawford.1@osu.edu

Experts

Impact of North Korea nuclear test on international security. North Korea has announced a successful nuclear test. The announcement was met with swift condemnation by the U.S. and the U.N. Richard Herrmann, professor of Political Science and director of The Mershon Center for International Security Studies, is available to speak with reporters about the impact of the events on international security. CONTACT: Cathy Becker, Public Relations Coordinator, Mershon Center, (614) 292-7529.

Events

Ohio State Airport to Host Regional Competition – Oct. 10-14. The Ohio State University Airport will host the regional Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON), an intercollegiate flight competition, October 10-14. Students from seven schools in Ohio and Michigan will compete in several different aspects of aviation skills and aeronautical knowledge, with the primary focus on safety. Events will include precision landing, navigation, and preflight inspections. Students will also take written tests that evaluate their overall knowledge in aviation. Ohio State hosted the national competition last spring. CONTACT: Cathy Ferrari (614)292-5823, cferrari@osuairport.org.

Former OSU law dean to deliver Lena Bailey Lecture on Leadership – Oct. 11. Gregory Williams, president of City College of New York, will present "Bending the Arc," the 2006 Lena C. Bailey Lecture on Leadership. Williams, the former College of Law dean at Ohio State, will speak at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday (10/11) in 200 Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Avenue. Williams has been a university administrator for nearly 30 years, holding a wide variety of posts at George Washington University and the University of Iowa in addition to the deanship at Ohio State. He has published three books, including his award-winning and best-selling memoir, "Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black." CONTACT: Janet Ciccone, (614) 292-5338.

Nobel Peace Prize winner to speak at Ohio State – Oct. 12. Kenyan environmentalist and social activist Wangari Maathai, who pioneered the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots effort that led to the planting of more than 30 million trees in Kenya, will speak to Ohio State students at 7 p.m., Thursday (10/12) at Weigel Hall Auditorium, 1866 College Road. Maathai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. She is the first African woman to receive this award. Maathai is on campus as part of the First Year Distinguished Speaker Series. Sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and First Year Experience, the program brings prominent individuals to campus to engage first year students in discussion around topics of national or international importance. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.

Women's Place to kickoff 2006-07 programming – Oct. 13. The Women's Place at Ohio State will sponsor internationally known lecturer and author Jean Shinoda Bolen at 7 p.m. on Friday (10/13) in Room 131 of Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Avenue. Bolen is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco. Her latest book, "Urgent Message from Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World," was listed as one of the best spiritual books of 2005 by Spirituality and Health Magazine. The Women's Place is committed to enhancing the quality of life for the community of women within and beyond Ohio State. The lecture is free and open to the public. CONTACT: Deb Ballam, Director, womensplace@osu.edu or (614) 292-3906.

Traffic Alert: Columbus Marathon is Sunday – Oct 15. The 27th running of the Columbus Marathon is scheduled for Sunday (10/15). Campus streets that will be affected are Lane Avenue, Woody Hayes/Woodruff, College, 12th Avenue, and Neil Avenue. High Street will also be closed between Deshler and Dodridge. The road closures are expected to last from approximately 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. SEE: http://www.columbusmarathon.com/

Racial and ethnic perspectives in Ohio elections is topic of lunchtime forum – Oct. 16. Prof. john a. powell, director of Ohio State's Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, will present "Racial and Ethnic Perspectives in Ohio's Elections," at noon on Monday (10/16) as part of the new Food for Thought Policy Forums sponsored by The John Glenn School of Public Affairs. powell's nationally recognized expertise in the field of civil rights includes an interest in voting rights, and he has conducted extensive studies on the role that race plays in our nation's law and politics. All forums are held in Page Hall's Policy Forum, 1810 College Road and are free, but RSVP's are required to oct16@jgippm.ohio-state.edu CONTACT: Laura Sipe, (614) 247-6369.

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, Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748 or hoffman.511@osu.edu, Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110 or lynch.270@osu.edu, or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu