Story Ideas for Media 10/13/08

News

Bye, bye, Brutus. This will be the final week for the university’s “Brutus On Parade” program currently on display outside the Jerome Schottenstein Center. The exhibit features 40 Brutus Buckeye statues, all decorated with a unique personality or theme. On October 22, the statues will be removed and shipped to the appropriate sponsors, who pledged between $10,000 to 20,000 for a statue. The project was created to help fund the renovation of the William Oxley Thompson Library.
The seven-foot tall, fiberglass statues of the popular Buckeye mascot include colorful designs depicting popular figureheads like Jim Tressel, E. Gordon Gee, Archie Griffin, Bill Willis, Dave Thomas, Christopher Columbus, as well as themes focused on the Ohio State Marching Band, sports, super heroes, space exploration and various occupations. A full list of themes can be found at www.brutusonparade.com. CONTACT: Rick Van Brimmer, (614) 292-1562.

Experts

Politics and elections – Ohio State election experts are online. Ohio State University offers journalists the expertise of faculty and staff from one of the nation's leading public research universities. Experts are available to comment on topics including Ohio and national politics, presidential politics, the youth vote, campaign and election law, communication and voter perception and others. A complete directory is online.

Ohio State students gather to watch final presidential debate – Oct. 15. Students in Ohio State’s John Glenn School of Public Affairs will watch the final presidential debate together on Wednesday (10/15) in 130 Page Hall, 1810 College Rd. Media are welcome to interview students about their reactions.

Events

Bush v. Gore: lecturer discusses history of disputed presidential election – Oct. 14. Ohio State law professor Edward “Ned” Foley will deliver “The Original Bush v. Gore: An Historical Perspective on Disputed Elections,” at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday (10/14) at the Wexner Center Film/Video Theatre, 1871 N. High St. Foley, who directs the Election Law @ Moritz project, has been named University Distinguished Lecturer, one of the highest university honors for a senior faculty member.
In the lecture, Foley will look at the 2000 presidential election, which was resolved in a Supreme Court decision. The lecture looks at our nation’s history of handling disputes of this nature, so that we may improve their resolution in the future. CONTACT: Barbara Peck, (614) 292-0283.

Ohio State’s recycling efforts earn state grant – Oct. 14. Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee will accept a $50,000 grant for Ohio State to continue campus-wide recycling efforts. The grant will be presented by Ohio Department of Natural Resources director Sean Logan and Ohio Board of Regents vice chancellor Paolo DeMaria. President Gee will accept the grant at 2:30 p.m. at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Dr. CONTACT: Libby Eckhardt, Facilities Operation and Development, (614) 292-1477.

Ohio State hosting conference for journalists on covering climate issues – through Oct. 14. Journalists from around the nation and the world are at Ohio State this week for the first-ever McCormick Foundation Climate Change Conference. Journalists will explore a broad expanse of climate change issues with scientists and policy experts from across the country, including many from Ohio State. A well-known assembly of environmental scientists and policy experts, including Lonnie Thompson, an ice-core study pioneer at OSU and winner of the 2005 National Medal of Science, will lead the discussions.
The conference, which takes place through Tuesday (10/14), is funded by the McCormick Foundation, and hosted by the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism, the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, and Ohio State’s Climate, Water and Carbon Program. CONTACT: Betty Hubbard, Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism, (614) 247-8845.

Students hold mock debates – Oct. 14. Ohio State students will play the roles of the candidates during a mock presidential and vice presidential debate at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (10/14) in the Wexner Center Film/Video Theatre, 1871 N. High St.
The back-to-back 30 minute debates will feature four students portraying the republican and democratic vice presidential and presidential candidates. The students are part of Ohio State’s Politics, Society and Law Scholars program, one of 14 university programs for high-achieving students with common academic interests.
In preparing for the debates, student candidates have worked with “political consultants,” political science professor Herb Asher and former Columbus mayor Greg Lashutka. The event will be moderated by local TV news anchor Colleen Marshall. CONTACT: Kevin Freeman, PSL coordinator, (614) 247-7821.

NCAA Women’s Final Four Site Selection Committee available for interviews – Oct. 15. As part of the city-wide site visit to evaluate Columbus as a potential host for the NCAA Basketball Women’s Final Four, representatives from the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee, NCAA staff and the local organizing committee will be available to the media to discuss impressions of the visit and the process of selection.
Representatives will be available at 5 p.m. on Wednesday (10/15) at the Nationwide Arena – Founders Club, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd. Participants will include Linda Logan, executive director, Greater Columbus Sports Commission; Sue Donahoe, vice president, NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball; and Jacki Silar, chair, Division I Women’s Basketball Committee.
Columbus is one of eight finalists in contention to host the Final Four between 2012-16. The sites will be announced by late November. The games would be played at Nationwide Arena with The Ohio State University, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and Nationwide Arena serving as hosts. CONTACTS: Dan Wallenberg, Ohio State Athletics Communications - (614) 292-4095, Karen Davis, Nationwide Arena - (614) 246-4310, Rick Nixon, NCAA - (317) 917-6539.

Harry Belafonte to headline Diversity Lecture Series – Oct. 16. Entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte will lead off The Ohio State University’s President and Provost’s 2008-2009 Diversity Lecture & Cultural Arts Series with a presentation on “Youth and Violence in the 21st Century.”
Belafonte will speak at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday (10/16) in the Fawcett Center Auditorium, 2400 Olentangy River Road. Admission is free, but tickets are required.
Perhaps best known as a recording artist, concert singer and actor, Belafonte has long been an outspoken advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes, and his active participation in the human rights struggle is globally respected.
For tickets or more information, contact The Ohio State University Office of Minority Affairs, (614) 292-4355 or oma-main@osu.edu. MEDIA CONTACT: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276.

Ohio State to host national Personalized Health Care Conference – Oct. 16-17. The Ohio State University Medical Center has invited experts from across the country to discuss translating scientific breakthroughs in the laboratory to clinical health care practice during the national Personalized Health Care Conference, Thursday and Friday (10/16-17) at the Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W. 12th Ave.
Personalized health care utilizes gene-based information to understand each person’s individual requirements for maintaining their health, preventing disease and tailoring therapies. It is predictive and preventive, while also incorporating knowledge of an individual’s environment, health-related behaviors, culture and values.
During the conference, health care leaders, government policy makers, health care providers, researchers, industry experts, academic leaders, and consumer and patient advocacy groups will discuss breakthroughs in gene-based information that help individuals prevent disease, tailor therapies and maintain health.
Reporters are invited to attend all sessions. Complete information about the conference program, registration, keynote speakers and personalized medicine are available at http://www.cphc.osu.edu/. CONTACT: Doug Flowers, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737.

Weinland Park families ready to “Fall into Reading” – Oct. 18. About 100 families from the Weinland Park community will participate in a day full of reading and literacy activities beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday (10/18) at the Schoenbaum Family Center at Weinland Park, 175 E. 7th Ave. The “Fall into Reading” initiative, guided by Ohio State students and staff from both the family center and Godman Guild, will provide families of children from infancy to eight years of age with positive reading and literacy experiences. Activities will include a puppet show, family story time, arts and crafts and take home reading kits. The event is sponsored by the Ohio State College of Education and Human Ecology and Godman Guild, and funded by the Junior League of Columbus. CONTACT: Janet Ciccone (614) 292-5338 or Michele Sanderson (614) 292-5602.

Protect your pets and support canine programs at Ohio State - Oct 17-18. The Blood Bank in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Greyhound Health and Wellness Program are hosting a microchip fundraiser on Friday, October 17 from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, October 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Veterinarians promote the placement of microchips in dogs (and cats) to assure that lost animals will be reunited with their owners. The minimum donation of $25 for each microchip includes a $15 donation to the Blood Bank and Greyhound Health and Wellness Program at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Ohio State. CONTACT: Melissa Weber, (614) 292-3752.

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, Shelly Hoffmanm (614) 247-4748, Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110, or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.