Story Ideas for Media 12/4/09

Experts

Coping with holiday stress. Especially in today’s economy, celebrating the holidays can bring financial pressures, the heavy weight of expectations, and panic that there’s just not enough time. Dealing with new family dynamics, a change in traditions, or broken family ties can also be stressors. Experts in Ohio State’s College of Social Work are available to discuss how families can cope. CONTACT: Frankie Jones-Harris, College of Social Work, (614) 292-3540 or (614) 330-2206 or Jones-Harris.1@osu.edu.

Research

Analysis: Ohio, Nation, Should Brace for Long Recovery Period. If trends of recoveries from past recessions are any indication, Ohioans can expect job growth to mirror that of the rest of the nation, say Ohio State University analysts. And while that will be an improvement from previous decades when the state lagged behind the national average during recovery periods, it still could be seven or eight years before the state's employment reaches pre-recession levels, analysts say.
“Ohio is not doing well,” said Mark Partridge, Swank Professor of Rural-Urban Policy in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, who led the study. “Too much of our mindset revolves around rebuilding the state's industrial base, but those jobs just aren't coming back. We have to think differently.”
The analysis is detailed in a November 2009 report, “Growth and Change: What will Economic Recovery Bring to Ohio?” available at the Swank program Web site SEE: http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~news/story.php?id=5470

Events

President of Iceland visits Ohio State – Dec. 9-13. Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson is returning to Ohio State to strengthen the bonds he created when he visited the university in 2007, and to receive an honorary degree during autumn commencement exercises.
Grimsson’s visit, which coincides with the United Nations Climate Change Conference, focuses on fostering climate change research and raising awareness of the impacts of land degradation caused by human misuse and natural activity.
During his visit, he will deliver lectures in Columbus and Wooster. Media are invited to attend the events. He will deliver “Iceland’s Lessons for World Sustainability: Soil as the New Soldier in Fighting Climate Change” at 1 p.m. on Thursday (12/10) in Fisher Auditorium at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. He will present “Climate Change: Global Lessons for the United States. The Iceland Experience of Clean Energy and Soil Services,” at noon on Friday (12/11) at the Columbus Athletic Club, 136 East Broad St. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.

CHINA Town Hall: Local Connections, National Reflections – Dec. 8. Ohio State’s Institute for Chinese Studies presents the third annual “CHINA Town Hall: Local Reflections, National Reflections” lecture and web cast on from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday (12/8) at the Mershon Center, 1501 Neil Ave. CHINA Town Hall is an event being conducted in 40 cities nationwide that will provide a unique opportunity for area residents to learn about the importance of China’s relationship with the United States, and have their questions answered by leading China specialists. I. Allen Barber II, president of the Denver-Hainan Corporation, will discuss China’s economic “opening up” policy and look at the unique opportunities that Ohio has to revitalize and strengthen its economic partnerships with China. The presentation will be followed by a town hall conversation via webcast with Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, on the latest aspects of U.S.-China relations. CONTACT: Maureen Miller at miller.4468@osu.edu or (614) 247-2462.

History professor will give autumn commencement address – Dec. 13. Kevin Boyle, Humanities Distinguished Professor of History at The Ohio State University, has been selected to speak at Ohio State autumn quarter commencement. Approximately 2,100 students will receive degrees at the ceremony, which begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 13, at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. In addition, during the commencement ceremony, Ohio State will award the honorary doctor of public service to Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, the president of Iceland.
The university will also present Distinguished Service Awards to Mildred L. Chavous, retired staff member of Ohio State's graduate school, and John "Jack" W. Creighton, a 1957 graduate of the Moritz College of Law and Strategic Director of Madrona Venture Group, a Seattle-based venture capital company. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.

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