Story Ideas for Media 3-29-10

News

Ohio State opens the new Ohio Union today. After just more than three years of construction, the new Ohio Union will officially open its doors today (3/29) to Ohio State University students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors.
Primarily designed to provide office space, facilities and programs that support students in their co-curricular development, the Union is also a meeting place for the university community and the Central Ohio community.
The $118 million Union spans 318,000 square feet and features more than 30 meeting and event rooms, seven eating options, including a 22-hour diner, banquet and performance spaces, an outdoor “Block O” fire pit, state-of-the-art technology and access to twin parking garages.
Special events will continue over the next 30 days. SEE: http://ohiounion.osu.edu

Ohio State launches “O-H-I-O!” iPhone app. Ohio State has created a free iPhone application that will allow users to easily share their “O-H-I-O” photos.
Users can download "O-H-I-O!" at the iPhone app store. The app allows users to:
• Easily share O-H-I-O photos taken with an iPhone camera or from the iPhoto library.
• Automatically tag O-H-I-O photos with GPS location and more.
• View any of the 4,000+ O-H-I-O photos, quickly browse-able by category.
The “O-H-I-O!” app can be downloaded from Ohio State's O-H-I-O website: http://www.osu.edu/O-H-I-O/
The app was created by three computer science students working with Ohio State's New Media unit. Phil Evers, Matt O'Brien, and Phil Vallera took on the project late last year for Computer Science Engineering 758, which puts Ohio State engineering students on high-tech industry and university projects. The course was taught by Professor Tom Bihari. After the class finished, Evers worked with Ohio State on a freelance basis to complete the project.
Since the O-H-I-O web site (http://osu.edu/O-H-I-O/) launched in 2007, it has collected more than 4,500 photos from around the world, submitted by students, alumni, fans, faculty, and staff. CONTACT: Ted Hattemer, (614) 292-8538, hattemer.1@osu.edu

Research

Book explains how focus on strengths, not failures, helps teens succeed in school. The best way to help teenagers who are struggling in school is put aside their academic problems and focus on what they’re doing right, according to a family research scientist who has put this theory to practice.
Nearly every family with a teen who has problems in school is told what they’re doing wrong. But knowing what’s wrong won’t fix anything, said Stephen Gavazzi, professor of education and human ecology at Ohio State University.
Gavazzi describes his strength-based approach in a new book, “Strong Families, Successful Students: Helping Teenagers Reach Their Full Academic Potential.”
Gavazzi says, “Your problems won’t solve your problems, but your strengths will. That’s why we focus on assets,” he said. CONTACT: Jeff Grabmeier, (614) 292-8457. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/strongfam.htm

Events

Ohio State Board of Trustees working group will meet – March 30. A working group of The Ohio State University Board of Trustees will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday (3/30) in the Longaberger Alumni House, Mount Leadership Room, 2200 Olentangy River Rd. Members will discuss tuition and fees for 2010-2011. CONTACT: Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110.

Schottenstein Center hoops it up for a worthy cause – March 31. The McDonald’s All-American Games will take the floor at the Schottenstein Center on Wednesday (3/31) for a day of spirited basketball between the country’s best high school players. Proceeds from both games will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.
The Ronald McDonald House has special meaning for the arena staff. The Schott’s Xen Riggs, assistant vice president for Student Life, spent time at a Ronald McDonald House when his daughter was undergoing treatment for a serious brain abnormality 10 years ago. He and his staff have been working for three years to bring the games to Columbus. The girls game tips off at 5:30 p.m. and the boys play at 8 p.m. SEE: http://www.schottensteincenter.com/

Climate and Culture the topic of Wexner Center event – March 31. The Wexner Center for the Arts welcomes leading thinkers on climate change and culture for the 2010 Director's Dialogue on Art and Social Change at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (3/31). Cosponsored by Ohio State's Byrd Polar Research Center, the event features speakers from the realms of the arts and sciences, all of whom are focused on innovative ways to get the word out about climate change. Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee will host a public reception welcoming the panelists beginning at 5:30 pm in the café. CONTACT: Karen Simonian, ksimonian@wexarts.org or (614) 292-9923.

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.