Story Ideas for Media 3/1/10

News

Ohio State earns national honors for community service. For the fourth consecutive year, Ohio State has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. The annual Honor Roll recognizes colleges and universities for their commitment to and achievement in community service. SEE: http://service-learning.osu.edu/events.php#news

Experts

Ohio State professor to comment on national report on cost of foodborne illness – March 2. Robert Scharff, professor of consumer sciences at Ohio State and former U.S. Food and Drug Administration economist, will be part of a panel to discuss a report by the Produce Safety Project, “Health-Related Costs from Foodborne Illness in the United States,” and the need for reform of the nation's food-safety oversight system.
The report, which says foodborne illness costs the U.S. $152 billion annually, comes as Congress prepares to take up comprehensive food-safety legislation. Scharff, along with representatives of the Pew Health Group, the Produce Safety Project and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), will discuss the report in a news conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday (3/2). CONTACT: Paula Chrin, Make Our Food Safe Campaign at 202-478-6138 or pchrin@mrss.com for call-in information. SEE: http://www.thestreet.com/story/10689671/landmark-report-reveals-that-foodborne-illness-costs-us-152-billion-annually.html. More information on Scharff is available here.

Events

Forum looks at climate change and national security – March 2. Former U.S. Sen. John Warner (R-VA), who served on environmental, armed services and homeland security committees, will discuss how solving global climate change can help ensure America’s security, at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday (3/2) at the Faculty Club, 181 S. Oval Dr. Warner will join Andrew Keeler, professor of public policy at Ohio State, and others will take part in a panel discussion on Ohio’s role in reducing climate threats and identify opportunities for developing clean energy industries. The event is co-sponsored by the Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate and the John Glenn School of Public Affairs. SEE: http://glenn.osu.edu/news/warner/index.html

Philosophical discussion on “The Limits of Reproductive Freedom” – March 2. David Benatar, professor of philosophy at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, will present “The Limits of Reproductive Freedom” at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday (3/2) in 014 University Hall, 230 N. Oval Mall. In the presentation, he will argue that the strength or scope of the right to reproductive freedom currently recognized in liberal democracies needs to be reconsidered, such that it does not include a right to engage in very risky or harmful procreation. His talk is presented by Ohio State’s Center for Ethics and Human Values and the Department of Philosophy. SEE: http://philosophy.osu.edu/news/colloquia/default.cfm

Ohio State students visit Columbus schools to deliver books – March 4-5. This week, approximately 200 Ohio State University students will be visiting classrooms in four Columbus City Schools elementary schools – Linden, South Mifflin, Hamilton, and Windsor – to read to students and discuss college as part of the first wave of the Ohio State’s “Stories for Students from Students” program, which aims to get new books into the hands of all CCS students in grades K through 5. Sponsored by the university’s Office of Student Life, participating Ohio State students are members of student organizations that “adopted” classrooms by donating $125 to buy books for 25 elementary school students. The schedule is:
South Mifflin Elementary: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Thursday, March 4
Windsor Elementary: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, March 4
Hamilton Alternative Elementary: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Friday, March 5
Linden Elementary: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday, March 5
CONTACTS: Zach Usmani, Student Chair: zusmani@studentlife.osu.edu,(216) 559-0012
D’Andra Mull, Chief of Staff, Office of Student Life: dmull@studentlife.osu.edu, (614) 292-9208
Kim Norris, Columbus City Schools Communications Office: (614) 365-5680.

Human Rights through an artistic lens – March 4-5. A four-hour public reading of transcripts from tribunals held at the U.S. military prison camp at Guantánamo Bay is a highlight of a human rights conference at Ohio State. “Human Rights: Confronting Images and Testimonies” brings artists, activists, and scholars together to will discuss their work in the context of human rights. The conference begins at 4 p.m. Thursday (3/4) with a presentation by artist activist Coco Fusco. It will conclude Friday (3/5) with Combatant Status Review Tribunals, pp. 002954-0034064: A Public Reading by multimedia artist Sharon Hayes starting at 2:30 p.m. Events both days will be held at the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1850 College Road. SEE: http://mershoncenter.osu.edu/events/09-10%20events/Mar10/humanrightsmarch10.htm

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