Story Ideas for Media 5/8/06

News

Ohio State moves up in rankings of top public research universities ? Ohio State University continues to climb in the rankings of the top public research universities in the country, according to newly released federal statistics documenting university research expenditures nationwide.
The university moved into ninth place among public universities in fiscal year 2004, up from 10th place the previous year. The 2004 results, the latest available, are based on total research expenditures. Among all research universities, public and private, Ohio State was ranked 15th in 2004, the same as 2003. "The results reaffirm Ohio State's position as one of the nation's leading public research institutions," said Robert McGrath, senior vice president for research at Ohio State. Total research expenditures at Ohio State increased 4.4 percent in 2004, to $518 million.
Moving up in the overall ranking is just one of several indicators of Ohio State's growing impact in the national research arena. Ohio State also leaped 15 places in rankings of total federal research expenditures in 2004 ? the largest jump of any top-100 university. With a single year increase of $86 million, bringing the total to $284.6 million, Ohio State now ranks 24th in federally-financed research expenditures, up from 39th in 2003. CONTACT: Robert McGrath, (614) 292-1582; McGrath.66@osu.edu

Research

Few Gay Men Regret Disclosing HIV Status to Friends, Family. Gay men who are HIV-positive rarely regret revealing their health status to others, according to a new Ohio State University study. The study, the first of its kind, could be important for clinicians who work with HIV-positive men who are often uncertain whether to tell friends, family, co-workers or others about being diagnosed with the virus that causes AIDS. Julianne Serovich, the lead author of the study and chair of Human Development and Family Science in Ohio State's College of Human Ecology says, "I was very surprised at how little regret we found, because you see the angst in HIV-positive men who deliberate very carefully on whether or not to tell people." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 1 million people in the nation were living with AIDS or HIV by the end of 2003. In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Health reports that about 15,000 residents had HIV or AIDS as of mid-2004. Nearly 16,000 Americans died of AIDS in 2004, with 529,000 AIDS-related deaths since 1981. CONTACT: Julie Serovich, (614) 292-5685 or Serovich.1@osu.edu

Events

OSU Airport hosts collegiate flight team competition ? May 8-14. The Ohio State University Airport is buzzing with the country's best student pilots as it hosts the national intercollegiate flight competition this week. The Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) is the national championship for collegiate flight teams. Thirty teams will be competing in several events throughout the week. They were selected from a competition last fall that began with 75 flight teams in 11 regions throughout the country. Events of interest include the "power off" landing on Wednesday (5/10), where students land their planes without power; and the message drop on Friday (5/12), where students attempt to drop a small box onto a specified target on the field. CONTACT: Cathy Ferrari, (614) 292-5823. For a complete schedule, see www.safecon2006.org

Campus celebrates May Week ? through May 14. Presented by the Ohio State University Alumni Association and its Student-Alumni Council, May Week is a renewed celebration for the campus community. Campus organizations and departments are showcased through events that highlight academics, wellness, recreation, athletics, and cultural diversity. Activities include a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Ohio Union main lounge, 1739 N. High St. and the Spring Spin Blow Up, a day-long festival with food, games and prizes Saturday (5/13) on the west lawn of the union. CONTACT: Kate Hauck, Undergraduate Chair, (614) 292-2200 or hauck.27@osu.edu or Patty Cunningham, Graduate Advisor, cunningham.212@osu.edu For a complete schedule, see http://www.studentaffairs.osu.edu/mayweek/event.asp

Ohio first lady Hope Taft to sponsor Smart & Sober Town Hall Meeting - May 9. A town hall meeting on alcohol use and abuse will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday (5/9) in the lower main space of the Recreation and Physical Activity Center, 337 W. 17th Ave. Sponsored by Ohio's first lady, the Smart & Sober Campaign will provide an opportunity for the university community to voice its opinion on the use, abuse, policies, attitudes, enforcement and culture of alcohol on campus. The event is hosted by the Student Wellness Center and is a part of the May Week celebration at Ohio State. CONTACT: Alison Nameth, Student Affairs, (614) 292-4527 or anameth@studentaffairs.osu.edu

American Indian Studies program offers lecture on the role of art among Woodland Indians ? May 10. Ohio State's American Indian Studies program will present the final lecture in its new lecture series ? Native Ohio: Leaders and Landscape in the Cradle of American Indian Studies. Jason Jackson, Indiana University Department of Folklore, will present "The Art of Community Building among Woodland Indian People Today" at 7 p.m. in 210 Main Library, 1858 Neil Ave. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.

Lecture links colleges and universities to the public good ? May 10. How can colleges and universities thrive in the evolving knowledge economy? Kevin P. Reilly, president of the University of Wisconsin System, will address this issue in the Third Annual James F. Patterson Land-Grant University Lecture, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday (5/10) at The Blackwell, 2110 Neil Avenue. In his speech, "Who We Are Now: The Vitality of the Land-Grant Mission in a Global Knowledge Economy" Reilly will discuss how colleges and universities can thrive by viewing research, economic development, and controversy through the lens of outreach and engagement. He will connect the land-grant mission to "Solutions for the Future," the new national campaign led by the American Council on Education on the public good represented by America's colleges and universities. Reilly will be available for interviews from 1-2pm. CONTACT: Sandra Kerka, University Outreach and Engagement, (614) 247-4429 or kerka.1@osu.edu

Forum focuses education as a civil right ? May 11. Michael Treviño, of the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, will deliver "Education as a Civil Right: Political and Economic Lessons from California," at 2 p.m. on Thursday (5/11) at Page Hall, 1810 College Road. Treviño is part of the Third Annual Stanley Muroff Forum, sponsored by the John Glenn Institute at Ohio State, which fosters the discussion of timely and highly relevant issues in civil rights and civil liberties. Following his remarks, audience members are invited to participate in an open discussion. CONTACT: Laura Sipe, (614) 247-6369.

Pharmacy alum, now head of R&D for Wyeth, returns to campus for lecture ? May 11. A leader with one of the world's largest pharmaceutical and health-care products companies will be the featured speaker at the first annual College of Pharmacy Research Day on Thursday (5/11) at 1 p.m. at 103 Parks Hall. Two-time Ohio State graduate Robert R. Ruffolo, Jr., president of Wyeth Research and Development, will join three other prominent medical leaders for the Popat N. Patil Symposium to discuss updates in the pharmaceutical industry and lessons learned from their personal experiences. Ruffolo's lecture is titled, "How Lessons Learned From Dr. Popat N. Patil And The College of Pharmacy Have Benefited Patients And Changed Medical Practice: A Personal Story." CONTACT: Shannon Weiher, College of Pharmacy, (614) 247-6482 or weiher.2@osu.edu. SEE: www.pharmacy.ohio-state.edu/Patil-symposium/.

Diversity Lecture & Cultural Arts Series to feature Chamber Music Recital - May 12.
Pianist Mellasenah Morris, violinist Mellasenah Edwards and cellist Troy Stuart will perform the works of Brahms, Kodaly and Haydn in a chamber music recital at 7:30 p.m. on Friday (5/12) at Weigel Hall Auditorium, 1866 College Rd. The performance marks the sixth annual Diversity Lecture and Cultural Arts Series at The Ohio State University, offering the campus and Columbus communities exposure to some of the most eminent scholars, performers and leaders from around the nation. Morris is professor of piano and director of Ohio State's School of Music. Edwards, her daughter, is an accomplished concert and solo performer and department chair of violin at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville. Stuart is an award-winning cellist who teaches with the Peabody Preparatory Young People's String Program at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Md. The event is free and open to the public. CONTACT: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276.

Ohio State students present annual spring musical for charity ? May 12-20. Off the Lake Productions, Ohio State's entirely student-run musical theater group, will present its annual spring musical: Footloose will be held in Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Avenue, at 8 p.m. on May 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 at 8 p.m. Admission is an imperishable food item, which will be donated to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Footloose, a Broadway musical created from the 1984 movie of the same name, is the tenth musical put on by the group. CONTACT: Lisa Huneke, Off the Lake Productions, (614) 297-1944 or Huneke.9@osu.edu

Conference offers look at history of Black Columbus ? May 13. The Third Annual History of Black Columbus Conference, "Education: Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow" will take place from
9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturday (5/13) at the Department of African American and African Studies Community Extension Center, 905 Mount Vernon Ave. The conference will feature photo exhibits, panel discussions and guest presentations given by OSU faculty, community members and local officials. CONTACT: aaasec@osu.edu or (614) 292-3922.

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