Story Ideas for Media 6/5/06

News

Single parents set to graduate this week thanks to University support program. A number of single mothers from across Ohio will receive their diploma this week thanks in part to the university's ACCESS Collaborative program which provides academic and social support to assist low-income minority single parent students who are pursuing a college education at Ohio State. The program provides a number of services ? such as childcare, preferential scheduling, academic counseling and financial planning assistance ? to help these single parents juggle the demands of college and work life. CONTACT: Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110.

Research

Super-sized cassava plants may help fight hunger in Africa. In a recent study, genetically modified cassava plants produced roots that were more than two-and-a-half times the size of normal cassava roots. The findings could help ease hunger in many countries where people rely heavily on the cassava plant (Manihot esculenta) as a primary food source, said Richard Sayre, the study's lead author and a professor of plant cellular and molecular biology at Ohio State University. The researchers used a gene from the bacterium E. coli to genetically modify cassava plants. The plants, which were grown in a greenhouse, produced roots that were an average of 2.6 times larger than those produced by regular cassava plants were. "Not only did these plants produce larger roots, but the whole plant was bigger and had more leaves," Sayre said. Both the roots and leaves of the cassava plant are edible. Cassava is the primary food source for more than 250 million Africans ? about 40 percent of the continent's population. And the plant's starchy tuberous root is a substantial portion of the diet of nearly 600 million people worldwide. CONTACTS: Richard Sayre, professor, (614) 292 2587 or sayre.2@osu.edu; Holly Wagner, Research Communications, (614) 292-8310 or wagner.235@osu.eduSEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/suprtubr.htm

Events

Department of Design to host 'Professional Night' ? June 7. A display of top student talent in the Department of Industrial, Interior and Visual Communication Design will be highlighted at a "Professional Night" reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (6/7) at the Wexner Center Black Box Space, 1871 N. High St. The event is held annually and features the selected work of senior undergraduates and graduate students. Design professionals are invited and will choose awards for the best senior projects in each of the three disciplines. The 2006 Spring Exhibition is open to the public with paid admission to the Wexner Center from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (6/7 -6/9). CONTACT: Tamara Dunaeff, Department of Design, (614) 292-6746 or dunaeff.2@osu.edu

U.S. Homeland Security official is Humanities Baccalaureate speaker ? June 10.
Brian Besanceney, an Ohio State University alumnus, is the featured speaker at the College of Humanities Baccalaureate, at 3:30 p.m. in 131 Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Ave. Besanceney, holder of a bachelor's degree in history and political science, is the assistant secretary for public affairs of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he manages internal and external communications for the Department and its 22 component agencies. For two years he was special assistant to President George W. Bush and deputy director of communications; prior to this assignment he was the director of domestic policy communications. In 2005 the Alumni Association recognized Besanceney with its William Oxley Thompson Award, which is presented to alumni younger than age 36 who have demonstrated distinctive achievement in a career, civic involvement or both. The 12th annual celebration of graduating students is free and open to the public. CONTACT: Shari Lorbach, Humanities, (614) 292-1882 or lorbach.1@osu.edu

14th Annual African American Farewell Celebration ? June 10. The 14th Annual African American Farewell Celebration, which recognizes students of African decent graduating throughout the 2005-06 academic year, will be held Saturday (6/10). Viola Newton, senior lecturer in the Department of African American and African Studies, will deliver the keynote address to approximately 100 participants at 4 p.m. at Independence Hall, 1923 Neil Ave. A dinner reception will follow at 6 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center, 153 W. 12th Ave. Sponsored by the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the Hale Center and the Ohio Union, the event recognizes the unique challenges that such students experience and conquer throughout their matriculation at Ohio State. CONTACT: Larry Williamson, Hale Center, (614) 292-0074 or williamson.1@osu.edu

Ohio State's spring commencement is Sunday ? June 11. Impressive community service, study abroad, significant academic achievement and research projects are among the wonderful memories that Ohio State graduates will take with them when they earn degrees this weekend. More than 7,000 will earn degrees during Ohio State's spring commencement on Sunday (6/11) in Ohio Stadium. The ceremony celebrates the academic achievements and hard work that each student has put forth to earn his or her degree. Each graduate will receive their own diploma at the ceremony, a practice rarely attempted by a university the size of Ohio State. U.S. Senator John McCain will deliver the commencement address. Additional information is available http://commencement.osu.edu/ CONTACT: Amy Murray, University Relations, (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 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