Story Ideas for Media 6/9/09
News
Tradition celebrates Commencement Week at Ohio State. Graduating seniors can mark their final days at Ohio State through a series of special events during Commencement Week, a week long celebration leading up to spring commencement.
Events include “Chalk the Walk” at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday (6/10-11). Members of the class of 2009 can chalk their masterpiece or parting message to the University on the long walk of the Main Oval. Chalk is provided.
Throughout the week, students can check out some of hidden campus gems they’ve never seen on the “Things You Never Got To See Tour.” The self-guided tour includes the Ohio State Museum, the renovated Thompson (main) Library, the planetarium, and Chadwick Arboretum.
Several thousand students are expected to join President Gee for a candlelight ceremony on the Oval at 9 p.m. on Saturday (6/13). The event ends with a powerful candlelight rendition of “Carmen Ohio” on the Oval.
Throughout the week, programs and colleges will recognize accomplishments of graduates with special ceremonies. They include the Latino Graduation Ceremony, at 6 p.m. on Friday (6/12) at the Frank W. Hale Black Cultural Center (MLK room), 153 W 12th Ave.; the American Indian/Indigenous Graduation Ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Hale Center, (room 137); the 17th Annual African American Farewell Celebration at 4 p.m. on Saturday (6/13) in 131 Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Ave. SEE: commencementweek.osu.edu
Research
Ohio State study: Americans choose media messages that agree with their views. A new study provides some of the strongest evidence to date that Americans prefer to read political articles that agree with the opinions they already hold.
Researchers found that people spent 36 percent more time reading articles that agreed with their point of view than they did reading text that challenged their opinions.
Even when they did read articles that countered their views, participants almost always balanced that with reading others that confirmed their opinions.
The study is important because it is one of the first to record what people actually read and link these findings to their views on the same topics.
“We found that people generally chose media messages that reinforced their own preexisting views,” said Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, co-author of the study and associate professor of communication at Ohio State University.
“In general, they don’t want their views to be challenged by seriously considering other viewpoints.” CONTACT: Jeff Grabmeier, (614) 292-8457. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/poliview.htm
Events
Ohio State will award diplomas to more than 7,500 – June 14. Engineers, biologists, veterinarians, athletes, sociologists and students not afraid of “dirty jobs” will be among some 7,500 who will earn degrees during spring commencement exercises which begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday (6/14) 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. John Glenn, former U.S. Senator and astronaut, will deliver the commencement address. Senator Glenn also delivered Ohio State’s spring commencement address 25 years ago, in 1984. Also during the commencement ceremony, Glenn's wife, Annie, will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree. CBS correspondent Erin Moriarty ('77 JD) and Ernest Mazzaferri, Sr. ('62 MD), professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, will both receive the Distinguished Service Award. Additional information is available commencement.osu.edu CONTACT: Amy Murray, University Relations, (614) 292-8385.
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