Story Ideas for Media 8/22/12
News
Ohio State welcomes smartest freshman class in history. Some 7,000 new freshman will begin their college careers today (8/22) as The Ohio State University starts a new academic year. It is the brightest class ever at Ohio State based on a variety measures.
According to projected figures, the entering class reports a higher average ACT score (28.1, compared to 27 in 2007) and a higher average SAT score (1244, compared with 1220 in 2007).
Ohio State’s incoming class includes students from all 88 Ohio counties, 47 states and more than 500 international students from 32 countries.
There are also more than 2,500 new transfer students on Ohio State’s Columbus campus, and approximately 2,900 new freshman beginning classes at Ohio State’s regional campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion and Newark.
Because official student enrollment figures are not certified until later in the semester, the figures are projections based on data from students who have indicated they will attend. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.
Research
Marital Separations an Alternative to Divorce for Poor Couples. Married couples who undergo long-term separations appear to be those who can't afford to divorce, a new Ohio State University nationwide study suggests.
Researchers found that about 80 percent of all respondents who went through a marital separation ultimately divorced, most within three years.
About five percent attempted to reconcile. But 15 percent of separations didn't lead to divorce or reconciliation within ten years. Couples in these long-term separations tended to be racial and ethnic minorities, have low family income and education, and have young children.
"Long-term separation seems to be the low-cost, do-it-yourself alternative to divorce for many disadvantaged couples," said Dmitry Tumin, co-author of the study and a doctoral student in sociology at Ohio State University. CONTACT: Jeff Grabmeier, (614) 292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/maritalsep.htm
Events
Ohio State begins a new school year. The population on Ohio State’s Columbus campus has grown as the campus welcomes new and returning students. During Welcome Week, students are greeted with fairs, ice cream socials, cookouts and hog roasts. Here are some top events for media to cover:
*Wednesday, Aug. 22: Autumn classes begin
Campus Locator service – An army of Campus Locators will be at five key locations in brightly colored tents to help students find their way on the first two days of classes. http://welcomeweek.osu.edu/events?event_id=1993
* Saturday, Aug. 25: Buckeye Kick-Off. Students are asked to wear red to the event which includes a fan fest and tailgate on the south plaza outside the Ohio Stadium South Stands at 5:30 p.m., and a chance to experience the world debut of the “Ohio Dog,” the hottest new food item at Ohio State. Gates to the Stadium open at 6:30 p.m., and the multimedia program, featuring TBDBITL, Ohio State celebrities, a Block O card stunt, and more begins at 7:30. http://welcomeweek.osu.edu/events?event_id=2291
For a full list of events, see: http://welcomeweek.osu.edu/
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;Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110 or lynch.270@osu.edu; or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu
