18
September
2011
|
18:00 PM
America/New_York

Story Ideas for Media 9/19/11

News

Ohio State welcomes smartest freshman class in history. Some 6,900 new freshman will begin their college careers on Wednesday (9/21) as Ohio State 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, compared to 26.4 in 2006), higher average SAT score (1240, compared with 1200 in 2006) and higher percentages of students ranked in the top 10 percent and 25 percent of their high school classes (55 percent and more than 89 percent, respectively, over 44 and 80 in 2006).
There are also approximately 3,000 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 the 15th day of the quarter, the figures are projections based on data from students who have indicated they will attend.

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:
*Monday, Sept. 19: Buckeye Kick-Off -- 6 p.m., under Ohio Stadium south stands
Students learn Ohio State traditions and cheers as they hear from coaches and the Ohio State Marching Band. http://welcomeweek.osu.edu/event_details.aspx?event_id=1987
*Tuesday, Sept. 20: Buck-I-Frenzy
Students can sample the latest music, food, products and services from local and national companies from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in and around the RPAC. http://welcomeweek.osu.edu/event_details.aspx?event_id=1951
*Wednesday, Sept. 21: Autumn quarter 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.
For a full list of events, see: http://welcomeweek.osu.edu/

Research

Black-white marriages increased rapidly since 1980, study finds. A new study of interracial marriages in the United States since the 1980s suggests that the racial boundary between blacks and whites continues to break down -– but is not yet close to disappearing.
The study was led by Zenchao Qian, a professor of sociology at Ohio State.
Marriages between African Americans and whites increased rapidly between 1980 and 2008, outpacing the rate of unions between whites and other ethnic and racial groups, including Latinos, Asian Americans and American Indians.
Still, the total number of marriages between blacks and whites continues to be much smaller than those between whites and other racial and ethnic groups.
"The number of marriages between whites and African Americans is undeniably increasing rapidly, but it is still a small number," Qian said. CONTACT: Jeff Grabmeier, (614) 292-8457. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/intermarriage.htm

Events

Farm Science Review -– Sept. 20-22. The 49th annual Farm Science Review takes place Tuesday (9/20)-Thursday (9/22) at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio. Ohio's premiere farm show attracts more than 140,000 visitors from across North America. Visitors attend field demonstrations, see the latest in agricultural equipment, services and products and take advantage of Ohio State agricultural research, education and expertise.
Ohio Governor John Kasich will attend the event on Tuesday (9/20) for the Vice President's Luncheon, which begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Vice President's tent located on Beef Street on the exhibitor grounds. President Gee will also offer remarks during the luncheon. Media credentials have been mailed to most central Ohio news outlets. If you did not receive media credentials, CONTACT: Suzanne Steel at (614) 292-3799 or e-mail steel.7@cfaes.osu.edu. Media without credentials will need to park in the general parking lot, which is free, and pay $8 to enter the grounds. SEE: Ma href="http://fsr.osu.edu/">http://fsr.osu.edu/

Ohio State hosts energy summit -– Sept. 21-22. Energy experts and policy makers will gather as Ohio State University will host the Ohio Governor's 21st Century Energy and Economic Summit on Wednesday and Thursday (9/21-22). President Gee, Ohio Governor John Kasich and Battelle President and CEO Jeff Wadsworth will welcome attendees at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday (9/21) at the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St. SEE: http://www.battelle.org/Conferences/ohioenergy/index.aspx

Drivers urged to leave their cars at home on Car Free Day -– Sept. 22. Car Free Day is an international event that is being celebrated in Central Ohio on Thursday (9/22). As one of the event sponsors, Ohio State will mark the day with the re-sodding of parking spots on 12th Avenue between the Ohio Union and Drinko Hall. The commemoration takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on 12th Avenue, in the parking spaces north of Drinko Hall, 55 W. 12th Ave. There also will be activities and resources for bike-riders, including free bike maintenance and a bike skills game. SEE: www.carfreedaycolumbus.org

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