Story Ideas for Media 9/9/09

Experts

Ohio State professor has tips on helping kids adjust to going back to school. Most kids are back in school, but how are they adjusting to new friends, new teachers, and perhaps even a new school?
Dawn Anderson-Butcher, researcher and professor of social work, is available to discuss how to help kids adjust to going back to school, tips on how to get back into the routine, and how to recognize signs that kids are not adjusting well. She can discuss adjustment issues relating to K-12 and college-age kids. CONTACT: Frankie Jones-Harris, College of Social Work, (614) 292-3540.

Research

In need of health services? Only your hairdresser knows for sure. Hairstylists may have a unique opportunity to help steer their elderly clients to needed health services, according to a small, exploratory study.
More than 80 percent of 40 Columbus-area stylists surveyed said that older clients often or always shared their problems during appointments.
"Hair stylists are in a great position to notice when their older clients are starting to suffer from depression, dementia, or self-neglect," said Keith Anderson, co-author of the study and assistant professor of social work at Ohio State University.
Anderson said he decided to do the study after reading sometimes-joking references in the popular press to "salon therapy," in which clients discussed their relationship, family and health problems to their stylists, who act as sympathetic ears and sometimes as pseudo-therapists. CONTACT: Jeff Grabmeier, (614) 292-8457. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/salontherapy.htm

Events

Ohio State dedicates new solar bike path shelter – Sept. 11. Bikers who use the popular city bike path through Ohio State's Olentangy River Wetland Research Park can now stop in at a solar shelter. The new AEP Solar-Powered Bike Path Shelter will be dedicated in a ceremony at 10 a.m. on Friday (9/11) at the park, 352 W. Dodridge St. University President Gordon Gee and AEP Ohio President Joe Hamrock will offer opening remarks. Located midway between the two bike path bridges north of Dodridge Street, the bike path shelter is the result of a gift from AEP and a grant from the Ohio Department of Development to Ohio State. CONTACT: Bill Mitsch, (614) 292-9774. SEE: http://swamp.osu.edu/news/PDFs/Bike%20shelter%20one-page.pdf

Dr. Dean Richardson to present "The Barbaro Story" – Sept. 11. "The Barbaro Story" will be presented by well-known equine orthopedic surgeon and Ohio State alumnus Dr. Dean Richardson at 2 p.m. on Friday (9/11) in the Veterinary Hospital Auditorium. The talk will focus on Dr. Richardson's experiences while treating Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, critically injured during the Preakness. The lecture is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the lot east of the Veterinary Hospital, located on the corner of Coffey Road and Vernon Tharp Street. The auditorium is accessed through the doors on the Coffey Road side of the Veterinary Hospital. (Disability entrance at the front, 601 Vernon Tharp St.) Dr. Richardson received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ohio State in 1979, and currently serves as Charles W. Raker professor of equine surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center. He is available for interviews at 3 p.m., immediately following his presentation. CONTACT: Melissa Weber,,(614) 292-3752.

Media availability offers top stories about Ohio State's new school year – Sept. 14. A media briefing highlighting plans for the start of Ohio State's new school year will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday (9/14) in the new Lane Avenue Residence Hall (formerly the Holiday Inn), 328 West Lane Avenue. The event offers at least three stories for media, plus background material and resources to guide your coverage as classes begin on Sept. 23.
At the event, Ohio State officials will unveil the university's H1N1 plan for the first time; describe the incoming class, offer a look at the renovated Lane Avenue Residence Hall, and talk about events to cover during Welcome Week.
The briefing is a unique opportunity to gather important information and secure interviews with key Ohio State officials at one time before students return to campus. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (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; Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748; Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110; or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.