March 12, 2001

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Ohio State's news, experts and events give you more on the news

News
OSU survey finds racial divide in confidence in Supreme Court – A majority of Ohioans say they have confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court, but about one-third believe the court's decision that handed the presidency to George W. Bush was unfair. A new survey released by the Center for Survey Research at Ohio State University also finds a striking racial gap in views about the high court: While whites were generally supportive of the Supreme Court, about two-thirds of African Americans expressed very little confidence in the court, and a similar proportion said the court's decision in the presidential race was unfair. Contact:Matt Courser, Center for Survey Research, (614) 292-6672

Experts
Earth fractures may threaten Ohio’s ground water – Ohio scientists have uncovered evidence suggesting that the soil in much of Ohio may not be good material in which to bury solid and industrial wastes. The reason is that fractures deep underground help contaminated water flow downward and reach water supplies too quickly for it to be purified. In one recent study, scientists surveyed Ohio soil profiles and found that at least 55 of Ohio's 88 counties have underground fractures that could affect the purity of ground water. "We once thought that the soils in much of Ohio were so fine-grained and tightly compacted that almost no wastes could seep through," said Ann Christy, an assistant professor of food, agricultural and biological engineering at Ohio State University. "However, now we're finding that is not true." Contact: Ann Christy, (614) 292-3171

Events
MD offers behind-scenes peek at "Hollywood doctors" – March 13. A physician, author and authority on how Hollywood has portrayed medicine and doctors during the past 70 years will lecture at The Ohio State University Medical Center on Tuesday (3/13). Dr. Peter Dans, an internist and faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, will present "Hollywood's Views of Doctors From the 30s to the 90s," at 4 p.m. in the fifth floor Medical Heritage Center of the Prior Health Sciences Library, 376 W. 10th Ave. Dans is the author of The Doctors in the Movies: Boil the Water and Just Say Aah, which discusses both history and films, examining cliches, stereotypes and attitudes. Contact: David Crawford, Medical Center Communications 614-293-3737.