April 2, 2001

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

News
Nice Doggie! – Lying at his trainer’s feet, Ches, the 2-year-old golden retriever, certainly doesn’t conjure up the image of a vicious dog ready to chomp on the next unsuspecting leg. But simply seeing the resting dog could drive someone with a fear of dogs into a fit of panic. Ches is part of a new program offered by Ohio State’s Anxiety and Stress Disorders Clinic, intended to help adults and children who fear dogs. People with dog phobias are typically afraid because they saw somebody get bitten by a dog or were bitten themselves, according to Brad Schmidt, an associate professor of psychology and director of the clinic. “A person who wants to get over his dog phobia eventually needs to be exposed to a real dog,” says Schmidt. Dog-phobes get a gentle introduction to canines from Schmidt, Ches, and his owner, Jay Ashmore, a graduate student in psychology. Contact: Brad Schmidt, (614) 292-2687, or Jay Ashmore, (614) 449-1273

Experts
New therapy keeps vessels open after angioplasty – Although it wasn’t available to Vice President Cheney when he suffered a recent heart blockage, the latest technology to increase the chances of a repaired coronary artery remaining open can be found right here in Ohio. The Ohio State University Medical Center is using gamma radiation to clear arteries in the heart, a procedure only recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Proponents of the procedure say it should have been the treatment of choice for Cheney when he suffered a reblockage of a heart artery last month and was rushed to a Washington D.C. hospital that didn’t have the technology. Dr. Gregory Eaton, clinical director of cardiology at Ohio State, says the procedure holds considerable promise to prevent reclosure of the coronary artery following angioplasty procedures where a stent has been placed in the blood vessel. Contact: David Crawford, Medical Center Communications, (614) 292-3737

Events
Tiny microchips are big disease-fighters – April 4. Professor Mauro Ferrari, director of Ohio State’s Biomedical Engineering Center and associate director of the university’s Heart and Lung Institute, will be the featured speaker at the Columbus Metropolitan Club's community forum on Wednesday (4/4). Ferrari’s talk, "Tiny Microchips Have Big Promise In Fighting Serious Diseases," is from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Columbus Athletic Club, 136 E. Broad St. Contact: Columbus Metropolitan Club, (614) 464-3220

Spring quarter kick-off in Newark – April 5.>/B> Entertainment kicks off spring quarter for the more than 4,000 students attending the Newark campus of Ohio State and the Central Ohio Technical College. Columbus radio station Qfm96 will play tunes and host a karaoke contest from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. in Hopewell Hall, 1179 University Drive. The kick-off is the second time the campus has started the quarter with student-focused entertainment. Officials say it is a good opportunity for students to socialize before the quarter begins. Contact: Teri Holder, Marketing and Public Relations, OSU-Newark, (740) 366-9420

Gymnasts vault into action at NCAA Championship – April 5-7. Ohio State will host the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships Thursday through Saturday (4/5-4/7) in St. John Arena as the Buckeyes – ranked second in the nation and Big Ten champions – battle for the national championship. Tickets are available from (800) GO-BUCKS or at the Schottenstein Center ticket office. Contact: Athletics Information, (614) 292-6861

Serving the underserved – April 6. "The Future of Poverty Law: How Will We Serve Our Underserved?" is the topic for the inaugural Frank C. Woodside III Speaker Series from 1:30 to 5 p.m. on Friday (4/6) in the auditorium of the College of Law, 55 W. 12th Ave. Hosted by the college's Pro Bono Research Group (PBRG), the series will address changes in the way legal services are allocated to low-income, underserved communities. Speakers include Karen Jones Sarjeant, a 1975 graduate of the college who is deputy director of the National Association for Public Interest Law, and Joseph Stulberg, Ohio State professor of law and director of the college's top-ranked alternative dispute resolution program. The PBRG works with the Ohio State Legal Services Association providing legal research and pleadings in a wide variety of topics affecting lower-income clients. Contact: David Amsbary, PBRG, (614) 688-8693

Hispanic heritage heralded – through April. Tango dancing, Latino cuisine and Hispanic-related discussions and events are among the highlights of Ohio State’s 23rd Annual Hispanic Awareness Month in April. “Stepping into the Millennium with the Traditions of the Past” is the theme for this year’s celebration. According to the 2000 census, the national Hispanic population has increased nearly 60 percent during the past decade. The month-long calendar of events includes opportunities to learn about history, minority health and wellness, women’s leadership issues, and to spend an evening with ABC News anchor John Quiñones. A complete calendar of events is at www.osu.edu/ethnicstudents/hss Contact: Shannon Wingard, University Relations, (614) 247-6821

Diversity Lectures highlight Hispanic Awareness – As part of Hispanic Awareness Month, Ohio State’s Diversity Lecture Series will offer talks on the role of Hispanics in Education. Remaining talks include:

April 9 – Adolfo Bermeo, assistant vice provost for access and diversity at the University of California in Los Angeles, will discuss The Successful Models of Progress for the Retention of Hispanic Students, 9 to 11 a.m., at the Hale Black Cultural Center, 153 W. 11th Ave.

April 18 – Nancy “Rusty” Barceló, associate vice president for academic affairs and chair of the Chicano Studies Department at the University of Minnesota, will discuss The Role of Hispanic Women in Higher Education: Making it to the Top, 9 to 11 a.m., Hale Black Cultural Center.

April 26 – Manuel Pacheco, president of the University of Missouri system, will deliver Setting the Framework for Hispanics in Higher Education for the New Millennium, 9 to 11 a.m., Room 4, Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. Contact: Trina Phillips or Frank Hale, (614) 688-4240

The person listed as Contact will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story – Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385; Lesley Deaderick, (614) 292-0569; Melinda Sadar, (614) 292-8298; and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.

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