April 9, 2001

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

News
Professor teaches classes on school shootings – A psychology course at Ohio State this quarter offers students an opportunity to explore some of the issues concerning adolescent violence and alienation raised by the shootings at Columbine High School and other schools. The course, called Columbine and Beyond: Exploring the Dark Side of Adolescence, is taught by Raymond Montemayor, associate professor of psychology. The students do case studies of 14 school shootings in at attempt to understand the events and develop a profile of school shooters. The two-year anniversary of the Columbine shootings is April 20. Contact: Raymond Montemayor, Psychology, (614) 292-3059

Experts
Most people with allergy symptoms don’t have allergies – A heads up to people who suffer from allergy-like symptoms. Your sniffles and sneezes may not be due to allergies after all. In a recent study of 246 patients, researchers found that nearly two thirds of patients treated for allergies were not allergic. Sheryl Szeinbach a study co-author and professor of pharmacy at Ohio State, says millions of people suffer unnecessarily because they really don’t have allergies. They’re often prescribed antihistamines that don’t help the problem. Szeinbach used an allergy blood-testing method to test patients’ reactions to common allergens by testing the reaction of immunoglobulin E, a compound found in the immune system, to specific allergens. Contact: Sheryl Szeinbach, Pharmacy, (614) 292-1335

Events
Men Can Benefit From “Boys Night Out” – April 10. Men are invited to learn more about prostate cancer at Boys Night Out, from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday (4/10), at the Westerville Senior Citizens Center, 310 West Main Street. Prostate cancer affects thousands of men each year. It is the second most common form of cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among men, but it is one of the most treatable cancers when detected early. Topics include prevention, risk factors and treatment options. Contact: The James Line, (614) 293-5066

The curse of medievalism – April 10. The College of Humanities presents its seventh Inaugural Lecture of the year on Tuesday (4/10) at the Faculty Club, 181 S. Oval Drive. Professor Clare Simmons, Department of English, will speak on “Bad Baronets and the Curse of Medievalism,” analyzing Britain's complex relationship with its medieval past and the prevalence of medievalism in present-day discussions of aristocratic privilege. Contact: Shari Lorbach, Humanities, (614) 292-1882

Energy crisis and electric market are topic of conference – April 10-11. How do you explain–and solve– the California power crisis? Energy and regulatory experts from across the country will offer their ideas on the problems encountered in California and elsewhere with electric industry restructuring at the NRRI Market Power Conference. Sponsored by the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI) at Ohio State University, the conference, titled "Straight Talk On Market Power in the Electric Supply Industry," will be held April 10-11 at the University Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, 3110 Olentangy River Road. In addition to discussing the problems, attendees will also talk about the possibility of the emergence of substantial supplier market power. The complete agenda is at http://www.nrri.ohio-state.edu/market_power/market_power.html Contact: Ken Rose, NRRI, (614) 292-9434

Penn State football player returns to OSU for visit – April 11. Adam Taliaferro, the Penn State football player seriously injured during the game with Ohio State on Sept. 23, will return with his family to Columbus on Wednesday, April 11, to thank the community for its support during his recovery and rehabilitation. The Ohio State University Medical Center will host a reception for Taliaferro from 3 to 4 p.m. in the faculty dining room, adjacent to the hospital cafeteria. Reporters are welcome to attend the reception. Parking for marked media vehicles will be available in the Rhodes Hall driveway, 450 W. 10th Ave. Among those attending the reception will be medical staff who cared for Taliaferro on the field and at OSU Medical Center. Doctors initially were unsure whether Taliaferro would walk again after the paralyzing injury, but he has made a remarkable recovery and now walks unassisted. Following spinal fusion surgery at OSU Medical Center, Taliaferro was on a ventilator for three days before being transferred to a Philadelphia hospital to begin rehabilitation. He completed his rehabilitation in March. Contact: David Crawford, Medical Center Communications, 614-293-3737

Minority Health issues are topic of Wellness Symposium – April 13. “Understanding Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Issues in Minority Communities” is the topic of Ohio State's Wellness Symposium 2001, from 9:15 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday (4/13), in Room 150 of the Younkin Success Center, 1640 Neil Ave. Ohio State University President William E. Kirwan will give opening remarks. This year’s event will help to explain why alcohol and drug abuses persist in Hispanic, African American, Asian American and American Indian communities, and examine culturally specific prevention strategies to deal with these problems. Contact: Anthereca Lane, symposium organizer, (614) 292-4527

(SHHHHH!) Kirwan to surprise award-winning faculty – President William E. Kirwan will drop in unannounced on unsuspecting Ohio State faculty members during the next few weeks to present one of the three highest awards faculty can receive. Kirwan will interrupt classes or meetings to present an apple and his congratulations to winners of the 2001 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Distinguished Scholar Award and the Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service. The awards recognize superior teaching, exceptional scholarly accomplishments and contributions to policies and programs. Reporters are invited to accompany Kirwan on one or more of these visits. To preserve the surprise element, please call Amy Murray (292-8385) or Shannon Wingard (247-6821) in the Office of University Relations, for the schedule.

April is Disability Awareness Month – Ohio State will celebrate Disability Awareness Month with a number of events to raise consciousness of the issues faced by people with disabilities. Events include demonstrations, discussions and recreational events. A complete schedule is at http://www.ods@ohio-state.edu www.ods@ohio-state.edu Contact: Leah Monaghan or Mike Kinney, Office of Disability Services, (614) 292-3307

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 http://www.osu.edu/ethnicstudents/HSS/.html> Contact: Shannon Wingard, University Relations, (614) 247-6821

Diversity Lecture continues theme of Hispanic Awareness Month – 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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