News

Research improves treatment of bladder cancer – Researchers have found a relatively simple way to dramatically improve the cancer-killing capacity of a drug often used to treat superficial bladder cancer.  The changes nearly doubled the number of people who were cancer-free after five years, compared to those receiving the standard therapy, and lengthened the time before tumors recurred in these patients. The finding is the result of a five-year, international study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.  Contact: Jesse L-S Au, distinguished university professor and Dorothy M. Davis Chair in Cancer Research at the College of Pharmacy, (614) 292-4244.

Experts

This Could be Year of the Slug – Field observations made last fall, and farmers’ reports this spring, all indicate that slugs could be a big problem in Ohio’s no-till crops this season.  Entomologist Ron Hammond of Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center said, “We think there’s good potential for slug problems. I’ve been concerned about what I’ve seen out there more than I’ve ever been in the past.”  Large slug populations in the fall tend to be a good predictor of the numbers that show up in spring.  An apparently mild summer in 2000 helped slugs, and wintry weather is usually not a major factor in controlling them.  Contact: Ron Hammond, (330) 263-3727.

In search of the perfect lawn – There may be no perfect lawn, but an Ohio State University Extension turf grass project is making it easier to choose cultivars and management strategies best suited for a particular area.  Regional Turf Education Plots, established three years ago, support a variety of grasses throughout eight counties: Clark, Lake, Franklin, Hamilton, Wood, Wayne, Crawford and Madison. The purpose of the plots is to assist homeowners, lawn care professionals, parks and recreation personnel, and others throughout the state with turf grass selection and management practices.  Joe Rimelspach, an OSU Plant pathologist, says the project grew out of questions about healthy lawns after the 1999 drought in southern Ohio. Contact:  Joe Rimelspach, (614) 292-9283.

Events

“Stefanie’s Champions” will honor unsung heroes – April 25.  “Stefanie’s Champions,” an annual event to recognize heroes in the lives of cancer patients, will honor six outstanding champions at a luncheon at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Wednesday (4/25), noon to 1:30 p.m.  Stefanie Spielman, a breast cancer survivor, established the Champion Awards to recognize one of the most important factors in surviving cancer:  loving, unwavering support.  Stefanie’s husband, Chris Spielman, former Ohio State and NFL linebacker, put his career on hold to care for Stefanie during her initial treatment for breast cancer in 1998 at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.  Last year, Stefanie honored Chris with the first Champion Award at the inaugural luncheon. The 2001 honorees were selected from over 100 nominations statewide. Contact:  Michelle Gailiun, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-6054.

Hale Center commemorates 12^th anniversary – April 26.  Live entertainment and thought provoking lectures will mark the 12^th anniversary of the Frank W. Hale Jr., Black Cultural Center at Ohio State.  Events include a town meeting and question and answer period with Randall Robinson at 2 p.m. at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road.  Robinson is a human rights and reparations activist and author of “The Debt – What America Owes to Blacks.” David C. Driskell, an expert on African-American art and professor of Fine Art at the University of Maryland, will lecture at 5:30 p.m. at the Hale Center, 153 W. 12^th Ave.  Contact: Larry Williamson, Hale Center, (614) 292-0074.

Diversity Lecture Series continues – April 26. As part of Hispanic Awareness Month, Ohio State’s Diversity Lecture Series is offering talks on the role of Hispanics in Education. 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., Thursday (4/26) in Room 4, Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. Contact: Trina Phillips or Frank Hale, (614) 688-4240.

Take A Daughter to Work Day – April 26. Ohio State University employees are invited to Take a Daughter to Work on Thursday (4/26), and introduce daughters and sons to a range of exciting careers. Participants may try their hand at creating their own Web homepage, lifting fingerprints off objects, being a reporter or helping a chimpanzee learn to count. Learn what it takes to become a veterinarian, social worker, lawyer, photographer, farmer or computer whiz. Several hundred children ages 9 to 17 are expected to attend any of the free campus workshops, which are taught by faculty and staff volunteers. Among the activities:

 – 8:45 a.m., Judy Fountain, director of The Women’s Place at Ohio State, will present “Shaped and Shaping: Mothers and Daughters as Co-creators of the Past, Present, and Future: An Intergenerational Dialogue” in the Ohio Union Conference Theater, 1739 N. High St.

 – 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m., Over 50 workshops around campus for daughters to explore careers.

 – 2:45 to 3:45 p.m., Wind down activities include a Latin dance session or the movie The Little Princess.

Contact: Margie Bogenshutz, Take A Daughter to Work Day Committee, (614) 292-8586.

Lecture offers view of the future – April 26. Clive Edwards, professor of entomology and environmental sciences, will present his University Distinguished Lecture at 4 p.m. Thursday (4/26). Edwards’ lecture, entitled “The Future of Human Populations: Energy, Food and Water Availability,” will be held at the Wexner Center Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St. The lecture will also be broadcast live via the Internet at 4 p.m. and may be viewed at: http://www.osu.edu/lecture.

Tornadoes, floods and severe weather! – April 27.  Tornadoes, floods and forecasting are topics of the Fifth Annual Ohio Severe Weather Symposium, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday (4/27) in the Fawcett Center Conference Room, 2400 Olentangy River Road.  The conference offers speakers from a wide range of severe weather specialties discussing severe weather research, forecasting and presentation.  Highlights include Some Perspective on the Severe Weather Episode over Southwest Ohio on 20 September 2000, including the Xenia Tornado, with John DiStefano of the National Weather Service; A Historical Look at Tornadoes; Deaths and Damage with Harold Brooks of the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Ok.; Wintertime Flooding in the Ohio River Valley: Atmospheric Controls from the Pacific, presented by Ohio State Geography Professor and state climatologist Jeff Rogers; and Satellite Characteristics of Flash Flood Producing Thunderstorms over the Ohio Valley and Surrounding Area with Rod Scofield, Senior Research Meteorologist, Hydrology Team of NOAA/NESDIS.  Contact: Greg Elsaesser, Ohio State Meteorology Club, (614) 291-1508.

Fifth Graders check out the science of farming – April 27.  More than 600 Columbus area fifth graders will participate in Scarlet and Gray Ag Day at Ohio State on Friday (4/27) from 9 a.m to 1:30 p.m.  The students will participate in more than 30 different sessions that include a demonstration of how to make bratwurst and cheese, and the importance of food safety.  The event is organized and staffed by student members of Ohio State’s Agricultural Education Society.  Contact: Emily McConnell, (614) 267-5049.

OSU Hospitals East celebrates Community Day – April 28.  A health fair and a neighborhood cleanup will mark the second anniversary of OSU Hospitals East’s presence in the eastside community as the facility sponsors a Community Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday (4/28).  Beginning at 10 a.m., Ohio State University Hospitals East staff will join other community organizations to clean up the neighborhood around the hospital. Reporters are welcome to cover the event and interview participants who will be picking up litter, raking and sweeping in the area along Taylor Avenue.  Throughout the day, the facility will host the annual CMACAO African-American health fair in the Hospitals’ cafeteria. The Columbus Metropolitan Area Community Action Organization health fair provides free screenings and evaluations for many disorders including high blood pressure, vision, hearing and blood sugar. Contact: David Crawford, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737.

Stadium Auction to offer unique items – April 28.  One-of-a-kind items removed during renovation of the Horseshoe will be on sale during an Ohio Stadium Auction, Saturday (4/28) at 4:30 p.m. in French Field House. The auction is in conjunction with the spring football game being held at 1:30 p.m. in Crew Stadium.  Lockers, coaches’ chalkboards, signs and a unique helmet chair from the recruiting room are among the items on sale. Contact: Ohio Stadium Memorabilia, (888) 296-3827.

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; Karissa Shively, (614) 292-8295, and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.