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Conflict ‘Early Warning’ tool may help predict crises in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan – Researchers have developed a new statistical method that can help track the political and civil instability of countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and others around the world. Craig Jenkins, a creator of the method and a professor of sociology and political science at Ohio State says although it is still under development, he and other researchers hope that it could eventually be used as an "early-warning system" that could alert world leaders to countries that may be moving toward political turmoil. Using this tool, researchers have calculated numerical scores for countries around the world - including those in central Asia - that indicate, in real time, how stable the countries' political systems are. Jenkins says military intervention by the United States in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other Central Asian countries could be enough to push the countries over the brink. Jenkins says “Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan have been unstable throughout much of the 1990s. Although they have been more stable recently, the military conflict may create mass protest and repression that stir a new round of instability.” Contact: Craig Jenkins, (614) 292-1411; see http://www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/earlwarn.htm
Some Halloween fun may be too scary for small fries – For most children dressing up in scary costumes, visiting “haunted” houses, and watching horror movies late at night are all a part of the fun, excitement and illusion of Halloween. While these activities are suitable for older children, they can really frighten the younger ones, cautions a child psychologist. Dr. Mary Fristad, child psychologist at OSU & Harding Behavioral Healthcare and Medicine says, "For a 4-year-old, it's hard to decipher what is fantasy and what is reality. Children in your neighborhood dressed up in scary ghost or goblin costumes can be very real and very frightening for a small child." Fristad says one way to help small children avoid becoming upset and scared during Halloween is to take them to visit costume shops so they can see that these masks are nothing to fear. Fristad also says it's best to accompany small children while they are trick or treating, so that if they become too overwhelmed they can be taken home. Contact: Jill Boatman, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737
Tommy Hilfiger scouts OSU for fashion models –Oct. 23. Tommy Hilfiger and Kaufmanns will host a casting call to select 12 Ohio State students to join 28 professional models on the runway for a fashion show at Kaufmanns grand opening. The OSU casting call takes place at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday (10/23) in the Ohio Union Conference Theatre. Winners will participate in the Tommy Hilfiger all-division fashion show at 2 p.m. on Thursday (10/25) at the Kaufmanns at Polaris Mall. The fashion show will also feature Columbus mayor Michael Coleman and former OSU football players Jim Karsatos and Raymont Harris. Media should be in place 30 minutes prior to each event. Contact: Media should RSVP to Heidi Kang, Tommy Hilfiger, (212) 548-1659.
Author Elie Wiesel speaks at book club forum – Oct. 23. Elie Wiesel, 1986 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, will visit campus to discuss Night, which recounts his experiences in several Nazi concentration camps during World War II. His appearance is part of Ohio State's new summer book program -- the Buckeye Book Community -- which is designed to facilitate discussion about a common experience. Wiesel will discuss his book at 7 p.m. on Tuesday (10/23) at Mershon Auditorium, 1821 N. High St. The program brought author Bebe Moore Campbell to campus on October 10, 2001 to discuss Brothers and Sisters. Buckeye Book Community has been more successful than organizers could have dreamed. Mabel Freeman, assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions and the First Year Experience, hoped that 500 to 1,000 students would participate. But during freshman orientation this summer, the campus bookstore sold 3,500 copies of the two books. Contact: Maryline Kulewicz, (614) 688-5479.
OSU freshmen get lesson in fighting discrimination – Oct. 23. Time Warner Communications and MTV, in partnership with The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) will conduct a “Fight for Your Rights Anti-Discrimination Forum” for a classroom of 40 Ohio State freshmen students in conjunction with Diversity Week at OSU. Following the forum, media are invited to interview participants from 4 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday (10/23) in 375 Journalism Building, 242 W. 18th Avenue. The forum is part of MTV’s “Fight for your Rights: Take a Stand Against Discrimination” pro-social campaign to help young people recognize and fight intolerance in themselves and among their peers. Contact: Elizabeth Boyuk, Time Warner Communications, (614) 481-5211.
Moritz College of Law Celebrates Its New Name – Oct. 26. The celebration of the naming of the Michael E. Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University will be Friday, October 26. It was rescheduled from September 14 following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. The event will formally thank Michael E. Moritz, of Dublin, Ohio, who gave the largest single gift ever made to Ohio State and the law school. In July, he donated $30 million to which ultimately will provide full in-state tuition and funds for additional expenses to 30 Ohio State law students and finance leadership awards to three students each year. It also established four endowed faculty chairs. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. with a special ceremony in the auditorium of John Deaver Drinko Hall, 55 West 12th Avenue. Contact: Liz Cutler Gates, 614-292-0283
Students will ‘Make a Difference’ at Penn State - Oct. 26-27. While the football teams compete on the field in State College, students from Ohio State are performing community service activities in the city along with their counterparts at Penn State. National Make A Diffrence Day ties students from different schools in the Big Ten for a day of collaborative service in the community. While at the foot of Mt. Nittany, about 120 Ohio State students will join with Penn State students in projects that include volunteering at nursing homes, daycare facilities and homes for the mentally disabled. Students will leave from the Ohio Union at noon on Friday (10/26) and perform good deeds from 6 to 11 a.m. Saturday before attending the football game in Beaver Stadium. Contact: Shannon Wingard, University Relations, (614) 247-6821.
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; Lesley Jenkins, (614) 292-0569, Randy Dunham, (614) 292-8295; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, Natalie Warling (614) 292-8427 and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.