96-05-24 Story Tips for Local News Media STORY TIPS University Communication offers this list of potential news stories on the Columbus campus. We'll update this listing every week. This and every University Communications news release is available on the Internet and World Wide Web. To access by Internet, you may reach us through either OASIS (Ohio State Information System), the Columbus Freenet or World Wide Gophers. Select News and Weather, then Ohio State University News Releases, then News Releases from University Communications. Our Web address is http://www.acs.ohio- state.edu/ Choose News Releases from The Ohio State University, then News Releases from University Communications. NINA TOTENBERG SPEAKS AT HUMANITIES BACCALAUREATE-- May 30. Nina Totenberg, legal affairs correspondent for National Public Radio, will be the keynote speaker at The Ohio State University College of Humanities' Baccalaureate on May 30. The baccalaureate, which honors the college's 300 graduating seniors, will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Weigel Hall Auditorium, 1866 College Road. There will be vocal music by The Statesmen, beginning at 3:45 p.m., while students check in and guests are seated. The program opens with a processional of graduates, followed by brief remarks by Dean Kermit Hall and President E. Gordon Gee. A short video will be shown, and Totenberg will be introduced at about 4:30 p.m. and speak for approximately 30 minutes. Totenberg will be available to talk with reporters from 3-3:30 p.m. in room 316, Weigel Hall. CONTACT: Cheryl Smoot or Julie Carpenter-Hubin, College of Humanities, (614) 292-1882. RESEARCHER STUDIES MENTAL HEALTH DAYS--Workers are not using 'mental health days' as a way of coping with work-related stress. That's what an Ohio State University researcher found while studying whether stressed employees who took short-term absences--one or two day 'mental health days'--to regroup and recharge could reduce long term absences down the road. Catherine Heaney, an associate professor of public health, says highly stressed workers at the Midwest manufacturing plant she studied were likely to have more long-term work absences requiring a physician's care than their less stressed counterparts. She says since stress is known to cause illness and absences, perhaps taking 'mental health days' could reduce long term absences. CONTACT: Catherine Heaney, School of Public Health, 293-3908. TWILIGHT OUTDOOR CONCERT IN AMPITHEATRE--May 30. The School of Music presents the last of a series of seven free outdoor concerts in the Browning Amphitheatre next to Mirror Lake on campus. These highly popular events provide an informal setting and great music that people of all ages can enjoy. The Jazz Combos and Steel Band will perform on May 30 beginning at 7:00 p.m. CONTACT: Lois Foreman Wernet, College of the Arts, 292-8835. SPRING QUARTER COMMENCEMENT FEATURES JOHN JAKES--June 7. Commencement exercises for some 5,300 spring quarter graduates of The Ohio State University will be held June 7 in Ohio Stadium beginning at 9:30 a.m. The commencement speaker iwll be author John Jakes. A 1954 Master of Arts graduate of Ohio State in American literature, Jakes has published 200 short stories and some 60 books, including the Kent Family Chronicles, Civil War, North and South, Love and War, and Heaven and Hell, which was made into a TV mini-series. CONTACT: Tracy Turner, University Communications, 688-3682. STUDENTS FACE EXAMS, FINAL WEEK OF CLASSES--May 28-31. Following the three-day Memorial Day weekend, Ohio State students face the final week of classes before final exams and (for some) commencement. In a break from the usual vendors and preachers on the Oval, students are invited to learn to relax at a Stress Oasis, sponsored by Cool from Nestea, on the Oval from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, May 29 and 30. The Stress Oasis features massage therapists, free bottles of Cool from Nestea, and a brochure listing stress-reducing tips. CONTACT: Kobi Carlson, Shandwick USA (advertising agency), 612-832-5000. The person listed as the contact for each item will have the best information about the story. However, feel free to call on our news services staff for assistance with these or other Ohio State news stories. Amy Murray, 292-8385; Ruth Gerstner, 292-8424; Tom Spring, 292-8309, and Tracy Turner, 688-3682. -Compiled by Amy Murray, University Communications, (Murray- Goedde.1@osu.edu). [Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu) Tue, 28 May 1996 16:19:11 -0400] All documents are the responsibility of their originator.