Ohio State in the media

Each month staff in the Office of University Relations report on Ohio State research and connect reporters with experts across the university. They then monitor articles that mention Ohio State in the 50 largest U.S. and select world media markets. The dozens of articles each month are just one indication of the high profile the university enjoys in the national media. These entries are compiled for in Ink, which runs on a periodic basis as space permits.

Geology chair and student subject of Boston Globe article

A major article in the Boston Globe, Nov. 23, focused on the work of E. Scott Bair, professor and chair of geological sciences, and Maura Metheny, graduate student in geological sciences. The article was about their development of a computer model that is providing new evidence of how municipal water wells at a famous toxic waste site in Woburn, Mass., came to be contaminated, and how much contamination was delivered to residents.

Articles about research by H.G. Parsa, associate professor of hospitality management, appeared in the Washington Post, Nov. 2, and the Vancouver Sun, Nov. 4. Parsa's research found the failure rate of restaurants is about 60 percent over three years, much less than the 90 percent rate that is often quoted. Parsa also was quoted in articles about the success of Auntie Anne's, a franchised soft-pretzel outlet that has had strong growth in recent years. Coverage included the Associated Press, Dec. 16, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 17, and the Chicago Tribune, Dec. 22.

A Nov. 2 New York Post article noted that the Fisher College of Business is one of several top business schools that are teaching MBA students workplace etiquette lessons about table manners, work attire, interviewing tips, handshakes and other issues.

Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, professor of psychology and psychiatry, and Ronald Glaser, professor of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics, recently received coverage for their research from many media outlets. The Los Angeles Daily News, Nov. 3, and the Times of London, Dec. 8, carried articles about their research that found even mild depression can substantially unbalance the human immune system and that change can be pivotal in setting older Americans up for developing serious age-related diseases. The Nov. 22 Times of London mentioned that the researchers have done studies showing that the stress of marital arguments may impair the immune system of husbands and wives even after the argument is over. USA Today, Dec. 2, and the Chicago Tribune, Dec. 26, mentioned their research that found newlyweds who used putdowns and sarcasm in their discussions had more respiratory infections and poorer immune function in the first three years of marriage.

A new study on the health benefits of eating tomatoes received national coverage during November. The study by Steven Clinton, associate professor of hematology and oncology and of human nutrition, found that eating whole tomatoes can reduce prostate cancer deaths more effectively than taking supplements of lycopene. Lycopene is a chemical found in tomatoes that has been associated with lower prostate cancer risk. Coverage included: Reuters News Service and United Press International, Nov. 4; CBS News "Early Show," CBS Radio News "The Osgood File," Newsday and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 5; NPR's "Living on Earth," Nov. 8; Houston Chronicle, Nov. 9; Los Angeles Times, Nov. 10; Montreal Gazette, Nov. 12; New Orleans Times-Picayune, Nov. 13; Chicago Tribune, Nov. 16; St. Petersburg Times, Nov. 18; and Seattle Times, Nov. 23.

John Mueller, professor of political science and Woody Hayes Chair of National Security Studies at the Mershon Center, was quoted in a Nov. 4 Chicago Tribune article about his research that suggests Americans might become inured to continuing reports of small numbers of casualties during wartime, but support for war drops precipitously when there are dramatic increases in casualties.

Bert Rockman, director and professor of public policy and management, was quoted in the Nov. 5 Houston Chronicle about how the mayoral election in Philadelphia this month was an example of the very partisan, strident politics that will continue in next year's presidential election.

United Press International carried an article Nov. 7 about the latest expeditions of Lonnie Thompson, professor of geological sciences, to ice caps in the high, tropical Peruvian Andes Mountains that may shed light on a mysterious global climate change that occurred more than 5,000 years ago. Thompson's research suggesting that many glaciers and ice caps atop mountains in Africa will probably disappear within the next 15 years because of global warming, and little can be done to save them, was the subject of a Nov. 27 London Guardian article.

Thomas Fish, director of social work and family support at the Nisonger Center, was quoted in the Baltimore Sun, Nov. 9, about issues involved when people have to care for disabled adult siblings after their parents are no longer able.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 9, published a story about research by Amanda Rodewald, assistant professor of natural resources. Rodewald found maples provide less food and shelter for birds than do oak trees. It is a concern because maples are beginning to dominate forests in the eastern United States.

Mark Jacobsen, visiting scholar at the Mershon Center, was interviewed for a Cable News Network report on Nov. 10 about the U.S. Supreme Court's agreement to consider whether foreigners held at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay can contest their captivity in American courts. Jacobsen wrote an op-ed article for the Dec. 12 Chicago Tribune arguing that the detention of enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay is legal because these are terrorists who have attacked U.S. military forces or other citizens.

Joshua Dressler, professor of law, was interviewed for a Nov. 11 "Talk of the Nation" on NPR for a report about the use of the insanity defense in murder cases, particularly in regards to the trial of Lee Malvo, one of the Washington sniper suspects. In the Dec. 8 USA Today, Dressler was quoted in an article about an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case that will once again consider the Miranda warning, which mandates that police advise suspects of their legal rights before questioning. Dressler also wrote an op-ed article for the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 9, arguing that intent plays a large role in deciding what kind of punishment is appropriate for a person who kills another.

Articles about research by Andrej Rotter, professor of pharmacology and neuroscience, were carried by United Press International, Nov. 11, and the Tampa Tribune, Nov. 17. Rotter's research suggests declines in physical functioning as we age may be controlled by a handful of genes.

Articles in the Washington Post, Nov. 13, and Jet, Dec. 1, mentioned research by Catherine Montalto, associate professor of consumer sciences, that found African Americans are closing the wealth gap with the rest of U.S. households.

Kevin Boyle, associate professor of history, wrote a review of two recent books on the Wright Brothers and their quest for flight published in the Nov. 16 Chicago Tribune. The books he reviewed are To Conquer the Air: The Wright Brothers and the Great Race for Flight by James Tobin and The Flyers: In Search of Wilbur and Orville Wright by Noah Adams.

Copley News Service, Nov. 17, carried an article about research by David Beversdorf, assistant professor of neurology, that suggests people can easily be convinced that they saw something they actually did not see.

On Nov. 18 on CNNfn, Nov. 18, Roger Blackwell, professor of marketing, was interviewed about his new book Brands that Rock, which describes what corporations could learn from rock stars about marketing their products. Blackwell also was quoted in the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 24, about how live Christmas trees have fallen out of fashion with modern, busy Americans and how new marketing techniques are needed to restore their popularity.

United Press International, Nov. 19, and the Tampa Tribune, Dec. 1, carried articles about work by Ahmet Selamet, professor of mechanical engineering. Selamet is developing a promising new muffler design that utilizes glass fiber, which can be lighter, less prone to corrosion, and more efficient than conventional mufflers.

The London Guardian, Nov. 20, included an article about Courtney DeVries, assistant professor of psychology, and Tara Craft, graduate research associate in psychology. Their research found breastfeeding helps rats who just gave birth to heal more quickly and lowers stress levels. Similar results may be found in humans, the researchers believe.

United Press International, Nov. 21, carried an article about research by Deanna Golden-Kreutz, psychology research associate, and Barbara Andersen, professor of psychology. Their research found women with breast cancer are most likely to suffer from symptoms of depression if they also have other sources of stress in their lives — particularly financial difficulties.

Lucy Caswell, curator of the Cartoon Research Library, was quoted in the Buffalo News, Nov. 23, about the difficulty cartoonists face in producing a daily comic strip that remains creative and relevant.

Copley News Service, Nov. 23, carried an article about research by Christine Price, assistant professor of human development and family science. Price found women doctors, teachers and other professionals may have a tougher time adjusting to retirement than do women who hold jobs customarily considered nonprofessional, such as clerical positions and cafeteria help.

Articles in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nov. 24, and Investor's Business Daily, Dec. 3, mentioned research led by Vivian Witkind Davis, associate director of the National Regulatory Research Institute, that found about one-third of cellular phone customers surveyed rated their service as "poor" or "very poor."

Rattan Lal, professor of natural resources, was quoted in a Nov. 25 New York Times article about how soil degradation is the top environmental problem in the world because it leads to water quality problems, soil problems and the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

United Press International, Nov. 25, and the Boston Globe, Dec. 2, carried articles about research by Jack Nasar, professor of city and regional planning, and Jean Marie Cackowski, former graduate student in city and regional planning. Their research suggests views of nature are more calming to drivers than city scenes.

Herb Asher, professor emeritus of political science, was quoted in many articles about the political issues President Bush faced with Ohio voters concerning his decision whether to eliminate tariffs on imported steel. Coverage included: Newsday, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5; NPR's "All Things Considered," Dec. 1; and USA Today and the Washington Times, Dec. 5. Asher also was interviewed for NPR's "All Things Considered," Dec. 12, for a report about how early campaigning for the presidential election is shaping up in Ohio.