Media Tips

WITH 1,850 STUDENTS and 136 faculty members, Ohio Wesleyan University always has something newsworthy happening on campus.

If you are a journalist and wish to arrange an interview on these or other topics, please contact Cole Hatcher (740-203-6908, cehatche@owu.edu) or Linda O’Horo (740-203-6909, laohoro@owu.edu).

Bats Returned to Central Ohio in Mid-April

Did you know the most common bat in central Ohio is the little brown bat, which spends the winter hibernating in caves and mines in southeastern and southern Ohio? These wintering roosts may number up to 300,000 individual bats, says Jed Burtt, Ph.D., OWU professor of zoology. The bats emerge from hibernation in early April and return to their summer roosts in attics, barns, hollow trees, and bat houses by mid-April. Those who had bats around their homes last year probably will have them again as they are faithful to their breeding and wintering sites. The bats, which can live up to 34 years or more, forage at 10-20 feet and can eat up to their weight in insects each night.

Reading Between the Lines

As high school seniors begin to receive college financial aid award letters, it’s important to know how to interpret the information, says Lee Harrell, OWU’s assistant vice president of admission and financial aid. Key items to note include whether an award letter includes all direct costs of attendance, whether funds offered are grants or loans, and whether loans are subsidized or unsubsidized.

Education and National Security

From Sputnik to Minerva, says OWU professor and NATO expert Sean Kay, Ph.D., education and national security have always been intertwined. But military leaders today are concerned about the lack of language skills and cultural awareness related to many of the world’s hot spots. Now is the time to reinvigorate higher education for the 21st century, he says. Read his recent paper (PDF*).

Job Hunting in a Competitive Market

Avoid standardized cover-letter language, and use your own words to demonstrate how your skills fit the job description, says Leslie Delerme, OWU’s director of career services. Your cover letter and resume need to be perfect. And if you are lucky enough to obtain an interview, do your homework. Research the employers in advance, review potential interview questions, and prepare thoughtful questions to ask. Dress appropriately and be aware of your body language. And always follow up after an interview, even if you do not receive an offer. Says Delerme, “Today’s economic situation dictates that now more than in past years, students need to start early on their job searches and be especially diligent.”

Spring Organic Gardening Tips

Know your soil conditions, and which plants grow best in your soil, says Barb Wiehe, OWU’s Moore Greenhouse manager. You may not need to fertilize if you select the right plants for your soil. If you need to enrich the soil, use compost. If you purchase compost, buy it in bulk, to avoid plastic packaging waste. You can develop your own—either in a compost pile or with a composting bin, which can purchased at a garden supply store. And before you plant, divide perennials, and do your spring clean-up—prune dead or diseased branches from fruit trees and woody ornamentals, and remove leaf debris, to keep disease from spreading.

Creating an Effective Resume

A successful resume must highlight relevant experience effectively and target the type of position you’re seeking, says Nancy Westfield, OWU’s assistant director of career services. To create a winning resume, emphasize skills that match the qualifications for the position. If you lack job experience, Westfield says, study-abroad participation or involvement in campus activities can signal that you are flexible and have developed leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. You also should use a professional-sounding e-mail address that you check frequently and proofread your resume carefully. Many employers are looking for ways to reject submissions, so make sure your resume is perfect.

Economic Literacy

Ever wonder why a plate of spaghetti cost a nickel in the 1940s, and why professional athletes make more money than teachers? OWU economics professor Alice Simon says it’s all about supply and demand. Once the market knows people are willing to pay a certain price, why lower it? In the rare case of technology resulting in more efficient production, prices stay steady if the product remains in demand. As for professional athletes, Simon says we value them more as a society because they bring in more direct dollars. It is a shorter-term product that can be measured, while the value of a future generation of leaders is not as tangible.

Debating the 1960s

The political debates of the 1960s—including those over health care, foreign policy, and women’s rights and roles—continue to influence and shape American culture today, says OWU history professor and ’60s expert Michael Flamm. Flamm is the co-author of a new book, “Debating the 1960s: Liberal, Conservative, and Radical Perspectives,” which is part of publisher Rowman & Littlefield’s “Debating the 20th Century” series.

Cell Phone Psychology

There’s no doubt today’s technology is affecting America’s children. But exactly how? OWU psychology professor Kim Dolgin says long-term issues include the ability of teens to plan ahead, now that cell phones allow nearly instantaneous access to people. Also, parents may give their teens more freedom to go places and do things because of their cell phone safety net, but psychologists are continuing to examine how this will affect the teens’ transition to true independence.

Need Advice for Purchasing Stargazing Gear?

Tom Burns, director of Ohio Wesleyan’s Perkins Observatory, says that many factors are involved when selecting a telescope or binoculars for stargazing. These include your budget, whether or not children will be using it, and which objects you would like to see. The staff at Perkins is always glad to provide advice about telescopes and binoculars for stargazing. You can reach them at (740) 363-1257.

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