Something New

Research — not just something done by faculty

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I’m a science fair girl. I come from a science fair family. The site of a tri-fold display board brings back fond memories of projects on biorhythms and on dementia and on the impact of environment on memory recall. These are projects that won awards at the state science day, people!

The projects I remember from those bygone days are nothing compared to the sophisticated research on display annually at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum – the 2014 edition to be held on March 26 at the RPAC. The research happening everyday on campus – the discovery of new knowledge – is pretty impressive, even more so when we know that there are many, many undergraduate students who are contributing to and leading research efforts of their own. And that’s what we get to see at the Denman.

The Denman participants will present their research via a poster – and not like what you can find at the tent poster sales at the beginning of the school year:

They also present their findings orally to a pair of faculty judges. Participants are selected based on their abstract submissions, as the Denman is limited to only 550 projects. Recently, I had a chance to catch up with a student who I haven’t spoken with in a while, and he was gushing – gushing – about the three research projects with which he’s been involved in the last year. Three. He started his involvement in a professor’s lab as a first-year student. It’s never too early. And he’s not even presenting this year at the Denman – that’s how much great work  is happening here!

As you walk through the display floor, you never know what kinds of projects you’ll see. Some of the winners last year include projects titled:

  • Calculating Susceptibility from Local Field Inhomogeneities for Applications in Multiple Sclerosis Studies
  • Effect of Early Treadmill Training on Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier Permeability after Spinal Cord Injury in Mice
  • Biochemical Characterization of 6-phospho-β-glucosidases to Gain Insights into Cellobiose Utilization by Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052

I don’t know about you, but I love an intimidating title, not to mention the actual research behind it — for those of you wondering, Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 is “a saccharolytic, strictly anaerobic, mesophylic, motile, rod-shaped bacteria with oval, sub-terminal spores.”

Fortunately for me, the projects aren’t all in what we used to call the hard sciences. There are also the categories of business, arts, and humanities. Some winners last year in these categories included:

  • Let’s Talk Money: Impulsivity, Social Influence and Consumers’ Saving Behavior
  • Wyrd: The Woes of Postmodernity
  • Corruption and International Aid Allocation: A Complex Dance

So, if you find yourself inspired to find out what fascinating work your fellow students are doing, check out the Denman. I’ll be the one trying to look 20 years younger and setting up the card-table.  

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The Next Step: Leading in College

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February and March are usually an exciting/hectic time for me. Almost everything is due the week before spring break, and you better be studying for that exam you have the week after!

If you’re like I was in my first year, you’ve probably gotten involved in a few student organizations that you are passionate about. You like going to the meetings, but you want to contribute more to the group. As the end of the school year comes around, this might be your chance to take the next step and run for a position! Whether it be a the head of a committee or president of the entire organization, if you’re passionate about the club you are in, don’t be afraid to run! It might be a little intimidating at first, but once you get your foot in the door, you will be glad you did!

After my experience serving as president of an academic honorary this past year, I’ve learned a lot about how leading in college is different from being on prom committee in high school (not that prom wasn’t important; it totally was). Here are my top three tips from my first year as president of a student organization…but these tips can also apply to anyone involved in a student organization (no matter the position)!

1. Get to know people!

In high school, many of us had been with the same kids since at least junior high. In college, you could be leading a group of people you’ve never met before. In the academic honorary system for example, a new class is inducted every year. This can be a tough one right off the bat, but if you don’t know everyone in the organization at least by name, introduce yourself! Friend everyone on Facebook, and be sure you know their face so you can remember their name. The better acquainted you are with the members or committee, the easier communication will be, and more things will get done. 

2. Delegate, delegate, DELEGATE!

Did I say delegate? There can be a steep learning curve when it comes to breaking things up and giving people responsibilities. There isn’t a teacher there to tell you how to run things (like on prom committee). You can’t do everything yourself, and once you try, you will be extremely overwhelmed. Learning to depend on others is one of the most important skills you can take away from being a leader. Collaborate to break up tasks based on convenience, ask for volunteers, and suggest a deadline.

3. Utilize your adviser!

Your student organization adviser will only be as active as you need them to be, but they’ve had experiences with the club in the past and are a wealth of knowledge! When we were planning our annual benefit dance this past February, I started asking my adviser all kinds of questions and wondered why I hadn’t done so before. In the honorary system too, they provide a nice link to past officers and the information they have as well. If anything, they’re a great listening ear as well!

Don’t be afraid to run for a position in a club you’re passionate about! If you want to start small, begin with a committee head and work your way up to the exec board. You’ll be glad you did 🙂

Jenna

The OUABest Experiences!

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Wait a second, why are you on this website? Are you bored or something?!  Never fear, I am hear to tell you about the great opportunities that Ohio State and more specifically, OUAB has to offer.

Now you should be like, “Hmmm I’m listening.”

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(feline representation of YOU)

To begin, OUAB stands for the Ohio Union Activities Board, and this organization helps provide diverse programs and events that are educational, entertaining, and thought provoking for the students of the Columbus campus.  More importantly, they bring cool events, free food and CELEBRITIES.

Your reaction:

shutup

Okay, first off stop being so sassy this is all true!!!

Let me tell you some upcoming events for OUAB!

March 2nd 2 p.m. Archie M. Griffin West Ballroom

Reinventing Radio with Ira Glass

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March 3rd 7:30 p.m. Performance Hall

Performance Painter David Garibaldi

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March 6 7:30 p.m. Archie M. Griffin East Ballroom

Breaking Good: Raising Awareness with RJ Mitte

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You can BET that I will be at all of these events! Just click on the link if you want more information!

Now go, entertain yourselves with these OUAB events., and while you are at it, go find OUAB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even the OUABlog!

Thank you and until next time, stay classy people. Here’s a treat for all of you that stayed to read everything <3

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-Kwok

Coming Out When Coming To Ohio State

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So it’s your first year. There are probably so many things going on that you barely have time to think. If you are like I was, your views on the world are probably changing and you are beginning to find out who you really are. And I am sure that for many of you, that means discovering your true sexual orientation. If you happen to be in this situation, here are four things to keep in mind when accepting yourself and coming out:

1)   Come out when you are ready

I have heard so many people tell others to come out before it’s “too late”. Well, it’s actually never too late. Whether you come out at 20 or 40, it doesn’t matter, as long at you think it’s the right time for you. Personally, I came out when I was 15 years old and although it was young, it was the right time for me. Just keep in mind – you are never going to be completely comfortable telling somebody for the first time. You just have to take that risk, no matter what age you are.

2)   Don’t let other people tell you how to act

Being gay does not define you, nor anyone else, as a person. The concept that you have to act a certain way if you are gay is completely a myth and based on misguided stereotypes. It was a concept that I unfortunately believed in when I first came out and it really held me back from truly accepting who I was. Most importantly, remember that being gay is only a single part of you; it does not reflect who you are or what you are able to do/accomplish in life.

3)   People are more accepting that you think

One of the most memorable parts of my high school career was during government class, where we were having a discussion about gay marriage. The class was full with people who ran track with me, and I didn’t exactly think they were the most accepting people. I walked in thinking “Oh here we go.” As I was expecting, I spoke openly about gay marriage and debated with a girl sitting across from me. Class ended and my track friends started should “You go Big B (my track nickname)!” and “You totally rocked that.” The moral of this story: don’t judge people just because you think they will judge you. The people who you think are least likely to be accepting are sometimes the most accepting.

4)   People are here to help you

When I first came out, I really didn’t have anyone to turn to and it really inhibited me from advancing in my life. Once I had a support system, it was easy to be who I wanted to be. Don’t be afraid to get involved with the gay community and take advantage of the Ohio State resources for LGBT students. I went to first-year LGBT cohort for my first year and it helped me to meet some of my best friends. There are amazing support systems available to you, and using these systems will really help in the coming out process. If you don’t want to use university resources, there are so many people around you who can help as well!

College is a time of so much change, and sometimes that change can be difficult. But with the amazing resources at Ohio State and the level of acceptance at the university, there will always be someone by your side to support you in your decisions. Above all, remember that life is a gift and there is no need to waste the gift living somebody else’s life. Just be the best you that you can be!

P.S. If you are straight and reading this, make sure to always be supportive to friends coming out and questioning their sexual orientation – it makes all the difference to them.

 

 

Stepping Up Language Learning

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In high school, learning languages sounded like the coolest thing to me…until I actually got into my French class. I was given a textbook full of random vocabulary and tons of grammar points that I had to learn. We were quizzed on the information weekly and tests came every month. The classes themselves weren’t great in structure. The teacher would just go over the grammar and pick our minds to see if we learned the new 25 vocabulary words assigned this week. After everybody was on track, we moved on…on to more grammar and another set of 25 vocabulary words. Oh, and this also went on for the next 4 years that I took French…

The problem wasn’t with the grammar or the vocabulary. Those two are the basis for language learning and are extremely important. The problem was that we weren’t using them at all, and so, everything that I just learned was gone within the next two weeks.

Instead of actually interacting with us and engaging the students, high school foreign language teachers at my high school would just talk in the foreign language. The way they got students involved was a rule that stated students couldn’t speak English. Yet, teachers almost always had a magical question you could ask in the foreign language to use English:

May I speak in English? Is English okay?

And this phrase really wasn’t hard to find! Usually it was at the top of a common phrase sheet or directly on the syllabus. I will admit that this kind of question is good for starting off in a language, but for some reason, this was good enough for teachers during my 5th year of the language. High school language learning was just not good for me…at all.

When I stepped into my Korean class at OSU, however, it was like a whole different world. The first day of actual class involved us getting up to recite a dialogue with another person in another language that we had to memorize the day before…

What?

This was more talking in two days than I did in my whole first year of French…so maybe that’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but man, did it feel like I had actually accomplished something.

The good thing about most Asian languages at Ohio State is that they are all structured in a way that gets you talking and interacting in a foreign language. You memorize conversations, recite them in class, and apply what you learned from them to different situations. Some days you go over the grammar and vocabulary, but most of that stuff is done at home. The times you do go over them in class is just to reinforce ideas and get any questions you may have had out of the way. Which is great.

I had already learned some Korean on my own before I took the class, and it put me at an advantage during the first semester. However, come second semester, people are already beginning to catch up and my lead is slowly shrinking. It was amazing to watch how quickly the course is moving, but it was even more exhilarating watching how quickly the other students were progressing. I am actually quite jealous…but I don’t let it show.

Although I cannot speak for the European languages, and any of the other languages for that matter, I got to watch a Spanish class everyday before my Korean class. As I sat there waiting, I realized the structure was somewhat similar. They didn’t have the conversations that we did (or maybe I just missed them), but the teacher got them involved. He made everyone repeat after him, asked questions and only allowed answers in Spanish, and set up scenarios for people to create dialogue. So simple, yet not what I experienced in high school.

Whether you are afraid of foreign languages, had a bad experience with them, or believe that they are useless in your life, try to give them a second chance. Ohio State offers more than 30 languages, so there’s bound to be one you find interesting. Just give it a shot and make yourself stand out! Nothing looks better to another person than knowing a second language. It shows you can appreciate another culture.

Personally, I recommend Korean :]

Taste of O. S. Who?

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Where else in the world could you experience authentic Polish sausage, delicious Moroccan meatballs, or some of the best Tikka Masala you’ve ever had while watching intricate performances of dances from around the world? Would it surprise you to learn that this type of unique experience happens on Ohio State’s campus, year after year? This event is known none other than The

Every year, the Office of International Affairs in collaboration with the office of Student Life puts on one of Ohio State’s most popular events, The Taste of OSU. This signature event is said to be a celebration of the many diverse cultures that are represented at The Ohio State University. More than 30 student organizations attend, bringing forth their own unique performances and cuisine that represent cultures from around the world. Ohio State students and staff alike have been raving about this event since its inaugural year in 1997. It has grown immensely since the first event held in Oxley Hall, which hailed only about 60 attendees. Here we are, 14 years later and The Taste of OSU has become one of campus’s most liked events, drawing over 4,000 attendees.

This year, the event will be held on Friday, February 7th from 5 to 9 pm in the Ohio Union. The event is completely FREE to attend and is open to all students, faculty, staff, alumni and family. The many student organizations will be preparing their own food as a representation of their culture. While all of the smells, sights and sounds are free, attendees can purchase samplings of the cuisine for only $1. All of the organizations had to go through a selection process to bring forth their cuisine so you can be sure that all of the samplings will be DELICIOUS. 

This event is definitely worth your time! If you don’t believe me, a person who has yet to have to chance to attend this event, here’s a description of the event in the words of an Ohio State student:

” The taste of OSU allowed me to experience the cultures and traditions of many groups on campus that I do not interact with on a regular basis. Their displays showcased their cultural pride and the food was of course, delicious! ”  

This year, some of the student organizations that are participating are the Chinese American Student Association, the Organization of Arab Students, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and the Polish Club, just to name a few. While it may seem that this event is centered on ethnic cuisine, it should also be noted that many of the organizations participating in the event are preparing performances that are sure to capture your attention. Some of the cultural performances will be preformed by J2K, The African Youth League, and the Armenian Student Association, again, just to name a few. To find out more information about this event and a complete list of the participating student organizations, you can go here.

I (along with many other Ohio State students) would highly recommend that you attend this event…if not this Friday, then sometime during your time at Ohio State.

Prepare your taste buds for an explosion of flavor and truly enjoy this worldly experience! 

You Mean to Tell Me You’re Not from Ohio?

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Let me start by saying we’re all united as Buckeyes. That said, for those of us from outside the borders of Ohio, there are some challenges that native Ohioans may not quite understand. But never fear, I have some solutions that you will make you feel right at home in no time!

Problem: You pay a higher tuition than anyone born and bred in Ohio. This is a downfall of going to a school in a different state, but we got to do what we got to do. It’s worth it.

Solution: Check out the Wellness Center in the RPAC for budgeting information if those student loans are starting to freak you out. You can also still apply for scholarships even though you’re already in college. It’s true, and I know what you’re thinking, “I just got into college writing a bunch of essays, and now you want me to write more?!” Well…yes. But think about it this way: you could essentially be paid to write down your thoughts, so go get ’em!

 

Problem: Ohioans can recite all 88 counties of Ohio in alphabetical order, but you barely know how to spell Cincinnati.

Solution: Take some time to get to know your new home state! Cedar Point, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and Lake Erie are my personal favorites. Don’t have a car? Keep reading to find out some awesome things to do right here in Columbus!

 

Problem: Homesickness. Everyone experiences this, even if they don’t admit it.

Solution: When you’re feeling blue, try to do things that remind you of home, like cooking a favorite meal or watching your favorite show. It also helps to think about the things you have here at Ohio State that you don’t have at home. Not sure about you, but my hometown doesn’t have Big Ten sporting events or the RPAC. Nor do you have any chance of running into Aaron Craft on the Oval. If your town has any of these things, please comment below so I can come visit.

 

Problem: While some of your friends can go home whenever they want, you’re a plane, train, and/or automobile away from your house.

Solution: Take the weekends when your friends are away to explore Columbus. Check out the North Market, a Blue Jackets game, or get some Jeni’s ice cream! You can also check out Buckeye Beyond Ohio events to meet some new out-of-state friends (and there’s usually free food!)

 

Well my fellow out-of-staters (and I suppose even you Ohioans), I hope this list has given you some ideas on how to feel more at home here in Columbus. It may all still be a little overwhelming, but I assure you the longer you’re here, the more you’re going to fall in love (how could you not?!).