“Hot Zone” Author Highlights OSU Infectious Diseases Symposium Thursday

The inaugural Sitlington Infectious Diseases Symposium this week will be highlighted by a writer whose non-fictional and fictional works about viral and bacterial epidemics helped spur the federal government in the 1990s to assess the nation’s bioterrorism preparedness.  Dr. Richard Preston will present “The Demon in the Freezer: Case Studies in Biological Terrorism” during the symposium’s keynote speech, at 9 a.m., Thursday, April 21 at the Wes Watkins Center.  The author of  “The Hot Zone” and “The Cobra Event” kicks off one-and-a-half days of presentations by epidemiologists, microbiologists, virologists, veterinarians and other doctors, researchers and health professionals representing agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and schools of medicine and veterinary medicine throughout the region.  The symposium is presented by the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. More info is at http://www2.okstate.edu/pio/hotzone05_huffer.html

Today, you also can hear an interview with Dr. Preston that aired this morning on KOSU Radio. Go to http://www.kosu.org/todaysnwscst/todaysnwscst.html and click on “Today’s Feature.”

Research Endowment Closer to Becoming Reality

The Oklahoma House Appropriations and Budget Committee this morning approved Senate Bill 918, which provides that half of the state’s excess revenues will be earmarked to a research endowment that was recommended by the Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) report. The other half would be returned to Oklahoma taxpayers. The plan would kick in when the Rainy Day Fund reaches its constitutional limit. The EDGE report recommended establishing a $1 billion endowment to fund research projects. Gov. Brad Henry favors the bill.

OSU Students Tops in Real-World Finance Competition

Oklahoma State University students earned top team and individual honors in the New York Mercantile Exchange/CO-ED Magazine Commodities Challenge.  The competition is designed to give students real business world experience by conducting daily trades as a team and by participating as individuals on a trading floor.  OSU’s team, advised by Tim Krehbiel, finance professor in the Spears School of Business, left the other competitors far behind with a cumulative make-believe profit of  $46,950 from the trading of crude oil futures.  They also earned $1,200 in real money for finishing first.  You can read more at http://www2.okstate.edu/pio/benien05_mitchell.html

Animal Science Grad Developed Nutrition Rules

With all the recent news about food and nutrition, it should be noted that an OSU graduate Eric Hentges was responsible for leading and representing the U.S. Department of Agriculture in developing the nation’s latest nutritional guidance policy, including the U.S.D.A. Food Guide Pyramid.  The new guidelines were released in January 2005 and have been widely acclaimed to be the most realistic, sound, sensible and progressive standards to be developed since 1976, when the first guidelines were published.  Hentges, a Perry Native, is executive director of the U.S.D.A. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.  He recently received OSU’s Animal Science Graduate of Distinction Award. You can read about the award and Hentges’ career at http://agcomm.okstate.edu/displaySite.php?site_id=11

Second Survivor Tree is on Campus

After OSU Headlines reported that a seedling from the famous “Survivor Tree” is located south of Willard Hall, staffer Amy Gazaway wrote in to say that a second survival seedling is just south of the Dairy building across from Ag Hall.  The tree was planted by Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources seniors following the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, in honor of those who were impacted by that tragedy.

Asian Food Festival Tonight

An Asian Food Festival  is scheduled from 5-7 p.m., tonight in the Kerr-Drummond cafeteria.  The Asian-American Student Association and Vietnamese-American Student Association are sponsoring the event as part of Asian Awareness month.

Coach Sutton Co-Host for Big Brothers Big Sisters Auction

OSU Basketball Coach Eddie Sutton and Stillwater Fab Four President Stan Clark are the honorary hosts for the 13^th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters benefit auction Thursday, April 21, at the Best Western of Stillwater.  Admission is free.  The auction will start at 7 p.m.  For more information, contact the Big Brothers Big Sisters office at 624-9922.

Annual Bennett Jam is April 21

The famous annual “Bennett Jam” is scheduled Thursday, April 21.  This year’s theme is “I Love Rock and Roll!”  The fun starts at 2 p.m. and lasts until midnight.  Local and regional bands will perform on the Bennett front lawn.  Carnival games and delicious food will be available. Everyone is invited.

OSU SportLines

• The suspense is over.  This morning, junior college All-American Torre Johnson announced that he has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Cowboys.  Johnson, from Garden City, Kansas Community College, was the Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year last season.  He averaged 21.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last year, holding a school record for most field goals made in a game (15), season (286) and career (547).

·        Coming back from a seven-run deficit in game two, Softball swept the Texas Tech series yesterday.  An 8-0 win in the first game and a 9-8 finish in the second game moved the Cowgirls up to 31-16, overall, and 6-7 in the Big XII.

·        Baseball defeated Dallas Baptist, 9-6, Tuesday.  The Cowboys improved to 28-14 on the year and will host No. 1 Texas this weekend.

·        Men’s Tennis faces Bedlam today at 5 p.m. in Norman.  The 15th-ranked Cowboys have won the last 11 meetings against OU.

·        Congratulations to the Cowgirl Cross Country and Track & Field teams.  Michelle Prowse and Valentina Medina were named Women’s Intercollegiate Cross Country Association Academic All-Americans. Medina also was named a United States Track Coaches Association Academic All-American.

Suggestions, questions and comments about OSU SportLines should be sent to sheila.dohmann@okstate.edu

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