3/5/97

The following Ohio University professors are available for insightful interviews on topics in the news. Please contact Dwight Woodward at 614/593-1886 to arrange an interview.

MARCH IS NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH:
As the weather warms up and swimming pools and beaches beckon, many Americans are wondering if they'll still fit into last year's swimsuit. Marjorie Hagerman, director of Ohio University's dietetic program, says maintaining a healthy diet throughout the year is the best strategy to keeping the pounds off. Hagerman isauthor of the book Home Plate Strategy, a nutrition book written for minor league baseball players who are on the road a lot and must make good nutritional choices on a limited budget. Hagerman also serves as a nutrition consultant for the Florida Marlins, and her sound advice for baseball players is applicable to anyone trying to stay in shape despite the temptations of fast food and sugar.

LACK OF ENGLISH SKILLS HURTS IMMIGRANTS' EARNING POWER:
A new study by two Ohio University economists has found a lack of English language skills is severely handicapping U.S. immigrants' earning power. Richard Vedder and Lowell Gallaway reviewed 1990 Census figures and discovered that more than two-thirds of the 14 million Americans with a low English proficiency were immigrants, and their lack of English translates into a loss of some $54 billion a year in income. The median income of English-speaking households in 1990 was $31,196, about 31 percent more than non-English speaking households at a income of $23,806. Vedder and Gallaway have statistics for all 50 states. For example, California alone accounted for an $18.4 billion loss divided over some 30 million immigrants.

MARCH IS NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH:
The National Association of Social Workers, the largest organization of professional social workers, has 155,000 members nationwide, and that's only about half of the social workers in the United States. Carolyn Tice, chair of Ohio University's Department of Social Work, says social work majors are increasing to the point where Ohio University has had to limit enrollment in the social work program. No longer limited to helping only the poor and indigent, social workers practice in schools, hospitals, corporations, courts, banks, prisons and public and private agencies. "The middle class is now receiving more services from us than ever before," said Tice. "As the baby boomers age, people have a better understanding of the network of services."