COLUMBUS -- Thirty years ago, students at The Ohio State University initiated the campus' first Black History Week. Twenty years later, that week long celebration evolved into United Black World Month to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Black people. This year, Ohio State marks its 30th observance of Black history with an expanded calendar of events ranging from an evening with Edward James Olmos to visits by author Elaine Brown and journalist Tony Brown.

United Black World Month 2000, "Our 30th Year: The Spirit of a People will NEVER Die" runs from Jan. 30 through Feb. 29, with a host of other events highlighted by songs, dance and discussion.

"Very few other colleges or universities in the country can say their campuses have celebrated Black people and heritage for that length of time. It really shows Ohio State's commitment to diversity," said Janice Hoffman, director of Ethnic Student Services. "We really need to take this time and pay attention to the contributions of a people who have not been given a lot of credit over the course of history."

Hoffman said events planned for this year's celebration -- including a discussion led by Shay Banks-Young and Julia Jefferson Westerinen, two great great-granddaughters of Thomas Jefferson and one of his slaves, Sally Hemings -- are geared toward bringing students, faculty, staff and Columbus community members together to gain a better understanding of Black and Black culture. The dialogue, "The Affairs of Race in America: A Conversation in Black and White" begins at 6 p.m. on Feb. 2 in the Ohio Union East Grand Ballroom, 1739 N. High St.

Other events include:

JAN. 30 -- KICK OFF CELEBRATION, 5 p.m. in the Ohio Union Conference Theatre, 1739 N. High St. Mike J. Roebuck from WVKO will guide participants through the kickoff of the 30th celebration of United Black World Month with gospel music, dance, and presentations from Columbus and Ohio State talent.

FEB. 1-29 -- "BLACK FACTS" Look for the red, black and green flags all over campus that give correct information about the contributions that Black people have made throughout the history of the world.

FEB. 1 -- "TOBACCO: DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE," noon to 1:15 p.m. in the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center, 153 W. 12th Ave. This session, sponsored by the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, will address concerns and questions about tobacco use.

FEB. 2 -- "THE AFFAIRS OF RACE IN AMERICA: A CONVERSATION IN BLACK AND WHITE," 6 p.m. in the Ohio Union East Grand Ballroom. Shay Banks-Young and Julia Jefferson Westerinen, great great- granddaughters of Thomas Jefferson and one of his slaves, Sally Hemings, will talk about race relations in the United States.

FEB. 3 -- LINDEN MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL MIXED ENSEMBLE BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM, 1:30 p.m. at Windsor Academy, 1219 E. 12th. Students teach Black children the ideals and heritage of African people.

FEB. 3 -- HARAMBEE: "AIDS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY," 6 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center.

FEB. 4 -- SOUL FOOD LUNCH, noon to 2 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. Cost is $7 per person. Call 688- 4988 for reservations. Cash only, please.

FEB. 6 -- "AFRICAN AMERICAL CULTURAL OPEN MIC," 9 p.m. in Morrison Tower Lounge, 196 W. 11th Ave. Students will participate in an open forum to express themselves and Black culture through song, poetry, skits and artwork.

FEB. 7 -- SOUP AND SUBSTANCE SERIES, "MANY VOICES, MANY STRENGTHS," 4 p.m. in the Ohio Union Buckeye Suites A&B. Soup and Substance is a dialogue series and program sponsored by Women's Student Services. This session will highlight the role K-12 has played in the lives of panelists from the Columbus School Board, a principal from a Columbus high school and a middle school teacher from the Columbus Afrocentric School. Soup and Substance provides a free program, and vegetarian soup and French bread for $2.

FEB. 7 -- "NIGGER, PLEASEÉAND OTHER SUCH TERMS OF ENDEARMENT," 6:30 p.m. in the Ohio Union Memorial Room. The session is designed to explore the impact of intra-group communication and observation on the development of inter-group understanding and relationships.

FEB. 7 -- SISTER SERIES, 7 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. Sister Series is a discussion group for African-American women.

FEB. 8 -- CHILDREN'S CULTURAL HOUR WITH STUART PIMSLER DANCE AND THEATER COMPANY, 8 p.m. at Beery Middle School, 2740 Lockbourne Road. Middle school children will have the opportunity to work in an interactive and culturally geared dance workout as African American Student Services takes its vision of working with children to the youth of Columbus.

FEB. 10 -- LINDEN MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL MIXED ENSEMBLE BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM, 1:30 p.m. at South Mifflin Elementary School, 2355 Middlehurst Drive. Students teach Black children the ideals and heritage of African people.

FEB. 10 -- "AN EVENING WITH EDWARD JAMES OLMOS," 6:30 p.m. in Rhodes Auditorium, 450 West 10th Avenue. Join the timely discussion of the "Americanos Project," a literary and photographic assortment of Latino life in the United States. Hosted by actor, activist and journalist Edward James Olmos.

FEB. 11 -- CHILDREN'S CULTURAL HOUR WITH STUART PIMSLER DANCE AND THEATER COMPANY, 8 p.m. at Linmoor Middle School, 2001 Hamilton Ave. Middle school children will have the opportunity to work in an interactive and culturally geared dance workout as African American Student Services takes its vision of working with children to the youth of Columbus.

FEB. 11 -- SOUL FOOD LUNCH, noon to 2 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. Cost is $7 per person. Call 688- 4988 for reservations. Cash only, please.

FEB. 12 -- FREEDOM FUND SOUL FOOD DINNER, 6 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. Join members of the Ohio State chapter of the NAACP in their annual Freedom Fund Dinner. All proceeds will be donated to Columbus' Afrocentric School. Cost is $15 per person.

FEB. 12 -- CELEBRATION OF THE BLACK DIASPORA, 6 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. Join students as they present the different cultural aspects of African culture.

FEB. 14 -- "HANDLING THE EFFECTS AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION," noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. A brown bag discussion will be led by Barbara Warren, assistant professor of clinical nursing at the College of Nursing and staff researcher and program evaluator at the Ohio Department of Mental Health.

FEB. 15 -- CELEBRATE YOUR CUSTODIAL WORKER DAY, Ohio Union Stecker Lounge. At 3:30 p.m., bring your custodial worker over to the Ohio Union for an afternoon of pampering with free refreshments, massage therapy and soothing music.

FEB. 15 -- LINDEN MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL MIXED ENSEMBLE BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM, 1:30 p.m. at Linden Elementary School, 2626 Cleveland Ave. Students teach Black children the ideals and heritage of African people.

FEB. 16 -- S.H.A.D.E.S. MONTHLY MEETING, 7 p.m. in the Ohio Union Buckeye Suite A. Women of Asian, African, Hispanic, Latin, Indian and/or international ethnicity are encouraged to attend and support sisterhood across cultures.

FEB. 17 -- DIVERSITY: A PANEL DISCUSSION, 6 p.m. in Stecker Lounge, the Center for Community Dialogue, the Ohio Union. Join campus leaders and students to discuss diversity issues on campus.

FEB. 18 -- SOUL FOOD LUNCH, noon to 2 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. Cost is $7 per person. Call 688-4988 for reservations. Cash only, please.

FEB. 18 -- 1ST ANNUAL TEEN INSTITUTE STEP SHOW, 7 p.m. in Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Ave. The Teen Institute Alumni Society brings talent from local high schools onto campus for a step show and competition.

FEB. 21 -- "A PRINCESS SPEAKS ON PRIVILEGE," 6:30 p.m. in the Ohio Union Memorial Room. This guided dialogue will focus on an inherent flaw associated with current attempts at racial discourse -- the assumption that only whites are privileged and that ethnic minorities can relate only to oppression.

FEB. 21 -- "SISTAH'S CHOICE," 7 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. Sistah's Choice is a part of Sister Series, a discussion group for African-American women.

FEB. 22 -- "INTER CULTURAL RACE RELATIONS," 11 a.m. at Linden McKinley High School. There are issues within cultures that people face every day: Are you African American or black? Are you light-skinned or dark-skinned? Were your parents born in Africa or another country? How do these differences affect interactions with people who may look like you, but who may be very different?

FEB. 23 -- ELAINE BROWN PRESENTS "NEW AGE RACISM," 6 p.m. in the Ohio Union Conference Theatre. Celebrate the kickoff of Women's History Month with Elaine Brown, author of Taste of Power as she describes her role as former head of the Black Panther Party. Reception and book signing will follow presentation in the Main Lounge of the Ohio Union.

FEB. 24 -- "CAN I SING FOR YOU BROTHER?" 6 p.m. in the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. Celebrate the rich heritage of Black culture as the African-American Drama Company presents an evening of traditional Negro spirituals depicting the evolution of the Black experience in America.

FEB. 24 -- TONY BROWN, journalist and host of "Tony Brown's Journal," will present his most recent viewpoints of race relations in America, 6:30 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center.

FEB. 25 -- SOUL FOOD LUNCH, noon to 2 p.m. at the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. Cost is $7 per person. Call 688- 4988 for reservations. Cash only, please.

FEB. 25 -- FILM "LIVING WITH PRIDE: RUTH ELLIS AT 100," 7 p.m. at the Wexner Center for the Arts Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St. Inspiring portrait of a vibrant woman who is recognized to be the oldest living African American lesbian.

FEB. 26 -- "DIVERSITY DAY," 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Thomas Worthington High School. Join central Ohio High Schools as they celebrate cultures of the world. Expressions of food, dance and cultural activities, and opportunities to discuss race, racism and race relations will result in an interactive day of events.

FEB. 28 -- Local elementary, middle and high school students will share in an interactive exposition of Black history ending the 30th anniversary of United Black World Month, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Ohio Union Exposures Gallery.

FEB. 28 -- CLOSING RECEPTION OF UNITED BLACK WORLD MONTH, 5 p.m. in the Ohio Union Exposures Gallery. Share in the artistic display of the contributions Black people have made to the world. Exhibit will continue through March 3.

FEB. 29 -- MUSICAL "THE SPIRIT OF A PEOPLE WILL NEVER DIE," 6 p.m. at the Ohio Union East Ballroom. United Black World Month will end as it began on a dynamic and empowering note. Enjoy the soulful and spiritual singing of the "Nu Family," a group of people who have faced some of life's greatest challenges.

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Contact: Janice Hoffman, director of Ethnic Student Services, 688-4988