HIGHLIGHTS: Researcher Has Advice for Improving Gasoline Mileage

TO IMPROVE MILEAGE, DRIVE GENTLY--With the summer vacation season here and gasoline prices at an all time high, what's a traveler to do? Giorgio Rizzoni, director of Ohio State's Center for Automotive Research (CAR), says relax, slow down, set the cruise control and turn the air conditioner to low. Rizzoni, a professor of mechanical engineering, spends his days designing ways to squeeze more mileage out of cars and sport utility vehicles. He says the easiest way to improve fuel economy is to drive slower. Drivers can also improve mileage by relaxing and avoiding the stresses of quick stops and starts. And if you can, use your cruise control and air conditioning for highway driving. Cruise control will help maintain a constant speed, and air conditioning, rather than open windows at highway speeds, will improve aerodynamics. Contact: Giorgio Rizzoni, CAR, 688-3856 or Gina Langen, College of Engineering Communications, 688-4423.

UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES MEMORIAL DAY--May 29. University offices will be closed, and there will be no classes for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday (5/29). The last day of classes is June 2.

J.C. WATTS, DEBORAH PRYCE HOLD TOWN MEETING--May 31. Congressman J.C. Watts Jr., (R-Okla.), will be joined by U.S.Rep. Deborah Pryce, (R-Ohio) (15th District, which includes the university), for a town hall meeting with Ohio State students at 4 p.m., Wednesday (5/31) in the Ohio Union East Ballroom, 1739 N. High St. This will be the first of two trips to Ohio State for Watts--he will deliver the commencement address to about 4,800 Ohio State graduates on June 9. Contact: Pete LuPiba, chair, College Republicans, 627-2795.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETS--June 2. The Ohio State University Board of Trustees will meet in regular session at 10:30 a.m. on Friday (6/2) in the Longaberger Alumni House, 2200 Olentangy River Rd. Committee meetings, where most of the discussion takes place, begin at 9 a.m. Contact: Melinda Sadar, University Relations, 292-8298.

STEPHANIE SPIELMAN OFFERS INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE--June 3. Cancer survivor Stephanie Spielman is the keynote speaker at the annual awards ceremony of the College of Human Ecology Alumni Society. Spielman will talk about the importance of family, nutrition and a positive attitude toward health at 1 p.m., June 3, in the Sanders Grand Lounge of the Longaberger Alumni House. Contact: Janet Ciccone, College of Human Ecology, 292-5338.

The person listed as the contact for each item will have the best information about the story. Call our media relations staff for help with these or other Ohio State news stories--Elizabeth Conlisk, 292-3040; Amy Murray, 292-8385; Lesley Deaderick, 292-0569; Melinda Sadar, 292-8298; and Karissa Shivley, 292-8295.

Compiled by Amy Murray, University Relations, (Murray-Goedde.1@osu.edu)