HIGHLIGHTS:

Med students get coated - Aug. 16

Countdown to kickoff - Aug. 16

Buckeye fashions benefit cancer research - Aug. 16

Flock of flutists - Aug. 17-20

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? - August 16. Incoming medical students in Ohio State's College of Medicine and Public Health Class of 2004 will try on their white coats for the first time at a "White Coat Ceremony," 4 p.m. Wednesday (8/16) in Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St. Reporters are welcome to attend as the 210 students dress up like doctors for the 800 or so friends and family members expected to attend. A reception with a carnival theme will follow. Parking for marked media vehicles is available at the front or south side of Mershon.

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF - August 16. Ohio State Athletic Director Andy Geiger will discuss the renovation of Ohio Stadium and what fans can expect this year and next at a lunch meeting of the Columbus Metropolitan Club from noon to 1:15 p.m. Wednesday (8/16) at the Athletic Club of Columbus, 136 E. Broad St. Tickets are $23, and reservations can be made at 841-8742.

LOOKING GOOD IN SCARLET AND GRAY - August 16. Ohio State's Office of Trademark and Licensing Services will present "The Ohio State University Fall Fashion Forecast 2000," a fashion show featuring Buckeye fashions modeled by Ohio State sports figures. The luncheon and fashion show takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday (8/16) at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Café, 1421 Olentangy River Road. Proceeds benefit cancer research programs at the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Tickets, which include lunch, are $35. Reservations are required at (614) 291-2233.

FLUTISTS FLOCK TO COLUMBUS - Aug. 17-20. Some 3000 flute players from around the world will be in Columbus for the National Flute Association (NFA)'s 28th annual convention, taking place at the Hyatt Regency Columbus, 350 N. High St., Aug. 17 to 20. Ohio State Professor of Music Katherine Borst Jones will be featured flutist in a Saturday (8/19) performance of Mozart's Concerto for flute and harp, and the Ohio State Flute Troupe will perform a daytime concert on Sunday (8/20). The conference's workshops, competitions, master classes and concerts - all held at the Hyatt - are open to the public. Other events will include a Celtic Celebrations Concert at 8:15 p.m. on Thursday (8/17) and a Festive Finale Concert, featuring traditional Venezuelan folk repertoire, at 7 p.m. Sunday (8/20). Single event tickets, priced at $10 for daytime events and $15 for evening events, may be purchased each day at the Hyatt Regency during the convention. More information is available at the NFA website at www.nfaonline.org.

LEAVE ME ALONE! - Steven Reiss, Ohio State professor of psychology and psychiatry, says there is nothing wrong with workaholics, noncurious schoolchildren and timid people. Even though much of society thinks they should snap out of it, Reiss' research suggests they are probably happy just the way they are. Reiss has spent five years developing and testing a new theory of human motivation. The results appear in a recently published book, Who Am I? The 16 Basic Desires That Motivate Our Action and Define Our Personalities (Tarcher/Putnam).

The person listed as Contact will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story--Reggie Anglen, 292-8423; Elizabeth Conlisk, 292-3040; Amy Murray, 292-8385; Lesley Deaderick, 292-0569; Melinda Sadar, 292-8298; and Karissa Shivley, 292-8295.

Compiled by Melinda Sadar, University Relations, (Sadar.1@osu.edu)