February 15, 2001

Contact: Dr. Frank Hale, Jr. (614) 688-4255

Ohio State hosts five lectures to coincide with UBWM
Officials sponsor series to increase diversity awareness

COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University is sponsoring five lectures in February to promote diversity awareness. As a part of the ongoing President and Provost’s Diversity Lecture Series, the events coincide with Ohio State’s United Black World Month (UBWM).

Initiated during Fall Quarter 2000, the Diversity Lecture Series is a product of Ohio State’s Diversity Action Plan, which was drafted by a committee of faculty, staff and one undergraduate student representative. The committee’s purpose for the plan, implemented in June 2000, was to create and to maintain a campus community that reflects this country’s diverse population.

Frank Hale, Jr., vice provost emeritus of the Office of Minority Affairs and distinguished university representative to the president, organized the series. According to Hale, the goal of the series is to be instructive and to expose students, faculty and staff to national programs that have succeeded at improving relations on issues of diversity.

“It’s important for us as a nation to capitalize on the strengths that diversity brings,” Hale said. “I think we have a responsibility to help both students and faculty to acquire the knowledge, skills and values they need to become productive and participating citizens.”

The schedule for February’s Diversity Lecture Series is as follows:

Monday, Feb. 19,“Urban Militants: The Legacy of Malcolm X, Eldridge Cleaver, Stokley Carmichael, etc,” Hale Cultural Center, 153 W. 12th Ave. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the lecture starting at 9 a.m. J. Herman Blake, director of African American Studies and professor of sociology at Iowa State University, has gained recognition for his work in increasing access, academic achievement and retention of underrepresented students in higher education.

Monday, Feb. 19, “HIV/AIDS in African Americans: The Greatest Challenge Since Slavery,” 1 p.m. at the Hale Cultural Center, 153 W. 12th Ave. Emily L. Moore, professor of educational leadership and policy studies at Iowa State University, is pursuing research interests, which include health education intervention relative to HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, China, and rural and urban cities in North America.

Wednesday, Feb. 21, “The State of White and Black America – Implications for the New Millennium,” Faculty Club Lounge, 181 S. Oval Drive. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the lecture starting at 9 a.m. Andrew Hacker, professor of political science at Queens College in New York City, has written for numerous scholarly journals and has written many books. His writings include studies in political philosophy and statistical research.

Monday, Feb. 26, “Real Answers to the Recruitment of Minorities in Science and Engineering,” 9 a.m. in Room 4 of the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. John B. Slaughter is the president and CEO of National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), based in New York City, which is the nation’s largest private source of scholarships for minorities in engineering.

Monday, Feb. 26, “ Programs for Diversity that Work and Why,” 1 p.m. in Room 4 of the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. John White, chancellor of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, was formerly dean of engineering at the University of Georgia, where he was a member of the faculty for 22 years.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information about the President and Provost’s Diversity Lecture Series, see Ohio State’s diversity website at http://www.osu.edu/diversity/buffer.html

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