09-13-95 Activities Planned to Welcome Ohio State Students ACTIVITIES PLANNED TO WELCOME OHIO STATE STUDENTS COLUMBUS -- Nearly 49,000 students will converge on the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University in the next few days to begin a new academic year. Autumn quarter classes begin Wednesday (9/20). President E. Gordon Gee will welcome students on Monday (9/18) with a convocation and picnic. The convocation, at 11 a.m. in St. John Arena, will feature a colorful procession of faculty in academic regalia as well as remarks by Gee; David Williams, vice president for student affairs; Richard Hollingsworth, dean of students; and Kevin Sheriff, president of Undergraduate Student Government. Ohio State cheerleaders and Brutus Buckeye will also perform. University, college and student leaders will be introduced. Then, Gee will welcome students at a noon picnic by the French Field House along the Olentangy River. The convocation and picnic are part of a week of special events and activities designed to welcome new and returning students. Following the theme of "Celebrating 125 Years of Achievement," the activities are sponsored by Ohio Union Programs' Welcome Week Committee, the Student Events Committee and the offices of Student Life, Residence and Dining Halls, and Recreation and Intramural Sports. Between Sunday and Sept. 20, almost 8,000 students will be moving into dormitories; about half of them are expected Sunday, the first day residence halls open. To help with the move-in process, at least 600 student volunteers, called Official Welcome Leaders or OWLs, will unload cars and help cart student belongings into the residence halls. Gee and members of his staff also will be on hand to greet and assist students and parents. "The move-in process is very well orchestrated," said Kathy Krajnak, assistant director of residence life. "In addition to helping students with the move, OWLs can give information and insight to the incoming students and their parents." Once students have finished moving in, they can participate in a number of events, including a Student Organizations Fair on Tuesday (9/19), a scavenger hunt at the Drake and Ohio unions open house on Wednesday (9/20), and the "Just Say Hi," picnic and social on Sept. 21. Students can also attend a party at the Wexner Center for the Arts on Friday, where they will have a chance to preview the Roy Lichtenstein exhibition and meet the artist. Students can then catch "Scarlet Fever" at a pep rally at St. John Arena Sept. 21. Ohio State and community dignitaries, sports teams, cheerleaders, Brutus Buckeye and the Ohio State Pep Band will be on hand to welcome students and their guests. Area businesses and Ohio State vendors will give away prizes such as a mountain bike, free room and board, dinners, tickets to special events and more. "Our goal is to broaden the realm of welcome week to include the entire campus community," said Brenda Fields, coordinator of the Student Events Committee. "We are fortunate to have such a large number of departments participating with events and activities that will allow everyone to get to know the campus community." Staff from Glamour will visit campus during the magazine's Elements of Success Tour Sept. 21-22 at the Ohio Union. Focusing on attitude, goals, motivation, health and nutrition, Glamour will provide students with information to assist them in molding both their careers and personal lives. The tour will feature interactive displays, activities, discussions and workshops. Students can take advantage of a Late Night at Larkins Hall on Sept. 22. This event will offer intramural, sports club, and recreational opportunities, and special events and activities with the fun and excitement of an Ohio State style block party. Noted author and scholar Molefi Asante, professor and chair of Temple University's African American Studies Department, will be on campus to speak at the minority graduate and professional student orientation Sept. 21 at the Holiday Inn on the Lane. Again this year, there will be a number of workshops designed to inform students of safety issues on campus. University Police Captain David Stelzer will speak Wednesday (9/20) on campus and dormitory safety issues. Women Student Services will hold a number of workshops on rape education and prevention, and on dating, sex roles and violence. Sept. 20-22, staff from the Office of Traffic, Parking and Transportation will distribute information and souvenirs to students who park on west campus and ride the bus to classes. Free bus-route maps and refreshments will be available. Radio station CD-101 will provide music on west campus on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parking decals will be sold at the customer service center in Bevis Hall from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays Sept. 18-29. Customer service representatives also will be in French Field House 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday (9/17) to issue parking decals and bus passes and assist University Police with student bicycle registration. The main bookstore on Millikin Road will be open until 8 p.m. Sept. 18-21 and until 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 23 and all home football Saturdays. Other events on the Columbus campus include the Umoja Convocation Sept. 25, a program to welcome African-American students; breakfasts offered by Off-Campus Student Services Sept. 18-19; and various fraternity programs, music, dancing, and movies. # Contact: Brenda Fields, coordinator of Student Events Committee, (614) 292-2324; Sarah Blouch, director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation, (614) 292-9800. Written by Tracy Turner, 688-3682. [Submitted by: Carolyn Glover (cglover@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu) Mon, 18 Sep 1995 10:01:46 -0400] All documents are the responsibility of their originator.