STORY TIPS

This and every University Communications news release is available on 
the Internet and World Wide Web.  Our Web address is www.acs.ohio-
state.edu.

OHIO STATE ELECTRIC CAR TEAM RACES AGAIN--Mar. 6-8.  Hoping to avenge 
last year’s bad luck, the Ohio State University Formula Lightning 
electric race team is set to compete against 12 other universities in 
the APS Electrics at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz.  
The Smokin’ Buckeye, capable of 140+ mph, enters the race with a 
three-race winning streak and back-to-back ABB University Spec Series 
Championships.  Last year, the Ohio State entry proved to be the car 
to beat during the entire weekend on the 1.1-mile road course.  The 
Smokin’ Buckeye, driven by professional race car driver Craig Taylor, 
set a new track record during qualifying and had a dominating win in 
the 14-lap heat race.  However, the Buckeye’s luck ran out during the 
28-lap feature race, when mechanical failures pushed the car to a 
third-place finish.  
CONTACT:  Chris Maupin, Center for Automotive Research, 688-4084

(SHHHHH!) SISSON TO SURPRISE AWARD-WINNING FACULTY--Interim President 
Richard Sisson will drop in unannounced on unsuspecting faculty 
members during the next week to notify them that they’ve won one of 
the three highest awards that faculty can receive at Ohio State.  
Sisson will interrupt classes or meetings to present an apple and his 
congratulations to winners of the 1998 Alumni Award for Distinguished 
Teaching, the Distinguished Scholar Award and the Faculty Award for 
Distinguished University Service.  The awards recognize superior 
teaching, exceptional scholarly accomplishments and contributions to 
development of policies and programs.  Reporters are invited to 
accompany Sisson on one or more of these visits.  To preserve the 
surprise element, we ask that you call Emily Caldwell (292-8309), Ruth 
Gerstner (292-8424) or Amy Murray (292-8385), in the Office of 
University Communications, to discuss the schedule and meeting places.

AUTHOR SPEAKS TO EXPECTANT PARENTS--Mar. 7.  Heidi Murkoff, author of 
What to Expect When You’re Expecting and What to Expect in the First 
Year, is the featured speaker at Great Expectations, a special program 
for parents and parents-to-be. Great Expectations takes place from 9 
a.m.-3 p.m. in the Rhodes Hall Auditorium, 250 West Tenth Ave.  
Following Murkoff’s talk, participants may attend discussion groups on 
fertility, finance, breast feeding, back pain, prenatal testing and 
choosing the right health care provider.
CONTACT: Beth Nufrio, University Medical Center, 293-3737.

LAW STUDENTS OFFER FREE INCOME TAX HELP--through April 14.  Taxpayers 
on low or fixed incomes, individuals with disabilities and the elderly 
can receive free assistance with basic federal and state tax returns 
throughout the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Ohio 
State.   Law students offer their skills from 5-9 p.m. each Tuesday at 
the College of Law, 55 W. 12th Ave.  Taxpayers must bring their 1997 
tax forms, 1997 income, deduction and credit information, and 1996 tax 
returns.
CONTACT: Liz Cutler Gates, College of Law, 292-0283.

The person listed as the contact for each item will have the best 
information about the story.  However, feel free to call on our news 
services staff for assistance with these or other Ohio State news 
stories--
Amy Murray, 292-8385; Ruth Gerstner, 292-8424; Tracy Turner, 688-3682; 
and Emily Caldwell, 292-8309.
Compiled by Amy Murray, University Communications, (Murray-
Goedde.1@osu.edu).