10-8-98

OHIO STATE CELEBRATES HOMECOMING WEEK OCT. 14-17

	COLUMBUS -- Diversity, volunteer service and community 
building will be the focus of activities as The Ohio State 
University hosts Homecoming Week Oct. 14-17.  Students and alumni 
will celebrate with the theme "Show me the Buckeyes."

     "While students are at Ohio State, they are part of the 
campus community as well as the larger Columbus community, so we 
wanted homecoming to reflect that and be a celebration of both," 
said Tracy Stuck, director of student activities.  "We wanted to 
celebrate that sense of community by creating more family- and 
community-oriented activities that would encourage more 
participation by students and the larger community."

     The festivities begin Wednesday (10/14) from 11 a.m. to 5 
p.m. with a shed-building project on the Oval for Habitat for 
Humanity.  Students will team up to build nine storage sheds that 
will be placed at Habitat for Humanity homes.  Later that evening 
at 6:30 p.m., students will challenge administrators on their 
trivia knowledge at Vice President for Student and Urban/Community 
Affairs David Williams II's Quiz Bowl Challenge at the Ohio Union 
Conference Theater, 1739 N. High St.

	"Homecoming this year features diverse activities that focus 
on community service, academics and school spirit, while upholding 
university traditions.  We are also creating new traditions such 
as the Buckeye Blast and moving the homecoming parade to Saturday 
morning," said Jason Graves, the graduate student co-chair of the 
homecoming committee.

Thursday (10/15)

     Students, faculty and staff will participate in a Celebration 
of Students from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Ohio Union Ballrooms.  (See 
separate news release for details.)
	
	At 7:30 p.m., a Buckeye Blast and pep rally will be held at 
St. John Arena, featuring nationally known comedian Sinbad.  (See 
separate news release for details.)

Friday (10/16)

     The Celebration of Students continues with an administrative, 
faculty and student leadership event from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 
Raney Commons, 47 Curl Drive.

	A Cultural Extravaganza will be held on the Oval with 
performances at Browning Amphitheatre, along with a Study Abroad 
fair at Oxley Hall, 1712 Neil Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  A 
homecoming court reunion banquet will be held at the Buckeye Hall 
of Fame from 6:30 p.m. to midnight, celebrating the homecoming 
courts of 1948, '58, '68, '78, '88 and '98. 

Saturday (10/17)

 	The traditional homecoming parade, featuring floats, the 
homecoming court and some 80 other entries, will begin at 9 a.m. 
at 17th and Neil avenues.  

     President Kirwan and his wife, Patty Kirwan, will be the 
grand marshals.  They will lead the parade east on 17th Avenue, 
south on High Street, and west on 12th Avenue to end at 12th and 
Neil avenues.  The homecoming game pits the Ohio State Buckeyes 
against the Minnesota Gophers, with kickoff at 12:10 p.m.  (See 
separate news release for more details.)

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Contact:  Tracy Stuck, director, Student Activities,
	  (614) 292-8763