11-13-98

MICHIGAN WEEK ACTIVITIES ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE CELEBRATIONS

	COLUMBUS -- As the Buckeye football team prepares to meet 
the Michigan Wolverines in Ohio Stadium Nov. 21, The Ohio State 
University has planned a week of activities and volunteer 
opportunities encouraging students to celebrate responsibly 
before, during and after the game.
 
    “We are providing several on-campus activities as 
alternatives to the off-campus celebrations that have caused 
problems in the past to encourage students to celebrate safely 
and responsibly,” said Tracy Stuck, director of student 
activities.  “We want to encompass the excitement and spirit that 
is the traditional rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State in a 
way that students and the campus and surrounding communities can 
enjoy and actively participate.”

	A “Blood Battle between Michigan and Ohio State,” the annual 
Red Cross blood drive, began in early November and continues 
through Friday (11/20).  Donation sites are set up across campus, 
including at residence halls and the student unions.  

	Students also will take part in the Operation Fill-Up food 
drive.  Ohio State students and residents in the area east of 
campus will be given grocery bags to fill with nonperishable food 
donations for local food pantries.  Student volunteers will 
collect the bags on Friday (11/20) and donate at least 100 meals 
to area households headed by women.  Students also will collect
used athletic shoes for the Nike re-use-a-shoe program that 
recycles the shoes into playground and athletic surfaces for 
inner-city neighborhoods.

	Other activities include:

	-- Banner contests.  Bed sheets decorated with messages of 
support for the team will be flying at residence halls and in the 
neighborhood east of campus, as students compete for prizes for 
the most spirited banners.

	-- Good-luck banners will be posted on the Oval all day 
Wednesday (11/18) to allow students to write messages of luck for 
the football team.  The banners will then be hung in the Woody 
Hayes Athletic Facility.  

	-- At 7 p.m. Wednesday, students will play a squad of Ohio 
State faculty and administrators in Larkins Hall’s Exhibition Gym 
during Vice President for Student and Urban/Community Affairs 
David Williams II’s Volleyball Challenge.

	-- “Hypnotize the Wolverines.”  Mentalist Robert Channing 
will perform Thursday (11/19) at 7:30 p.m. in the Ohio Union 
Conference Theater to “psych” students up for the game.

	 -- A free pancake and sausage breakfast will be provided by 
Bob Evans Restaurants Saturday (11/21) from 9 to 11 a.m. in 
Larkins Hall.  Campus dining commons will also serve free 
pancakes and sausage to students and their guests.  

	-- Immediately following the breakfast, fans are invited to 
line 15th Avenue between Summit and High streets Saturday to form 
a spirit tunnel to cheer the football team as the buses pass down 
the street en route to the stadium.  Fans should assemble by 9:30 
a.m., with the buses expected around 9:50 a.m.

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Contacts: Tracy Stuck, director of student activities, or 
	  Keenan Sanders, student chair of Michigan Week 		
	   activities, (614) 292-8763