1-21-99

OHIO STATE TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON RACE

   COLUMBUS -- As part of President Clinton's national initiative on race, The Ohio State University will participate Wednesday (1/27) in the PBS Racial Legacies and Learning program, a national town meeting with higher education to facilitate racial understanding.

   The program will begin at 12:50 p.m. in the Ohio Union Conference Theater, 1739 N. High St., with a videotaped presentation by Ohio State President William E. Kirwan, followed by remarks from Edward J. Ray, executive vice president and provost.

   The national portion of the town meeting will begin at 1 p.m. with the airing via teleconference of "Racial Legacies and Learning: How to Talk About Race." Other programs will follow, including "Why Can't We Talk About Race" from 3 to 4 p.m., "A Dialogue on Race with President Clinton" from 4 to 5 p.m., and "Degrees of Difference: Culture Matters on Campus" from 5 to 5:30 p.m. The teleconference is open to the public.

   Ohio State is one of some 50 universities nationwide invited to participate in Racial Legacies and Learning, which fosters communication between campuses and communities on issues of race. The program, which began last April, is sponsored by the Ford Foundation and is designed to support President Clinton's Initiative on Race. Both the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and the American Council on Education have launched national initiatives directed at fostering dialogue and understanding on issues of race and diversity.

   Ohio State is participating in both of these national initiatives, as well as creating programs and activities of its own. Kirwan, who chairs the board of directors of AAC&U, has stated many times that enhancing diversity at Ohio State is one of the top priorities of his administration. It is, in fact, one of the five Leadership Agenda items for this academic year, receiving particular attention and action.

   "I share with many people across this campus a view that combines a philosophical belief in the importance and value of diversity, about correcting mistakes and oversights that have been made in the past, and an economic reality. If we in higher education don't become more inclusive, we threaten the economic vitality and social well-being of our nation," Kirwan said. "The demographics of our nation are dramatically changing. About a quarter of the way through the next century, there won't be a majority group. If we have any hope of continuing to be the world's economic superpower, we have to be more inclusive in who we educate for the workplace of the 21st century.

   "We have the opportunity to start changing attitudes at the most formative stages of young peoples' lives," Kirwan continued. "If we as an educational institution can help students understand and respect the differences we have and also understand the power we have, we can draw upon the strengths of our total population."

   The town meeting will focus on such topics as how to develop curricula about race and racial reconciliation and how to form community partnerships that transform race relations in the classroom, on campus and in the community.

   "Our participation is indicative of our realization that there is work that needs to be done. We haven't gotten to where we need to be," said David Williams II, vice president for student and urban/community affairs. "Ohio State has always been committed to diversity, but we have not had a specific plan. It is incumbent on us to find new strategies and mechanisms to do it, and President Kirwan is committed to moving in that direction."

   Ohio State will hold a town meeting in mid-February at New Salem Baptist Church, 2965 Cleveland Ave., that will focus on what role Ohio State can play in improving race relations in Columbus.

   "We believe that Ohio State needs to take a leadership role in race relations in central Ohio. We are committed but it will take creativity and a lot of hard work," Williams said. "We've got to play a bigger and better role. You can't have excellence or be a top-rated university without diversity."

   Additional information about the Racial Legacies and Learning initiative can be found at the AAC&U Web site: http://www.aacu-edu.org/Initiatives/legacies.html

Contact: David Williams II, Student Affairs, (614) 292-9334
Edward Ray, Academic Affairs, (614) 292-5881