Feb. 5, 1999

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4,500 READING TEACHERS GATHER FOR CONFERENCE--Feb. 6-9. Two Ohio State reading researchers will give the keynote address at the National Reading Recovery Conference, Feb. 6-9 at the Columbus Convention Center. More than 4,500 early literacy professionals are expected to attend the 188 sessions at the conference, titled Working Together for Literacy. Pat Scharer and Karin Dahl, Ohio State University associate professors of education, observed reading instruction in seven school districts. They'll present their yearlong study on the use of phonics and books (whole- language instruction) on Feb. 9 at 9 a.m. at the Convention Center, 400 N. High St.
CONTACT: Julie Reeves, Reading Recovery Council of North America, 292-1792 or 292-7111; or Holly Bartholomew, 292-6934.

OSU CELEBRATES UNITED BLACK WORLD MONTH--through Feb. 27. Following a theme of Learning to Love Ourselves: Understanding our Connection to Africa, Ohio State will celebrate black heritage with United Black World Month, Jan. 31-Feb. 27. Events include:
**Feb. 9--Doctoral candidate Tiwana Simpson will speak on The Memory of Slavery in the African American Community at 5:30 p.m. in the Ohio Union Stecker Lounge, 1739 N. High St.
**Feb. 9, 16 and 23--"Children's Cultural Hour," designed to teach children about African American history and to promote pride and respect for African American culture, takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center, 153 W. 12th Ave.
**Feb. 11--Aldopho Bermes, director of Academic Advancement and Placement and adjunct professor in the Cesar Chavez Center of Chicano Studies at the University of California at Los Angeles, will present "Access, Equity, and Social Justice" at 5:30 p.m. in the Rhodes Hall Auditorium, 450 W. 10th Ave.
CONTACT: Janice Hoffman, Ethnic Student Services, 688-4981.

LAW LECTURE ADDRESSES RACE ISSUES--Feb. 10. Professor Randall Kennedy of Harvard Law School will present the annual Frank R. Strong Law Forum lecture On Racial 'Passing.' The lecture begins at 4 p.m. in the College of Law Auditorium, 55 W. 12th Ave. Kennedy teaches contracts, freedom of expression and the regulation of race relations. His book, Race, Crime, and the Law, won the 18th Annual Robert F. Kennedy Book Award Grand Prize. The forum is named to honor Frank R. Strong, former dean of the College of Law.
CONTACT: Liz Cutler Gates, College of Law, 292-0283.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A HUMANITIES DEGREE? Feb. 18. Twelve College of Humanities alumni and representatives from the Arts and Sciences Career Services will talk with students about their past and present occupations and how they utilize their humanities degrees on the job. Look Into Your Future, a career- exploration for Humanities majors, takes place from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Faculty Club, 181 South Oval Mall. Students can also get tips on resumes, interview strategies, getting a "foot in the door," and networking.
CONTACT: Shari Lorbach, College of Humanities, 688-4532.

PRESIDENT KIRWAN INSTALLED--Feb. 26. The Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University will formally install William E. Kirwan as the 12th president of the university during an investiture ceremony at 3:30 p.m. in Mershon Auditorium. The event is an opportunity for various constituencies to formally welcome Kirwan to Ohio State. Following remarks by Board of Trustees Chair Ted Celeste, Kirwan will be sworn in as president and presented with the medallion of office. Kirwan will deliver a short speech outlining his vision for Ohio State, and there will be other greetings and comments before the event ends at 4:30 p.m. Some 1,700 guests have been invited, representing Ohio State faculty, students, staff, and advisory boards as well as public officials and the presidents of other Ohio and Big 10 universities. About 1,000 tickets are available to faculty, staff and students.
CONTACT: Board of Trustees Office, 292-6359.

CENTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH WINS FUNDING TO DESIGN HYBRID CAR. Students at Ohio State's Center for Automotive Research (CAR) will begin researching hybrid electric vehicles--ones that run on a combination of gasoline and battery power, thanks to an award from the Department of Energy (DOE). Ohio State and eight other universities are receiving Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) awards "to help design and develop automotive technologies that will lead to a clean and ultra fuel-efficient car of the future." The DOE funding, coupled with funding from industry, is helping the College of Engineering establish a new graduate curriculum for the study of hybrid electric drive trains and control systems. Each university will receive a maximum of $200,000 over two years to develop curriculum and laboratory projects, as well as $100,000 per year for fellowships to students who pursue an advanced engineering degree in this area.
CONTACT: Giorgio Rizzoni, Mechanical Engineering and CAR, 292- 3331.

The person listed as the contact for each item will have the best information about the story. 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; and Emily Caldwell, 292-8309.
**Compiled by Amy Murray, University Communications, (Murray- Goedde.1@osu.edu).