Feb. 12, 1999

This and every University Communications news release is available at www.osu.edu

OHIO STATE HOLDS DIALOGUE ON RACE RELATIONS--Feb. 16. In an effort to promote discussion between Ohio State and members of the Columbus community, Ohio State’s Office of Student Affairs will hold a town meeting Feb. 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at New Salem Baptist Church, 2956 Cleveland Ave. The goal of the meeting is to examine what role Ohio State can play in establishing and maintaining positive race relations in the city of Columbus. The meeting is part of Racial Legacies and Learning: An American Dialogue - a campus and community partnership intended to foster new dialogue and understanding on issues of race and race relations. The event will be facilitated by Jerry Revish, WBNS TV, and feature a panel of community and campus leaders including Columbus City Councilwoman Charleta Tavares; David Baker, Columbus Urban Growth; John Roberts, chair, Ohio State Department of African American and African Studies; and Dara Cooper, president of the Ohio State chapter of the NAACP. President William Kirwan, along with David Williams II, vice president for student and urban/community affairs, will give remarks at the meeting.
CONTACT: Janice Hoffman, Ethnic Student Services, 688-4988.

THOMAS JEFFERSON DESCENDANT SPEAKS AT MEDICAL CENTER--Feb. 17. The OSU Medical Center will celebrate Black History Month with a special event on Wednesday (2/17) at 2 p.m. at The James Cancer Hospital, Room 518. The event, Reaching for the Top: Telling Our Story, will feature Shay Banks-Young, a sixth generation granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. (She recently was a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.) Entertainment will be provided by the Paul Laurence Dunbar Afro-American Concert Choir.
CONTACT: Jan Ray, The James Communications, 293-6054.

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.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPETE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS--Feb. 19-20, 26-27. More than 1,000 top high school seniors will come to campus for the University Scholars Maximus Competition to compete for 10 Presidential Scholarships, 30 Medalist Scholarships and 80 Tradition Scholarships. Presidential Scholars receive “full- ride” scholarships to Ohio State for four years, currently valued at $12,513 per year. Medalist Scholars receive in-state tuition for four years (currently $3,879 per year), and Tradition Scholars receive one-half in-state tuition. Students will complete an essay exam in the morning and take part in afternoon programs to better acquaint them with Ohio State and its Honors Program. There are also programs for their parents.
CONTACT: Mabel Freeman or Nina Hoppes, University Honors Center, 292-3135.

STUDENTS GET AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE BYRD CENTER--Feb. 19. 4th- grade students at St. Agatha Elementary School will visit the Byrd Polar Research Center, 108 Scott Hall, 1090 Carmack Road, on Friday (2/19) at 12:15 p.m. Students will see a slide show about the Antarctic and a rare film of The City of New York, the ship which took Admiral Byrd to the North Pole. They’ll also get an inside look at the “cold room,” which is maintained at -30 degrees Fahrenheit to properly store glacial ice cores for research.
CONTACT: Lynn Lay, Byrd Polar Research Library, 292-6715.

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.

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. 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.
CONTACT: Janice Hoffman, Ethnic Student Services, 688-4988.

PROGRAM LOOKS AT HISTORY AND PROGRAMS AT STONE LAB--Feb. 27. The Friends of Stone Lab and Ohio Sea Grant invite you to learn about the history and current activities at the facility during a winter program and reception, 1-5 p.m. in Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Rd. Stone Lab, Ohio State’s research facility on Gibralter Island, Lake Erie, has an interesting history and mission. The event features a presentation on Cooke Castle-- Past, Present, and Future by John Kleberg, assistant vice president for Business and Administration at Ohio State. Sea Grant researchers will also give presentations about ongoing investigations at Stone Lab. Professor Susan Fisher will discuss toxic substances and alien species; and David Kelch will discuss artificial reefs.
CONTACT: Karen Ricker, Ohio Sea Grant College Program, 292-8949.

OFFICE OF THE TREASURER LAUNCHES WEB SITE--In a move that benefits both students, faculty and staff, the Office of the Treasurer’s new Web site -- www.treasurer.ohio-state.edu -- provides students with direct, online access to their account statements. The site also allows students to access valuable information on Perkins Loans, Health Professions Loans, and Nursing Loans, download forms, apply for the Tuition Option Payment Plan (TOPP), and much more. This site will change as more material is developed.
CONTACT: Hollie Andrews, Office of the Treasurer, 688-4104.

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).