April 23, 1999

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

YUGOSLAVIA AND RWANDA DISCUSSED IN TIMELY FORUM--April 24. Ethno-Religious Conflict in Rwanda and Bosnia: Origins, Consequences and Implications will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Ramada University Hotel, 3110 Olentangy River Road. Planned and scheduled before the Kosovo operation, OSU faculty will join experts from other universities and agencies in four panel discussions: The Origins of the Bosnian and Rwandan Conflicts (9-10-15 a.m.); The Recent Ethnic Strife in Rwanda and Bosnia (10:30-11:45 a.m.); International Peacekeeping in Bosnia and Rwanda: Lessons Learned (1:45-3 p.m.); and The Challenge of Providing Humanitarian Assistance in the Rwandan and Bosnian Crises (3:15-4:45 p.m.). This interdisciplinary conference is sponsored by five OSU departments.
CONTACT: Center for Slavic and East European Studies, 292-8770.

THE ANTHROPOLOGISTS ARE COMING!--April 25-May 2. More than 700 anthropologists from around the world will converge on Columbus for a week of meetings, scientific presentations and debates for the annual meetings of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists and its affiliated organizations. The AAPA meets April 28-May 2 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. The Human Biology Association gathers April 25-28 at the same location. Topics range from a special symposium on gorillas to sessions on human variation, primate behavior, ancient civilizations, Neandertals and modern cultures.
CONTACT: Douglas Crews, Anthropology, 292-1329.

INTERNATIONAL WEEK BRINGS THE WORLD TO OHIO STATE--April 26-May 2. With nearly 7 percent of students coming to Ohio State from 139 foreign countries, Ohio State is an international university. The university celebrates its multi cultural dimension during International Week with a chance to experience the world, taste new foods and celebrate cultural diversity. Among the highlights: National Peace Corps Director Mark Gearan will speak on Peace Corps: Looking into the Next Millennium at noon Wednesday (4/28) in 122 Oxley Hall, 1712 Neil Ave. At least 120 nations will be represented at The Buckeye World Tour 1999 on Saturday (5/1) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lane Avenue Park, at the corner of Lane Avenue and Kenny Road. A complete listing is available at the Office of International Education.
CONTACT: Kim Diehl, Office of International Education, 292-6101 or diehl.36@osu.edu.

OHIO STATE, COMMUNITY GROUPS LAUNCH PROJECT BUILD--April 26. Ohio State is joining with local agencies for Project Build, a six-week construction job training program for residents living in the southeast portion of the University District. The program centers on basic skills for building maintenance and highway and utility construction, and "soft skills" necessary to gain and maintain employment. Organizers hope the program creates a pool of qualified employable neighborhood residents who can go on to jobs or additional training. All training will be provided at no cost to Project Build's 20 participants, residents of the Campus Partners neighborhoods near campus. Participants are being recruited by the Godman Guild, a community organization. Project Build is part of Ohio State's Community Outreach Partnerships Center, a neighborhood improvement and empowerment program focusing on the Weinland Park neighborhood.
CONTACT: Sandra Pritz, Project Build coordinator, College of Education, 688-8148.

OHIO STATE SAMPLER PREMIERES AT MCCONNELSVILLE OPERA HOUSE--April 26. Sixty of Ohio State's most talented students from the College of the Arts will leave Weigel Hall at 12:30 p.m. to perform a Sampler at 7:30 p.m. in the historic McConnelsville Opera House. The students, enrolled in the Department of Dance, Department of Theatre and School of Music will rehearse after a 3:30 p.m. arrival at the Opera House. A local drama club and 4-H Fashion Board will attend the rehearsal. Proceeds from the 7:30 p.m. performance benefit the Opera House renovation. The College of the Arts project is one of Ohio State's outreach/engagement efforts, the product of a partnership with the college, the local OSU Extension office and Opera House volunteers.
CONTACT: David Butler, College of the Arts, 292-2090 or Karen Bruns, Outreach and OSU CARES, 292-9613.

DISTINGUISHED FACULTY RECEIVE AWARDS--April 27. Media representatives are invited to attend a ceremony Tuesday (4/27) honoring the 19 recipients of The Ohio State University's prestigious honors, the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Distinguished Scholar Award and the Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service. A video presentation and awards ceremony begins at approximately 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Main Dining Room of the Faculty Club, 181 S. Oval Drive. The ceremony follows a reception and dinner for the award winners.
CONTACT: Emily Caldwell, University Communications, 292-8309.

LECTURE LOOKS AT CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND POLICIES--April 27. The Center for Health Outcomes, Policy and Evaluation Studies (HOPES) presents a talk from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Prior Health Sciences Library, Heritage Room (5th floor). Peter Wilson, vice president for public policy for the National Association of Children's Hospitals, will discuss Children's Health and Health Policy: The National Agenda. The Center for HOPES is Ohio State's multidisciplinary center for the study of health policy.
CONTACT: Kris Clark, Center for HOPES, 688-3724.

JOB-HUNTING STUDENTS REPORT TO SCHOTTENSTEIN CENTER--April 28. Ohio State is teaming with the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce and nine other central Ohio institutions to present the area's first Student Job Information Fair. The event runs from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday (4/28) at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Students can register with an online job search bank, generate employment and internship leads, meet with more than 200 exhibiting companies and about 1,000 Chamber member attendees, and become a student member of the Chamber. The job fair is part of a partnership between the business and education communities aimed at retaining college graduates in the region.
CONTACT: Dave Ferguson, Academic Affairs, 292-6743.

COME AND WATCH SMOKE SIGNALS--April 28. You're invited to watch the screening of Smoke Signals, a 1998 film by Sherman Alexie that is filled with the rich American Indian Culture. The award- winning movie will be shown at 7 p.m. in 074 University Hall, 230 N. Oval Mall. A 6 p.m. reception precedes the screening. The event is sponsored by American Indian Student Services in conjunction with the Office of Minority Affairs-Retention Services, Ethnic Student Services and The American Indian Council.
CONTACT: Marti Chaatsmith, American Indian Student Services, 292- 0524; Tina Arebalo, Office of Minority Affairs-Retention Services, 292-8732; or Manabu Ito, American Indian Student Services, 292-7521.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS VIEW ENGINEERING FEATS--April 29. The Ohio Stadium renovation project and King Avenue Bridge project are two stops for local high school students attending Civil Engineering Day. Students meet at 8:30 a.m. in 426 Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Ave. After a welcome, they'll proceed to the stadium to see the renovation project and then to the King Avenue Bridge to watch work on the replacement project. A tour of the Dublin Road Water Plant follows lunch at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe.
CONTACT: Carolyn Merry, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science, 292-6889.

FOOD AND CULTURAL FAIR KICKS OFF ASIAN AWARENESS MONTH--April 29. The Asian Food and Cultural Fair, Thursday (4/29) from 5-7 p.m. in the Ohio Union Ballrooms, 1739 N. High St., showcases food and entertainment from 25 participating Asian American and International Asian student groups. Tickets for the event are $5 with food and $1 without. A talent showcase follows from 7-9 p.m. A Holi Celebration of India takes place Friday (4/30) at 7:30 p.m. at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. For more information or a complete calendar of events, call Asian American Student Services, 292-0625.
CONTACT: Sheila Kapur, 292-0625.

OHIO STATE RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING STUDENTS--April 30. Sixty-one students will be honored for leadership at the 38th annual Undergraduate Student Leadership Awards dinner at 8 p.m. at the Westin Great Southern Hotel, 310 S. High St. Students will be recognized as Outstanding Seniors, Outstanding Professional Students, Outstanding Graduate Students, and Outstanding Student Organization Advisers; others will be awarded the Kaplan Humanitarian Award and President's Leadership Citation. The ceremony will include remarks from President Kirwan and others.
CONTACT: Tracy Stuck, Director of Student Activities, 292-8763.

OSU MOTORSPORTS INTRODUCES NEW ENTRY--April 30. Ohio State Motorsports and Woltz Racing Ltd. will unveil their newest entry to NASCAR in a news conference at 2 p.m. at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe, 3025 Olentangy River Road. The car, owned by a group of OSU staff members, will race in a full Winston Series schedule locally, competing April-October in the Super Late Model Division at Columbus Motor Speedway. The car is another example of the alliance between education and technology, and joins with the Jim Lachey-Mike Tomsak Busch Grand National Alumni Motorsports entry to offer NASCAR two more University-associated professional race programs. Both teams will involve students enrolled in the College of Engineering and the Center for Automotive Research.
CONTACT: Jim Woltz, Physical Facilities, 292-1513 or 209-1064.

TAKE A WALK BACK IN TIME AT THE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL--May 1. Knights, dancing and Celtic music are just a part of the Renaissance Festival on The Ohio State University's South Oval, at the corner of 12th Avenue at College Road, Saturday (5/1) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Festivities begin with a grand processional, English country dancers and a whirl around the Maypole. Other activities throughout the day include medieval sword fights, a human chessboard, magic and juggling.
CONTACT: Mary Simonetti, Council for the Medieval and Renaissance Faire, 294-6113.

CAN A CONCRETE CANOE FLOAT?--May 1. A team of civil engineering students will soon see whether their year-long project--to design and build a concrete canoe--floats. The team has been working all year toward the Rigid Regatta, a regional competition held May 1 at the University of Western Kentucky in Bowling Green, Ky. The purpose of the competition is to develop innovative ways to turn concrete into lighter, faster and stronger canoes that float, race and win. Students designed the vessel during autumn quarter, built the canoe mold during winter quarter and poured the canoe over spring break. While it cures, members are practicing their paddling techniques in the Olentangy River.
CONTACT: Carolyn Merry, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science, 292-6889.

NEW COOPERATIVE PROGRAM REDUCES BURGLARIES IN UNIVERSITY DISTRICT--While many students were away on spring break, Columbus Police, the Community Crime Patrol and Ohio State University Police conducted another "burglary special" in the University District. Preliminary statistics show that reported burglaries for the period fell from 41 in 1998 to 22 in 1999. In addition, police arrested suspects in three separate incidents. During the burglary special, the Columbus Police used undercover and plainclothes officers to supplement normal patrols in the University District in an effort to stop burglaries and related property crimes. The Community Crime Patrol also stepped up its patrols, and two University Police officers were assigned to work with Columbus officers on a daily basis. Campus Partners worked with police to increase public awareness of burglary prevention by distributing fliers to residents, and the university distributed an electronic mail message to about 14,000 students living in the 43201 and 43202 ZIP codes warning them to take precautions against burglary before leaving for spring break. In a similar burglary special over the holiday break last December, burglary reports dropped to 53 compared with 109 the year before.
CONTACT: Columbus Police Sgt. Earl Smith, 645-4593; University Police Chief Ron Michalec, 292-3590; or Mark Hatch, executive director of the Community Crime Patrol, 299-2279.

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).