May 7, 1999

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

OHIO STATE ROCKS WITH REGGAE FEST--May 8. The rhythmic beat of the steel drums will help transform the Kappa Sigma house, 1842 Indianola Ave., into a Caribbean Island paradise for the Reggae Fest Saturday (5/8) at 6 p.m. Proceeds go to the Hannah Neil Center, a charitable organization serving troubled children and their families. The event is co-sponsored by the Undergraduate Student Government and the Office of Student Affairs in support of nonalcoholic programming.
CONTACT: Matt Couch, coordinator of student involvement for the Office of Student Activities, 292-8763.

RAINBOW GRADUATION HONORS GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL STUDENTS--May 8. Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Student Services at Ohio State holds the first annual Rainbow Graduation at 1 p.m. at the Goodale Park Shelter at the corner of Goodale and Park streets. The Spring Fling follows.
CONTACT: Sheri Atkinson, GLB Student Services, 292-6200 or atkinson.60@osu.edu.

GERMANY SWINGS TO TBDBITL--May 9. A band of 86 alumni from the OSU Marching Band will tour Germany this month with a series of concerts and parades. Alumni of "The Best Damn Band in the Land (TBDBITL)" depart May 9 for Frankfurt, Heidelberg, the Black Forest, Munich, Oberammergau, Leipzig, Cologne and Berlin.
CONTACT: Bob Grossman, TBDBITL member and trip coordinator, 740- 881-5987.

ALCOHOL ISSUES ARE TOPIC OF TOWN MEETING--May 11. President William Kirwan will make opening remarks at Buckeyes and Booze: Is There a Problem?, an Ohio State town meeting about campus alcohol issues from 7 to 9 p.m. in 100 Independence Hall, 1923 Neil Avenue. Organizers hope to raise student awareness about alcohol issues on campus. Following Kirwan, members of the Ohio State community will participate in a public forum moderated by Michael Casto, director of Campus Collaborative. Panelists include: David Williams II, vice president for student and urban/community affairs; Keith Kilty, professor of social work; and five students.
CONTACT: Constance Boehm, Student Wellness Center, 688-4458.

EXPERIENCE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE AT OHIO STATE--May 11-15. Each day of the 15th annual African American Heritage Arts Festival offers a new way to enjoy the diversity of African- American culture. The festival kicks off with a food and cultural fair Tuesday (5/11) at 6:30 p.m. in the Ohio Union Ballrooms, 1739 N. High St. Other events include the Greek Stepshow Friday (5/14) at 7 p.m. at Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St., 'The Fest' Saturday (5/15) from 3 to 10 p.m. on the Oval and 'The Party,' featuring MTV's DJ Skribble, Saturday from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. outside French Field House, 460 Woody Hayes Drive. For the complete schedule, call African American Student Services at 292-6584.
CONTACT: Cynthia McDonald-DeVese, African American Student Services, 292-6584.

RIBBON-CUTTING TO HERALD HOSPITAL'S NEW ERA--May 12. The final step in Ohio State's acquisition of the former Park Medical Center takes place Wednesday (5/12) with a ribbon-cutting and unveiling of a sign displaying the hospital's new name, "University Hospitals East." The 10:45 a.m. ceremony takes place near the main entrance to the hospital on Taylor Avenue. The unveiling will be accompanied by the discharge of confetti cannons from the roof of the hospital. Officials involved in the acquisition and operation of University Hospitals East will be in attendance. Also, Dr. Bernadine Healy, dean of The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, will introduce Dr. Thomas Mallory, chair of Ohio State's Department of Orthopaedics, and outline plans for the establishment of a comprehensive orthopedic surgery program at University Hospitals East.
CONTACT: David Crawford, Medical Center Communications, 293-3737, or crawford.1@osu.edu

OUTDOOR JAZZ CONCERTS RENEW A SPRING TRADITION--May 13, 20, 27. Big band and swing sounds of the university's talented jazz groups will sweeten the air on Thursday evenings at Browning Amphitheater near Mirror Lake. The free outdoor jazz concerts offer a chance for students, the public, kids, dogs--everyone--to enjoy good music outdoors. May 13 is the OSU Jazz Lab Ensemble Concert; May 20 features the Jazz Combos Concert; May 27 is the OSU Jazz Ensemble Concert.
CONTACT: School of Music, 292-2300.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SHOWCASED--May 14. More than 100 undergraduate students will showcase their work at the third annual Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum. Students will present their projects from 3-6 p.m. in the Ohio Union Ballrooms, 1739 N. High St. The event offers undergraduates a way to share their research with the local and academic community and encourages faculty to include undergraduates in their research. Young researchers are judged based on expressed clarity of the presentation, knowledge of the subject matter and poise in answering questions.
CONTACT: Linda Meadows, Office of Research, 292-1582.

AUTHOR SCOTT TUROW IS COLLEGE OF LAW SPEAKER--May 15. Nationally known attorney and author Scott Turow will be the speaker at the College of Law Hooding Ceremony at 4 p.m. on May 15 at the Ohio Theatre, 55 E. State St. Turow is the author of several best- selling novels, including The Burden of Proof, Pleading Guilty, Presumed Innocent, The Laws of Our Fathers, and One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School. The 220 members of the Class of 1999 will receive their academic hoods during the ceremony, which symbolizes the passage from student to practitioner. Turow will be available for media interviews. To schedule, call Liz Cutler Gates, 292-0283.
CONTACT: Liz Cutler Gates, College of Law, 292-0283.

STEPHANIE HUMMER GOLF TOURNAMENT HELPS CAMPUS AREA SAFETY PROGRAMS--May 15. The 5th Annual Stephanie Hummer Memorial Golf Tournament takes place May 15 at 1 p.m. at the Oakhaven Golf Complex in Delaware. Stephanie Hummer, an OSU freshman and Evans Scholar, was kidnapped and killed in 1994. The Evans Scholars, a group of golf caddie scholarship recipients, organized the golf tournament to benefit safety programs in the community and the Stephanie Hummer Recreation Park near campus. The cost is $110 per two-person team, which covers greens fees, cart, balls, dinner and prizes.
CONTACT: Mike Moeddel, Evans Scholars, 421-2248.

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BENEFITS SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION--MAY 15. The first annual Romophos Battle of the Bands, benefiting VH1's Save the Music Foundation, will rock the Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., Saturday (5/15) at 6 p.m. Romophos (sophomore spelled backwards), a sophomore leadership and scholarship honorary, chose five campus bands with at least one current Ohio State student member to compete for up to $500 from Sam Ash Music. The winner will be selected by a panel including students and Ohio State faculty.
CONTACT: Mara Leventhal, Romophos secretary, 291-2939.

ENGINEER FELLOWSHIP HOLDS RING CEREMONY--May 15. Senior engineering majors and degree holders are invited to join the Order of the Engineer at a ring ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Saturday (5/15) at 131 Hitchcock Hall. The Order of the Engineer is a fellowship of engineers interested in upholding the standards of the profession. Their symbol is a ring, worn on the little finger, which identifies the engineer to the public.
CONTACT: Gene Sirca at sirca.1@osu.edu or Tau Beta Pi at tbp@osu.edu

UNIVERSITY JOINS APPAREL MANUFACTURING MONITORING CONSORTIUM-- Ohio State is joining a group of high-profile colleges and universities to monitor the conditions under which their trademark licensed apparel is marketed. The move to ensure that clothing that carries the university's trademarks has been manufactured in a socially responsible way is a result of a recent Ohio State study of its licensees, which showed industry willingness to participate in closer monitoring of working conditions. The university initiated the study, the first of its kind in the collegiate arena, to better understand how and where products bearing the Ohio State trademarks are manufactured. Ohio State is linking with Harvard University, the University of Notre Dame and the University of California system in a pilot project to gather information about the manufacture of university-licensed apparel. The Harvard project will monitor licensees' factory conditions and labor practices, conducting at least 50 factory visits in the next year.
CONTACT: Anne Chasser or Rick Van Brimmer, Office of Trademark and Licensing Services, 292-1562.

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).