May 14, 1999

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

EXPERIENCE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE AT OHIO STATE--through May 15. The final days of the 15th annual African American Heritage Arts Festival offer many opportunities to enjoy the diversity of African-American culture. Activities include the Greek Stepshow tonight (5/14) at 7 p.m. at Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St., 'The Fest' Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m. on the Oval and 'The Party' Saturday (5/15), featuring MTV's DJ Skribble, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. outside French Field House, 460 Woody Hayes Drive.
TRAFFIC NOTE: Several thousand people are expected at the Saturday events. Traffic patterns in and around the campus will be changed to accommodate the crowd. Police officers will direct guests to available parking and provide directions.
CONTACT: Cynthia McDonald-DeVese, African American Student Services, 292-6584.

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. Saturday (5/15) 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.
CONTACT: Liz Cutler Gates, College of Law, 292-0283.

A CLEAN DOG IS A HAPPY DOG--May 15. The Omega Tau Sigma veterinary fraternity holds its annual dog wash from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Vet Hospital, 601 Vernon L. Tharp St. The canine cleaning cost is $10 for a large (over 25 lb.) dog, $8 for a small or second dog, and $5 for a student's dog. Proceeds help the Capital Area Humane Society.
CONTACT: Kristine McComis, College of Veterinary Medicine, 688- 3517.

STEPHANIE HUMMER GOLF TOURNAMENT HELPS CAMPUS AREA SAFETY PROGRAMS--May 15. The 5th Annual Stephanie Hummer Memorial Golf Tournament takes place Saturday (5/15) 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 caddy scholarship recipients, organized this 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

OHIO STATE HOSTS TOWN MEETING ON RACE RELATIONS IN COLUMBUS--May 17. Preparing students for a diverse society is the focus of an Ohio State-sponsored town meeting, Improving Race Relations for the 21st Century: The Roles of Community, Business and Higher Education, Monday (5/17) from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. The discussion will be moderated by Clarence N. Wood, president of the Human Relations Foundation of Chicago and the author of "A Response to the Race Relations Attitudes/Differences Survey Report: A Vision for Columbus, OH -- An Open, Interactively Integrated and Civil City." Panelists include Ohio State President William Kirwan; Edward Ray, executive vice president and provost; David Williams II, vice president for student and urban/community affairs; Columbus Mayor Greg Lashutka; Val Moeller, president of Columbus State Community College; Mike Curtin, president and editor of the Columbus Dispatch; Stan Sanders, news director for WCMH-TV; Ed Clay, station manager for WOSU-TV; and two representatives of the United Way of Franklin County. After the meeting, participants may continue the discussion with panelists about the roles of the community, Ohio State and other universities in building positive race relations in Columbus. The town meeting is part of Ohio State's continuing involvement in the national Racial Legacies and Learning Initiative.
CONTACT: Janice Hoffman, Ethnic Student Services, 688-4988.

UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS VISIT CAMPUS--May 18. Anton Buteiko, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, and Yaroslav Voitko, the trade representative of the Ukrainian Embassy, will visit Ohio State on Tuesday (5/18). Buteiko will lecture on "U.S.- Ukrainian Relations in the 21st Century" at 9:30 a.m. in 131 Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Ave. At 3:30 p.m., Buteiko and Voitko will discuss "Ukrainian Trade and Business Prospects" in 200 Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Ave. A media availability with Buteiko has been re-scheduled to take place from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. in 122 Oxley Hall, 1712 Neil Ave. To schedule a time, reporters must call Emily Caldwell in University Communications, 292-8309, by 3 p.m. Monday (5/17).
CONTACT: Bill Wolf, Center for Slavic and East European Studies, 292-8770.

OHIO STATE PRESENTS RACIAL LEGACIES & LEARNING RESEARCH FORUM-- May 20. Ohio State faculty who have conducted research about race and racism will discuss their findings in the Racial Legacies & Learning Spring Research Forum, Thursday (5/20) from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Ohio Union Conference Theatre, 1739 N. High St. Presenters will discuss their data in three panels: Institutional Racism and Social Control (8:30-9:30 a.m.), Race, Identity, and Behavior (9:40-11 a.m.), and Race and Education (1:30-3:30 p.m.). Keynote speaker Claude Steele, professor of psychology at Stanford University and an Ohio State alumnus, will present "A Threat in the Air: How Stereotypes Shape Intellectual Identity and Performance" at 11 a.m. The forum follows a May 17 university-sponsored town meeting that is part of the national Racial Legacies and Learning Initiative.
CONTACT: Alice Churchill or Joan Lorenz, Academic Affairs, 292- 5881.

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

ASIAN AWARENESS MONTH BRINGS SULU TO CAMPUS--May 20. George Takei (Sulu from the original "Star Trek" series) will discuss his personal journey in the film industry, and how he overcame racism and stereotypes in the keynote address for Asian Awareness Month at Ohio State. Takei, a Japanese American who at age 4 was taken with his family to a Japanese internment camp during World War II, will discuss Infinite Diversity at 7 p.m. Thursday (5/20) in the Ohio Union Ballrooms, 1739 N. High St.
CONTACT: Sheila Kapur, coordinator of Asian American Student Services, 292-0625.

OHIO STATE SHOWS AREA EIGHTH GRADERS "THE PRIDE'S INSIDE"--May 21. The Pride's Inside Conference, a one-day event promoting self-esteem and self-worth to 140 eighth graders, will be held at Linmoor Middle School, 2001 Hamilton Ave., on Friday (5/21) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students will learn about personal hygiene; etiquette; affective skills such as: speaking in lower tones, avoiding profanity, and anger management; and co-ed and gender- specific activities. Ohio State basketball player Scoonie Penn will kick off the day's activities, which includes a performance from PATH, a peer theater group, and a meal designed to give students the opportunity to use social skills they learned during the conference. The event is sponsored by Ethnic Student Services and the Student Wellness Center.
CONTACT: Janice Hoffman, director for Ethnic Student Services, 688-4988.

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).