May 28, 1999

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

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETS--June 4. The Board of Trustees and its committees will hold its regular June meeting at 10:45 a.m. in the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Rd. Among the many agenda items: 1999-2000 tuition and an interim budget. Committee meetings, where most of the discussion takes place, begin at 9:15 a.m.
CONTACT: Emily Caldwell, University Communications, 292-8309.

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER IS TRUTH COMMISSIONER--June 11. A high-ranking member of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will deliver the commencement address at Ohio State’s spring ceremony. Approximately 4,700 graduates will receive degrees during the ceremony, held on the Oval this year because of renovations to Ohio Stadium. Commencement begins at 9:30 a.m. Dumisa Ntsebeza, (Du-MEE-suh Ent-see-BAY-suh) a human rights lawyer, also headed the commission's Investigative Unit. Ntsebeza is described by the Mail & Guardian of South Africa as "largely unsung as a hero of the struggle," and as someone who "suffered detention, trial, banishment and dirty tricks" during the apartheid era. He was appointed to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established in 1995 to investigate apartheid-era human rights abuses committed by all sides between 1960 and 1994. The commission’s October 1998 report held the former apartheid state and its allies responsible for the major part of the gross human rights violations committed against the South African people.
CONTACT: Ruth Gerstner, University Communications, 292-8424.

STUDENTS DESIGN NEXT GENERATION OF SUV’s-- Ohio State is among 13 schools to participate in a national competition to modify sport-utility vehicle (SUV) designs in an effort to improve fuel economy and emissions for the popular passenger vehicles. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invited the universities to join the “FutureTruck 2000” contest following a formal proposal competition. Ohio State's proposal involves a four-wheel drive, hybrid-electric drivetrain with electric launch--the ability to start and accelerate the vehicle using only electric power, with significant exhaust emissions benefits It will offer double the fuel economy compared to current SUV’s; use advanced composite materials for lightweight construction; and use ‘smart’ adaptive powertrain control and electronic trip information equipment to improve energy economy. The project will be built using the College of Engineering Student Projects facilities and with the support of the Center for Automotive Research, both located at 930 Kinnear Rd.
CONTACT: Giorgio Rizzoni, Mechanical Engineering, 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).