The Ohio State University will send a group of 75 students, faculty and staff to Penn State University on Friday (10/15) to participate in Make a Difference Day service activities coinciding with the football game. The Saturday community service will be followed by a week of Make a Difference events on Ohio State's Columbus campus.

   While at State College, Pa., on Saturday (10/16), groups of students will hold pep rallies at Brookline Village and Outlook Point retirement homes; clean and paint at Strawberry Fields, a home for the mentally challenged; clean and organize goods at the State College Food Bank; and build cages for animals at the Centre County Wildlife Center. Service takes place from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Students will hold a substance-free tailgate and attend the game before returning home.

   Projects for the rest of the week are:

   -- Monday (10/18): Say "Thanks" On Campus -- A thank-you card- writing session at the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St., and Larkins Hall, 337 W. 17th Ave.

   -- Tuesday (10/19): Student Wellness Center's Bright-Eyed Bagel Giveaway -- Four classes will be surprised with bagels and juice.

   -- Wednesday (10/20): Wednesdays on West Campus -- Free drinks and snacks will be available to commuter students near Bevis Hall.

   -- Thursday (10/21): Polarity Therapy -- Polarity therapists will travel to campus offices, offering specialized polarity massages.

   -- Friday (10/22): Buckeye Fest on the Oval -- Alpha Gamma Delta sorority will hand out candy and buckeyes to passersby.

   -- Saturday (10/23): Celebration of Service -- At least 100 students will be bused to the OSU Community Extension Center on Mount Vernon Avenue for community orientation, tours and a service activity.

   "The point of this day is to interest student volunteers in ongoing service events and to foster the beginning of a relationship between the Student Activities staff and this community," said Jaclyn Nowakowski, student co-chair of Make a Difference Day and a student trustee. "We expect this celebration of service to be the first of many events serving the Mount Vernon neighborhood."

Contact: Jaclyn Nowakowski, (614) 292-8763; in State College, Pa., Tracy Stuck, director of Student Activities, (614) 203-5181 (cellular)