A small change in how teachers and parents read aloud to preschoolers may provide a big boost to their reading skills later on, a new study found.

That small change involves making specific references to print in books while reading to children — such as pointing out letters and words on the pages, showing capital letters and showing how you read from left to right and top to bottom on the page.

Preschool children whose teachers used print references during storybook reading showed more advanced reading skills one and even two years later when compared to children whose teachers did not use such references. This is the first study to show causal links between referencing print and later literacy achievement.

“Using print references during reading was just a slight tweak to what teachers were already doing in the classroom, but it led to a sizeable improvement in reading for kids,” said Shayne Piasta, co-author of the study and assistant professor of Teaching and Learning at Ohio State.

“This would be a very manageable change for most preschool teachers, who already are doing storybook reading in class.”

Piasta conducted the study with lead investigator Laura Justice, professor of Teaching and Learning at Ohio State, as well as co-investigators Anita McGinty of the University of Virginia and Joan Kaderavek of the University of Toledo. Their results appear in the April 2012 issue of the journal Child Development.

The study is part of Project STAR (Sit Together And Read), a randomized clinical trial based at Ohio State to test the short- and long-term impacts associated with reading regularly to preschool children in the classroom.

The study involved more than 300 children in 85 classrooms who participated in a 30-week shared reading program. As a group, the children came from low-income homes, started with below-average language skills and were at substantial risk for later reading difficulties.

The children were separated into three groups: High-dose STAR (four reading sessions per week), low-dose STAR (two reading sessions per week) and a third comparison group which also had four reading sessions per week. All teachers in the three groups read the same 30 books to their students.

Teachers in the two STAR groups were trained to make specific print references while reading the books. Teachers in the comparison group were told to read as they normally would and were not prompted to make print references.

Results showed that both one and even two years later, preschoolers in the high-dose STAR classrooms had higher word reading, spelling and comprehension skills than did children in the comparison group. The benefits were not as clear for those in the low-dose STAR classrooms, although they did seem to have slightly better skills than those children in the comparison classrooms.

Piasta said it was particularly notable that students in the high-dose STAR classrooms scored higher on tests of reading comprehension.

“If you’re getting kids to pay attention to letters and words, it makes sense that they will do better at word recognition and spelling,” she said.

“But the fact that they also did better at understanding the passages they read is really exciting. That suggests this intervention may help them become better readers.”

How do print references help preschoolers become better readers? Piasta said research suggests it helps children learn the code of letters and how they relate to words and to meaning.

“By showing them what a letter is and what a letter means, and what a word is and what a word means, we’re helping them to crack the code of language and understand how to read,” she said.

While this study shows the value of using print references with preschoolers, research suggests very few teachers and parents do this systematically, according to Piasta.

This research was supported by a grant from the Institute of Education Sciences, part of the US Department of Education.

Kerry Hodak and Jen Pelletier, Student Life, received the Research and Education Grant, at the Association of College Unions International annual conference, Boston, Mass., March 18-21, to conduct research on graduate and professional student
engagement.

Pranav Jani, English, received a 2012-13 Faculty Grant from the Mershon Center for International Security Studies for his research project “Insurgency, Violence and Anti-colonial Resistance: The 1857 Revolt and Indian Imaginations,” Funds ($5,750) will be used for travel to archives in London and Berkeley and for photocopying and procuring documents.

Elizabeth Weiser, English, has been awarded an $8,500 grant from the Mershon Center for International Security Studies for her project “Who We Are: Global Museums and National Identities,” which examines rhetorical identification practices in museums around the world.

Presentations

Lindsay Meyer Bond and Lori Tehini, Recreational Sports, presented an extended workshop “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Summer Camp…And Then Some!” and led a roundtable session “Inclusive Roundtable,” at the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association annual conference, Tampa, Fla., March 27-30.

Richard Dutton, English, presented “Merry When?” at the seminar “Theatrical Chronologies,” at the annual meeting of the Shakespeare Association of America, Boston, Mass.; April 7.

Alessandra Faggian, Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, presented “The Voice Panel: ‘If I Ruled the World, I would…’” and “Evaluating the Effects of Federal Policy Changes on Human Capital: The Role of a Graduate Visa Scheme,” with Jonathan Corcoran, at the Western Regional Science Association meetings, Kauai, Hawaii,
Feb. 8-11.

Terri Fisher, Psychology, presented “Context, Lies and Stereotypes: Studying Gender Differences in Sexuality, at the 26th annual Ohio Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference, Otterbein University, April 2012.

Andrea Gorzitze, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Food Science and Technology, and Lori Kaser, OARDC Grants Support Unit, presented “Justify That! What Investigators and Grant Developers Need to Know about Budget Justifications,” at the National Council of University Research Administrators’ conference (Regions IV and V), St. Louis, Mo., April 17.

Colleen Kennedy, English, presented “Smelling Sanctity in the Time of Milton: Religion, Politics, Incense and the Contemplative Life,” to the Shakespeare Association of America, Boston, Mass., April 5-7.

Colette Masterson, Student Life, presented “Graduate Student Professional Preparation,” with Vian Barwari, Student Life, and “Engaging Graduate and Professional Students: Enhancing Their Experience,” with Kerry Hodak, Student Life, at the Ohio College Personnel Association/Ohio Association of Student Personnel Administrators annual conference, Columbus, Jan. 25-27.

Bonnie Mitchell, Brendan Greisberger, Sarah Bohman and Marci Hasty, Recreational Sports, presented “The Programming Plan of Tomorrow: Collaborative Programs and Strategic Partnerships,” at the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association annual conference, Tampa, Fla., March 27-30.

Koritha Mitchell, English, was a guest lecturer via Skype for a graduate seminar on Wright/Ellison/Baldwin, Indiana University, April 1; and presented “Frances Harper and Homebuilding Anxiety,” at C19, the Society of Nineteenth-Century Americanists annual conference, Berkeley, Calif., April 12.

Kris Myers, Department of Recreational Sports, presented “Membership Sales Strategies and Success Stories,” at the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association annual conference, Tampa, Fla., March 27-30.

Martin Joseph Ponce, English, presented “‘Our Fundamental Difference:’ Return and Sexploitation in Lawrence Chua’s Gold by the Inch,” to the Eastern American Studies Association, New Brunswick, N.J., March 31;  “Hendrix to Hip Hop: Afro-Filipino Poetics in the Work of Jessica Hagedorn and Patrick Rosal,” at the Undergraduate Symposium on Asians in the Americas and the Diaspora, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. April 3; “Pinoy Posteriority,” at the Disorientations Working Group Speakers Series at the Institute for Research on Women, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., April 5; “The Politics of Independence and the Poetics of Address: The Case for Maximo Kalaw,” to the Association for Asian American Studies, Washington, DC, April 12; and was a panelist for “Expanding the Informational: Asian American Digital Representation and Community Empowerment,” at the Association for Asian American Studies, Washington, DC, April 13.

Paula Smith and Traci Lewis, Diversity and Inclusion, presented “Baby and ‘Me’ Make a Degree: Low-Income Undergraduate Student Parents Perceptions’ of their Experience,” at the National Association of Black Social Workers 44th annual conference, Atlanta, Ga., April 3-7.

Publications 

Joyce Chen, Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, “Productive Efficiency and the Scope for Cooperation in Polygynous Households,” American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 94, No. 2 (2012), pp. 395-401, with Richard Akresh and Charity Moore; and “Dads, Disease and Death: Determinants of Daughter Discrimination,” Journal of Population Economics, Vol. 25, No. 1 (2012),  pp. 119-49.

Sebastian Knowles, English, “Foreword to Marc Conner,” The Poetry of James Joyce Reconsidered (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012), pp. ix-x.

Ben McCorkle, English, “A Rhetoric of Bees: A Case Study of Emergent Community Building Practices within an MMO Rule Set,” Harlot: A Revealing Look at the Arts of Persuasion, Vol. 7 (2012), with Matt Howard.

Debra Moddelmog, English, “Protecting the Hemingway Myth: Casting Out Forbidden Desires from The Garden of Eden,” Hemingway’s The Garden of Eden: Twenty-Five Years of Criticism, ed. Suzanne del Gizzo and Frederic Svoboda (Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 2012), pp. 255-87.

René Olate, Social Work, “A Cross-national Comparison of Externalizing Behaviors among High Risk Youth and Youth Gang Members in Metropolitan Boston and San Salvador,” Victims and Offenders, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 356-69, with C. Salas-Wright and M. Vaughn.

Thelma Patrick, Nursing, took part in an interdisciplinary team that revealed very low birth weight infants fare better in hospitals designated as Recognition for Nursing Excellence and Magnet Hospitals by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The study was published in the April edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Carl Zulauf, Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, “ACRE (Average Crop Revenue Election) Provisions in Food,” Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Jan. 3).

Recognition

Harvey Graff, English, was interviewed by Governance magazine for a story on recent African American migration to Dallas.

David Hahn and Glenn Himes, Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, were recognized for their years of service to the NAMA Marketing Team, at the 2012 Agribusiness/NAMA Club annual banquet, the Fawcett Center,
April 5.

Rob Jech, Recreational Sports, was awarded the Horace Moody Award at the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association annual conference, Tampa, Fla. Jech was the recipient for Region III, which includes schools in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada.

Lannetta Knotts, Interior Design Project Manager, received an award for the Kennedy Commons foodservice renovation and the license plate art at Station 88 located in the Ohio Union, at the 2011 national and 32nd conference of the Association of University Interior Designers, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill. AUID is a non-profit organization that provides an information sharing opportunity for individuals who work within institutions of higher education.

Eric Lee, Student Life, received First Place Calendar Design by a Professional, at the Association of College Unions International annual conference, Boston, Mass.,
March 18-21. Eric’s graphic design work was recognized for the Winter 2012 OUAB Calendar of Events featuring design elements inspired by John Glenn.

Kathryn Plank, Educational Policy and Leadership, has been elected president elect of the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education, which is the national professional society for educational developers.

Jody Poth, Student Life, was awarded the Richard D. Blackburn New Professional Award, at the Association of College Unions International annual conference, Boston, Mass., March 18-21. Jody was recognized for her work as advisor for the Major Campus Events Committee with the Ohio Union.

Barry Ward, Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, was chosen as Outstanding Professor at the 2012 Agribusiness/NAMA Club annual banquet, the Fawcett Center, April 5.

Service

David DeAngelo, Recreational Sports, served as the program committee chair for the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) annual conference, Tampa, Fla., March 27-30.

Kurt Schooley, Recreational Sports, served on the program committee for the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) annual conference, Tampa, Fla., March 27-30.

Both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate still may move forward on reforms to two of the state’s public-worker pension systems this spring, rather than waiting until after the November elections.

The senate began deliberations during the last full week of April after the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio board finalized its recommendations to the legislature.

The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System had finished its recommendations in February, and leaders of both houses have expressed their desire to push forward the reforms, which have been in the planning stages now for more than a year.

The newest changes were made both to ensure both systems can meet their 30-year funding obligations while also gaining support from member individuals in both plans.

“When you look at the proposals and their evolution over the last year, it’s evident the boards carefully considered how to address the best interests of their members and the best interests of all Ohioans,” said Kathleen McCutcheon, Ohio State’s vice president of Human Resources.

Read Kathleen McCutcheon’s most recent Retirement Matters column.

STRS proposal

The newest proposal from the STRS board contained several changes that will allow for a smoother transition for those nearing retirement than the previous proposal.

• Contribution Rate: Additional 4 percent member contribution for a total of 14 percent; this increase will be phased in over four years (1 percent per year, effective July 1, 2013).
• Retirement Eligibility: Changes in eligibility for retirement will be phased in between Aug. 1, 2015, and Aug. 1, 2026, increasing the required years of service each year until 2026. The end result in 2026 would have faculty eligible to retire at age 60 and 35 years of service for an unreduced benefit.
• Final Average Salary: Calculated based on the highest five years, effective Aug. 1, 2015. Final Average Salary is currently calculated using the highest three years.
• Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA): A new 60-month deferral for all new retirees, effective Aug. 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2013, all retirees will not receive a COLA increase on their next anniversary. Faculty retiring after June 1, 2012, will see COLA decrease from 3 percent to 2 percent.
• Retirement Formula: Effective Aug. 1, 2015, 2.2 percent will be used in the benefit formula for all years of service; currently, the percentages increase for those with more than 30 years of service. Members who are eligible to retire on July 1, 2015, will still be able to use the current calculation if it benefits them.

One component of the proposed changes affects the Alternative Retirement Plans (ARP). Faculty who are members of the ARP may see changes in their contribution rates, depending on legislative outcomes.

If employee contributions are increased per STRS recommendations, the faculty in the ARP also will see an increase in their contribution.

OPERS proposal

Highlights of the OPERS proposal include:

• Contribution Rate: Contribution rates will remain unchanged at 10 percent for employees and 14 percent for the university.
• Retirement Eligibility: Changes in eligibility for retirement will be phased in over 10 years. The end result would have staff eligible to retire at age 55 and 32 years of service, or age 67 with five years of service for an unreduced benefit.
• Final Average Salary: Calculated based on the five highest years, effective Aug. 1, 2015. Final Average Salary is currently calculated using the three highestyears.
• n Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA): Beginning 12 months after effective date of retirement, a simple COLA determined by the average percentage change in the Consumer Price Index up to a maximum of 3 percent.

There are no planned increases to employee contributions; therefore, there would be no increases for staff who are enrolled in an ARP.

McCutcheon and other university leaders remain engaged with STRS and OPERS to better understand how the proposed changes may affect faculty and staff, and to stay informed of the timeline as to when any changes would take effect.

Read Kathleen McCutcheon’s most recent Retirement Matters column here.

There is a lot of information coming your way concerning the need for pension reform legislation, and the processes our two pension systems are following to be diligent and inclusive in their recommendations. At Ohio State, we continue to share with you the most current information from State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) and Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), to make it a little easier to understand the effect these changes could have on you.

STRS and OPERS have finalized their pension reform proposals. In their final proposals, they heard the feedback from us and others and provided for a smoother transition for those nearing retirement, compared to earlier versions. The Ohio Senate would still like to move on this legislation before the conclusion of its spring session this month; however, with the other priorities before the senate, it’s uncertain if the legislation will make it to a full vote before any recess.

At this time, the House of Representatives is expected to review and pass the legislation no later than the end of the calendar year.  Any changes would go into effect 90 days after the governor signs the legislation.

It is anticipated that legislation will be passed by the end of this year and changes will begin to go into effect in mid-2013.

These are challenging times with respect to guarantees about our retirement future. I believe that everyone — including the STRS and OPERS boards, elected officials, university representatives, and other interested parties — made recommendations that balance individuals’ needs with the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the pension trust itself.

Rest assured, we have been highly involved in this process and have staff working with the retirement systems and statehouse representatives advocating for the best interests of our faculty and staff.

You also play a role in pension reform. Become an active participant in the process. Remain informed of the proposed changes. Share feedback with your elected representatives. Seek professional advice to see what, if any, changes you should make to your path to retirement. Even if retirement is well into the future, it’s important to understand how today’s actions — on your part and the part of the state legislature — affect your future.

To read detailed information about the STRS and OPERS final proposals, including the potential effect on those in the faculty Alternative Retirement Plans, see this onCampus article, or visit the STRS or OPERS websites.

I encourage you to take time to thoroughly review this information and consider all of your options before making any decisions about your retirement. Please contact STRS or OPERS or your elected representative with questions or concerns about the proposed changes.

I remain committed to sharing the best information available with you as developments occur. Please let my office know if the information we have provided could be more helpful in any way. You can send suggestions to hratohiostate@hr.osu.edu.

Those who donate to the Operation Feed campaign this year will be getting even more bang for their helpful bucks — a $1 donation, which used to be considered equivalent to two meals, will now be worth three meals.

The Mid-Ohio Foodbank increased its buying power this year and changed its mix of inventory to distribute more fresh produce — 11 million pounds of produce among 41 million pounds of food distributed overall.

“We’re leveraging economies of scale and we’re more efficient,” said Joan Lloyd, Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s Operation Feed director. “That’s really the big news, that we can do more with your money.”

Under the previous scale, Ohio State would have donated the equivalent of approximately 121,000 meals in 2011 (up from 106,355 meals in 2009). The same amount raised this year would equal 172,716 meals, Lloyd said.

The monetary donations are most important because of the Foodbank’s buying power.

“The average consumer can buy one jar of peanut butter whereas we might be able to buy six, 10 or 12 jars for the same price because we buy in bulk and we get donations from the food industry,” Lloyd said.

The Operation Feed campaign will be accepting donations through June 4. Designated coordinators in each college or unit will have all the details, or call the Office of Human Resources’ Special Events Manager Michele Bondurant at 292-4341. Tom Katzenmeyer, senior vice president of University Communications, is the chair of this year’s campaign.

Last year Ohio State was awarded the Foodbank’s Outstanding Virtual Food Drive Award for raising $13,000 through online giving. It wasn’t a new avenue of giving, but Ohio State made it a key component of its Operation Feed campaign.

“It’s a small part of what we do overall, but with a large organization like OSU, with so may people in so many locations and such a diverse population, the ability to have that tool for folks gives them an opportunity to give online and by credit card, which they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do,” Lloyd said. “It’s an additional way to make it easy to give.”

Once again, any department may contact Bondurant at mbondurant@hr.osu.edu to have a personalized web URL set up solely to collect online gifts from its employees.

The Foodbank raised 6.15 million meals in 2011. This year the organization has set a goal of 7.5 million meals, and all of them will be needed. The goal for Ohio State is 210,000 meals.

“If everyone on campus donated their afternoon latte or the cost of a day’s lunch, we’d more than achieve our goals,” Bondurant said. “It’s the least we can do to end hunger in our community. Six meals equates to $2. We can do this.”

The number of people using food pantries and shelters within the Foodbank’s central Ohio region has increased 40 percent over the past five years, Lloyd said. And the suburbs have not been immune as pantries in Dublin, Westerville and Pickerington all saw increased visits. In fact, 18 percent of those seeking assistance have held managerial or professional jobs, according to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

“The issue is people are not using the services in just emergency situations,” Lloyd said. “They’re relying on them as a source of food on a regular basis, so pantries are seeing more and more people who are repeat visitors and we’re doing everything we can to make sure they have enough food to meet their growing need. But obviously we can always do more and use more.”

A recent study by Feeding America showed central Ohio is faring worse than the rest of the country when it comes to food insecurity. Just in Franklin County, 17.3 percent of the population was food insecure in 2010, up from 16.6 percent the previous year. Nationally those suffering food insecurity is about 16.1 percent of the population.

In the Foodbank’s region, that number was 16.3 percent, or an estimated 387,410 people.

May 3-4, Mershon Center for International Security Studies Conference, “Good Works in Central America: Interrogating North American Voluntary Service,” Mershon Center, 1501 Neil Ave., send RSVP to mccray.44@osu.edu.

May 7-8, College of Social Work, Ohio’s 2012 Opiate Summit: Miles Traveled–Miles Ahead, pre-summit, 1-5 p.m. May 7, 4 CEUs available; summit, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. May 8, 6.5 CEUs available; Hyatt Regency Columbus, 350 N. High St., contact rsatterfield@oacbha.org or 614-224-1111  or visit csw.osu.edu/trainingforprofessionals/trainingcalendar.

Dance

May 11-12, Spring Dance Festival, 7 p.m. May 11-12, climbing wall in RPAC; 8 p.m.May 11-12, EMMA Lab at ACCAD, limited seating, reservations required; 3:30 p.m. May 12, locations between Mirror Lake and RPAC, guided by students to the choreographic sites; 5 p.m. May 12, reception, The Blackwell Inn; call 292-7977 for more information.

Events

May 3, University Libraries Read Aloud Program, Ohioana presentation of Ohio authors reading from their own works, 3-4 p.m., 202 Thompson Library, 1858 Neil Ave., 292-3955.

May 3, Paging Columbus! with Hannah Stephenson, 6-8 p.m., OSU Urban Arts Space, 50 W. Town St., contact hannahjstephenson@gmail.com for more information.

May 4, College of Social Work, “A Conversation about Social Justice with Fernando Cardenal, SJ,” 12:15-1:15 p.m., 400 Stillman Hall, Father Cardenal is a Nicaraguan Jesuit priest who has dedicated his life to the liberation of the poor and struggle for social justice in Latin America.

May 8, University Libraries Read Aloud Program, Korean story-singing, Park-Miller will perform on traditional instruments, English translations included, 3-4 p.m., Buckeye Bar Lounge, Thompson Library, 292-3955.

May 10, University Libraries Read Aloud Program, Leta Hendricks and members from both the National Button Society and Ohio Buckeye Button Society will read All Because of a Button: Folklore, Fact and Fiction by Ellaraine Lockie, 3-4 p.m., 202 Thompson Library, 292-3955.

May 10-12, Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens, Spring Plant Sale, Auction, and Gardening Fair; reception and auction, May 10, 6-9 p.m.; sale and auction, May 11, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and May 12, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Chadwick Arboretum, northwest corner of Lane Ave. and Fred Taylor Drive, chadwickarboretum.osu.edu.

May 12, Art Explorations for Kids, ages 4-8, 1-2:30 p.m., OSU Urban Arts Space, 50 W. Town St., free, RSVP to 292-8861, uas.osu.edu.

May 17, Monthly Anime Adventure, Post-Modernism in Anime, 6-8 p.m., OSU Urban Arts Space, 50 W. Town St., free and open to all, uas.osu.edu.

Exhibits

Through May 12, On View, “Department of Art 2012 Master of Fine Arts Exhibition 2,” OSU Urban Arts Space, 50 W. Town St., 292-8861.

Through June 2, “100 Years of Girl Scouting: Uniform and Memorabilia Exhibit,” Historic Costume and Textiles Collection, Snowden Gallery, 2nd floor Campbell Hall, visit costume.osu.edu for hours, 292-3090.

May 4-June 29, Faculty Club Art Exhibitions, “A Quest Resumed,” Jeanie Coy Auseon, opening reception, 6-8 p.m., May 4, Faculty Club, ohio-statefacultyclub.com or 292-2262.

Films

May 15, Department of African American and African Studies, Senior Citizen Matinee, “Law Abiding Citizen,” 1:30 p.m., Community Extension Center, 905 Mt. Vernon Ave., ages 55 and older, refreshments served, free, discussion follows film, RSVP to twitty.1@osu.edu or call 292-3922.

May 16, East Asian Studies Center, “Seoul Train,” introduced by documentary producer/director Jim Butterworth, 6:30 p.m., 180 Hagerty Hall, 1775 College Road, call Michelle Attias at 247-6839 for more information.

May 16, Center for Latin American Studies, Film Series: Film and the City, “Machuca” (Andres Wood, 2004, Chile), 7:30 p.m., 100 Mendenhall Lab, clas@osu.edu.

Lectures

May 3, Department of Physics, “Theoretical Searches for New Thermoelectric Materials,” Joel Moore, Lawrence Berekeley National Laboratory, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1080 Physics Research Building, 191 W. Woodruff Ave., 292-5713.

May 3, Department of Statistics, Parthasarathy Srinivasan, 3:30 p.m., Room 170, 209 W. 18th Ave., stat.osu.edu.

May 3, Institute for Korean Studies, “A Story of Volunteerism: Americans in Korea, Koreans in the World,” Jon Keeton, former Director of Peace Corps Korea, 4-6 p.m., Great Hall Meeting Room, Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St., 292-1681.

May 3, Institute for Japanese Studies, “Japanese American Resettlement through the Lens,” 6:30 p.m., 100 Mendenhall Lab, 125 South Oval Mall, japan.osu.edu.

May 3, Department of Classics, “Dwarfs on the Shoulders of Dwarfs: Glosses on the Cosmographia of Bernardus Silvestris,” Mark Kauntze, Northwestern University, 3:30 p.m., 448 University Hall, 230 North Oval Mall, 292-2744.

May 3, Department of Chemistry, “Renewable Energy and Feedstocks: A Perspective from Chemical Industry,” Jim Stevens, Dow, 4:15-
5:15 p.m., 1000 McPherson Lab, 180 W. 18th Ave., chemistry.osu.edu.

May 3, Department of Astronomy, Chris Miller, MIT, 3:30 p.m., 2015 McPherson Lab, 140 W. 18th Ave., 292-1773.

May 4, Humanities Institute, LiteracyStudies@OSU, “Politics and the Practices of Literacy Campaigns,” 11:30 a.m., Knight House, 104 E. 15th Ave., hanson.94@osu.edu.

May 4, Humanities Institute, Humanities Involves People, HIP Reception: Verdi’s Falstaff, 6 p.m., Knight House, 104 E. 15th Ave., livingston.28@osu.edu.

May 4, Center for Latin American Studies, “Proportionality: The Struggle for Balance in Immigration Law,” Michael Wishnie, Yale University, noon, 165 Thompson Library, 1858 Neil Ave., 688-4285 or clas@osu.edu.

May 4, Department of Chemistry, “Teaching Old Polyolefins New Tricks with Modern Catalysts: How Catalysts Manage the Beautiful Complexity of Carbon and Hydrogen,” Jim Stevens, Dow, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 1008 Evans Lab, 88 W. 18th Ave., chemistry.osu.edu.

May 5, Institute for Japanese Studies, “How to Turn a Lilac into a Peony: The Territory of Translation in Meiji Japan,” Jeffrey Angles, Western Michigan University, 3:30 p.m., 60 Page Hall, 1810 College Road, japan.osu.edu.

May 7, Mershon Center for International Security Studies, “Anti-Politics: The Utopian Turn in Democratic Theory Today,” Nancy Rosenblum, Harvard University, noon, Mershon Center, 1501 Neil Ave., RSVP to Ann Powers at powers.108@osu.edu by May 3, 292-1681.

May 7, Department of Chemistry, Sophia Hayes, Washington University-St. Louis, 4 p.m., 2015 McPherson Lab, 180 W. 18th Ave., chemistry.osu.edu.

May 8, Humanities Institute Human Rights Working Group, “Testimony and the Cultural Politics of Human Rights,” Anne Cubilie, United Nations Consultant; Wendy Kozol, Oberlin College; 4 p.m., Suite 1000, Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St., hesfoRoad1@osu.edu.

May 8, Department of Physics, Asaf Pe’er, CfA Harvard, 12:30 p.m., 4138 Physics Research Building, 191 W. Woodruff Ave., 292-5713.

May 8, Department of Physics, “The Quantum and Fluid Mechanics of Global Warming,” Brad Marstron, Brown University, 4-5 p.m., 1080 Physics Research Building, 191 W. Woodruff Ave., 292-5713.

May 8, Mershon Center for International Security Studies, “Iranian Islam and Democracy: Paradox of State and Religion,” Mehdi Khalaji, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, noon, Mershon Center, 1501 Neil Ave., RSVP to Ann Powers at powers.108@osu.edu by May 7, 292-1681.

May 8, Institute for Chinese Studies, “Entangled Guanxi: Tracing State-Society Relations Through Food Safety Control in China,” Huang Yu, University of Washington, 1:30 p.m., 0050 Hagerty Hall, 1775 College Road, ics.osu.edu.

May 9, Knowlton School of Architecture KSA Lecture Series, “Winter + Spring 2012: Practice,” Benjamin Ball, Ball-Nogues Studio, 5:30 p.m., Knowlton Hall Auditorium, 275 W. Woodruff Ave., knowlton.osu.edu or 292-1012.

May 9, Department of Chemistry, Lynetta Mier, Gustafson and Epstein Groups, 6 p.m., 2136 Newman and Wolfrom Lab, 100 W. 18th Ave., chemistry.osu.edu.

May 10, Department of Linguistics, “Linguistic Fieldwork in the Tibetan Language Area,” Nancy Caplow, Oklahoma State University, 12:15 p.m., 174 Mendenhall Lab, 125 South Oval Mall, joseph.1@osu.edu.

May 10, Department of Statistics, Fan Li, Duke University, 3:30 p.m., Room 170, 209 W. 18th Ave., stat.osu.edu.

May 10, School of Earth Sciences, “Origins, Evolution, and Environmental Impacts of Large Iqueous Provinces,” Clive Neal, University of Notre Dame, 4 p.m., 291 Mendenhall Lab, 125 South Oval Mall, 292-2721.

May 10, Department of Geography, Deborah Cowen, University of Toronto, 3:30-5 p.m., 1080 Derby Hall, 154 N. Oval Mall, 292-2514.

May 10, Center for the Study of Religion, At-Large Lecture Series, “The End of the World in Earliest Islam: The Historical Muhammad as Eschatological Prophet,” Stephen Shoemaker, University of Oregon, 4:30 p.m., 165 Thompson Library, 1858 Neil Ave., 688-8010.

May 10, Department of Physics, “Electron Transport in Graphene in High Magnetic Fields,” Art Hebard, University of Florida, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1080 Physics Research Building, 191 W. Woodruff Ave., 292-5713.

May 10, Department of Physics, 50th Smith Lecture, “Supernovae Reveal an Accelerating Universe,” Adam Riess, Johns Hopkins University, 8-9 p.m., 100 Independence Hall, 1923 Neil Ave., 292-5713.

May 10, Institute for Materials Research, “Materials Tomography and Femtosecond Lasers,” Tresa Pollock, University of California-Santa Barbara, 1:30-2:30 p.m., E100 Scott Lab, 201 W. 19th Ave., light reception follows, imr.osu.edu/events.

May 10, Department of Chemistry, Stephen France, Georgia Tech University, 11 a.m., 2015 McPherson Lab, 180 W. 18th Ave., chemistry.osu.edu.

May 10, Department of Chemistry, “Uncertainty of Protein Dynamics Parameters Derived from NMR Relaxation Experiments,” Rieko Ishima, University of Pittsburgh, 12:30 p.m., 2015 McPherson Lab, 180 W. 18th Ave., chemistry.osu.edu.

May 11, Department of Philosophy, Jessica Wilson, University of Toronto, 3:30 p.m., 347 University Hall, 230 N. Oval Mall, 292-7914.

May 11, Mershon Center for International Security Studies, “Globalization’s Perils: From Archie Bunker to Occupy Wall Street,” Thomas Zeiler, University of Colorado, noon, Mershon Center, 1501 Neil Ave., RSVP to Ann Powers at powers.108@osu.edu by May 9, 292-1681.

May 11, Institute for Chinese Studies, “Trauma and Displacement in Wartime China, 1937-1945: The Experiences of Wartime Mobility,” Parks Coble, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1:30 p.m., 0050 Hagerty Hall, 1775 College Road, ics.osu.edu.

May 11, Department of Chemistry, Pasco Wambua, 2:30 p.m., 2015 McPherson Lab, 180 W. 18th Ave., chemistry.osu.edu.

May 11, Department of Astronomy, “Dark Energy and the Cosmic Expansion History,” Adam Riess, STScI, 12:30 p.m., 2015 McPherson Lab, 140 W. 18th Ave., 292-1773.

May 14, Department of Chemistry, “Theoretical Studies of Sequential and Concerted Proton Coupled Electron Transfer Mechanisms in Ni-catalyzed H2 Production and Oxidation,” Samantha Horvath, Penn State University, 4 p.m., 2015 McPherson Lab, 180 W. 18th Ave., chemistry.osu.edu.

May 14, Department of Astronomy, Burkhard Militzer, University of California-Berkeley, 4 p.m., 2015 McPherson Lab, 140 W. 18th Ave., 292-1773.

May 15, Department of Statistics, C.L. and M.D. Rustagi Memorial Lecture, “Statistics in Service to the Nation,” Stephen Feinberg, Carnegie Mellon University, 3:30 p.m., Room 170, 209 W. 18th Ave., stat.osu.edu.

May 15, Department of Physics, Michele Fumagalli, Santa Cruz, 12:30-1:30 p.m., 4138 Physics Research Building, 191 W. Woodruff Ave., 292-5713.

May 16, Office of University Outreach and Engagement, 9th Annual James F. Patterson Land-Grant University Lecture, keynote speaker: Alma Powell of America’s Promise Alliance, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Archie Griffin Ballroom, Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St., RSVP to go.osu.edu/pattersonlecture.

May 16, Knowlton School of Architecture KSA Lecture Series, “Winter + Spring 2012: Practice,” Brandon Clifford, 5:30 p.m., Knowlton Hall Auditorium, 275 W. Woodruff Ave., knowlton.osu.edu or 292-1012.

May 16, Mershon Center for International Security Studies, “Sink the Sinks?! Public and Private Regulation of Carbon Sinks in the Climate Change Regime,” Jessica Green, Case Western Reserve University, 3:30 p.m., Mershon Center, 1501 Neil Ave., RSVP to Ann Powers at powers.108@osu.edu by May 15, 292-1681.

May 17, Humanities Institute, “Climate Citizenship,” Don Hubin and John Brooke, 3:30 p.m., Knight House, 104 E. 15th Ave., livingston.28@osu.edu.

May 17, Department of Statistics, CC-CWRU-OSU Joint Colloquium Keynote Speech, Weng Kee Won, UCLA, 3:30 p.m., Room 170, 209 W. 18th Ave., stat.osu.edu.

May 17, School of Earth Sciences, Jay Famiglietti, University of California-Irvine, 4 p.m., 291 Mendenhall Lab, 125 South Oval Mall, 292-2721.

May 17, Department of Psychology, Nilanjana Dasgupta, University of Massachusetts, 4 p.m., 035 Psychology Building, 1835 Neil Ave., 292-8185.

May 17, Department of Chemistry, “Drugging the Undruggable,” Hubert Yin, University of Colorado, 12:30 p.m., 2015 McPherson Lab, 180 W. 18th Ave., chemistry.osu.edu.

Meetings

May 9, College of Dentistry, Lunch and Learn Series, “IRB Protocols 101: From the Reviewers’ Perspective,” Dale Kanner and Stephen Rosensteil, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Postle Hall, SMS Conference Room, 305 W. 12th Ave., lunch provided, spires.56@osu.edu.

May 9, YP4H Educational Program Classes: Nutrition, “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Soy but Were Afraid to Ask,” webinar, noon-1 p.m., registration required, osuhealthplan.com/educationalprogramming/YP4H or 292-1894.

May 10, Ohio State Faculty and Staff Photographic Society, “The Radical Camera” Tour by Catherine Evans, 6:30 p.m., Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., $6 for non-museum members, non-OSU Photo Society members welcome, 876-5829.

May 15, Center for Bariatric Surgery Program, bariatric surgery information session, 6-7:30 p.m., Morehouse Medical Plaza Pavilion Auditorium, 2050 Kenny Road, free parking, seating limited, registration requested, medicalcenter.osu.edu/go/bariatric or 293-5123.

May 15, Health and Wellness Benefit Choices Forum, noon-1:30 p.m., Office of Human Resources, Suite 430, 1590 N. High St., hr.osu.edu/benefits or 292-1050.

May 15, YP4H Educational Program Classes: Family, “What to Do about Mom and Dad: Elder Care Options,” webinar, noon-1 p.m., registration required, osuhealthplan.com/educationalprogramming/YP4H or 292-1894.

May 16, Retirement Choices Forum, noon-1 p.m., Office of Human Resources, Suite 430, 1590 N. High St., hr.osu.edu/benefits or 292-1050.

May 16, YP4H Educational Program Classes: Other Opportunities, “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Your Medicines but Were Afraid to Ask,” webinar, noon-1 p.m., registration required, osuhealthplan.com/educationalprogramming/YP4H or 292-1894.

May 16, 23, 30, June 6, 13, YP4H Educational Program Classes: Fitness, “Good Health, Good Posture: Keep Them in Alignment,” 5:30-6:30 p.m., Agricultural Administration Building Auditorium, 2120 Fyffe Road, registration required, osuhealthplan.com/educationalprogramming/YP4H or 292-1894.

May 17, University Senate, 3:30 p.m., 130 Drinko Hall, 55 W. 12th Ave., senate.osu.edu.

May 17, Fellowship of Christian Faculty and Staff luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Junior Colleagues Room, Faculty Club, 181 S. Oval Drive, reservation required, fcfs-osu.org/luncheons.html.

May 17, Veterans Lunch Series, open to all Ohio State faculty, staff, alumni, and students, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Faculty Club Grand Ballroom, reservation required, free, contact forrest.73@osu.edu or 292-7047.

Music

May 3, Jazz at Mirror Lake, 7 p.m., Browning Amphitheater, admission, 247-7036.

May 3, Guest Artist: Arthur Greene on piano, 8 p.m., Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, admission, 247-7036.

May 5, Chamber Music Connection, 7 p.m., Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, admission, 247-7036.

May 8, Composers’ Workshop, 8 p.m., Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, free, 247-7036.

May 9, Guest Artists: Amir Eldan on cello and Yael Manor on piano, 8 p.m., Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, admission, 247-7036.

May 10, Ohio State Marion, Five Nights on Campus, OSU Chorale and Symphonic Choir, 7:30 p.m., Morrill Hall Auditorium, 1465 Mt. Vernon Ave., admission, call 740-725-6341 or email babich.5@osu.edu for tickets, visit osumarion.osu.edu/5-nights for more info.

May 10, Jazz at Mirror Lake, 7 p.m., Browning Amphitheater, admission, 247-7036.

May 11, Chorale, 8 p.m., Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, admission, 247-7036.

May 12, Wilson Vocal Competition, noon, Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, admission, 247-7036.

May 13, Women’s Glee Club Invitational Performance, 3 p.m., Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, free, 247-7036.

May 16, Johnstone Woodwind Master Series: Guest Artist Benjamin Kamins on Bassoon, 8 p.m., Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, free, 247-7036.

May 17, Jazz at Mirror Lake, 7 p.m., Browning Amphitheater, admission, 247-7036.

May 17, School of Music Convocation featuring Benjamin Kamins on Bassoon, 12:30 p.m., Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, 247-7036.

May 17, Johnstone Woodwind Master Series: Masterclass with Benjamin Kamins, 3 p.m., Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, free, 247-7036.

May 17, Johnstone Woodwind Master Series Composition Competition, 5 p.m., Weigel Auditorium, 1866 College Road, free, 247-7036.

Schottenstein

May 10-13, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus; 7 p.m. May 10 and 11; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. May 12; 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. May 13; Value City Arena; admission; schottensteincenter.com or ticketmaster.com.

Seminars

May 11, Department of Linguistics, “Colloquium Fest, Part 1,” talks by Cindy Johnson and Brice Russ, 2 p.m., 140 Jennings Hall, 1735 Neil Ave., ling.ohio-state.edu.

May 11, Department of Linguistics, “Colloquium Fest, Part 2,” talks by Jefferson Barlew, Rachel Burdin, Jungmin Lee, and Alex Wein, 3:30 p.m., 122 Oxley Hall, 1712 Neil Ave., ling.ohio-state.edu.

May 14, Department of Linguistics, “Colloquium Fest, Part 3,” talks by Eric Ruppe, Tsz-Him Tsui, Marten Van Schijndel, 3:30 p.m., 122 Oxley Hall, ling.ohio-state.edu.

May 16, Department of Linguistics, “Colloquium Fest, Part 4,” talks by Greg Kierstead and Sara Phillips-Bourass, 3:30 p.m., 160 Jennings Hall, 1735 Neil Ave., ling.ohio-state.edu.

May 17-18, 2012 Barnett Symposium, “Cultural Soft Power: Policy, Practice and the Arts,” 4:30 p.m. May 17, 6 p.m. May 18, OSU Urban Arts Space, 50 W. Town St., open for all to attend, registration required, https://arted.osu.edu/barnett-symposium-registration-2012, visit https://arted.osu.edu/events/2012-barnett-symposium for more information.

Theater

May 3-6, 10-13, 17-19, Department of Theatre, “The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat,” 7:30 p.m. May 3-5, 10-12, 17-19; 3 p.m. May 6 and 13; Roy Bowen Theatre, Drake Performance Center, 1849 Cannon Drive, admission, 292-2295.

May 17-19, Department of Theatre, Master of Fine Arts Acting Solo Projects, 7:30 p.m., Mount Hall Studio Theatre, 1050 Carmack Road, admission, 292-2295.

Training

May 3, Human Resources Training, “Child Care Workshop: Reconnecting Children with Nature,” 4:30-5:30 p.m., OSU Child Care Program Meeting Room, 725 Ackerman Road, free, registration required, hr.osu.edu/training/additionaltraining.aspx or 292-2800.

May 4, Human Resources Quarterly Training, “Navigating Stressful Conversations that Influence Promotion to Full Professor,” 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Office of Human Resources, Suite 430, 1590 N. High St., registration required, go.osu.edu/hrtraining.

May 8, Human Resources Training, “Manage Positions and Create Job Openings,” 1-4:30 p.m., 112A Mount Hall, 1050 Carmack Road, registration required, oit.osu.edu/hrfin/hrschedule/html.

May 8, Management Advancement for the Public Service, “Beyond Stress Management: Workplace Wellness,” 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, admission for non-members, registration required, glennschool.osu.edu or 292-3242.

May 8, University Center for the Advance- ment of Teaching, “The Well-Rounded CV: Publishing Teaching Resources and Discoveries,” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 150 Younkin Success Center, 1640 Neil Ave., registration required, registration.it.ohio-state.edu.

May 8-9, Financial Training and Documentation, “Debits and Credits,” 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. both days, 231 Mount Hall, 1050 Carmack Road, registration required, oit.ohio-state.edu/hrfin/trainingregistration.html.

May 9-10, Management Advancement for the Public Service, “Interpersonal Communication and Counseling Skills,” 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. both days, Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, admission for non-members, registration required, glennschool.osu.edu or 292-3242.

May 10, University Center for the Advancement of Teaching, “Suicide Prevention Training,” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 300 Younkin Success Center, 1640 Neil Ave., registration required, registration.it.ohio-state.edu.

May 11, College of Social Work Training, “Enhancing Practice Through Gestalt: Dealing with Resistance in Therapy or Organizations – A Gestalt Approach (Part 1 of 4),” 1-4 p.m., 115 Stillman Hall, 1947 College Road, earn 3 CEU clock hours, open to the public, visit csw.osu.edu/trainingforprofessionals/trainingcalendar for description and registration.

May 11, Human Resources Quarterly Training, “Leadership Training: Building Comunity by Welcoming Diversity,” 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Office of Human Resources, Suite 430, 1590 N. High St., registration required, go.osu.edu/hrtraining.

May 11, Office of Research, “Being a PI at Ohio State: Roles and Responsibilities,” 10 a.m.-noon, 200 Bricker Hall, 190 N. Oval Mall, registration required, go.osu.edu/ORtraining.

May 14-15, Human Resources Training, “Hire an Employee,” 1-5 p.m. both days, 112A Mount Hall, 1050 Carmack Road, registration required, oit.osu.edu/hrfin/hrschedule/html.

May 15-16, Financial Training and Documentation, “Using General Ledger Reports,” 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. May 15, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 16, 231 Mount Hall, 1050 Carmack Road, registration required, oit.ohio-state.edu/hrfin/trainingregistration.html.

May 16, Management Advancement for the Public Service, “Emotional Intelligence: What Makes a Good Leader?” 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, admission for non-members, registration required, glennschool.osu.edu or 292-3242.

May 16, University Center for the Advancement of Teaching, “Hot Moments in the Classroom,” 1:30-3 p.m., 150 Younkin Success Center, 1640 Neil Ave., registration required, registration.it.ohio-state.edu.

May 16, Human Resources Training, “HR Meet and Greet Brownbag Sessions with HR Senior Leaders,” noon-1 p.m., Office of Human Resources, Suite 430, 1590 N. High St., registration required, go.osu.edu/hrtraining.

May 16, Office of Research, “IRB Forms Help: Biomedical and Cancer,” 3-4 p.m., 236 Health Sciences Library, 376 W. 10th Ave., registration required, go.osu.edu/ORtraining, contact prestage.2@osu.edu for more information.

May 17, College of Social Work Training, “Enhancing Practice Through Gestalt: Experiments Bringing the Work to Life (Part 2 of 4),” 9 a.m.-noon, 115 Stillman Hall, 1947 College Road, earn 3 CEU clock hours, open to the public, visit csw.osu.edu/trainingforprofessionals/trainingcalendar for more info.

May 17, Management Advancement for the Public Service, “Coach Your Own Career,” 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, admission for non-members, registration required, glennschool.osu.edu or 292-3242.

May 18, College of Social Work Training, “The State of Human Trafficking in the United States: Social Work’s Responsibility and Potential Contributions,” 1-4:15 p.m., 3628 Park East Drive, Beachwood, 44122, earn 3 CEU clock hours, open to the public, visit csw.osu.edu/trainingforprofessionals/trainingcalendar for description and registration.

Wexner

Through May 5, Wex at Gateway, “The Kid with a Bike” (Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, 2011), exclusive Columbus engagement, visit wexarts.org for times, Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

Through May 31, The Box, “Karrabing! Low Tide Turning” (Liza Johnson and Elizabeth Povinelli, 2012), Mon.-Wed. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Thu.-Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., The Box is located across from the Wexner Center Store, 1871 N. High St., free, 292-3535.

Through July 1, Exhibitions on View, Ernst Caramelle, Wexner Center Lower Lobby, 1871 N. High St., admission (free to visitors the first Sunday of the month and every Thursday after 4 p.m.), 292-3535.

May 3, Performing Arts: Jazz, Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet, 8 p.m., Performance Space, 1871 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

May 3, Documentary, “Patience (After Sebald)” (Grant Gee, 2011), 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

May 3-Oct. 31, The Market at 15th & High, outdoor farmers’ market, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Wexner Center Plaza, 292-3535.

May 4, Sam Green Introduces “What We Need Is the Impossible!” a program of short films by Sam Green, 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

May 4 and 6, Performing Arts, OSU School of Music presents Falstaff, 8 p.m. May 4, 3 p.m. May 6, Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

May 5, Contemporary Screen, “Lula, Son of Brazil” (Fábio Barreto, 2009), 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

May 8, Artist’s Talk: Ernst Caramelle, 4:30 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., free, 292-3535.

May 8, Writer’s Reading: Stewart O’Nan, 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., free, 292-3535.

May 9, Film Studies Lecture Series, “An Affair to Forget: Melancholia in Bromantic Comedy,” Tania Modleski, 4:30 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., free, 292-3535.

May 9, Contemporary Screen, “New Skin for the Old Ceremony” (various directors, 2011), 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

May 10, Contemporary Screen, “The Biscotts Series,” 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

May 11, Comics Events, “Obstacle Course: Oulipo and the Creative Potential of Constraints,” Matt Madden, 4:30 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., free, 292-3535.

May 11, Contemporary Screen, “The Man Who Will Come” (Giorgio Diritti, 2009), 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

May 12, Comics Events, Oulipo Workshop with Matt Madden, 1-4 p.m., Wexner Center, 1871 N. High St., admission, registration required, call 292-6493 for more information.

May 12, Visiting Filmmakers, Cheryl Haworth and Julie Wyman introduce “Strong!” (Julie Wyman, 2012), 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

May 12, Performing Arts, “The Race Riot Suite,” Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, 8 p.m., Performance Space, 1871 N. High St., admission, cabaret-style show, 292-3535.

May 15, Public Programs: Comics Events, Artist’s Talk, “My Friend Dahmer,” Derf Backderf, 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., free, 292-3535.

May 16, Visiting Filmmakers, Andy Byers Discusses Design for Film and TV, 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., free, 292-3535.

May 17, Writer’s Readings and Author Events, Steven Henry Madoff: What Space Means, 4 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., free, 292-3535.

May 17, New Documentary, “Lost Bohemia” (Josef Astor, 2010), 7 p.m., Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St., admission, 292-3535.

Workshop

May 8, Humanities Institute, Human Rights Working Group Workshop, Anne Cubilie, United Nations Consultant and Wendy Kozol, Oberlin College, noon, 311 Denney Hall, 164 W. 17th Ave., hesford.1@osu.edu.

What are your five favorite books and why?

Atonement, by Ian McEwan.

I love this novel not only because of the setting — World War II-era England — but also because McEwan does such a great job weaving together a dramatic story with compelling characters. The fact that the love story in this book is predicated on such brief interludes, yet remains so moving, also is an amazing feat.

The Professor’s House, by Willa Cather.

Whenever anyone talks about Cather, they talk about My Antonia; The Professor’s House flies under the radar. But it’s a quiet book, beautifully written, about an aging professor moving away from an old house that contains many of his most significant memories. It also includes one of the most vivid characters I’ve read — the professor’s deceased protégé, Tom Outland.

Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters.

Sarah Waters most often writes historical fiction about urban British characters, and this is her most engrossing book. It’s similar to Oliver Twist in setting and plot, but with a female pickpocket instead who falls in love with a young woman on whom she is running a long con. The book relies on twists and upheavals, and it’s impossible to put down.

The Voyage of the Narwhal, by Andrea Barrett.

There’s a theme here: I love good historical fiction. Andrea Barrett is one of my favorite writers and this novel, about a mid-19th century Arctic rescue mission, is her most intricately detailed. She writes engagingly about characters fascinated by science — naturalists and ambitious explorers — and is able to inhabit them to stunning effect.

The Barnum Museum, by Steven Millhauser.

Millhauser is a prolific short story writer and won a Pulitzer in the 1990s for his novel Martin Dressler. This early collection of his short stories contains some his best and most imaginative work, like “Eisenheim, the Illusionist,” a story about a late 19th century magician.

I just have to add one more: That Night, by Alice McDermott. It’s such a breathtaking book about first love and loss told from the perspective of a child who knows impossibly too much about the lives of her neighbors.

Who is your favorite character (villain or hero) in literature? 

Tom Outland from Cather’s The Professor’s House. The reader hears about him through his mentor, Professor St. Peter, but he then gets a whole section to himself in the middle of the book. His first-person voice is so engaging. He’s spunky and smart and a pleasure to read.

What’s your “guilty pleasure” – a book you love but don’t often talk about because it’s not “serious” literature?

George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series. I read pretty widely, and though most of my favorite books might be considered more literary, I love a good story well told, no matter how it’s classified. I’m also a lifelong Stephen King fan, and I loved the Hunger Games series.

What genre of literature do you prefer to read (history, fiction, biography, etc) and why?

I read mostly fiction, and often the fiction I choose engages in some way with history. But I also love nonfiction, especially the work of Joseph Mitchell, who wrote engagingly about old New York.

After his highly publicized and well-attended visit to Ohio State on March 22, President Barack Obama will return to campus May 5, hosting a kickoff rally for his presidential campaign at the Schottenstein Center. Doors will be open at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Ohio is a critical battleground state for the presidential election, and this visit will be Obama’s fourth to Ohio this year.

Faculty, staff can maintain personal
information thorugh Employee Self Service

Employee Self Service launched April 30 and offers a single, secure source for faculty and staff to manage personal information. ESS offers two components: eProfile, allowing users to update personal demographic information (i.e., phone number, address, race and ethnicity); and eBenefits, allowing users to enroll in and manage benefit elections when eligible to make them (i.e., at hire/rehire, in a newly eligible position or during open enrollment).

To learn more, go to hr.osu.edu/esshelp. To verify personal information, sign into eProfile.osu.edu, then click on the Personal Information Summary icon. Wexner Medical Center staff who wish to verify their personal information should go to onesource.osumc.edu, click Employee Self Service and click on the Personal Information Summary icon. Contact ESS@hr.osu.edu for more information.

Key commits $1M to Student Leadership
and Service center

Keith Key, former football player, alumnus (Economics, ‘89), and Foundation Board director at Ohio State, has committed $1 million to the Office of Student Life to support the newly named Keith B. Key Center for Student Leadership and Service located in the Ohio Union.

With this additional resource the center will continue to offer Ohio State students innovative and comprehensive leadership training opportunities.

Key is the owner of Keith B. Key Enterprises. Headquartered in Columbus, it is one of the largest African American-owned real estate development firms in the nation and has been involved in real estate projects totaling more than
$1 billion throughout the United States.

Key’s philanthropy also is firmly established beyond Ohio State. Key was the developer of the Heritage Community in Columbus, where he helped initiate one of the first online high school learning communities in central Ohio. He also is extensively involved in two major neighborhood redevelopment projects in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa. — Garfield Commons and Addison Terrace.

College of Public Health becomes
fresh produce hotspot

Cunz Hall will soon become a pick-up location for The Greener Grocer and Local Matters fresh produce subscription, the Weekly Market Bag.

Cunz Hall, home of the College of Public Health, joins a select group of local establishments, such as COSI, Cardinal Health, Nationwide and United Way, among others. The Ohio State University Foundation, located at 1480 W. Lane Ave., is currently the only other campus pick-up location listed on the Greener Grocer’s website.

The Summer Weekly Market Bag is available starting May 14. The cost is $22/week for a medium bag (1-2 people) and $32/week for a large bag
(3-4 people). Faculty, staff and students may choose Cunz Hall as their preferred pick-up location when signing up for the program. This new initiative to provide fresh produce fits with the college’s mission of contributing to a healthy world by providing easy access to fresh, local foods. Sign up at thegreenergrocer.com.

Thirsty fans raised thousands
of dollars for LiFE Sports

More than 80,000 fans attended the Ohio State LiFE Sports Spring Football Game and worked up a thirst while cheering on the Buckeyes. When those fans purchased Urban Meyer souvenir cups during the game, a portion of the purchase price was donated to the LiFE Sports program, which is a summer camp for disadvantaged youth run jointly by the Athletics Department and the College of Social Work.

From cup sales alone, $6,612 was raised in support of the program. LiFE Sports, formally known as the National Youth Sports Program, used to be federally funded. When Congress ended the funding, the Athletics Department took over, contributing more than $200,000 annually to continue the program. Social Work provides $50,000 of in-kind contribution, such as staff time to run the educational component of the camp. The program also received $1 from each Spring Game ticket sold, garnering more than $80,000.

Discounted tickets available to see Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher, the iconic Princess Leia in the Star Wars movie saga, will arrive on the Mershon Auditorium stage for An Evening with Carrie Fisher. She will sit down at 7:30 p.m. May 23 with Ohio State alumna and CBS’ 48 Hours reporter Erin Moriarty to share tales and insights from throughout her life and career.

Ohio State faculty and staff can receive a $10 discount on tickets by entering the code “starstaff” at tickets.wexarts.org. The proceeds from the event benefit the Wexner Center for the Arts and the STAR (Stress, Trauma and Resilience) Program at the Wexner Medical Center.

Middle market had strong growth, but might slow

The National Center for the Middle Market at Ohio State found that the middle market, a leading indicator of America’s future competitiveness which represents firms with revenue between $10 million and $1 billion, grew at a rate of 8.4 percent in the past year. But the NCMM expects future revenue growth will slow according to findings in the first Middle Market Indicator, a look at the health and outlook of middle market companies in the United States. The NCMM is a partnership between the Fisher College of Business and GE Capital.

The survey, conducted in March, found more than 70 percent of companies reported increased gross revenue in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. Fewer than two in 10, or 16 percent, of companies said that revenue had deteriorated. Despite these strong results, middle market businesses expect revenue growth will slow to 7 percent over the next 12 months.

Students with disabilities had limited resources at OSU when it came to assistive technology — until now

Students with disabilities want an educational experience just like any other student while attending Ohio State, but it’s taken advancing technology to maximize that experience.

The Office for Disability Services has offered a computer lab with assistive technology software loaded onto each station. But having the software in only one location precluded disabled students from collaborating with classmates at the many computer labs across campus and hamstrung students who did not have the technology on their own computers when the ODS lab was closed.

Ohio State student and Office for Disability Services technician Peter Meuller demonstrates how to use ZoomText, an assistive technology for people who are visually impaired or diagnosed with dyslexia.

One student who didn’t own the technology told ODS Director Lois Harris that when the ODS office closed, it was like a wall had gone up for her, Harris said.

That finally changed winter quarter as 1,000 computers received assistive technology that is dispensed from a central server.

“Our goal has always been seamless access, not just access, and this certainly makes access a lot more seamless,” said L. Scott Lissner, Ohio State’s Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. “It’s about universal design, doing it in the most integrated fashion possible and letting informal education experiences happen at odd times and all over the place. To me, that’s the real driver, and a few years ago the technology wouldn’t have allowed us to do this.”

It took seven months of ODS Assistive Technology Training Center Coordinator Abdirahim Abdi and Ken Petrie, director of the Web Accessiblity Center housed in ODS, working closely with the Office of the Chief Information Officer to ready 1,000 computers. There are still some computing locations the ODS would like to identify for upgrades, but it’s a major step forward for a university that prides itself on creating an inclusive environment.

Ohio State was one of the first universities to add curb cutouts in response to disabilities act legislation in the 1970s, and ever since it’s been a university theme to be forward-thinking about access.

ODS has approximately 2,000 students with disabilities registered in its office, and one in five people worldwide have some form of disability. Visitors with disabilities to OSU will have access to some of these computers as well.

This latest upgrade puts three of the most-popular assistive technologies on each computer, including:

• JAWS — Job Access for Windows allows visually impaired users, including those who are completely blind, to navigate documents and the internet with voice commands while the program reads the documents or contents of the browser to the user.
• ZoomText — Made for the visually impaired or those diagnosed with learning abilities such as dyslexia, it allows for materials on the screen to be enlarged or have their contrast altered. Text lines can be highlighted and the cursor can be used to narrowly focus the highlight to individual words.
•  Read and Write Gold — Among its many functions, it provides text to speech and speech to text, a phonetic spell checker for fixing errors common with dyslexia, a screen masker to help people who have troubling focusing and a reader for text.

“Read and Write Gold changed the way I do homework and study,” one student noted on the recent ODS customer satisfaction survey. “It literally reads whatever I give it and I can even create mp3 files from class readings. I am dyslexic and it has helped immensely.”

When such technology was just a pipe dream, visually impaired students had to pay others to read them the class material, and the ODS hired scribes to work with the students to complete tests.

“It wasn’t impossible, but it wasn’t easy,” Lissner said.

There are still some hiccups. Assistive technology can’t read electronic documents such as those posted to CARMEN, certain textbooks and web pages that don’t have the proper computer coding, something ODS runs across on a regular basis at Ohio State.

“Sometimes it’s because of what a professor scanned in or material from a third-party source that is not well designed,” Lissner said. “It’s not an insurmountable problem, but it’s a resource-intensive problem when we have to do it after the fact.”

Any instructor can contact ODS at 292-3307 or ods@studentlife.osu.edu for help in creating course materials that are assistive technology friendly. Students and visitors to OSU can contact ODS to find the locations of the assistive technology computers.

“All of the research says students who use assistive technology regularly tend to be successful and their problems fall in the range of typical student issues and not access issues,” Lissner said. “Having the technology available at this level is really cutting edge, and there certainly aren’t a lot of other large universities doing it.”

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Deal could be beneficial to students, faculty and staff, the authors say, but must get bids to know

by Jeff McCallister

Two Fisher College of Business professors say the proposal to lease Ohio State’s parking operations to an outside vendor has the potential to “create value for the university,” and that only by completing the process to obtain bids can that potential be fully known.

Richard Dietrich, professor in the Department of Accounting and Management Information Systems, and Anil Makhija, professor in the Department of Finance, collaborated on An Analysis of Certain Aspects of the OSU Proposal to Lease Parking Operations and have delivered the report to various audiences, including the University Senate’s Steering and Fiscal committees.

The analysis, the professors said, addresses the issue from an economic perspective and does not address what it refers to as “associated issues,” such as how proceeds from the lease would or should be used.

“These issues can and should be considered separately from the value-creation issue that we address,” Makhija said.

In other words, the university already makes a certain amount from its parking operation and uses that revenue to fund other things. A lease would bring in a substantial amount of money up front, which presumably would fund those other things, such as CABS, and provide an addition to the coffers that would be used for scholarships, hiring additional faculty and support for the arts and humanities, among other areas (see graphic for administration’s proposal of how a hypothetical $400 million would be invested). But those discussions can’t take place and no decision made until bids come in that would show what that funding would be.

The professors pointed out several times at the Fiscal Committee meeting April 10 that they take no position at this point on whether to lease or not (the report can be found at senate.osu.edu/parking/DMAnalysisParking.pdf).

“The analysis in this report can provide an approach to make a judgment once the proposal is finalized and bids have been received,” they wrote in the report. “Our primary conclusion is that the leasing proposal has the potential to create value for the university. Only by obtaining bids would the university be able to determine the likely value created, and thus the potential for furthering the university’s mission.”

The analysis comes out at about the same time as the results of a survey, sponsored by a group of 11 faculty senators and five alternates, including some who have been the most vocal in opposing the privatization, Their survey was conducted in late March and early April. In response to the question, “Do you support privatization of OSU parking operations?” just more than 1,000 tenure-track faculty, or 84 percent of those who responded, answered “no” (details at cse.ohio-state.edu/~weide/parking/Survey-Results-2012-04-04.pdf).

Those opposed to the concept have cited philosophical reasons and have offered a financial analysis that is different than that of the faculty members from the Fisher College of Business.

Makhija and Dietrich’s analysis is that such decisions – especially on financial grounds – cannot be made using data and information that are currently available.

“In our opinion, the leasing decision, in isolation, requires an analysis that can best be performed after bid details are available,” they wrote. “An important element of the bid details is the set of performance metrics that would constrain the operator’s actions and assure that operating performance meets objectives for user satisfaction.”

Ohio State’s Parking Advisory Committee, a 13-member panel of faculty, administration, staff and students, has been meeting throughout the process and will continue to serve in its role as bids are reviewed.

Leasing of the parking operations is one of a number of initiatives Ohio State administration has been exploring to increase funding for the university’s core missions of teaching, service and scholarship in a time when Ohio State’s support from the state has fallen to less than 10 percent of the overall budget from as high as 25 percent in 1990.

Building the university’s long-term investment pool through these initiatives will provide a permanent source of support for scholarships and financial aid, faculty hiring and research, and campus projects.