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WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Wednesday, April 25. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

MEEZAN ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH GROUP

Bill Meezan, dean of the College of Social Work, has been elected vice president of the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research. IASWR is supported by all of the other leading social work organizations, including the National Association of Social Workers, the Council on Social Work Education, the Society for Social Work and Research, the National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, the Baccalaureate Program Directors, and the Group for the Advancement of Social Work Education. The mission of IASWR is to lead the profession in the development, dissemination and utilization of scientific knowledge in social work. Read More >

CLIMATE CHANGE AND PUBLIC POLICY FORUM TODAY

The John Glenn School of Public Affairs will continue its Food for Thought policy forum series with “Climate Change and Public Policy” from noon-1:15 p.m. today (4/25) in the Page Hall Policy Forum. The presenter is Andy Keeler, associate professor with the John Glenn School of Public Affairs who also served on the White House climate change policy teams under President Clinton and President Bush. Seating for each forum is limited and RSVPs are required. For more information about the Food for Thought series, call 292-4545.

UNIVERSITY RESPONDS TO RACIST MAILINGS

Vice President for Student Affairs Richard Hollingsworth has issued a letter to the OSU community in response to a racist mailing sent to more than 350 residence hall rooms over the past week. He said, in part, "President Holbrook, Vice Provost for Minority Affairs Mac Stewart, and I agree that we do not want to give the author undue attention, but we also feel that it is important to publicly condemn the content. Although not addressed specifically to them, it is a direct insult and attack on our African American community and we should not tolerate that. Racism hurts us all. The wording of the message is designed to imply that it is reporting on scholarly research, but in reality it is anything but scientific or well-researched. It uses polite words to express hate and plant seeds of division and fear." Read the entire letter online.

GRADUATE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE ONLINE

The Graduate School has started a new electronic newsletter to publicize news, policies and events to the Ohio State graduate community. Graduate School News is distributed to graduate studies chairs, deans and department chairs; graduate faculty and graduate students are alerted via OSUToday or OSU Weekly, respectively, when it is published. The first two issues are now available on the Graduate School Web site, under “Newsletters.” Contact: Kathleen Wallace, 247-7300

CRANE TO DISCUSS DIGITAL LIBRARIES TODAY

Gregory Crane, professor of Classics at Tufts University, will discuss his work on the Perseus Project at a free program at 3:30 p.m. today (4/25) at the Faculty Club Grand Lounge. Crane is currently directing a $2.7 million grant to study the problems of digital libraries in the humanities. Much of his personal scholarship has gone into expanding the Greco-Roman materials in Perseus. The event is presented by the OSU Libraries Lecture Committee and supported by the Friends of the OSU Libraries. Contact: 292-8999 or allen.916@osu.edu

DIGITAL STORYTELLING SHOWCASE APRIL 27

The Digital Union is hosting another Digital Storytelling Showcase from 1-2:30 p.m. Friday (4/27) featuring a collection of short multimedia presentations created by faculty and staff. Projects in this quarter’s showcase were created by members of the English Department, the Libraries, FTAD, Veterinary Medicine, the Office of the CIO, OSU Extension and more. Read More >

HENDERSON TO DISCUSS BOOK, WOMEN OF FAITH

Katharine Rhodes Henderson will discuss her book, “God’s Troublemakers: How Women of Faith Are Changing the World,” from 8:30-10 am Friday (4/27) in 156 University Hall. The book is based on extensive interviews with 11 women of varying faiths, including Sr. Helen Prejean, the anti-death-penalty activist; Ruth Messenger, executive director of American Jewish World Service; and Helen LaKelly Hunt, who has been a national activist funding women’s causes and a leader in persuading secular feminists to make common cause with religious women. Bagels and coffee will be available; reservations are requested. Read More >

AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL BEGINS APRIL 28

A town hall meeting hosted by television personality Jeff Johnson, events benefiting AIDS research and the annual Greek step show highlight the events planned for the 2007 African American Heritage Festival, which begins Saturday (4/28) on the Ohio State campus. The theme for the 29th annual event, “Many Roots, One Tree,” was derived from the Swahili word Mzizi, meaning roots. The festival will conclude on Saturday (5/5). Read More >

OTTAWAY TO ADDRESS DEMOCRACY IN MIDEAST MAY 1

Marina Ottaway, director of the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace, will discuss “Democracy in the Middle East: Is It Happening?” at noon on Tuesday (5/1) at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies. Ottaway is a senior associate at the Democracy and Rule of Law Project, and author of “Uncharted Journey: Democracy Promotion in the Middle East.” The event is free, but an RSVP is required. Read More >

DENTISTRY HOSTS CLINICAL EXCELLENCE DAY MAY 2

Faculty are invited to the College of Dentistry’s third annual Clinical Excellence Day program from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday (5/2) in Postle Hall. Senior dental students will present their best clinical cases to faculty judges and local community dentists. More than 100 senior dental students will participate in the competition. Cash prizes will be awarded in each category. Contact: 247-8621 or rowland.3@osu.edu

CURRICULAR CHANGE PROCESS WORKSHOP MAY 10

A workshop for department chairs, school directors, deans, and associate and assistant deans, “The Curricular Change Process” will be held from 9-11 a.m. Thursday (5/10) in 1039 Derby Hall. Vice Provost Randy Smith is presenting. Registration is required. Contact: 292-2800. Register online.

11TH AVENUE GARAGE ELEVATOR CLOSED

The 11th Avenue Garage elevator was closed for emergency repairs at 5 a.m. Tuesday (4/24) and will probably remain closed for an extended period of time. Additional disability parking spaces will be temporarily added to the first level of the garage for the duration of the elevator closure. Temporary disability parking passes may be requested through the ADA Coordinator’s Office at 292-6207 for those who anticipate difficulty in accessing the upper levels of the 11th Avenue Garage but who do not have a disability parking permit. Read More >