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WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Tuesday, April 29. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

ARTS AND SCIENCES FEDERATION REVIEW REPORT AVAILABLE

The mandated review of the Arts and Sciences Federation is now complete and the report is available online. The A&S federation was established in 2003 with the expectation that it would build strength both within and across the five colleges while achieving administrative savings. The review report reaffirmed the importance of the original goals, and urged that they be pursued aggressively. (These goals include elevating the stature and visibility of the arts and sciences and promoting collaborations among the colleges to encourage joint and cluster hiring, foster new curricula, broaden opportunities for students, enhance diversity, and reduce administrative costs.)

In addition, the committee report concluded that the arts and sciences organizational structure was dysfunctional, its limited authority impeding the development of an effectively integrated federation. Finally, the report stated that the federated structure has been an impediment to achieving many of the goals noted above.

These findings led the review committee to recommend that Ohio State create a far more tightly integrated arts and sciences entity. The exact nature of this change will develop over the next weeks in consultation with President Gee, Provost Alutto and the vice provosts. It will also be informed by ongoing comment from the faculty and staff and coordinated with applicable university governance processes.

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CARRASCO IS MAY 5 DIVERSITY LECTURE SERIES GUEST

Harvard professor Davíd Carrasco, an historian of religions specializing in Mesoamerican religions and the Mexican-American borderlands, will present the next President and Provost’s Diversity Lecture and Cultural Arts Series lecture at 7 p.m. Monday (5/5) in Campbell Hall Auditorium. Carrasco is the author of "Religions of Mesoamerica" and other works. Following the lecture, an Aztec dance group will perform in the outdoor amphitheater space adjacent to Mirror Lake. Subsequent to that there will be a reception and book signing. Contact: waugh.2@osu.edu or brown.3190@osu.edu

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSOCIATE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The Graduate School has announced the winners of this year’s Graduate Associate Teaching Award: Anouschka Bergmann, Linguistics; Kelly Bradbury, English; Megan Bulloch, Psychology; Christopher Bungard, Greek and Latin; Benjamin Gibbs, Sociology; Laura McCloud, Sociology; Christopher Porter, Physics; Thomas Pruiksma, English; Alison Pfent, Psychology; and Sarah Sanderson, Spanish and Portuguese. The GATA award is Ohio State’s highest form of recognition for graduate teaching associates, and it recognizes GTAs who exhibit exceptional teaching. GATA winners receive a $1500 honorarium. Contact: wallace.150@osu.edu or 247-7300. Read more >

TIE A YELLOW RIBBON FILM SCREENING, DISCUSSION APRIL 30

A film screening of "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday (4/30) at the Hale Cultural Center, to be followed by a panel discussion at 7:30 p.m. with the film's director, Joy Dietrich and Rebecca Nelson, director of the Multicultural Center and assistant vice president of Student Affairs. Lynn Itagaki, visiting assistant professor, Department of Women's Studies and Program in Asian American Studies, will moderate. A reception is set for 5:30 p.m. The film visits the lives of three Asian American women desperately trying to locate themselves within the web of racial stereotypes, social expectations, and stark realities. Contact: itagaki.5@osu.edu. See: http://asianamericanstudies.osu.edu/ or www.jedfilms.net/yellowribbon/

DANCE DOWNTOWN 2008 PERFORMANCES MAY 1-3

The Department of Dance heads to the heart of the city Thursday (5/1)-Saturday (5/3) for the 10th anniversary of its playful, powerful and provocative show, Dance Downtown 2008. The shows, at the Riffe Center's Capitol Theatre, feature the work of four internationally acclaimed choreographers, three of whom were recent guest artists at Ohio State - Tania Isaac, Amy Raymond, Ming-Lung Yang and Anna Sokolow. The show will be presented each day at 8 p.m. with an additional 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday. For tickets, call CAPA at 469-0939 or OSU Theatre 292-2295. Read more >

HORTON HEARS A WHO DIRECTOR TO PRESENT PROGRAM MAY 1

Noted OSU alumnus Steve Martino, director of 20th Century Fox's animated feature film "Horton Hears a Who!" will visit campus Thursday (5/1) and Friday (5/2) to work with students and give a public presentation at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in 10 Page Hall. The free event will include behind-the-scenes footage related to animating the film and how the directors translated Dr. Seuss’ images to 3D designs, and discussion of the film’s special effects development and the use of radiosity in lighting and rendering. Read more >

DIGITAL UNION PRESENTS FUTURE OF TEXTBOOKS MAY 5

The Digital Union's Future Series will host a panel discussion about the Future of Textbooks from 3-4:30 p.m. Monday (5/5) at the Digital Union (370 SEL). The panel will discuss the current state of textbooks and the advantages and challenges associated with the shift from traditional print resources towards digital formats. RSVP to gjestvang.1@osu.edu.
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OSC OFFERS PERFORMANCE TUNING FOR MULTI-CORE ARCHITECTURES

The Ohio Supercomputer Center on West Campus is hosting a workshop, Performance Tuning for Multi-Core Architectures, from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday (5/14)-Thursday (5/15) at OSC. The workshop provides an overview of performance tuning techniques for the new generation of multi-core processors, such as those used in OSC's Glenn system. Members of the Ohio academic community are invited to attend the workshop at no charge. To register, write trn-contact@osc.edu or call 292-0890.

CONFERENCE FEATURES OUTSTANDING CLARINETISTS, COMPOSERS

Celebrated clarinetist Kenneth John Grant, Eastman School of Music faculty and principal clarinetist, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Wednesday (4/30), including music of Brahms, Poulenc, Bach in Weigel Hall Auditorium. This opens a four-day conference that runs through Saturday (5/3), the third Zoe and Jack Johnstone Woodwind Master Series. Special guest for the event is D. Stanley Hasty, celebrated artist and professor emeritus at the Eastman School of Music, along with master classes, discussions and workshops. All events are free and open to the public. Contact: pyne.1@osu.edu

BIG TEN NETWORK TO TELEVISE EIGHT SPRING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Big Ten Network will carry the 2008 Big Ten Championships and tournaments in baseball, men’s and women’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field from Sunday (5/4)-Saturday (5/24). All events will be produced in high definition, beginning with the Big Ten Women’s Tennis Championship at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday (5/4). For more information on these events, go to www.bigten.org or www.BigTenNetwork.com.

REGISTER BY APRIL 30 FOR ASFW ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE

The deadline for registration is Wednesday (4/30) for the Association of Staff and Faculty Women’s fourth Annual Spring Conference, which will focus on “Enhancing Confidence in the Workplace.” The conference is set for 7:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday (5/7) at the Blackwell Hotel and Conference Center. Activities include expert speakers discussing work/life balance and how to enhance career performance and confidence, and a panel of women sharing their success stories and positive life strategies. Download a registration form. Contact: thaci.1@osu.edu or 292-0969

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONFERENCE SLATED FOR MAY 28

The Region IV Perinatal Center and High Risk Perinatal Project’s Project SAFE, in conjunction with the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence, will host Exploring Domestic Violence in Overlooked Populations, from 9:45 a.m.-3:35 p.m. Wednesday (5/28) at the Longaberger Alumni House. Topics include domestic violence among the elderly, deaf community, and transgender community, and will conclude with a presentation facilitated by a survivor of domestic violence. The event is free through the support of the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence. Registration required by Monday (5/19). Contact: corey.ferguson@osumc.edu or 293-6245

MEN’S SOCCER: BUCKEYES, COLUMBUS CREW TO MEET APRIL 29

The Ohio State men’s soccer team will host the Columbus Crew in the First Merit Bank Connor Senn Memorial Match at 7 p.m. today (4/29) in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Now in its seventh year, all proceeds from the match benefit the Connor Senn Memorial Scholarship Fund at Ohio State, which has raised more than $100,000 to date. The event will include a silent auction that includes a wide array of Ohio State memorabilia, including autographed items. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children and groups and can be purchased online or by calling (800) GO-BUCKS.