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WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Wednesday, Oct. 24. OSUToday is published daily Monday-Friday. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

OSU ROBOTIC SUV COMPETES FOR CHANCE AT $2 MILLION PRIZE

The Ohio State-Autonomous City Transport team is competing as a semifinalist in the Urban Challenge, the U.S. Department of Defense autonomous vehicle competition, Friday (10/26)-Wednesday (10/31) in Victorville, Calif. Ohio State's vehicle is an automated, driverless hybrid SUV that must, without any human intervention, conduct simulated military supply missions safely and effectively in a mock urban area. The contest is hosted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to support research and technology to improve military missions. DARPA will award $2 million, $1 million and $500,000 prizes to the top three finishers during the final competition on Saturday (11/3). Contact: wall.107@osu.edu or 292-4064. Read more >

BATTELLE LEADER NEXT IN IMR COLLOQUIA SERIES

Jeffrey Wadsworth, executive vice president of global operations for Battelle, is the next guest lecturer for the Institute for Materials Research Colloquia series on Thursday (10/25). Wadsworth will deliver “Advancing Science and Technology - Battelle and the National Laboratories” from 3-4 p.m. in the Smith Seminar Room, 1080 Physics Research Building. A reception will follow. All are invited to attend. Read more >

FESTIVAL OF CARTOON ART OCT. 26-27

Cartoonists from around the nation will discuss their craft at the ninth triennial Festival of Cartoon Art, sponsored by Ohio State's Cartoon Research Library at the Columbus Renaissance Hotel on Thursday (10/26) and Friday (10/27). The conference will begin with a celebration of master storyteller Milton Caniff's life and legacy. Leading contemporary cartoonists will then explore the craft of storytelling in newspapers, comic books and graphic novels throughout the two-day festival. Contact: cartoons@osu.edu or 292-0538. Read more >

MUSIC DRAMA OF THE HOLOCAUST OCT. 28

The Wexner Center for the Arts Performance Space is showing Music Drama of the Holocaust at 7 p.m. Sunday (10/28). The contemporary performance will present the final work for stage by Jewish artists in the Terezín (Theresienstadt) concentration camp, and will feature a monodrama performed by ethnomusicologist Philip Bohlman as well as compositions by Viktor Ullman performed by pianist Christine Wilkie Bohlman. Admission is free. The event is co-sponsored by the Melton Center for Jewish Studies, School of Music and Wexner Center for the Arts. Contact: 292-0967. Read more >

SCHOOL OF MUSIC GETS IN THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN

The OSU School of Music is presenting its annual Halloween concert at 8 p.m. Friday (10/26) in Weigel Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door for $5, $3 for students with some of the proceeds going to UNICEF. Concert performers will be in costume and the audience is invited to dress in costumes as well. The program includes spooky tunes by the Women's Glee Club, Symphonic Choir, Ladies First, a tuba ensemble, piano solo and more. Contact: 292-0789

OSC HOSTS INTRO TO MATLAB WORKSHOP

The Ohio Supercomputer Center is hosting a workshop, “Introduction to MATLAB” from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday (11/6) and Wednesday (11/7) at OSC, located on west campus. MATLAB is a set of popular software designed originally for matrix mathematics and linear algebra. Its functionality has grown extensively into many application areas and scientific visualization. The workshop is provided at no cost to Ohio's academic community. To register, contact landwehr@osc.edu or call 292-0890.

UNIVERSITY HOUSING TO HOST HAUNT THE HALLS OCT. 30

The families of OSU faculty and staff are invited to join University Housing for Haunt the Halls in the Residence Halls from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday (10/30). Costumes are encouraged. Enjoy games and safe Halloween fun in the residence hall lobbies. Residence halls participating are: (North Campus) Archer, Barrett, Drackett, Halloran, Haverfield, Houck and Taylor; (South Campus) Baker East, Baker West, Canfield, Mack, Morrison, Park, Paterson, Siebert, Smith, Steeb and Stradley; and (West Campus) Lincoln Tower, 15th floor and Morrill Tower, third floor. The Ohio Union, in Ohio Stadium between gates 22 and 24, also is participating. Contact: 247-6493 or kignatoski@studentaffairs.osu.edu

POST AWARDS, MEETINGS ON THE ONCAMPUS BULLETIN BOARD

Win an award or know someone who did on campus or off campus? Want to inform faculty and staff of an upcoming meeting that you are organizing or are aware of? Check out the Awards and Announcements/Meetings sections of the onCampus Bulletin Board. The bulletin board is available to all OSU faculty and staff. All you need to do is register using your OSU Internet ID (name.#).

FLEXCAR FREE MEMBERSHIP OFFER EXPIRES OCT. 31

Brought to you in partnership with Transportation and Parking Services, Flexcar has 20 hybrids, utility vehicles and sporty cars parked on campus and available by the hour (or the day). Rates start as low as $5/hour and include gas and insurance. Qualified faculty and staff 18 and older can receive the first-year membership free by joining by Wednesday (10/31). Join online today (select Ohio State University and use promo code “OSUEMP”). Contact: information@flexcar.com