Summer book program includes works by Wiesel and Campbell

A shared Ohio State community reading experience is planned for this summer. All University faculty, staff and students are invited to read Night by Elie Wiesel and Brothers and Sisters by Bebe Moore Campbell as part of a summer book program.

A variety of events will be offered in the fall for book discussions, including a forum with each author. A third author may be included in the series, which is sponsored in part by the Office of First Year Experience.

Books are on sale for $5 each at The Ohio State University Bookstore and Long's Bookstore, as well as at Lincoln House, Taylor Tower and Stradley Hall.

Brothers and Sisters is a novel by Campbell set in the center of a racially troubled Los Angeles. Campbell tells the story of Esther Jackson, an African-American woman who is forced to examine her loyalties when a new black male vice president at her bank draws a sexual harassment suit.

Campbell won an NAACP Image Award for literature for her previous novel, Your Blues Ain't Like Mine. She is a commentator for National Public Radio and a contributing editor for Essence magazine.

Wiesel's Night tells the story of his experiences in World War II death camps. Wiesel was 15 when he and his family were deported by the Nazis from Transylvania to Auschwitz. He lost his mother, father and younger sister in the war.

Wiesel is the author of more than 40 books of fiction and nonfiction and is the recipient of numerous awards for his literary and human rights activities.

For more information, call 688-5479.

Free Mirror Lake concerts planned

The School of Music is hosting a series of open-air music concerts this month. The free concerts will be held at Browning Amphitheatre, near Mirror Lake on Ohio State's South Oval, featuring the Jazz Combo (7:30 p.m. May 24), Steel Band (7:30 p.m. May 30), and the Jazz Ensemble (7 p.m. May 31).

For details, call 292-2300.

Members sought for steering committee

Faculty members are being sought for a steering committee to oversee this year's Community Commitment, a community service program for the neighborhoods surrounding campus. The event will take place starting at 9 a.m. Sept. 18, in conjunction with Welcome Week. Each year more than 1,200 students participate in service projects ranging from landscaping for nursing homes to reading to elementary school children.

For details, contact Matt Tamanini at tamanini.2@osu.edu.

Lecture to explore gender equity

Jan Henderson, former Ohio State faculty member and current coordinator for planning, evaluation and training with Heifer Project International, will present ÒMoving Beyond Those WILD WomenÓ from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 31 in the Hale Black Cultural Center. The lecture is presented by OSU Women in Development and the Hale Center.

HPI's Women in Livestock Development (WILD) supports women's projects throughout the world. The discussion will focus on the overall goals of HPI, the intent of the gender program, examples of gender-related activities in projects throughout the world and some of the challenges HPI faces as an organization in relation to gender equity.

Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch.

For details, contact Cathy Rakowski at 292-6447 or rakowski.1@osu.edu.

Brio.Portal upgrade set for summer

The Office of Information Technology, in partnership with the Administrative Systems sponsors, will be upgrading the Web-based University reporting tool, eReports (Brio.Portal), this summer. The upgrade is being made to take advantage of new technologies and will deliver advanced reporting features and easier access to standard financial reports.

User focus groups are currently being conducted to help evaluate the upgraded portal interface and to provide feedback to determine the scope of readiness efforts.

For details, contact cmt@smtpgw.arms.ohio-state.edu.

Whad'Ya Know? coming to Mershon

Michael Feldman and his popular public radio program Whad'Ya Know? will appear at 10:30 a.m. June 23 in Mershon Auditorium. The performance will include regular features of the program, the Whad'Ya Know? quiz, a comedy monologue and the Whad'Ya Know? band, along with special guests, including Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman. The program will be heard live across the country on many public radio stations, including WOSU-AM.

For details about special ticket packages, call Keri Allen at 292-9678, ext. 4-9753. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Mershon Box Office, 292-3535, or Ticketmaster, 431-3600.

Annual OSU Day at Wyandot is June 23

The Office of Human Resources is sponsoring the annual Ohio State Day at Wyandot Lake from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 23 for faculty and staff and their immediate family members.

Discounted tickets are $9 from June 1-20 and $12 from June 21-23. The ticket price includes admission, lunch, entertainment, prizes and a souvenir to the first 4,000 ticketed guests.

For details, call 292-0641 or visit the Web at www.ohr.ohio-state.edu/special/specevents.htm.

Participants sought for medical study

Participants are being sought for a study at the University Medical Center examining popular treatments for osteoarthritis. The study compares the effectiveness of three proven medications -- Celecoxib, which is marketed as Celebrex; Rofecoxib, which is marketed as Vioxx; and Tylenol. Participants must be already diagnosed with osteoarthritis and over age 40.

Participants will receive free medications while they are in the study, $15 for each of eight visits and free parking.

For details, call Debbie Roller at 293-3771.

Financial planning workshops scheduled

The Office of Human Resources' free financial planning series continues with two workshops to be held in June. Sessions last one hour and begin at noon. Session topics, dates and locations are:

• First-time Homebuying, June 19, Dreese Labs Room 113.

• Estate Planning 101, June 27, Rhodes Hall Auditorium.

For details or to register, contact 247-7961 or admin@hr1.ohr.ohio-state.edu, or visit the Web at www.ohr.ohio-state.edu.

Applause Catering closing shop July 1

The Applause Catering operation at the Ohio Union will cease operations effective July 1. A review of the operation by consultants found, among other things, that a large infusion of money was necessary to renovate the kitchen facilities.

The Ohio Union is gathering a list of preferred caterers from which customers may select. Applause Catering staff will continue to work elsewhere within Housing, Food Services, and Event Centers.

For more information, call 292-7924.