Diversity Lecture Series

By Jo McCulty Vincent Tinto, the first speaker in this year's President and Provost's Diversity Lecture Series, holds a small-group discussion with students after his Sept. 26 lecture on student attrition. The second lecture takes place on Oct. 13, when speaker James A. Banks of the University of Washington will discuss multicultural education issues at 9 a.m. in room 10 of the Fawcett Center. On Oct. 26, Ohio State will host the third speaker, William Sedlacek, professor of education and assistant director of the Counseling Center at the University of Maryland, College Park. He will deliver two lectures in room 10 at the Fawcett Center: "Models for Increasing Black and Hispanic Student Recruitment and Retention" at 9 a.m., and "Strategies for Undergraduate Recruitment" at 1 p.m. He also will speak on "Strategies for Graduate Recruitment"at 9 a.m. in room 11 at the Fawcett Center on Oct. 27.

Greater role by students being taken in promoting off-campus safety

For several years now, Ohio State and the city of Columbus, working together through Campus Partners, have promoted safety in the neighborhoods surrounding campus, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Hall told the University Board of Trustees' Student Affairs Committee on Oct. 6. Now, said Hall, students are taking a leadership role in the safety initiatives.

"It's student safety we're working to ensure, and we need their involvement to be effective,"Hall said. "I am especially pleased with the current student leaders, who have been dedicated partners in our projects and strong advocates for their fellow students. Their input, hard work and sense of responsibility have been invaluable."

Several student leaders, as well as other key members of the safety team, were present at the meeting to give an overview of current safety initiatives, beginning with the formation of Campus Partners in January 1995 to revitalize the University District.

Steve Sterrett, Campus Partners community relations director, said the cooperative effort between the University and the city of Columbus was formed in response to some of the safety concerns in the campus area, including the 1994 murder of Ohio State Evans Scholar Stephanie Hummer, an increase in large outdoor parties and alcohol use, and a decline in students living in University neighborhoods.

Today, six years after formation of the Campus Partners Safety Advisory Committee, results are being seen, trustees were told. Commander Jay Evans of the Columbus Division of Police told the board that he has seen significant positive change in police-student relationships because of the student-led initiatives and Campus Partners' involvement.

Beginning in 1996, several initiatives were launched to address safety concerns in the area.

• The University Neighborhoods Revitalization Plan proposed four safety objectives -- reduce crime, improve police visibility, reverse negative community perceptions of police and address disorderly behavior of students.

• The Campus Partners Safety Coordinating Committee began working to create greater cooperation between Ohio State, University residents, police and students.

• Columbus Police implemented community policing in the neighborhoods.

• Campus Partners began working with the city to improve municipal services and clean up the neighborhood.

• Property owners started working with residents on safety issues.

"The combination of these efforts was effective up to a point in combating safety issues in the University District,"said Shane Hankins, a graduate student who played a leadership role in student-led safety initiatives as an undergraduate. "But it was obvious we had to get the students themselves involved in taking responsibility for their own community."

That's when the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) stepped in and developed thex Student Safety and Escort Service, the student safety map and the Landlord Library, a rating guide to local rental properties, said Robert "B.J."Schuerger, president of USG and a resident of the off-campus community. "It's important to all the stakeholders in the University District that it's a safe, clean, friendly place to be,"he said. "Students need to become a positive force in making it so."

USG also worked in collaboration with the Evans Scholars to promote the expansion of "blue light"emergency phones in the areas off campus, said Luke Whitworth, a member of Evans Scholars. There are currently seven in operation east of High Street, in addition to the 105 on campus.

Students also formed the Student Safety Initiative to implement other programs, including Adopt-A-Street, BuckEyes Watch, a burglary prevention campaign, and the University District Student Involvement Fund, which helps fund community service projects.

Even with all the safety programs in place, challenges still remain, Hankins said. "Last year, the University was hit by the murder of Charles Ballard. Burglary and theft still plague the University, especially during holidays and breaks. Set fires are threatening lives and property, and false alarms continue to come in from emergency phones."

Ron Meyers, president of the Council of Graduate Students, commended the University's undergraduates for their increased participation in community service projects and involvement in safety initiatives. "I've heard it said that if you want different results, do things differently,"said Meyers. "Today's students are taking more responsibility. They are working to expand current programs such as Walk Around the University District, during which students, faculty, staff, police officers and community leaders go door to door passing out safety information to University District residents."

Plans also are in the works to expand the Adopt-A-Street and BuckEyes Watch programs, and to meet with students, property owners and city officials to improve street lighting.

"The most important thing is for students to maintain a presence in the area and continue to voice their safety concerns and share their ideas for increasing the livability of the University District,"Hall said. "With their support and involvement, we are making those neighborhoods a better place for everyone to live."

Homecoming theme: 'Buckeyes and Beyond'

This year's Homecoming celebration, "Buckeyes and Beyond,"has included a variety of performances and will conclude Oct. 14 with the Homecoming Parade and football game against Minnesota.

Other events include:

Oct. 12

• Under Construction on the Oval, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Free lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Oval, sponsored by CBS Radio.

• Fireside Chat: Buckeyes on the South Pole, 7 p.m., Kuhn Honors & Scholars House. Paul Berkman, research scientist at the Byrd Polar Research Center, will lead the discussion.

• Homecoming Star Show, 8 p.m., Smith Lab Observatory.

• Alpha Phi Alpha African-American Homecoming Pageant, 8 p.m., 131 Hitchcock Hall.

• Study Abroad Fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oxley Hall front lawn.

• Diversity Festival, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Kuhn Honors & Scholars House and Browning Amphitheater.

• Adaptive Rec Sports Expo, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., South Oval.

• Brown Bag Lunch, noon, Kuhn Honors & Scholars House, with a discussion about the Peace Corps.

• Miniature rocket launch on the Oval, 3:30 p.m.

• Residence Hall Student/Faculty Games Night, 7:30 p.m. Location TBA.

• A Slice of Rice, Frijoles and Greens, 8 p.m., Ohio Union Conference Theatre.

• OUAB's Late Night at the Ohio Union, 8 p.m. to midnight.

• Homecoming Step-show and After Party, 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., Valley Dale Ballroom on Sunbury Road.

• Homecoming Parade, 9 a.m.; begins at 17th Avenue, heads east toward North High Street, and ends on 12th Avenue.

For more information, visit www.osu.edu/homecoming/.

Community Charitable Drive aims for goal of $724,000

If Ohio State continues its good driving record, nearly three quarters of a million dollars will be cruising into central Ohio health and human services agencies this year.

The goal for the 2000 Community Charitable Drive, which began Oct. 2 and will continue through Dec. 8, is $724,000. Last year's goal of $670,000 was met and exceeded by faculty, staff, retirees and students who raised a total of $717,871.

"The Ohio State University gives and receives when it is involved with partnerships with community charitable agencies and organizations,"said Tony Tripodi, dean of the College of Social Work and chair of the drive. "We all benefit as individuals, as families, and as citizens when the needy among us are cared for."

Ohio State faculty and staff will be asked to contribute to eight federations that help central Ohioans. The federations represented again this year include Greater Columbus Community Shares; The United Negro College Fund; Community Health Charities; the Black United Fund of Central Ohio; and United Way of Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin and Union counties. Each group serves as an umbrella organization for several independent member agencies representing a wide range of health and human services.

Kam Sigafoos, associate executive director of University Hospitals, is Tripodi's campaign co-chair. Gus van Buren is the OSU loaned executive.

The "Bucks for Charity"2000 Donor Guide lists all eligible organizations and their member agencies. The guide is available from fund-raising coordinators in every office and college throughout campus. Donors also have the option of designating funds to other tax-exempt health and human service agencies.

For more information, call 292-0641 or contact your unit coordinator.

Student fees, refunds simplified

Long lines and waits for financial aid are a thing of the past for most students, thanks to enhancements made by the Office of Fees, Deposits and Disbursements, a department within the Office of the Treasurer.

The Tuition Option Payment Plan (TOPP) program, which allows payment of tuition and other University expenses in three monthly installments per quarter without interest charges, has been simplified. And the offering of direct deposit of financial aid along with expanded access to account information has reduced the need to visit the office.

TOPP, implemented in 1993, no longer requires the complicated method of calculating a budget into three monthly payments. A combined Statement of Account and Student Class Schedule is sent to students the month before each quarter begins; students then pay one-third of the bill by the fourth Friday in the billing month. Fees now are assessed based on the actual hours scheduled, and are reflected in subsequent billing statements.

This service is helping more students all the time, as well: When the program began, 3,854 students enrolled, mostly incoming freshmen who did not have their loan or scholarship money in hand. Since then, the number of enrollees has almost doubled, and the approval rating of the program has been high.

Direct deposit allows the deposit of a credit balance directly into a personal bank or a BUCK¥ID account, eliminating the need to visit the Office of Fees, Deposits and Disbursements to pick up financial aid refunds. And access to information is easier than ever. The statement of account is available via a voice response system at 292-EASE (3273). Questions concerning direct deposit, current fee schedules and payment deadlines may be answered by accessing www.treasurer.ohio-state.edu or sending e-mail to bursar@osu.edu.

Those who still want or need to visit the office will find its hours have been expanded from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to include 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Additionally, a toll-free phone number, (800) 635-8944, is serviced until 8 p.m. each weekday.

next page...