Board approves construction activity

The University Board of Trustees, meeting Dec. 6, authorized a number of construction-related activities. Those actions are listed below.

Construction projects authorized

The board authorized the employment of architects/engineers for the following projects:

• Replacement of the existing fire alarm system in Drackett and Taylor towers. The estimated project cost is $1.034 million and total estimated construction cost is $875,387, with funding provided by University bond proceeds with debt service paid by the Student Affairs Revenue Fund.

• Construction of a two-story structure at Ohio State Marion to house the expanded student services, master of social work program and nursing program. The total estimated project cost is $3.7 million and the total estimated construction cost is $2.86 million, with funding provided by House Bill 640, University bond proceeds with debt service paid by the Marion campus, and the Marion campus.

• Finalization of the design begun in 1982 for the construction of a northbound state Route 315 exit ramp to Cannon Drive and a southbound entrance ramp from Cannon Drive to state Route 315. The estimated design cost is $800,000, with funding provided by University Hospitals, and the estimated construction cost is $10 million, with funding provided jointly by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the OSU Medical Center. Project bidding and construction administration are under the direction of the Ohio Department of Transportation.

• Renovation of Starling-Loving Hall to expand the biostatistics space. The total estimated project cost is $315,000 and the total estimated construction cost is $252,000, with funding provided by the Office of Research.

The board also authorized a request for construction bids for the Drackett and Taylor towers fire alarm upgrade and the Marion campus and Starling-Loving Hall projects.

Award of contracts

The board approved the award of contracts for the following projects:

• The Hopkins Hall ceramic facility renovation, at a total project cost of $1.01 million, with funding provided by House Bill 850, the College of the Arts and central University funds.

• Arps Hall Lab renovation, at a total project cost of $420,860, with funding provided by House Bills 748 and 790, the Classroom Pool and the College of Education.

• Campbell Hall chiller replacement, at a total project cost of $310,778, with funding provided by House Bill 748.

• Campus buildings -- OSHA fume hood monitors, Phase I, at a total project cost of $500,000, with funding provided by House Bill 850. It is scheduled for completion in April.

• Campus grounds street rebuilding, at a total project cost of $515,595, with funding provided by House Bill 640 and Transportation and Parking Services.

• Campus lighting Phase VII, at a total project cost of $500,144, with funding provided by House Bill 640 and the Department of Physical Facilities. Completion is scheduled for March.

• Central Classroom Building roof replacement, at a total project cost of $189,650, with funding provided by the departments of Physical Facilities and Facilities Planning and Development.

• Converse Hall roof replacement, at a total project cost of $183,498, with funding provided by House Bill 748 and the Department of Physical Facilities.

• Derby Hall roof replacement, at a total project cost of $439,357, with funding provided by House Bill 850. Completion is scheduled for this month.

• Fawcett Center -- University Development Phase I, at a total project cost of $540,558, with funding provided by University Development.

• Hughes Hall Auditorium accessibility, at a total project cost of $200,000, with funding provided by House Bills 748 and 790.

• Jones Tower fire alarm system replacement, at a total project cost of $453,065, with funding provided by University bond proceeds with debt service paid by Student Affairs.

• Kinnear Road Center Building A roof replacement, at a total project cost of $164,608, with funding provided by House Bill 640.

• McCracken steam turbine vibration monitoring, at a total project cost of $257,809, with funding provided by House Bill 640. Completion is expected in February.

• Mount Hall HVAC modifications, at a total project cost of $518,196, with funding provided by House Bill 850, the Office of Research and the Department of Physical Facilities.

• Oxley Hall roof replacement, at a total project cost of $331,932, with funding provided by House Bills 748 and 790. Completion is scheduled for August.

• Pomerene Hall renovation, at a total project cost of $567,906, with funding provided by House Bill 850 and Student Affairs.

• Starling-Loving fire pump installation, at a total project cost of $250,000, with funding provided by House Bill 640.

• Thompson Library carpeting, at a total project cost of $730,346, with funding provided by House Bills 640 and 850, and University Libraries.

• Thompson Library roof replacement, at a total project cost of $624,273, with funding provided by House Bill 850 and the Department of Physical Facilities.

• Utilities high voltage electric circuit, at a total project cost of $198,298, with funding provided by House Bill 850. Completion is scheduled for February.

• Veterinary Hospital roof replacement Phase I, at a total project cost of $500,000, with funding provided by House Bill 850.

• Waterman Laboratory headquarters, at a total project cost of $640,000, with funding by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and OSU Extension.

Policy calls for accessible Web design

An open e-mail discussion list across the University has been established as a forum to discuss new guidelines advanced in a draft revision of Ohio State's policies on accessible Web design. The final version of the University's new Web Access Policy is due to be released in February.

The revisions have been drafted to guide the University in providing information in accessible formats for individuals with disabilities. The core group behind the revision effort includes the Web Policy Committee, the Office of Information Technology (OIT), the Web Accessibility Center/Office for Disability Services, the Office of Media Relations, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator's Office/Academic Affairs.

"The creation and dissemination of knowledge is a defining characteristic of the University and is fundamental to Ohio State's mission as a land grant institution," Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray said recently. "The rapid growth of knowledge combined with the speed of change in information technologies is creating new challenges and opportunities for the communication of knowledge. Nowhere is this more evident than in our efforts to provide information in accessible formats for individuals with disabilities."

A draft of the University's revised Web Access Policy and the Minimum Standards for Web Access can be found on the ADA Coordinator's Web page, http://ada.osu.edu. The standards are based on emerging national standards for accessible Web design and are firmly rooted in state and federal civil rights legislation, including the "effective communication" requirement of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A foundation for the transition to the new policy already has been established with workshops and educational materials offered through the University's Web Accessibility Center, OIT, the Office for Disability Services and the ADA Coordinator's Office. These groups will continue to provide support as the new policy is implemented.

The timeline for implementation allows most offices to make minor edits of existing Web pages and to design access into planned page revisions. Access as one more design element does not have a truly separable cost any more than the choice of font does. However, it is expected that the individuals designing pages who do not have experience in accessible design will spend an additional three to 15 hours learning to apply basic access parameters to their designs.

To subscribe to the discussion list, send an e-mail to listserver@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu and, in the body of the message, type: subscribe adawebpol First name Last name.

Editorial comments or questions about implementation should be sent to ADA Coordinator L. Scott Lissner at ADA-OSU@osu.edu.

GLBT Awareness observed Jan. 18-31

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) and GLBT-supportive groups at Ohio State are sponsoring a wide range of events from Jan. 18-31 to observe the University's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Ally (GLBTIA) Awareness Weeks.

"With so many different types of events to enjoy, from a queer Shabbat to a student and alumni bowling night to educational programming, this year's Awareness Weeks will definitely have something for everyone," said Judie Almeida Levensailor, a graduate assistant in GLBT Student Services and an organizer of awareness activities.

Highlights of the Awareness Weeks include presentations and workshops by Denise Uyehara and Lani Ka'ahumanu and a concert by Michelle Malone.

A Los Angeles-based performance artist, Uyehara will bring her widely acclaimed show "Hello (Sex) Kitty: Mad Asian Bitch on Wheels" to the Bowen Theater in The Drake Performance and Event Center on Jan. 24. The performance offers both humorous and moving takes on Asian American identity, HIV/AIDS, women loving women and male-female relations. Uyehara will also lead two free workshops to help others tell their stories through performance.

One of the first bisexual activists, Lani Ka'ahumanu co-edited Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out, the pioneering anthology by and about bisexuals, and was instrumental in getting bisexuality on the agendas of many lesbian and gay rights organizations. Ka'ahumanu also founded San Francisco's Safer Sex Sluts, a sex-positive HIV/AIDS education troupe, and has inspired safer-sex advocates in other cities, including Columbus, to create similar groups. She will lead a free safer-sex workshop titled "The SEX Files: The Truth Is Down There" on Jan. 28 at Stonewall Columbus and a talk, "Who Put the'B' in My GLBT?: A Personal History of Bisexual Activism," on Jan. 29 in 100 Mendenhall.

Musician Michelle Malone is quickly making a name for herself with her seventh release, "Hello Out There." Locally, Malone opened for the Indigo Girls during their last stop in Columbus. She will appear with her band at Club 202 on Jan. 26.

The full calendar of events follows. For more information, contact Brett Beemyn at 292-6200 or beemyn.1@osu.edu.

Jan. 18

Jewish Queers Shabbat, 5:30 p.m., Hillel, 46 E. 16th Ave.; for details, call 294-4797.

Dragdom, with guest appearances by H.I.S. Kings, 9 p.m., Woody's, Ohio Union.

Jan. 22

Guess the Straight Person, 7 p.m., Bradley Hall Lobby.

Hermanas y Hermanos Somos: Sisters and Brothers Forever! brownbag discussion, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Multicultural Center, 449 Ohio Union.

Jan. 23

Pizza Party and OSU Student Bowling Night at Mr. Bill's, meet at 8 p.m. in Ohio Union Gray Suite G.

Jan. 24

Guess the Straight Person, 7 p.m., Morrill Tower Browsing Room.

Denise Uyehara performing Hello (Sex) Kitty: Mad Asian Bitch on Wheels, 8 p.m., Bowen Theatre, The Drake, free for OSU students, $5 for general admission at the door.

Jan. 25

Denise Uyehara Finding Voice Performance Workshop, noon-3 p.m., New Works Lab, 2066 The Drake; free but space is limited -- RSVP to 292-6200.

Jan. 26

Denise Uyehara Finding Voice Performance Workshop, 1-4 p.m., New Works Lab, 2066 The Drake, RSVP to 292-6200.

Michelle Malone, 9 p.m., Club 202, 202 E. Long St., $6 cover.

Jan. 28

Lani Ka'ahumanu The SEX Files: The Truth Is Down There workshop, 7 p.m., Stonewall Columbus, 1160 N. High St.

Guess the Straight Person, 7 p.m., Nosker House Lobby.

Get Real, free screening, 8 p.m., Ohio Union Conference Theatre.

Jan. 29

Association of GLBT Faculty and Staff Luncheon with President Brit Kirwan and Provost Ed Ray, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Faculty Club Grand Lounge, $10 for faculty/staff, $8 for students; space is limited -- RSVP to zach@osu.edu.

Lani Ka'ahumanu, Who Put the'B' in My GLBT?: A Personal History of Bisexual Activism, 4:30 p.m., 100 Mendenhall.

Jan. 30

Being GLBT and Spiritual: Not a Contradiction, 8 p.m., Ohio Union East Ballroom.

Jan. 31

Out at Lunch discussion series kick-off event, featuring faculty members Leila Rupp and Verta Taylor presenting "What Makes a Man, a Man?: Drag Queens at the 801 Cabaret," noon-1 p.m., Multicultural Center, 436 Ohio Union.

Guess the Straight Person, 7 p.m., Park Hall Lobby.