Marion campus celebrates arrival of Smithsonian prairie exhibit

The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History's "Listening to the Prairie: Farming in Nature's Image" traveling exhibit is currently on display through Oct. 11 in the Marion Campus Library, one of only 20 stops it is making on a three-year tour of cities across the United States. Exhibit hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

The exhibition focuses on agriculture in the North American prairie and the forces of change that turned vast grasslands into one of the most productive agricultural lands on Earth. A free audio tour, an interactive panel entitled "The Productive Prairie" and full color displays depict the prairie ecosystem and the forces of change, which have led to alternative agricultural practices.

Smithsonian exhibition visitors are also invited to tour the nine-acre Prairie Nature Center on the Marion campus, as well as participate in numerous programs planned in conjunction with the exhibit. Other events are:

• A prairie watercolor exhibit at Kuhn Arts Gallery features the work of George Olson, professor emeritus at the College of Wooster. The Prairie Watercolors show, sponsored in part by Central Soya and the Ohio Arts Council, will continue through Sept. 18.

• A prairie dinner and presentation by Ohio Prairie Association President John Blakeman entitled "The Ohio Prairie Story" will be held Sept. 15 in the Alber Student Center. Dinner is at 6 p.m., with the talk beginning at 7:30 p.m. Dinner is $6. For reservations, call (740) 389-OSUM, ext. 6780, or e-mail waddell.29@osu.edu.

• "Quilting in Nature's Image" will display fabric artistry inspired by nature and showcase the talent of members of the local Stitch and Chatter quilting group. The show opens at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 in the Kuhn Fine Arts Gallery and runs through Oct. 8. A "Quilting Prairie Stories" program will be held at 7 p.m. following the opening ceremonies.

• Sept. 22 is Prairie Day, with six hours of fun, educational, prairie-style activities running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants can take a horse-drawn wagon ride, learn about Native American lifeways, listen to ethereal flute music by Walks Tall, take in quilting and plowing demonstrations and talk with costumed living history interpreters about pioneer life on Ohio prairies.

• Jeff Mortenson, who belongs to the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe, will share the process that his family has undertaken to improve their ranch environment in a slide and lecture presentation at 7 p.m. Oct. 4, entitled "Prairie Restoration: A Lahkota Spiritual Journey." Mortenson is one of the farmers featured in the Smithsonian traveling exhibition.

For details about any of these events, call (740) 389-6786, ext. 6254, or visit the Web at www.marion.ohio-state.edu.

Minority Affairs hosts 30th annual reception

Faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni and friends are invited to join the Office of Minority Affairs for the 30th Annual Minority Graduate and Professional Student Orientation and Reception Sept. 20 at the Holiday Inn on the Lane. Registration is at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Yvette McGee Brown will deliver the keynote address. The deadline to RSVP is Sept. 12.

For details, call 292-0964 or e-mail taylor.972@osu.edu.

Glenn Institute offers MAPS training

Training workshops for the 2001-02 Management Advancement for the Public Service (MAPS) series will begin in September. Forty-eight programs are scheduled throughout the year and are available to faculty and staff members at all levels. Available courses and descriptions are available online.

For details, call 292-3242 or visit the Web at www.osu.edu/glenninstitute/MDP.html.

Proposals sought for BETHA funding

The Battelle Endowment for Technology and Human Affairs (BETHA) Committee invites proposals from full-time faculty for projects that address the interactions between science and technology, and the social and cultural affairs of the human community. BETHA places a strong emphasis on educational and public service programs. The deadline for proposals is Nov. 16. Details and guidelines are online.

For information, contact clark-keys.1@osu.edu or visit the Web at http://oaa.ohio-state.edu/betha/index.htm.

The James sponsors Boys' Night Out

Join staff of the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute for Boys' Night Out, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Lennox Inn Conference Center (I-70 and state Route 256), and hear the latest information on screening, prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. The program includes a free spaghetti dinner and a question-and-answer session conducted by Patrick DiMeo, a specialist in prostate cancer at The James.

The program is free, but participants must register by calling the JamesLine at (800) 293-5066.

OLN seeks technology conference proposals

Ohioans working in technology-enhanced teaching and learning are invited to become a part of the third Ohio Learning Network (OLN) conference, OLN2002: Energizing Higher Education Through Instructional Technology. The conference will be held March 4-5 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton Town Center. OLN is seeking proposals for presentations about: Offering Courses at a Distance; Using Technology to Enhance the Classroom Experience; and Instructional Design and Support.

Proposals may be submitted online until Oct. 15. Registration will be available online in December.

For details, visit the Web at www.oln.org/OLN2002.

Bridge courses offered fall quarter

The Office of Continuing Education is offering several courses fall quarter through its Bridge program. Courses offered are Basic Computer Literacy, First-Year English Composition, Introduction to Fiction, Family Financial Management I and General Psychology.

For details, call 292-8860 or visit www.continuinged.ohio-state.edu/CED_Bridge.html.

Human Ecology hosts 5K fund-raiser

Runners can help service agencies and the community east of the University by entering the College of Human Ecology's second annual The Bucks Are Back 5K Run and Walk at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 23. Held in conjunction with Welcome Week, the race course will wind through the Columbus campus. All participants will receive a free T-shirt, and trophies will be awarded.

To download a registration form, visit www.hec.ohio-state.edu/feature/funrun_2001_application.pdf, or register online at www.premier-races.com/osu.htm. Participants also may register the day of the event. The cost is $10 for students and alumni, $15 for others.

For details, contact Andrea Bowlin at 292-6516 or bowlin.6@osu.edu.

Diversity lectures resume Sept. 26

The President and Provost's Diversity Lecture Series will resume this academic year with 10 scheduled presentations on a range of subjects, including issues surrounding multiculturalism, gender, the American Indian movement, battered women, Jewish Americans, and gay and lesbian concerns.

The first lecture of the year is Sept. 26, when Beth Loffreda, assistant professor of English at the University of Wyoming, will present "Learning from Laramie: The Struggle Over Gay and Lesbian Issues in Contemporary America."

The lecture begins at 9 a.m. in the Ohio Union Conference Theatre.

For more information, contact Frank Hale at 688-4255 or Trina Phillips at 688-4240.

The James sponsors new support group

A Bone Marrow Transplant Support Group will be meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month, in Room 518 at The James, OSU Medical Center. The support group is designed to provide a safe and caring environment for patients who have undergone a bone marrow transplant of any type. Registrations are now being accepted for these sessions, which begin Sept. 20. There is no fee to participate, but registration is required.

For details or to register, call The JamesLine at 293-5066 or (800) 293-5066, or Larisa Demshuk at 293-9152.

Women's Club hosts tea with the Kirwans

The University Women's Club is inviting Ohio State faculty spouses/partners and staff to a tea hosted by President and Mrs. Kirwan, to be held at their home from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 2. Guests are welcome.

For details or to sign up for the tea, call Women's Club President Riek Oldenquist at 262-3582 by Sept. 24.

Chinese Studies hosts symposium

Ohio State's new Institute for Chinese Studies will sponsor an inaugural fall symposium titled "China and the U.S. in the 21st Century: Politics, Economics, and International Relations" on Sept. 28-29. Sponsored in part by the Mershon Center and the institute, the events will take place at the Mershon Center.

The symposium will include a keynote presentation by Sheng-tsung Yang, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, and panels featuring OSU and visiting scholars in political science, law, business and anthropology.

Registration is free and available by calling the institute at 247-6893 or sending e-mail to bi.2@osu.edu. For more information, visit the Web at www.osu.edu/ics.

Medical Center to offer free screenings

"Legs For Life," a free screening provided by radiologists at the Ohio State Medical Center to detect peripheral vascular disease, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Medical Center. The disease is common and potentially fatal, and is caused by blocked or reduced blood flow to the arteries of the legs. It also can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

To schedule an appointment, call 293-5347.

Hospitals announce changes in co-pay

With the various changes taking place within managed care companies, University Hospitals and University Hospitals East have begun asking patients for their co-pay at the time of service. This includes all services, such as inpatient admissions, outpatient surgeries, emergency visits and select outpatient visits. Payment will be accepted in the form of charge (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover), check or exact cash.

For details, call customer service at 293-2100.

Faculty Council hosts orientation

Faculty Council will host a New Senators' Orientation today (Sept. 13) from 8:30-11 a.m. in the Faculty Club Grand Lounge.

The agenda includes presentations by President Brit Kirwan and Provost Edward J. Ray, as well as remarks from several University Senate committee chairs. A Senate committee roundtable and discussion will complete the meeting.

For information, call the Senate office at 292-2423.

Conference explores disability issues

Ohio State is hosting "Access, Advocacy, Achievement," a conference for sharing information to assist students in transitioning from high school to college; vocational, technical or proprietary school to employment; and an overview of IDEA/Section 504/Title II/ADA. Presented by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and the Ohio Department of Education, the conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 4 (Columbus campus), Oct. 30 (Mansfield campus), Feb. 5 (Marion campus) and Feb. 27 (SERRC in Cincinnati).

The conference is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. For details or to register, contact Maria Schloendorn at (216) 522-2687, (216) 522-4944 (TTY) or maria.schloendorn@ed.gov.

Celebrate Ohio Parent's Week

OSU Extension Human Development and Family Science has joined with the office of the First Lady of Ohio Hope Taft, the Ohio Department of Health, and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences to participate in a "You Gotta Love Parents" initiative. The event spans the week of Sept. 24 to 29 to recognize parents for all that they do to nurture children who are the state's future.

The public is invited to the Sept. 18 kickoff of Ohio Parent's Week at 1:30 p.m. in the Ohio State House Senate Chamber, where Hope Taft will present a proclamation to Judge Andy Devine, who proposed establishment of Ohio Parent's Week.

An OSU CARES grant supports Ohio State's role in the event.

For details, contact Jackie Kirby, OSU Extension specialist on parenting, 688-3486 or kirby.21@osu.edu, or Kirk Bloir, OSU Extension associate, 688-4203 or bloir.1@osu.edu, or visit the Web at www.yougottaloveparents.org.