United Black World Month kicks off

By Jo McCulty Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, right, kicked off Ohio State's 33rd annual celebration of United Black World Month with a lecture Jan. 30 at the Ohio Union Main Lounge. McKinney, elected Georgia's first African American congresswoman in 1992, spoke on the topic of "Homeland Security for African Americans in 2003." After her lecture, McKinney chatted with students, including Joshua Fowler, left, a second-year student from Toledo. A celebration of African American history and culture, United Black World Month will feature educational programs, lectures and community events throughout the month of February. Umoja, the Swahili word for unity, is the theme for this year's program.

Interim vice president for development named

John Meyer, associate vice president and director of University development, has been named interim vice president for development and interim president of the Ohio State University Foundation Board, President Karen Holbrook announced Jan. 24. The appointment of Meyer, who has been associated with fund-raising at the University since 1981, is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees at its Feb. 7 meeting.

"I feel very confident that with John, we are in very good hands and will continue to move forward at the same pace," Holbrook said. "John's extensive experience at both the college and university levels, as well as the professionalism and expertise of the entire development staff, will ensure that we continue our progress in this critically important area."

Meyer is filling the position on an interim basis until a permanent replacement for Jerry May is found. May began a job Feb. 1 as vice president for development for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he worked just before coming to Ohio State.

A graduate of the College of Wooster, Meyer earned a master's degree in political science from Kent State University. He has spent his entire professional career in development, beginning in 1974 as assistant director of development and alumni relations at the College of Wooster. He also was director of development at Centenary College of Louisiana before arriving at Ohio State in 1981 as the development director for the law school. In 1992, he was named assistant vice president and director of University development, and in 2001 associate vice president and director.

He currently manages the fund-raising staff of 70 professionals assigned to work with the colleges, schools and programs, and provides strategic planning and implementation expertise in raising significant gifts.

Meyer played a significant role in the University's $1.23 billion "Affirm Thy Friendship" campaign.

Holbrook said a national search will be conducted for May's permanent replacement, and a search committee will be named shortly.

Home run

By Deb Wentz Ned Cullom announces that the 2002 Community Charitable Campaign raised $837,500 for local health and human services charities.

2002 Community Charitable Drive meets, exceeds goal

By Susan Wittstock, onCAMPUS staff

Not only did Ohio State beat its own goal for the 2002 Community Charitable Drive, it gave it a sound drumming, with donations hitting an all time high of $837,500.

"This $837,500 represents a 4.7 percent increase above our goal of $800,000," Ned Cullom, program manager for the Office of Human Resources, told 125 lead coordinators, administrators and leading donors at a finale luncheon on Jan. 30. "We thought we might have to struggle to reach that goal, but I am so thrilled and excited to say we have exceeded it through the generosity of the University community."

David Andrews, dean of the College of Human Ecology and chair of the drive, said he was glad to see donations up in spite of the sagging economy.

"This challenge becomes greater in tough economic times because it's more difficult to raise the money, but the irony is that the charities we are giving to need the money all the more right now," he said.

The drive began Oct. 1 and officially ended Nov. 27. More than 75 percent of offices and units met or exceeded their goals.

Eight federations of charities are the designated recipients of funds: the Black United Fund of Ohio; Community Health Charities of Ohio; Earth Share of Ohio; Community Shares of Mid Ohio; The United Negro College Fund; and United Way of Central Ohio, Delaware and Fairfield counties. Each group serves as an umbrella organization for several independent member agencies.

Last year, the Columbus campus raised $793,276 -- 104 percent of the $760,000 goal. In 2000, Ohio State raised $746,800; in 1999, $717,871; and in 1998, $651,000.

The final goal is met after getting its start in individual units and departments, where lead coordinators ensure that faculty and staff are aware of the opportunity to give.

Amy Hurley and Sean Benick were lead coordinators for the University Health System, organizing an effort to reach nearly 7,000 employees. "The hospital really supports this effort," Hurley said. "We have a coordinating team of 200 key workers who take responsibility for anywhere from six to 75 people to pass out and collect pledge cards."

The hospitals raised $96,000, in part through fund-raising events such as a harvest festival, with servings of sweet potato pie and pumpkin carving contests, and a tailgate party.

Over at the Office of Academic Affairs, Liz Boster and Janet Ruffing supervised a group of 16 key coordinators, who in turn formed committees in their individual departments. Boster and her colleagues solicited donations from restaurants and stores for bingo prizes, organized a pancake breakfast and a bake sale/lunch.

"It really is good bonding. It brings together people from different areas who don't normally get to interact," Boster said.

The activities also are good for reaching monetary goals: Academic Affairs raised $57,000 this year, 40 percent more than its goal of $41,000.

Nancy Rogers, dean of the Moritz College of Law and co-chair of the drive, thanked lead coordinators at the finale and urged them to join her again next year.

"All of you who have worked so hard together on this effort can look back and say, ‘I have done something with a group of people who really cared,'" she said. "Wouldn't you love to have that feeling again next year?"

Bursten recognized by the Royal Society of Chemistry

By Melissa Weber, MAPS Communications

The Faraday Council of the Royal Society of Chemistry has awarded Bruce Bursten, Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Chemistry, the 2003 Spiers Memorial Lectureship. Bursten will accept the award and accompanying medal at a dinner during the Faraday Discussion in April.

This prestigious award is given annually as part of the Faraday Discussion. It is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of the Faraday Discussion and who will provide a stimulating and wide-ranging introductory lecture at the discussion.

Bruce Bursten

Many of the discussions have become landmarks in the development of Physical Chemistry. This year, the topic of the discussion is "Quantum Inorganic Chemistry" and Bursten will deliver "My 25 years in Quantum Inorganic Chemistry: From an Approximate Existence to Functional Happiness."

"That title, which will not mean much to anyone outside of science, reflects changes in the field of quantum inorganic chemistry over the last 25 years," Bursten said. "When I was a graduate student, we had to make some pretty drastic approximations about the quantum behavior of electrons."

Today, with ever more powerful supercomputers such as those at the Ohio Supercomputer Center, Bursten said those observations can be more precise.

"Most of our present calculations involve the methodology that was the basis for the 1998 Nobel Prize in Chemistry," Bursten said. "I am deeply honored to be recognized by the Faraday Society and to join the list of internationally known chemists who also have received the Spiers Prize."

Bursten joins a distinguished group of chemists, including Ohio State Vice President for Research C. Bradley Moore, who is also Distinguished Professor of Mathematical and Physical Sciences in the Department of Chemistry.

"The past recipients of the Spiers' Medal reads like a Who's Who in Physical Chemistry," said Malcolm Chisholm, Distinguished Professor of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Founded more than a century and a half ago, the Royal Society of Chemistry has a global membership of more than 42,000, and the longest continuous tradition of any chemical society in the world. It is the sole heir and successor to four well known and long-established bodies: The Chemical Society (founded in 1841); The Society for Analytical Chemistry (founded in 1874); The Royal Institute of Chemistry (founded in 1877); and The Faraday Society (founded in 1903). The Royal Society of Chemistry fulfils the roles previously undertaken by all four of these bodies. In accordance with its first Royal Charter, granted in 1848, the RSC continues to pursue the aims of the advancement of chemistry as a science, the dissemination of chemical knowledge, and the development of chemical applications.

next page...