APRIL IS DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH

A sign of the times

ASL course, disability studies minor new to this academic year

By Shannon Wingard, Media Relations

One in five people in the United States and about 12 percent of the working population has a disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

To increase awareness about disabilities, Ohio State has created a Disability Studies minor and a four-course American Sign Language (ASL) program this academic year. The minor and the ASL program are interdisciplinary initiatives and are supported by the colleges of Education, Humanities, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Around 1,800 students, faculty and staff at Ohio State self-identify that they have disabilities, said L. Scott Lissner, the university's ADA coordinator. Therefore, the minor and the ASL program are important additions to the university's curriculum. Lissner said if people were more comfortable with discussing disabilities, he thinks the actual number of Ohio State people who report having one would increase.

"I think having a Disability Studies minor at Ohio State will help encourage individuals to feel more comfortable about disclosing their disability when there is a need,"Lissner said. "The creation of the ASL program and the minor says something about an institution and its culture aside from the fact that we are ready to comply with the law. There are not a lot of formal programs in disability studies since it is a relatively new field as an academic discipline. This is an important step for Ohio State."

The minor was first available to students during winter quarter. Although it was mostly designed from existing courses, two new required courses were developed for the minor: English 277-Introduction to Disability Studies, and Speech/Hearing 510-Disability Studies in Context. The ASL program, which was first offered last fall, can be taken to fulfill the foreign language requirements for undergraduate students. While the two programs are in some ways connected, they are also separate initiatives.

The ASL program is a result of years of planning and discussion between faculty members in the College of Education and the departments of English and Speech and Hearing Science, said Brenda Brueggemann, an associate professor of English who is hard-of-hearing. Brueggemann, who did not learn American Sign Language until she was 29 years old, was determined to give people the chance to learn ASL earlier in their lives. She said the creation of the ASL program and the minor in Disability Studies demonstrates to the public Ohio State's commitment to raising disability awareness.

"Columbus has a long-standing record of having a large deaf or hard-of-hearing population,"she said. "People with disabilities tend to flock to urban areas and capital cities. I think the programs will benefit Ohio State with the community connection."

The first two ASL courses are offered through the College of Humanities and are the same for all students. However, students can choose to take separate upper-level courses, in either the College of Education or the Department of Speech and Hearing Science, depending on their area of academic focus.

"The use of ASL is basically the same throughout all three colleges, except that the College of Education and the Department of Speech and Hearing Science are responsible for the upper-level courses,"said Peter Paul, professor of education in the School of Teaching and Learning and adjunct professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science who is profoundly hard-of-hearing. "If students choose to complete the sequence in education, for example, then they will be exposed to educational issues. Students completing the sequence in Speech and Hearing Science are exposed to issues relevant to professionals in that field.

"Admittedly, this is a unique arrangement; however, I feel that it is most beneficial because students are likely to come away with a more complete and ‘balanced' view of perspectives of deafness and the use of American Sign Language,"Paul said.

Along with the ASL program, the Disability Studies minor focuses on cultural, political, sociological, medical, technological and legal issues to provide a coherent view of disability and deafness.

Robert Fox, chair of the Department of Speech and Hearing Science, said the creation of the Disability Studies minor shows that Ohio State is dedicated to increasing disability awareness.

"This is truly a collaboration that all of us have worked very hard toward,"Fox said. "Studying and embracing diversity is extremely important in a university setting. Clearly, I think Ohio State should be expected to reflect the interests of our neighborhood. I think if we have a variety of cultures in our midst, then we need to offer studies of what is important to the population."

Highlighted events

Disability Awareness Month activities are sponsored by the Office of Disability Services and in part by the Rehabilitation Counseling Master's Program. For a complete listing of events, call 292-3307 or visit www.ods.ohio-state.edu/.

• April 15-16, Multiple Perspectives on Disability Conference, covering many aspects of disability and service to persons with disabilities. Speakers will focus on disability studies, transitions issues for high school students with disabilities, and civil rights issues. Cost is $25 each day and registration is required. Call 292-6207 for information. Sponsored by the ADA Coordinator's Office.

• April 16, Dorms Go To the Dogs, 7 p.m., Drackett Tower. Representatives from Canine Companions and Pilot Dogs will demonstrate training techniques used for training and raising dogs used by people with disabilities. Open to
• all residence hall students and other interested parties.

Moore leaving for Northwestern

Rosol to serve as interim vice president for research

By Earle Holland, Research Communications

Vice President for Research C. Bradley Moore, who shepherded the institution's dramatic increase in research growth during the last three years, has accepted a similar position at Northwestern University. He starts that new post May 1.

After nearly 40 years as a faculty researcher and research administrator at the University of California, Berkeley, Moore came to Ohio State in July 2000, to head an already strong research program. Earlier this year, he announced that university research awards reached $426 million, representing a 13 percent increase over last year's totals but an 80 percent leap over what the university received in 1997-98.

C. Bradley Moore

"All of the growth we have seen in recent years came directly from the tremendous success that our faculty has had in competing for grants at a national level,"Moore said. "Ohio State's researchers have shown that they are equal to the challenges that face the state in the coming years. I am extremely proud of their accomplishments."

In addition to the growth in research funding, Moore pointed with pride to the changes and improvements that have occurred in the university's units that support research.

"We have great new leadership in these areas, which will reinforce our faculty's efforts. We are well on the way to bringing these programs to the level they must reach to serve the university in the future."

Moore also cited as high points during his time at Ohio State the growth that multidisciplinary programs have experienced across the campus during his tenure as key to the university's continuing success.

"The strength of programs in international and homeland security, in broad-scale studies of global climate change and initiatives aimed at the restoration of the Mississippi River Basin are all important in demonstrating the university's role as a source and provider of information and new knowledge in the next century,"he said.

President Karen Holbrook said that Moore is an exceptional research leader to whom the university is deeply indebted.

"Brad's arrival here from his beloved Berkeley brought great prestige, dignity and commitment to help Ohio State's researchers reach their potential. His ability to mobilize partnerships, to foster innovation and to set lofty but attainable goals has been a cornerstone of our success in research. He also recruited first-rate faculty and staff to the Office of Research. He has blazed the path for us to walk. He will be greatly missed but we wish him the best in his new challenges,"she said.

Moore countered, "What has been done in the past three years is to set the stage for Ohio State to move to the next level, to help the state of Ohio meet its challenges for the future through the Third Frontier Program."

While here, Moore also served as president of the Ohio State University Research Foundation. He was a Distinguished Professor of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and a professor of chemistry, where he directed an active research program on molecular energy transfer, chemical reaction dynamics, photochemistry and spectroscopy.

Moore was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1986 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1996. He is a member of the American Chemical Society, and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His work has been recognized by more than a dozen fellowships and awards over the years.

A native of Boston, he received his B.S. from Harvard University in 1960 and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California in 1963.

Rosol begins May 1

Thomas J. Rosol, a professor of veterinary biosciences and second-in-command in the Office of Research, has been named interim vice president for research, effective May 1, pending approval of the Board of Trustees.

Rosol joined the Office of Research in July 2002 as senior associate vice president under Moore. Since assuming this position, Rosol has supported a number of multidisciplinary initiatives and centers, including the campus chemical instrumentation center and the campus-wide biomedical imaging effort.

In addition, he played a key role in evaluating the effects of budget restructuring on research and in educating faculty about those changes. Rosol joined Ohio State's faculty in 1986 and became a full professor of veterinary biosciences in 1996. He is principal investigator or co-investigator on seven active research projects at Ohio State with $2.3 million in support from the National Cancer Institute, the National Center for Research Resources and the Schering-Plough Research Institute.

"I'm looking forward to working with President Holbrook, the rest of the university administration and the faculty to promote Ohio State's important research mission,"Rosol said.

He received a PhD in experimental pathobiology from Ohio State in 1986.

Heritage festival to host town hall meeting

BET's Ed Gordon will deliver the 25th anniversary keynote address

By Liz Cook, Media Relations

A town hall meeting followed by a keynote address from Black Entertainment Television (BET) anchor Ed Gordon will kick off the 25th anniversary of the Ohio State African American Heritage Festival at 6 p.m. April 21 in the Ohio Union ballrooms. The event is free and open to the public.

"AHALI,"the Swahili word for family, is the focus of the 2003 celebration that runs through April 27, and is the subject of a community-wide forum on "The Changing Face of the Black Family: What have we done? What can we do?"

Ed Gordon

Gordon, an Emmy award-winning journalist and host of "BET Tonight,"also will host a student leadership summit and networking dinner prior to the event.

Student event co-chair Bumi Gbadamosi said the town hall meeting starts the festival on a positive note.

"We thought a lot about the different topics we could feature but felt there was no better place to start than with a discussion about family,"Gbadamosi said. "‘Bringing It Back to Family' is our theme this year, so a forum that focuses on maintaining the family unit seemed to be the best place to start."

Gbadamosi added that Columbus was selected the best city in the United States for African American families by BET in October 2002, yet there are still many issues that threaten black families on a national scale, such as crime, health care, employment and education.

Co-chair Troy Freeland said having Gordon's participation is a unique opportunity.

"Mr. Gordon is respected nationally and has been extremely successful in his career,"Freeland said. "We are excited to have him as our workshop facilitator and keynote speaker."

Gordon returned to BET in 1998 following three years as a correspondent for NBC and MSNBC. "BET Tonight with Ed Gordon"airs daily and features one-on-one interviews.

Throughout his career he has secured some of the most sought-after interviews and covered many of the country's biggest news stories, including the only exclusive interview with O.J. Simpson, Pope John Paul II's historic visit to Cuba, President Clinton's impeachment hearings, and Republican Senator Trent Lott.

A native of Detroit, Gordon earned his bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Western Michigan University.

Belinda Higgs, interim coordinator for African American Student Services and program director for the heritage festival, said student organizers really want this event to make an impact on the university and Columbus community.

"The students thought extensively and worked hard to find a prominent individual to kick off the 25th anniversary,"Higgs said. "Ed Gordon was selected as someone who could provide a national perspective and positive feedback regarding the family unit and young black males in particular."

For additional information on the African American Heritage Festival, call 688-8449 or visit www.osuheritagefestival.com.

International group accredits animal care program

By Earle Holland, Research Communications

The international organization responsible for certifying institutions that use research animals has once again reviewed and approved of Ohio State's program.

The Council on Accreditation of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) reviewed the institution's program late last fall and granted Ohio State deferred continued accreditation.

"The Council commends you and your staff for providing and maintaining a generally sound program of laboratory animal care and use,"Michael C. Ballinger, vice president of the AAALAC council, wrote in a letter to the university.

"Particularly noteworthy were the institutional commitment to the program, the high level of husbandry and sanitation, the very capable Institutional Laboratory Animal Care and Use Committee (ILACUC) Administrator, the sound veterinary care program, and the excellent staff training and crisis management programs."

AAALAC's evaluation of an institution's animal care program can result in an institution receiving either a continued, deferred continued, or conditional ranking. In other cases, the institution can be notified it has been placed on probation or that AAALAC intends to revoke its accreditation.

Ohio State's "deferred continued"status was based on a small number of issues the visiting accreditation team raised last fall. The university has already provided AAALAC with clarifying information concerning these issues and rectified any minor problems that were uncovered.

"We take very seriously our responsibility to be good stewards of the animals used in university research and to insure their health and well-being while in our care,"said Tom Rosol, senior associate vice president for research.

"Our diligence toward animal care is simply the ‘right' thing to do,"Rosol said. "In addition, it has a positive effect on the research we have underway, much of which is devoted to human medicine, but which can ultimately benefit animals."

William Yonushonis, director of laboratory animal resources on campus, said, "We have invested an enormous amount of time and resources in recent years into creating a model program for using research animals. The institution is committed to continually improving our program at every opportunity."

Yonushonis said the university is constantly working to reduce the number of animals required to conduct its research projects and uses alternative approaches to animal use when and where they are feasible. In 2002, Ohio State used 77,056 animals in ongoing research programs. Approximately 93 percent of those were rats and mice.

Since 1989, the number of new animal projects increased 80 percent. At the same time, Ohio State's use of higher animals has been reduced dramatically:

• Primates were reduced from 185 to 21 ­ an 88 percent reduction;

• Dog use dropped from 1,501 to 524 ­ a reduction of 65 percent;

• Cat use dwindled from 687 to 120 ­ a reduction of 82 percent; and

• Rabbit use fell from 926 to 403 ­ a drop of 56 percent.

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