Actor and social activist Christopher Reeve gives an inspirational speech at commencement June 13 in Ohio Stadium.   Photos by Jo McCulty

Reeve to graduates: ‘Hold principles close'

By JONI BENTZ SEAL, onCAMPUS staff

In her introduction, President Karen Holbrook called him a champion and role model for people withspinal cord injuries, an admired spokesman and an inspiration to all.

In his commencement address June 13 at Ohio Stadium, Christopher Reeve -- actor, director and social activist -- offered that inspiration to 6,769 graduates, urging them to remain true to their principles, uphold their morals and ethics, be tolerant of diversity, and to let those values guide them as they embark on their careers and lives.

"I wanted to be here today to pay tribute to the longstanding ideals of the university: compassion for our fellow human beings, the aspiration to be champions in all arenas of life, and the desire to make a difference," Reeve said.

In a speech sprinkled with humor and acknowledged with two standing ovations, Reeve began by citing the ideals of the university's founding 133 years ago that have remained among its top priorities, most notably the areas of outreach, diversity, community service and research.

Saluting these "Points of Pride," Reeve offered his congratulations to the graduating class and commended their contribution to the university's outstanding achievements. "But I also want to sound a note of caution as you leave this sanctuary of learning, self-discovery and ethical conduct to make your way in the outside world," he said.

"You have been taught to work hard, not to cheat, and balance your own advancement with service to others. But when you look beyond this campus, you witness seemingly endless examples of questionable conduct in government, religion, business, the media and even sports," he said. "The challenge before you will be to maintain your integrity in a culture that has devalued it. You will have to bring your own personal and professional ethics with you on the journey when you leave here today, because you may not find anyone to guide you. Living a moral life in an indifferent world is likely to be more difficult than you can imagine."

Former Ohio State president Brit Kirwan receives an honorary degree from President Karen Holbrook.

Reeve urged graduates to listen to the voice inside. "That voice tells us if we are on the right track. It lets us know if we give as much as we take, if we welcome the opinions of others, and at least accept diversity even if we are not able to embrace it," he said. "As you go forward, hopefully that inner voice will remind you of some of the ‘Points of Pride' that bring such distinction to OSU. You'll discover that you can go far by being conscientious, but you will go farther and find true satisfaction by being conscious."

Speaking from personal experience, Reeve said the greatest reward for living a conscious life is that it prepares you to cope with adversity. "If you are open to change and new experiences, if you are accustomed to self-discipline, if you respect others and nurture your relationships, then you will have built a solid platform that will support you and help you deal with anything that comes your way," he said, adding that most will not need to suffer such a life-shattering setback as he to learn the value of living consciously. "My marriage and my relationships with friends and family were alive and well before the accident," he said.

"Since then, they have grown even stronger and given me the ability to recover and go forward."

Reeve said that catastrophic event also changed his perspective about other things -- and people -- in his life, including those whom he'd met during his career that suffered a similar affliction as his own.

"Once I trained with actual paraplegics to portray one in a film. Every evening as I drove away from the rehab center, I quickly pushed those suffering patients out of my mind, relieved that I was not one of them," he said. "Less than a year later, I became paralyzed myself. Did I need to learn something about compassion and humility? No doubt about it."

But it was not until he was immersed in his own rehabilitation that he realized an apparent tragedy had created a unique opportunity, he said. Those same patients who once assisted him in his craft now taught him about hope.

"I was inspired by so many and gradually discovered that I had been given a job that would create urgency and a new direction in my life: I could do something to help," he said.

"Thanks to the education you have received here at Ohio State and the ideals that guide this distinguished university, you have already learned some of the most important principles you will ever need to know: compassion for our fellow human beings, the aspiration to be champions in all arenas of life, and the desire to make a difference. To all of you leaving today I can only say, on behalf of all those who will look to you for guidance and leadership, take those principles with you and hold them close."

At the conclusion of his speech, Holbrook presented Reeve with a university medallion as a memento of the occasion, after which he left to visit with rehabilitation patients in Dodd Hall and meet with Ohio State medical scientists conducting research related to spinal cord injury.

Six individuals were honored with commencement awards for their contributions to society and academics, and their dedication to the university.

Honorary doctorates were presented to: Robert D. Havener, a leader of the Green Revolution to end world hunger; Adrienne L. Kennedy, internationally recognized playwright, poet and adapter; William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland; and Ted Turner, chair of the Turner Foundation, Inc. and former vice chair of AOL Time Warner.

Distinguished Service Awards were presented to: Gerald M. Reagan, professor emeritus in the School of Educational Policy and Leadership; and Micki Zartman, a strong advocate on behalf of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Courtesy of the Medical Center Christopher Reeve, middle, visits with patients and medical staff in the physical therapy gym in Dodd Hall. Since his accident, Reeve has been a spokesman and political activist for spinal cord research and funding, and Ohio State is one of five sites in North America conducting a five-year National Institutes of Health study of various therapies. Dodd Hall is celebrating its 40th year of treating those with head and spinal injuries, as well as those recovering from strokes and orthopedic problems.

State budget impacts timing of benefits, compensation

By SUSAN WITTSTOCK, onCAMPUS staff

As the state budget process winds down, Ohio State continues to examine the timing of benefits and compensation plans.

"We've had to be extremely flexible while planning and implementing benefits and salary changes, and we're asking faculty and staff to be flexible with us," said Larry Lewellen, associate vice president for human resources. "We're doing our best to help the Ohio State community navigate through what could be a very confusing process."

Ohio State administrators announced in May that decisions on compensation increases, which normally go into effect on July 1, would be delayed for most non-bargaining unit staff until the state budget was resolved. The university set Sept. 1 as a revised target effective date for salary increases.

"We are watching the activities at the statehouse closely, and believe that Sept. 1 is still a reasonable target date for the university," Lewellen said.

The university also announced in May that health care premium increases, previously announced as effective on July 1, would also be delayed.

"We are currently working on a plan to determine how to recover the lost revenue from the delay in the premium increase," Lewellen said. "The funds generated from the increases for 2003-04 were earmarked to ensure that the university could continue to provide faculty and staff with quality health care, in the face of soaring costs nationally."

A number of changes to Ohio State's medical, dental and vision plans were announced in April, and most will still go into effect on July 1. (See details on right.) However, prescription drug co-pay increases and specialist visit co-pay increases will be delayed until Sept. 1. The additional co-pay cost will be absorbed through central funding.

What will change July 1:

• The single person out-of-pocket limit for medical coverage increases from $1,500 to $2,000 and the family limit reduces from $4,500 to $4,000.

• The vision plan increases coverage of frames (for every other plan year) from $105 to $155 and contact lenses coverage increases from $75 to $130 when using network providers.

• A $15 deductible for vision coverage goes into effect.

• The maximum annual benefit for dental coverage increases from $1,000 to $1,200 and the orthodontia lifetime maximum increases from $1,000 to $1,200.

• The dental deductible increases from $20 to $40.

• The annual out-of-pocket maximum for pharmacy benefits increases from $1,500 to $1,750.

• All Urgent Care sites have a $30 co-pay.

• Contributions to flexible spending accounts go into effect.

• NGS American assumes Third Party Administrator duties from Central Benefits.

• The university partners with Medical Mutual of Ohio's Traditional provider group for faculty and staff enrolled in the Traditional and Buckeye medical plans.

What will change Sept. 1:

• Medical benefits plans premiums increase Sept. 1.

• The co-pay for specialist physicians (such as cardiology, endocrinology and neurology) increases from $15 to $25.

• The retail minimum of pharmacy benefits increases from $10 to $15 and the retail maximum increases from $75 to $80.

• For home delivery of pharmaceuticals, the co-pays increase from $12 to $15 for generic drugs; $35 to $45 for preferred brand name; and $45 to $65 for non-preferred brand name.

Vice president for university relations named

Murphy holds similar post at Illinois

By DAVID BHAERMAN, University Relations

President Karen Holbrook has named the associate chancellor for public affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, William M. Murphy, to be the university's new vice president for university relations. Murphy's appointment will go before the university's Board of Trustees at its July 11 meeting and is expected to be effective Sept. 2. He will report directly to the president.

William Murphy

Murphy will lead Ohio State's strategic communications efforts in marketing, media relations and research communications to effectively position the university as a top research institution, and will serve as the university's chief spokesperson. He will manage a budget of more than $2 million and a staff of more than 40 people, and will work closely with college and department communications offices to leverage resources on behalf of the university. He also will be responsible for directing the efforts of the WOSU stations and the transition from analog to digital broadcasting. WOSU has a staff of more than 125 people and a budget of approximately $9.2 million.

"Bill's experience leading communications efforts at two exceptional universities makes him tremendously well-qualified to promote the values and excellence at Ohio State, and the progress we are making with the Academic Plan," Holbrook said. "He will be an outstanding addition to my senior administrative team."

Murphy said the opportunity to head Ohio State's communications program is exciting. "Ohio State has great aspirations and a president who makes a compelling case for the university. Faculty, staff and students are the ones who make the real news about a university, and I look forward to working with the people at Ohio State," he said.

Murphy has served since 1995 in his current position at the U of I, where he is campus spokesman and responsible for communications strategy as well as issues management and crisis communications. He also has led efforts to revamp the institution's graphic identity. From 1988 to 1995, he was assistant vice president for university news and publications at the University of Chicago, where he had worked since 1981 in positions that included founding editor of the faculty and staff newspaper, associate director for publications, director of publications, and acting director of the news office.

Murphy holds a Ph.D. in modern Irish history and a master's in modern British history, both from the University of Chicago, where he was a Ford Foundation Fellow. His bachelor's degree is from the University of Notre Dame, and he participated in the Careers in Business program at New York University's Graduate School of Business.

Among his many activities, he has served as co-chair of the public affairs network annual meeting of the Association of American Universities, for which he also serves on the public affairs committee. He is on the advisory committee of the University of Chicago Magazine and has served on the public issues task force of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Murphy replaces Lee Tashjian, who left the university late last year to return to the corporate world. Barbara Snyder, vice provost for academic policy and human resources and professor of law, has served in the position in an interim capacity. The appointment culminates a national search that attracted more than 200 applicants and nominees. William Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, chaired the search committee.