Distinguished lecturer F. Abiola Irele to discuss African influence

The theme of African renewal had an inspirational value for movements of emancipation among black people in America and proved to be a powerful formative influence on African national consciousness, according to F. Abiola Irele, a professor of African-American and African Studies, Comparative Studies and French and Italian.

Irele will discuss these themes during his University Distinguished Lecture at 4 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Wexner Center Film/Video Theater. His lecture is titled "What is Africa to Me?: Africa in the Black Diaspora Imagination."

F. Abiola Irele will deliver the University Distinguished Lecture at 4 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Wexner Center Film/Video Theater.

The free, public lecture will be followed by a reception.

Using history, philosophy and literary theory, Irele will show how black American literature and ideological expression has been influenced by the African homeland and will examine the practical and theoretical implications of the African and African-American relationship. Irele theorizes that the American Black Diaspora has benefited from its observations of Africa's emergence into the modern world, even though that emergence came about in part through practices such as the Atlantic slave trade.

Irele will explore the meaning and resonance of the celebrated poem "Heritage" by the African-American poet Countee Cullen, and show how the poem can offer a re-assessment of the career and work of such prominent social activists as W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey. Irele also will offer a reinterpretation of the African theme in African-American literature. The lecture will be broadcast live internationally on the Web at www.osu.edu/lecture.

The University Distinguished Lecture Series was inaugurated in 1996 as one of the University's highest honors for a senior faculty member. The lectureship is awarded in recognition of outstanding academic achievement, particularly, but not exclusively, in research, scholarship or creative activity. The President's and Provost's Advisory Committee reviews nominations and recommends candidates to the president and provost for final selection.

The Office of Academic Affairs provides a $5,000 award for the distinguished lecturer to designate for a purpose that promotes the academic goals of the individual's college or of the University. Irele has designated that his award should be used in support of the Southern African Praise Poetry Project in the Department of African-American and African Studies.

Morris Dees to deliver diversity lecture

The co-founder and chief trial counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center is the guest speaker Oct. 24 at the second lecture of the President's and Provost's Diversity Lecture Series.

Morris Dees, a civil rights lawyer and activist, will deliver "And Justice for All" at 7:30 p.m. at the Ohio Union.

Dees wrote an autobiography, A Season for Justice, which was published in 1991. He also wrote a second book, Hate on Trial: The Case Against America's Most Dangerous Neo-Nazi, which chronicles the trial and the $12.5 million judgment against white supremacist Tom Metzger and his White Aryan Resistance Group for their responsibility in the beating death by skinheads of a young black student in Portland, Ore. His latest book, Gathering Storm: America's Militia Threat, exposes the danger posed by today's domestic terrorist groups.

The lectures, which are free and open to the public, are a component of Ohio State's Diversity Action Plan.

For security reasons, attendees will be required to enter through metal detectors, and are therefore discouraged from bringing large bags or items that may necessitate extra screening. For details, contact Frank Hale Jr., at 688-4255, or visit the diversity Web site at www.osu.edu/diversity/buffer2.htm.

Athletic Council seeks representative

The Athletic Council is seeking a faculty member to serve a four-year term as faculty representative to the NCAA and Big Ten Conference.

The faculty athletics representative represents the University and its faculty to the NCAA and Big Ten Conference, reports to the University president on important issues relating to athletics, and serves as ex-officio member of the Athletic Council. The appointment will be made by the president in January 2003 and will take effect July 1, 2003.

Nominations or applications should be submitted by Nov. 15 to: Joseph T. Barr, College of Optometry, Room 248 Fry Hall, 320 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, 43218-2342. For details, contact 292-0437 or barr.2@osu.edu.

WOSU seeking fundraiser volunteers

The WOSU Stations are currently seeking volunteers to take phone pledges during the upcoming television fund-raiser airing Nov. 30-Dec. 17. WOSU fund-raisers are held at the WOSU Stations.

There are many volunteer opportunities available at WOSU, ranging from one-time activities to long-term commitments. All volunteers are offered free parking and refreshments during their shift.

For details, contact Gay Taylor, volunteer coordinator, at 292-9678, ext. 49800 or taylor.4@osu.edu, or visit the Web at www.wosu.org.

Make a Difference Day cleanup set for Oct. 26

Volunteers are needed for Make a Difference Day, a cleanup event in the Weinland Park neighborhood from 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 26. Participants will meet at the Godman Guild Association, 303 E. Sixth Ave.

Registration is from 9-9:30 a.m.; service is from 9:45 a.m.-noon, followed by lunch.

For details, call 224-9569, ext. 1405, or register online at http:// communityconnection.osu.edu.

OSU, COSI present science forum

A free public forum, "Our Changing Climate" is being presented by Ohio State and the Center for Science and Industry (COSI) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 at COSI, 333 W. Broad St.

Robert Essenhigh, E. G. Bailey Professor of Energy Conservation in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, will head a panel of experts as they discuss the implications of climate change.

To register or for details, call 228-2674 or visit the Web at www.cosi.org.

Avihu Medina concert is Nov. 6 at Fawcett

Avihu Medina, the son of a Yemenite cantor, will perform a concert of contemporary Mediterranean-Israeli music from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Fawcett Center Auditorium. The concert is part of the 2002-03 Thomas and Diann Mann Distinguished Symposium Series of the Melton Center for Jewish Studies.

For details, call 292-0967.

Import/export business seminar is Nov. 7

"Import/Export: A Nuts and Bolts Seminar on Conducting Business" will be held from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Blackwell Hotel and Conference Center.

The OSU Center for Slavic and East European Studies is presenting the seminar to foster international trade by helping Ohio's businessmen and women to become more effective managers of international orders and trade.

This seminar is open to international business managers at all levels of organization, but enrollment is limited. The $100 enrollment fee is due by Oct. 25.

For details, call 292-8770 or visit the Web at www.osu.edu/csees.

Financial workshop will take place Nov. 7

The Office of Human Resources is continuing its free financial planning series with a Nov. 7 workshop, "Holiday Shopping," to be held at noon in 305 Dreese Labs.

To register, contact 247-7961 or admin@hr.osu.edu, or visit the Web at http://hr.osu.edu/finseries.htm.

Latin American book club forming

A Latin American Literature in Translation Book Club will be meeting at 10 a.m. monthly at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Kingsdale Shopping Center, 3280 Tremont Road. This is an ongoing book club for teachers of English and the Columbus community, with meetings currently being held the third Saturday of each month.

This is a project of the OSU Center for Latin American Studies. No registration is required and there is no fee to participate.

For details, call 688-4285, e-mail clas@osu.edu, or visit www.osu.edu/clas.

Education grants available for women

Critical Difference for Women Professional Development and Women of Color Grants are available to full-time faculty, staff and students to apply this autumn quarter. Grants of up to $500 will be awarded.

The application deadline is Nov. 15. Application forms and guidelines are available online at http://criticaldifference.osu.edu/.

For detail, contact 688-8643 or hornsby.1@osu.edu.

Events to recognize cartoonist Thomas Nast

An exhibition and symposium are scheduled to honor and recognize the work of cartoonist Thomas Nast, known as the Father of American Political Cartooning.

"Thomas Nast: Prince of Caricaturists," an exhibition of Nast's work, is scheduled for the Reading Room Gallery of the Cartoon Research Library through Jan. 24, 2003. The exhibit is free and open to the public during the library's regular hours of Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For details, contact 292-0538 or cartoons@osu.edu.

• The Cartoon Research Library, Department of History and School of Journalism and Communication are co-sponsors of a symposium to be held on Dec. 7 at the Faculty Club, to mark the centennial of Thomas Nast's death. Two leading Nast scholars, Morton Keller and Draper Hill, will speak at the one-day conference. The conference will be free and open to the public, with preregistration required by Dec. 2.

To register, visit the Web at http://www.lib.ohio-state.edu/cgaweb/nast/.

New exhibit opens at Snowden Galleries

The Historic Costume and Textiles Collection's newest exhibition, "Dressing the Part, On and Off Stage" is open to the public through May 17, 2003.

Located in the Snowden Galleries of the College of Human Ecology's Geraldine Schottenstein Wing, the exhibition explores the personalities portrayed by costumes designed for various types of stage performances and how they translate into clothing selected by or made for individuals to perform the "roles" of themselves. On display will be costume renderings from Ohio State's Lawrence and Lee Theater Research Institute and garments from the collection.

For details or for tours of 10 or more individuals, contact Collection Curator Gayle Strege, Department of Consumer and Textile Sciences, at 292-3090.

Bridge program offers reserved courses

Spaces will be held until Nov. 15 for winter quarter Bridge reserve courses -- regular sections of evening courses in which a limited number of seats are reserved for Bridge students. Courses in geological sciences, history, sociology and women's studies are available.

The Bridge Program provides University employees who have had little or no college experience a convenient way to ease into University life, supported by the Office of Continuing Education.

For details, call 292-8860 or visit the Web at www.continuinged.ohio-state.edu. To enroll, call Continuing Education at 292-8860 after Oct. 28.