Activities Planned to Welcome Ohio State Students

ACTIVITIES PLANNED TO WELCOME OHIO STATE STUDENTS

     COLUMBUS -- Nearly 49,000 students will converge on the 
Columbus campus of The Ohio State University in the next few 
days to begin a new academic year.  Autumn quarter classes 
begin Wednesday (9/20).

     President E. Gordon Gee will welcome students on Monday 
(9/18) with a convocation and picnic.  The convocation, at 
11 a.m. in St. John Arena, will feature a colorful 
procession of faculty in academic regalia as well as remarks 
by Gee; David Williams, vice president for student affairs; 
Richard Hollingsworth, dean of students; and Kevin Sheriff, 
president of Undergraduate Student Government.  Ohio State 
cheerleaders and Brutus Buckeye will also perform.

     University, college and student leaders will be 
introduced.  Then, Gee will welcome students at a noon 
picnic by the French Field House along the Olentangy River.

     The convocation and picnic are part of a week of 
special events and activities designed to welcome new and 
returning students.  Following the theme of "Celebrating 125 
Years of Achievement," the activities are sponsored by Ohio 
Union Programs' Welcome Week Committee, the Student Events 
Committee and the offices of Student Life, Residence and 
Dining Halls, and Recreation and Intramural Sports.

     Between Sunday and Sept. 20, almost 8,000 students will 
be moving into dormitories; about half of them are expected 
Sunday, the first day residence halls open.  To help with 
the move-in process, at least 600 student volunteers, called 
Official Welcome Leaders or OWLs, will unload cars and help 
cart student belongings into the residence halls.  Gee and 
members of his staff also will be on hand to greet and 
assist students and parents.

     "The move-in process is very well orchestrated," said 
Kathy Krajnak, assistant director of residence life.  "In 
addition to helping students with the move, OWLs can give 
information and insight to the incoming students and their 
parents."

     Once students have finished moving in, they can 
participate in a number of events, including a Student 
Organizations Fair on Tuesday (9/19), a scavenger hunt at 
the Drake and Ohio unions open house on Wednesday (9/20), 
and the "Just Say Hi," picnic and social on Sept. 21. 
Students can also attend a party at the Wexner Center for 
the Arts on Friday, where they will have a chance to preview 
the Roy Lichtenstein exhibition and meet the artist.

     Students can then catch "Scarlet Fever" at a pep rally 
at St. John Arena Sept. 21.  Ohio State and community 
dignitaries, sports teams, cheerleaders, Brutus Buckeye and 
the Ohio State Pep Band will be on hand to welcome students 
and their guests.  Area businesses and Ohio State vendors 
will give away prizes such as a mountain bike, free room and 
board, dinners, tickets to special events and more.

     "Our goal is to broaden the realm of welcome week to 
include the entire campus community," said Brenda Fields, 
coordinator of the Student Events Committee.  "We are 
fortunate to have such a large number of departments 
participating with events and activities that will allow 
everyone to get to know the campus community."

     Staff from Glamour will visit campus during the 
magazine's Elements of Success Tour Sept. 21-22 at the Ohio 
Union.  Focusing on attitude, goals, motivation, health and 
nutrition, Glamour will provide students with information to 
assist them in molding both their careers and personal 
lives. The tour will feature interactive displays, 
activities, discussions and workshops.

     Students can take advantage of a Late Night at Larkins 
Hall on Sept. 22.  This event will offer intramural, sports 
club, and recreational opportunities, and special events and 
activities with the fun and excitement of an Ohio State 
style block party.

     Noted author and scholar Molefi Asante, professor and 
chair of Temple University's African American Studies 
Department, will be on campus to speak at the minority 
graduate and professional student orientation Sept. 21 at 
the Holiday Inn on the Lane.

     Again this year, there will be a number of workshops 
designed to inform students of safety issues on campus.  
University Police Captain David Stelzer will speak Wednesday 
(9/20) on campus and dormitory safety issues.  Women Student 
Services will hold a number of workshops on rape education 
and prevention, and on dating, sex roles and violence.

     Sept. 20-22, staff from the Office of Traffic, Parking 
and Transportation will distribute information and souvenirs 
to students who park on west campus and ride the bus to 
classes.  Free bus-route maps and refreshments will be 
available.  Radio station CD-101 will provide music on west 
campus on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Parking decals 
will be sold at the customer service center in Bevis Hall 
from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays Sept. 18-29.  Customer 
service representatives also will be in French Field House 8 
a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday (9/17) to issue parking decals and bus 
passes and assist University Police with student bicycle 
registration.

     The main bookstore on Millikin Road will be open until 
8 p.m. Sept. 18-21 and until 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 23 and all 
home football Saturdays.

     Other events on the Columbus campus include the Umoja 
Convocation Sept. 25, a program to welcome African-American 
students; breakfasts offered by Off-Campus Student Services 
Sept. 18-19; and various fraternity programs, music, 
dancing, and movies.

#

Contact:  Brenda Fields, coordinator of Student Events 
Committee, (614) 292-2324; Sarah Blouch, director of 
Traffic, Parking and Transportation, (614) 292-9800.

Written by Tracy Turner, 688-3682.


[Submitted by: Carolyn Glover (cglover@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Mon, 18 Sep 1995 10:01:46 -0400]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.