University to dedicate Todd Bell Resource Center

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University will honor the legacy of former university colleague, and Ohio State and NFL football standout Todd Bell with a building dedication on Wednesday (March 22) and luncheon fundraiser on Thursday (March 23).

The Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male will be dedicated at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at 131 Brown Hall, 190 W. 17th Ave. with State Sen. Ray Miller as the keynote speaker. The mission of the center is to understand and facilitate academic achievement, professional leadership and personal development through specialized programs that impact African American male undergraduate students.

The luncheon will kick off an annual lecture series in Bell's honor "Ethics in American Sports," at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom, 350 N. High St. Gene Smith, Ohio State director of athletics, is the guest speaker. Also attending will be Archie Griffin, president and CEO, Ohio State Alumni Association; Cris Carter, former Ohio State football player; Mike Singletary, former Chicago Bears football player; and BeBe Winans, national gospel recording artist.

Bell served as the community affairs coordinator for the Office of Minority Affairs and was named director of the resource center just prior to his death March 16, 2005. A four-year letterwinner and All-America selection from Middletown, Ohio, Bell was drafted in 1981 by the Chicago Bears where he played seven seasons and earned Pro Bowl honors. He continued his academic course work during off-seasons and in 1989 received his bachelor's degree in education from Ohio State. Bell closed his professional career in 1990 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

President Karen Holbrook said Bell was the consummate role model. "The university is indebted to Todd for his commitment to the academic and personal success of students and his concern for our community," Holbrook said. "His efforts to make the pursuit of higher education an achievable goal for young African American males will have a lasting impact."

A report issued by the American Council on Education in 2003 noted that although rising enrollment numbers for minority students are encouraging, the gap among college participation rates for white, African American, and Hispanic high school graduates has widened. In 1978-80, the college participation rate for all races was about 30 percent. However, in 1998-2000, the college participation rate of 18- to 24-year-old white high school graduates was 46 percent, compared with 40 percent of African Americans and 34 percent of Hispanics.

Mac Stewart, vice provost for minority affairs and chief diversity officer, said the goals for the center are to not only graduate students but to assist in developing young men for leadership and productive citizenry. Stewart added that research conducted by the center will address the disparity that exists nationally among African American males who graduate from high school, and who actually attend and graduate from college.

"To be able to recognize Todd for his leadership and contributions in this manner brings tremendous honor to me personally," Stewart said. "Todd is truly the catalyst for the progress that we have made and shall experience in future years."

The center provides assistance to approximately 1,350 African American male students on the Columbus Campus. Programming includes an Early Arrival Freshman Orientation, a Leadership Roundtable Series, an Emerging Scholars Math Program, and a Gathering of Men mentoring program with African American faculty and staff members. Future programs will address self awareness, values and principles, career marketing and professional etiquette.

Stewart added that the services provided through the Bell Resource Center, in addition to the many university-wide resources, have significantly reduced the retention gap between majority and minority students.

The retention rate for African American students returning for their second year on the Columbus campus reached record highs autumn quarter 2005, increasing eight percent in a single year to 88.1 percent. The retention rate for majority students was 89.7 percent.

Luncheon tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance by contacting the Office of Minority Affairs at (614) 292-4355. For additional information log on to http://oma.osu.edu/brc/index.html