Update July 28, 2005

Michigan artist David Barr paints sections of the steel in his sculpture "Vault" currently being installed on campus. Sections of the polished granite are also engraved with navigational and mathematical symbols.

The combination of polished, high-tech steel and intricately carved granite, with the rough-hewn natural stone still carrying its natural accoutrements of lichens and moss--is designed to describe a process of refinement, according to the artist. "The stone was quarried over 75 years ago," said Barr. "The sculpture moves from a very raw state of granite and ore to the spinning, swirling piece on the opposite side of the street, which will be a painted steel structure."

According to Barr, the name of the sculpture-- Vault --comes from the three different meanings of the word: The piece vaults across the street where the final installation will take place in Autumn 2006; the rough-hewn granite is sawed open to reveal its secret interior, or vault; and the modernistic red steel final section of the artwork will arch over the viewer 34 feet high, as in a vaulted ceiling.

Barr, an internationally renowned sculptor, has created many installations in natural settings, some of which cross great expanses of space. The artist doesn't mind that his art won't be completed for more than a year. "It adds to its mystery," he said. Barr spent many hot hours last week painting the steel portions of the artwork with the help of his nephews. He will be back next year to supervise the final installation of the sculpture between the new retail complex and Academic Center D.

So for now, students and employees are left to marvel at the first sections of the work and wonder about the symbols and juxtaposition of natural and man-made surfaces on Vault .

The view from Jill Whitton's window reveals progress on the new Child Development Center, attached to Academic Center D.

Columbus State Child Development Center coordinator Jill Whitton can watch the progression of the new, state-of-the-art child care facility simply by looking out the trailer window at her left.

Since the old child development center was demolished to make way for construction of the new retail complex, Whitton and the 62 kids ages 6 weeks to 5 years old are excitedly marking the daily progress of the new center from their current digs in a suite of trailers parked on Grove Street.

The mobile classroom units house two preschool classrooms, one toddler classroom, an infant room, and an administrative area, all cool and colorful, but, "we're really excited about the new facility," said Whitton who has worked at the center since 1995.

"I wouldn't say we're impatient , but I look out the window every day to watch the construction," she said. "Moving into temporary quarters has prepared us for the big move. We know what to expect."

In the infant room, Marilyn Thum helps celebrate her daughter's first birthday. From left are Jenna Thum, Lawson Charron, son of ErinBeth Charron, office associate in Marketing and Graphic Communications, and Lewis Preston, son of Carol Preston, a teacher in the center.

The new center will enable the staff to reduce group sizes in the preschool, toddler and infant rooms and increase the ratio of teachers to children--while maintaining and increasing enrollment overall. The center has all the amenities, including a resource room for teachers, food preparation areas, and large-muscle playrooms indoors for each age group, as well as three different outdoor playgrounds.

Serving on the committee that had input into the new center proved a valuable experience for Whitton. "You don't get the chance to create a daycare center from the ground up every day," she said. "Being a member of the administrative team that created this facility has been very exciting for me."

Stacy Leeman , adjunct faculty in the Humanities Department, will be participating in a show called Contemporary Drawing Show 2005 at TW Wood Gallery & Arts Center in Montpelier, Vermont. The exhibition will be shown from August 18-October 2.

School supplies to be collected by Phi Theta Kappa for Ohio Youth Advocate Program

Phi Theta Kappa members and the Student Ambassadors will be collecting school supply donations for the Ohio Youth Advocate Program, which benefits needy children in the Columbus area. The collection will run through August 25. Donation boxes are located in the Phi Theta Kappa office, Nestor Hall Room122, the Student Activities office, Nestor Hall Room116, and Union Hall 219.

The most needed supplies are: backpacks, notebooks, notebook paper, pocket folders, three-ring binders, pencils, crayons, colored pencils, ink pens, glue, lunch boxes, pencil cases, rulers, small umbrellas, and markers. Phi Theta Kappa thanks you in advance for thinking of the children in our community. For more information, contact Becky Murray at ext. 5608.

WSYX-6's Yolanda Harris talks to youngsters at academic enrichment camp Monday on campus. The middle schoolers were attending the three-day camp sponsored by Youth for a Positive Image, a nonprofit community service program founded in 1991 by Ed Chatman Jr. and funded by The Kroger Company with support from Barkan + Neff Law Offices, Faith Mission, Columbus Public Schools and the Columbus Urban League.

Harris talked to the children about communication--how to greet people, listen to others and make yourself understood. She also described how communication is important in her own job as a television anchor.

Columbus State is looking for teams of 10 people or more to participate in the following events. If you are interested in participating in one of these walk-a-thons, please contact Barbara Smith-Allen at ballen02@cscc.edu or at ext. 5433. The teams will be supplied with Columbus State t-shirts for additional team spirit!

The walk features a festival area where walkers gain knowledge about improving their health and lifestyles. The Heart Walk is a family-friendly, non-competitive event including 1-mile and 3-mile routes through downtown Columbus.

The 5-mile walk through Columbus neighborhoods begins and ends at the East Opportunity Center, 1055 Mt. Vernon Avenue.

United Negro College Fund/National City Walk-A-Thon
Saturday, October 1
Wolfe Park

This 10K walk (6.2 miles) begins at Wolfe Park and goes to Columbus City Hall and back.

Language Institute begins Somali Smokeout program
The Language Institute recently received a one-year grant for $148,000 to encourage tobacco cessation and prevention for central Ohio Somali immigrants. The project is funded by the Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation. The project coordinator is Marian Ghedi, of the Language Institute, who has a strong interest in this area.

My Future/My Success funded for FY06

The My Future/My Success program at Columbus State's Language Institute has received $636,937 in continued funding for FY06.

My Future/My Success, which is funded by Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services, provides after-school learning activities for 210 local refugee and immigrant students in grades 3-12. Because of the success of the program in 2005, another year of funding was granted so the Language Institute will be able to help further the education of even more at-risk students in the coming academic year. The institute will add a summer program for the children to help continue their learning year round.

Celebrating their success

Students in the My Future/My Success program celebrate after their annual talent show June 2 at Emerald Glen, a meeting facility. The students participate in the Language Institute's after-school program, funded through a contract with Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services. Their site specialist is Suzanne Schaefer, who says that about half of these children are Somali and the other half Hispanic.