In Brief: October 18

African-American art expert to talk about BGSU exhibition

David Driskell, one of the world’s leading authorities on African-American art, visits the University today as the featured speaker for the closing of the School of Art’s “So Much More: Ohio’s African American Artists” exhibition on display in the Willard Wankelman Gallery at the Fine Arts Center through Oct. 21.

Driskell will present “Then and Now: Vital Topics in African-American Art,” at 5 p.m. today, Oct. 18, in 113 Olscamp Hall. His talk is in conjunction with a significant, 58-piece art exhibit that prominently features work by BGSU alumnus Bernie Casey. Casey, who was best known to the world as an actor and professional football player also was remarkably talented as an artist. He attended BGSU on a football scholarship and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fine arts in 1961 and 1966, respectively. He died in September 2017. 

In addition to the featured Casey artwork, the exhibition includes work by 18 alumni, current students and other African-American artists from Ohio or with connections to Casey. 

Driskell, who has been a vibrant and vital force in contemporary art for six decades, has contributed significantly to scholarship on the history of the role of black artists in America. His accomplishments include three Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships, a National Humanities Medal, 13 honorary doctoral degrees and, most recently, being named an American Academy for Arts and Sciences Fellow. The David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the African Diaspora was founded to promote his scholarship and service to the University of Maryland, where he is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Driskell also is an active artist, principally in collage and mixed media. 

Following his lecture, a reception will be held in the Fine Arts Center. The lecture and reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 6-9 p.m. Thursday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

2018 Hess Lecture examines historical precedent for presidential war powers

In a timely discussion amidst tensions over the Korean peninsula and concerns about presidential authority, one of the nation's leading legal historians will examine how the Korean War contributed to the decline of political restraints on presidential war powers. 

Dr. Mary L. Dudziak, the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law at Emory University, will present “The War Powers Pivot: How Congress Lost Its Power in Korea" in the Gary R. Hess Lecture in Policy History. Her talk begins at 4 p.m. Oct. 22 in 228 Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Her talk is free and open to the public.

The Gary R. Hess Lecture in Policy History at BGSU is an annual lectureship held at the initiative of Hess’s former students to recognize his contributions to the profession and the University during his 45 years of service from 1964 to 2009. It is sponsored by the Department of History, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law Program, the Department of Political Science, and the Asian Studies Program.

Oktoberfest features Aaron Dussing and Polka Revolution

The German Club and the Department of World Languages and Cultures are hosting an Oktoberfest Polka event on Oct. 24 in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

This event will be an opportunity to learn about – and dance to – German-American polkas and popular music, played by Aaron Dussing and Polka Revolution.

Dussing formed Polka Revolution in 2010 with two of his high school friends. Ever since his German grandparents introduced him to ethnic music at a young age, he has carried on the musical traditions of his family. He sings in eight languages, specializes in authentic Alpine yodeling, and can play a wide range of 20 different musical instruments, but accordion is his instrument of choice on stage. He is a composer as well, and had his high school band composition performed in Cleveland's Severance Hall in 2013. He is also a popular international German internet radio personality. Polka Revolution has become an Oktoberfest favorite, having been called to play shows throughout eight states.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and a traditional German buffet featuring bratwurst and German potato salad will be served from 6-8 p.m. The $10 admission fee (for non-students) also covers the buffet. Students have free admission but there is a $5 charge for the buffet for them. A cash bar serving soft drinks and beer will also be available. General public tickets will increase to $15 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased online at bg-oktoberfest.ticketleap.com. 

For further information, contact club president Rachel Harris at rachemh@bgsu.edu or Oktoberfest Chair Bret Williamson at bawilli@bgsu.edu.

Four new crosswalks installed on Wooster Street

Four new, marked crosswalks are now in operation along East Wooster Street between the Stroh Center and Thurstin Avenue. Two are traditional-style crosswalks with refuge islands, but the other two are new to this area and feature pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHB).

Pedestrians will use the PHB like a normal crosswalk, but motorists will notice a difference. When no one is entering or in the crosswalk, the light signal above the crosswalk will be dark and motorists can proceed normally. When a pedestrian pushes the crosswalk button, a yellow light will begin flashing, then turn to solid yellow, before turning to solid red. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop when the yellow light starts flashing. Motorists must stop when the light is red so that pedestrians can cross. When the light starts flashing red, motorists should stop, then proceed if there are no pedestrians in the crosswalk.

The time between flashing yellow and flashing red is about 30 seconds.

The two traditional crosswalks were installed at Founders Hall and just west of the Falcon Health Center. The two PHBs were installed across from McFall Center and at the Stroh Center.

The Ohio Department of Transportation installed the crosswalks following a pedestrian safety study in collaboration with BGSU and the city of Bowling Green. The goal of the study was to identify locations around campus that required crosswalks.

An informational video about the use of a PHB is available on the Ohio Department of Transportation YouTube page.