Good afternoon, Buckeyes! Here's your campus news update for Monday, August 4, 2025.
Ohio State University is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into all undergraduate programs starting this fall. The initiative aims to equip students with AI fluency alongside their primary fields of study. Freshmen will encounter AI concepts through courses like the Launch Seminar and Success Series workshops. This approach reflects a shift from merely preventing AI misuse to preparing students to leverage AI effectively in their careers. Vice President and Provost Ravi Bellamkonda emphasized the need for educators to adapt to emerging technologies, comparing AI's impact to past advances like calculators and computers.
In other news, Ohio State is constructing a state-of-the-art dairy facility at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences' Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory. This facility will provide hands-on experiences for students, preparing them for careers in the dairy industry. Jason Hartschuh, a field specialist in dairy management, highlighted that the latest technologies being installed will offer more opportunities for practical learning.
A federal lawsuit concerning the sexual abuse of Ohio State athletes by the late Dr. Richard Strauss has seen recent developments. Republican U.S. Representative Jim Jordan, who served as an assistant wrestling coach at OSU from 1986 to 1994, was deposed under oath last month. Jordan has been accused by several former wrestlers of knowing about the abuse and failing to act. His office maintains that he was unaware of any misconduct. These legal proceedings coincide with heightened public attention following the release of the HBO documentary "Surviving Ohio State," which investigates the Strauss scandal.
In a separate legal matter, a U.S. District Court in Ohio dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit led by former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor against the NCAA and the university. Pryor alleged that the defendants violated antitrust law by prohibiting student-athletes from profiting from their names, images, and likenesses (NIL). The court ruled that Pryor filed the lawsuit beyond the four-year statute of limitations. This decision comes amid the NCAA's recent $2.8 billion settlement agreement to compensate athletes for past NIL exploitation since 2016.
On the policy front, a campaign to repeal a new Ohio law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and faculty strikes in public colleges and universities has fallen short. The effort failed to secure the 250,000 signatures needed to place the measure on the November ballot. As a result, Senate Bill 1 will take effect as scheduled, introducing sweeping changes to higher education, including the elimination of DEI programs and the prohibition of faculty strikes.
Timothy Grady, a 28-year-old master's student at Ohio State University, has announced his intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial race. This will be his second attempt after a satirical write-in campaign in 2022. Grady, who supports "new economic thinking" and political reform, believes he is the best candidate in a field he describes as marked by toxic politics. He is currently pursuing a master's in public administration at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs.
The Ohio State University has been awarded $26 million in federal funding to jumpstart natural rubber production in the United States. The U.S. National Science Foundation announced funding for the creation of the "Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security" (TARDISS) Engineering Research Center. This initiative aims to enhance workforce development and fuel a new domestic industry.
In space research, Ohio State's LUNARWELD Team, along with engineers and scientists from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, conducted parabolic flights to simulate microgravity and lunar gravity conditions. The project focuses on developing a robotic laser welding machine capable of manufacturing and joining materials in space, potentially transforming space manufacturing.
The Ohio State University received a $2 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to support community engagement through the arts. This funding will enhance various programs and initiatives aimed at fostering artistic collaboration and outreach within the community.
Additionally, Professor Dionne Lee has been named a Guggenheim Fellow, marking a pivotal moment in her artistic practice. The fellowship recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts.
That's all for today's campus news update. Stay informed and engaged, Buckeyes!