Information & history on rear of plaque:
With 24 individual libraries on the Columbus and regional campuses,  The Ohio State University's library system is one of the largest academic library sysytems in North America - it is the largest in Ohio by far.   Its holdings include over 5 million print volumes and over 4 million microforms.   A user-friendly website provides students with not only library hours and research tips,  but also access to these materials and more - including over 600 million volumes available from other libraries.   OSU's Main Library,  situated at the head of The Oval,  houses (in 11 floors of stacks) books,  journals,  and reference sources for the topics of literature,  linguistics,  philology,  philosophy,  religion,  theater,  anthropology,  history,  sociology,  and political science.   The OSU's libraries recognize their role in providing excellent education,  and therefore "collect,  create,  organize,  manage,  preserve,  and provide access to information sources,  and foster an environment conducive to academic inquiry,  scholarly communication,  and lifelong learning,"  (miss.  state.,  1989).   In front of the Main Library,  facing The Oval stands the bronze statue of William Oxley Thompson,  fifth president of the university (1899-1925).   Thompson led graduation and wedding ceremonies from that spot.

Information & history on rear of plaque:
The first Ohio Union,  which opened in 1911,  was the structure known now as Enarson Hall.   It was the first student union built at a state university and the 4th of its kind in the United States.   The modern Union is an impressive structure intended to be "the center of university community life."   It makes a wide variety of services available to students,  faculty,  staff,  and the community,  including a game room,  and art gallery,  restaurants,  stores,  banking,  and a huge amount of space to host special events.   Its 41 meeting rooms can accomodate groups as little as 4 or large festivals,  films - the list goes on and on!

Information & history on rear of plaque:
Though the original ground-plan for Ohio State University®  didn't include anything like this campus centerpiece,  the 1893 master plan proposed a group of buildings surrounding an open space.   The first reference to this area by name occurred in 1910,  and every student knows The Oval today.   It is now the focal point for campus social and academic life,  and a great many events are held on or near it each year.   The simple landscaping is intentional,  and tastefully ties together and accents the buildings surrounding it.   The campus Public Safety office maintains a camera on the tower of the Main Library which shows an impressive view down the length of The Oval (available to 'tourists' on the OSU® website).   The sidewalk that runs from head to foot is affectionately termed the 'long walk',  and OSU®  tradition holds that a couple who take that walk with their hands clasped the entire way will never be parted.

Information & history on rear of plaque:
Home to OSU's basketball and hockey teams,  this $106 million,  700,000+ square-foot facility is adaptable for a variety of events.   19,500 basketball fans or 17,500 hockey fans can cheer their teams on in comfort here,  and up to 20,500 people can attend the many concerts and other events planned for the site.   The center was named for Jerome Schottenstein,  the late Columbus businessman and philanthropist who founded Schottenstein Stores Corp. (associated with Value City Stores).   It was described by University President E. Gordon Gee as "a gateway to the university [which] will symbolize Ohio State's commitment to our students,  alumni and friends,  to our community, and to our future."   12 miles of refrigerated pipe are laid in the ice floor,  3,888 truck loads of cement were used during construction,  and the building features 5,652 light fixtures,  200 television monitors,  20 ticket windows,  49 private box seats,  and an estimated bathroom/guest ratio of 1:47.   This smoke-free totally disabled-accessable center stands 136' from the floor to the rooftop.

Information & history on rear of plaque:
Opened in 1989,  this pstmodern structure is a major center of artistic expresion,  experimentation,  and exhibition for both the Ohio State University campus and its surrounding community.   The building was designed by Peter Eisnmann of New York and Richard Trott of Columbus,  and includes the crushed-glass installation "Groundswell",  by Maya Lin (designer of the Vietnam Memorial Wall),  in the large window-wells around its lower levels.   Portions of Little Man Tate were shot here in 1990.   The Wexner Center for the Arts offers a wide variety of exhibitions,  including films,  videos,  and presentations of both the visual and performing arts.   The Center also supports an on-line website called The Fold,  which presents work on the theory,  practice,  and presentation of the arts,  and also "traces conceptual intersections" between the three in an effort to spawn new interpretations of them.