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September 22, 2000 JOURNALISTS: Here are two story ideas and select events from the Purdue News Service. To arrange interviews or campus visits, contact Jesica Webb, (765) 494-2079 or page her, (765) 743-4333-4117. Toni Morrison to lecture at Purdue Nobel Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison will lecture at Purdue on Thursday (9/28) in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Purdue Libraries. A limited number of seats have been reserved for journalists wishing to cover the lecture, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Elliott Hall of Music. Audio and video recording will not be permitted, but still photographs may be taken during the question and answer session with the audience. Interview opportunities include Emily Mobley, Dean of the Purdue Libraries, and John Duvall, a professor of English and Morrison scholar who teaches the author's work at Purdue. CONTACT: Emily Mobley, (765) 494-2900, emobley@purdue.edu; John Duvall, (765) 494-3759, jduvall@sla.purdue.edu Purdue, IU launch statewide calcium initiative Health experts at Purdue and the Indiana University School of Medicine are joining hands to help Hoosiers bone up on calcium and its role in promoting good health. Leading experts in calcium nutrition will meet with policy-makers and health professionals from throughout the state Monday, Oct. 2, to discuss ways to promote public awareness and consumption of calcium. The symposium, to be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the University Place Conference Center and Hotel located at 850 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, will include talks on the health benefits of calcium and a panel discussion on ways to increase calcium consumption. Panel members will include Suellen Reed, Indiana superintendent of public instruction, and State Representatives Bill Friend and Sheila Klinker. The new effort, called the Indiana Calcium Initiative, aims to boost calcium awareness and nutrition in Indiana. Though calcium is an important nutrient for life, a majority of Americans are not consuming adequate amounts, said Connie Weaver, head of Purdue's Department of Foods and Nutrition and co-organizer of the initiative. She is working with Conrad Johnston, a professor at the IU School of Medicine, to develop a program that can serve as a model for other states. NOTE: Connie Weaver will be available for interviews during the lunch break at noon. CONTACT: Weaver, (765) 494-8231, weavercm@cfs.purdue.edu. Events • Tuesday, Sept. 26.   The Harold L. Michael Traffic Operations Laboratory will be dedicated during a brief ceremony at 11:45 a.m. on Sept. 26 in Room 1113 of the Civil Engineering Building. Designed to educate new civil engineers in the field of intelligent transportation systems, the laboratory is the first of its kind in Indiana. Cristine Klika, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation, will speak at the dedication ceremony. CONTACT: Karen Hatke, (765) 494-9310, kshatke@purdue.edu • Friday, Oct. 13.   Krannert Executive Forum. Krannert Auditorium. William E. Bindley: "How 2+2 Equals 6 ... A Case Study." Bindley is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Bindley Western Industries Inc., the Fortune 500 wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals, health and beauty aids with corporate headquarters in Indianapolis. Reporters are asked to refrain from asking questions, videotaping or taking photographs during the lecture, but all are allowed during the student question-and-answer sessions. CONTACT: Tim Newton, director of external relations, School of Management, (765) 496-7271, tnewton@mgmt.purdue.edu • Saturday, Oct. 14.   Chemistry Show: Fire and Ice. 10 a.m. Room 200 of Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry. Purdue chemists will illustrate the chemical properties of fire and ice during a one-hour show open to the public. The show will include demonstrations of how fire can be carried safely in bare hands, how the cold temperatures on Pluto would affect ordinary items on Earth, a ring of fire, metal fires that burn very brightly, and a compound that starts burning when soaked with water. CONTACT: Paul Smith, (765) 494-5307; psmith4@purdue.edu. To the Purdue News and Photos Page