CSU Happenings for March 1-9

February 28, 2008

MARCH 1 - ‘Spring Bird Walk’ at Oxbow Meadows
Columbus State University’s Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center will host the first of three “Spring Bird Walks” from 9-10 a.m. Saturday. Experienced birders will guide the walk around Oxbow Meadows at 3535 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus. The program also will include discussion on bird watching and effective bird feeders for home. The program is geared to families with children ages seven and up. Binoculars and field guides will be provided, or guests can bring their own gear. Admission is $4 per person. Register by phone at 706-687-4090.

MARCH 1 – Middle Grades Science Olympiad at CSU
Teams of students representing schools in the greater Columbus area and west central Georgia will compete in a Division B regional Science Olympiad competition from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Columbus State University. Twenty-three different events in Stanley and Lenoir halls will include robot and trajectory-related competitions. An awards ceremony will take place at about 4 p.m. Winning teams will advance to a March 29 state finals event at Augusta State University. For more information, contact CSU biology professor Ken Gafford at 706-562-1471.

MARCH 1 – Astronomy Night at Roosevelt State Park
CSU’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center will stage an Astronomy Night program Saturday at Roosevelt State Park near Pine Mountain. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. with a planetarium presentation followed by planet viewing and stargazing through telescopes. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call 706-649-1470.

MARCH 2-4, 6-7 - NCAA Tennis at CSU
CSU’s men’s and women’s tennis squads will compete in matches throughout the week at the Blackmon Tennis Center.
Schedule:
• Francis Marion, 11 a.m. Sunday
• Augusta State, 2 p.m. Monday
• Lewis , men only, 10 a.m. Tuesday
• Fort Valley State, 2 p.m. Thursday
• North Georgia, 2 p.m. Friday
• Mount Olive, 5 p.m. Friday

Admission is free. For more information, call 706-568-2204 or go to http://www.csucougars.com.

MARCH 3-7 – Spring Break: No Classes for CSU Students

MARCH 6 – Local-History Forum to Cover ‘Literary Columbus’
CSU’s Red Clay, White Water and Blues series of local-history forums will continue with a program on “Literary Columbus” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6 in the Columbus Public Library. Virginia Causey, CSU associate professor of history, will discuss Augusta Evans, the author of “St Elmo,” which is among the most popular novels of the 19th century. Also, Philip Schley will give a presentation on his historic St. Elmo house, the setting for Evans’ novel. Separately, Cathy Fussell, director of CSU’s McCullers Center for Artists and Musicians, will discuss the influence of Columbus author Carson McCullers’ association with the Army on her writing.

A 10 a.m.-noon Saturday bus tour will cover sites related to the forum. Reservations are recommended. For more information, call 706-568-2263 or go to http://history.colstate.edu/Program.asp.

MARCH 7-8 - NCAA Baseball: CSU to Host Three-Game Series
The CSU baseball squad will host North Georgia for three games March 7-8 at Ragsdale Field: 5 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission per day is $5 for adults, $3 for students and free with CSU or Cougar Club member ID. For more information, call 706-568-2204 or go to http://www.csucougars.com.

- MARCH 9 – Reptile Festival at Oxbow Meadows
CSU’s Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center will stage its eighth annual Reptile Festival from noon-4 p.m. Sunday, March 9. Attractions will include live native and exotic snakes, lizards, turtles and an alligator demonstration. Also, visitors can enter their reptile pets for a $1 fee in the “Hiss Columbus Pageant” open to non-venomous snakes, lizards and turtles. Additional children’s activities will include crafts, games, a scavenger hunt and temporary reptile tattoos. Admission is $2 per person and free for children under age 4. Oxbow Meadows is located at 3535 South Lumpkin Road. For more information, call 706-687-4090 or go to http://oxbow.colstate.edu.