October 31, 1997

Contact: OU Graduate Student Chad Kister: 614-594-7287 or chad@pageville.com

Student leader presents motions, letters to ODNR

 At 2 p.m. today (Friday), Campus Greens President Chad Kister will
deliver more than 400 letters today to the Ohio Division of Mines and
Reclamations (ODMR), calling upon them to deny permit 7 and to extend the
comment period beyond October.  Kister will also deliver more than 800
petition signatures to Lisa Morris, and resolutions drafted by Student
Senate, Graduate Student Senate and Faculty Senate.

 The ODMR has received thousands of letters asking that they oppose
permit #7 that would violate the watershed buffer zone of Dysart Woods.
The petition now well exceeds 5,500 signatures.

 "If democracy is alive in Ohio, permit #7 must be denied," said
Kister of Athens.  "With Governor Voinovich bought off by Ohio Valley Coal
Co., we are depending on the strength of citizens to save one of our last
virgin forests."

 Student Senate unanimously passed a resolution Thursday evening
calling upon the Ohio University administration to "adopt a position of
strict opposition to the granting of permits 7 and 8."

 The resolution also called upon the Ohio Division of Mines and
Reclamations to deny permits 7 and 8 filed by Ohio Valley Coal Co. that
would damage and destroy Dysart Woods.  This is the second resolution by
Student Senate this month calling for saving Dysart Woods.

 Environmental Awareness Commissioner Jeff Baran will write OU
President Robert Glidden and Vice President for Administration Gary North
and ask that they take a strong stand and actively oppose permit #7.
Further, The Student Senate Resolution called upon the OU administration
to "hasten its efforts to file a Lands Unsuitable For Mining petition to
protect Dysart Woods.

 "We need people to attend the upcoming rally on November 8 in
Columbus in defense of Dysart Woods."  The ODMR headquarters is 1855
Fountain Square Court, Building H-3.  It is off Morse Rd. just past
Northland shopping center.  Kister's presentation of the letters,
petitions and motions as well as the rally will be held at the ODMR
headquarters.