Renowned American author Kurt Vonnegut will address the Case Western Reserve University community in an exclusive talk sponsored by the Case College Scholars Program at 4 p.m. February 4 at Severance Hall.

Vonnegut, best known for his novel "Slaughterhouse-Five" (1969; film, 1972), combines science fiction, social satire and black comedy to examine the horrors and absurdities of 20th century civilization.

His works include "Player Piano" (1952), "Cat's Cradle" (1963), "Galapagos" (1985), "Bluebeard" (1987) and the autobiographical "Fates Worse than Death" (1991).

Tickets, which are $10 for Case faculty and staff and $5 for students with a valid university ID, are available on a first-come, first-served basis through the Severance Hall Ticket Office at 216-231-1111.

To learn more, go to http://www.case.edu/events/vonnegut.

The Case Western Reserve University Center for Women Book Club will host a discussion of the book "The Hours" in conjunction with the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland from noon to 1 p.m. February 4 in room 13 of Crawford Hall.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel touches on personal relationships, women's roles and AIDS in the 21st century. Staff from the AIDS Taskforce will be on hand to answer questions.

The book club also will discuss "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich March 3, "Woman of the Silk: A Novel" by Gail Tsukiyama April 7 and "Guns of August" by Barbara Tuchman May 5. All three meetings are from noon to 1 p.m. in room 720 of Crawford Hall.

For more information, contact Rosemary Alexander at 216-368-2008 or rosemary.alexander@case.edu.

The Case Western Reserve University Library is offering a free workshop on the premier business database, ABI/INFORM, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. January 29 at the Kelvin Smith Library.

The seminar will offer ABI expert training in searching business articles from 1918 to the present.

For details, go to http://www.cwru.edu/UL/INFO/WhatsNew/whatsnew.htm.

Case Western Reserve University's department of physical education and athletics is offering two new fitness-wellness programs this spring: hatha yoga and spinning.

For dates and times of classes or information on registration and fees, faculty and staff can go to http://www.case.edu/athletics/wellness.htm or e-mail Nancy Rahn at nancy.rahn@case.edu or Mina Moore at mina.moore@case.edu.

Case Western Reserve University's Office of Research Compliance is beginning a series of seminars relating to bioethics and research.

The first session in the series, "Informed Consent in Enhancement Research," presented by Max Mehlman, the Arthur E. Petersilge Professor of Law and director of the Case Law-Medicine Center, will be from 9-10:30 a.m. January 30 in the Toepfer Room of Adelbert Hall.

Register online for this event at http://crec.case.edu/seminars.

The libraries of Case Western Reserve University are bringing back their series of brown bag lunch seminars.

The first in the spring series, Time Management: Not Procrastination, is at 12:30 p.m. January 28 in room 323 of the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.

Beverages and dessert will be provided.

To learn more or to reserve a seat, call June Hund at 216-368-0722.

Grand rounds to be conducted

Medical ethics conference set

Art Studio presents 'Journeys'

ESOL registration continues