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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University is combining two long-running programs - its alumni picnics and athletic department caravans - into one series of events this year.

As a result, OSU President Paul Risser, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, and a number of coaches, including football coach Dennis Erickson, will tour the Pacific Northwest this May and June, stopping in nine different communities.

"This will give people in those communities an opportunity to meet the president, the coaches and other Oregon Staters who are behind the tremendous success the university is experiencing," said Kevin McCann, director of government and community relations at OSU.

The athletic department personnel will visit local grades schools and middle schools (NCAA rules prohibit high school visits) in several locations, while Risser and other university administrators will meet with community leaders and visit high schools, OSU Extension offices and partner institutions in the OSU Statewide distance learning program.

The OSU athletic department will host a golf tournament in most locations and the university will host a dinner or reception.

This will be the first time people in many of the communities will have a chance to meet Erickson, the Beavers' new football coach who has two national championship rings from his University of Miami days. Other coaches who will include men's basketball coach Eddie Payne and women's basketball coach Judy Spoelstra.

For more information on the caravans, call 541-737-2370.

The following is a list of cities and dates for the OSU Caravans:

• NEWPORT, May 17

  Participants include OSU President Paul Risser, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, men's basketball coach Eddie Payne, and assistant head football coach Gregg Smith.

   

• MEDFORD, May 19

  Participants include OSU President Paul Risser, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, football coach Dennis Erickson, and women's basketball coach Judy Spoelstra.

   

• BEND, May 20

  Participants include OSU President Paul Risser, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, football coach Dennis Erickson, men's basketball coach Eddie Payne, and women's basketball coach Judy Spoelstra.

   

• PENDLETON, May 21

  Participants include OSU President Paul Risser, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, football coach Dennis Erickson, men's basketball coach Eddie Payne, and women's basketball coach Judy Spoelstra.

   

• SEATTLE, June 1

  Participants include OSU President Paul Risser, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, football coach Dennis Erickson, men's basketball coach Eddie Payne, women's basketball coach Judy Spoelstra, and alumni director Don Wirth.

   

• PORTLAND, June 2

  Participants include OSU President Paul Risser, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, football coach Dennis Erickson, men's basketball coach Eddie Payne, women's basketball coach Judy Spoelstra, and alumni director Don Wirth.

   

• SALEM, June 3

  Participants include OSU President Paul Risser, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, football coach Dennis Erickson, women's basketball coach Judy Spoelstra, and alumni director Don Wirth.

   

• EUGENE, June 7

  Participants include athletic director Mitch Barnhart, football coach Dennis Erickson, men's basketball coach Eddie Payne, and alumni director Don Wirth.

   

• SACRAMENTO, June11

  Participants include OSU President Paul Risser, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, alumni director Don Wirth, and football defensive coordinator Willy Robinson.