COLUMBUS, OH – An intern for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and a member of The Ohio State University Marching Band, will “dot the i” at tomorrow’s Big Ten football championship between Ohio State and Michigan State. Last year, Jocelyn Smallwood, a senior sousaphone player interning in Brown’s Columbus office, became the first African-American woman in history to dot the i and became the first woman to achieve this honor during a Michigan game.

“Ohio students like Jocelyn exemplify how our state’s strong families, teachers, and communities continue to produce the next generation of world-class leaders,” Brown said. “For Jocelyn to dot the i, and be the first African-American woman to earn this distinction, is a testament to her talent, dedication, and character. Woody Hayes used to say that the band is worth seven points. I know, then, that Jocelyn will perform her best on Saturday to help the Buckeyes win another Big Ten championship.”

The OSU Marching Band is widely regarded as the best in the country and has performed its signature formation, “Script Ohio,” since 1936. The formation’s climax is when a fourth or fifth year sousaphone player stands as the dot in the i of “Ohio,” which is considered by many as the greatest tradition in college football. Only a small number of non-band members have ever dotted the i, a list which includes former U.S. Sen. John Glenn (D-OH).

A second intern in Brown’s Columbus office is Jacob Bradt, an offensive lineman for the Ohio Dominican football team. Last week, the Panthers concluded their season following a playoff defeat, but prior to the loss, held the longest win streak in the nation for Division II. Fellow in-state school Mount Union College currently holds the nation’s longest win streak in Division III; and Ohio State currently holds the nation’s longest win streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Brown’s interns work alongside staff members to address constituent requests and concerns. In the Columbus office, a typical day could include speaking with constituents on the phone, greeting visitors to the office, organizing incoming correspondence, and supporting staff in various ways. Students may earn college credit in addition to the educational benefit and professional development opportunities.

Earlier this week, and fresh off a friendly wager on the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry game, Brown and U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (MI-14) announced that they would double the stakes for the Big Ten football championship. After Saturday’s close game when the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines by a single point, Peters upped the ante and doubled-down for one of his alma maters, Michigan State. The winner will now receive double the craft beer from their home state: a twelve pack of either Ohio-brewed Great Lakes Christmas Ale or a selection from the Michigan-brewed Detroit Beer Company.  

Brown received degrees from OSU in 1979 and 1981, and taught at the university’s Mansfield branch between those same years. Last month, Brown met with Dr. Joseph Alutto, OSU’s interim President, to discuss efforts to improve higher education in Ohio and across the country. In April, Brown hosted his sixth annual College and University Presidents’ Conference in Washington D.C. with more than 25 presidents from colleges and universities across Ohio, including former OSU President, Dr. Gordon Gee. Brown’s forum—the first of its kind—is aimed at connecting educators with each other and with local businesses to advance regional economic development. 

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