Communication department chair struck
By Catherine Bye
If you were asked to identify an old electric eraser, card sorter or book press, would you shrug and say "I dunno?" This question was the basis for the recent "What is it?" competition sponsored by the Orradre Library renovation committee.
When Orradre Library began renovations to repair the water damaged basement two years ago, out of date library items were found. Library workers were hesitant to discard the old technologies because they were bought and paid for by the university for the benefit of the student body.
The restoration committee, including Paula Popma, David Hellman and Traci Scharnberg, decided to take the old equipment and create a contest that would give students a chance to identify the unfamiliar items for prizes.
"The contest was a fun way to have people realize how many changes have taken place in terms of library technology, and a nice ice breaker to get people talking about the new look of the library basement," Assistant University Librarian Judith Anderson said.
The contest was held during the "Help us Celebrate" party on Sept. 20 Ã held to commemorate the restoration of the basement stack area, and to thank those who diligently worked on the project.
Provost Stephen Privett, SJ, was present to personally thank both the library and university facilities staff who worked to provide materials to users and to keep the basement as dry as possible.
Only three contestants were able to correctly identify all the items. From those three, winner and Assistant Campus Archeologist Linda Hylkema, was drawn to win the grand prize: a cookbook and a $50 gift certificate for Mio Vicino.
"The thing I recognized right off the bat was the book press because an antique collector friend of mine has one identical to it," Hylkema said.
Second prize was awarded to freshman Kelsey Blakely for submitting the most creative answers. KelseyÃs guesses earned her a Sony Portable Discman and a $25 gift certificate for Tower Records.