University, Take 2: Don't Throw Shade on the Corn

Cat finally got around to taking us with her to University to see where she's going to go to work and school. First we had to sit through this long talk about campus resources and then all these people introducing themselves and babbling about "community informatics," youth services, and the designs of library buildings . . . it wasn't very interesting at all, but Cat was pretty excited about the free pizza involved.

Then Cat took us around campus. First stop was to show us where she works.


I'm not kidding. This is it. But where's the library? It's there, can you find it?


Here it is! It's underground! Basically the roof is at street level (actually about three steps up) and so this is a shot from above into the courtyard. What does this mean exactly? It means Cat works in a pit! AHAHAHAHAHA!

Even funnier than that is why the undergad library is underground. In 1969, when the library was going to be built, two things drove the undergrad underground. One reason was to keep the quad from feeling entirely enclosed. I guess they didn't think that would be pretty. But - horror of horror - if they built anything there above ground, it would throw shade on the corn.

CORN?!?! Yeah, corn. Here it is. With us.


There's actually soybeans there now too. So it's not just corn. Anyway, why is there corn on the freakin' quad, and why does that mean that Cat has to work underground? The corn, called the Morrow Plots, are like a really old field where they've been doing experiments on what makes corn grow well for like a really long time. So building a building that blocks out the sun half the day for the corn isn't a good way to tell if the corn is growing well. So they made the undergrad into a pit . . .

Here's another shot - this one is from the other direction with the undergrad entrance in the background. Beyond that is the main library where there are apparently a lot of books. I'm not kidding, like 7 plus stories of books.


That was fun. Then we called Cat's bother and he suggested that we get our picture taken at the Krannert Center for Performing Arts. Cat went there to see a play last year, and she says it's a really cool place. Kinda like heaven for theater techies. Cat knows a girl that is going to work there. Anyway, here's the picture.


The amphitheater is mostly there for show, though I guess sometimes groups do small things on it. Behind there is the music performance hall, which Snibbly tells me has almost perfect acoustics.

The last place we got our picture taken was at the Alma Mater statue by the Union. It's sorta like a "Where's Waldo" to find us. Cat said she wasn't going to lie on the ground to take this picture in such a busy place. (Lame). She did let us sit on her ibook though. It's plastic coated, so we didn't have to get wet, since there was still water on the statue from the rain.


So that's just about it. Hope you like the pictures. By the way, all pictures are brought to you through the SD reader that Mr. and Mrs. Cat's Mom and Dad were nice enough to buy for us. Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Cat's Mom and Dad.

News from a New City

We arrived yesterday in our new apartment. Miss Caitlin was very impressed with her full kitchen (featuring a full-sized stove and a freezer that is not set into her fridge). She is also greatly enjoying her full living room, though admittedly at this moment it is submerged in boxes.

More exciting news than the new apartment is the fact that Miss Caitlin now has an assistantship! One of the people on staff at the Undergraduate Library had to resign suddenly, and she was their next choice! This means that Miss Caitlin will be submitted to intensive training starting Thursday. The itinerary looks much the way as Miss Caitlin expected her Reference Services syllabus to look. It seems she'll have one easy class this semester . . .

Miss Caitlin is also under consideration for a position with a family. She would be a general hand around the house for them - shuttling kids, supervising them, and helping with house work a couple days a week. The whole family seemed to like her when she spent the afternoon with them today, but Caitlin still has to do all her paperwork with them (and with the people for the assistantship).

Miss Caitlin is likely to be very occupied in the next two weeks before classes start, but she is very good shape financially, and that's important. She seemed very relieved once she got news about the assistantship, so all of us are very glad for her.