Columns Magazine THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON ALUMNI MAGAZINE

On and Off the Ave

A collection of newsworthy items from the pages of Columns.

Raising a Stink


There were plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" and "pee-euuuws" when people streamed into the UW Botany Greenhouse in mid-July. But not because spectators were admiring the beauty of the blooming Amorphophallus titanum. It was the stench. Standing nearly 6 feet tall and smelling like rotting fish in the hot, humid greenhouse, the giant Sumatra-native plant demonstrated in no uncertain terms why it is known as the "corpse flower." It was only the 10th time this century one of the exotic plants has flowered in the United States, and the first time west of Missouri. Doug Ewing, the greenhouse manager, started the plant from seed six years ago. The plants have become scarce in the wild because they have been heavily harvested for food, medicine, and because their phallic appearance makes them valued by some as aphrodisiacs.




Southwest Campus Shapes Up

New Fishery Sciences building


Two major construction projects that will help define the UW's Southwest Campus open this fall. Both will be dedicated Oct. 29. Above is the new Fishery Sciences Building, located south of the Stevens Court Apartments on N.E. Pacific Street. The $42 million project—classrooms, labs and office space for the School of Fisheries—has about 71,000 useable square feet. Photo by Kathy Sauber.

New Ocean Sciences building


Above is the new Ocean Sciences Building sited on N.E. Boat Street just west of the Health Sciences Center. It will hold offices and labs for the chemical oceanography and physical oceanography departments, as well as the dean's office for the College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences. The $38 million project has about 58,000 useable square feet. Photo by Kathy Sauber.




Heartbreak at World Series

UW Women's softball team goes to NCAA World Series


Softball Senior Captain Becky Newbry led her team to a season finish of 51-18. UCLA beat the Huskies 3-2 in the NCAA Women's College World Series held May 31. The sixth-ranked Washington softball team came close to upsetting top-seeded UCLA in the championship game. 15 players from the past year's team will return next spring.





Opening a Book of Memories

UW Bookstore, ca. 1930s


When you were a University of Washington student, one place where you probably spent lots of time was the venerable University Book Store. Older alumni may recognize this view of the entrance to the main store from the 1930s. The book store will celebrate its 100th anniversary in January, and it would love to have your favorite memories of the store. Write up and send your own encouraging, amusing or touching stories to any one of the book store's eight locations. The main store address is 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105; e-mail bookstor@u.washington.edu. Or drop off your memories at any store in the University District, downtown Seattle, Bellevue, Bothell or Tacoma. Your name will be entered in a drawing for a $100 University Book Store gift certificate.




Journey to the Moon

NASA officials confer over fate of Apollo 13


Above are NASA officials at Mission Control Center monitoring the progress of the troubled Apollo 13 mission. Dale D. Myers, '43, is second from left. Myers will speak on the disappointments and triumphs during the Apollo missions to the moon in his talk "Thrills and Spills—A Space Adventure." Myers is the guest lecturer at the Purple and Gold Society Annual Luncheon held at noon Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Seattle Yacht Club. The cost is $22 for UWAA members, $25 non-members. The Purple and Gold Society honors alumni who have already celebrated their class year's 50th reunion. The banquet is open to all interested alumni. For reservations, call (206) 543-3839 or 1-800-AUW-ALUM. Photo courtesy NASA Image Exchange.




The Ultimate Mascot

Early UW mascot Sunny Boy plays frisbee


Eighty years ago, Washington's teams were called the Sun Dodgers and their mascot was a short guy with a bow tie and umbrella called "Sunny Boy." Students and alumni thought the name didn't do much for the Northwest's image, so in 1923 a new nickname was selected: the Huskies. But the Sun Dodgers didn't fade away forever. In May, if you happened to go outside to the UW athletic fields, you could see the Sun Dodgers in action. It was the UW Men's Ultimate Frisbee Club, which overcame rain, wind and early season disappointments to reach the national championship game among college clubs. Though the Huskies, er, Sun Dodgers didn't win the title match, they did restore a measure of dignity to a former nickname.


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