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September 1, 2006

Wet Introductions

Picnic lets faculty and students mingle and soak one another

Story by: Emily Aberg

The Shorthorn staff

The Shorthorn: Monica Lopez

Professors, planetarium coordinators, and students all join the fun in a game of tug of war at the Physics Department picnic Thursday on the Activities Building west lawn.

Students and professors connected Thursday at the Physics Department picnic.

They bonded with water balloons aimed at each others’ faces.

Senior secretary Margie Jackymack and administrative assistant Amy Osborn organized the picnic. It was the first of what the department hopes to be an annual celebration to welcome staff and students for the fall semester.

Jackymack said that Osborn came up with the idea about three weeks ago.

“We wanted to do it so the department could socialize, and for the new and returning professors,” she said. “It’s something different for us.”

The activities included tug of war, volleyball, a Pie the Professor booth and an inflatable water slide. Water balloons were passed out in plastic bags to students and professors, who unloaded on each other at random.

Planetarium director Bob Bonadurer said he thought the picnic was a great idea.

“It’s really letting some people’s aggressions,” he said as he dodged an incoming water balloon. “I think every department should have something like this.”

Physics seniors Matt Scarborough and Jay Murphree attended the picnic to enjoy the free food and spend time with their friends in the department.

“[The department] is so low-key and relaxed,” Murphree said.

Scarborough noticed that most of the students who showed up were either graduate students or had been undergraduate students for three or more years.

“If you’re in physics, you know everyone by their face, if not their name,” he said.

The picnic was also a chance for newer faculty members to socialize with each other and students. Assistant professor Yi-jiun Su began working at the university last year and said she hoped the picnic would be a fixture next year.

“It’s free food,” she said, laughing. “It is very welcoming.”

Physics graduate student Barry Spurlock attended despite his broken leg. The undeterred Spurlock kept up with the spirit of the party by using one of his crutches to bat at water balloons pitched by a friend.

“We’ve had several parties during the year, but this is the only one with water balloons,” he said. “But what other department is going to throw a party where the professors hit you with water balloons?”