• Breaking the Bank:  The Legacy Campaign crested $50 million in donations to Marietta College thanks to a donation from the Chlapaty family to the tune of $2.6 million.  The latest donation was earmarked to go towards renovations and upgrades at Don Drumm Stadium.  Their hope is to make the stadium more attractive and friendly for students, athletes, and potential Pioneers.  No word on what those renovations and upgrades will be, but as soon as I know, you will too.
• MC’s Top 10:  Writing on the Mall is working on it’s very own Top 10 list of news stories for the year, but for now, you can check out the official Marietta College Top 10.  The list includes everything from athletics, academics, growth, and the 175th anniversary.  We’re still taking your recommendations towards what you feel were the most important story lines of 2009.  Feel free to leave a comment with your input.
• Candid Camera – Late Night Breakfast Edition:  I was too busy enjoying the atmosphere of Late Night Breakfast to take photos and videos for the site, but have no fear.  Trusty photographer Jonathan “Jack” Brossart for the College has some pictures up on the College’s Flickr photostream.  Did you get photographed?
• DJ Correct In The House:  Still in Marietta?  Head over to the Thirsty Turtle (Route 47 in Parkersburg) to enjoy some great music and atmosphere.  December 24th (Thursday) is their College Night, with plenty of contests and specials for students.  DJ Correct will be providing the music.  He’ll also be there December 26th (Saturday).  Both nights start at 10 PM.  I haven’t been to the Thirsty Turtle, but hear it’s a pretty good bar to hang out at.
• Texts From Last Night:  Marietta College now has a Texts From Last Night group on Facebook.  It’s not really official in any way shape or form (as in, not officially TFLN sanctioned) but still worth a few good laughs.  Join the group and bust some winter break boredom.
• Post Your Events on The Mall:  Writing on the Mall is always looking to find out when your events are.  We try to post information for as many events as possible.  And we’d love to post your event.  Whether it is on campus, off campus, or online, we’ll post it on our calendar, our Twitter Feed, and our Facebook to help promote your event.  Just hit up the Contact page and send me (Patrick) an e-mail detailing your event or events for the Spring semester.  Things that would be helpful include the name of the event, a bit of background about the event, where it’s being held, what time its being held, and who it is open to.  Any other information can be provided

The Riverfront Roar is a series of high-speed boat races up and down the Ohio River, and takes place on the Levy just like Sternwheeler.  There are plans for plenty of music, food, drinks, and racing, so check out the website for the schedule of a events.  The event is free to attend and takes place all this weekend down at the Levy by the Lafayette Hotel.

As a side note (so I don’t feel like I’m wasting a post on about 40 words), there is a new Calendar page that is up and running.  Anything that is happening at Marietta College or in the city of Marietta will appear on that calendar.  So take advantage of it to help you find things to do on and off campus.

The new library will kick off the new year with a week of events to help show off all of its new features and facilities.  Events are going to include another Book Brigade, library tours, a training day, an introduction to Chlapaty Café (Really?  Really?  How do you even pronounce that?), and a game night to show off the new multipurpose space.

According to the press release, the week of festivities will serve as its unofficial opening celebration.  The actual dedication ceremony will not happen until the fall.

Also of note, there will be a drawing for prizes for those that show up at events.  You get one entry for each event you attend, so a max of five entries a person.  No word on what the prizes will be, but let me do some digging…maybe I can find out.

Here is the short version of the schedule of events:

January 12th – 2 to 4 PM – Book Brigade
January 13th – 2 to 4 PM – “Greeting Centers”
January 14th – All Day – Training on new equipment
January 15th – (Assuming) All Day – Chlapaty Cafe Open House
January 16th – 7 to 10 PM – Game Night

Monday’s Book Brigade will have participating students moving the last few books from the Mills temporary library to the first floor of the Legacy Library.  Tuesday’s “Greeting Centers” will allow students to walk through the facility and meet with library staff at specific points.  Refreshments from the Chlapaty Cafe wil be served.  Wednesday’s training day will allow students to learn how to operate new technologies in the library, including collapsable bookshelves and other items.  Thursday’s open house at Chlapaty Cafe will unviel the new menu (which I’m expecting to be very similar to Gilman Express) and show off new services (Huh?  Guess we’ll have to see what that means).  I will assume there may be free samples then also.  Friday’s game night will allow students to make use of all of the new facilities within the library.  PC, XBOX, Wii, and board games will be seperated throughout the building.

Hopefully I will have some more information about the Chlapaty Cafe (and maybe even a pronounciation if I’m lucky) to report soon.  For now, I leave you with the text of the press release the college put out this morning.

Opening week for Legacy Library filled with events

January 7, 2009 — Less than two years after breaking ground, the Legacy Library will open its doors to students, staff and faculty during an event-packed week to informally celebrate the opening of the stunning new addition to campus.

The official library dedication ceremony will take place in the fall on Sept. 19.

Dr. Douglas Anderson, Legacy Library’s Director, and the library staff have planned daily events for the week of Jan. 12-16, starting with a Book Brigade from 2 to 4 p.m. on Monday. Campus and local alumni are invited to carry the last books remaining in Mills Hall through the main entrance of the new library to the New Book area on the first floor. Refreshments will be served afterward. Those who participate in the Book Brigade, as well as the other events during opening week, will be entered in a drawing for special prizes.

“All during the construction process we’ve had great interest from the campus community,” Anderson said. “From the demolition of the Dawes Memorial Library in May 2007, through the foundation pour in October 2007, the Topping Off Ceremony in March 2008, and the tours of the construction we offered this past fall, everyone has been keenly focused on watching this new facility go up. During our opening week activities, we’ll be able to show off this fantastic new building.”

On Tuesday, library staff will host an open house for students, staff and faculty from 2 to 4 p.m. Greeting stations at the Reference Desk, Technical Services, the Worthington Center for Teaching Excellence, Third Floor Study Area and Special Collections will be in place for guests who want to explore the new 53,000-square-foot library and enjoy free refreshments in the new Chlapaty Café. Those who visit all greeting stations will also be entered in the drawing.

Throughout the day Wednesday, library staff will offer demonstrations and training on the compact shelving units and other new features of the building.

Chartwells will hold a special open house in the Chlapaty Café on Thursday to introduce the menu and services offered at the newest eatery on campus.

Geared more for students, from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday Legacy Library will be the venue for a special Game Night, sponsored jointly by the library and the Residence Life staff. A network PC game tournament will take place in the Instruction Room. The Second Floor Classroom will be reserved for Wii games. The Second Floor Group Studies area will have an Xbox 2on2on2on2 Tournament, and the five study lounges located on the first and second floors will be reserved for board game play such as Apples to Apples, Cranium, Pictionary, Taboo, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble. Chess players can also find tables on the ground floor and the third floor will host additional PC and other games. Students interested in participating with their own gaming equipment should contact Nate Roy at royn@marietta.edu or 376-4483.

“Many academic libraries host regular game nights for their campuses,” Anderson said. “If this event is successful, we’ll be looking at whether we can make this a regular feature of our programming.”

– Gi Smith
College Relations