Special Edition...July 29 & August 5, 2002
Now in its second week
on the Net
Throughout the spring semester, csminternal valiantly tried to offer humor and a "lighter" touch in its Fun Stuff section (you call that valiant?). The following is a compilation of Fun Stuff items from January 7 through March 18, 2002, in case you somehow and for some reason missed the Fun Stuff link above and the attempts at "literary light" contained inside. In the near future, we plan on another special edition with the remaining spring items because, really, a person can't laugh too much.
Jan. 7, 2002: Legendary deviled eggs big hit at CSM holiday reception
Jan. 14, 2002: Who ate the first egg? Legendary deviled eggs investigation continues
Jan. 21, 2002: Legendary deviled egg investigation shelved, but egg maker receives challenge
Jan. 28, 2002: Mysterious man seen on campus after winter break
Jan. 28, 2002: First name "John" dominates CSM's Security Department
Feb. 4, 2002: Where have you gone Ernie Misa?
Feb. 4, 2002: Trish Millet: Turning "50" in style
Feb. 4, 2002: No part-time security officers named "John"--the story continues
Feb. 11, 2002: Mailroom team holding-up fort without Misa
Feb. 11, 2002: Who has the longest commute?
Feb. 18, 2002: Commuter tales continues...who has the shortest commute?
Feb. 25, 2002: Shortest commute--there is a winner
March 4, 2002: The legend of the bulldog
March 11, 2002: The Bulldog mascot--let the story be told...
March 18, 2002: The birth of CSM's colors comes to light
March 18, 2002: Old Bulldog mascot banner found and framed
January 7, 2002
Legendary
deviled eggs big hit at CSM holiday reception
For four
years, Distance Learning's Gloria Bianchi has made deviled eggs for
the annual holiday reception. At this year's event--held last December
and sponsored by the President's Office, the Classified Staff Planning
Committee and the Academic Senate--Gloria made eight and a half
dozen of her now legendary appetizers.
According to reliable and well-placed sources, Tim Stringari of Special Programs and Services had the last egg. No one seems to know exactly who had the first, but to someone who had one in between, his egg was "delicious."
Led by Vice President of Instruction Grace Sonner, holiday reception event committee members included Valerie Anderson (President's Office), Joyce Berghoff (Operations/Facilities), Gloria Bianchi, Lilly Cappelli (Public Information), Patty Egusa (Language Arts), Robin Lee (V.P. of Instruction Office), Michelle Schneider (Technology), Marilyn Tabor (KCSM) and Helen Walker (Public Information). Assisting people at the beverage table were Vice President of Student Services Patricia Griffin and Academic Senate President Rick Ambrose.
January 14, 2002
Who
Legendary deviled eggs investigation continues
Last week, it was reported that Tim Stringari
of Special Programs and Services ate the last of the eight
and a half dozen deviled eggs Distance Learning's Gloria Bianchi made
for the CSM luncheon in December. But who ate the first egg? Inside
sources reveal that it may have been an "inside job," meaning
that one of the preparers and servers may have been the first-egg
eater. csminternal welcomes any leads in its continuing
investigation.
In related news, Bianchi said that CSM Theater's Helen Souranoff offered to challenge Bianchi at the next holiday luncheon with some Russian deviled eggs of her own creation.
Souranoff could not be reached before press time for comment. Look to next week's edition for details.
January 21, 2002
District
Web Support Analyst marries District Technical Support Supervisor
or Jasmine Robinson marries Bradley Witham
On November 24,
2001 at 1:00 p.m., District employees Jasmine Robinson and Bradley
Witham were married at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, as
her father from London and his mother from Australia were among the
60 guests to witness the wedding.
"The wedding went beautifully and the reception was unforgettable. Everything was perfect!" said the now Jasmine Witham, the District's web support analyst. "Our DJ's were incredible, everyone had a fabulous time. After months of planning, the most memorable moments of the wedding were the ones not planned and Vegas is full of surprises. To keep those memories fresh, I had four disposable cameras at every table, and now have 500 pictures, that aren't quite album quality, but may be used as blackmail later."
When e-mailing Jasmine or Brad, the District's technical support supervisor, take note that her address is withamj@smccd.net and his is witham@smccd.net and that towels with engraved with those addresses would have been a good idea for a wedding gift.
But
egg maker receives challenge
Legendary deviled egg investigation shelved
For
a number of weeks, csminternal has been investigating who ate the
first of the eight and a half dozen deviled eggs Distance Learning's
Gloria Bianchi made for the CSM luncheon in December. Nobody-not even
anonymously-has provided any information leading to the solution of
one of the most perplexing mysteries to confound this campus in at
least the last 30 minutes. One hard-boiled investigator suggested
that informants might be "chicken" to come forward and the enticement
of a reward might produce at least a dozen leads. With resources now
depleted, however, the investigation is being downgraded to "back
burner."
Last week, Bianchi said that CSM Theater's Helen Souranoff offered to challenge Bianchi at the next holiday luncheon with some Russian deviled eggs of her own creation. But what are Russian deviled eggs?
"That information is not mine to disclose; my mom gave me the recipe," Souranoff said, confirming that she has challenged Bianchi to a "cook-off."
January 28, 2002
Mysterious
man seen on campus after winter break
Many
people have seen a man looking a lot like CSM's Coordinator of Student
Activities Steve Robison on campus. He has appeared in various locations
since the winter holiday break.
Called to investigate the matter, csminternal discovered that the mystery man and Steve Robison are one in the same. It appears the confusion in identification of the long-time CSM employee is that he returned from the holiday without his trademark beard.
According to Robison, he hasn't shaved his beard completely in the last 33 years (the one time he shaved it partially is a story for another time). And there was no particular reason he did it this time.
"I was visiting relatives in the state of Washington, and just before midnight (on New Year's Eve) while everyone was getting ready to celebrate, I ducked out and shaved it."
To somewhat disguise his deed, he came back into the room wearing a coned hat on his head and had a noisemaker in his mouth. When the New Year's noise subsided and peace was restored, his niece said: "Uncle Steve, what did you do to your face?"
Almost as surprised, he said, were his wife and children who had never seen him sans facial hair.
"It was fun," smiled the beardless one.
First
name "John" dominates CSM's Security Department
Of the six
security officers working in CSM's Security Department, four or
67 percent of them have the first name of John, according the
department head John Wells. Wells said that having John as a first
name is not a job requirement, either mandatory or preferred.
"But it sure helps," he added.
The Johns in alphabetical order are:
· John Collins
· Jon Holloway
· John Jones
· John Wells
The other officers are Bernard Calloway and Patrick Davy. Kevin Eifler works in the department in an administrative role.
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February 4, 2002
Where
For about a week, you probably haven't heard "postmaster" Ernie Misa's familiar whistling or friendly banter emanating from CSM's mailroom in Building 1. That's because he's away on a month's vacation to a location that's hot and has plenty of beaches on which, he said, he plans to spend a great deal of time.
"The heat is not too bad," Misa said with his usual wry humor. "It stays cool until about eight (a.m.)."
He said that if he visits any cyber cafes, he may send dispatches for possible inclusion in upcoming editions of csminternal.
Has he been missed by his co-workers?
"I miss him and the music he plays in the mornings," said Pat Benney who handles the campus' information center, which is adjacent to the mailroom. She and two student assistants are doing the best they can to get the mail to its destination come sleet, snow…
Trish
Millet: Turning "50" with style
Her smiling face and friendly style have brightened the afternoon or evening of many students, staff, faculty and administrators for the past four plus years she has worked the 2:30 to 7:00 p.m. shift in the CSM's counseling center as an office assistant II. So, it came as no surprise last Monday when Trish Millet met her 50th birthday head-on with a positive attitude and a sense of humor.
"I can't believe I'm half a century," she said disbelievingly, feeling much younger than 50. "Honest to God, I think they got the wrong year on my birth certificate."
Apparently, those who know her feel the same way.
"People say to me that I don't look it, I don't act it," said, Millet, who has not taken a single sick day while employed at the College.
Millet was proud to point out that she doesn't dye her hair, and that she has "more energy than the law allows." And what's her secret to feeling and looking young?
"Water, coffee, and gum-anyone who know me knows those are my mainstays," she joked. "I eat very little, a plate of potato chips, preferably Lay's plain."
It is been said that 50 is the old age of youth but the youth of old age. Millet's response to that profundity:
"That's cool."
No
part-time security officers named "John"-the story continues
It was learned this week that none of the three part-time CSM security officers has the first name of John. According to csminternal's calculations--and double-checking them is highly recommended--that is zero percent and well below the 67 percent of full-time officers.
In alphabetical order, the names of the part-time officers are as follows:
February 11, 2002
Mailroom
team holding-up the fort without Misa
The
campus information center's Pat Benney in the foreground with
student assistants Jeremy Adriano, John Huang and Desiree Ledsome
surrounding her clockwise form a formidable postal team and are getting
the mail to its destination despite the absence of the "Sultan of
Stamps," Ernie Misa. Although Misa has emailed and called to make
sure all is going well, he has yet to send a dispatch about his whereabouts
or going-ons, according to Benney and Adriano.
Who
has the longest commute?
At a forum on campus
a couple of weeks ago, District Chancellor Ron Galatolo talked about
how some employees' "brutal" commutes must "wear on their souls."
That sparked csminternal's curiosity. Just who at CSM has the longest commute?
The present front-runner is Munendra Sharma (most people know him as "Sharma") of the campus' bookstore who travels 95 miles from his home in Modesto each day, leaving at 4:30 a.m. for what he estimates is a one hour and forty minute commute.
Campus security officer Jon Holloway's 60-mile commute from Petaluma amounts to an average hour and ten minute commute.
If you have a commute longer than these two gentlemen, please email Mike Habeeb in Public Relations at habeeb@smccd.net with the details.
February 18, 2002
Commuter tales continues…who has the shortest commute?
Last week, the question was asked: Who has the longest daily commute to CSM? Commuting 95 miles and one hour and forty minutes each day, Munendra Sharma (most people know him as "Sharma") of the campus' bookstore is still in the lead.
Last Thursday, however, csminternal received the following email from retired CSM broadcast/electronic media professor George Mangan: "…Until my retirement in December, I commuted 78 miles each way from Santa Rosa since 1984. My hat is off to Sharma!! Cheers."
This week, the question is asked: Who has the shortest commute to CSM?
Here are the early contestants:
Gerry Frassetti, International Students office: .7 miles
Joyce Berghoff in Opertations: 1.5 miles
Maggie Skaff, International Students office: 2.1 miles
Gloria Bianchi of Distance Learning: 2.2 miles
Pictured
at left, what do you think this is? It's a machine--that's for sure.
It is located on the campus and serves an essential function. It is
new and, according to one of its users, it makes his job easier.
When he returns from places unknown, the Czar of Zip Codes Ernie Misa may enlighten us on the subject. In the meantime…
February 25, 2002
Shortest
commute--there is a winner
A winner has been declared in the shortest commute contest--you knew there was a contest, didn't you?
She has been seen meandering around campus, nibbling on azalea and camellia bushes, Iceland poppies and pansies. Usually, she'll appear when there are few people on the College grounds. Some of her friends and perhaps family will be in tow.
Her name? Jane Doe, a deer.
CSM Lead Groundskeeper Carol Reed confirmed that Doe lives on the perimeter outskirts of or the hillsides surrounding the campus. There are times, Reed added, that Doe actually lives on the campus--specifically on "Mount Baldy," which is located on the right side of the main entrance road.
For those who are now complaining that the contest was supposed to be for employees only, Doe's job is to give the campus a sense of character and specialness. She also provides CSM with gracefulness and sturdy good looks.
Jane Doe is a campus winner.
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March 4, 2002
The
legend of the bulldog
Why did CSM pick the bulldog as a mascot?
The Random House Dictionary (RDH) defines bulldog as a "medium-sized, short-haired, muscular dog with a prominent undershot jaw."
After seeing a bulldog and reading that definition, it's possible that CSM's mascot selectors way-back-when struck a thoughtful pose and said to themselves: "Yes, that's an image we want attached to our institution of higher learning." Somehow, that seems far-fetched.
Then, could it be that all the good mascots were taken? By the way, who keeps that list anyway? Why wasn't a buck, tiger or owl selected? An owl, the wise one--that would have been an interesting choice.
There is information on this subject, truthfully, in a book on CSM's history. The book reveals how the bulldog was picked--claiming, however, that the information may be more legend than fact.
Permission is being sought to print the legend verbatim in next week's csminternal. But until then, one is left to wonder whether during those intense mascot selection times the dog lobbyists were stronger than the proponents of cats; tenaciousness was trendy; or CSM simply decided that the bulldog was just what it was looking for after learning the poodle ("an active dog having long, thick, frizzy or curly hair"--RDH) was not available.
March 11, 2002
The
Bulldog mascot--let a story be told…
Just how the bulldog was picked in the 1920's as CSM's mascot is not
known--for sure, that is. But there are legendary reports that when
pieced together offer a plausible tale.
In Class Act, a book on the College's history written by the CSM History Professor Emeritus Michael Svanevik and his wife Shirley Burgett, the authors devote two paragraphs to the question. Beginning on page 11, it goes like this:
"The precise origin of the bulldog mascot will probably never be known. Legend has it that it was chosen by a process of elimination in that it seemed other schools had commandeered most of the other animals.
"Student Hessie Ballentine, whose parents owned San Mateo's Goldstone Kennels which specialized in raising champion English bulldogs, offered the services of Rival Goldstone, 'a ferocious animal,' to appear at all sporting events. Apparently that proposal settled the discussion. For years, the bulldog, clad in finely tailored felt coat with matching cap, was a fixture at sporting competitions. Many variations of this story can be found."
So there's the story--it may not be 100 percent factual but, doggonit, CSM is "sticking to it." At least, presumably, until a better one comes along.
Next week, read Svanevik and Burgett's report on how blue and white were chosen as the College's colors. And did you know that CSM has a couple of school songs?
March 18, 2002
The
birth of CSM's colors comes to light
Last
week, the origin of the College's Bulldog mascot was revealed. This
week, csminternal again looks to Class Act, a
history of CSM written by History Professor Emeritus Michael Svanevik
and his wife Shirley Burgett, for the answer to how the school
colors were selected. The
following is an excerpt from page 11 of the book:
"An air of mystery surrounded many early student decisions (in the 1920's). The college colors, blue and white, were chosen, according to student Marian Young Erickson, 'not for any sentimental reasons,' but because students felt that their logical next step would be to Stanford or Cal. 'So we took the white from Stanford's red and white; the blue from Cal's blue and gold.'
"Student Dorothy Dickie claimed later in her life that the colors were 'my fault.' She stated that 'I had a lot of crepe paper left over from a party. We were planning to give a dance at the college and hadn't much money for decorations, so I offered my blue and white streamers. That settled the problem. Blue and white it became.'
"And, whereas pioneer students vaguely recall that the actual color chosen was the royal blue characteristic of the University of California, the actual shade was not official. By the late 1920's, surviving pennants, dinks and other paraphernalia, offer testimony that the colors were robin's egg blue and white. Only in March 1928, did students vote to adopt the darker shade."
Old
Bulldog mascot banner found and framed
Pictured
at left is an old CSM Bulldog banner provided by College Electronics
Professor Tom Diskin, who wrote the following email about its history
after reading last week's story on the origin of the mascot in csminternal:
"I just read the article in the internal newsletter about the history of the CSM bulldog. Very interesting! I thought you or others would be interested in knowing that I have a very old felt banner with a picture of CSM bulldog, and the words "College of San Mateo Radio Department." I framed it several years ago and it seems to be in pretty good shape. It had been buried in a cabinet in the Electronics Dept. for who knows how many years.... but I would definitely estimate that it is probably pre-World War II era."
Diskin said to take note of the "SMJC" (San Mateo Junior College, CSM's name before officially changing it in 1954) on the Bulldog's hat and the earphones over its ears. The professor added that a radio program began in the very earliest years of CSM, perhaps as early as 1923.
For future Fun Stuff items, discussions last week took place to have an historical feature done on the the radio program. Plus, it's possible that soon CSM's "school songs" will be recorded for listening on the csminternal site. Stay tuned.