Fall, beautiful fall

In this Issue:

• Solar observing with Wake Physics tomorrow
• Fall leaf removal has begun
• Weekly Message for P’29s: time management and overcommitment

Happy Homecoming Week to all! We await the arrival of literally thousands of alumni and their family members this weekend for Homecoming. And the weather looks fantastic – not just for this week, but for the next two weeks (which is as far as my Weather Channel app predicts).

This is very nearly perfect fall weather: crisp and cool in the morning (or late at night), pleasant during the day. I hope your Deacs soak up as much outdoor time as they can. It’s simply glorious right now.

Solar observing with Wake Physics tomorrow

There is something really cool happening tomorrow that I hope our students might take advantage of:

“Solar Observing with Wake Physics | Tuesday, October 21 | 1:45-3:15 pm | Tribble Courtyard

Observe the Sun up close in Tribble Courtyard! Explore sunspots, solar prominences, and more through telescopes—including a new Hydrogen-Alpha solar scope offering stunning narrow-band views. (Weather permitting; rain date Oct. 23 at 1:45 p.m.)“

I had no idea we had these new kinds of solar scopes, but am grateful that our Physics department will share this opportunity with all interested students. When we had the last solar eclipse on campus (maybe this past spring?) there were all sorts of students who were outside with their eclipse-safe glasses watching the action.

Fall leaf removal has begun

I saw an announcement this morning about leaf blowing efforts on campus.

“Beginning Monday, Oct. 20, Landscaping Services will begin conducting fall leaf removal activities and continue through winter break. Leaf blowing will occur no earlier than 6 a.m. in parking lots, along sidewalks, stairs, and ramps, and near administrative and office buildings at both on- and off-campus properties. Leaf blowing near residence halls will begin no earlier than 9 a.m. Landscape Services will make every effort to avoid interruptions, especially during increased exam time periods.”

If you have visited our campus in person, you can probably imagine that we get a loooooooot of leaves on the ground every fall. And it is important to keep the sidewalks clean so they are easy to traverse.

Blowing or raking leaves reminds me of the old debate we used to have where I grew up in Pennsylvania: is it better to shovel the snow every few hours? or wait until all of it has fallen? I know what my answer is, but I am curious to know what you think. Tell me your answer via this one question survey.

Weekly Message for P’29s: time management and overcommitment

Throughout the fall semester, I share a topic for new families to consider. This week’s topic is time management and overcommitment – two things that all new students have to figure out during their first semester. You can read that message here, or see our archive for past weeks if you missed any.