On and Off the Ave.

A Lighter Look at Life On and Off Campus

By Jon Marmor

Ringers

Those aren't just school bells you may hear ringing on campus. There's just as good a chance it is a phone ringing. If you think you spend a lot of time on the phone or have an eye-popping phone bill, get a load of what's on the UW's line. Go ahead, make the call:

How many telephones are there at the UW?
Approximately 25,000

How many lines are there at the UW?
Approximately 18,800

How many calls come in or go out of the UW in a given month?
More than 3 million

What UW phone number receives the most calls?
543-2100 (the UW's main number)

The UW's phone bill
$500,000 a month (ouch!)

How many telephones are there at the UW Medical Center?
Approximately 4,500

How many calls are made to the UW Medical Center?
40,000 to the main switchboard

How many calls are made to the UW football ticket office?
10,000 per month during football season

Loyal to the End

You could say that Victor H. Swofford lived and died with the Huskies. Though he didn't attend the UW, the Yakima meat market owner was absolutely nuts about the Husky football team. When he died in September at the age of 77, his memorial service was more like a love-in for the Huskies: the words to "Bow Down to Washington" were printed in the memorial folder; his casket was decorated in purple and gold, and a UW football sat among the flowers on his casket, next to a flower arrangement in the shape of a football helmet. Purple and gold balloons were released at the ceremony.

On the Ball

UW President Emeritus William Gerberding is still playing hardball. Just months after retiring after 16 years as the UW's chief, Gerberding was named to the Public Facilities District Board, which will oversee construction of the new baseball stadium for the Mariners. The former UW leader is well-known for his keen interest in baseball.

Soundbite:

"People aren't going to read much anymore becasue it's too hard to do. It's like learning to play the French horn."

--Author Kurt Vonnegut speaking at the HUB last November. Photo (c) 1995 The Daily.

columns@u.washington.edu.

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