By Jon Marmor
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.
.