Let There Be Light... PLEASE

As many know, I often have larger classes for anatomy & physiology sections.  Well, one of my sections has ~125 students in it and is held in one of the very large lecture halls at the U.  This room also happens to be in the second oldest building at the U.  As far as big lecture halls in old buildings go, this one is reasonably nice.... except for the LIGHTING. I and also several other professors have sent in work requests to try to have the lighting system repaired.  Roughly ~35% of the lights in this room will not operate.  

When I am "big voice lecturing" to the class,  and I have an anatomical image projecting onto the big ~30 ft x ~15 foot screen above me and above the 40ft expanse of  white board extending from one side of the room to the other.... a somewhat dim, "mood-lighting" light level is ok as I rant and rave about all the different physiological concepts I yammer about.  

But, when students take their exams..... some of them end up having to sit in regions where the lighting is nearly atrocious.  Their younger eyes likely do "ok" in the dim light..... but I would be angry as hell if I were taking an exam in some of those seats.  

For those students.... that is why I have been pressing this issue with the U's Facilities Management.   And, it has been worked on and examined by the U's electricians.  But.... unfortunately..... they report that they cannot figure out how to fix the situation.... because of the antiquated "high tech" equipment, and also due to the room's inherent electrical complexity.  I counted one time, and there are ~40 different light switches in the room organized into four different banks, none of which control "everything".  The U electricians petitioned to get approval from the "high falutin', muckety-mucks" (the President, the Provost and their minions) to call in an electrical specialist.  That is somewhere in progress.

Well..... today..... I go to my class in this lecture hall..... get there about 15 minutes before the start of class..... having hoofed across campus with a big box hoisted onto my shoulder.... containing ~250 different exams and ~250 scantrons.  

You see.... this semester, I have TWO back-to-back anatomy & physiology classes, each ~125 students, and each having an examination yesterday.  One class is Anatomy & Physiology 1, the other class is Anatomy & Physiology 2.... different topics in each, different exams in each.

I get into the big lecture hall, and some of the students are already sitting in the room, waiting.  But, they are sitting in a room that is PITCH BLACK inside.  The only reason I knew some students were in there was through the light shining onto the faces of these students from their gizmo phones that they were interacting with in a myriad of ways while they sat.   

I chuckled a bit under my breath..... I often go into that room and students in that first class seem to LIKE to sit in the dark..... who the hell knows why?

I entered, set the box down, and then proceeded to dig my own gizmo phone out of my pocket, and I proceeded to turn on the thing's flashlight.... and proceeded over to the amazing wall of light switches. Different switches had various printed paper labels under them, some had jury-rigged labels made from masking tape, and a few still had plastic labels from the old "Dynamo Label Maker" days.  But, many were unmarked as well.  

I started locating and trying to flip the switches I had memorized to flip as the ones that would provide the greatest amount of light in this space.

None of them worked.

I went back to what I thought may be a "main" switch,, and changed its position.

No effect.   I then went back to the prior panels and tried again......

No effect.

Getting very nervous, I only had ~10 minutes now until the exam was set to start.  More and more students were pouring into the dark and using their phone's flashlights to get seated.  I called both IT and also Facilities Management..... and after working through each Departments damable phone tree (aka, the "Interactive Voice Response System" reached a real person, and they were dispatched to try to rescue me.

Unfortunately, the IT Specialist came, and could not activate any lights whatsoever.

Unfortunately, the U Electrician came over, and he too could not get any of the switches to operate.  But, he then went up to the very back of the auditorium and with his keys was able to open a small, narrow, locked door leading into the projection room for the space.  I followed him inside.  He proceeded to open and examine a variety of different electrical panels..... some had solid green lights inside (a good sign) but MANY displayed instead... a flashing red light (not good).  He cursed... somewhat under his breath.  He tried to turn everything in that projection room OFF and then back ON (sort of a "reboot"...  like done on a computer).  

I went back out to talk to the class about potential options..... while the electrician worked.  

Unfortunately, and yet also fortunately...... the U's electrician (fortunately) was able to get MOST of the lights to come back on (now ~40% are out)..... but it took him (unfortunately) about 45 minutes into the class time for the lighting to be "restored".  

While he was working, I had talked with the class about options for the exam.  I gave them three "options" with the idea that the majority opinion would be what we would do.  I already knew the student mind enough though, that their preferred choice at 90% of the vote (to take the exam in the next period) was what I was planning anyhow..... but by being allowed a choice..... it gives them a sense of ownership and philosophical "agency".  I then told them the obvious (that I also could not lecture without light) and that unfortunately class was cancelled. 

The electrician, who was a near perfect doppelganger of myself in appearance other than I would need to still be at my previously portly girth. He is someone I have known for a few years, his having come to the U AFTER retiring with his pension from his former electrician job.  He is a very nice fellow.  

After thanking him for his help, I worked on the rooms computer until the next class arrived, and then gave that SECOND class their exam.  

I HOPE that I will not have lighting problems on Wednesday, when I am not hoping to administer the exam for the first class.

* * * * *

I have been thinking and searching around looking for the various pipe and cigar shops I can find in Washington D.C.  It sure isn't like it used to be, where pipes and pipe tobacco shops were common and typical.  Even the one pipe shop I remember from a prior, long-ago DC visit..... Georgetown Tobacco..... seems much more focused on cigars now.... and pipes are pretty much an afterthought. The same is true for Curtis Draper Tobacconist..... pretty much just cigars these days.  But, I do remember a blend of pipe tobacco I had gotten and greatly enjoyed at Georgetown Tobacco.... it was called "Night Owl" and as a young biology prof back then, I tended to pick a blend preferentially, if I could relate it back to some sort of creature..... hence "owl" attracted me first to the blend.  But, even though "Night Owl" has now been long gone in my cache, I do remember it fondly.  If I do get the opportunity to get to Georgetown Tobacco...... I hope they may still have "Night Owl" on hand.

But, if I do get to go to Georgetown Tobacco... and it has a lounge that is all or primarily only focused on cigars.... that will be disappointing.... and if that IS so (like I fear), I think may rather go then.... instead.... to the Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge & Bar which is part of J&R's Cigars.  

It may sound foolish or stupid, but if the old "pipe focused" Georgetown Tobacco and Curtis Draper Tobacconist are both a much reduced venue for pipes and pipe tobaccos than each had been...... it would feel somewhat sad to spend a lot of time in either if it is now really mostly about cigars.  I would, rather, in my mind.... indulge in the Casa de Montecristo in that scenario.... because that was and remains its purpose.... cigars.   I do still hope that Georgetown Tobacco is both very pipe focused/friendly and that they still have "Night Owl"..... but if not, I at least have a backup plan that would be enjoyable.  

And, I MOSTLY am still just HOPING that  I CAN successfully eek enough time out of part of a day to at least DO one or the other of the above.

* * * * *

I ran today..... indoors.... but with my new shoes!  They actually felt very comfortable.  It was a pleasant run.  

PipeTobacco