Venus in Transit

Did you guys get a chance to see Venus cross in front of the sun on Tuesday? No?  Awww...too bad.  You're going to have to wait another 105 years to catch it again. We were able to see it live, in person on campus by Stoffer Science Hall and Bennet Computer Center.  It was fascinating.  The Physics and Astronomy department had an open house with a couple of serious telescopes out tracking Venus' path. Special thanks to Dr. Mark Smith, lecturer and astronomy outreach coordinator, for setting up this event.

 They had a great crowd right at the beginning of the open house.

 Dr. Brian Thomas, associate Physics Professor at Washburn, handed out official NASA certificates for the kids (or anyone really) who witnessed the once in a lifetime event.

(And it took everything I have in me not to make a Dr. Sheldon Cooper reference.  Bazinga!)

 Dr. Thomas was great with the youngsters.  Wish he was around when I took physics.  Perhaps I would have fared a little better... :\

See the large white circle?  That's the sun.  Now see the circle at the 3:00 position?  That's Venus!

A few mini-Bods checking out the Sun and Venus in their interplanetary tango.

 This telescope had a special filter on it so that you could look directly at the sun and Venus.

So.  Cool.

 Professors Steve Black and Dr. Karen Camarda manned this telescope that projected the view onto a cork board so that the littles could easily see the event.  Isn't that incredible?  That professors who are used to working with adults took the time to think about the children in the community and made it so they, too, could experience it?  Makes me even more proud to be an Ichabod.

Venus well on it's way (at about the 2:00 position in this photo).  This is just one example of the events that the different departments offer on campus for the general public.  For a list of upcoming events, click on the link below:
 http://www.washburn.edu/index.html

MIAA Night at T-Bones Game

Yes.  The Ichablogger lives!  Sorry guys.  Real life gets in the way sometimes.  And when I say real life, I mean pretty much everything that doesn't involve FaceBook (gasp!), Twitter (I know) and just about any other social media out there.  Well except for Pinterest.  That alone should explain it all, amiright?

Anyway, yesterday was MIAA night at the T-Bones game.  Washburn had a great turnout again.  It was a fun evening of food, friends and fellowship with other alumni from some of the other schools in the MIAA.  Here are some pictures to prove that a good time was had by all:

Guests checking into the tailgate party.

Rusty Dennis, bba '91 and mba '97, and Alumni Association Media Specialist Ernie Webb, ba '98, discussing, er, not really sure to be honest...

Sizzler and some mini-Bods posing for the Ichablogger.
I really hope they pay Sizzler well for braving the heat in this get up.

Scott Hipp, bba '89 and son hanging out with the Dennis family, enjoying some Chopper Chicken.

Assistant Alumni Director Robin Moser handing out the prizes to the lucky winners.

Only in Kansas, at a T-Bones game, would there be a milking contest in between innings.

Frank White in house!

Alumni Board of Directors member John Ybarra, ba '97, yucking it up with fellow alumni.

 Keeping the younger Ichabods entertained isn't always so easy...

OK, so maybe it is.

 Rusty Dennis, bba '91 and mba '97, dons his rally hat to try get something going for the T-Bones.

 Susie Hoffman, Alumni Association Director, hobnobbing with some of the Washburn alumni in attendance.

Too bad that rally hat didn't work.

 Alumni Board of Director member, Mark Ross, bba ’83, Susie Hoffman, John Haverty, ba ’99, and Alumni Association Assistant Director Robin Moser, ba '99, hanging out after the T-Bones loss to the Amarillo Sox.

 The fireworks show after the game was an added treat, especially for all the mini-Bods in attendance.

Thanks to all the alumni who made the trip to KC.  It was a blast and hope to see everybody and more at next year's event!